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You’re excited to finally bring home your new UTV, right? We get it, we’d be excited too if we were in your shoes. However, did you ask yourself what you should wear when riding a UTV? Because you can’t just bring your regular t-shirt and sweatpants when riding one of these things.

No worries, for we have got you covered in today’s article. We’ll even try to list a few specific suggestions here and there but we won’t be getting too technical so that you can understand exactly what pieces of clothing and equipment you’re going to need.

Head Protection

Like with any open or semi-open vehicle, the first thing you need to take care of is your head. Yes, you guessed it. A helmet is indispensable when riding a UTV. Trust us, you wouldn’t want to fall off your UTV without wearing one. Any part of your body can mend in time after an accident (well, except for your spine probably). But your head? Well, let’s just say you’ll be sleeping with the fishes.

How to Choose a Good Helmet

Many states have made helmets mandatory when riding UTVs, ATVs, and motorcycles. And some of them have made it mandatory to wear a particularly good helmet, one that has the DOT or Snell logos at the back of it. If you’re wondering what those logos are, they’re basically a state approval that shows the helmet has passed some inspection procedures.

But, you see, the quality of the helmet itself isn’t the only thing that matters when riding your UTV. what you wear when doing so also needs to alert other drivers to your presence. In the case of a helmet, we recommend getting one that comes in bright colors, especially if you’re the type of person who likes riding their UTV at night.

Finally, the last thing to consider when choosing a helmet is that it fits snug and secure without being too tight. Getting one that’s too tight might restrict airflow and make you dizzy in the long run. And you don’t want to be dizzy when riding a UTV.

Optionally, you can also search for a good balaclava if you plan on riding your UTV during winter. It will keep your neck and surrounding muscles warm even when you’re going at high speeds.

Eye Protection

Many helmets come with built-in face shields, such as this one or this one. However, there are also plenty of great helmets without eye protection, in which case you’ll also have to consider this aspect.

Needless to say, something to cover your eyes with will protect you from dust, wind, insects, and even gravel. For practical reasons, you can rely on goggles if your helmet doesn’t have a face shield. As long as said goggles have polycarbonate lenses with a vent so that they don’t fog up, you’re good to go. Oh, and you might want to make sure that they’re scratch resistant or that you buy special coating to do just that.

What to Wear on Your Upper and Lower Body When Riding a UTV

Now that we’re done with your head, let’s talk about the largest parts of your body. As mentioned earlier, injuries sustained to your upper and lower body are usually mendable, unlike injuries sustained to the head after an accident. However, you shouldn’t underestimate the protection level if you want to stay safe.

Choosing a Jacket

There are two things a great UTV jacket should be: durable and lightweight. On top of that, you might also want it to be impermeable so that it offers protection against rain. Also, we recommend a combination of synthetic and natural fibres for the utmost efficiency when it comes to isolating your body from the cold while still offering great ventilation. One such jacket is this one.

Choosing Pants

Similar to the jacket, you’ll want the pants to be durable, breathable, comfortable, and waterproof. And just like the jacket, we recommend looking for ones that combine synthetic and natural fibres alike.

One more thing to take note of is the zipper. We recommend getting a pair of pants with a zipper so that you can do your business more easily. And the zipper itself should be resistant to wear and tear.

Also, avoid wearing shorts or regular pants even during hot summer days. After all, you’re riding a UTV at high speeds offroad, so you’ll be far better off with protection. As an example, these pants offer both protection and comfort for all seasons.

What to Wear on Hands and Feet When Riding a UTV

Finally, we’ve come to the last part of this article. Obviously, you’ll also need protection for your hands and feet.

Gloves

Ordinary gloves that you use during the winter when walking around and about won’t suffice. You need special riding gloves that you can use on UTVs, ATVs, and motorcycles alike. They should be padded over the knuckles to protect your hands from slapping branches and flying gravel.

Just about any motor shop should have gloves that are good enough for riding a UTV and other similar vehicles, so don’t be afraid to go out there and test multiple pairs of gloves to see which ones feel the most comfortable to wear and use.

Riding Shoes and Socks

Again, you can find these items in just about any shop specialized in motorbikes and other similar vehicles. The higher the insulation without sacrificing comfort, the better off you’ll be. And yes, we do recommend trying out several pairs before deciding which one to buy.

Final Thoughts About What to Wear When Riding a UTV

As long as you follow the advice written in this article, you should have no trouble selecting the gear that best suits your budget and needs. Feel free to contact us in case you have more questions and want even more gear and advice that can make your life easier when riding a UTV.