Starting motorbike gear for expat in Vietnam
You live in Vietnam but are struggling to figure out what gear to get for this hot, hot country. Gear reviews and gear recommended back home doesn't exist here in Vietnam, importing is impossible and nothing fits the foreigner size. In this article, I am going to give my recommended list of entry level riding gear that is right here in Vietnam and appropriate for the extremely hot conditions that we often find ourselves driving in. This is gear that is appropriate for 150cc scooters/motorbikes and a casual stroll up the country. It is not geared toward track days or open road journeys. For most, large parts of our time are spent casually rolling along the road, but there are times we want to venture off down a gravel track, or perhaps as your driving skills improve you may wish to get into the world of offroad motorbikes and adventure riding. Both disciplines have thriving growing communities in Vietnam and are an excellent way to see this spectacular country, The aim here is to find a compromise of breath-ability, price and safety. We want to feel safe, but we also want to be able to stand around taking pictures, smoking cigarettes or taking in the breathtaking views. All without passing out from overheating.

The Helmet

Helmet of choice - Fly Kinetic offroad helmet - $130 The full offroad helmet might seem like a strange choice, but for $130 we are getting both ECE and DOT safety certifications. Off-road helmets have huge eye ports that are perfect for the wind to blow through and provide maximum ventilation. Offroad helmets are also the lightest helmets out of any discipline which means they are comfortable for wearing over long hours. The main downside to an offroad helmet is the noise, which means choosing this style of helmet is assuming relatively low road speeds. If noise is a problem, it is possible to buy headphones or move to the dual sport helmet of the LS2 MX 436.

Goggles

Goggle of choice - Fly Focus - $35 Assuming you have followed my advice and gone with the Fly Kinetic offroad and not the LS2 dual sport (also a fine choice), then you are going to need a set of goggles. Goggles provide protection from the wind, dust and other debris that might be on the road. Overall goggles are goggles and there isn't much to it. We stock some Oakleys Oframe and Fly Focus. Most shoppers are preferring the Fly Focus.

Armored jacket

Jacket of choice - Forcefield ProTube - $99 The ADV jacket is what most people will look for, but they have the huge downside of thick mesh material and a general design that does everything but allow you to breath. The jacket is nice in concept, but for most they are simply too hot. It is important to have safety gear that you are actually going to wear. Items you feel happy about putting on in the morning. It is no good having safety gear that is strapped to your luggage rack because you refuse to wear it. The Forcefield ProTube is CE level 2 and top of the line armor that is going to keep you cool on those hot days. It solves the problem of having multiple layers on your body. The obvious draw back is the lack of abrasion resistance from road crashes, but assuming speeds are low then you shouldn't be sliding hundreds of metres down the road in the first place. For those concerned for safety, it may be worth getting the ForceField Pro Shirt which has shoulder, front and back protection.

Knee-pads

Knee-pads of choice - Forcefield Pro Tube - $99 Most will be thinking of padded jeans, but again the realities of the heat and the jeans being shelved due to the impossibilities of wearing them is a big one. The Forcefield Pro Tube is soft armor that becomes hard on impact. Some people prefer hard armor, which happens to be cheaper. For this, the Fly Barricade is also a find choice.

Boots

Fly Maverik dirt bike boots - $160 Boots are the second most important safety item after the helmet. Often forgotten about, the boot is providing protection for ankle breaks and also protection from debris popping up into the shins and toes. There isn't much choice in Vietnam, especially in foreigner sizes. We stock the Fly Maverik which at $160 is a cheap boot. Tigit tour guides use them, and the durability of this cheap boot have been nothing but impressive.

Gloves

LS2 Rust Vintage Leather Gloves - $55 Straying away from the dirt bike oriented gear, these gloves are goat leather with touchscreen capabilities. The key with gloves is to find something that doesn't remove the feel of the motorbike through the brake and clutch handles. These gloves are a great balance of safety and breath-ability.

Trousers and Jacket

Fly Motocross trousers and T-shirt - Set $100 Your own jeans and any t-shirt or jacket over the top of the ForceField Pro Tubes is fine. The motocross gear has the added bonus of maximum breath-ability. The Fly T-shirts weigh nothing, and just by touching them it is obvious that these are designed for keeping you cool. The trousers add a little padding around the knee and hip areas, whilst having a soft material below the knee which allows wind to sweep up inside the trousers. For staying cool, there is nothing better than motocross gear.

Rain Gear

Race FX Jacket - Despite being a tropical country with an amazing rainy season, there isn't actually much choice for rain gear here. The problem with everyday rain gear that you might wear at home is the bulk of it. Cheap rain gear tends to be heavy and difficult to pack, which is not good for a motorbike journey. The choices of pack-able rain gear in Vietnam are Vietnamese rain poncho, Givi Rain coats or our imported Race FX rain coats. The Vietnamese rain poncho flaps in the wind and is not a great choice for a serious motorbike journey. The Givi Rain coats are great value for money for what they are, but the price point is putting these in the lower tear of rain suits when comparing to international standards. The breath-ability is questionable and wearing the Givi Suit will find the rider sweating from the inside out very quickly. Our recommendation is the Race FX rain jacket which has breathable mesh arm pits, and is a super light construction that folds up into nothing. Unfortunately for the lower half of your body, we still don't have a solution. For a full suit, Givi rain suits are still the best products country wide!