30 replies to this topic

[rivercat]

lotus_dbh, on Jan 15 2009, 12:59 PM, said:

I am heading to Moosehead lake the week after next, and want to be sure I am comfortable and warm. Thoughts on best helmet, and other gear?

I was last in canada in 2002 -40 below! had ONLY my Arctic cat helmet with a heated shield,,,, the secret to being TOASTY?
DUCT TAPE ON THE NECESSARY VENT HOLES.! put a big strip on top of your helmet and its ALWAYS at an easy reach!

i was once caught up north with a summer shield.... my nose almost fell off in the first half mile . it was bitter cold.. stopped at a corner store and borrowed a piece of??????????????


DUCT TAPE,,,,, ONCE again covered 90% of the vented opening on the top edge of the shield . had no problems. finished the day at -18 below, and was comfy!

moral of the story ,,,, get ANY helmet YOU WANT..... don't forget the DUCT TAPE! I have shared plenty along the trails!
BTW I'm the guy with the black A/C helmet,,,, with the big strip of duct tape on it!

[lotus_dbh]

rivercat, on Jan 17 2009, 08:44 AM, said:

I was last in canada in 2002 -40 below! had ONLY my Arctic cat helmet with a heated shield,,,, the secret to being TOASTY?
DUCT TAPE ON THE NECESSARY VENT HOLES.! put a big strip on top of your helmet and its ALWAYS at an easy reach!

i was once caught up north with a summer shield.... my nose almost fell off in the first half mile . it was bitter cold.. stopped at a corner store and borrowed a piece of??????????????


DUCT TAPE,,,,, ONCE again covered 90% of the vented opening on the top edge of the shield . had no problems. finished the day at -18 below, and was comfy!

moral of the story ,,,, get ANY helmet YOU WANT..... don't forget the DUCT TAPE! I have shared plenty along the trails!
BTW I'm the guy with the black A/C helmet,,,, with the big strip of duct tape on it!

Great info, and very helpful! I think duct tape is probably quite a bit cheaper than a new BV2S helmet. Maybe I'll ask for a couple of rolls for my birthday next week.

[rivercat]

lotus_dbh, on Jan 19 2009, 08:57 AM, said:

Great info, and very helpful! I think duct tape is probably quite a bit cheaper than a new BV2S helmet. Maybe I'll ask for a couple of rolls for my birthday next week.

heck a 6" strip of tape is good for a season! the heated shield is a MUST if your closing vent holes

Air leakage is the key....
be careful your collar of your coat does NOT leave a gap between the helmet and jacket........ neads to either tuck in or use a baclava (sp?) hood..


I remember the first time I wore my new A/C helmet... threw it on my head rode down over the river bank in front of my house and at 80MPH was wondering if my brain was froze already..... BOTH manual vents were open, never thought to look, DUH!
it's the same helmet I took to Canada... maybe I'm crazy, not sure.

[lotus_dbh]

rivercat, on Jan 19 2009, 10:36 AM, said:

heck a 6" strip of tape is good for a season! the heated shield is a MUST if your closing vent holes

Air leakage is the key....
be careful your collar of your coat does NOT leave a gap between the helmet and jacket........ neads to either tuck in or use a baclava (sp?) hood..


I remember the first time I wore my new A/C helmet... threw it on my head rode down over the river bank in front of my house and at 80MPH was wondering if my brain was froze already..... BOTH manual vents were open, never thought to look, DUH!
it's the same helmet I took to Canada... maybe I'm crazy, not sure.

I have an HJC CL-15 Helmet, and I was told this weekend by Rackman that I didn't have all of the accessories installed (breath guard and some chin air guard thing). I need to get the chin guard thing, but have the breath guard and will try it next weekend. I guess I'm not using the helmet properly with accessories. Should prolly try that before giving up on the helmet.

[Do the Doo]

With all this gear mention, one very important thing that was not mentioned; Fit! Make sure the gear fits correctly. Areas like the waist can be synched or the gloves have synched gators or the bibs have built in gators that cover the tops of the boot. Do the bibs still cover the boots when seated or do they ride up high revelaing the top of the boot. If something is too big you will loose heat. The faster you go across the lake, the bigger the bubble develops on your back from a coat that is too big. This is lost heat. You can have the most expensive gear, but if it does not fit right, it's now the cheapest gear.

My son's coat and pants are Wal-mart and he rides 4-5 hours with me even at 10 degrees. Key is thin layers of wool or silk clothing and good fitting gear. Always bring heat packs and extra gloves in a windsheild back for emergancies. I had a friend who rode with gauntlets on her handles bars. Never wore gloves nor packed any. Took a bad spill on Ranglely Lake. She did not see the pressure ridge and was thrown from her sled with bare hands at 50 mph and it was 10 degrees out. She was a hurting pup to say the least. I had extra glove to cover her hands as she sat on the ice to recoupe. She was tough, got back on and rode 10 hour round trip to Jackman and back

So fit, material, thin layers and pack for the unexpected.

My gear is Reima Jacket (waist synches as well as wrist and neck, awesome jacket) Choko bibs (price point and warm but fit like a cardboard box), Reima gloves (Gore-Tex, never too hot and never cold), Down Hill skiing under wear (it's thin, light and super warm;READ THE WASHING INSTRUCTIONS!! Hot chillis always shrink in a dryer. Screw what the sales persons tells you.) Sorel boots (replacable liners. Just a good all around boot) I have bought Ski-doo gear, but I find them to be over priced when I can shop both online and visit many dealers with as good or better products for less money. Never hurts to ask "Is this on sale?"

[tomlee76]

What's under the gear is just as important as what jacket and coat you have on. I rode from Laconia to Pittsburg on Friday-it was about -25 when we left and we rode 215 miles by the time we were done for the day. It will cost you but you get what you pay for with KLIM and REIMA. I wore Yamaha(made by REIMA) pants, Yamaha(again made by REIMA) jacket, new KLIM Balaclava-first time with it and it was great. used gauntlets for the first 100 miles then switched to my new KLIM Togwotee gloves-again GREAT(take the liners out and you feel the warmers much better though). I realize money is an issue, but trust me you will save in the end. THese two companies make top notch stuff. My helmet is an HJC CL14 with electric shield-chin and breath deflectors a must.

Not sure where you buy your stuff, but talk to someone who actually rides and see what they have to say. Good luck, have a great trip.

[Wayno]

Gore-Tex is the best. How do you all like Reima, those of you who wear it? Looks warm and fits well.

[Do the Doo]

Revme, on Jan 19 2009, 09:54 PM, said:

Gore-Tex is the best. How do you all like Reima, those of you who wear it? Looks warm and fits well.

I had a SKi-doo jacket and gloves. They were alright but the ski-doo jacket got really heavy when it got wet either from snow kicking up on the back from sledding or me sweating. Gloves got cold when they got damp. I walked into a Chevy dealer in MA to have my Suburban fixed, while waiting, they were also a Polaris dealer with Reima selling the whole stock at cost (end of season). I bought a long jacket with the adjustable belt in the waist, padded elbows & shoulders with velco wrist wraps so I can close off the sleeves tightly, and velcro neck strap to close off the neck area from drafts all Gore-Tex with matching gloves. Gloves have velcro wrist wrap with a quick synch strap on the gator part. Also Gore -Tex. very soft and flexible gloves as well as jacket. Both have a lot of 3m reflective tape which my Ski-doo gear had nothing... I have had the coat and gloves 5 season and absolulty love it to this day. Jacket retailed at $475 and gloves $80 but I got it at $150 and gloves for $25 bucks. What a God Damn Steal!!! HAHAHA Wife was ticked I came home with new gear and a big repair bill. But Reima gear I would by again even if it was full price. I believe it is now sold as Scott-Reima. I have been looking for gloves for my wife, very hard to find.

[Rad8165]

Do the Doo, on Jan 19 2009, 10:13 PM, said:

I had a SKi-doo jacket and gloves. They were alright but the ski-doo jacket got really heavy when it got wet either from snow kicking up on the back from sledding or me sweating. Gloves got cold when they got damp. I walked into a Chevy dealer in MA to have my Suburban fixed, while waiting, they were also a Polaris dealer with Reima selling the whole stock at cost (end of season). I bought a long jacket with the adjustable belt in the waist, padded elbows & shoulders with velco wrist wraps so I can close off the sleeves tightly, and velcro neck strap to close off the neck area from drafts all Gore-Tex with matching gloves. Gloves have velcro wrist wrap with a quick synch strap on the gator part. Also Gore -Tex. very soft and flexible gloves as well as jacket. Both have a lot of 3m reflective tape which my Ski-doo gear had nothing... I have had the coat and gloves 5 season and absolulty love it to this day. Jacket retailed at $475 and gloves $80 but I got it at $150 and gloves for $25 bucks. What a God Damn Steal!!! HAHAHA Wife was ticked I came home with new gear and a big repair bill. But Reima gear I would by again even if it was full price. I believe it is now sold as Scott-Reima. I have been looking for gloves for my wife, very hard to find.

I have a pair off Gaunlet style scott gloves, Gore tex I believe they are called finlands bought them online an they are to small for me they are size Large, they have the padded knuckles they are brand new!

[Mainecat]

Probably the best gloves I have ever owned. I am on my 4th year. They were 39.00 not they went up 10.00 but for 50 bucks, gore tex!

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...&hasJS=true

I use the Cat TXI with the electric shield. The visor is nice to have for the sun. The helmet is very warm and frost free...plus you can buy a shield at and Cat dealer.

Edited by Mainecat, 22 January 2009 - 08:54 AM.

[Do the Doo]

Rad8165, on Jan 21 2009, 10:22 PM, said:

I have a pair off Gaunlet style scott gloves, Gore tex I believe they are called finlands bought them online an they are to small for me they are size Large, they have the padded knuckles they are brand new!

Unfortunitly she wears a womens Med. And the Unisex small does fit right, too big. Thanks though...

Mainecat, on Jan 22 2009, 08:53 AM, said:

Probably the best gloves I have ever owned. I am on my 4th year. They were 39.00 not they went up 10.00 but for 50 bucks, gore tex!

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...&hasJS=true

I use the Cat TXI with the electric shield. The visor is nice to have for the sun. The helmet is very warm and frost free...plus you can buy a shield at and Cat dealer.

Cabala's, never thought of them. They are only 10 miles from me here in CT. I wll have to check them out. Thanks!!