Layered for Adventure: What We Wear on Tour

Out here, what you wear isn’t about looking the part, it’s about surviving the ride, staying comfortable, and being ready for whatever the day throws at you.

Every tour starts the same way: armour on first. No shortcuts, no exceptions. It doesn’t matter if it’s bluebird skies or sideways rain, that protective layer is always there, doing its job quietly in the background. It’s the one thing we never compromise on.

From there, it’s all about building smart. Under my knee protection, I run compression tights, not for style, but because hours in the saddle will punish you if you don’t. They stop the chafing, keep everything in place, and make long days actually manageable.

Up top, I throw on an MX jersey. It’s simple, breathable, and gives me the option to strip things right back when the heat kicks in and the trail gets slow and technical. Because it will, and when it does, airflow becomes your best mate.

On the lower half, it’s my Revit Dirt Series over the boot pants, paired with long socks and proper off-road boots. That combo is built for movement, protection, and durability, whether you’re standing on the pegs all day or paddling through something you probably shouldn’t have ridden into.

Then comes the variable layer, the one that changes with the mountains. If it’s cold, I’ll throw on a puffer jacket or a fleece under my riding jacket. That’s the beauty of the system, nothing fancy, just practical layering that lets you adapt on the fly. Climbing into altitude, layer up. Dropping into the valleys, strip it back.

Up on the dome, we wear a solid MX helmet with goggles and ear plugs. Before the helmet goes on, we run a Buff over the ears. It makes a big difference on cold mornings and helps absorb sweat when things heat up. On those really crisp starts, a second Buff around the neck goes a long way in keeping the chill out.

Gloves are a personal preference, but they’re not something we leave to chance. No matter what you choose to ride in, we always carry a spare pair for those wet days when staying warm and keeping control of the bike really matters.

And when the weather inevitably turns, because in New Zealand it always does, the Scott rain jacket comes out and goes over everything. Quick, simple, and effective. No drama, no fuss, just back to focusing on the ride.

That’s how we do it. No gimmicks, no overthinking, just a dialled system that works. Because when you’re deep in the backcountry, the less you have to think about what you’re wearing, the more you can enjoy why you’re out there in the first place.

What we wear on tour:

• Armour (worn at all times)

• Compression tights under knee protection

• MX jersey

• Revit Dirt Series over-the-boot pants

• Long socks

• Off-road riding boots (Sidi, Gaerne, Leatt, Alpinestars, etc.)

• Riding jacket (Revit, Leatt, Alpinestars, etc.)

• Puffer jacket or fleece (for cold conditions)

• Scott rain jacket (outer layer for wet weather)

• MX helmet (Airoh, Acerbis, Alpinestars, Thor

  etc.)

• Goggles (Oakley, 100%, etc.)

• Ear plugs

• Buff (under helmet and optional around the neck)

• Gloves (personal preference, with a spare pair carried for wet days)