What to Wear When Riding in the Sand Dunes

Riding a dirt bike, ATV or UTV in the sand dunes is quite the adrenaline rush, and a hell of a lot of fun, provided you’re wearing the right gear when you get blasted with sand and sun.  

While sand feels soft to the touch, it’s not exactly cushy when you crash into it at high speeds. It can hurt like hell if you’re not wearing protective riding gear, not to mention it doesn’t taste good when it hits  your mouth, and can also blind you if you get roosted.

Before getting out on the dunes, it’s important to have the proper riding gear for comfort and safety. While you could probably get away with not wearing some pieces of safety gear on the sand — since it’s softer, wide-open terrain and has less obstacles than a track or trail — here is some gear we recommend wearing while riding the dunes.

Offroad Helmet 

We’re always going to include helmets in these types of articles, because it truly is the most important piece of safety gear you can wear for any kind of riding. Specifically for riding the dunes, a full-face offroad helmet is the way to go. 

Some might say the helmet isn’t all that important when riding a UTV on the softer terrain, but think about it for a second. A roll cage on a UTV does provide protection, but your head can easily bang against it or the dash in a crash and cause a serious injury. And even if the sand cushions your fall, that doesn’t mean you won’t hurt your head if you fall off a side-by-side, ATV or dirt bike.  

For those who scoff at wearing a helmet on the dunes because it’s too damn hot, there are plenty of offroad helmets that provide ventilation to keep your head cool while you ride. So even if you see other riders shredding the dunes with only a hat and sunglasses, don’t “monkey see, monkey do”. Wear a helmet.  

Sand Goggles 

We just mentioned sunglasses, but those aren’t good enough to protect your eyes while riding in the sand dunes, as they leave plenty of open space for sand to fly into your eyes.  

Get a good pair of sand goggles to keep dirt completely out of your eyes. Getting sandblasted in the face can not only blind you while you’re riding, but it can also be incredibly painful. While any pair of offroad goggles may suffice, it’s better to have a pair specifically designed for keeping sand out of your eyes. Sand goggles are made with extra foam or closed-cell foam padding for better eye protection. Look for sand goggles that have interchangeable lenses: tinted lenses for daytime use, and clear lenses for when it gets darker. 

Dust Mask 

Getting roosted in the face is bad for your breathing as well as your vision. And unless you want to grind sand in your teeth all day long, covering your mouth with a dust mask is highly recommended. These filtered masks provide ventilation to allow you to breathe and ride comfortably without inhaling sand and eating someone else’s dust. 

Dust Suit

If you’ve never gone riding in the dunes, just know that sand will end up getting all over your body, and it’s going to take eight showers to get it all off you.

We’re exaggerating of course, but you’ll probably need to shower at least twice to get all of that sand out of places on your body we won’t even mention. That is, unless you wear a dust suit. It might seem like overkill to wear an entire body suit on a hot day, but if you don’t want sand chaffing your skin, it’s worth considering. A dust suit provides comfortable full arm- and leg-length protection, so you may only have to shower once when you get home.

We understand if a dust suit sounds like too much, especially on a blazing hot day at the dunes. But you’ll still want to protect your extremities from the sand and sun. Because no matter how hot it is, a tank top and shorts won’t cut it, so the next two pieces of riding gear might be (no pun intended) better suited for your needs.   

Riding Jersey

Hot sand scraping off your skin during a crash is no joke. Neither is getting sunburnt, which is why wearing a long sleeve riding jersey is a good idea. Mesh or ventilated riding jerseys are designed to keep you cool while protecting your arms. While full riding suits are recommended, if you’d rather keep it casual, get a mesh or vented jersey made of moisture-wicking fabric.

Riding Pants

Once again, cut-offs won’t cut it for riding in the dunes, no matter how hot the weather gets. Always wear offroad pants made of breathable fabric to protect your legs from the sand and sun. Ok sure, you might be able to get away with wearing shorts while riding inside a UTV, but never wear them for riding an ATV or dirt bike. Besides the sun, remember that a hot exhaust can also burn your legs.

Offroad Boots 

Let’s state the obvious: flip-flops are not proper footwear for riding at the dunes. Imagine having to trudge across giant mounds of sand in a pair of sandals if your machine gets stuck. 

For riding in the dunes, wear sturdy offroad boots that go over the ankle for safety and comfort. Safety in the form of foot and ankle protection, and comfort in keeping sand out of your feet. Wear offroad boots, or at least a comfortable pair of riding shoes that have good sole traction and extend over the ankle. 

What Else to Bring 

When visiting the dunes, you should pack some other stuff to wear while you’re not riding. This includes sunblock, sunglasses, and a hat or bandana for protection from the sun during the day, and gloves, a long-sleeve shirt and jacket if it gets cold at night. 

Don’t forget to pack a first-aid kit, and a camera and tripod for documenting your sand dune shredding adventures.