EUC Safety Gear at 50: Dressed for Crashes I Hope Don’t Happen**
Some people say 50 is the age to slow down. I say it’s the perfect age to balance on one wheel with enough body armour to make me look like a midlife action figure. Riding an EUC is freedom, but freedom doesn’t have to come with asphalt tattoos. Here’s the kit that keeps me rolling, and why each piece actually matters when you’re standing on a 65-pound gyroscope.
Helmet – Leatt Gravity 1.0
Why it matters on an EUC: Your head is the tallest, most forward-projecting part of your body when you’re riding. A simple misstep, and your wheel shoots one way while your face heads for the pavement. The Leatt Gravity is a downhill MTB helmet—lighter and more breathable than a motorcycle lid, but still designed for real impacts. The 360° turbine system helps reduce rotational forces when you ragdoll sideways.
My take: It’s saved me from thinking too hard about how much my brain is worth. Plus, I like being able to hear traffic and what’s going on around me while I ride.
To purchase:
My first recommendation is to visit your local bike stores and support them, that’s where I picked up my Gravity 1.0
Need to order online then consider the upgraded convertible Leatt Gravity 4.0 found here: https://amzn.to/41vLPZ7
Wrists – Demon United Flexmeter Double-Sided Guards
Why it matters on an EUC: Falling off a unicycle is different from falling off a bike. With no handlebars to grab, most riders instinctively throw their hands out. That’s a fast track to wrist fractures. Flexmeters use two splints to keep your wrist from folding backward—absorbing and redistributing the force instead of leaving you with a cast.
My take: They make me look like I’m about to audition for a low-budget RoboCop remake, but I’d rather look ridiculous than relearn how to type with one hand.
To Purchase:
I highly recommend these, I’ve included direct links to all sizes as searching them online can be confusing and you may end up accidentally ordering the single sided because you though you found a better deal without realizing it (I almost did, caught it at checkout).
Gloves – Alpinestars S-Max
Why it matters on an EUC: Even with wrist guards, your hands still hit the ground and slide. Gloves cover the skin, and protect knuckles from stray branches or rocks.
My take: They won’t protect me from losing a finger in a table saw. That ship has sailed. But they do keep the pavement from claiming any more digits.
To Purchase:
Torso – G-Form MX360 Impact Shirt
Why it matters on an EUC: When you fall, it’s not just straight down—it’s forward, sideways, sometimes a good tumble. Shoulders, spine, and chest all hit hard. The MX360 puts pads exactly there, with CE certification to prove it absorbs energy. It’s slim enough to wear under a jersey, so it doesn’t feel like I’m suited up for medieval combat.
My take: I call it my “budget stunt double” shirt. Comfortable, flexible, and invisible until I need it.
To Purchase:
While I’d love to give you an Amazon affiliate link (as that helps out this project) I ordered this product from a fortnine.ca a Canadian motorcycle company (as I believe they only ship to Canadian addresses if you live elsewhere you’ll have to google this item)
Hips & Tailbone – G-Form EX-1 MTB Shorts
Why it matters on an EUC: Side falls are common—especially when you clip a pedal or lean too far correcting balance. Hips and tailbone are the first things to smack the ground. These shorts add padding where jeans do nothing, making awkward sideways bailouts survivable instead of unforgettable.
My take: They don’t make me look slimmer, but they do mean I can still sit comfortably the next day.
To Purchase:
Get these quick through Amazon Prime here https://amzn.to/4fWnxxk
Knees & Shins – G-Form Pro-Rugged 2
Why it matters on an EUC: Knees are high-risk: they’re forward-facing, they hit first in a tumble, and they slide. Shins? They take all kinds of hits in a fall, rocks, roots, the edge of stairs, it’s not a lot of padding, but a little helps.
I used to use the hard plastic style knee pads (specifically the Bullet brand) and still found falls brutal on my knees. Since switching to G-Form, I’ve had the joy of falling directly on my knees and couldn’t believe the difference – I got up, brushed off and kept riding.
My take: My shins already look like a horror-show of old bruises and scars. Honestly, nobody would notice one more. But I’d notice the pain, and these guards keep me from adding to the collection.
To Purchase:
Get these quick through Amazon Prime here https://amzn.to/4giu0mJ
Elbows – G-Form Pro X3
Why it matters on an EUC: Elbows often catch the ground when you roll out of a bail. Without pads, it’s road rash city. These keep my arms intact and make flailing a safer art form.
I’ve had a few bouts of bursitis in both elbows from skateboarding falls and I don’t enjoy it. I was wearing Bullet brand elbow pads a couple of the times and still developed massive swelling which is why I invested in the G-Form product in the first place.
My take: Like dental insurance: boring until you need it, invaluable the second you do.
To Purchase:
I’m not going to give you a Pro X3 link, I’m going to give you a Pro-Rugged 2 link as if I was to buy again these are the ones I’d get, I bought the Pro X3 because a local store had them there that day.
The link to the Pro-Rugged 2 MTB Elbow pads https://amzn.to/4giu8Tf
Boots – Klim Transition GTX
Why it matters on an EUC: Dismounts put your ankles under stress—sometimes twisting, sometimes stomping out hard. Boots add structure so your joints don’t pay the price.
My take: These aren’t full moto boots, but they’re waterproof, stable, and walkable. Which means I can ride, crash, then limp into a coffee shop without looking like I’m clomping around in ski gear, having said that they do have the BOA lacing system that I’d previously only seen on ski and snowboard boots and it is kinda awesome to have on a pair of light boots.
To Purchase:
Footwear is personal, go visit a local motorcycle store, if you’re lucky you’re not a size 13 like me as it can significantly reduce your options.
Pants – FXR Racing Contender MX Pant
Why it matters on an EUC: Legs are exposed and take hits—branches, pedals, asphalt. MX pants are designed for mobility and venting while adding tougher fabric than trekking pants. They flex with the constant lean-corrections of EUC riding, and they hold up better than casual wear if I do go down.
The trekking pants I wore previously lasted one fall, the same one that tested my G-Form knee pads, the pads were awesome and the pants were done – so I started looking for something tougher and found these at the local FXR store—on sale, no less.
My take: These are breathable, and tough. Plus, they make me look faster than I actually am, which is an under-appreciated safety feature.
To Purchase:
Careful to search up your size, this link will take you to the product to research the specs but this is to a 38″ waist so unless we’re the same size read the specs and then find your size https://amzn.to/41rVYGe
Jersey – Fox Racing 180 Motocross
Why it matters on an EUC: The jersey itself isn’t about impact—it’s about airflow. Riding an EUC is surprisingly physical, especially when balancing at low speeds or climbing hills. The jersey keeps me cool while letting the pads underneath do their work.
I am watching for a Jersey style product that is still good on a hot day but offers better abrasion resistance at least in the elbows to protect my pads.
My take:
Light, breathable, and neutral enough that I don’t look like a neon sign rolling down the street. It blends in just enough, while still keeping me cool when the ride heats up.
To Purchase:
Visibility:
I could have opted to be a moving neon tree to grab everyone’s attention but I don’t need to, I’ve opted for a more subdued colour scheme, White helmet, white fade to black jersey, black pants, at 6’3″ in height, standing on EUC pedal about 5″ off the ground I’m essentially a 6’8″ 240lb padded up crazy man flying along the trails, you don’t need me to glow in the dark to find me.
Why I Bother
I don’t armor up because I think I’m invincible. I armor up because I know I’m not. Every piece of gear buys me the confidence to ride harder, fall smarter, and get back up again.
It’s not about looking tough—it’s about feeling free. That’s what MADCTY stands for: Maximize Adventure, Defy Convention, Transcend Yourself. Even if, in my case, it also means accepting that my wardrobe looks like I’m cosplaying as a crash dummy.
Related Posts
Sign up with your email and always get notifed of Avada Lifestyles latest news!
