Safeguarding Yourself With Protective Gear and Clothing

Off-road riding requires protective clothing. Wearing the correct clothing can reduce the chance of injury and make your ride more comfortable. Never operate an ATV without these essential items, and have them professionally adjusted when you purchase them to ensure the safest fit.

ATV Helmet

• Helps prevent serious head injury.
• Should fit snugly and fasten securely.
• May be a full-face helmet or an open-face helmet.
  • Full-face helmets protect both your head and face. They provide the best protection during a collision, protect from tree branches and falls, provide warmth, and protect from loud noises.
    
  • Open-face helmets are lighter and cooler but should be worn with eye protection.
• Can increase your visibility after dark if you add a strip of reflective tape to your helmet.
• Should have a safety-approved label from the Department of Transportation (DOT), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), or the Snell Memorial Foundation.

Goggles or Face Shield

• Protect you from hazards—branches, road debris, and insects—which can impair your vision and jeopardize your safety.
• Use gray-tinted eye protection on bright days, yellow-tinted on overcast days, and clear for night riding.
• Should be shatter-resistant and well-ventilated to prevent fogging.
• Keep eye protection scratch-free and fastened securely at all times.
• Note: Sunglasses do not protect adequately. Use goggles or a face shield.

Gloves

• Keep your hands warm in cold weather.
• Prevent soreness and fatigue.
• Offer protection from rocks, branches, or other debris and also offer protection during a fall.
• Should be padded over the knuckles for the best protection.

Boots

• Heels prevent your feet from slipping off footrests.
• Over-the-ankle boots offer protection from ankle and foot injuries.

Clothing

• Protects you from scratches as well as the extremes of the weather such as heat exhaustion, sunburn, and hypothermia.
• Helps cushion you in falls or collisions.
• For best protection, use off-road riding gear:
  • Pants with kneepads
  • Chest and shoulder protectors
  • Riding belt for lower back support
• Always wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket.

Cold Weather Riding

In cold weather, clothing that works well for snowmobile riders is also ideal for ATV enthusiasts.