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What Kind of Protective Gear is Everyone Wearing

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S

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Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited)
I was wondering what type of proctective gear I should be wearing, if any, and what you guys wear in any given situation. A little background: I grew up near a heavily wooded area that has a few trails in it that I "helped wear down" over years of riding on them. Back then I had a Trek 820 and had no protection of any kind. I was good to go with shorts and a T-shirt. I had a few spills and mishaps with the pedals digging in my shins but nothing major.....that I remember at least.

Fast forward to the present, which is like 10 years later. I just bought a Trek 4300 and have been riding those trails in the same wooded area. Although, I now live about a mile and a half from the trails in which I just ride there via sidewalks next to streets. Anyways, what kind of protection would you guys wear in this environment? I have a helmet but only planned on using it on serious trails near local mountains. What kind of helmets is everyone using? I have some Fox gloves on order as well because my hands take a beating on those trails (roots, worn down ruts and a small track with medium jumps). I have some pretty good blisters in the works after 3 days of riding those trails and through neighborhoods.
 
AndrwSwitch

· Fat-tired Roadie
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#2 ·
Helmet, gloves. If I'm riding flat pedals, maybe shin guards. When I was hurling myself off things and crashing a lot, I wore forearm guards, but I haven't in a long time.
 
AladdinP

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#3 ·
Always wear your helmet. You'll miss it when you need it. I have a light XC helmet + full finger gloves I wear 90% of the time and a full face for the other 10% when I'm riding a trail that I feel like I'm in way over my head.
 
LoneReaction

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#6 ·
I don't see much people wearing elbow guards, some people wearing shin guards. But I wear shin/knee, elbow/arm guards, gloves and helmet all the time, for any type of off-road riding.

You may stand out sometimes, but it sure beats getting cuts and scrapes. And so far no one has even commented on them.
 
Trail Ninja

· Terrain Sculptor
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#7 ·
Just a helmet and gloves for me. Glasses in bug season. I'm a pretty cautious rider, no big air, not really fast. I've crashed lots and just get scrapes and bruises, so I guess I'm not riding hard enough to need armor.
 
Trail Ninja

· Terrain Sculptor
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#8 ·
LoneReaction said:
I don't see much people wearing elbow guards, some people wearing shin guards. But I wear shin/knee, elbow/arm guards, gloves and helmet all the time, for any type of off-road riding.

You may stand out sometimes, but it sure beats getting cuts and scrapes. And so far no one has even commented on them.
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They thought it but were too polite to comment. :D

Either way, it's no excuse to stop wearing your armor if that's what makes you comfortable.
 
pfox90

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#9 ·
Always wear a helmet, and I suggest if your a budget rider you pony up and buy the good helmet, you don't want to skimp out on quality. I'm sure everyone wears gloves, I wear some fox attack gloves with a little padding on the knuckles (you can get these for like $15). Other than that it's whatever your comfort level is, who gives a $hit what other people say. If you want to wear body armor because your pushing the curves so hard, then go for it.
 
pfox90

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#11 ·
S

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Discussion Starter · #14 · (Edited)
Well I got a Bontrager Solstice helmet. I didn't think there were big differences with helmets so I just got that one at a LBS. Is this helmet not a good one? What are the differences with the more expensive ones? If the more expensive ones offer better comfort or safety then I will get a better one. There was one level up of the Bontrager helmets at my LBS but I just figured it was just a cosmetic difference, nothing more. What kind of helmets is everyone using?

As for gloves, I found some Fox Sidewinders for $20 (which were half-off) and got those. It doesn't look like it has the same support in the knuckle area as the Bombers and Attack gloves. So I may have made another mistake there.
 
pfox90

· T.W.O
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#15 ·
Snagged7 said:
Well I got a Bontrager Solstice helmet. I didn't think there were big differences with helmets so I just got that one at a LBS. Is this helmet not a good one? What are the differences with the more expensive ones? If the more expensive ones offer better comfort or safety then I will get a better one. There was one level up of the Bontrager helmets at my LBS but I just figured it was just a cosmetic difference, nothing more. What kind of helmets is everyone using?

As for gloves, I found some Fox Sidewinders for $20 (which were half-off) and got those. It doesn't look like it has the same support in the knuckle area as the Bombers and Attack gloves. So I may have made another mistake there.
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I have the sidewinders as well for $20 they are good gloves. It sucks because I saw the attacks go on clearance a week or so after I ordered the sidewinders, so I got both :)
 
zebrahum

· Picture Unrelated
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#16 ·
Helmet and full finger gloves always. A full face helmet, Leatt neck brace, and knee/shin pads for when I'm doing something stupid.
 
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Kona_CT

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#17 · (Edited)
Helmet, full finger gloves and glasses all the time.

I normally wear a BMX style ProTec lid and wear Kona gloves (I got 3 pairs).
 
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H

· Braille Riding Instructor
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1,146 Posts
#19 ·
Allow me to be the jillionth person to insist upon wearing a properly fitted helmet.

Always.

Even for a five-minute ride to the store and back.

Eye protection is also a must, especially if you're biking through areas with foliage, bugs, dust, etc.

Blades are the best because not only do they protect you from the hazards listed above, they also block the wind. Normal sunglasses will not.
 
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