Stunt Riding Gear Guide: What Riders Wear When Falling Is Part of the Job

Quick answer: Stunt riders gear up for frequent low-speed falls rather than rare high-speed slides: a full-face or motocross helmet, chest and back protection, hard knee and shin guards, and durable gloves they expect to replace. Alpinestars, Icon, and Fox make the armored staples, and some riders add unarmored leather for practice feel.

How is stunt crashing different from street crashing?

A street crash is a rare, unpredictable event, often at speed. A stunt crash is a scheduled appointment. Riders learning a new trick on a closed course expect to drop the bike over and over, usually below parking-lot speeds, and usually onto the same body parts: knees, shins, palms, hips, and tailbone.

That flips the gear priorities. Abrasion resistance still matters, but repeated impact protection at the joints matters more, and everything has to survive dozens of small crashes instead of one big one. Mobility counts too, because stunt riders spend half their time standing on the bike. The result is a kit that looks more like motocross gear than road racing leathers.

Which helmets do stunt riders wear?

Full-face street helmets and motocross helmets with goggles both show up in the paddock, and both are legitimate. Ventilation gets weighted heavily because stunt sessions are physical work in a way highway riding is not. The non-negotiable rule is the same one we give every rider: any helmet that takes a real impact gets retired, no matter how new it is.

Which armor brands actually hold up?

• Alpinestars: the Bionic family of chest protectors, back protectors, and knee guards comes straight from motocross and takes repeated hits well. Alpinestars publishes CE ratings clearly, which we respect.

• Icon: the Field Armor line is a longtime favorite in the streetbike freestyle scene, with CE-marked pieces designed to be worn over or under street clothes.

• Fox: the Titan line of armored jackets and guards is motocross-derived, affordable, and easy to replace, which is exactly the point for gear that gets crashed on weekly.

Whatever the brand, buy pieces with a real CE impact marking and know what it means. Our explainer on CE ratings and what actually matters applies to armor shopping across the board.

What about pants, footwear, and gloves?

Below the waist, the common setup is abrasion-resistant riding pants or reinforced jeans with hard knee and shin guards, because knees take more punishment in this sport than any other body part. Footwear splits the scene: motocross boots give the most protection, while some riders accept less coverage from sturdy moto shoes in exchange for feel on the pegs. That is a real tradeoff, and we will not pretend the lighter option protects equally.

Gloves are consumables in stunt riding. Palms hit the ground constantly, so riders buy durable gloves in multiples and replace them without sentiment.

Where does unarmored leather like deerskin fit?

Honestly, and only with eyes open. Legendary USA sells its Bad Billy goatskin gloves at $99.99 and its Classic touchscreen deerskin gloves at $120 as of this writing, and both are exactly what they claim to be: tough, comfortable natural leather with excellent feel. They carry no armor, no sliders, and no CE impact rating. Some riders like unarmored leather for low-intensity practice, paddock work, and shows, where dexterity matters most. For competition speed and hard sessions, armored gauntlets are the right call. Our deerskin glove guide and our earlier piece on whether unarmored leather gloves are worth wearing lay out the tradeoff in full.

What does a full stunt gear budget look like?

The helmet should be the biggest single line item, then knee and shin protection, then the chest and back armor, then gloves and footwear. Prices move constantly, so instead of quoting numbers that will be stale in a month, we will point you at our standing budget gear guide and the new rider kit builder, both of which carry current picks. The stunt-specific rule: buy for repeated impacts and easy replacement, not for looks.

Frequently asked questions

Do stunt riders wear full race leathers?

Some wear them for big shows and high-speed content, but most practice happens in motocross-style armor over street clothes. Race suits are built for sliding at track speed, and they are hot, expensive, and restrictive for a discipline built on repeated low-speed falls.

Is motocross gear okay for this?

On a closed course, yes, and it is the scene standard. What MX gear gives up is abrasion resistance at highway speed, which is why it is the wrong answer for street riding but a fine one for a parking lot.

Do deerskin or goatskin gloves protect in a crash?

They resist abrasion and protect against cuts and scrapes far better than bare hands or fabric gloves, and that is all. No impact armor, no certified protection. Treat them as comfort and dexterity gloves, not crash gear at speed.

How often does stunt gear need replacing?

Helmets after any significant impact, full stop. Hard guards when they crack or the straps stretch. Gloves when the palms wear through, which happens fast in this sport. Budget for replacement as an ongoing cost, not a one-time purchase.

Can a beginner use this same gear on a closed course?

Yes, and they should. The kit above is exactly what we would put on anyone learning slow-speed control drills in a lot with permission. Start with our first four pieces of gear if you are building from zero.

Does MotoGearRater get paid for these picks?

No brand paid for placement here. MGR is independent, and when we mention a price, it is the seller's listed price at the time of writing, nothing more.

Sources

• Alpinestars MX protection: https://www.alpinestars.com/collections/mx-protection

• Fox Racing dirt protection: https://www.foxracing.com/protection/moto/

• Icon Motosports: https://www.rideicon.com/

• Legendary USA: https://www.legendaryusa.com/

• Motorcycle stunt riding, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motorcycle_stunt_riding

Last updated: August 8, 2026. Part of the MGR Wheelies and Burnouts series. Read the first installment on what the pros actually ride. Stunt riding belongs on closed courses; street stunting is illegal in most places.