The clothing you pick for your scooter rides should follow functionality reasons first – fashion should be either a small factor or not a factor at all.
Read on for the exact tips on dressing for electric scooter riding to ensure safety, maintain or improve your health while riding, and avoid any interference with your ride.
Wear a helmetWearing a helmet is the most critical safety requirement when riding an electric scooter, with other clothing recommendations being important but not as essential.
Wear eye protectionClear vision is crucial when riding an electric scooter, so wear eye protection such as sunglasses or goggles, especially at higher speeds or in very sunny weather.
Put on more clothesChoose long-sleeved shirts and pants, emphasizing coverage for injury prevention and better overall health during scooter rides.
Avoid clothes that may get stuck in the wheelsChoose well-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants to avoid interference with the scooter’s components, ensuring they are not excessively baggy or long.
Choose heavier footwear and make sure your laces are tiedChoose sturdy, closed-toe shoes, avoid flip-flops and sandals, and consider boots or sneakers depending on your skill level and speed, ensuring laces are securely tied.
Avoid purses or backpacksChoose a scooter with built-in storage or attach a bag or trunk for carrying items, as riding with a purse or backpack can affect balance and safety.
Remove excessive hand accessoriesRemove jewelry and accessories, as they can magnify minor injuries during falls and potentially interfere with your ride, particularly those worn on wrists or hands.
Always wear a helmet
The helmet is not technically clothing, but it’s an essential item you must always wear without exception.
Proper clothing for scooter riding is crucial, and the closer you come to the ideal attire, the better. However, you can largely overlook the rest of the advice here and still be fine, except for one non-negotiable item: the correct scooter helmet. You must wear it at all times when riding your scooter.
Wearing the helmet is the foremost rule for electric scooter safety. While the other clothing tips are important for safety, wearing the helmet is the absolute must.
Wear eye protection
Maintaining clear vision is crucial when riding an electric scooter. Countless times, I’ve ridden without eye protection and regretted it due to squinting from strong sunlight or distractions from dirt and dust.
If you opt for a full-face helmet (recommended for faster scooters) or a helmet with eye protection, you typically won’t need additional eye protection. The exception might be in very sunny weather when your helmet’s eye protection falls short.
Regardless, ensure uninterrupted visibility. This means safeguarding your eyes from strong sunlight, rain, snow, dirt, dust, insects, and other potential hazards in traffic. You can often suffice with affordable sunglasses providing some UV protection (that’s what I do).
However, note that standard sunglasses may not fully shield your eyes from particles, so consider biking or polarized sunglasses or even goggles, especially at higher speeds.
Dress warm and cover as much of your body as possible and practical
Opt for long-sleeved shirts and pants instead of shorts, prioritizing coverage for your elbows, knees, and core.
Covering as much of your body as possible serves two main purposes. Firstly, it significantly reduces the risk of injury during falls or accidents, from minor scrapes to more severe internal damage. Thicker and longer clothing or additional layers provide better protection.
Secondly, it promotes better overall health while riding, minimizing risks like kidney problems, back pain, joint discomfort, stiffness, and soreness. Wearing warmer clothing can either mitigate or entirely prevent these issues.
A complete motorcycle armor works well (plus, it looks cool). Gloves are a good idea too, especially if your hands tend to get sweaty. Check the best electric scooter accessories guide for top picks in armor, gloves, belts, and pads.
However, this advice needs to be balanced with practicality. Even I sometimes opt for T-shirts or shorts on warmer days, acknowledging that strict adherence isn’t always practical.
If you diverge from the guidelines, do so consciously and compensate with additional protective gear, like knee and elbow pads.
Avoid clothes that may get stuck in the wheels (baggy pants, long dresses, etc)
Proper clothes includes long pants and sleeves, but make sure your pants or dresses are not excessively long. Baggy clothing that significantly exceeds your leg length can become entangled in the scooter’s wheels or components.
Additionally, very long-sleeved shirts may get caught in controls or brake levers, affecting your scooter’s operation. Loose or oversized upper body clothing can pose similar issues.
While extensive coverage is crucial, ensure your clothing fits your body well while riding the scooter.
Choose heavier footwear that covers your feet entirely, and make sure your laces are tied
To ride your scooter safely, wear solid, closed-toe shoes.
Avoid flip-flops and sandals, which lack grip and increase the risk of accidents.
Opt for sneakers as a minimum, and consider boots for higher speeds or while learning. Always keep your laces securely tied to prevent mishaps.
Your choice of footwear should match your skill level and speed, but never use flip-flops or sandals.
Avoid purses or backpacks or items that may disrupt your balance (or get a scooter bag or trunk)
When carrying items while riding, it’s better to choose a scooter with built-in storage or attach a bag or trunk afterward.
While riding with a purse or sack isn’t catastrophic, it can affect your balance, especially if the load is heavy. Even using a backpack, while a better option, isn’t ideal, as it can pull you off balance due to your inclined posture, potentially increasing the risk of falls or accidents.
If your scooter lacks built-in storage, invest in a trunk or bag; they are affordable and universally compatible with most scooters, such as the Epessa scooter bag.
Remove jewelry or excessive hand accessories before riding
While optional, it’s advisable to follow this tip whenever possible.
Items like earrings, piercings, necklaces, and jewelry, while typically not directly impacting your ride, can worsen minor injuries during a fall.
Accessories worn on your wrists or hands may have similar consequences and can also impede your ride. Loose watches or ankle bracelets might become entangled with handlebars, cables, or controls, slowing your reaction time or causing loss of scooter control.
Conclusion
Choosing the right clothing for electric scooter riding is important for safety, but not always a strict necessity. These clothing tips prioritize safety while considering practicality. You have some flexibility to deviate from these guidelines, but it’s vital to do so with care and awareness.
In general, remember to wear a helmet, safeguard your eyesight and visibility, choose appropriate attire with warmth, and wear closed footwear. If possible, avoid carrying purses, sacks, backpacks, jewelry, and excessive hand accessories.
For added protection and improved experience, consider extra gear like motorcycle armors, kidney belts, gloves, elbow and knee pads, etc.
