This is a basic list of gear for those getting into the sport, as it can all be quite overwhelming. This guide is for off-road / trail riding. I would not use the gear suggested here on the street.
It's intended only as a basic guide to point you in the right direction, please use at your own risk and do your own research. All of this is simply my opinion based on my own experiences.
Riding a motorcycle is a dangerous activity that's all about risk management. Every ones tolerance for risk is different, so you do/buy/wear what you personally feel comfortable with, and vary it based on terrain/weather/speed and other factors.
That said, for anyone starting out in off-road / trail riding, I would suggest the following gear ordered by priority from most to least important:
An off-road helmet
Goggles
Off-road boots
Gloves
Knee/shin guards
Riding pants and jersey
Chest/back protector
Some sort of small backpack or fanny pack based hydration system
Everything else
This is a very personal question. My personal opinion is that it's a waste of money for someone dipping their toes into a new hobby to buy the best gear. Generally speaking, as long as you're not shopping bargain basement and shopping reputable brands, you can get gear that you'll be happy with.
Shopping clearance items can usually get you some great deals. Many clearance items are simply "last seasons colors" and are otherwise identical to their non clearance brothers and sisters.
With the exception of a helmet, buying used can save you quite a bit of money too. I would not recommend a used helmet.
If you have a local powersports dealer, that might be a good place to go for your boots and helmet as fit is very important there.
Otherwise https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/ is my personal favorite.
This is what I personally look for in gear items or specific items I recommend. Fit and personal preference are critical, so use this as a basic guide only.
Helmet
Plan to spend $100 - $200 on an entry level off-road helmet.
An off-road/MX helmet is the one with a peak and no visor, which you use with goggles. Look for a multi-density liner and MIPS, as both add a lot of safety.
My personal entry level favorites are the Bell MX-9 MIPS and MSR Mav4 MIPS
Boots
Plan to spend $150 - $200 on an entry level off-road boot.
Statistically speaking, this is the most common impact/injury area.
Look for something that is an actual Motocross/Off-road boot, not a street or adventure boot. Fit is the most important thing here.
My personal recommendations are: Alpinestars Tech 1 or Tech 3, Fly Maverik, Leatt, or Gaerne GX1 if you're willing to go a bit over $200.
See Boots for more details.
Goggles
Plan to spend $10 - $40 here, shop the clearance section.
Clear lenses tend to work best for Michigan woods and also cost the least.
I really like the 100% goggles, but Scott and Oakley also work great.
Gloves
Plan to spend $10 - $20 here, in the clearance section.
Off-road gloves are very light weight thin gloves, not designed for use on pavement at all. If you have some mechanics or mountain bike gloves, you can just use those to start out with.
I tend to look for something with a little bit of knuckle padding, because your chances of punching a tree or branches in Michigan are pretty high.
Specific gloves I like are Klim XC Lite or Fox Pawtector, but it really doesn't matter much. Just get whatever is comfortable.
Knee/shin guards
Plan to spend $20 - $50 here.
This is the second most common impact/injury area after your feet, so I highly recommend wearing some. No need for anything fancy to start with, just a basic knee protector similar to what you'd use for roller blading or mountain biking or something.
I recommend something with complete plastic coverage from knee cap down into the boot.
Riding pants / jersey
Plan to spend $40 - $80 here, in the clearance section.
These don't provide impact protection, but will help you not get all scratched up in the woods. You could wear regular clothes, but expect them to be hot and probably get wrecked after a single ride.
In the boot pants are usually what you want for Michigan riding, they are lighter and don't snag as much. Otherwise just get whatever is on sale and has the colors you like. Over time you'll probably develop fit preferences, but that's a personal choice.
I personally like MSR, Fly, and Klim gear, but there is nothing particularly special about them.
Chest/back protector
Plan to spend $100 - $150 on something entry level.
There are two general types - pressure suit (under jersey, with armor attached to a compression shit) and roost guard (over jersey, with armor loosely held together by straps). The former keeps the armor in place better, but is hotter and more expensive.
Look for chest and back armor as minimum. Shoulder armor is nice. Elbow armor doesn't do much in my experience.
I personally used and like the Thor Sentry, Leatt, and Alpinestars units, but they're all generally pretty similar.
Backpack / Hydration system
$20 - $100 or just use something you already have.
Trail rides typically last a few hours to a full day, so you'll want to have a place to carry water, food, tools, a first aid kit, phone, wallet and other supplies.
I've had good luck with USWE, Klim, and Kriega, though all are premium brands at a premium price. A $20 Ozark trail from Walmart will work great for a start.
See Dirtbike trail ride packing list for more details.
BONUS nice to haves
- A mapping solution. This can be a GPS or an app on your phone that supports offline maps.
- A Satellite communicator like an inReach or Spot.