Planning on going for a rip in the trails on an ATV? To ensure you have the most fun, safety and the least worries it is essential to bring the right gear for the job. Our list consists of items to ensure your experience is top notch and you don’t second guess whether to go for a rip in the woods or not.
Consider bringing these:
- Helmet
- Swiss army knife
- Gloves
- Eye protection
- Water
- Snacks
- Cell phone
- A small tank of extra gas
- First aid kit
- Tire service kit
- Wet gear
- Garbage bag
- Tow rope
All these items have specific reasons why they are on the list and they are all significant in their own way. If you keep reading you will find the reasons we have for each item and why they will improve your ATV experience exponentially.
A Closer Look at all The Items
Helmet
Obviously your ride will be absolutely ruined if you get injured and one of the key ways of preventing injury will be a helmet. In most states and provinces it is the law to wear an approved helmet when operating an ATV on the road. A helmet can also provide some comfort against conditions, yes when you are driving fast it is fun to go without a helmet and feel your bare head in the wind, but if it is cold, you will want a helmet to provide some insulation.
Swiss Army Knife
Swiss army knives are some of the most useful tools to bring on a trail ride. They can help with obstacles in the way, help with mechanical trouble and they are super small and portable. Overall they are a great tool and a must have for your next ATV rip.
Gloves
Gloves are a super useful item to bring because of the comfort it brings. One of the main things that I find can end a trail ride early or takeaway from the fun is the weather. In particular the temperature and because of how small your fingers are they will feel it first. If your ATV has some old or just plain bad grips then your hands can suffer from serious discomfort or rashes. Gloves will solve all of this and improve your ride so much.
Eye Protection
Eye protection is a must have and an all time favorite of mine because they can provide comfort, safety and style. If you are riding with friends then eating their dust can be a genuine issue. Instead of forcing yourself to stay a few hundred meters back so you can avoid dust in your eyes you can ride right there with them, at a safe distance of course. Goggles in particular will also make you look like a pro and improve your style from a 10 to an 11.
Water
Water is a must have especially for a longer ride. Staying hydrated will improve your senses, reflexes and keep you healthy which will lead to a more fun experience. If something bad happens, water is so helpful to wash our cuts or just provide some extra comfort knowing you have water with you. Bringing a water bottle or bottles is so useful and a definite must have.
Snacks
When you are going on a long ride one of the worst things to have is the munchies. All you need to do is bring a few snacks to keep your stomach satisfied for the ride. Another great thing to do is take a lunch break off the trail and enjoy whatever you made for yourself right there in the wilderness.
Cell Phone
If you are ever in an emergency a cell phone can be even more useful than a first aid kit. Calling 911 or searching what to do on google with engine trouble can be the difference between getting home or not. If you ever reach a beautiful sport then having something to take a picture with is so helpful. To be honest, cell phones these days have so much on them, it would be stupid not to bring them.
A Small Tank of Extra Gas
When you are having fun or caught up in all the extreme trails you are riding on, you may not keep track of your gas. It is super smart to fill up before the ride but to have that extra insurance is a game changer in how care-free you can be.
First Aid Kit
If you ever get a branch to the face or have a small wipe out, having the contents of a first aid kit or so useful. If anything truly bad happens then you should call 911 instead of trying to deal with it yourself and accidentally make it worse but for the small things a first aid kit is so helpful.
Small Tire Service Kit
Getting a flat tire or having a leak can ruin your fun so much. I’m not saying you need to bring a whole mechanics workshop to the trails but bringing some tire plugs an air pump and a wrench will go a long way.
Wet Gear
If the weather changes or you run into an unexpected creek, some wet gear will be a great helping hand to improve your experience. Just some rain boots and a rain coat will go a long way in keeping you dry. Riding when you are wet is not fun, trust me. It makes it feel so much colder and makes you turn into an emotional storm cloud yourself.
Garbage Bag
A lot of the reason people go on ATV rides is to experience nature up close. You don’t want to be the person leaving their garbage all over the place. Bring a garbage bag or just a plastic bag to have a place you can put your garbage. You can even pick up other people’s garbage if you want to be even farther from the naughty list next Christmas.
Tow Rope
Even though they are rare, engine issues or tire issues can be such a pain. When you are riding with friends, bringing a tow rope or a bungee cord will make it so much easier. They also won’t take up too much room the majority of the time.
Where Do You Put All This?
Most ATVs have storage compartments in the front and back which should be enough to bring all of the equipment. If your ATV doesn’t have plenty of attachable storage compartments you can buy off amazon or a Motorsports store. If you don’t want that you can always bring a backpack too. Try to find ways to bring these items because if you don’t and you end up in some kind of a pickle, you might regret not bringing them.
