Motorcycle Apparel

Must-haves

By Joe Symmes

Thanks to modern technology, riding gear has become safer and more comfortable than ever. Let's take a look at the head-to-toe protection available to armor you for your next ride.

Helmets

No matter what your feeling on helmet laws or rider rights, motorcycle helmets are probably the most important piece of protective gear that a rider can wear. A quality helmet will not only protect your head in the event of a crash, but it can also serve to protect your eyes, ears and face from everyday hazards such as UV radiation and windburn. Full face helmets provide the most protection while half helmets provide the most comfort. Open face or modular helmets strive to provide a balance between these extremes.

Sunglasses and Goggles

Eye protection can be considered the most essential piece of protective gear. It’s physically impossible to ride without some sort of protection for your peepers. If your helmet does not include some sort of face shield, then separate eye protection will be required. Most sunglasses do not do an adequate job of protecting your eyes, so a quality pair of riding goggles is essential to protect your pupils.

Ear Plugs

Hearing protection is one of the most overlooked pieces of apparel. Depending on your specific motorcycle and riding speed, some very real, long-term hearing damage can occur if you do not wear hearing protection. Whether you choose disposable, foam, custom-fit or molded ear plugs, any protection is better than nothing. Thanks to lobby groups such as the American Motorcycle Association, it is legal in all 50 states to ride a motorcycle while wearing hearing protection.

Gloves

Motorcycle gloves are another piece of gear that will not only provide a wealth of protection in a crash, but will also make daily riding much more enjoyable. Particularly in cold weather, your hands will get cold and become less functional. The vibration resistance and wind protection of a good, heavy motorcycle glove is paramount. For summer riding many glove companies also make well-ventilated models so you do not have to go without protection when the temperature rises.

Riding Jacket

One of the most frequently worn pieces of riding gear is a riding jacket. Generally different than a regular jacket, motorcycle coats are basically characterized by having longer arms, heavier stitching and better abrasion resistance. Specific touches such as zip out liners, flow through vents and protective padding distinguish the higher end models, while reflective accents, bright colors, water resistance and extra pockets further increase the utility of these garments. It's easy to see why most riders consider a riding coat one of their most essential pieces of gear.

Riding Pants

Often overlooked, but equally as important are quality riding pants. Like a good jacket, motorcycle-specific trousers can provide essential crash protection while keeping you warm and dry. Quality abrasion resistance should be considered essential since a rider's legs will frequently take the brunt of the impact in a crash.

Riding Boots

Sturdy boots can also make your motorcycle riding experience a lot more enjoyable. Like a good pair of gloves, motorcycle boots can protect your feet and ankles while providing comfort and warmth in adverse conditions. Motorcycle-specific boots will provide the most protection, however any kind of durable boot will protect you better than a pair of regular shoes.

Material Guidelines

So now that you know what sort of apparel you are looking for, what types of materials work best? For most riding gear, you have a choice of going with leather or textile-based garments. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Leather is much more traditional looking, yet still holds the crown for abrasion resistance (though by a slim margin against today's modern textile garments). Leather is not as easily cared for however, and usually lacks in ventilation and color choices. Leather is also generally more expensive than textile garments.

Textile apparel can be much cheaper and much easier to care for, but unless you pay very close attention, low-cost models may be of considerably less quality. However, it is far easier to get lots of pockets, vents, bright colors and reflective accents in textile gear.

Keep in mind that even the most expensive riding gear is still cheaper and far less painful than a trip to your local emergency room. Don't be afraid to spend a few extra dollars to protect your hide.

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