Utility task/terrain vehicles (or UTVs) are extremely popular powersports vehicles that are used for both work and recreational riding purposes. While they do have some similarities to your average passenger vehicle, they’re not exactly the same. For one thing, you’re generally not riding them on paved roads, so you’re confronted with tough terrain full of obstacles, and for another, your UTV is open to the air so you’re not protected by a solid metal shell.
This is why it’s important to wear the right gear when driving or riding in a UTV. Bright Power Sports in Lincoln Park is your Michigan UTV dealer, so we’ve provided you with this list of five essential pieces of riding gear that you need to stay safe while off-roading or working on a site.
The most important part of your UTV ensemble is going to be a helmet. A helmet will protect your head in case you slam into an unseen obstacle and hit the steering wheel or worse, are thrown from your vehicle entirely. And that’s asking for a concussion, at the very least. So you need to protect your cranium.
Most people who ride powersports vehicles opt for a motocross helmet, as these are designed expressly for extreme sports riding. Some people choose a motorcycle helmet instead. Whatever type of helmet you choose, just make sure that it fits well and offers the protection you need in the form of a high crash-test rating and DOT (that’s Department of Transportation) approval. Replace the helmet every five years or after an impact event.
You can disregard this piece of gear only if your helmet offers a full plastic face mask, as many motorcycle helmets do. The face mask will protect you from swallowing bugs or being blinded by dust as you ride. But if your helmet doesn’t have this face shield, then you’ll need to find a pair of riding goggles to protect your eyes from flying debris while riding, as well as rain and even sun (there are goggles that offer UV protection). Because of how much you’ll sweat while riding, you may want to invest in goggles with anti-fogging coating.
You can’t ride a UTV while wearing flip-flops. You won’t have any traction to hit the pedals and your feet will be completely unprotected. A sturdy, solid shoe that will stay on your foot no matter what happens is essential. That’s why powersports enthusiasts opt for riding boots with good tread that come up at least to their ankles. Tuck in the laces once you’ve tied them so they don’t get tangled on anything. You’ll probably want to wear your boots around the house or while doing errands so that you can break them in before riding in them.
If you don’t want to get your street clothes dirty while riding, you may want to invest in a full-body riding suit that will keep dust, debris, water and mud off your clothes. You can also opt for a jacket instead, but you’ll need sturdy riding pants to go with it. While it may seem like fabric can’t protect you much, it’s better than nothing and a very strong fabric can reduce skin abrasions.
Make sure your suit or jacket and pants is well-fitted and easy to wear, meaning that it gives you your full range of motion. If you’re riding in warm conditions, try to find a light-colored suit that has ventilation so that it breathes.
Just as you don’t want to expose your feet to the hazards of off-roading, you should keep your hands safe, too. A pair of durable riding gloves will help you maintain your grip on the steering wheel. Insulated gloves are best for winter riding conditions since they’ll protect your hands from chapping and drying out, and in summer, you can wear lightweight ventilated gloves instead.
Searching for UTVs for sale in Michigan? Browse our website to see our full stock of new and used side-by-sides for sale at our Lincoln Park dealership near Detroit, MI. You can talk to our friendly staff about our financing options; we can even finance on bad credit! Bright Power Sports proudly serves the greater Detroit metro region as well as all of Wayne County, MI.
