Outside of your helmet, there's nothing more important when it comes to rider safety than boots. It's for this very reason that we put so much emphasis on only wearing the best possible products on the market. As far as we're concerned, safety is the one area where bargain shopping is a no-no. I know what a lot of you are thinking ("my work boots are comfy and work just fine"), but let us assure you that your steel-toed high-tops are about as effective at preventing serious leg injuries as a five-gallon bucket would be at preventing a head injury. Simply put, good boots are a must for anyone who rides with any degree of aggression. With all that said, sheer aggression is what it took to swindle the new Alpinestars Tech 10s away from my coworkers before they could slide their grimy feet into them.

Very few products can boast they're used by all of the major factory race teams and riders, but that's exactly the case when it comes to Hinson Racing's clutch baskets. Everyone from Dustin Wimmer to James Stewart uses Hinson for their clutch needs, and everyone agrees they're must-have items for any race bike or ATV. Hinson's clutch baskets have obtained this legendary status thanks in part to the company's proprietary "Akadization" process, which increases wear resistance by roughly 500 percent, and aerospace tolerances on all of its billet T6 aircraft-quality aluminum parts.

ITP BajaCross X/D Tires And SS 312 Wheels

Price: $279.99 per gate
Are you tired of having to work your way through the pack of a race because you can't get off the gate like everyone else? Most tracks allow you everywhere on the track except the gate, so there really isn't any way for you to practice your starts, until now. The Holeshot race gate from Risk Racing is a portable start gate system you can set up at a place of your choice. You simply stake the gate into the ground, press the crossbar-mounted wireless remote and wait for the gate to drop. Powered by eight AA batteries, the gate features an LED light that acts as a 30-second board turning sideways and the computer-controlled timing sequence randomly drops the gate to keep you on your toes. The advertised price is for one gate, but multiple gates can be linked for multi-racer practice. Available online or through your local Tucker Rocky dealer.
Risk Racing: www.riskracing.com; 704/658-9332

Price: $68.95
Do you have an ATV with reverse but hate the inconvenient location of the activation knob? DRD has a kit that locates an activation lever right next to your throttle, eliminating the need to take your hand off of the bar in order to go into reverse. The kit comes complete with billet lever, cable and plug to fill the void where your old reverse lever used to be after installation. The kits are available for the Suzuki LT-Z400, Kawasaki KFX400 and both Yamaha Raptor 660 and 700. A sano look and great convenience offered at a great price by a well-known and -respected company.
DRD: www.dubachracing.com; 877/382-2241

Price: $450
We all know that riding sport quads over rough terrain can take a toll on our arms and shoulders, which is why we put steering stabilizers on our ATVs. How about the many munchkins who ride their mini-ATVs on the same track that we race on? The holes are even deeper and the track overall is that much rougher, so GPR came out with a steering stabilizer for the highly popular DRR line of ATVs. The bolt-on setup of the stabilizer is simple to install and will allow the smaller ATV riders to hammer through the roughest terrain with less worry of the bar being jerked from their hands. The stabilizers are available in eight anodized colors and are presently made for the DRR brand of mini-ATVs while other brands may be offered at a later date.
GPR Stabilizer: www.gprstabilizer.com; 619/661-0101

Price: $449
When it comes to maximum airflow, there isn't a company that knows more about it than K&N. It has taken its knowledge of high-flow air filters another step further by making an intake system for the Yamaha YFZ450. This system replaces the stock airbox and intake tube with a rotomolded intake tube and powdercoated aluminum airbox/heat shield and uses an oversize K&N high-flow air filter. It claims that using this system can give you an increase in power by over 4 horsepower. Each kit comes with everything you need and detailed installation instructions to make your upgrade a snap. Just like all of its products, the intake kit is covered by the K&N limited warranty for one year.
K&N: www.knfilters.com; 951/826-4000

Price: $779
On any ATV you can gain power by making adjustments or changes to the fuel, intake and exhaust systems. One other way of making or changing the power delivery of your engine is through the adjustment of the ignition timing. Vortex has been making CDI units for both ATV and dirt bike applications for years, and now it has integrated its fuel interceptor for EFI systems with its fully programmable CDI unit in one package for the Suzuki LT-R450. This plug-and-play setup comes preprogrammed with 10 fuel and spark maps to adjust the engine's power and torque characteristics. Further fuel adjustment can be made via three rotary switches, changing the fuel delivery by as much as 12.5 percent. Kill two birds with one stone in your quest to get the best performance for your ATV while getting the most for your money.
Duncan Racing International: www.duncanracing.com; 619/258-6306

Price: $250
When it comes to safety equipment, there's no piece that's more important than a helmet-unless you don't care about the contents inside of your head. The new Takt helmets from EVS, where safety is their business, are made from an ultra-lightweight Aramid-Kevlar-carbon-fiberglass composite shell which means less weight on your neck for more comfort. The Takt's chin bar also features the ProEdge Soft Impact Zone, which is designed to minimize neck and clavicle injuries. It's great features like these along with the EPS ventilation system, removable moisture-wicking liner and large eyeport that make this a world-class helmet for an affordable price. The helmets are Snell '05-, DOT- and ECE-approved and are available in five color/styles in sizes ranging from XS-XXL. Make sure to check them out.
EVS Sports: www.evs-sports.com; 800/229-4387

Price: Wheels $125.00-$137.50 ea.;tires $121.00-$191.00 ea.
If you're pondering on giving mud racing a try, this setup is just what you need. The Crush Lock Racing Wheels squeeze the beads of your tire closely together minimizing the amount of air inside to decrease the buoyancy and drag of your machine. These wheels also tip the scale approximately 10 pounds more than conventional wheels, which helps eliminate the need to add weight to the frame in efforts to keep the front end from floating around. These wheels are available in both 12- and 14-inch sizes and a variety of bolt patterns to fit most utility ATVs.

Renthal is now offering its legendary dual compound grips for ATV applications. Renthal dual compound grips combine the durability of Renthal firm compound grips with the feel and absorption qualities of Renthal soft grips. A firm compound is used for the flange, inner sleeve and outer end of the grip for maximum dirability. A soft compound is used for the outer layer of the grip which is in direct contact with the palm, fingers and thumb.

Price: $628.99
At the Mud Nationals we noticed two particular items on most machines that we came across. The first was a good snorkel kit, and the second was a winch. Almost everywhere we went in the swamps, there were people either pulling or being pulled out with one because that was the only way to get out of the thick slop. The Gorilla 3000-pound XTR series winch is perfect for most ATV or side-by-side applications with its great pulling power, steel synthetic rope, waterproof motor and both a handlebar thumb switch or 10-foot corded remote. One of the best features of these winches is the limited lifetime warranty, which not many places offer these days. The MSRP is $628.99, but at the time of writing this, it was advertised at $223.99.
Gorilla Winch: www.gorillawinches.com; 1-888-657-9997

Price: $79.95-$269.95
Riding around in the mud requires good ground clearance to keep from getting hung up in the slop. Many people don't want to go much taller than stock, and that's why Gorilla Axle came out with its Stage One Suspension Lift Kit. This kit will increase ground clearance from 1 to 3 inches over stock with its bolt-on bracket and spacers that are made of the highest-quality material. The powdercoated finish offers great style and added durability that will make your machine look good and handle well while you power through the nastiest muck.
Gorilla Axle: www.gorilla-axle.com; 318/345-8186

Price: Varies depending on model
When you're going through deep water and mud there are two must-have items for your machine. The first is a good set of tires, and the second is a good snorkel system that will keep your engine from filling with water. Each kit comes well packaged and features everything you need to make sure your engine can breathe easy even when you're in the deepest mud pit. Applications are limited for certain ATVs, so visit the website and see if Triangle ATV offers one for you.
Triangle ATV: www.triangleatv.com; 409/866-0077

Price: $99.95
If you're forced to stay at home while your buddies are out blasting through your local mudhole, you might as well make the best of it. The Mountains & Mud DVD four-pack takes you to some of the best mud riding locations in the country and makes you feel as if you were a part of the action. While your friends are outside blasting all of the crud off their quads, you'll be popping in another DVD so you can keep watching some of the best mud-slinging action caught on video.
Tahoe Films: www.tahoefilms.com; 406/754-4501

Price: $709.95-$889.93
What's better than riding through your favorite swamp or pond on your ATV with all of your buddies? Being able to listen to your favorite tunes while you ride. With one of Extreme Sounds 4ATVs' sound systems you can blast your music to your heart's content on dry land or floating your ATV in the deepest water you can find. These systems feature a high-quality Sony marine-grade head unit, marine speakers and internal amplified antenna all housed in a weather-proof, durable ABS plastic enclosure that has been sprayed with LineX protective coating. Three levels of systems are available, each with a different speaker configuration to suit your liking. Go to the website and see the systems in action.
Extreme Sounds 4ATVs: www.extremesounds4atvs.com; 713/256-7165

For me, picking out a good set of boots is just as important as picking out a quality pair of shoes. Not only do you want your boots to be comfortable, easy to use and offer supreme protection from off-road mishaps, but you also want your investment to weather the test of time. Because of great past experiences with Sidi Crossfire boots, I decided to give the latest edition a revisit. In 2006, I became a proud owner of a brand-new pair of Crossfires, which are still intact and are very much a part of my current arsenal of foot protection. To me, that says a lot for good quality equipment.

If you ride ATVs, then you must have come across a flat tire along the trails at some point. It's bad enough that your tire has a hole in it, but it's even worse if you don't have the proper tools to make a trailside repair that can get you quickly back riding. There are plenty of companies that offer repair kits to make a quick fix and reinflate tires with those handy C02 cartridges, but finding a place to store all of those items can be a pain. In addition, more and more people are riding with ATVs and UTVs that need more air than the standard C02 cartridges can supply.

Company: PC Racing
Product: FLO Stainless Steel Reusable "Spin On" Oil Filter
Price: $99.95

Company: Ogio
Product: 9800 Gear Bag
Price: $199.99

GoPro Motorsports Hero Wide Camera
A few issues back we reviewed the original GoPro Hero camera and raved about its compact size, ease of use and trick mounting options. Well, GoPro has done it again. It took that same great concept and kicked it up a notch by adding some great features with the all-new Hero Wide.

Company: EVS Sports
Product: Strata Knee Protection
Price: $79.00

Moose Helmet Carrier
Riding in the mountains of Montana has been a goal of mine for quite some time. I thought I would be at least 50 years old before I was able to experience that cool mountain air and listen to the silence of nature's wild forestland. Well, all the stops were pulled for me and I got my turn to enjoy the Yellowstone area with some friends. It was an awesome experience with snowfall combined with sunny days and the scenery out of this world. But while going on these exotic rides, I always have an issue with my gear getting thrashed during travel. When I travel I try only using one bag, so I pack light to make my stuff simple to carry. That means everything goes into the same bag and that includes my helmet. And with bags getting constantly shuffled and even thrown around, my helmet gets scratched and even experiences unwanted blows from the grunge on my clothes and boots.