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Essential Dirt Bike Gear: What every rider MUST HAVE 2023

Essential dirt bike gear refers to safety equipment, accessories and clothing that you just cannot do without while riding. Whether you are a competitive motocross rider, enduro rider or simply love to hit the trails on the weekend, there are some dirt bike gear items that should make your kit bag for every ride.

If you are new to riding, you’re probably wondering what dirt bike gear you need while you’re still finding your favorite thing about each brand. If you are more experienced, perhaps you already have your favourite places to shop for motocross gear. Whichever side you’re on, TeamMA spent the day researching and going through our kit bags to build the ultimate dirt bike kit list.

While protection is necessary for all riders, the most essential areas to have covered for every rider are the head and legs. Beginners will have additional needs, while riders who are used to their track or trail runs will need more consistent options. Riding without the correct dirt bike safety gear can mean the difference between an uncomfortable day or early retirement in the worst-case scenarios. Wearing the proper dirt bike protective gear keeps you comfortable on the bike, and well protected in the instance of a crash.

Most Essential Dirt Bike Gear for All Riders

You’re going to want to protect your head with a solid helmet and reliable goggles. Your legs and feet are the other area that need serious protection, since they’re the nearest to the action. Forgoing all other safety options, these are the two areas that should never be without protection. That being said, it’s hard to know what to look for in your dirt bike riding gear when you’re just starting out. That’s why we’ve put together a ton of info on what gear you need for dirt biking, no matter where in your riding career you may be.

Protect your head with a quality full-face helmet

Essential Dirt Bike Gear - Motocross Helmets Shoei VFX-EVO
Essential Dirt Bike Gear - Motocross Helmets Shoei VFX-EVO Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023
Essential Dirt Bike Gear – Motocross Helmets Shoei VFX-EVO Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023

The only time you will see riders of off-road machines wearing open-face helmets is in trial riding. Trials riding requires maximum head movement while tackling obstacles at extremely low speeds, so in this instance, an open-face is safer.

For those of us who are tearing up the dirt, hitting jumps and riding at speed, a full-face helmet as part of our motocross protective gear lineup is essential. If you are riding motocross, enduro or weekend leisure riding, that means you!

Why are full-face helmets essential for a dirt bike kit?

Riding without a helmet is lunacy. Your brain is one of the most critical organs in your body, and even relatively slow crashes can result in forces that cause serious injury. When your head is involved, crashes like these can be fatal. Impacts with rocks, stones, and sharp edges are never comfortable, so there’s no reason to tempt fate. Get the right dirt bike gear and always wear a full-face helmet when you’re out riding.

Dirt bike helmets use the full-face design for a reason. If you crash off-road, you may find yourself going over the handlebars or falling large distances. Without the protection of the chin bar, you can easily knock out teeth or break your jaw. The full-face design of a dirt bike helmet radically reduces the chances of such injuries, as well as reducing the possibility of a concussion, which is the most common form of head injury seen trackside. Whether you’re riding on a motocross track or going off-road for an enduro adventure, full-face helmets are the way to go.

Nowadays, owning a full-face helmet is not always enough. With so many technological advancements and exotic materials like carbon fiber and impact-absorbing gels, manufacturers have elevated their dirt bike safety gear.

Critical safety features for modern dirt bike helmets

Helmet Safety Features

When choosing a dirt bike helmet, first consider its safety features. There are many attractive & cheap imports available, but many of these budget helmets have no safety rating and they’re not ideal for off-road use. Your helmet should take up a core part of your budget for essential dirt bike gear to ensure you’re as protected as possible. 

Even on cheaper dirt bike helmets, every quality motocross helmet will have safety features designed to reduce impact and rotational forces. Each manufacturer has their own take on these vital features.

Some helmets have magnetic visors that detach on impact to reduce whiplash, while other motocross gear companies have replaceable bolts which shear off when the visor hits the ground. Premium helmets have advanced features like 6D’s Omni Directional Suspension system.

Helmet safety Features - 6D’s Omni Directional Suspension system

6D fits dampers in the lining construction of their helmets to reduce rotational forces that affect the brain during a crash. This rotation results in the outer layer of the helmet travelling further than the inner lining. With reduced rotation, you are less likely to suffer a concussion.

Another example of solid dirt bike protective gear is the Multiple Impact Protection System (MIPS), used by quite a few top dirt bike gear brands including Fox, Bell, Troy Lee Designs and more. A MIPS helmet contains numerous densities of materials and layers to deal with different levels of impact. Which layers react, and how they absorb forces, depends entirely on the direction and amount of impact sustained.

Helmet Safety Certification

A dirt bike helmet should be DOT certified at the very least. ACU, SNELL, FIM and ECE are other certifications you may see. The more certifications on your motocross protective gear, the better. If you are competing, you should check that the helmet meets the minimum standards required by officials in the country where you are racing.

Helmet Ventilation
Dirt Bike Helmet air flow

Ventilation is another vital part of quality motocross helmet construction. Without proper ventilation, you will find yourself sweating and overheating on your rides. Increased sweating causes dehydration and lapses in concentration, and overheating can cause disorientation and general discomfort. None of these dirt bike gear scenarios are ideal as you are heading into a triple jump.

Each manufacturer has its own signature ventilation systems. Look for multiple intake vents that direct air through the lining to cool your face, around the head to lower blood temperature, and exhaust the hot air from the back of the helmet. The more vents on a helmet, the better.

Helmet Construction

Your helmet needs to be made from lightweight materials. Long days in the saddle can get very uncomfortable with heavy motocross gear since your neck muscles will overcompensate to maintain your head position. Even short circuit racing is improved when you have a lightweight helmet. Carbon fibre, carbon composite, fibreglass and high-quality polycarbonate are the primary materials to look for.

Helmet Field of Vision

A motocross track can get very crowded at times. When you are approaching corners, jumps and other obstacles, a wide field of vision is preferred. Look for a helmet with a wide aperture and pair it with some oversize goggles for the best results.

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Protect your eyes with reliable dirt bike goggles

Dirt Bike Protective Gear - Motocross Goggles protect your eyes

Dirt bike goggles are one of those common-sense essential dirt bike gear items that all riders should have, and they’re arguably as important as a helmet.

Durable goggles are especially crucial when riding enduro because they protect your eyes from flying debris like roost, dust, bugs, branches, water and stones. Getting something in your eye when you are riding is likely to cause a crash, and low quality dirt bike safety gear could even cost you your vision.  

Critical safety features for modern dirt bike goggles

Goggle Size

The larger the goggles, the more you can see. Oversize goggles are extremely popular with both pro and amateur riders for this very reason.

You should look for a goggle that fits comfortably with your helmet while still allowing for the largest field of vision possible. Many modern helmets have oversize apertures to accommodate the contemporary trend of large goggles.

Goggle Ventilation

One of the worst features of cheap goggles is that they fog up while riding, so it’s essential to find goggles that offer excellent ventilation. While some goggles fog up when you are stationary in cold climates, you should see them begin to demist as soon as you start moving. It’s important to replace both busted dirt bike gear and goggles that mist up constantly when riding.

Goggle Foam & Fit

Most dirt bike goggles have a layer of foam which sits against your face, and there are different types and layers of foam used by various companies. When choosing goggles, be on the lookout for deep foam that allows for comfort, ventilation, and absorption. This motocross gear tip will keep you both cool and protected simultaneously.

Goggle Lenses
Dirt bike goggle lenses protect your eyes

Lens choice will be dependent on the type of dirt biking you prefer. Goggles that allow replacement lenses are the best option. If you can interchange lens styles on your dirt bike protective gear, this is even better.

As far as colour goes, clear lenses offer minimal distortion and maximum clarity. However, sunny days will often see riders wearing goggles with some sort of tint.

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Protect your feet with essential dirt bike boots

Protective dirt bike gear - boots brotect your feet
Essential Dirt Bike Gear - Motocross Boots Alpinestars Tech 10 Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023
Essential Dirt Bike Gear – Motocross Boots Alpinestars Tech 10 Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023

Dirt bike boots have thoroughly evolved over the years, and as of 2023, there is a vast choice of quality motocross boots that offer solid protection and comfort.

Why are dirt bike boots essential gear?

A proper dirt bike boot offers protection for your entire foot, ankle and lower leg. Many manufacturers offer a choice of motocross or enduro designs within the same range depending on where you’ll be riding. 

When riding your dirt bike, your feet and lower legs are directly in the line of fire. Mud, water, rocks, roost, branches and other objects fly at you, often at speed. If you don’t have a good set of dirt bike gear and boots for protection, injury is almost guaranteed. Especially in stormy conditions, you need to maintain a grip on your pegs and the side of your bike. Even budget boots will provide adequate levels of grip and include some armour around the shin, ankles and toes for further protection.

Intermediate and top tier boots are known for incorporating jointed armour and compression zones to absorb impacts and encase your ankle joints, while still allowing moderate flexibility. Keep an eye out for boots that help prevent hyperextension and hyperflexion. The unpredictability of trail riding makes top tier motocross safety gear undeniably necessary to avoid random injuries.

Dirt Bike Boot Shopping Tips

High quality dirt bike boots are far more technical than you might assume, and that means it’s a good idea to set your budget as high as you can afford. Dirt bike safety gear with flexibility, comfort and protection comes at a certain price point. Consider the following when buying a new pair of boots. 

Boot Fit

Dirt Bike Safety Gear - Wear your boots

A poor-fitting dirt bike boot is as dangerous as the wrong type of boot. Your chosen dirt bike boot needs to fit snugly to provide the right support while allowing for waterproof or cold weather dirt bike gear. It’s better to ride with hotter feet in the summer than cold, numb feet in the winter. Buying a pair for each season is a great idea if you’ve got the budget, or you can demote old boots to winter riders since they will have likely stretched over time.

Just like shoes, dirt bike boots vary from brand to brand. If you are buying dirt bike boots online, be sure to use the manufacturer’s sizing scale to determine your correct size, and then read the reviews from riders who have bought them. You will often see comments about boots being sized small, meaning that you should buy one size up from your normal shoe size. Comments are also useful for weighing the positives and negatives of the selected motocross gear.

New boots often take a little while to break in, so you may find that your boots fit better after a few rides than they did out of the box. You can always use leather food or dubbin on new leather to help break them in and speed up the process.

If you intend on wearing knee braces at some point (and why wouldn’t you?), your boots should be a bit bigger at the top of the leg to allow for this. Reliable dirt bike boots will enable a range of adjustment for your other essential dirt bike gear as needed, and the fit won’t be compromised as a result.

Boot Protection

A high-quality dirt bike boot offers protection from rock strikes and other debris while riding. Quality brands have sturdy material around the ankle to help eliminate unwanted twisting and protect this fragile area from impacts.

Boots should also have a sturdy, supportive sole on them that will make standing on footpegs comfortable. Many boots also have a steel plate running through the sole to reduce the chance of bending your foot back with impact.

Dirt bike boots will always be heavier than normal shoes, but some brands are lighter than others. When purchasing, you’re trying to find a balance between adequate protection, flexibility and weight for your perfect fit. Once you have found the right dirt bike riding gear for you, you will likely remain faithful to your choice for some time.

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Protect your knees with quality knee braces

Protective Dirt Bike Gear - Knee Braces POD K4
Essential Dirt Bike Gear - Motocross Knee Braces POD K4 Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023
Essential Dirt Bike Gear – Motocross Knee Braces POD K4 Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023

Knees tend to take a lot of abuse when you’re riding offroad. The constant pounding of ruts, uneven terrain and landing compression forces will all affect your knees. If you snag, drag or bend your leg, these forces are even more extreme. Dirt bike gear like knee braces help reduce that wear and tear as well as providing extra stability on your dirt bike.

Why do I need knee braces?

Knee injuries are some of the most common injuries in sports, and dirt biking is no different. Hyperextension or hyperflexion of your knee can prove costly to both your body and wallet. These types of injuries have the potential to cause lifelong problems, and that’s why wearing motocross gear like knee braces is a no brainer. Wearing knee braces for enduro or trail riding is absolutely essential.

Knee Brace Shopping Tips

Knee Brace Comfort

The problem with cheap knee braces is that they offer less adjustment and can be ill-fitting. Cheap materials and poor construction can create sharp edges and increase friction on your dirt bike gear. In contrast, the best motocross knee braces offer generous adjustment so they wrap to fit your knee perfectly. Custom knee braces are usually quite expensive, so it’s best to meet in the middle and budget for a durable and adjustable pair.

Knee Brace Materials

Carbon composite, titanium and super lightweight tech materials are common at the premium end of the market, while high-quality polycarbonate and aluminium are popular at the budget end. Be sure to buy from brands with a known racing pedigree that have motocross protective gear reviews from serious riders.

Knee Brace Sleeves & Socks

Always use knee brace sleeves if your dirt bike socks aren’t thigh-high. Dirt bike protective gear like brace sleeves will stop any uncomfortable rubbing of your knee braces against your skin. The sleeves will also help control sweat to increase comfort levels.

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Essential Dirt Bike Gear for Beginners 

Now that you have read about the essential dirt bike gear that is a must-have for every single rider, it’s time to look at all of the dirt bike safety gear that beginners can’t live without.

Protect your neck with a lightweight neck brace

Essential Dirt Bike Protective Gear for Beginners - Neck Brace

Dirt bike neck braces have become quite a common sight in recent years, and most of the big brands have their own take on neck brace design. With the increased protection that this motocross safety gear offers, a resurgence comes as no surprise. 

Why are dirt bike neck braces important?

A dirt bike neck brace offers excellent protection against spinal cord injuries, making it an essential piece of dirt bike protective gear for any beginner rider.

It is common knowledge that crashes can throw the rider into awkward positions, and a lousy landing may result in hyperextension or hyperflexion of the neck. A neck brace will limit the riders head movement to stop this from happening.

It’s normal to take spills and misestimate as you’re learning to ride, and neck braces offer protection for these situations. Riders who like to take a few risks or compete at any level should consider wearing dirt bike gear like neck braces.

Neck Brace Shopping Tips

Neck Brace Head Restriction

The most common complaint we hear about neck braces concerns restricted movement. However, this is usually because the brace is not sized correctly and is sitting too high. A modern, well-fitted neck brace will allow plenty of room for comfortable head movement.

Neck Brace Adjustment

Some of the highest quality neck braces offer multiple adjustments to achieve a perfect fit. More points of adjustment lead to higher chances of finding the right settings for your motocross gear preferences. 

Having lots of adjustment is also handy for growing riders since it prevents the need to buy a new brace every season.

Neck Brace Weight 

Bulky braces can cause fatigue since your neck brace will sit right above your shoulders. Super lightweight dirt bike riding gear will help you adjust to the neck brace without too much disruption to your riding style. 

The best neck brace is the one that you hardly even notice when you’re out riding.

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Protect your upper body with a roost guard, chest protector or body armor 

Motocross Protective Gear for Beginners - Chest Protector
Essential Dirt Bike Gear - Motocross Chest Protector Alpinestars A-1 Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023
Essential Dirt Bike Gear – Motocross Chest Protector Alpinestars A-1 Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023

Chest protection is an extension of the neck brace in many ways, since the two components work together to keep your upper body safe from heavy impacts and abrasion. Three different levels of dirt bike gear protection exist: roost guards, chest protectors and body armor. Beginners are encouraged to choose body armor or a chest protector for maximum safety, but it’s up to you to judge which type of motocross protective gear is truly best for you.

Roost deflectors are the lightest chest protection available, and they don’t offer much impact protection other than padding against debris flying in your face.

Chest protectors are the middle class of dirt bike gear protection that provide both roost and impact protection for the chest, ribs and collarbones, and sometimes the shoulders and back. Airflow and range of movement are the two big selling points that make a good chest protector.

Body armor completely protects the upper torso and arms using a rigid structure. The spine and upper arms are especially protected, and secondary risks are heavily considered as well.

Why is upper body protection important?

Upper body dirt bike safety gear can offer protection for vital organs, ribs, shoulders and your spine (depending on the piece). The downsides include reduced movement and increased heat. As with neck braces, high-quality components, adequate ventilation and maximum adjustment points help to offset any negatives. Especially for new riders that are still getting a feel for riding, upper body protection offers extra peace of mind for unpredictable conditions.

Upper Body Protection Shopping Tips

Bulky or minimalistic 

The most significant decision to make when choosing the best dirt bike chest protector is whether to go full armor or stick with a reduced roost guard.

Full armor will offer superior protection with multiple rigid plates on the outside. Biomechanical armour is often lined with lightweight foam to increase comfort and breathability, and it will almost always offer spine protection as well. This is a huge plus when you know you’ve got a tough day ahead of you. However, it is the bulkiest of the motocross protective gear options.

A roost guard gives greater freedom of movement while still protecting the rider from flying debris and abrasions, and most will offer some sort of hard exterior shell. Cheaper dirt bike gear only has a soft foam layer to help disperse impact. A roost guard chest protector is often quite comfortable to ride in and can be worn under a rider’s jersey without being extremely noticeable.

Chest protectors weigh in somewhere in the middle and are usually equipped with some vented areas for more breathability. This dirt bike safety gear is somewhat noticeable under your jersey since it’s more bulky than a roost guard, but it actually offers stability in the event of a crash.

Ventilation

A significant factor to consider when choosing upper body protection is how the motocross gear design manages airflow. If the piece has no ventilation, then it will most likely get extremely hot while you’re riding.

Always choose protection that has moisture wicking capabilities and multiple cooling vents to prevent overheating.

CHECK LATEST PRICE FOR NECK BRACE >>>

Protect your elbows with dependable elbow guards

Essential Motocross protective gear for beginners - elbow pads

Elbow guards are an underrated piece of dirt bike safety gear when it comes to dirt biking. Your elbows are vital joints in controlling the bike and supporting your weight, so protecting them (especially during competition) makes perfect sense.

Why are dirt bike elbow guards important?

During a dirt bike crash, a rider will often put their arms out in front of them as a natural reaction to try and lessen impacts on the body. Unfortunately, this means a ton of impact and abrasion on the arms and elbows that could be avoided with more motocross protective gear.

Collisions between riders are also quite common, and elbows are one area likely to get hit when another bike or rider collides with you.

Elbow Guard Shopping Tips

Elbow Guard Straps

The first thing any rider should look at when deciding to wear elbow pads is how the pads are held on. Most dirt bike gear designs use an adjustable strap system to hold the guard tightly to the arm.

Some dirt bike elbow guards feature a sleeve with a grippy bicep cuff to stop the pad from sliding, and this also provides an extra layer of comfort from your dirt bike riding gear.

Whatever style you choose, always lock the pad securely in place so it will not move up or down your arm with an impact.

Hard or Soft

You can choose between a hard shell or soft shell style for your elbow guards. 

A hard shell elbow guard will feature bio-mechanical designs that hold plastic plates in place. These hard shell dirt bike safety gear options are great for both absorbing impacts (with the help of a foam lining) and preventing slide injuries like road rash. This style of elbow guard may not have the same freedom of movement as soft shell designs.

Softshell elbow guards are designed to be lightweight and flexible. Since there is no solid structure, softshell guards are usually the most comfortable motocross gear to ride with. The guards can still offer great protection, just not to the extent that a hard shell elbow guard will.

If your style of riding demands lots of movement with a lower chance of collision, soft guard dirt bike gear will be sufficient. If you are riding hard and fast over big jumps and gnarly courses, it’s worth trading some flexibility for increased protection.

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Essential Dirt Bike Riding Gear

Quality dirt bike safety gear is required for any sort of riding you’ll do, but riding motocross and enduro will necessitate slightly different protection needs.

For enduro and trail riding, you’re going to want all the bells and whistles from your essential dirt bike gear. Off-road riding is far more unpredictable than riding on a track, so the full assortment of sturdy helmet, goggles, knee braces, boots, chest protection, neck brace, elbow pads and gloves is a smart idea. The outerwear like tops and pants are an extra layer of protection to make sure you avoid serious injuries.

For motocross racing, the stakes are slightly different. You won’t be running into random branches or rocks with your motocross protective gear, but your risk of running into other riders is far higher. The essentials like helmet, goggles, knee braces and boots are givens, but there’s more flexibility with your best judgment. Our recommendation is to still invest in a solid neck brace and elbow pads, and choose your shirt, pants and desired level of chest protection accordingly. 

With that said, the attire you wear over your dirt bike gear needs to look smart. Aim for a happy medium between stylish and protective and you’ll be all set. 

Dirt Bike Riding Gear – Dirt Bike Pants 

Essential Dirt Bike Riding Gear - Motocross Pants - Fly F16

Whether you are riding tracks or trails, a set of jeans just won’t cut it. Flexibility, comfort and all-weather performance are vital features of essential dirt bike gear, and pants are no exception.

Why are dirt bike pants necessary?

Dirt bike pants are vital for any rider because they are designed to withstand snags and tears while allowing for a wide range of movement. Many dirt bike pants are also manufactured with fewer seams to stop uncomfortable motocross gear chaffing.

Shopping Tips for Dirt Bike Pants

Be sure that the pants and dirt bike safety gear you choose will stand up to the elements and remain comfortable on any length of ride. It is wise to buy more durable enduro pants for adventure riding and trail days. For competitive riding, you will want lightweight, hi-tech materials that keep the wind and moisture out, wick sweat away from the skin and don’t restrict your movement. There are plenty of affordable options for dirt bike gear that compliment your setup.

Dirt Bike Pants Material

Polyester has been proven time and time again to be dependable, breathable, and durable when washed.

Some brands feature leather around the inside of the knees where you grip the dirt bike. Leather stands up well when rubbing against the plastic dirt bike gear casing, and it also provides high levels of grip and heat resistance.

Dirt Bike Pants Fit

You may assume that dirt bike pants fit like regular pants, but this is not the case. Like your motocross protective gear, your dirt bike pants will likely have the same waist sizing as your everyday pants, but with some range of waist adjustment via Velcro side straps or a buckle.

The length of a dirt bike pant is often relatively short so that they don’t bunch up inside your motocross boots. There’s no cause for concern if your pants sit a bit higher than you imagined.

Dirt bike pants should feel roomy around the knees since you will likely wear knee braces under them. If the pants are too tight around the knees, your ability to move and wear dirt bike gear will be restricted.

Ventilation

Top-quality dirt bike pants need to offer some sort of ventilation. Vents will prevent you from getting too hot while riding and dry away excess sweat in the process.

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Dirt Bike Jerseys

Motocross Gear - FLY F16 Jersey

When riding your dirt bike, remember to match your pants with an appropriate top. Heavy duty tops should be used for enduro, while lighter tops should be used for racing. A high quality shirt will help stop roost, branches, dirt, and other debris from causing injury to your body or dirt bike safety gear, and it’ll work double duty in preventing sunburn. 

Shopping Tips for Dirt Bike Shirts

Type of shirt 

Dirt bike jerseys will feature better abrasion resistance and ventilation than a regular shirt. If you’ve found the right pants, there is likely a matching top with the same features. Matching top and pants are called dirt bike gear sets, and they’re a popular choice among riders.

Sizing

Choosing the correct size for a dirt bike top is relatively easy, although there are a few important things to point out.

First, you need to decide if you will wear your chest motocross gear above or underneath the shirt. You may need a larger size top if you decide to wear one underneath.

Even if you get a larger size, your shirt should not be too baggy. An overly baggy shirt can get caught on things while riding.

Extra Features

Some high-quality dirt bike jerseys will offer extra features to make them more appealing to different riders.

Keep an eye out for padding around the elbows and forearms. Extra reinforcement provides longevity and durability. Padded areas do not replace body armour and other dirt bike gear, but they will make sure your tops do not wear in places where high impact and friction occur.

Technical materials and wicking will also improve comfort by drawing moisture away from your body.

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Protect your hands with well-made dirt bike gloves

Dirt Bike riding gloves - 100% ITRACK

Of the potential options, gloves are one of the must have dirt bike accessories. Wearing dirt bike gloves will ensure that you find comfort and grip during those long and intense rides. Unlike road bike gloves, dirt bike gloves have far less armour. Motocross gloves are more fitted and allow for maximum feel of your motocross protective gear, bars and bike feedback, while enduro gloves are a little more robust.

In certain cases, enduro and off-road riders may like to wear dirt bike hand guards to keep their hands safe from roost and debris. If this sounds like essential dirt bike gear for your situation, check out our buyer’s guide for dirt bike hand guards.

Why are dirt bike gloves necessary?

Wearing a pair of dirt bike gloves protects against abrasions, burns, and blisters. Gloves also provide padding to lessen vibration, which can lead to numbness while riding.

Shopping Tips for Dirt Bike Gloves

Sizing

Sizing for dirt bike safety gear like gloves is pretty simple as long as you remember to buy tight-fitting gloves. Larger gloves can result in reduced grip, snagging and potential crashes. Sizing charts are easy to read with gloves ranging from size small to extra-large.

Material

There are even more glove fabric choices than there are manufacturers, with many featuring their own branded material mixes for their dirt bike gear. Look for gloves that offer both freedom of movement and breathability while staying abrasion-resistant.

Dirt bike gloves often feature some sort of silicone design on the palm or lever fingers to maximise grip. For more durability, enduro gloves may be constructed from leather with double layer panels.

Construction

Some gloves are very minimalistic and others feature generous padding. We like gloves that feel like a second skin when racing. However, many varieties offer more protection depending on what you want. Some gloves will even feature armoured knuckles and fingers as motocross protective gear to protect small bones and ligaments.

Hands are one of the three main points of contact you have with your dirt bike. As such, your gloves should not reduce the feel of the bike or cause you to feel disconnected from the bike in any way.

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Stay acclimated with weather-appropriate undergarments, base layers and socks

Regardless of the dirt bike gear you’re sporting, you’ll need to ensure that what you’re wearing under your motocross gear fits the situation you’re in. Being conscious of the climate you’ll be riding in can go a long way to helping you feel comfortable.

Base Layer Shopping Tips

Check the Forecast

Chances are, you probably have this figured out if you’re racing or off-roading ten minutes from your house. However, different locations can present different challenges with humidity, heat, cold and unpredictable conditions. If the area you’re going is new to you, be sure to check the weather when you’re preparing for your trek. 

Wearing too much warm dirt bike safety gear when the weather is mild can spell disaster and leave you with heat exhaustion if you’re not careful.

Stay Prepared

For warmer days or more intense races, pack your most lightweight options. Even if you don’t have all warm weather dirt bike gear, this step will at least help you stay as cool as possible going into your ride. Thin socks, as well as breathable base clothing, should do the trick.

If you’ll be winter riding, it’s a solid idea to bring a thicker base layer to start with. You’ll always warm up when you start your ride, but if your quality dirt bike protective gear breathes as well as it should, you may feel the wind extra hard. Thick wool socks are a solid idea too so your feet stay toasty.

Bring a few middle options if the weather is variable so you’ve got choices. You want to make sure you’re prepared for anything, and that starts with what’s underneath!

Final Thoughts

Remember that the type of dirt biking that you do will be the deciding factor as to what dirt bike safety gear you should be wearing. Always buy as high as you can afford with these essential items and prioritise these suggestions over other less critical kit or accessories.

Essential Dirt Bike Gear - Posing with everything - Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023
Essential Dirt Bike Gear – Posing with everything – Martin Varrand in Belgium 2023

Can you check off every item on this list? If not, you’ve just created your priority shopping list for the season!

Sign up for our newsletter to be kept up to date on the latest essential gear reviews.

Have fun out there!

Martin and the crew at TeamMA

This Article Has 2 Comments
  1. Posey Lynn Dell Reply

    BF just bought a 2009 KTM 250 dirt bike. I’m looking for a starter prepacked tool kit as well as suggestions on bumbag, hydrapack and fender pack?

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