How to Choose Proper Motorcycle Riding Gear: A Piece-by-Piece Buyer's Checklist

Proper motorcycle riding gear means a certified helmet plus a jacket, pants, gloves and boots made for riding. Each piece should carry real impact protection, have strong seams and closures, and stay in place when you're in the riding position. Check the label and the construction before you look at style. This guide is part of our motorcycle riding gear hub.

Key takeaways

• Cover the whole body: helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and boots.
• Helmet: look for the DOT / FMVSS No. 218 / CERTIFIED label. Full-face or open-face beats half-coverage for brain injury.
• Jacket and pants: check what armor is actually in the pockets. Foam fillers without an EN 1621-1 label may not protect.
• Gloves and boots: the closure on the inside, a layered palm, a rigid sole and the pull-off test.
• Try everything on in the riding position, wearing what you ride in.

The quick checklist

Helmet: start with the label

Helmets have the strongest evidence of any gear. Studies cited by IIHS found they reduce the risk of death by 37%-42%. Riders without helmets were 3 times more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury.

In the US, a helmet that meets FMVSS No. 218 carries a label reading "DOT", "FMVSS No. 218" and "CERTIFIED", with the model name. Novelty helmets skip the standard. Riders wearing them were about twice as likely to die in crashes as riders in certified full-face helmets.

Coverage matters too. Half-coverage helmet wearers were twice as likely to suffer brain injuries as open-face or full-face wearers. Our store doesn't sell helmets, so buy one from a helmet specialist.

Jacket and pants: armor, seams, closures

Read the class. Under EN 17092, summarized by the test lab SATRA, garments are rated AAA, AA, A, B or C:

In the abrasion test, removable liners come out first. The garment passes only if no hole of 5 mm (0.2 in) or more opens on the layer closest to the body.

Check the armor. Armor only works if it stays over the joint. Put the gear on and check that the protectors sit over your shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Some pockets hold plain foam. Unless it's labelled EN 1621-1 it may not protect, and you can swap in EN 1621-1 armor. On leather jackets from our store, the armor supplied differs by style, so read each product's specifications.

Check seams and closures. Look for two or three rows of stitching on major seams, with at least one row hidden. Zips should be covered by flaps and kept off exposed areas. Skip studs and hard decorations.

Two-piece? EN 17092 tests the jacket-to-pants connection by pulling it for 60 seconds at 100 N; it must not gap.

Gloves: palm, closure and the pull-off test

• Palm. Several layers of material, not one, as MotoCAP's glove guide advises. Palm sliders add abrasion protection.
• Protectors. Knuckle and palm protectors that stay in place.
• Closure. Fastener on the inside of the wrist. Have someone try to pull the fastened glove off.
• Cuff. About 2 in (5 cm) past the wrist.
• Standard. EN 13594 tests impact abrasion, seam strength and whether the glove stays on; hard studs are allowed only outside the protective layer.
• Size. Measure around the widest part of the palm without the thumb. The store advises the larger size if you're between two.

Boots: coverage, sole and leather thickness

Riding or sturdy boots were linked to about 45% fewer foot and ankle injuries than regular shoes in Australian research. MotoCAP's boot guide suggests:

• full ankle coverage, ideally up to the lower shin, and a rigid sole
• soles stitched to the upper, not just glued, and fastenings on the inside of the leg
• leather 2.5 mm (0.1 in) thick or more, or purpose-built synthetics
• CE-marked boots to EN 13634, level 1 or 2. CE marking doesn't fully assess ankle-twist protection

Steel-toe work boots are generally not suitable for riding. Our store lists its boots in cowhide about 1.2-1.5 mm (0.05-0.06 in) thick, so compare that against MotoCAP's thickness figure and each product's specifications before you choose.

Fit and weather

• Fit. Try gear on over the clothes you ride in. It should be snug and comfortable in the riding position. Loose gear flaps, distracts and lets cold in.
• Heat. Prefer vents on the chest and back. MotoCAP advises against vents on the arms near the elbows and shoulders. Light or reflective colors deflect heat.
• Rain and cold. Waterproofs should breathe. PVC keeps rain out but traps sweat. Cold riders may react more slowly.
• Sizing. If you're between sizes, made-to-order gear in a custom size is cut to your own measurements.

Picks by rider type

Off-road riders need a different kit: see the complete dirt bike riding gear checklist.

Build your kit

There are no ready-made kits or bundle offers yet . Build yours one piece at a time from the Leather Collection motorcycle riding gear range: jackets, race suits, pants, chaps, vests, gloves and boots, each made to order. Check every product's own specifications for armor and leather thickness.

Related guides

• Planning a multi-day ride? Our motorcycle touring gear hub shows the full kit.
• Heading off for a few days? Use our motorcycle road trip checklist.
• Helmet and glove laws differ by state and country: see required motorcycle equipment.

FAQ

What are 10 must-have motorcycle accessories?

Start with the five pieces you wear: helmet, jacket, pants, gloves and boots. Then add a breathable rain layer, a warm layer, EN 1621-1 armor if your pockets hold foam, a spare pair of gloves and a reflective layer for night riding.

What motorcycle gear do you wear while riding?

At minimum, a certified helmet, plus a jacket, pants, gloves and boots made for riding. Only 17 states and DC require helmets for every rider, but gear designed for riders improves outcomes after serious injuries.