WEROAM RIDING GEAR
CHOOSE THE RIGHT GEAR
SAFETY GEAR
Riders often ask us what kind of gear we'd suggest for them.
We need to make it very clear we that we cannot legally make suggestions on safety gear or health practices for you. We can share information but ultimately, you're responsible for these decisions.
Having said that, there are only two things we MANDATE when it comes to rider gear; DOT certified helmet and moto boots that meet certain standards.
DOT HELMETS
The U.S. uses the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 (FMVSS218) to measure helmets. Any lid that passes is affixed with a Department of Transportation approval sticker: DOT.
The DOT rating favors a shock-absorbent helmet and, indeed, current scientific research indicates that shock absorption is the best strategy for motorcycle safety. DOT is the standard for any state that requires motorcyclists to wear a helmet. So, if you do a lot of riding south of the border, picking up a DOT approved helmet is a must.
Full face, modular, open face, dual sport and motocross helmets that are DOT approved only.
HALF HELMETS ARE NOT APPROVED.
MOTO BOOTS
In North America, there are no regulations on motorcycle footwear. But in Europe, any protective motorcycle gear needs to have a European Certification (CE). That is, a motorcycle boot that calls itself “protective equipment” needs to meet certain standards prior to sale. These boots are normally advertised as CE-rated or EN13634-rated, which is the same thing.
A CE rating is a pleasant bonus, as it guarantees a certain level of crash protection. However, footwear without a CE rating can be just as safe.
Because boots sold within Canada and the USA aren't required to pass the CE tests, it’s better to know which safety features to look for, rather than blindly following European ratings. Here are the basics:
Abrasion Resistance
Most motorcycle boots have excellent abrasion resistance. In fact, some premium models have more sliding ability than you’ll realistically need. That’s because footwear is supposed to be rigid, so manufacturers can get away with stiffer, thicker materials. If you go with leather, make sure it’s full- or top-grain. Split leather should be avoided – it’s essentially useless in a crash. Generally, leather is more abrasion resistant while textiles are more breathable. Many boots offer a combination of materials to get the best of both worlds.
Double or triple stitching is also great, because abrasion resistant materials won't be much use if the panels tear apart! Likewise, soles that are stitched on (rather than glued on) will be more durable in a slide.
And finally, make sure to get a really good fit. If the boot gets pulled off your foot, it won’t be very protective, will it?
Armour Plating
A good motorcycle boot should have armour plating over the toe, heel and ankle bone. If you choose full-length boots, they might offer shin protection as well. There’s a myth going around that steel-toe boots are actually dangerous, because there’s a risk that the armour plate will sever your toes! But according to several safety organizations – and Discovery channel’s Mythbusters – this is total bull$#!t.
Rigidity and Range of Movement
In a crash, it’s common for your feet to get caught between a motorcycle and a hard place. There are three ouchy things that can happen next.
One – your ankle gets overextended, and things start to tear in places that you didn't even know existed.
Two – your ankle gets twisted, and torsional pressure builds up in places that you really don’t want to break.
Three – your lower leg is simply crushed, and a few nice, round places start to go a bit… flat
The good news is, a motorcycle boot can prevent all these outcomes! In particular, look for footwear with plastic plating and a limited range of movement. In a crash, this will keep your leg in a leg-ish shape. Which is good.
Grip and Anti-Tangling
Look for soles that are slip-resistant. Some motorcycle boots are designed to grip against oily surfaces – such as every public road known to mankind.
Snagging a shoelace can also be a big problem, especially when trying to put your foot down. There’s nothing lamer than toppling over at a stop light and, unfortunately, we don’t sell body armour for your pride. We do, however, carry motorcycle boots with hidden or strapped-down laces. Get some.
Heat Resistance
Depending on the motorcycle, your lower legs might be near the engine block, exhaust, or some other hot thing. At some point in time, you've probably discovered this the hard way. Choosing a tall motorcycle boot will protect against the burns. Most motorcycle footwear uses heat-resistant materials, which can take the abuse. Kevlar and Aramidic fibres are best, while leather and rubbers are normally very good. Common textiles like Nylon conduct heat a little more quickly, but they’re still not bad.
Take note: heat resistance is useful for riding and crashing. In a slide, friction heat can be a real pain in the … well … wherever.
Don't have boots?
Buy some. Your safety is more important that anything else. Check out our #used-gear channel in slack to for great deals from your peers.
ADDITIONAL GEAR
Again, outside of our helmet and boot requirements, the rest is up to you. We highly recommend riding in gear you're comfortable in, doing research on additional styles, and purchasing trusted brands like Mosko Moto.
Something to note to help you make your choices:
Training Camp: All off road; trails and enduro track.
Level 1's: More on road than off road
Level 2&3: There will be road riding to get to places but the goal is to be off road 80% of the time.
The closer we get to your expedition the more clear your leader will be on the kind of terrain, heat to be expected.
Do NOT ask your leader what they'd recommend for gear. They are not responsible for your choices.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY GEAR CHOICES
Imagine you asked and took a gear recommendation I gave you...then crashed and my recommendation didn't protect you. That leaves me - or this organization - liable. This is why we're adamant that our riders take responsibility when it comes to gear and make the right choices for themselves.
When it comes to making these decisions, here are some frameworks to think through
As a rider, it's likely you already have gear that you're more comfortable in. Switching it up before an expedition isn't smart. If you know you're going to Training Camp or on an Expedition and you want to wear gear more suited to the routes, PURCHASE AND WEAR WELL IN ADVANCE. Expeditions and Training Camps are NOT the place to be breaking in or testing new gear.
Are you wearing the gear you'd hope to be wearing if you crashed in a third world country? MOTORCYCLES COME WITH RISK and we have had riders break their backs in Namibia and need to have surgery there, or riders break a leg in Guatemala. Choose gear that sets you up for success!
Terrain & Weather | Asking your leader questions about terrain and weather are welcomed! Just keep in mind that expeditions are planned 6months prior to departure. Leaders may not have the answers to those questions outside of that timeframe.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
While doing this research, I found a TON of information on safety. Here are some links to assist your research:
Protection: Rider Training
Motocross or Adventure Boot: RidAdv
Types Of Motorcycle Footwear: Fortnine
WEROAM RIDING GEAR
CHOOSE THE RIGHT GEAR
SAFETY GEAR
Riders often ask us what kind of gear we'd suggest for them.
We need to make it very clear we that we cannot legally make suggestions on safety gear or health practices for you. We can share information but ultimately, you're responsible for these decisions.
Having said that, there are only two things we MANDATE when it comes to rider gear; DOT certified helmet and moto boots that meet certain standards.
DOT HELMETS
The U.S. uses the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218 (FMVSS218) to measure helmets. Any lid that passes is affixed with a Department of Transportation approval sticker: DOT.
The DOT rating favors a shock-absorbent helmet and, indeed, current scientific research indicates that shock absorption is the best strategy for motorcycle safety. DOT is the standard for any state that requires motorcyclists to wear a helmet. So, if you do a lot of riding south of the border, picking up a DOT approved helmet is a must.
Full face, modular, open face, dual sport and motocross helmets that are DOT approved only.
HALF HELMETS ARE NOT APPROVED.
MOTO BOOTS
In North America, there are no regulations on motorcycle footwear. But in Europe, any protective motorcycle gear needs to have a European Certification (CE). That is, a motorcycle boot that calls itself “protective equipment” needs to meet certain standards prior to sale. These boots are normally advertised as CE-rated or EN13634-rated, which is the same thing.
A CE rating is a pleasant bonus, as it guarantees a certain level of crash protection. However, footwear without a CE rating can be just as safe.
Because boots sold within Canada and the USA aren't required to pass the CE tests, it’s better to know which safety features to look for, rather than blindly following European ratings. Here are the basics:
Abrasion Resistance
Most motorcycle boots have excellent abrasion resistance. In fact, some premium models have more sliding ability than you’ll realistically need. That’s because footwear is supposed to be rigid, so manufacturers can get away with stiffer, thicker materials. If you go with leather, make sure it’s full- or top-grain. Split leather should be avoided – it’s essentially useless in a crash. Generally, leather is more abrasion resistant while textiles are more breathable. Many boots offer a combination of materials to get the best of both worlds.
Double or triple stitching is also great, because abrasion resistant materials won't be much use if the panels tear apart! Likewise, soles that are stitched on (rather than glued on) will be more durable in a slide.
And finally, make sure to get a really good fit. If the boot gets pulled off your foot, it won’t be very protective, will it?
Armour Plating
A good motorcycle boot should have armour plating over the toe, heel and ankle bone. If you choose full-length boots, they might offer shin protection as well. There’s a myth going around that steel-toe boots are actually dangerous, because there’s a risk that the armour plate will sever your toes! But according to several safety organizations – and Discovery channel’s Mythbusters – this is total bull$#!t.
Rigidity and Range of Movement
In a crash, it’s common for your feet to get caught between a motorcycle and a hard place. There are three ouchy things that can happen next.
One – your ankle gets overextended, and things start to tear in places that you didn't even know existed.
Two – your ankle gets twisted, and torsional pressure builds up in places that you really don’t want to break.
Three – your lower leg is simply crushed, and a few nice, round places start to go a bit… flat
The good news is, a motorcycle boot can prevent all these outcomes! In particular, look for footwear with plastic plating and a limited range of movement. In a crash, this will keep your leg in a leg-ish shape. Which is good.
Grip and Anti-Tangling
Look for soles that are slip-resistant. Some motorcycle boots are designed to grip against oily surfaces – such as every public road known to mankind.
Snagging a shoelace can also be a big problem, especially when trying to put your foot down. There’s nothing lamer than toppling over at a stop light and, unfortunately, we don’t sell body armour for your pride. We do, however, carry motorcycle boots with hidden or strapped-down laces. Get some.
Heat Resistance
Depending on the motorcycle, your lower legs might be near the engine block, exhaust, or some other hot thing. At some point in time, you've probably discovered this the hard way. Choosing a tall motorcycle boot will protect against the burns. Most motorcycle footwear uses heat-resistant materials, which can take the abuse. Kevlar and Aramidic fibres are best, while leather and rubbers are normally very good. Common textiles like Nylon conduct heat a little more quickly, but they’re still not bad.
Take note: heat resistance is useful for riding and crashing. In a slide, friction heat can be a real pain in the … well … wherever.
Don't have boots?
Buy some. Your safety is more important that anything else. Check out our #used-gear channel in slack to for great deals from your peers.
ADDITIONAL GEAR
Again, outside of our helmet and boot requirements, the rest is up to you. We highly recommend riding in gear you're comfortable in, doing research on additional styles, and purchasing trusted brands like Mosko Moto.
Something to note to help you make your choices:
Training Camp: All off road; trails and enduro track.
Level 1's: More on road than off road
Level 2&3: There will be road riding to get to places but the goal is to be off road 80% of the time.
The closer we get to your expedition the more clear your leader will be on the kind of terrain, heat to be expected.
Do NOT ask your leader what they'd recommend for gear. They are not responsible for your choices.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY GEAR CHOICES
Imagine you asked and took a gear recommendation I gave you...then crashed and my recommendation didn't protect you. That leaves me - or this organization - liable. This is why we're adamant that our riders take responsibility when it comes to gear and make the right choices for themselves.
When it comes to making these decisions, here are some frameworks to think through
As a rider, it's likely you already have gear that you're more comfortable in. Switching it up before an expedition isn't smart. If you know you're going to Training Camp or on an Expedition and you want to wear gear more suited to the routes, PURCHASE AND WEAR WELL IN ADVANCE. Expeditions and Training Camps are NOT the place to be breaking in or testing new gear.
Are you wearing the gear you'd hope to be wearing if you crashed in a third world country? MOTORCYCLES COME WITH RISK and we have had riders break their backs in Namibia and need to have surgery there, or riders break a leg in Guatemala. Choose gear that sets you up for success!
Terrain & Weather | Asking your leader questions about terrain and weather are welcomed! Just keep in mind that expeditions are planned 6months prior to departure. Leaders may not have the answers to those questions outside of that timeframe.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
While doing this research, I found a TON of information on safety. Here are some links to assist your research:
Protection: Rider Training
Motocross or Adventure Boot: RidAdv
Types Of Motorcycle Footwear: Fortnine