Off-road riding is often considered a full-contact sport, not only with other riders but with nature itself. As with any sporting activity where there is potential for contact and collisions, a rider needs to take precautions that they are protected as much as possible to avoid injury.
Take adequate steps to protect yourself and your kids when riding off-road or competing in off-roading events to make sure you keep them safe, injury-free, and able to continue enjoying doing what they love!
Gear is not merely intended for your kid to look cool while off-roading! It plays an important part in having fun in the dirt! This is not an area where you should spend as little as possible! The right gear may well prevent serious injury!
To help you choose the protective gear for your kids’ off-roading requirements, we have selected some products that we recommend in various categories.
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Helmet
An off-road rider’s crash helmet is arguably the most important piece of personal protection equipment they will ever buy! Making the right choice of helmet is an important decision and we have come up with some recommendations that may help you to select the right helmet.
Advances in off-road helmet technology and materials has allowed advanced safety features to be incorporated into helmets at all price ranges!
When selecting any off-road helmet, there are certain minimum features that should always be included in your shopping list to make sure the product you buy gives you the protection you need.
- Appropriate size and fit of the helmet.
- Good quality protective material. Usually a polycarbonate/ABS shell construction.
- Quality chin strap and chin strap buckle.
- The weight of the helmet.
- Good helmet ventilation.
- Good impact reducing features such as MIPS an breakaway visors.
Best Kids Off-road Helmet – YEMA-211L
Our recommendation for the young off-road riders is the YEMA-211L which is suitable for both boys and girls. It is lightweight, durable, and complies with the DOT safety standard.
A great feature is a removable interior which is also washable. The helmet has good ventilation and has an attractive design.
At under $100 this helmet is good value for money for the younger rider.
Boots
Off-roading boots are sometimes overlooked by newcomers to off-roading activities. A good pair of boots is, however, an indispensable part of your off-road riding gear, and you should look at acquiring a good pair before your next off-road outing!
Many people think a good pair of hiking boots or a pair of sneakers will do, but a good pair of riding boots will protect not only your feet but also your shins.
Many off-road riders consider a good pair of boots to be the second most important part of their personal protection riding gear next to their helmet!
A good pair of boots should protect you for the following possible circumstances.
- When you take a fall or clash with other riders, the boots will protect your shins, feet, and ankles from injury.
- Stones and debris thrown up from the back wheel from riders in front of you.
- To protect your lower extremities from rocks and trees along the trail and from branches whipping your legs.
- Protection on the track in the event you are ridden over by other riders after a fall.
In the off-roading sector, the best boots are those that are designed and marketed as motocross boots, and these riding boots are designed to protect you for rough trail riding conditions. Even though they are marketed as motocross boots, they are the best product for dirt bike trail riding as well as off-road ATV riding!
Best Kids Off-Roading Boots – O’Neal 0332-102 Unisex-Child Dirt Bike Boots
Our selection of off-road boot in the category best kids off-roading boots is another O’Neal product in the O’Neal 0332-102 Unisex-Child Dirt Bike Boots. These off-road boots have the same protection qualities as many adult boots and come in at just under $110.
The easy snap-lock buckle mechanism for opening and closing the boots is even easy for the kids to operate! They have a synthetic leather shield to protect against heat from hot exhausts or engines, a cool air-mesh interior, and an insole with extra cushioning. The metal toe guard will protect the sole of the boot from damage.
Gloves
Gloves are also one of the most important items for your personal protection! A pair of quality off-road gloves will protect your hands from scrapes and cuts in the event of a fall, but their usefulness to the off-road rider doesn’t stop there!
Off-road gloves are designed to protect your hands and knuckles from stones and debris that riders kick up in front of you, and they also ensure a good grip on the handlebars in wet and muddy conditions.
Many riders will have multiple gloves so that they can ride with protection suitable to the track or trail conditions as well as the weather.
Best Kids Off-Road Gloves – Fox Racing
Our selection for the best kids off-road gloves is another offering from Fox Racing. The durable material that these gloves are made from make them long-lasting and wear-resistant.
The gloves are touch screen compatible, so the kids can use their phones without removing their gloves! The fingertips have silicone prints for improved grip of the controls. Mesh material between the fingers makes these gloves flexible and comfortable and offers great breathability! These are a great buy for the younger riders at only $30!
Knee and Elbow Guards
Knees and elbows often take the brunt of a fall when off-roading on dirt bikes and ATVs and we all know how painful a knock to these body parts can be! Fortunately, manufacturers of protective gear for the off-roading community have realized the need for these knee and elbow guards and have produced gear to protect these extremities.
Many injuries in a fall while off-roading can injure the knee or elbow and this type of injury can keep you away from your favorite outdoor activity for weeks while you heal up.
To prevent both minor and significant injuries to both knees and elbows while off-roading, it is recommended that you invest in quality protection for these areas.
Best Kids Knee Guard – Alpinestars Youth SX-1Off-Road Motocross Knee Protector
For the category Best Kids Knee Guard, we have chosen the Alpinestars Youth SX-1Off-Road Motocross Knee Protector which is a lightweight protector made from breathable material and designed to allow maximum ventilation.
The hinge for the protector plates allows for a good range of movement. The knee protection is provided by impact-absorbing PU foam.
This knee guard is priced at around $90 and is great for the younger riders.
Best Kids Elbow Guard – Troy Lee Designs Youth Elbow Guards
In the category Best Kids Elbow Guard, we have selected the Troy Lee Designs Youth Elbow Guards which are manufactured according to international safety standards and at $24 is a great value for money products for protection for the younger off-road riders.
The elbow guard is made from strong polyethylene and the padding is a ventilated foam for comfort and airflow.
Body and Neck Guards
Body and neck guards are the ideal protection for your chest, back, and neck when enjoying your favorite off-road activity.
The body guard will protect your chest and back in the case of a collision with other rides and from tree branches across the trail that you may encounter. The neck brace or neck support will help to protect your neck from injury in the same circumstances.
Best Kids Body Guard – Leatt 2.0 Fusion Vest protector
The body guard that we recommend for protecting younger off-road riders is the Leatt 2.0 Fusion Vest protector. This unit is a little more costly, coming in at around $240, but it has an integrated neck guard, so you get both a neck and body protector in one purchase. This body protector offers a design that provides comfort and additional padding with specialized foam to protect younger rider’s bones from impact. The foam hardens on impact providing the necessary dispersion of these forces.
Best Kids Neck Guard – EVS Youth Sports R4 Race Collar
If you already have a body guard and you are looking for a separate neck guard for the younger rider, then we recommend that you take a look at the EVS Youth Sports R4 Race Collar, which is priced at $84 and has a PU core to disperse energy and a bio-foam liner for impact absorption. The rear strut can be adjusted to the size of the rider and it has a rapid lock latching system at the front.
Jersey And Pants
The jersey that most off-road riders use is intended to cover up some of their protective gear, and most of the jerseys look cool and add some color and flair to a rider’s gear. They do not provide much in the way of protection for the rider.
The off-road rider’s pants, on the other hand, are an essential part of the rider’s gear and should be chosen with some care, depending on the rider’s requirements.
Best Kids Off-Road Jersey – O’Neal Element Youth Jersey
Our selection for the best kids off-road jersey is the O’Neal Element Youth Jersey, which is breathable and draws moisture away from the rider’s body with a wicking effect.
This helps to keep the rider cool and dry.
The jersey also has sewn in padding at the elbows and retails at around $25!
Best Kids Off-Road Pants – Answer Racing A20
In the category best kids off-road pants, we have selected the Answer Racing A20 off-road pants, which feature a combination of nylon and polyester, which make for a durable combination. The waist buckle is the ratchet type, which is easy to adjust for waist size.
These off-road pants for the younger rider retail for slightly over $50!
Jacket
Choosing the right off-road jacket is essential, as the jacket is key for keeping the rider cool and dry and providing some protection from abrasions and scrapes in the event of a spill.
The jacket should be selected for qualities that promote these characteristics and also that fit well over your chosen body armor. Most modern off-road jackets, however, come with armor integrated into the construction and design of the jacket, which allows you to wear one layer less of protective gear.
Best Kids Off-Road Jacket – Alpinestars Youth Bionic Jacket
Our jacket of choice for the younger off-road rider is the Alpinestars Youth Bionic Jacket, which is of a similar quality to our selection in the category of the best off-road jacket.
It has all the same features as the adult jacket with good, integrated armor, designed for excellent ventilation and flexible, lightweight material for the rest of the garment.
This off-road jacket is available in several sizes and is priced between $125 and $150 depending on the selected size.
Conclusion
As mentioned at the beginning, it is important to take adequate steps to protect yourself and your kids when riding off-road or competing in off-roading events to make sure you keep them safe, injury-free, and able to continue enjoying doing what they love!
Gear is not merely intended for your kid to look cool while off-roading! It plays an important part in having fun in the dirt! This is not an area where you should spend as little as possible! The right gear may well prevent serious injury!
One thing to bear in mind is that your child is going to quickly outgrow all this gear! Once you need to replace items, you may want to consider selling the old gear as used items or passing them down to younger members of the family.
Happy off-roading!
