SCOTT

Arctic GTX Glove

Snowmobilers as a group always seem to be looking for a glove that can do everything well and to be comfortable in temperatures from -30 to +5. Do these gloves exist?

We think so. There are a few on the market that are worth a look. They’re never cheap but you can’t put a price tag on fingers that don’t look like Captain Highliner’s fish fingers after a full days ride.

Thanks to handlebar heater improvements over the years and the addition of hand-guards or even handlebar “muffs” the need for oven mitt like gloves are a thing of the past. Scott Sports Arctic GTX Gloves have become a go to glove for a few in the office that traditionally wear thinner performance gloves when riding. These gloves keep you warm but are thin enough to easily keep a good grip on the bars in the gnarliest conditions. The warmth and low profile of the glove is thanks to a GORE-TEX insert plus the back of the hand side of the gloves are coated in Polyurethane. This combo is also responsible for keeping your hands dry from the elements. There is a Velcro wrist enclosure which fastens nicely under the cuff of your jacket eliminating any skin being exposed.

Visit www.scott-sports.com to see your options.

KLIM Valdez Jacket

Castle X Freedom Monosuit

Castle X has been on the fuel in recent years with their fresh designs and color combos appealing to everyone. The Freedom Monosuit is just one of the many direct results of this fresh push to the front of the snowmobile suit line and is part of Castle’s backcountry series. Constructed of a nylon and polyester shell that is waterproof, windproof, breathable with double stitched seams and waterresistant zippers. The best part of the Freedom Monosuit is that it comes with a three-year warranty which is proof that the manufacturer believes in their product. There are four color combos to choose from, sizes vary from small to a triple chubby allowing zero excuses not to own one regardless of the number tipping your scale. www.castlesales.com

Every group has at least one that always seems to have the best stuff first and sometimes that’s painful to admit but these people seem to be a half step ahead of the herd. Enter Mark Boncher… While on a road trip to Haydays, Boncher sat quietly in the backseat surfing the world wide web and ordering his winter gear. We didn’t think much of it until he showed up the first ride this winter wearing his new Valdez jacket. If you see one of these jackets it just screams that the owner knows what he is doing and how things work.

After a full season of Boncher pimping the Valdez, the jacket had zero show of wear and believe it or not no odor. We were all amazed with this ultra-durable jacket that is constructed of a three-layer GORE-TEX pro shell which is windproof, waterproof and is guaranteed to keep you dry. There’s plenty of venting options for those warmer days with two bicep, two forearm, two back vents and also features backpack compatible venting. This is one of the best if not the best jacket on the market today. Did this jacket make Boncher a better rider? No, it’s a jacket not a magic want. But it did make him better looking especially when combined with his F5 helmet.

If you want to be the leader of the group with the Valdez, don’t bother looking in the bargain bin at you retailer as that will never happen but know that at $599 you can say you get what you pay for. Klim offers the Valdez jacket in four different combos. www.klim.com ffice that traditionally wear thinner performance gloves when riding. These gloves keep you warm but are thin enough to easily keep a good grip on the bars in the gnarliest conditions. The warmth and low profile of the glove is thanks to a GORE-TEX insert plus the back of the hand side of the gloves are coated in Polyurethane. This combo is also responsible for keeping your hands dry from the elements. There is a Velcro wrist enclosure which fastens nicely under the cuff of your jacket eliminating any skin being exposed.

Visit www.scott-sports.com to see your options.

Fly Racing CheckPoint Jacket

The three-layer soft shell jacket checks all the right boxes for a “mid temperature” riding coat as it’s waterproof, windproof and is breathable. To give you the tailored fit there are cinch cords which adjusts sizing. With many jackets on the market today that feature countless vents and layering systems your current one might already be more than perfect for the spring temps. If you are eliminating the need for an additional coat, don’t. The CheckPoint is much more than just a “mid temp” option for riding. It’s ideal for wearing after riding ride and at only $119 it’s a bargain. Fly Racing gives you three color options to choose from. www.flyracing.com