what's people wearing on enduro rides

Would like to hear from people on their experience with different types of riding gear. I'm using the Forma Dominator MX boots and find them real nice but would like some feedback on body protection etc.
Mainly riding in +15-30 degree weather.

Vector boots because I can move in them and they still protect good. About as watertight as a screen door though. I wear seal skins to take care of that problem.

I didn't wear elbow pads for a long time because they give me are pump. then I found the kind where the straps are just an X. Nothing wraps around the bicep and they work for me.

I wear knee pads that have the built in shin pads. I like the knee part to be narrow otherwise I find it hard to grip the bike with my knees. For example I can not ride with my fox raptors. The raptors also grab the pant liners which is annoying.

I took a regular chest protector and modified it. First I took the shoulder pads off as I am not sure they would keep the force from dislocating a shoulder anyway. I took the back off and used some elastic straps from suspenders to cross my back and hold the front part of the protector in place. I have a huge pack with water bladder so I figure the back is farly well protected anyway. I mainly want the front to keep sticks from puncturing a lung and to keep from cracking ribs if I hit hard chest first. My setup is a compromise of protection and comfort.

I like carbon fiber helmets because the light weight makes my neck less sore. Fly made cheap ones and I have had two. I am not sure if there will be a cheap option next time as I think Fly stopped making them.

I like light gear to keep me warm that can be added or subtracted in pieces. I wear a super compact and light goretex shell. Something with 2 or 3 layers and seemed seals will let zero water in but weigh nothing and be about the size of sandwich when rolled up. I always have a synthetic t-shirt and a thin poly pro top. If really cold I will also have a lightweight fleece. I stay warmer then most while riding though and have been known to ride in snow wearing a t-shirt. So a heavy fleece might be better for some.

I would like to wear a light shell for pants in the winter but I am sure they would rip. I have some thor ride pants which are kind of water proof but they are bulky. I might find the lightest motorcycle pants I can and wear goretex under them. When cold I always wear a thin poly pro long underwear as I find I loose a lot of heat otherwise.

Pro-Grip goggles are the only ones I have used that will never fog in the NW. I have not found a warm glove that does not give me arm pump. I wear normal ones until I can not feel my hands then I resort to my thor ride gloves. I always have super thin poly pro glove liners in my pack because I can work on my bike, eat, etc with them on and keep my hands warm. I can also wear them under my regular gloves.

I never wear any cotton in the woods.

I have the Pro-Grip goggles also and find them great.
Have you ever tried using a pressure-suit type garment under your shell?
661 make a new one that looks ok called Subgear compression but not sure what their gear is like.
I mostly need to try and keep cool rather than warm and they are claiming it helps in this regard

i wear the fly mx gear i bought from a rather nice bloke on here ! roost armour and knee/elbow pads and boots, 3L hydro pack acts as back protection too and v2 helmet... i also have a 661 pressure suit but its too hot for QLD summer but use it for winter ...

For cold weather I like my ARC jacket and gloves from Rocky Mountain. A thin balaclava under the helmet is also a nice little thing if it's real cold. The rest is the same as the rest of the year 661 pressure suit, Klim pants, el cheapo knee guards with Diadora boots. That stuff has saved me many times.

+1 on QLD summers being hot! crikey it's been a steamer so far!
having said that, i wear all my gear, all the time, M2R helmet, oakley crowbar goggles, thor pressure suit moose sahara MX pants & jersey, thor quadrant boots, asterisk knee braces and fox gloves. the thor pressure suit is hot but it's very comfortable and has all the protection i need, and i need a LOT of protection! i also use a camelbak.

paul

As far as I'm concerned, buy the best protection you can afford. I presume you are talking about 15-30 degrees C. Summertime in the great northwest gets pretty warm, so typically I'll wear MSR vented gear on the hot days, and MSR NXT moto stuff on less hot days. I always wear my Cti knee braces, Tech 10 boots, Leatt brace, and Shoei helmet. There is nothing that will ruin your life (or at least severely affect it) as a head injury or spinal injury, so if you are going to spend some money on gear, make sure you get a top quality helmet and look into getting a neck brace.

good advice, never tried a neck brace though, must give one a go. dunno about 15 to 30 deg C, more like 30 to 40, usually somewhere in the middle most of summer, though the temp isn't what knocks you, it's the humidity, gets as sticky as a wharfies armpit very early and there's no relief from it.

paul

I have an old pair of alpine stars tech 6's for boots. They have saved my ankles many times and seem to be holding up really well. I always wear elbow / knee pads & chest protector. They have also saved me from suffering damage. Hoping to replace my tired HJC helmet with a new Troy Lee (Air Beta). Color will be in blue and yellow to match my 04 TC450. I occasionally wear a moose fanny pack with tools, plug etc. depending on where I am riding and of course the infamous camel back!

your right there paul... 36 degrees and 90% humidity sucks big time and when its that heat at 10am then i cant wear a pressure suit.. that would be like a sauna ! cairns at christmas 2003 was 43 celsius (115 deg ?) and 85% humidity... cant ride in that ! horrible !!!

FWIW...old and slow with limited skill...

Sidi Crossfire boots
Klim Mojave pants and jersey
asterix braces
leatt brack
elbow pads
100L camelback
HJC helmet (carbon)
roost guard with shoulder epaulets

Keeps me cool and prevents stupid injuries. I recently came off at about 25 with the above on and it could have been much worse without the gear. I landed on my elbow and shoulder and rolled nicely on my back and slid. Got up and dusted myself off, not a scratch, except for my gear.

Chad

Give a leatt a shot...it pretty much disappears once you put it on. Also, if you have compatible roost guard, the leatt tucks into it The leatt has saved me a couple of times, both from neck lash type injuries when I've come down hard jumping and had the chin bar of my helmet whip into the leatt and having an off and not having the helmet break my collar bone.