Motocross is an adventurous sport with lots of adrenaline guaranteed when overcoming challenging dirt tracks. It’s also a sport that poses a lot of risks and dangers. I’m sure that’s something we can all agree on, whether we’re practising it or not.
If you’re a motocross enthusiast, like me, then you’ve probably wondered if those guys are just plain lucky or if they happen to have airbags built in them to make them survive some serious falls. The answer is neither, but the impressive motocross clothing and accessories such as helmets, goggles, and braces are designed to provide the needed protection and cushioning.
While you may think any regular pair of jeans or pants would do, much like a favourite T-shirt, you’re wrong. Same as with any sport, be it cricket or basketball, adequate clothing in the likes of lightweight and comfortable dirt bike pants and motocross jackets is what makes all the difference in the overall experience.
Unlike your typical clothes, these come with the right details that offer utmost support and protection for the most crucial body parts that can get injured through falls, like knee, back, elbow, chest and shoulder support made from top-notch materials in the example of leather. Depending on how much you’re willing to spend, you can get great bargains when shopping for a whole set or invest in something of quality buying them separately.
Choosing your brands requires utmost care because after all it’s to do with safety and comfort, and you won’t regret shopping from those that go the extra mile in the designs. Take for instance Flexair with features such as the Rider Attack Position construction for ergonomic fit and TruMotion zonal stretch panels for flexibility and mobility – these two are handy and would get you far in your rides.
The last thing you want to be dealing with when on the bike is whether or not you have the needed amount of stretch and fit. You need clothes that move with you! In case you intend to wear the additional guards and braces (as you should) look for dirt bike pants and jerseys or jackets that have precision panelling on the seams on the knees and elbows for a slim fit.
A reinforced saddle panel is another plus that comes in handy with durability and performance, something cheaper models may lack, as much as your regular pants. Last but not least, appropriate motocross clothes are designed to provide proper ventilation and thermoregulation which is another huge plus and a reason you ought to acquire quality clothing.
Any sport on two wheels urges protection in the form of a helmet. Since it’s meant to cover the head, you need the best of the best you can afford. This isn’t the piece you can afford to go cheap on either by opting to buy from an unknown brand, or worse, getting a secondhand helmet someone else used and abused before you.
In addition to paying attention to the size, and measuring up your head in case you’re buying online, it’s important to check whether the helmet is designed in accordance with the standards. This would ensure you get the needed protection and safety, having the certainty it can endure what you put it through. Other things you ought to be checking are the ventilation, whether or not it allows you to wear a neck brace, as well as emergency features like release cheek pads.
Same as with the clothes in the likes of durable and flexible motocross pants and jackets, and a suitable helmet, having the right accessories can help you go a long way in the motocross adventure.
Let’s start with the goggles, the protection for your eyes. Much like when shopping for a helmet, you ought to make sure they are the right fit for you and offer the needed comfort with optimal foam padding, fit and ventilation.
Additional features that could come in handy even with entry-level goggles are anti-scratch lenses and tear-off posts. One brand that stands out with the goggles, particularly the framing, is Oakley. They also offer you the chance to replace the lenses once they serve you well, so it’s a cost-efficient option to consider.
You’ve heard of the guards but what about the braces? They too are designed to protect the wrists, elbows, knees, and even the neck, but they do a much better job than the guards because they protect from injuries altogether – specifically from impact as well as over-extension by controlling the movement.
Sure, you may end up paying more if you add them to the list of essentials, but in the long run, they would more than pay off when you think of how much they spared you from costly (and perhaps even life-threatening) injuries. You won’t regret this investment!