Trail & Enduro Accessories: Helmets, Shoes, and more

Protection and transport come first.

Protection first

A helmet and knee and elbow pads are part of the basic kit on the trail. For transport, backpacks and hydration packs are common, because bike shirts have no back pockets. A tight fit is important: a backpack that moves on the descent shifts your centre of gravity at the worst possible moment.

Off-road, the trend in eyewear is towards goggles. They sit closer to the face, keep out dust more reliably and do not move on impacts; however, they ventilate less well on slow climbs than open sports glasses.

Flat pedal shoes need a soft rubber compound to grip the pins. A hard running sole slips off the pedal with every impact, regardless of the tread.