This has been a weird snowmobile season here in Utah. The weather has fluctuated from spring-like temperatures to dumping feet of snow on what feels like a weekly basis. As I write this, it'll be around 50 degrees today. But tomorrow, well, the current forecast says 2-feet of fresh powder. And it's gone through this cycle about every two weeks.
Suffice it to say, snowmobiling has occurred, but it's been sporadic to say the least.
And it's been similarly weird weather for much of the rest of the country, as the East Coast saw a better winter overall, but periods of warmth, too and the West and North saw what I've been encountering in Utah. There's good snowpack, but these warm period have sucked a lot of the fun out of sledding this year. Which is why I'm looking toward next season's rides, especially since Polaris just dropped its 2026 snowmobile lineup.
Seems like the company has something for just about everyone. Here's hoping next year's snow hits.
Just about every snowmobile in Polaris' lineup has been touched, whether that's an all-new model or just a handful of updates. The biggest announcement of the lineup is the all-new Voyager Sport Utility series.
According to Polaris, "This all-new lineup is the ultimate choice for winter adventure whether riders are breaking trail, hauling gear, or hitting the trails with a passenger." And that's all easy to see from the specs. Powered by the brand's 650 Patriot engine, and coming with a 15-inch track, along with two lengths—146 and a 155—the new Voyager is designed to get folks and their compatriots out into the field, whether that's for backcountry trail rides, using them to cross country, or doing work around your compound.
Maybe even using it to hunt muskox in the Arctic? But for me, and my love for high-revving, batshit snowmobiles that I can do silly things on, Polaris' RMKs and Switchback Assaults are the jam I'm spreading over my toast.
For 2026, little is changed on the Pro RMK and RMK Khaos, as the two went through more thorough changes recently. What Polaris did do, however, was add a Special Edition model for both, and include a set of choice accessories picked out by X-Games Gold Medalist, and all-around backcountry psychopath, Chris Burandt. Those accessories include Burandt's front and rear bumpers, his own handlebar bag, and two paint options; Dream Orange Pearl or Matte Steel Blue with chrome decals.
As for the Switchback Assault models, Polaris calls this series a Crossover. Thankfully, the company doesn't mean a Honda HRV or Toyota RAV4. New for the models is a different front suspension and track setup. Called the Escape Front Suspension package, the setup allows for 39-41-inch track widths that give the Assault Switchback "a narrower front suspension and several RMK parts to give [customers] the ultimate off -trail experience" without sacrificing trail usability. Polaris' original Race Front Suspension remains unchanged, and both feature the brand's Walker Evans' shocks.
Lastly, Polaris played with the suspension settings of the Indy XCR sleds, bumping up the stiffness by 20%, and dropping the Long-Tail setup onto the series to better throttle control and reduce bottoming out.
Pricing will depend on the fit and finish of the sled, but Polaris has snowmobiles that'll fit most anyone's budget. And for those who can't wait, or those who still have a ton of snow to play with and want to burn through their tax money, Polaris has some killer rebates on this year's models. We're talking up to a couple grand off on certain models.
So who's ready for next season?
