Your helmet and armour are the only things between you and the road. Don't compromise here.
Key Riding Guidance & Highlights
If you spend money on one thing before a tour, spend it here. Your helmet and armour are the only things between you and the road, and on Himalayan gravel a low-speed slide is common — good gear turns a hospital trip into a dusty laugh.
Helmet
A full-face or adventure (ADV) helmet with a current certified rating (ECE 22.06 is the benchmark). Add a Pinlock anti-fog insert — a fogged visor on a cold pass is genuinely dangerous.
Body armour
Look for CE Level 2 protectors at the back, shoulders, elbows and knees. Level 2 absorbs more impact than Level 1, and it's worth it.
Jacket and pants
Abrasion-resistant textile with removable thermal and waterproof liners gives you one set of gear for every condition you'll meet.
Our tip: During Himalayan expeditions, fit beats brand. Armour that shifts during a slide won’t protect you properly — always try your gear before buying and make sure every protector sits securely over the correct joint.