Motocross Gear and Accessories

Motocrosspants

Selecting a good pair of MX pants doesn't seem like a difficult decision. All you need to do is find some pants in your price range, and then pick the best looking pair. But it's more difficult than it seems. MX pants vary in terms of features, style and colors. Resistance to abrasion, as well as durability, are all important parts of picking the right pants. We'll cover the factors to ponder so that you can select the best pair of pants for you and you alone.

MX Pants Safety

Pants safety comes down to three factors: what they are made of, what sort of built-in protection they have, and how well they adapt to added padding.

You will find pants in a variety of diverse materials, each with its own tradeoffs. Leather offers good abrasion protection, but can be very warm. Perforated leather offers an improvement in airflow, but it comes at the cost of toughness. Cordura is permeable and offers excellent abrasion protection, but is rather inflexible so might not give you a perfect fit. Kevlar offers greater protection, but is often more expensive.

Additional protection, in the form of knee or hip protectors, is accessible in a variety of pants. When you see these described as "panels", it indicates that strengthened fabric is used to provide extra strength. This extra protection still may not meet your requirements, however. If you wear extra knee padding, look for pants that are made to accommodate them.

Safety is clearly the most important criteria in deciding on MX pants so do spend extra time on it.

Fit

You'll want pants that give an adjustable, flexible and snug fit.

A cozy fit is important because you don't want material flapping around and dragging you down. Spandex is a good choice for this, while Spandura offers the grip of Spandex with some of the shielding attributes of Cordura.

You'll want a flexible fit so you can move liberally without being held back by your pants. search for flexible stretch panels within joints that expand when you move.

If different environmental conditions require you to swap in protective pads, look for an adjustable fit -- that will also provide extra room for equipment such as a kidney belt or boots.

Durability of Dirt Bike Pants

Since you can spend a fair sum of dough on pants, you're going to want them to last. Search for pants that offer triple stitching on seams. This allows the pants to suffer some amount of deterioration without tearing. Note the type of fabric used in the rear and the knees -- these two areas get the heaviest strain so are more vulnerable to tearing.

Airflow

Airflow normally does not go hand-in-hand with safety. The more durable the material, the better protection it provides at the tradeoff of being overly warm. Pants will frequently contain strategically placed air flow panels that help with cooling without sacrificing protection. Some pants offer mesh panels. Spandex and Cordura also offer this type of ventilation.

Motocross Pants Style

Naturally, the pants must look great as well. Be sure to compare the color scheme of the pants to the bike. Will they clash? Is there other gear that needs to be considered, like your footwear or a shirt? When you are away from the bike, will the pants still be appropriate? If so, you don't need to hurry to put on other clothes when you get off the bike. Perhaps consider getting pants with detachable legs so they can turn into shorts. Though they might not be as safe, they are more practical after your ride, especially when the weather is iffy.

Other Factors

The aforementioned factors are the main factors in choosing MX pants, although there are several more. You'll want to get lightweight pants so you will not feel held back by your gear. Another important factor are pockets. You'll clearly need extra pockets if you need to hold your critical stuff during a ride.

Youth Motocross Pants

A brief comment about motocross pants for the children: The same factors as above pertain to youth pants as well as for larger sizes. Take careful note of sizing, obviously, because kids do get bigger quickly! And you may wish to prioritize safety to a greater extent in place of aesthetics. That should be easy nowadays, because many pants are now produced in youth sizes as well as adults'.

More Info

This article provides additional info on motocross equipment in general. Fox Racing and Answer Motocross are two of the leading motocross equipment brands.

All in all, picking out a pair of MX pants can present a daunting decision. Do not worry, however. Consider some of the criteria we've discussed when making a decision and you're certain to arrive at a good choice.

Motocrossboots

Deciding on a pair of Motocross boots can be a tricky business. On the one hand, you'll want a tough, safe boot that will give you great protection and hold up for years. However, you'll want one that doesn't break the bank and is usable come rain or shine. We'll point out some of the factors you should contemplate when choosing a boot so you can conclude what's most crucial to you.

Safety of Motocross Boots

Clearly, the primary worry should be protection. Motocross racers can be away from the trail for weeks if they experience a severe ankle injury. The best type of protection can be obtained by ensuring that some or all of the subsequent features are in place: steel sole inserts, heat shields, reinforced shin and calf protector plates, in addition to shock absorbing heel pads.

Durability

Many of the above safety benefits also provide durability. The more durable the boot components, the more secure it will be and the longer it will hold up. A few more expensive boots may also offer replaceable soles that may be upgraded when worn down. Since soles are usually the first area of a boot which will deteriorate, this is one good way to make sure your boot will last.

As far as buckles are concerned, plastic is less expensive but may break down quicker. Aluminum is a sturdier alternative to plastic, though a little more costly.

Safety and durability are two of the most important options in choosing motocross boots so spend a little more time on these.

Fit

Should you want a ideal fit and are okay with laying out some money, consider getting your boots hand-made. For the rest of us, there are removable cushions that may help the boot fit better, in addition to gel pads that buffer your foot and panels around the higher area of the boot.

If you have a rather unusual foot width, you will include to certainly look around, or go the tradition route, as most boots are available in standard widths.

Other Factors

You should also want to consider the water-resistance of the shoe. Many boots will feature an insert designed to keep rain out. Also, consider the boot's weight. All genuine racing footgear are light, but if you're worried about each little ounce be sure to obtain precise weight data prior to your purchase.

Brands and Price

There are some clear leaders for luxury boots. The recognized leading model, the Alpinestars Tech 8's and Tech 10's, have a great reputation. However, Sidi produces some great boots, and Gaerne is raising the standard with its SG-10 model. If you want to spend a bit less cash, you can give up some of the high end features, but don't give up too many, otherwise you might not get what you want.

Youth Motocross Boots

A particular note concerning MX boots for children -- while youth options are more restricted than adult's, lots of the major companies produce smaller versions of their models. While it makes sense to give up a bit on the expected lifespan of a boot, these boots usually do provide as many safety features as their adult offerings.