The first thing you need to do before booking an ATV tour with your friends is to figure out what to wear. Most people only focus on what kind of ATV they want to ride and don’t spend even one second thinking about what to wear when riding. They end up full of scratches and dirt. This doesn’t need to be the case for you.
The most important item to wear when riding ATVs is the helmet. You need an off-road helmet that will provide you with maximum protection in case you fall or get hit by a branch when riding the ATV. In terms of what type of clothing to wear when riding four-wheelers, it’s always recommended to wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt. If you don’t, you will get scratched by the tree branches and end up covered in mud and dirt. You also need to wear gloves because they make it easier to control the ATV and protect your hands safe from cuts and bruises. In addition, wearing a long sleeve shirt will keep you safe from sunburns.
Knowing what to wear when riding ATVs can make the difference between having a good time and a bad experience. Don’t worry, I will present everything you need to know so that your first time riding an ATV is awesome.
What to Wear When ATV Riding?
Hands down, the most important thing everyone should wear when riding ATVs is a helmet. Believe me; you don’t want to get hit by a tree branch when going full speed through woods. This happens to everyone, and by choosing to wear a helmet, you will be safe when it happens to you. That’s not all. In the unlikely scenario of falling off your ATV, the helmet will keep you safe from serious damage. There are lots of helmets on the market, but I really like the ones from O’Neal. You can read more about it by visiting the Recommended Gear page of my website.
Now that we settled just how important it is to wear a helmet when riding ATVs, the next step is to select what type of clothing you should wear. From my experience, long pants are essential. Long pants will keep you safe from unwanted bruises and scratches that will get on your legs after riding four-wheelers all day long. In addition, you will have an easier time sending the pants to dry cleaning than getting the mud off your feet if you choose to wear shorts. The most common reason people don’t want to wear long pants when riding ATVs is that they will get warm. This is not always the case. You can wear a pair of breathable pants that are made from materials such as nylon or linen.
As previously mentioned, I recommend everyone to wear a long sleeve shirt on their outdoor adventures. You will be riding at fast speeds on your ATV (even if it will be the first time you get on one), and you will get lots of scratches on your forearms. Luckily, this all can be avoided by choosing to wear a long sleeve shirt. Another good idea is to wear a jacket. The jacket will do a fantastic job of keeping your arms safe, and you can take it off when taking a break. If you are riding during the hot summer days, you will be thankful that you can take the jacket off.
The last essential gear to wear when riding ATVs is gloves. If you rode bicycles when you were a kid, you know very well that the handlebars can cause damage to your hands. The same goes for ATVs. Using gloves for riding ATVs will make the experience much more enjoyable because you will have an easy time maneuvering the four-wheeler, and you will not have to deal with cuts, blisters, or bruises on your hands. If you are going on an ATV tour, the guide will lend everyone gloves. If you want to get a pair of professional ATV riding gloves, I recommend checking out the mountain bike gloves from the Rock Bros.
Here is a short summary of what you should wear when riding ATVs:
- Helmet;
- Long pants;
- Long sleeve shirt or jacket;
- Any pair of sneakers;
- Gloves.
Sidenote: If there is one “trick” that I learned the hard way when riding ATVs all summer long, it has to be to wear sunscreen. Even though you might cover up your arms and legs with clothing, you still need to put some sunscreen on your face and neck. I sometimes wear a bandana around my neck to keep the skin protected from the sun. You can try this as well if it’s not too hot outside.
Should You Wear Long Pants for ATV?
In general, it’s best to wear long pants when riding ATVs. You can choose short pants if it’s a hot summer day, but you need to be ready to get scratches on your legs and end up dirty. I highly advise choosing long pants because your skin will be kept safe from harm and you won’t even get too hot because you will be riding at fast speeds. In addition, you can wear a pair of pants that are made from a breathable material such as nylon.
Do You Have to Wear Sneakers for ATV?
You need to wear ATV riding boots ort sneakers when going on off-road adventures. Some ATV models will have you switching gears with your foot (just like a dirt bike works) and you need to make sure that your foot doesn’t slip. In addition, wearing footwear that is made from a rigid material will keep your foot safe from any damage that can be caused by things such as a branch hitting your ankle, for example.
What Do You Wear to ATV in Mexico?
It’s important to know what type of clothes to wear when riding ATVs during the hot summer days if you want to have a good time, especially if you are booking an ATV tour in Mexico. Mexico is a fun place to ride ATVs, but the heat can be difficult to deal with. Nonetheless, here is what you need to wear to ATV in Mexico: helmet, long sleeve shirt, long pants, sneakers, and gloves. If the place where you are booking the ATV tour offers rental gear, my advice is to book ATV riding boots as well. They will provide your foot with extra protection.
Can I Wear Flip Flops ATV?
You can’t wear flip flops on an ATV. You will be going too fast, and your flips flops will fall off. That’s not all. The flip flops can get in the way of your conrtol over the four-wheeler in tight corners or switching gears. This is why you should consider wearing ATV boots or at least a pair of sneakers. It’s important to highlight that if you choose to wear flip flops on an ATV, you will get all sorts of scratches and bruises on your feet. This is why I always advise my friends to wear sneakers if they don’t have ATV boots.
Can I Wear Jeans to ATV?
You can wear jeans to ATV without any problems. In fact, jeans are great for riding ATVs because they are easy to clean if you get them covered in mud. You just have to throw them into the washing machine, and you are good to go. However, you should make sure that you wear a pair of comfortable jeans that give you enough room to move. The reason behind this is that it can be difficult to stay on an ATV for a long time if the pants you are wearing feel tight.
Final Words
No matter if you are booking your first ATV tour or have been riding for a while, wearing the right type of clothing is key to having a good time. If you plan on riding ATVs often, my advice is to put together 2-3 outfits just for this activity. This way, you won’t have to worry about getting your clothes dirty when riding through mud or getting them wet if it starts raining. Nonetheless, a helmet, long sleeve shirt, long pants, and sneakers are essential for riding ATVs.
