Mountain biking is one of the most popular sports in the world, but it's also one of the most dangerous. That's why you need to wear all the gear before you head out on your first ride. Here are some tips for the best gears to get started:

1. Helmet

If you're new to mountain biking, the helmet is probably one of the most important pieces of gear you can have. But it can also be one of the most difficult to find and buy. I'll walk through all there is to know about finding the perfect helmet for you.

Helmets should fit snugly so that they don't move around on your head as much as possible during rides. This will help prevent impacts from being worse than they need to be in case of a crash or fall off your bike near obstacles like rocks or trees.

Make sure that it's comfortable enough for prolonged use: if it hurts anywhere while wearing it, try on another size until you find one that fits well without discomforting pressure points along your head or face (eek!). It's important to remember not only how well-fitting but also light weight/ventilated helmets are great in terms of comfort and safety; however, heavier models tend offer more protection against impact injuries since they spread out energy better when struck by something hard enough like another person's body during an accident.

2. Elbow Pads

Elbow pads are important for mountain biking. If you fall and scrape your elbows, the elbow pads will help protect your skin from abrasions. They can also prevent injuries like broken bones by absorbing some of the impact from falling. Elbow pads can be made from a wide variety of materials including leather, plastic and even rubber. Some types of elbow pads have padding inside to absorb impact while others are made with a hard outer shell that protects against scrapes and cuts while providing much needed protection from the sun.

3. Knee Pads

Knee pads are a vital piece of equipment for mountain biking, especially if you will be riding on rough terrain. They protect your knees from scrapes and bruises by absorbing the impact of bumps and jumps, keeping you in control of your bike.

Knee pads can be worn under or over pants, depending on what style is preferred by each rider. These typically have adjustable straps that allow you to customize their fit accordingly. Some also have metal buckles so they're easy to take off when necessary.

4. Shorts and liner shorts

Shorts do not need to be fancy or technical, but they should be comfortable and durable. You’ll want shorts with a gusseted crotch that allows freedom of movement in the saddle and avoids chafing on long rides. Liners are a good idea for riding in warm weather since they keep you cooler than wearing pants, although most liners tend to be thin material that doesn't offer much protection from abrasion.

5. Long Sleeves and Pants

If you plan to wear shorts and a t-shirt, make sure the shirt is breathable and doesn't have any buttons or zippers. You don't want your shirt getting stuck in the chainring of your bike and causing an accident.

You don't want to wear pants so long that they cover your ankles because this can cause tripping hazards as well as being uncomfortable when riding for long periods of time. Also, if you're wearing loose-fitting pants (like sweatpants), it might be best not to use them on mountain bikes because they could get caught on rocks or other objects in the trail and rip apart while biking at high speeds.

6. Gloves

If you’re riding a mountain bike, gloves are essential. They protect your hands from the handlebars and help keep them warm in cold weather. But as with everything else in this article, there are right and wrong ways to wear gloves.

One thing to look out for is thickness. Gloves should be thin enough to give you a good grip on the handlebars but not so thin that they become bulky and uncomfortable when you ride over rough terrain or bumpy trails. A good rule of thumb is that if the glove makes it difficult for you to operate the brake levers, it's probably too thick or bulky for mountain biking purposes.

Gloves also need to be flexible so they don't restrict your movement as much as possible when shifting gears or pedaling hard uphill sections of trail, especially at high speeds! If there's one thing cyclists hate more than anything else when riding their bikes (besides flat tires), it's being restricted by gear like gear shifters and brakes because those items can get stuck inside or underneath clothing layers like jerseys/shirts/etc., which could cause serious injury if hit directly against bare skin while traveling down hillsides quickly without any protection whatsoever against collisions coming into contact with trees branches brush etcetera).

7. Glasses

Glasses are the most important piece of gear you can bring on a mountain biking trip. Make sure that your glasses are not only sturdy, but also comfortable and let in just enough light to see where you’re going. With all this in mind, here’s what you should look for when buying a new pair of glasses:

• They should fit snugly around your face without being uncomfortable or irritating your skin, even when sweating heavily on more difficult trails. The nose pads should be adjustable so that they don't slip down as well.
• The lenses should have UV protection and block out glare from the sun reflecting off rocks or water sources along your trail route(s). For added visibility (especially if fog is present), make sure there is polarization built into the lenses as well. A good pair of polarized sunglasses will reduce glare by 99%!
• Don't forget about prescription lenses! Some people require them for eye problems like astigmatism or nearsightedness; others simply prefer having clear vision at all times, whichever way you lean on this issue, it's important to make sure any eyewear includes an option for prescription glasses before making your purchase decision.

8. Shoes

You're going to need a pair of shoes that are water resistant, breathable, lightweight and comfortable. The best shoes for mountain biking will have a great arch support and a good lacing system. Be sure you can tighten your shoes while riding so they don't come off.

9. Jersey

You'll want to wear a jersey. It's a short-sleeved shirt that you can find in many different colors, patterns and styles. Jerseys are made of thin fabric, so they're comfortable to wear while you're biking. A jersey has the number on the back of it (often written with paint or ink) and can be worn by cyclists in different types of sports: road biking, mountain biking or BMX racing.