Off-Road Protection: The Accessories You Need!
If, like me, you grew up in the Black Forest, cycling probably meant mountain biking for a long time. Especially as kids, we didn’t let a few branches stop us—no matter whether we had the right gear or not.
Many scrapes later, I’m very glad I can protect myself well now. Modern protective gear for cycling hardly restricts you anymore and offers high, effective protection.
Accordingly, I recommend that anyone who enjoys off-road rides invest in both good apparel and the right accessories. And to make getting started easier, we’ve put together an overview of which accessories you need at the beginning and what to watch out for—always with a concrete example to make it tangible.
- The right mountain bike helmet
- Clear vision and protection thanks to off-road-ready glasses
- Extra protection with body armor
- The right gloves
- Grippy cycling shoes
- Conclusion
The right mountain bike helmet
Whatever type of MTB helmet you’re looking at, compared with a city or road helmet you’ll immediately notice that mountain biking simply requires more coverage.
A typical feature is an outer shell that extends down the neck. This accounts for the complex crash scenarios off-road and offers additional protection. However, helmets with extended neck coverage are not suitable for road races and time trials—the aerodynamic road position would push the shell into the neck.
To increase protection, many modern MTB helmets integrate Mips—like the one shown here: the POC Tectal Race Mips NFC helmet. Its predecessor, the POC Tectal Race SPIN NFC, also featured a slip layer with SPIN technology. More on Mips vs. SPIN.
The Tectal Race helmet from POC is ideal for off-road safety not only because of the extended shell: the integrated RECCO reflector can help rescuers find you in an emergency, while the built-in NFC Medical Chip can instantly provide first responders with key medical data and emergency contacts.
Don’t dismiss this modern equipment as bells and whistles—it’s cutting-edge safety tech. The same goes for the Angi crash sensor. This patented sensor can be attached to (or is already included with) Specialized helmets. It automatically detects crash forces and triggers an alert to the smartphone app. You can cancel false alarms with ease; in an actual emergency, the app sends your emergency contacts a message with your current location. If someone can’t call for help after a crash, the Angi sensor can literally be a lifesaver.
Extra protection doesn’t only come from integrated technologies. Especially in downhill, helmets with a chin bar are widespread. This motorcycle-style construction offers more complete head protection, particularly for the face and chin. These are called full-face helmets—as opposed to “open-face” helmets.
The Scott Nero Plus full-face helmet with Mips is a great example of a highly functional full-face lid: the ABS hard shell outside with EPS inner shell delivers maximum protection.
Of course, this additional protection comes with trade-offs: full-face helmets are significantly heavier than open-face models and ventilate less. There are, however, smart solutions.
One option is a hybrid design: with the Uvex Jakkyl hde 2.0 you can remove and reattach the chin bar, adapting to the specific demands of the trail.
Also popular is the Fox Proframe helmet with Mips. Originating in motocross, Fox Racing/Fox Head offers a wide range for cycling, especially MTB.
The Fox Proframe combines the lower weight of an open-face helmet with the extra protection and chin bar of a full-face. Numerous vents—especially in the chin bar—make this possible. Expect to see more helmets in this style in coming years as materials and tech continue to advance protection and comfort.
Suitable eyewear for off-road cycling
MTB glasses have two jobs: first, they must protect sensitive eyes—especially from debris like insects or small stones. That’s why lenses are made from shatter-resistant polycarbonate and are also scratch- and abrasion-resistant.
Second, sports glasses should support your vision. Anti-fog or hydrophobic coatings keep your view clear; dirt and spray simply roll off. Above all, the lenses should actively help while riding—even people who don’t otherwise wear glasses or contacts can benefit from cycling-specific lenses.
Best explained by example: the Oakley Jawbreaker is hugely popular with mountain bikers. Typical for a high-end Oakley MTB model are various features that ensure a perfect fit: a durable, lightweight frame with slight flex for a custom feel, paired with premium temple tips and nose pads. The three-point fit keeps the optics aligned.
All Oakley Jawbreaker lenses block harmful UVA, UVB and UVC and are highly durable. The base version comes with “Prizm Road” lenses optimized for road riding. For safe off-road use there are two interesting options:
- Oakley Jawbreaker Prizm Trail Torch: Trail lenses optimized to reveal detail and texture in terrain, enhancing safety. Suitable across light conditions with boosted color and contrast.
- The Oakley Jawbreaker Photochromic features photochromic lenses that automatically adapt to light: they darken in strong sun to reduce glare and block UV.
If your route briefly dives into darker woodland, you don’t need to swap lenses or remove your glasses—the lenses simply brighten again.
Other brands also use photochromic and premium lenses that are extremely helpful off-road; for example, a Rudy Project cycling glass can feature self-tinting options and ImpactX technology—this patented lens construction is practically unbreakable and perfect for trails.
Our product pages always list precise lens details. Feel free to browse the variants—primarily distinguished by their functional lenses—until you find your perfect match.
Off-road riding calls for very robust, scratch-resistant lenses that handle rapidly changing light well. Our recommendations for trail-ready MTB glasses are here.
Extra protection with body armor
Elbow and knee protectors work the same way: in a crash, they distribute impact forces over a larger area and reduce peak loads. The materials also prevent abrasions and injuries from sharp objects.
Modern MTB protectors excel not only in protection but also in low weight and freedom of movement. Integrated pads like D3O are typically foams that stiffen on impact to absorb energy, yet remain flexible and comfortable the rest of the time.
ION protectors are real standouts. The ION K-Pact knee pad offers top-tier impact protection (certified to EN 1621, Level 2) thanks to asymmetric padding: a premium SAS-Tec pad up front and a lighter EVA foam insert at the side. These pads are connected by very flexible, robust, breathable neoprene with a Power Aramid upper in the impact zone for extra tear and abrasion resistance.
The counterpart, the ION E-Pact elbow pad, uses the same principle, with slightly more flexible HD memory foam since the elbow needs a greater range of motion while riding.
Other brands also combine firmer front padding, softer side inserts and flexible connecting materials. Notably, Fox uses removable, washable D3O inserts on its Enduro elbow and knee pads—very practical.
The right gloves
Gloves are the piece of protective gear most dependent on season and weather. Elbow and knee pads can be worn under trousers in any weather, and for helmets and shoes there are suitable helmet covers and overshoes for cold or wet conditions.
For off-road safety, long-finger gloves are advisable year-round—they’re the only way to protect the whole hand. But summer and winter long-finger gloves differ greatly: winter models keep out the cold with insulating layers, while summer gloves use airy mesh and micro-perforations for ventilation and cooling.
Choose gloves to match the weather and your route. For off-road safety, two factors are key: an abrasion-resistant outer and substantial padding that still preserves good bar feel (tactility).
Good padding—e.g., D3O or Roeckl’s Bi-Fusion—goes almost unnoticed while riding, reduces hand fatigue from gripping the bars, and most importantly protects in a fall. A tough outer ensures brushes with branches won’t damage the glove and keeps them durable.
A strong example is the Endura MT500 gloves, ideal long-finger MTB gloves for summer. Fingers and knuckles get premium D3O protection that also boosts comfort. Silicone prints provide non-slip grip and enhance control.
The stretch backhand fabric is highly durable and topped with a TPU overlay for extra resilience. Sturdy mesh between the fingers delivers the ventilation you need in summer.
Grippy cycling shoes
Wait—shoes? Isn’t this about safety gear?
Exactly. Shoes contribute a lot to safety, even if not as “armor.” The right footwear helps prevent mishaps before they happen. How?
In general, cycling shoes are designed to transfer power efficiently from foot to pedal. High-end road shoes therefore have extremely stiff soles for maximum performance.
Trail shoes, however, must let riders dismount and walk safely in tough terrain—something road cyclists on smooth tarmac rarely face. This is often called “bike ’n’ walk.”
For sure-footedness in forests or on mountain slopes, you need soles with aggressive tread and excellent grip. MTB shoes are therefore less stiff than pure road shoes.
Clipless cleats are also less common off-road. There are specialized MTB shoes with cleats—the Shimano SPD system is ideal off-road thanks to recessed cleats that won’t get damaged while walking.
The tougher the trail, the more flat-pedal shoes make sense. In DH, cleats are rare; freedom of movement—and the safety it brings—often outweighs the power transfer of clipless systems.
An excellent blend of walking comfort, on-bike function and sustainable construction is the Vaude AM Moab Tech. These flat-pedal shoes feature an extremely grippy hexagon-tread outsole.
Beyond traction, they add a cushioning midsole and heel element that make rougher trails far more comfortable. External toe and heel caps plus added ankle protection deliver another layer of safety.
Conclusion
Fast, risky rides in nature—does your heart beat a little faster just thinking about it? Whether MTB, enduro, downhill or all-mountain: trail challenges are fantastic.
But to really get going you need the right apparel and equipment. Safety first—MTB is simply more demanding than riding to the supermarket, and that’s part of the appeal!
We hope this post gave you a helpful overview. If you have questions, leave a comment or reach out via chat—or visit us in store.
