2.2 Protective Clothing and Riding Gear

2.2 Protective Clothing and Riding Gear

While wearing a certified helmet is the only protective gear mandated by Alberta law, a complete suit of protective gear is vital for rider safety. Motorcyclists are highly vulnerable to road hazards, weather, and the physical impacts of a crash. Professional riding gear acts as a secondary skin, designed to prevent severe abrasion ("road rash"), shield the body from debris, and reduce the severity of fractures and joint injuries. In addition, proper riding gear is a practical necessity; Alberta Class 6 road test examiners can refuse to conduct a road test if the candidate is not wearing suitable protective clothing, including gloves, a jacket, sturdy boots, and eye protection.

The Philosophy of ATGATT

Safety experts advocate for the ATGATT philosophy: All The Gear, All The Time. This practice means wearing full protective gear on every single ride, regardless of the distance, speed, or weather conditions. A significant percentage of motorcycle accidents occur on short trips close to home at low speeds. Assuming that gear is unnecessary for a brief trip is a dangerous mistake.

---

Eye and Face Protection

Operating a motorcycle exposes your face and eyes to high-velocity wind, insects, dust, rain, and gravel kicked up by other vehicles. At highway speeds (e.g., 100 km/h), a collision with a large insect or a small stone can cause severe eye damage, temporary blindness, and a subsequent crash. A motorcycle's windshield is rarely sufficient to block all debris, meaning personal eye protection is essential.

Options for Eye Protection

• Face Shields: Integrated into full-face or modular helmets, face shields offer the most comprehensive protection. They must be made of shatterproof polycarbonate material and meet safety standards such as VESC-8 or ANSI Z87.1. Face shields should be kept clean and scratch-free. Tinted shields are excellent for blocking sunlight during the day but must be swapped for clear shields at night, as tinted lenses severely restrict night vision and are illegal to use after dark.
• Goggles: Used primarily with off-road or open-face helmets, goggles must seal tightly against the face to prevent wind and dust from entering from the sides.
• Safety Glasses: Wrap-around sunglasses or safety glasses made of shatterproof materials can be worn under open-face helmets. Standard fashion sunglasses are not recommended, as they can shatter upon impact and cause severe injury.

---

Protective Jackets and Pants

The human body has very little natural defense against sliding along asphalt. Standard street clothing, such as cotton denim jeans or cotton t-shirts, offers virtually zero abrasion resistance and will tear through in less than a second of contact with the road.

Material Selection: Leather vs. Textiles

Impact Protection (Armor)

High-quality motorcycle jackets and pants are equipped with internal armor in high-impact zones: the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips, and back. Ensure the armor is CE-certified (Conformité Européenne), indicating it has been tested to absorb impact energy. CE Level 1 provides standard protection, while CE Level 2 offers higher impact absorption. The gear must fit snugly enough that the armor stays positioned over the joints during a slide rather than shifting out of place.

---

Gloves and Riding Boots

Full-Fingered Gloves

When a rider falls, their natural instinct is to put their hands out to break the fall. Without gloves, this results in catastrophic injuries. Gloves should be full-fingered and constructed of leather or high-strength textiles, featuring palm sliders and double-stitching in high-stress areas. Gloves must fit snugly but allow full movement of the fingers to operate controls without restriction.

Motorcycle-Specific Boots

Footwear must protect the feet, ankles, and lower shins from impact, heat from the exhaust pipe, and road debris. Boots must extend above the ankle bone and provide stiff lateral support to prevent fractures. Heavy leather is required; canvas shoes, running shoes, or sandals will fly off or shred instantly in a crash. Boots should have non-slip, oil-resistant soles, and laces must be tucked in or avoided to prevent catching on the gear shifter or footpegs.

---

Hearing Protection (Earplugs)

A commonly overlooked hazard of motorcycle riding is permanent hearing damage. At highway speeds (above 80 km/h), wind noise around a helmet can easily exceed 100 decibels (dB). Prolonged exposure to noise levels above 85 dB causes irreversible damage to the hair cells in the inner ear, leading to hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Even quiet full-face helmets only reduce noise by 5 to 10 dB, which is insufficient. Wearing disposable foam or reusable silicone earplugs under your helmet reduces noise by 20 to 30 dB, protecting your hearing while still allowing you to hear sirens, horns, and emergency signals. Reducing wind noise also significantly reduces rider fatigue on long journeys.