What to Pack for a Motorcycle Track Day: Rider Gear Checklist

A track day goes smoothly when the gear is chosen and packed before the morning of the event. Organizers inspect riders as well as bikes, so missing a glove, a back protector or a document can end the day before the first session. This checklist covers the riding gear, the paperwork, the comfort items and the spares that riders typically bring, with the standards behind the protective gear explained.

Required Riding Gear

Every organizer publishes a gear list, and most agree on the basics. As one example, WMRC lists an undamaged full-face helmet no older than five years from its manufacture date with Snell M2020 or ECE certification, a one-piece leather suit (or a two-piece zipped around the entire waist), gauntlet-style leather gloves with full wrist coverage, and leather boots that cover the ankles. The same list calls for a separate CE Level 2 back protector reaching from the shoulders to the tailbone, and it states that soft pads sewn into a suit do not meet that requirement. Other organizers set different details, so the event page is the reference.

Choosing a Suit for the Track

Track-day riders generally choose a one-piece suit because jacket and pants cannot separate during a slide. Two-piece suits are easier to put on and take off, and they suit riders who mix track and road use, but the jacket and pants must connect with a full-circumference zipper. Leather Collection offers two-piece race suits as well as one-piece suits, and the leather race suits for track days section shows the full range to compare.

Fit matters as much as the label. The suit should feel snug in the riding position, without pulling across the shoulders or bunching behind the knees, and the armor should stay over the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees when the rider moves. A suit that is loose lets armor drift away from the joint; one that restricts breathing becomes tiring within a few sessions. Measuring chest, waist, inseam, sleeve length and shoulder width before ordering, then comparing the numbers to the size chart, is the usual starting point. A suit such as the cowhide racing leathers can be viewed with its size information before any decision is made.

Standards Worth Knowing

Two standards appear on most protective gear. EN 17092 classifies motorcycle garments as AAA, AA, A, B or C: classes AAA, AA and A include impact protection requirements, class B offers abrasion protection equal to class A without impact protectors, and class C garments provide impact protection for the areas covered by the impact protectors only, with no minimum abrasion protection. EN 1621-1 covers limb joint protectors such as shoulder, elbow, hip and knee armor, and EN 1621-2 covers back protectors. Each part has Level 1 and Level 2, with Level 2 transmitting less force in the standard test. Whether armor is included with a suit varies, so the product description should confirm it.

Boots, Gloves and Back Protector

Boots should cover the ankles, hold the heel in place and close securely, and gauntlet gloves should give full wrist coverage with no gap at the suit cuff, as the organizer above requires. Riders who want boots that match a suit can compare options such as the white leather racing boots . Some organizers require a separate back protector, so riders should confirm the rule for the event they have booked.

Documents, Comfort and Spares

Visordown's trackday checklist lists the non-protective items most riders pack: a full motorcycle license (both halves if it is a photocard license) since organizers require it, a spare visor, waterproofs for a wet forecast, plenty of water and light food rather than a heavy meal, a fuel can and funnel because bikes use much more fuel on track than on the road, and a tool kit with sockets, spanners, screwdrivers, pliers, tie-wraps and duct tape. A tire pressure gauge and spare brake and clutch levers for recovery after a minor spill are on the same list.

Bike Preparation

The motorcycle is inspected as well. WMRC, for instance, requires headlights, brake lights, indicators, mirrors and reflectors to be taped or removed, plates removed, no fluid leaks or obvious mechanical damage, a working kill switch and fully operational brakes, and cameras tethered to the bike. Riders should read the matching section of their own organizer's rules, since details such as tire types and noise limits differ by venue.

Quick Packing List

• Full-face helmet that meets the organizer's standard, plus a spare visor
• One-piece leather suit, or a two-piece that zips together around the waist
• Back protector, if required or recommended by the event
• Gauntlet gloves and ankle-covering boots
• License, booking confirmation and any documents the organizer requests
• Water, light food and waterproofs
• Tool kit, tire pressure gauge, tape, fuel can and funnel

Riders ready to compare protective gear for track and road use can review

to find options built around fit and riding use. The Ducati 2-delt Motorsykkelskinnseter is another product example to check against the list above.

Written by the Leather Collection Editorial Team.