My Motorcycle Gear – in Thailand
Reviews | Motorcycle Gear Review
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve probably noticed I’m a bit fussy about motorcycle gear. Not in a glamorous “I need the latest expensive shiny thing” kind of way. More in a practical, slightly sweaty, tropical, mountain-road, soft-off-road, been-through-a-few-adventures kind of way.
I get asked fairly often what gear I actually wear, so here are the key items. Not a fantasy wishlist. Not a “top 10 best gear” article. Just the motorcycle gear that has genuinely been part of my riding life in Thailand, what worked, what didn’t, and what I still rate highly.
For me, the ideal setup is always the same: protection I trust, comfort in hot weather, and gear I’ll actually want to wear every single time I ride.
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Contents
My Gear at a Glance
Key Motorcycle Gear
| Gear | What I use | Why I keep using it |
|---|---|---|
| Helmet | Daddy Modular ADV | Practical, comfortable, useful features for hot-weather riding |
| Jacket | Komine Mesh Jacket | Great airflow and has lasted unbelievably well |
| Back protection | Knox Micro-Lock back protector insert | Better protection and comfort than the original insert |
| Pants | Pando Moto Kusari | The most comfortable riding pants I’ve owned |
| Hip protection | Forma Adventure / budget Scoyco ADV boot in rotation | One long-time favourite, one practical stop-gap while I work out my ideal next boot |
| Boots | Forma (no more – read on for info) | ————— |
| Gloves | Scoyco | Light, comfortable, and fit my small hands properly |
| Hydration | Camelbak pack | Essential in Thailand |
| Luggage | GIVI E300 top box + small Alpinestars tank bag | Simple and practical for day rides and travel |
| Essentials carried | Tools, electrical tape, cable ties, poly bags, visor spray, first aid kit | The unglamorous items that always end up being useful |
Why Gear is Not One-Size-Fits-All
Gear Specific to Thailand
Riding in Thailand comes with its own set of challenges. It’s hot, humid, often wet, and sometimes you can go from baking sunshine to mountain chill or a heavy rainstorm very quickly.
That means I don’t choose gear based only on protection. I also care a lot about airflow, how quickly things dry, how bulky they feel, and whether I can realistically live in them for a long day on the bike.
Because let’s be honest, the safest gear in the world is not much use if it is so uncomfortable that you keep making excuses not to wear it.
Helmet: Daddy
Daddy Modular Adv
My current helmet is a modular ADV helmet from Daddy, with an inbuilt sun visor. (I have owned a few helmets prior to this helmet, including a beloved Shoei. However, this Thailand Daddy Brand has proven to be very comfortable (and affordable), compared to imported brands).
One thing I appreciate with this helmet is the practicality. In hot weather, little conveniences matter a lot, and features like a modular front and internal sun visor make life easier when riding through changing light, stopping often, or dealing with long days in the heat.
I used to be much more resistant to full-face style helmets years ago than I am now. These days, I value protection and comfort far more than I value that “free” feeling of lighter or more open helmets. Experience changes your mindset a bit.
If a helmet fits badly, I won’t love it, no matter how good it looks on paper.
Jacket: Komine
Komine JK-053 Mesh Jacket
This jacket has been one of the most reliable pieces of gear I’ve owned.
My Komine JK-053 mesh jacket has been a staple for years, and I still rate it highly for riding in Thailand. The airflow is exactly what I need in a tropical climate, and it has held up extremely well over time.
One of my main issues with the jacket originally was that I found the stock armour too flimsy for my liking. So I swapped it out and upgraded the protection, which made a huge difference to how much confidence I had in it.
That’s one thing I’ve learned over time: sometimes a piece of gear is almost perfect, and it just needs better armour rather than replacing the whole item.
Back Protector: Knox
Knox Micro-Lock insert
The armour upgrade was worth doing.
I replaced the original Komine (flimsy) back protector padding with Knox armour, and I’m much happier with that setup. It feels more serious in terms of protection, while still being comfortable enough to wear in the heat.
I’m a big believer in gear that gives confidence without feeling like you’ve strapped a wardrobe to your body.
Pants: Pando Moto
Pando Moto Kusari
These have been the most comfortable riding pants I’ve owned.
The Pando Moto Kusari pants surprised me a bit because they manage to feel wearable and practical without making me feel like I’m dressed for battle every time I stop somewhere. Pretty useful also, when riding to cafés, viewpoints, border towns, or anywhere you’re on and off the bike regularly and don’t want to look like a spaceman.
They also work better in the heat than I expected, which is always a major point in their favour.
Older riding jeans I used before were fine, but they often involved compromises with fit, weight, or extra armour pieces. These feel like a much more sorted setup.
Hip Protection: Rokker
Rokker Hip Protectors
One thing I don’t like is when gear looks “complete” but still leaves important gaps.
The Pando Moto trousers had hip pockets, but no hip protectors included, so I added Rokker Hip Protectors. It was a small change, but an important one. I would much rather finish the job properly than assume a piece of gear is complete just because it looks good in product photos.
Boots….. Forma (RIP)
Forma Adventure
Oh dear, Forma….
Boots have honestly been one of the trickiest categories for me. For while, the Forma Adventure boots were a staple and I absolutely loved how comfortable they felt. Compared with stiffer, clunkier boots, they felt almost ridiculously easy to live with. Comfort-wise, they were excellent.
But over time I also ran into frustrations. Once water got into them, it tended to stay in them. In a place where rain, river crossings, puddles, and general tropical nonsense are part of life, that became a real downside.
The final nail in the coffin was the lack of ankle protection on a ride, which resulted in torn ligaments after a fall.
At the moment, I also have a budget ADV boot from Scoyco in the mix while I work out what my next ideal long-term boot will be.
So this is the honest answer: boots are the category I’m still refining. I want decent rigidity, proper ankle protection, comfort for long days, and something that makes sense for tropical riding. Do you have any suggestions?
Gloves: Scoyco
Scoyco MX
I keep coming back to Scoyco gloves for one simple reason: they fit me.
That might sound basic, but if you have small hands, you’ll know that glove shopping can get annoying very quickly. I’ve tried more expensive gloves before, and a lot of them just felt too rigid or awkward. These feel light, soft, and natural on my hands, which means I actually enjoy wearing them.
And that matters.
They’ve also held up surprisingly well considering the price and the tropical conditions they’ve been through. Humidity, heat, rain, they’ve done a solid job.
I’ve purchased three sets over the last 15 years, which I think is pretty solid for an MX glove and Thailand conditions.
Gear Beyond the “Big Five”
Additional Personal Staples
A lot of motorcycle gear articles stop at helmet, jacket, pants, boots, and gloves. But in real life, there are always a few smaller items that end up being part of the setup too.
For hydration, I use a Camelbak pack, which in Thailand is less of a luxury and more of a survival strategy.
For luggage, I keep things fairly simple with a GIVI E300 top box and a small Alpinestars magnetic tank bag. Nothing wildly exciting, but both are practical and that’s what matters to me most.
And then there are the boring little essentials that never look glamorous in photos but always earn their place: tools, electrical tape, cable ties, poly bags, visor spray, and a first aid kit. Which tend to come in handy!
Those are the items that quietly save the day.
What I Will Always Look For in Gear
Priorities that Never Shift
After a lot of riding, my priorities are pretty clear.
First, I want gear that suits the climate I actually ride in, not the climate a marketing department imagines. If something is too hot, too heavy, or too awkward, it becomes a chore.
Second, I care a lot about fit. Especially as a woman rider, I have no patience left for gear that almost works, would be fine with alterations, or technically fits if I stand in one position and don’t breathe too deeply. I want gear that works with me, not against me.
Third, I want protection that feels real. Good armour placement, proper support, decent construction, and gear that inspires confidence are all far more important to me than a flashy brand name.
Final Thoughts
To Sum Up…
If I had to sum up my motorcycle gear in one sentence, it would be this: I want gear that is protective, practical, comfortable in the heat, and realistic for the kind of riding I actually do.
Not showroom gear. Not fantasy expedition gear. Just gear that works.
Was this helpful? Have questions? Leave a comment. I’d be interested to read your thoughts.