Visit any ride area and you will find women, lots of women, out enjoying riding just as much as the guys. Ask any fun-loving girl if she wants to go riding and the result will almost always be an enthusiastic, “yes!” For the most part, riding an ATV or Side x Side is a pretty gender neutral sport and women can ride anything the guys can, often times even better, but there is one area where they have sadly been left behind. Women have been largely overlooked by the companies that make riding gear and mostly end up wearing gear made for guys. To say it doesn’t fit right most of the time would be an understatement, and while most guys would never wear gear that wasn’t made for them and bunched up in all the wrong places, that is exactly what most women put up with for their off-road adventures. One major gear company, though, has been offering an alternative just for the ladies.
Fly Racing
Fly Racing is the private gear line of Western Power Sports, and WPS is one of the largest distributors of powersports products on the planet. They’ve got everything from handlebar grips to goggles, and we guarantee your local dealer can get whatever you need from them. The FLY Racing riding gear lineup is quite extensive, but we were happy to find they also offer gear for women. With a couple women on our staff who we regularly work with for photos, it was time to check out some FLY gear up close and personal!
Fit & Trim Fly Pants
We’ve tried riding gear that has so many rubber pads, logos, and otherwise useless graphics elements sewn on, they feel like they were coated with heavy mud even before we put them on! Thankfully, the FLY gear avoids all of that and the pants, jerseys and gloves have padding and protection in critical areas, but overall weight is kept in check. The FLY graphics are also sporty, yet tasteful, and they hold up well even after continued use and washing.
When Stephanie tried on the FLY riding pants the first time, she commented that they fit completely normal. Inside the pants is a nice, mesh liner that keeps them from chaffing the legs, stretch panels make it easy to move around without binding, and they ventilate fresh air easily. Most of the panels are a very durable material that doesn’t seem to fray or even wear out, and all stitching seems tight and secure. There are even a couple Kevlar heat resistant panels sewn into the lower legs to protect from engine heat.
We really like the handy inner pocket on both the girl’s Kinetic and Over-The-Boot pants, but the over the Boot Cut pants have extra outside pockets as well, and zippered panels that can be opened. One of the best features about either style of FLY pants is an elastic waistband that can be adjusted with a handy Velcro strip. Keeping it all closed is a snap, a sturdy zipper, and a ratcheting closure. Most importantly though, they’re cut for a girl’s shape and they fit. It’s what a girl needs for a day on the trail!
Kinetic Girl's Race Pant - $89.95 - $99.95
Kinetic Girl’s race wear is constructed specifically for the female form. A girls-specific cut translates to added comfort. Pant main features and materials:
ULTRA-DURABLE 840D CONSTRUCTION - to withstand the rigors of track and trail
FORM-FITTING CONSTRUCTION - built with girls in mind, complete with a low-rise waist for unmatched fit and comfort
HIGH GRADE KEVLAR® SEWN LEATHER HEAT SHIELD PANELS - located on the inside of each leg for durability and heat resistance
ERGONOMICALLY SHAPED KNEE - generously contoured and designed to accommodate all types of knee braces and guards
INTEGRATED "SOFT-FLEX" TPR PROTECTIVE BADGING - ventilated for increased airflow and cooling
CUSTOMIZABLE LEG CUFF DESIGN - low profile stretch cuffs with removable elastic band
INTERNAL POCKET - located inside the waistband
RATCHETING FLY CLOSURE & YKK ZIPPER - allows for additional adjustability and positive closure
ADJUSTABLE WAIST BELT - for maximum fit and adjustability
STRETCH-RIB PANELS - strategically placed for flexibility where you want it most
COMFORT MESH LINER - ventilated mesh liner helps keep you comfortable and cool
Kinetic Girl’s Boot-Cut Pant - $89.95 - $99.95
These pants offer the same materials, advantages, and construction as the girl’s Kinetic race pants, but with the following added features:
OVER-BOOT STYLE - cut with adjustable, zippered lower leg cuff design, ensures a comfortable fit over most boots and great style
LARGE ZIPPERED VENTS - located in front and back of pant allow for massive airflow and cooling
LARGE, EXTERNAL BELT LOOPS - for added waist adjustment, or for carrying extra cargo
THREE ZIPPED POCKETS - help carry all your extra goods
FLY KINETIC GIRL’S JERSEY - $27.95 - $29.95
The other clothing item girls need designed just for them is their jersey. It’s easy enough to slip on a guy’s jersey and ride all day, but one with the right cut looks a whole lot better. The FLY women’s jersey avoids all the baggy waist problems by being cut just for women. Again Stephanie adds, “It’s nice to look and feel like a girl, even when you’re out to get dirty!” The main features are:
ANATOMICALLY CORRECT GIRL’S FIT - for the ultimate in jersey performance and comfort
COMFORT-STRETCH COLLAR - constructed of TPR (Thermoplastic rubber), Lycra® and stretch-rib materials for increased function and great fit
SHORTY CUFFS WITH ELASTIC SLEEVES - help reduce unwanted arm pump
MESH PANELS & STRETCH RIB - integrated into the jersey for comfort and to help keep you cool
LONG, ANGLE-CUT TAIL - helps keep the jersey tucked into pants
KINETIC GIRL’S GLOVES - $26.95 - $28.95
We were surprised to find FLY even offers gloves designed for women. A properly fitting glove helps you avoid bunching and blisters on your palms, and the FLY women’s gloves offer the following:
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO FIT WOMEN’S HANDS
FOUR-WAY STRETCH MULTI-DIRECTIONAL CONSTRUCTION - offers support, flexibility and comfort. A split knuckle design increases comfort, and finger grips increase control.
SOFT-FLEX TPR GRAPHICS - for added protection and style
DURABLE DOUBLE LAYER PALM - is reinforced in all the right areas, and offers increased durability, protection, and great feel
ADJUSTABLE VELCRO® WRIST CLOSURE – helps keep your glove securely in place
The Whole Package
FLY really has you covered from head to toe, and even though the helmets, boots, and goggles are less gender specific than the FLY pants and jerseys for women, again Stephanie found them to be very comfortable. We especially like the F2 Carbon helmet which is fully certified for safety, has plenty of vents to keep your nugget cool, is lightweight, comes with a removable liner for washing, and it looks fantastic! For a top-of-the-line, fully certified helmet, they are also very reasonably priced at $269.
The Maverik Adventure Boot is a little shorter than most motocross boots, but they’re made of the same tough, durable materials as full race boots. At $99.95 you can’t beat the price for the level of protection they offer, and they should work great for most ATV riders.
Girl Gear
Nobody should head out riding without being fully protected, but they should also be outfitted in gear that fits them. The people at FLY Racing realized that women are a huge part of this sport too, and thankfully they’ve got the gear to help them enjoy the sport just as much as the guys, and to look great doing it.
