What to Wear on an Oahu ATV Tour: Shoes, Clothes & Mud

Booking choice: The oceanfront ATV ride, from $131 per person. Check dates Compare the options below

Every operator on Oahu says the same thing in different words: closed-toe shoes are required, and you will get dirty. Reviewers agree, often in capital letters. Here is what to wear, what to bring, and what the operators provide.

The quick answer

Wear closed-toe shoes (required everywhere), long pants and old clothes you do not mind staining with red dirt. Bring a full change of clothes, spare shoes, a towel, sunscreen and water. Helmets and eye protection are provided. Leave your phone and bag behind on the oceanfront ride, where they are not allowed on the ATVs.

A muddy quad ATV wheel splashing through red mud — After rain, expect mud up to the knees.

What shoes should you wear?

Closed-toe shoes are required on every ATV ride here; old sneakers you can write off are ideal.

Sandals and flip-flops are not allowed. The oceanfront farm rents rubber boots if you want to protect your shoes, and Coral Crater says Crocs and water shoes are fine as long as they are closed. Either way, keep a second pair of shoes or sandals in the car for afterwards.

Shoes sorted? Check dates for the oceanfront ride on the North Shore.

Check dates for the oceanfront ATV ride

What clothes should you wear?

Old clothes you do not mind ruining, with long pants if you can: red Hawaiian dirt stains, and you will get splashed.

North Shore Stables recommends long pants on its FAQ, and light ones suit the warm weather. A T-shirt is fine on top. Dark colors hide the worst of it. Long hair should be tied back under the helmet; Coral Crater requires it on the zipline combo.

Goats and a sheep at a wooden farm fence with a quad ATV parked beside — Farm animals and red mud: old clothes and closed shoes are the right call.

What is provided?

Helmets on every ride, and eye protection on the ATV rides; you do not need to bring your own.

The oceanfront ride provides a helmet and goggles or safety glasses, or you can wear your own sunglasses. Coral Crater provides goggles and sells gaiter masks at check-in for the dust. Kualoa Ranch provides a helmet.

How dirty will you really get?

Very: guests on every ride say you come back covered in dust or mud, even on a sunny day.

One reviewer on the oceanfront ride advised leaving time to go home and shower before your next activity. At Coral Crater, guests recommend a face mask for the dust. After rain, expect mud on your legs, arms and face.

A side-by-side ATV splashing through a muddy track among trees — Coral Crater after rain: the muddier, the better, say many riders.

What should you bring?

Pack for after the ride as much as for the ride itself.

A full change of clothes and spare shoes
A towel, and a plastic bag for muddy clothes
Sunscreen and sunglasses
A refillable water bottle (the farm has filtered water on site)
Photo ID, and a driver's license if your ride requires one

Packed and ready? The oceanfront ride includes your own quad, helmet and goggles.

★ 4.7 1,000 reviews · 1 hour · from $131

Explore the oceanfront ATV ride

Can you bring your phone or a camera?

Not on the oceanfront ride: phones, bags and bulky equipment are not allowed on the ATVs, but the guides take photos for you.

Many reviewers mention how good the guides' photos and videos were, and the farm sells a Polaroid photo package. Coral Crater rents GoPros and sells photo packages; its zipline combo sells photos for $35.

What if it rains?

Rain mostly means more mud: guests who rode in a downpour on the oceanfront ride called it a blast.

Bring a light layer if it is cool and windy on the North Shore. If the farm cancels for weather, it refunds in full, and the Viator ticket cancels free up to 24 hours before.

Ready for the mud? Book with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Check dates for the oceanfront ATV ride

What should you wear for horseback or ziplines instead?

Long pants and closed shoes for horseback riding, and closed shoes with lightweight pants or knee-length shorts for the zip lines.

Gunstock Ranch recommends long pants and covered shoes, and a light jacket if it is cool; Climb Works recommends lightweight pants, capris or knee-length shorts and a light sweatshirt. More options in Oahu off-road tours compared.