What to Wear ATV Riding (Recommended Gear & Clothing)

Dressing properly and wearing the right gear is an important part of riding ATVs.

Whether you’re on a casual ATV tour or you plan to do some mudding, the right gear and clothing goes a long way. 

We’ll cover the necessary gear you should be wearing any time you ride an ATV, and some clothing considerations for specific use-cases, such as:

• Riding in mud.
• Riding on trails.
• Riding in the cold. 
• Riding when it’s hot. 

Recommended Gear for All Types of ATV Riding

There is some gear that you should be wearing any time you get on an ATV. This gear is designed to keep you safe and comfortable in all riding situations. 

Necessary gear to wear when riding an ATV includes:

• Full-face, DOT-certified MX/Dirt Bike Helmet. 
• Goggles and face protection. 
• Durable gloves. 
• Sturdy, closed-toe shoes or riding boots.  

All of this protective gear will keep you protected from branches and debris as you ride, and will reduce your risk of serious injury or death in the event of a crash. 

You should never ride an ATV without a proper helmet. 

Additionally, you should never wear flip-flops while riding an ATV.

A good rule of thumb is to use the same safety gear when riding an off-road vehicle as you would a motorcycle. 

Next, we’ll cover the clothing you should wear while riding. 

How to Dress for ATV Riding

Dressing properly for an ATV ride is key to being comfortable and protected. 

While you should always wear the proper gear and clothing, dressing appropriately can be even more important when going on long excursions or ATV tours. You’ll thank yourself at the end of the day if you’ve dressed right. 

Here’s what you should wear no matter when or where you’re riding an ATV:

• A long-sleeve shirt and/or jacket. 
• Durable long pants like jeans.  
• A bandana or face covering you can wear around your neck. 

It can also be a good idea to dress in layers that will allow you to add or remove clothes depending on the temperature. As long as your outer layer is long-sleeved, you’ll be able to stay comfortable and protected all day. 

If it’s cold, bringing along a wind-breaker jacket can help keep you warm. 

Long sleeves and durable pants will protect you from branches, rocks, dirt, and other debris that are likely to kick up as you ride. You’ll also get more sun protection. 

Choose shirts and pants that are not too tight or too loose. Either one could interfere with operating the ATV and keeping you comfortable on a long find. 

Lathering up with sunscreen is also a must if you’ll be riding in the sun for long periods of time. 

Your bandana will be useful to protect your face and neck from sunburn and debris. If it’s hot, you’ll be able to wet your bandana for a quick cool down too. 

What to wear ATV mudding?

If you plan to do some mudding on your ATV, some waders and waterproof clothing will be a good idea. 

Keeping yourself warm and dry will allow you to stay comfortable for longer. 

An outer layer of waders or durable coveralls make the perfect addition to a ride in the deep mud. 

What to wear when riding an ATV when it’s hot?

If you’re taking an ATV tour somewhere hot like Mexico, you’ll still want to wear all of the gear and clothing described above. 

Avoid wearing short sleeve shirts, shorts, or flip flops – regardless of how tempting it may be. 

Keep yourself covered and protected from the elements.

If it’s hot, you’ll want to choose fabric that is breathable or jackets and pants with ventilation. 

Wetting your bandana with cold water is another great way to stay cool while riding in warmer places.