HOW TO USE THESE ARTICLES AND PHOTOS
First of all, thanks for choosing one of our articles. Feel free to use it on your website or print
publication. If possible please pop me a quick e-mail to let me know you are using it. You can
choose to leave it without a byline, but if you wish to add one please put;
By Steve Casper, NOHVCC Director of Communications
If any of the articles are too long, feel free to edit for length or send it back to me and I’ll chop it
down to order. Also, if your publication is directed specifically towards ATVs or dirt bikes or
any other type of OHV, feel free to switch those terms around as you see fit.
Many of the photos on this Media Page will work as great illustrations for these various articles
so be sure to check them out. If you choose to use any of your own photos as well, we must insist
that all riders pictured along with any of our articles are dressed in all the basic safety gear
(helmet, goggles, gloves, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and over-the-ankle boots) and are
behaving in a safe and ethical manner. No photo credit for our photos is necessary, but if you
wish to please make it;
Photo courtesy of the NOHVCC
* When showing any of the Adventure Trail poster panels, we must insist that the text
underneath is always included. The message of the posters could be badly misinterpreted if
they are used without the text.
Thanks in advance for your support of the NOHVCC and feel free to contact me at any time if
you have any questions regarding these articles and photos and anything else I can help you with.
Sincerely,
Steve Casper
Office; (608)527-4152
Cell; (661)312-3643
stevecasper@msn.com
NOHVCC Home office; (800) 348-6487
www.nohvcc.org
CHOOSING GOGGLES, GLOVES & RIDING BOOTS
Making your riding experience safer and more comfortable
By Steve Casper, National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council
Last month in Ultimate Outdoors we took a close look at helmets, the
single most important piece of riding gear every ATV rider should have.
This month we’ll discuss what to look for when purchasing goggles, gloves,
and riding boots.
Goggles
The basic design of most off-road goggles is pretty much the same—
flexible plastic frames with a foam perimeter that works as an air filter to
keep dust and sand out, but allows for circulation to keep fogging down.
More expensive goggles might feature things like no-fog coatings, lightsensitive lenses, sweat-wicking face foam, or micro-filtering vent foam.
The lenses are made from plastic rather than glass and are easily
replaceable on any quality goggle. This not only allows users to replace
badly scratched lenses (which scratch quite easily, especially while riding in
muddy conditions), but it also lets them switch to different tinted lenses for
different weather conditions.
Right behind helmets, goggles are probably the one piece of riding
gear you can’t do without. Dust, sand, rocks and all sorts of debris will try to
make their way into unprotected eyes while riding, and no one needs to tell
you how painful and dangerous that can be!
Goggles take more of beating during a ride than you would imagine,
and the inexpensive ones (under $15) tend to not last very long. So before
you buy, take a good look at the construction of the frame and especially the
foam that contacts your face. Does the foam look durable and is it glued on
securely?
If you can, try the goggles on, preferably with your helmet. Make sure
the goggles fit your face and that there are no gaps where sand and dust can
get in. You also want to check that the frame isn’t pushing on the bridge of
your nose. Goggles should fit to the point where you hardly even know
they’re on.
Another thing to consider is that you should get goggle straps that are
adjustable. In fact, look for some silicone strips on the inside of the strap to
keep them from slipping down your helmet.
Goggle Roll-Offs
Roll-Offs consist of a thin, clear plastic film that is held tight against
the outside of the goggle by two small drums on either end of the goggle.
They are useful when a rider gets splashed with mud, as they allow a rider to
simply reach up and pull on a little cord that swipes a new layer of clean
plastic across the goggles.
Riding Gloves
Just about every sport has its own set of gloves that are used for
protection and performance. ATV riding is no exception. A sport-type glove
for ATV riders is usually lightweight, vented, tight-fitting, and features
padding in the palm area and protective, soft plastic pads sewn on the back
of the hand and fingers.
Riding gloves keep you from getting blisters and protect your hands
from debris and in the case of a spill. As an added bonus, if you stop to do
some chores or have to work on your ATV, you’ll be glad you already have
some gloves on.
If most of your riding is done in warm weather, consider getting
gloves with lots of venting and that are brightly colored, rather than black.
Be sure to check out the stitching and workmanship for durability. A padded
palm is a nice feature that keeps the glove from bunching up on the grip.
Another sign of a good pair of gloves is if the fingers are constructed of
multiple sections (which makes for a better fit when gripping the bars).
Some off-road gloves are waterproof. In summer weather, it really
doesn’t matter if your hands get wet, but in the spring and fall, wet, cold
hands can be a real nuisance. Simply keep a pair of waterproof gloves
packed in your ATV in the event of bad weather.
Winter ATV riders should consider buying snowmobile gloves. Look
for plenty of insulation and a waterproof shell in these. A medium-weight
insulated glove could also serve well in the spring and fall. Most
snowmobile type gloves are gauntlet-style, meaning they fit over the sleeves,
further blocking the flow of cold air. However, be careful that you don’t
purchase gloves that are so bulky that it becomes difficult to use the ATVs
controls.
When trying on a pair of gloves, the tips of the fingers should just
touch when you interlock your hands and push down at the base of your
fingers. This is a good way to tell if the gloves are the proper size. Another
test is to put on a glove and make a fist as tight as you can. If the glove feels
really tight over the knuckles, it may be too small. Or if the tips of your
fingers feel tight, the glove may also be too small for your hand. Try on a
few different sizes and perform these tests.
Riding Boots
Sure, many riders could probably get away with wearing work boots
during their trail rides, but they’d be a lot more comfortable and much better
protected with riding boots. ATV riders actually move their feet and legs
quite a bit while riding, so strong and sturdy riding boots will add
considerably to your riding pleasure and are well worth the price.
There are basically two kinds of OHV boots on the market: motocross boots
and ATV boots. They look quite similar, since the main difference is in the
soles. The motocross boots don’t have much of a tread on them since the
riders stick their legs out and drag their feet in the corners. Of course, ATV
riders don’t do that and need good cleats on the bottom of their boots for
walking around in the typically slippery and muddy conditions they may
find themselves in during a ride. So before you begin looking at any specific
brands or colors make sure they have cleated sole.
Off-road riding boots are generally made from a combination of
leather and plastic pieces with Velcro and plastic or metal buckles. Some
also feature laces with a quick one-pull tightening system.
Like the helmets, the best way to choose your boots is to first try them
on. You’re, of course, looking for the most comfortable fit, but be aware that
new boots are very stiff at first and need to be broken in. However, you can
get a good feel for them by trying them on and walking around a bit. You
generally want the fit to be just a little looser than you would for other
footwear. Riding boots that are too tight could get quite uncomfortable by
the end of the day.
Pay special attention to the buckling system. If it seems like that
particular system will be a hassle for you every time you go riding, try
another. And keep in mind that it gets considerably easier to buckle up after
the initial adjustments on the straps are made for your feet and ankles.
If you’re used to wearing comfortable shoes, or just want to make
your boots cushier, you can add insoles just like you would with other shoes.
You’ll also want to get a pair of cushy, long motocross socks to go with your
boot as well. Street socks really don’t cut it in the off-road world.
One of the first things that typically fail on off-road boots are the
buckles, so take good look at them and make sure they fasten easily and
securely. If you have a quad with a foot shifter, check to see that the boots
have a plastic toe patch on the left boot. A lot of boots are also reinforced
around the inside ankle/calf area, where the boots tend to rub on your
machine a lot. Some boots offer a faux suede material in that area, which
helps eliminate scratches on your machine.
For more info on safe riding practices and where you can go to take an
ASI ATV RiderCourse, contact the National Off-Highway Vehicle
Conservation Council at 800-348-6487 or visit their web site at
www.nohvcc.org
(note to last sentence- RiderCourse is one word- steve)