ATV riding gear for the cold, layer by layer

Why a cold ATV ride is different

A quad in late fall and winter is rarely a fast, steady ride. You crawl through mud, open gates, haul firewood, plow the driveway or sit at a stand. You sweat while you work, then sit still in the wind in damp clothes. The front tires throw slush and mud at your legs and boots. Your hands stay on the bars all day with one thumb on the throttle lever, so your fingers and throttle thumb do little to warm themselves.

So the goal is not just more insulation. It is dry skin, a shell that stops wind and water, heat you can turn up or down, and covers for hands and feet. On hunting days, ride in with layers open so you do not arrive soaked, then close up and add heat at the stand; our guide to winter hunting clothes covers the long sit and hunter orange.

Helmet and protective gear come first

Wear a helmet every ride, plus eye protection, gloves, long sleeves, long pants and over-the-ankle boots. Our ATV protective gear checklist covers each piece, and our ATV gear FAQs answer what to wear in mud and rain. With winter layers on, check that your helmet still fits snugly and the chin strap fastens securely.

Base and mid layer: stay dry first

Next to your skin, wear a base layer that wicks sweat. Cotton holds moisture and chills you as soon as you stop. Over it, a fleece or other warm mid layer traps heat. On a working day, open your collar while you load or shovel, then close up before you ride.

The heated layer: jacket liner or vest liner

At trail speeds you make little heat of your own. Both liners go over a T-shirt and under your outer jacket.

• Gen-X4 Heated Jacket Liner: made for motorcycle, snowmobile and ATV riders. It heats the front, back and collar, the fabric is windproof and water-resistant, and plugs at the end of each sleeve power heated gloves or glove liners. It comes with a Coax Battery Cord for your machine's 12V battery.
• Gen-X4 Heated Vest Liner: heats the front, back and collar and also comes with a Coax Battery Cord.

Water-resistant is not waterproof, so keep either liner under your shell. Our heated vest vs heated jacket liner guide compares the two.

Power. Each product page lists its draw: the jacket liner 6.4 amps, the vest liner 3.9 amps, the heated gloves 2.1 amps a pair. Before running several from your ATV, check your owner's manual for how much accessory load the machine can handle and how the circuit is fused. Off the machine, our Heated Clothing Portable Battery Kits run them: the ZR8 is rated for 8 amps and the ZR5 for 5.2 amps, and the jacket liner runs on the ZR8, not the ZR5. See how long heated clothing batteries last and our heated clothing FAQs.

The shell: ATV rain gear that also stops wind

The shell keeps wind, mud, slush and rain off your warm layers. The Dri-Tek 2-Piece Rain Suit is built for motorcycle and ATV riders: waterproof, breathable outer fabric, heat-sealed seams, and elastic at the ankles, cuffs and waist. Details that matter on an ATV:

• Heat-resistant panels on the lower legs, against burns if your shins brush hot exhaust parts.
• Knee-length zippers to pull the pants on over your boots, and loops that go under the boots.
• A large front zipper you can pull with gloves on, under a storm flap, and a slim hood that fits under a helmet.

ATV gloves for the cold

Cold hands can cut a ride short. Three options:

• Gen-X4 Heated Gloves: leather with an extra-long gauntlet, a windproof and waterproof breathable insert, and heat along each finger, the thumb and the back of the hand. That thumb heat matters on a throttle lever.
• Gen-X4 Heated Glove Liners: heat every finger and thumb under your own gloves. Their page recommends a waterproof glove over them.
• Dri-Tek Reusable Waterproof Glove Covers: pull over the gloves or mitts you already wear. Waterproof and windproof, with grip material on the palm and fingertips.

Our heated gloves vs heated glove liners guide compares the two. To block the wind at the bars instead, see ATV cab enclosure vs handlebar muffs.

Feet: heated socks, insoles and boot covers

Feet sit still on the footrests, close to wet ground. Start with insulated, waterproof boots, then add:

• Gen-X4 Heated Socks: heat under and above the toes, extra tall to cover most of the calf, and fit under tall or short boots.
• Gen-X4 Electric Heated Insoles: a carbon fibre element across the whole foot, trimmable to your boot. Not for women's shoe sizes under US 7.5 or men's under US 6.5; the page suggests the socks instead.
• Dri-Tek Reusable Waterproof Boot Covers: waterproof polyester with a PVC backing, a ripple rubber sole for grip, a side zipper under a Velcro storm flap and a strap under the foot. Go up a size to wear them over work boots.

Our heated insoles vs heated socks guide helps you choose.

Head and neck under the helmet

A balaclava closes the gap between your helmet and your collar.

• Thermaltex Balaclava: soft, moisture-wicking poly-cotton, a long U-shaped neck that tucks into your collar, and flat seams. ATVing is one of the uses its page names.
• Breathable Waterproof Balaclava: a waterproof, breathable outer layer, an insulating middle and a microfleece lining. Its perforated mouth area and nostril cut-out help prevent eyewear fogging, which matters behind goggles. Hand wash only.

The seat: heat from below

The Heated Seat Pad can be used on most ATVs and snowmobiles; it measures 14.25 by 14.5 inches, so check that against your seat. It straps on with adjustable webbing, has an anti-skid underside, and comes with a 20 inch battery cord with an on and off switch and a 5 amp fuse. See our heated seat pad vs seat heater kit guide.

What to buy first

• Wet trails and slush: the rain suit and boot covers.
• Hands end the ride: heated gloves, or heated glove liners under waterproof gloves.
• Long sits and slow work: a heated jacket or vest liner, plus the heated seat pad.
• Cold feet: heated socks or insoles in waterproof boots.

See everything for the rider and the machine in our ATV gear collection.

Questions riders ask us

Do heated socks go over or under my regular socks?

Their page says to wear a thin, no-show sock under the heated socks and a windproof, waterproof boot over them.

Can I run the jacket liner and heated gloves from one portable battery?

Not from one ZR8: together they draw more than its 8 amp maximum. Power the gloves from their own battery, or run the setup from your ATV's 12V system after checking your owner's manual.

What size rain suit should I order to go over winter layers?

Measure yourself in the clothes you will wear underneath and use the size chart on the product page. One owner suggests buying it oversize, and another found the pants ran bigger than the jacket, so check both.