Beginner's guide: The essential equipment to start in Enduro or Motocross

That’s it, the off-road virus has stung you! Welcome to the exciting world of enduro and motocross. Before embarking on dirt roads, pierriers or circuits, one step is absolutely crucial: equipment.

In enduro or cross-country, you do not dress for the ride, but to protect yourself from the fall. Good equipment is not an option, it is your best life insurance. It protects you, gives you confidence and allows you to focus on the essentials: steering and fun.

This guide is here to help you see clearly and make the right choices for your first purchases. Follow the guide, from head to toe!

1. Helmet: your ABSOLUTE priority

If there was only one piece of equipment to buy, it would be this one. Your head is your most precious possession.

• Type: only one possible choice: the Full Headphones cross/enduro type. Its prominent chin guard protects your jaw and provides excellent ventilation.

• Materials: to begin with, you will often find polycarbonate (plastic injected), a little heavier but economical. Models in fiber or carbon are lighter and absorb the shock wave better, but the budget often doubles.

• Approval: make sure that the approval label is present. The current European standard is the ECE 22.06.
  Why is it vital? Unlike the old standard (22.05), 22.06 tests Rotary Impacts (when the helmet turns during a shock), responsible for the majority of severe concussions.

• Beginner's budget: €150 – €300 for an excellent safety helmet.

Choice of drafting’ : the Leatt 3.5 Headset (with its mask) because it is a helmet for less than €200 with a high level of protection (exclusive 360° Leatt Turbine technology that reduces the maximum acceleration of the brain). It is of course certified 22-06.

2. The mask (or glasses): to see clearly and protect your eyes 

Inseparable from the helmet, the mask protects your eyes from dust, stone projections, branches and insects.

• Compatibility: Make sure your mask fits well into the opening of your helmet.

• Screen: a treated anti-fog and anti-scratch screen is a minimum. ‘Iridium’ (coloured) screens are perfect for sunny days, while a clear screen is essential for passages in the forest or in overcast weather.

• Beginner's budget: €20 – €50

Choice of drafting: less than 30 €, the mask 100% Strata 2 offers an excellent value for money for a first off-road mask.
Small downside to know: the single-layer foam soaks up quite quickly if you sweat a lot, so make sure you have a replacement for long outings.

3. Motorcycle boots: INDISPENSABLE!

Right after the helmet, the boots are your second largest investment. Your feet and ankles are very exposed.

• Rigidity and maintenance: Don't be surprised, cross/enduro boots are extremely rigid at first. This is normal! This stiffness protects your ankle from twists and your foot from crushing.

• Protections: they must include reinforcement in the tibia, malleoles, heel and tip of the foot.

• Sole: Enduro boots often have a slimmer sole than cross boots to provide better grip when you need to push the bike.

• Fitting: As with helmets, fitting is essential. You need to feel well maintained without being compressed. Plan to "break" them by walking a little with them before your first outing.

⚠⚠ The beginner’s error (we all made it):
When I started out, I wanted to save money by buying top-priced boots for €150. Result: a sole taken off in 3 months and seams that loosen after 6 months … It is better to put 100 € more in a pair that will last 3 seasons like the Tech 5.

Beginner's budget: €200 – €300. If your budget allows, do not skimp on the quality of the boots!

Choice of drafting: Even if the Alpinestars Tech3 are a sure value in terms of comfort, for those who have a slightly less constrained budget, we recommend the Alpinestars Tech5 boots which represent for us the best protection / comfort / price compromise on the market for a beginner.
Only weak point: they are a little warm in the middle of summer compared to the ventilated high-end models.

4. Personal protection: your armor

This will protect your torso, back, shoulders and knees.

• Upper body: You have two options.

  • The stonewall: light, it mainly protects the torso and back from projections. It is usually used in motocross. Not recommended in enduro for a beginner.

  • The full protective vest: This is our choice recommend for a beginner in enduro. It incorporates protections for the torso, back (dorsal), shoulders and elbows. It is a very secure all-in-one solution.
    Attention: if you are aiming for competition, check that the backbone meets the standard EN 1621-2 required by the FFM.

  • Beginner budget : €120 – €250 for a full vest

Choice of drafting’ : the Shot Assault enduro vest has the best quality / price ratio for endurists, while the stonewall Alpinestars A-1 will be more suitable for crossmen.

• Knee pads: indispensable. Falls on the knees are extremely common.

  • Classic knee pads: they protect against direct shocks (falls) on the knees and shins. This is a good starting point.

  • Knee orthoses: More expensive, they also protect against twisting and hyperextension of the knee. This is an investment to consider seriously as your level and speed increase.

• Beginner's budget: €50 – €120 for a good pair of knee pads

Choice of drafting’ : the Knee pads Leatt Dual Axis offer an intermediate solution between basic knee pads and orthoses, for us it is the ideal knee pad for beginners.

5. Gloves: your contact with the motorcycle and protection in the event of a fall

Gloves protect your hands from blisters, rubbing and small shocks. They also improve your grip on the handlebars.

• Characteristics: choose a pair that offers a good feeling of the orders. The palm is often made of Clarino or other fine and resistant synthetic material. Light reinforcements on the phalanxes are a plus. Motorcycle gloves should be adjusted to your hand size, neither too big nor too small, as this promotes the appearance of light bulbs.
  Legislation: unlike motocross, for enduro gloves CE approved (road) are mandatory because we use lanes open to traffic.

Beginner's budget: €25 – €50

Choice of drafting’ : Freenduro's choice goes to FIVE Mxf Gloves For us, this is the Rolls-Royce of off-road gloves. Excellent comfort and above all more bulbs with these gloves designed in France. We have been riding with these Five gloves for 4 years and we do not regret this choice!

See our Long-term testing of Five MXF gloves

6. Holding: jersey and pants

Note that motocross/enduro outfits are not really essential for your first off-road spins, jeans and long-sleeved t-shirts will do if your initial budget is too tight. 

• The jersey: Made of lightweight and breathable synthetic fabric, it wicks away perspiration and dries quickly. Its ample cut makes it possible to wear the protections underneath.

• The trousers: It is a piece of resistance. Made of robust materials (Crosura type), it is reinforced at the knees (often with leather inserts to withstand the heat of the exhaust pipe) and at the buttocks. It is designed to be flexible and not hinder your movements on the bike, while leaving room for knee pads.

Beginner's budget: €100 – €250 for a jersey + trousers set.

Summary and total budget

For complete off-road equipment that is safe and durable for starting out in MX or enduro, a global budget must be provided for:

• Low range: approximately 600€

• Comfortable range: approximately 1200€

This may seem important in terms of budget, but never forget that this equipment can Avoid weeks off work or, worse, serious injuries. Think of the second-hand market for some parts (except the helmet, which must be bought new!), but always inspect the condition meticulously.

Being well-equipped is the first step to having maximum pleasure in complete serenity. Good equipment will give you the confidence to progress. Now that you know everything, all you have to do is equip yourself and join us on the road!

Ride safe & good gas!

Transparency note: this article is independent. It contains affiliate links (if you buy through our links, we get a small commission at no extra cost to you), which allows us to finance the purchase of material for our tests, but does not influence our field-based opinions.