Essential Gear for RIDE Adventures Tours & Training
The Gear You Can't RIDE Our Tours Without
Welcome, Rider! Preparing for an adventure with RIDE Adventures means gearing up for an incredible experience. This guide outlines the minimum essential protective gear required to participate in our guided tours, self-guided tours, and training programs.
Our primary goal is your safety and enjoyment. Riding, especially off-pavement, involves inherent risks, and proper protective gear is crucial for minimizing potential injuries and ensuring you have the best possible adventure. Think of this gear not just as a requirement, but as an investment in your well-being and confidence on the road or trail.
An Important Note on Safety:
For the safety of yourself and the group, participation in our tours and training requires adherence to these minimum gear standards. Our guides are responsible for ensuring everyone is adequately protected before we begin riding.
Arriving without the necessary equipment may unfortunately prevent you from participating, as we cannot compromise on rider safety. Please review this list carefully and reach out if you have any questions.
Your Essential Safety Gear Checklist
Here are the five mandatory categories of protective gear you must have:
Detailed Gear Requirements & Recommendations
Full Face DOT (US) /ECE (EU) Approved Helmet
Your helmet is the single most important piece of safety gear. For the varied conditions of adventure riding, a full-face or modular helmet offering full chin-bar protection is mandatory.
Ensure your helmet fits properly and meets or exceeds DOT (US) or ECE (EU) safety standards. Most modern helmets carry both certifications.
RIDE Helmet Suggestion
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Minimum Requirement: DOT or ECE certified full-face or modular helmet. Must fit correctly.
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Gear We Trust:
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Value Example: Bell MX-9 Mips (DOT & ECE-certified, 3.74 lbs, MIPS protection system, all at an accessible price point)
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Modular Example: Scorpion Exo AT960 (Modular, DOT Certified, 4lbs, and a great price point)
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Performance Examples: Shoei Hornet X2, KLIM Krios Pro (Offer advanced features, materials, and ventilation ideal for adventure touring)
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Unacceptable: Open-face helmets, half helmets, non-certified helmets.
Abrasion Resistant Motorcycle Jacket (with Armor)
Your jacket protects you from impacts, abrasions, and the elements. It must be made from durable, abrasion-resistant materials (textile or leather) and include impact armor in the elbows and shoulders.
If your jacket doesn't have integrated armor, you must wear separate body armor covering these areas. Consider versatility – layers and effective venting are key for handling changing weather.
RIDE Jacket Suggestion
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Minimum Requirement: Abrasion-resistant motorcycle-specific jacket with shoulder and elbow armor (or separate armor worn underneath).
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Gear We Trust:
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Value Example: Tourmaster Trek Jacket (Offers solid protection and features for the price)
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Mid Tier Example: KLIM Carlsbad Jacket (Entry-level premium option with GORE-TEX, Cordura abrasion-resistant material, and integrated armor and decent ventilation.)
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Performance Example: Klim Badlands Pro Jacket (Premium materials, GORE-TEX waterproofing, and integrated armor for demanding conditions. Best buy for the long run).
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Women's Specific Example: Alpinestars Stella V3 Drystar Jacket (Comfortable all-around protection and weather option)
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Protection Jacket: Alpinestars Bionic Tech V3 Jacket (For warmer weather or folks who like to separate armor from their jacket for more protection.
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Unacceptable: Casual jackets (denim, fleece, puffies), rain shells without armor/abrasion resistance.
Adventure Motorcycle Pants (with Knee Armor)
Like your jacket, your pants must protect against impacts and abrasions. Standard jeans or hiking pants offer almost no protection in a slide.
Choose motorcycle-specific pants made from durable materials with integrated knee armor. If your pants lack knee armor, separate knee/shin guards must be worn.
RIDE Pants Suggestion
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Minimum Requirement: Abrasion-resistant motorcycle-specific pants with knee armor (or separate knee armor worn underneath).
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Gear We Trust:
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Value Example: Tourmaster Trek Pant (Durable construction with essential protection)
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Mid Tier Example: Klim Carlsbad Pant (Entry-level premium option with CE level 2 armor, Cordura abrasion-resistance material, and GORE-TEX shell to keep the weather out.)
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Performance Example: Klim Badlands Pro Pant (Pairs with the jacket for a top-tier, weatherproof, protective suit)
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Women's Specific: Alpinestars Stella Pant (Comfortable all-around protection and weather option)
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Unacceptable: Jeans, shorts, hiking pants, athletic wear, casual trousers.
ADV or Motocross Boots (Tall & Stiff)
Foot and ankle injuries are the most common in off-road riding. Your boots are critical for support and impact protection. Hiking boots or short touring boots do not offer sufficient protection.
You need tall (mid-shin), stiff boots specifically designed for ADV or motocross, providing substantial ankle support and protection from crushing and twisting forces.
While stiff boots require a break-in period, their protective qualities are non-negotiable.
RIDE ADV Boot Suggestion
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Minimum Requirement: Tall (mid-shin), protective boots with a stiff sole and significant ankle support (ADV or Motocross style).
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Gear We Trust:
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Value Examples: Alpinestars Tech 3, Forma Adventure (Provide essential ADV protection and support)
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Most of our team at RIDE HQ wear these: Alpinestars Tech 7, Alpinestars Tech 10 (Offers the highest level of protection)
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Women's Specific Example: Alpinestars Stella Tech 3 (The highest available protection in the women's line from Alpinestars)
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Unacceptable: Hiking boots, work boots, sneakers, short touring boots, any footwear not offering substantial ankle protection.
Motorcycle Gloves (Carry Two Pairs Recommended)
Gloves protect your hands from impacts and abrasions – crucial, as your hands are often the first thing to hit the ground. They also improve grip and reduce fatigue.
We strongly recommend carrying two pairs: a primary pair for most conditions and a backup pair (e.g., warmer/waterproof) for unexpected weather changes. Wet, cold hands can significantly compromise control and safety.
RIDE Glove Suggestion
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Minimum Requirement: Abrasion-resistant, full-finger motorcycle gloves (preferably leather or durable textile).
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Gear We Trust:
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Value Example: Cortech Chicane Glove (Solid protection and dexterity)
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Performance Example: Klim Aero Pro Glove (Excellent ventilation, touch interface, and full protection for most weather)
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Second pair for Intense Weather: Klim Hardanger HTD Glove (GORE-TEX plus all-day, lithium-powered heat. If you don’t have heated grips, these will make those snowy mountain passes in Patagonia way more comfortable.)
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Unacceptable: Lightweight motocross/MTB gloves, ski gloves, work/garden gloves, fingerless gloves.
Gear Up for a Great Adventure
Investing in the right protective gear is investing in your ability to fully enjoy the incredible experiences our tours and training offer. Being properly equipped allows you to ride with more confidence, comfort, and peace of mind.
If you have any questions about specific gear items or need further recommendations, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're here to help you prepare for an unforgettable adventure!