Whether your intention is to trail ride or race, there are some protective items that are universally recognized prerequisites, and there are some are not so obvious. Of course, wearing a helmet is a no-brainer (excuse the pun) but what about the other gear you see the big-boys wearing? The basic requirements of any race track require a few basics: helmet, goggles, and boots. Without them, your kid will be watching the races from the stands. Although there's no one to police proper riding gear in the woods, the fact that all racing venues require these basics says a lot about what everyone who doesn't race ought to be wearing. 

Riding Boots 

Contrary to what some tracks will actually allow, motocross style riding boots should be considered a must. Not hiking boots, but proper MX riding boots. The primary reason for even a basic over-the-ankle boot on a young ATV pilot is to protect the foot and ankle from sprains caused by either falling from the machine or more likely, unintentionally dropping a foot in front of a rear tire. This issue is a real concern for recreational novices who may want to instinctively drop a foot down for balance, or when landing a jump with the foot not properly placed on the footpegs, or even while bouncing over rough terrain. An MX boot will not stop this possibility, but the injury will be minimal if any at all since the boot not only protects the ankle from hyper-rotation but protects the entire shin area as well. A decent entry level boot such as the Thor or Alpinestar can be had for as little as $100. If cost is an issue, then many racing circuits and clubs have boot exchange programs- you can either buy a set of used boots, or trade in your old ones as your child grows out of them. An alternate source can be online internet-based auctions. 

Chest Protectors

When it comes to keeping your kids safe while riding, there's almost no way to err on the side of too cautious when it comes to gear (except maybe covering the kid with multiple layers of bubble wrap). An optional piece of equipment that's worthy of consideration is a chest protector which is a plastic vest that slips on over the shoulders much like shoulder pads of a football player. For the big guys the chest protector provides an effective barrier to roost when closely following a machine. A nickel size rock flung at your chest at a combined speed of 50 mph can be enough to send you off the track or trail writhing in pain. This is not as big an issue for mini quads since the speeds are much lower, however there are still quite a few reasons to consider one. A chest protector is designed in a way to dissipate blunt blows to the chest, shoulders, back, and elbows. This can be the saving grace for a young rider who comes down hard front end first on a jump and smashes his chest against the handlebars, or falls off his ATV on his back and lands on a rock, tree root, or his own quad. The force of the impact is spread out along the chest and the risk of a contusion is greatly minimized. Additionally, there's the coolness factor along with a convenient place to put a racer's name and number. Chest protectors such as the Thor Minishock or Microshock are usually available for 60 or 70 dollars from all of your aftermarket suppliers.

Neck Brace Neck braces are become more and more popular in youth ATV racing probably due to the fact that proportionately speaking kids' helmets are pretty large and their neck muscles have to work overtime to support that sizeable extra weight on their heads. For comparison's sake, consider this: a youth helmet on a 75lb child's head would feel the same for a 200lb adult wearing a helmet that weighs nearly 2-1/2 times its normal weight. No thanks. A neck brace can reduce fatigue by providing support to the helmet from bobbing side to side and front to back (like you can see some kids do through whoop sections).

But the real advantage is injury protection in the event of a fall or sudden jolt. Not only is the neck protected by virtue of limiting the maximum articulation of the neck, but the collar bone is also protected. Research done by EVS indicates that most common neck and collarbone injuries occur when the chin touches the chest. By surrounding the neck brace around the front the neck, the likelihood of this type of injury is greatly reduced. These braces run about $30- well worth the money considering the protective value.  

• Contact Information

www.ThorMX.com

www.EVS-mx.com