I'll never forget the snowmobile suit my mom bundled me into for winter in the second grade. Let me set the scene for you.
We moved quite a bit, since rents kept going up. And we either walked or took the CTA everywhere since I grew up in Chicago and my mom didn't drive. But at this particular time, I lived approximately two blocks from my grade school. That's Chicago city blocks, which aren't terribly long. Sure, if you're very tiny and you have tiny little legs, they might seem like it sometimes. But they aren't; not really.
Anyway, little tiny me had to cram myself, in my school uniform, into that green one-piece snowsuit. And then, at school, I also had to somehow successfully remove myself from that snowmobile suit (and boots), stow them in my locker, and get myself into my classroom on time. As far as I remember (and can tell from all the childhood documents I've seen), I did it; I just don't know how.
I mean, my mom clearly didn't want me to freeze; I get that. But maybe she overdressed me just a tiny bit for a two-block walk. I also had a knit hat, at least one scarf wrapped over my mouth and nose, and a pair of toasty warm mittens. And snow boots. It was a lot.
That outfit only lasted one season, and it wasn't just because I was a growing kid. It was a lot of work to get in and out of that suit a couple of times a day, every single day. And sometimes, as I recall, the zipper stuck, or my uniform got caught in it, or other things made it even more difficult than it would have been on its own.
But it was super warm! Maybe even a little too warm. And that's exactly why it's great for what it's actually meant to be used for: Playing in the snow for long hours, not short hops to a city school on a cold winter's day.
Layers Are Your Friend
If you're a motorcyclist, then chances are excellent that you already know how important a good layering strategy is. That's also true when you're suiting up to go snowmobiling, only your base and mid-layer considerations might differ a little.
You want warmth and insulation. But at the same time, you also want something that won't retain your sweat and hold it against your body. And make no mistake: Snowmobiling requires a lot of physical exertion. You will probably be sweating, no matter how cold it is outside your puffy layers of snowmobile gear.
Keeping all your sweat against your skin is how you get cold, so technical base layers made for cold are what you need here. Merino wool is also excellent, and has fantastic moisture-wicking and even possibly antibacterial properties. It's not cheap (though deals can often be had), but that's why so many outdoor activities have specialized merino wool clothing tailored to suit their needs.
Layer up, top and bottom. I'm a big fan of base layers that have thumb holes, so you can secure them over your thumbs and the back of your hands before you put your gloves on. Who likes cold wrists? Not me.
A good winter balaclava also makes a mega difference, both on motorcycles and on snowmobiles. Just like having those thumb holes on your base layer can keep your wrists from inadvertently being exposed to cold, a balaclava keeps your face, head, and neck all covered. Any wind that gets through as you're zipping along in the powder or on the trail won't be able to get to your skin and ruin your day.
Also, it's a good idea to have a warm beanie (or tuque) in your pocket or tucked away on your snowmobile for when you take your helmet off. It makes a massive difference when you're just chilling and having a water/snack break!
An Important Note About Your Phone
Even if you're riding in places where your phone signal isn't great, chances are excellent that you'll want to bring it with you for possible photo opportunities, if for no other reason. And you should!
But while you already know that getting your phone wet isn't a good idea, you should also know that extreme cold isn't good for your phone, either. You might notice that your battery drains a whole lot quicker if it's exposed to extreme cold, for example.
And that's why you want to tuck your phone in one of your inside layers as you're getting dressed to go play in the snow. In fact, some snowmobile gear even advertises the special, insulated phone pockets it has to keep your digital BFF safe on your sled. If you have gear with pockets like this, that's a great place to put it. However, you don't necessarily need a special insulated pocket; you've got lots of insulation if you just tuck your phone in a layer closer to your body, and then bundle up even more over it.
When we were playing in the mountains in Wyoming, we had bib-style overpants with a nice pocket inside that was perfect for a smartphone. On the advice of one of the guides, that's where I stuffed mine. It was perfectly happy there all day long and was easily accessible when I wanted to get some photos or videos.
Don't Forget the Outerwear
I'm kidding; that's probably the first thing you pictured when I mentioned snowmobile gear. Big puffy jackets (or a onesie), pants, boots, enormous gloves, and a helmet with a peak. Maybe even some goggles, right?
Snowmobile gear is made to fit comfortably. It shouldn't be too tight or restrictive, because then you can't move around on your sled and do cool and/or dangerous stuff like that voice in your head keeps telling you. Also, it's meant to go over however many layers you choose to stuff underneath it. So, keep that in mind if you're buying some for yourself. In fact, it might not be a bad idea to put on your chosen base layers and try the gear on over it if you can, before you plunk down any of your hard-earned money. Make sure you're getting the fit you want (or that the retailer accepts returns if you're ordering online).
Snowmobile helmets have some insulation, as a rule. But wearing a balaclava underneath will keep you and your helmet feeling fresh and good in the temperature regulation department. As a bonus, stowing your hair under a balaclava means you won't have to deal with helmet or hat hair until you take the balaclava off at the end of the day.
One important thing to know about goggles is that they're awesome. However, if you require prescription eyeglasses to function in everyday life (like I do), then you'll definitely need to take them into consideration. There are goggles offered by different manufacturers that will accommodate eyeglasses, but you also have to worry about fogging. If you get way into snowmobiling, it is possible to get prescription goggles, but it's probably not worth the price if you're only going to do it once every few years or so.
Good snowmobile pants will have leg zips that go most of the way up your leg from the ankle. You want to put your boots on, snug them up, and buckle them into place before you step into your snowmobile pants. Since snowmobile boots are kind of big, that's a whole lot easier if you can step through the legs of the pants with those zips wide open. Then you can pull the zipper down each leg to close the pants up around your boots and be ready to go.
Gloves should be puffy and warm, but they shouldn't be too loose or too tight. You want decent feel in your fingers for the controls, so you can safely cover the brake and throttle and maneuver the sled the way you want. They should also play nicely with the sleeves on your jacket (or onesie), so you keep your whole arm and hand covered while you're out. Remember, exposed skin gets very cold very quickly, and can lead to frostbite if you're not careful.
Jackets (or onesies) should also be puffy and warm. As a rule, snowmobile outerwear will have strong water resistance, because that's clearly important if you're playing in the snow. You'll probably also have some pockets where you can stash hand warmers (if you want; they may not be necessary if you have really good gear and layering strategies) for when you pause in your journey to take breaks.
If your snowmobile has heated grips, so much the better. I can't adequately express how much of a difference that made on my recent trip with the Uncharted Society. But although it got up into the 20s (Fahrenheit) over the course of the day, it was below or just at zero degrees when we started climbing up the mountain in the morning.
Not quite Siberia, but definitely nowhere close to a roaring fireplace in terms of temperature. Still, despite the chilly temps and frozen eyelashes, I and my companions were all toasty and warm thanks to our layers and our gear; and you can be, too!
