Your first track day is exciting, and the gear list can feel like the most confusing part. This guide covers what leathers beginners usually need, how to choose between buying off the rack and going custom, how to get a good fit, and how to plan your timing so your gear arrives before your first event.
Start with your organiser's gear rules
Every track-day organiser and racing club sets its own gear requirements, and they are the rules that actually apply to you. Before you buy anything, find the rider's manual or gear page for the organiser you plan to ride with and read it carefully. Typical things to check are:
- Whether a one-piece suit is required, or whether a two-piece is accepted (and if so, whether the jacket and trousers must zip together all the way round the waist).
- What they say about gloves, boots and a back protector.
- Any helmet standard they require.
- Whether there's a gear check at registration or tech inspection.
If anything is unclear, email the organiser and ask. It's a much better feeling than being turned away at tech inspection on the morning of your first day.
The beginner track-day kit
For riders new to the track, the core leather kit is usually:
- A leather race suit, either one-piece or a two-piece your organiser accepts.
- Leather gloves that fit snugly without pinching when you grip the bars.
- Riding boots that work with your suit's legs and let you move your feet freely on the pegs.
A helmet sits outside the scope of this guide, but it's just as important and should fit well and meet your organiser's requirements.
One-piece or two-piece for your first track day?
Many riders who get serious about track riding end up in a one-piece suit. With no waist join, the suit keeps one continuous shape when you're tucked in or moving around on the bike. A two-piece is easier to get on and off and more versatile if you also ride on the road, but check that your organiser accepts it before you buy.
We cover the trade-offs in more detail in One-Piece vs Two-Piece Race Suit. The Racevoro Apex suit is available in both styles: 1-Piece at $1,349 and 2-Piece at $1,378.99.
Off the rack or custom?
There's no single right answer for beginners. Here's an honest way to think about it.
Off the rack can make sense if:
- You fit a standard size well, including in a tucked riding position.
- Your first track day is very soon and you need gear quickly.
- You can try suits on in a shop and sit on a bike in them.
Custom is worth considering if:
- You're tall, short, broad, long in the body or "between sizes", and stock suits pull, bunch or ride up.
- You've already tried suits on and none felt right in a riding position.
- You want your own colours, name, number and logos.
- You can plan a few weeks ahead.
A made-to-measure suit is cut from your own body measurements rather than a size chart, so the sleeves, torso and legs follow your proportions. For a fuller explanation, read Made to Measure Motorcycle Leathers: How It Works.
Fit: what beginners should check
Whether you buy off the rack or custom, the same fit checks apply. Leathers should feel snug, not loose, because loose leather can move around in a slide. They also shouldn't restrict your movement on the bike. Check fit in a riding position, not just standing up:
- Sleeves: with your arms forward on the bars, the cuffs shouldn't pull back far from your wrists.
- Back and torso: when you tuck, the suit shouldn't pull hard across your shoulders or press down on your neck.
- Knees and elbows: any armour should sit over your joints when you're in a riding position.
- Legs: the legs should go over or into your boots cleanly, without bunching behind the knees.
Protective details and certification vary by maker and model, so don't rely on vague wording. Ask whoever sells you the suit to confirm in writing what applies to the exact item you're buying. We only list certification or protection details once they're confirmed in writing, and we're happy to answer questions before you order. Just contact us.
How measuring works for custom leathers
If you go custom, the quality of your measurements matters a lot. At Racevoro, every measurement is taken in centimetres as a body measurement with no added allowance. You'll want a friend and a soft tape measure. Our step-by-step guide, How to Measure for a Race Suit, walks through each point, and our Size & Measurement Guide lists every measurement for each product.
For gloves we measure both hands, labelled left and right: knuckle circumference (excluding the thumb), hand length and wrist circumference, plus which hand is dominant. Most riders' hands differ slightly, so each glove is made to its own hand. For boots we measure both feet, plus each calf at your intended boot-top height and that height from the floor.
Timing: plan backwards from your first track day
This is where beginners most often get caught out with custom gear. Work backwards from your event date:
- Measuring and design approval: after checkout you get our measurement form. We then confirm your final design and measurements with you in writing. Nothing is cut until you approve.
- Production: about 10 to 15 working days for suits and jackets, and about 7 working days for gloves and boots, after approval (estimates).
- Shipping: about 5 to 7 days courier transit with DHL, UPS or FedEx after dispatch (estimate). Customs clearance can add time.
Shipping to the United States is free and tracked. Before your order ships, we tell you in writing whether any import duties or taxes are payable on delivery. See our Shipping page for details. If your first track day is only a week or two away, custom gear probably won't arrive in time. In that case, book a later event or use gear that fits now.
What if custom gear doesn't fit?
Ask any maker this before you pay. Under our Returns & Remakes policy:
- If the finished item doesn't match your approved measurements or design (our production error), we correct or remake it at no cost to you, and we pay the shipping both ways.
- If the measurements you supplied were incorrect, we assess the item and quote a correction or remake before any work starts.
Because each piece is made for one person, change-of-mind returns aren't normally accepted once production has started.
A simple beginner kit from Racevoro
If you decide custom is right for you, a full Racevoro kit is made to measure and handmade in Sialkot, Pakistan:
- Apex custom leather racing suit: 1-Piece $1,349 or 2-Piece $1,378.99, with your name, race number and logos included.
- Apex custom leather gloves: $299.
- Apex custom leather boots: $549.
Prefer a jacket for road riding too? The Corsa custom leather jacket is $849. Still comparing options? Our Custom Leather Race Suit Buyer's Guide covers what to look for.
Beginner checklist
- Read your organiser's gear rules.
- Decide on one-piece or two-piece, based on those rules and how you ride.
- Choose off the rack or custom, based on your fit and your timeline.
- If you go custom, measure carefully with a helper and approve your design in writing.
- Plan for production plus shipping before your event date.
- Try everything on in a riding position before your first day.
Questions about fit or timing? Contact us and we'll reply in writing.
Note: product images on our site are design renders, not photos of finished gear.