Motorcycle Explorer December 2014 Issue 3 | Page 187

S tandard road full-face helmets are bad news for trail riding: you will get too hot and your vision will be restricted. The brave go for open-face helmets with eye protection, but it only takes one bramble across the chops for most riders to see the virtues of a motocross helmet with a chinbar. Convertible ‘adventure’ helmets that combine a motocross-style (detachable) peak and chinbar with a visor, but can also be used with googles. Some riders who use these go ‘visor down’ on the road and put industrial safety glasses on for the trail. It’s best not to spend a fortune on a trail- riding helmet. Even without falling off, the things are regularly bashed against low- hanging branches and sweated into, so regular replacement is a good idea. Motocross or other thin gloves are best for resisting blistering, but if the weather is cool an extra pair of thicker/waterproof gloves will make the ride out and home much more pleasant.