The ATV protective gear checklist

Head: helmet and eye protection

A helmet is the one piece of gear you never ride without. Choose a certified off-road or full-face helmet that fits snugly without pressure points, and replace it after any hard impact. Check your province's rules for off-road vehicles, which often make helmets mandatory.

Eye protection matters as much as it does on a dirt bike. On a trail, branches, gravel thrown by the rider ahead, dust and insects all come at face height. Goggles seal around your eyes and are the usual choice with an off-road helmet.

Neck and face: what to wear under the helmet

Long trail days put a lot of weight on your neck. Our Motocross Neck Brace Collar is a soft 360° foam collar that rests on your shoulders and helps carry the weight of your helmet, easing neck fatigue on long rides. It sits below full-face helmets without pushing on the chin bar and fits adults and youth with an adjustable closure. Be clear about what it is: a foam support and comfort collar for recreational riding, not impact protection. If you race in an event that requires certified neck protection, you need a certified structural brace.

For the face, a balaclava does two jobs under a helmet: it keeps your face warm and it keeps sweat off your helmet liner. Pick by season:

• Thermaltex Balaclava: a soft, moisture-wicking poly-cotton layer for fall riding, with flat seams so there are no pressure points under the helmet.
• Breathable Waterproof Balaclava: three layers (a waterproof, breathable shell, Milair insulation and a microfleece lining) with a perforated mouthpiece and a nostril cut-out that help prevent goggle fog.
• 2-in-1 Balaclava and Neck Dickey: the same three-layer build with a neck dickey for full coverage around the head, face and neck on the coldest days.

Body: jacket, pants and gloves

On an ATV, long sleeves and long pants are not optional. Rocks, sticks and dirt thrown up by the wheels can cut and bruise bare skin, and the engine and exhaust get hot. Choose a durable riding jacket and pants with a closure that keeps the wind out, and gloves that protect your hands while still letting you feel the throttle and brakes.

When the forecast turns wet, add a rain layer over your gear. The Dri-Tek 2-Piece Rain Suit was designed with motorcycle and ATV riders in mind:

• 100% waterproof, breathable polyester with heat-sealed seams, and a mesh lining so it does not stick to you when you sweat.
• Heat-resistant panels on the lower legs that help protect against burns if your shins brush a hot exhaust.
• Reflective bands on the arms and back to make you more visible.
• Knee-length zippers on the pants, so they go on without taking your boots off, plus loops that pass under your boots.
• A slim hood that fits under a helmet, or rolls into a pocket at the collar.

It comes in 8 unisex sizes and is sized to fit over your existing gear: measure yourself in your normal clothing and use the size chart on the product page. Go up a size only if a measurement is outside a range or you wear body armour or padding.

Feet: boots

Running shoes are not ATV footwear. Wear boots that cover the ankle, with a low heel and a sole that grips, so your feet stay planted on the footrests. Keep both feet on the footrests while the ATV is moving: a foot put down on the trail can be run over by the rear wheel. In rain or slush, waterproof boots keep your feet warm a lot longer.

Cold-weather ATV gear

Riding through a Canadian fall and winter adds wind chill to everything. Three additions help:

• A warmer face layer. Switch to a three-layer balaclava or the 2-in-1 with its neck dickey.
• Handlebar muffs. Muffs block the wind before it reaches your hands, so you can wear thinner gloves and keep a better feel on the controls. The Rigid Handlebar Muffs have removable hard shells that keep their shape and pack flat into a bag. The Visi-Control Handlebar Muffs have clear top windows so you can still see your buttons and switches, and a neoprene wrist enclosure that helps hold in body heat or the heat from heated grips.
• A cab enclosure. For riders who work outside in winter, the ATV Cab Enclosure turns the ATV into a soft cabin. It shields you from wind chill, snow, rain and trail debris, and engine heat builds up inside the canopy to help keep you warm. It is made of 420D nylon with a water-resistant coating over a steel tube frame, has large clear windows and roll-up doors, and typically assembles in under an hour. It fits ATVs with a flat surface at the front and rear. Check the fit list on the product page for your make and model before you order.

Ride smarter, not just better dressed

Gear protects you when something goes wrong. These habits help reduce the risk of something going wrong:

1. Take a course. In Ontario, the OFATV offers Ready To RideON, an online course for young and new riders. Across Canada, the Canadian ATV Operator Course combines an online course with a follow-up with a Canada Safety Council instructor to complete certification.
2. Never ride alone, especially on a trail you do not know.
3. Ride sober, stay on designated trails, and ride at a speed that suits the terrain and the light.
4. One rider per seat. Carry a passenger only if your ATV is built for two.
5. Check the machine before you leave, and carry an air pump, tire plugs and a basic tool kit.
6. Stop when you are tired. Fatigue is when mistakes happen.

Questions riders ask us

What should I wear to ride an ATV?

A helmet, goggles, gloves, a long-sleeved jacket, long pants and over-the-ankle boots. Add a rain suit for wet days and a balaclava and handlebar muffs for cold ones. For the detail, see what to wear ATV riding in cold, mud and rain.

Is a neck brace collar enough for racing?

No. Our neck brace collar is a foam support and comfort collar for recreational riding. Sanctioned racing that requires certified neck protection needs a certified structural brace.

Will the ATV Cab Enclosure fit my quad?

It fits ATVs with a flat surface at the front and rear, and the product page lists the makes and models we have tested, from Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Can-Am, Polaris, Suzuki, Arctic Cat, CFMOTO and others. Send us your make, model and year through the chat if yours is not listed.

How do I keep my hands warm on an ATV?

Handlebar muffs help because they stop the wind before it reaches your gloves. If your ATV has handguards, check the fit notes on the Visi-Control muffs: the standard version does not fit over handguards.

You can browse everything for your quad in our ATV gear collection. To protect the machine between rides, see our ATV and UTV cover sizing guide. If you ride in to hunt, our guide to winter hunting clothes covers staying warm on a long, cold sit.