What Safety Gear Do You Need for ATV Riding? (Complete Guide)

ATV riding requires specific safety gear to reduce injury risk. A DOT-approved helmet is mandatory in most states — plus goggles, gloves, boots, and protective clothing. Here's exactly what you need.

What Safety Gear Do You Need for ATV Riding? (Complete Guide)

The most important safety gear for ATV riding is a DOT-approved full-face helmet — required by law in most states and essential for survival in a crash. Beyond the helmet, proper ATV riding gear includes goggles, gloves, over-the-ankle boots, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket. Chest and back protectors and knee guards add additional protection for technical trails. Here's a complete breakdown of what to wear and why each piece matters.

Essential ATV Safety Gear

1. Helmet (The Most Important Item)

A DOT (Department of Transportation) certified full-face helmet is the single most critical piece of ATV safety equipment. Head trauma is the leading cause of ATV fatalities. Full-face helmets protect your face and chin in addition to your skull — open-face helmets leave your face exposed to debris, branches, and impact.

• Look for DOT certification at minimum; Snell or ECE 22.06 certification offers even higher protection
• Replace any helmet after an impact, even if it looks undamaged
• Replace helmets every 5 years regardless of use (materials degrade)
• A quality DOT-certified ATV helmet typically costs $80–$300

2. Goggles

Even with a full-face helmet, goggles are essential for ATV riding. They protect your eyes from dust, mud, rocks, branches, and insects. Most ATV helmets have an opening designed to accept standard MX/ATV goggles. Anti-fog lenses are worth the extra cost for humid or variable conditions.

3. Gloves

ATV gloves protect your hands from vibration fatigue, branches, and abrasion in a fall. They also improve grip on the handlebars, especially when wet or muddy. Look for gloves with reinforced palm and knuckle protection. Motocross or ATV-specific gloves cost $20–$60.

4. Over-the-Ankle Boots

Your feet and ankles are highly vulnerable on an ATV. Dedicated ATV or motocross boots provide ankle support, crush protection from the footpeg, and waterproofing. At minimum, wear sturdy lace-up work boots that cover your ankles. Sneakers and sandals are never appropriate for ATV riding.

5. Long Pants and Long-Sleeved Shirt or Jacket

Always ride in long pants (jeans are the bare minimum; reinforced riding pants offer better protection) and a long-sleeved shirt or jacket. Exposed skin suffers significant abrasion in even low-speed falls. Motocross jerseys and pants or riding jackets with CE-rated armor are best for trail riding.

Recommended Additional Protection

Chest and Back Protector

For trail riding, a chest/back protector armor vest protects your ribs, sternum, and spine in falls and impacts. These are particularly important on rocky or technical terrain where falling against a boulder is a real possibility.

Knee and Shin Guards

Knee injuries are common in ATV accidents. Knee/shin guards that strap over or under your pants provide impact and abrasion protection. Dedicated motocross knee guards are lightweight and don't restrict movement significantly.

Neck Brace

Neck braces reduce cervical spine injuries in high-speed crashes. Used by serious ATV and motocross riders, they're not required for casual trail riding but worth considering if you ride frequently or aggressively.

Gear for Kids on ATVs

Children require the same gear as adults — scaled to their size. Never put a child on an adult-sized ATV. Youth ATVs are sized by age and weight, and youth helmets must fit properly. The ATV Safety Institute recommends children under 6 never ride ATVs.

Where to Ride Safely

Proper gear is only half the equation — riding on legal, designated trails keeps you and others safe. Find ATV trails near you in our directory. Popular state-level riding areas include Colorado ATV trails and West Virginia ATV trails, where both public and private trail systems are well-maintained.

Frequently Asked Questions