How to Buy Snowmobile Clothing

Dressing in layers is key to staying warm while riding your snowmobile. Enthusiasts can also buy specialty clothing designed for racing and riding under difficult conditions. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Choose the Right Snowmobiling Wear

1. Do your shopping at a store dedicated to snowmobiles and snowmobile accessories. You'll find a superior selection, and the staff will be more insightful than at a standard sporting goods store or department store.

2. Remember your unmentionables when you go to buy snowmobile clothing. Underwear styles for snowmobiling include drylight for basic protection, mid-weight for extra warmth and ultra-warmth for maximum protection. Snowmobiling undershirts for both men and women are also offered by specialty retailers.

3. Wear a base layer of clothing over your underwear. Fabrics that hug your body and absorb moisture are crucial to helping you maintain a proper body temperature while riding. Klim, Ski-Doo and Slednecks are three major manufacturers of base layer clothes for snowmobile wear.

4. Add a proper set of snowpants to your shopping list. Pants made of Gore-Tex and other specialty fabrics are available for both sexes to buy.

5. Choose gloves that offer you maximum hand mobility while ensuring adequate protection from the cold. Try on several pairs of gloves to see which have the right fit. Make quick, nimble finger and hand movements to test your mobility range.

6. Buy a jacket that is waterproof, but made of breathable fabric. Since it is vitally important that your jacket have the right fit, wear the clothes you plan to wear beneath your new coat when you go to buy one. Test to make sure you have enough range of motion in your shoulders. Buy a jacket that will have good visibility in snowy conditions.

7. Opt for a down-filled parka as an alternative to the relatively costly specialty snowmobiling jackets, particularly if you anticipate you will be more of a leisure than an avid rider.

8. Add waterproof socks to wear underneath your boots. Socks made from designer materials, produced for the convenience of the serious snowmobiler, keep your feet cool as well as dry while you're out on the trails.

9. Buy boots that offer the most comfortable blend of protection and light weight. Make sure the boots you buy offer enough ankle support, traction, shock absorption and moisture protection.

10. Buy sunglasses that have polarizing lenses to reduce the glare cast by the bright winter sun on white snow. The lenses you choose should also be shatterproof and scratch-resistant.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear a fleece beneath your snowmobiling jacket to help keep your torso snug and warm while you ride.

• Even if you're lax at times about wearing full protective clothing, never ride your snowmobile without a helmet.