We often get comments on our page and YouTube channel asking what kind of adventure motorcycle gear we depend on when we’re guiding motorcycle tours well off the beaten path.
We’ve logged well over a million all-terrain miles since starting RIDE Adventures. Collectively, our team has probably tested more adventure gear more extensively than any other outfit we can think of, so we know what works and what doesn't firsthand.
Our philosophy has always been that if any piece of riding gear isn’t 100% dependable when we’re out guiding our tours, it doesn’t come along with us again. There's just no room for failure when customers are depending on us in these remote locations.
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| A premium adventure helmet that's incredibly well padded, quiet, and feature-rich. | CHECK PRICE | |
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An uber-light adventure lid that's perfect for hot weather and heavy offroading. | CHECK PRICE |
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Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar |
Motocross-grade protection with good walkability and the added benefit of a quality waterproof liner. | CHECK PRICE |
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Hands down the longest-lasting, most protective riding boot we've ever step foot in. | CHECK PRICE |
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A bombproof adventure riding jacket with downright flawless side and weather protection. | CHECK PRICE |
| A premium adventure jacket that doubles down on ventilation and breathability without sacrificing safety. | CHECK PRICE | |
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The single most durable, weatherproof, and impressive adventure pants we've ever worn. | CHECK PRICE |
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Super stretchy and breathable adventure motorcycle pants that still deliver outstanding crash protection. | CHECK PRICE |
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Seemingly indestructable and water tight gloves we've logged thousands of miles on without issue. | CHECK PRICE |
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Stretchy, breathable hot weather gloves with just the right amount of protection for street use. | CHECK PRICE |
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Alpinestars Bionic Action V2 Jacket |
A standalone armored jacket that flows a ton of air and protects your full body. | CHECK PRICE |
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Alpinestars BNS Tech 2 Neck Brace |
A lightweight, comfortable neck brace for added insurance in a crash. | CHECK PRICE |
When choosing your adventure motorcycle gear, there are two main factors that you need to consider: Reliability and versatility.
Reliability is paramount because even the most expensive tech on the market won’t do you any good if it fails on you in the middle of nowhere, which is where you’ll spend a lot of time on rides like the infamous Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route.
Versatility is also important because even with all the panniers and luggage in the world, when we travel on motorcycles, space is limited. Our gear setup needs to be optimized to perform in the broadest range of situations possible.
Some routes, like the trips we operate down in Patagonia, can see conditions vary from freezing with snowfall to warm and sunny within a 2-week window. Truth be told, it's not uncommon to see both conditions in a single day out there.
Our qualifications for a good ADV helmet are simple: it needs to be quiet enough for highway speeds, well ventilated enough for off-roading, and backed by a reliable safety certification (DOT, ECE, Snell, etc.)
A large enough eyeport to accommodate goggles goes a long way as well (especially if you ride in dusty conditions), and the same goes for a peak visor.
Eric wore the original Shoei Hornet for years, and is now riding with the latest Shoei Hornet X2. The X2 is a great pick for the cooler months as its plushly padded interior and firm sealing visor help shut out the chill as needed.
It's still a great helmet year-round, mind you, with good ventilation, aerodynamics, and compatibility with just about any pair of goggles. We love the Shoei for its above-average comfort and quiet at highway speeds.
CHECK PRICE:
Shoei Hornet X2
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AMAZON | REVZILLA
Most adventure bikes are fairly street biased, and adventure helmets tend to follow suit. In warmer weather, however, our team prefers a more dirt-focused lid, as they tend to flow more air and run cooler as a result.
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Klim's Krios Pro
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REVZILLA | AMAZON
Most motorcycle injuries happen below the waist. For that reason, our second most pressing recommendation after a good helmet is getting yourself a good pair of adventure motorcycle boots.
If you follow our YouTube channel, you'll know we're big fans of adventure riding in off-road boots. Alpinestars' latest Tech 7 Enduro Drystar is probably the best boot in the game right now for ADV, especially in less than ideal weather.
That's because unlike typical motocross boots, the Enduro Drystars are both fairly easy to walk in and fully weatherproof. We've put thousands of miles on these things from Mexico to Vietnam and they protect in every way that matters.
CHECK PRICE:
Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro Drystar
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REVZILLA | AMAZON
We've been wearing Alpinestars' Tech 10 for years now for one important reason: Pound for pound, they're the single most protective piece of footwear you can wrap around your ankles.
Eric has been particularly enamored by these boots for their impressive safety tech and incredible longevity. His last pair hung on for a full ten years, making these a pricy but worthwhile investment.
CHECK PRICE:
Alpinestars Tech 10
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REVZILLA | AMAZON
Next we have adventure jackets, which can vary wildly in style, substance, and price. Our take here is that while armor is optional, you shouldn't skimp on abrasion or weather protection.
The Klim Badlands Pro is hands-down the most impressive adventure motorcycle we've ever owned. We've gone through a few iterations over the last several years, and this jacket has never left us wanting.
Klim Badlands Pro Jacket
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AMAZON | REVZILLA
Much like the Bandlands Pro above, Klim's Baja S4 jacket is the epitome of quality. What makes it special, however, is that it's tailor-made for hot climates with acres of breathable mesh and a multitude of vents.
This is our go-to on hot weather trips like our Vietnam and Baja tours, providing the ideal combination of breathability and protection. As is often the case with Klim, materials here are top notch from tip to tail.
Klim Baja S4 Jacket
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AMAZON | REVZILLA
Our take on good adventure pants is the same as our jackets: they should be built to take a beating, and versatile enough to handle whatever conditions you ride in. Nuff' said.
Klim's Badlands Pro pants are made from all the same stuff as the bulletproof Badlands Pro jacket. Superfabric reinforcements, Gore-Tex, the works.
One of our favorite features of the Badlands is the leather panels on the inside of the knees, which give great grip and feedback when you're standing up on the bike. Just one of many lessons Klim's learned from the world of off-road racing.
Klim Badlands Pro Pants
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AMAZON | REVZILLA
Klim Baja S4 Pants: Best Warm Weather Pants
Riding in Klim's Baja S4 adventure motorcycle pants feels about as close as you can get to wearing nothing at all. That's a good thing, by the way, because we want all the help we can get on hot weather tours through places like Thailand.
The S4's special sauce for hot weather is a combination of super breathable mesh and super stretchy fabric panels. The lightweight feel and unrestricted movement feels like wearing a pair of motocross pants, but slide protection is still top-notch.
Klim Baja S4 Pants
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AMAZON | REVZILLA
Our take on adventure gloves has always been to bring two pairs: one for clear, sunny weather, and another for cold, wet, and miserable conditions.
Are you starting to see a pattern here? It's no coincidence that Klim's Badlands line keeps popping up on our list: everything Klim puts the Badlands name on is quite simply the best in the business.
We've put untold thousands of miles on the Badlands GTX gloves, and they're by far the toughest, most protective, and longest lasting thing we've ever slid our hand into. Waterproofing is also downright bombproof, even after several years of hard use.
Klim Badlands GTX Gloves
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AMAZON | REVZILLA
Leatt's 7.5 X-Flow gloves are a masterclass in minimalism. Everything you need, nothing you don't, and absurdly good feel at the bars.
The X-Flow is essentially a mesh MX glove with just the right amount of protection for street use. As such, they're our go-to for off-road intensive tours, but also work great as a general purpose summer street glove.
Leatt 7.5 X-Flow Gloves
Our policy on protection is to pull the pads out of your adventure gear in favor of standalone armor top and bottom. Seperate armored layers stay in place much better in a crash, and tend to be higher quality as well.
We've been running Alpinestars' latest Bionic Action V2 for a few seasons now, and it's the ideal solution for upper body armor. The fit is secure without being restrictive, and the ventilated panels and mesh backing flow a ton of air.
We also appreciate that the Action V2 is a one stop stop for armor, as it includes elbows, shoulders, chest, and a full size back protector. Jackets like this allow us to wear jerseys rather than jackets in hot weather, and that's a very good thing indeed.
CHECK PRICE:
Alpinestars Bionic Action V2 Jacket
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REVZILLA | AMAZON
The riding armor in most motorcycle pants is too loose and prone to sliding around for peace of mind. It also does nothing to help protect your connective tissue from injury, which is why we prefer knee braces like Alpinestars' Bionic 7 to traditional pads.
Braces like these are essentially a copy of your knee joint that's designed to flex naturally as you move while also limiting the extreme movements that cause twisting and tearing injuries. Good knee braces aren't cheap, but they do last a very long time.
CHECK PRICE:
Alpinestars Bionic 7 Knee Braces
While neck braces may look uncomfortable or inconvenient to folks who haven't worn one, we were big proponents of Alpinestars' bionic neck braces long before Ride became the business it is today. Their BNS Tech 2 is our current favorite pick.
These things are lightweight, easy to throw on, and you'll completely forget you're wearing them by the end of the first day. They're an added expense, yes, but they're also a hell of a lot cheaper than treating a neck injury.
CHECK PRICE:
Alpinestars BNS Tech 2 Neck Brace
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AMAZON | REVZILLA
We’ve tried a ton of gear throughout our time guiding adventure motorcycle tours, and all of our suggestions come from experience both on and off the road.
That being said, we certainly haven’t tried all the adventure motorcycle gear out there, so if you’ve got a favorite boot, jacket, or helmet that you didn’t see on our list drop it down here 👇