The snowmobile gear checklist

What to wear: snowmobile clothing in layers

Good snowmobile clothing works in three layers. Next to your skin, a base layer that moves sweat away (cotton holds moisture and gets cold, so skip it). Over that, an insulating mid layer such as fleece. On the outside, a windproof and waterproof snowmobile jacket and bibs, because at trail speed the wind chill is far colder than the air.

Layers let you adjust: open vents before you sweat, and add a layer before you get cold, not after.

Heated snowmobile gear: warmth without bulk

Instead of a heated suit, a heated layer adds warmth under the snowmobile clothing you already own. It is worn over a T-shirt or base layer and under your outer jacket, and runs on 12V from your sled. Our guide to building a heated snowmobile layer system shows how the pieces work together.

• Gen-X4 Heated Jacket Liner: heats the front, back and collar, with sleeves and hideaway plugs at the cuffs for heated gloves or glove liners. Windproof and water-resistant, so it goes under your shell.
• Gen-X4 Heated Vest Liner: the same core heat without sleeves, cut to end just above the beltline. Our heated vest vs jacket liner guide compares the two.

Each liner comes with a battery cord; the controller is sold separately, and the wiring table on each product page shows what your setup needs. On a smaller or older sled, check that the charging system has room for the load. More in our heated clothing FAQs.

Head and face: helmet, goggles and balaclava

Wear a certified full-face or modular helmet every ride; your province's rules may also require one. For goggles, the biggest problem is fog: a dual-pane lens resists it, and an anti-fog treatment helps.

A balaclava fills the gap between helmet, collar and goggles. Two of ours suit sledding:

• Breathable Waterproof Balaclava: three layers (a waterproof, breathable shell, Milair insulation and a microfleece lining) with flat seams, a perforated mouthpiece and a nostril cut-out that help keep eyewear from fogging. Hand wash only.
• Polar Balaclava: polyester-laminated fleece that covers head, face and neck, with flat seams and a U-shaped neck that lets you turn your head freely.

More in why wear a balaclava and how to choose a balaclava.

Hands and feet: snowmobile gloves and boots

Thicker gloves hold more heat but give you less feel on the throttle and brake. Gloves with removable liners are easier to dry for the next day, and a wet liner insulates poorly. Always pack a dry spare pair.

If your hands are the first thing to go cold, heated gloves fix it at the source. The Gen-X4 Heated Gloves are drum-dyed leather with an extra-long gauntlet and a waterproof, breathable PORELLE insert, and they heat every finger, the thumb and the back of the hand. The Gen-X4 Heated Glove Liners go under a waterproof glove you already like. How to choose: heated gloves vs glove liners. Handlebar muffs are another option: cab enclosure vs handlebar muffs.

For boots, choose waterproof and insulated, with a sole that grips the running boards and enough ankle support for standing. Fit matters more than sock count: a boot packed tight with extra socks cuts circulation and your feet get colder, not warmer. For cold feet on long days, read heated insoles vs heated socks.

The Heated Seat Pad straps onto most snowmobile seats and runs from the 12V battery with an on/off switch; owners say it gets hot, so consider the separate temperature controller. See heated seat pad vs seat heater kit.

What to pack: sled gear for a day on the trail

Pack a shovel, tow strap, tools and a spare belt, extra food and water, a light, a fire starter, a first aid kit, a map or GPS, a way to call for help, and a dry layer. Our snowmobile luggage guide has the full packing list. Where it goes:

• Universal Snowmobile Tunnel Bag: sits on the tunnel behind the seat, with an expandable main compartment, a top pocket, two side pockets and straps on top that hold a shovel head and straps on the side for the handle.
• Trail Boss Snowmobile Saddlebags: a pair that hangs beside the rear seat without getting in the way of a passenger's legs, with extra-long straps for long-track sleds.
• Small Handlebar Bag: keeps your phone, keys and trail pass within reach.

For the trailer and the night: helmet bag and cover

The Deluxe Helmet Bag is heavy-duty, UV-coated nylon with a sherpa lining, opens edge to edge and fits big full-face helmets, with a front pocket for goggles. Our heated visor cord and snowmobile helmet bag guide covers carrying and storing your helmet, and powering a heated shield from the sled.

For the trailer and the night, pick the cover by use:

• Trailerable Snowmobile Cover: 600D polyester built for highway towing and outdoor storage, with vents that reduce condensation and stop ballooning at speed, an elastic hem, straps with J-hooks, a fuel tank zipper and a soft lining over the windshield.
• Universal Snowmobile Storage Cover: lighter 210D water-resistant polyester for off-season storage, with a reflective strip and a fuel tank zipper. It is a storage cover, not a trailering cover.

Both are sized by your sled's overall length (for the trailerable cover, measured from the tip of the hood to the back of the seat). Check the exceptions on each product page before you order: the Trailerable Snowmobile Cover does not fit Polaris sleds from 2021 on, which have their own Polaris cover, and a 2019 to 2022 Ski-Doo Expedition takes a specific size named on the page. Both pages also warn that on a newly manufactured sled the cover's dye can bleed onto fresh paint, so wait four weeks after the manufacture date before covering it. Our snowmobile cover sizing guide walks through it.

Ride safe: habits that matter more than gear

1. Ride with a partner, and tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
2. Stay on marked trails and ride to the conditions and the light.
3. Treat ice as unsafe until you know otherwise. Thickness varies through the season. Stay off lakes and rivers unless the local club or authority says the crossing is open.
4. Mountain or backcountry terrain needs more. Check the avalanche forecast before you go, and take avalanche training before riding there. Every rider wears a transceiver and carries a shovel and probe in a backpack, not on the sled, since a buried or lost sled takes its gear with it. Heated clothing, phones and radios can interfere with a transceiver: follow its maker's instructions on keeping them apart, and switch heated gear off during a search.
5. Ride sober, and stop when you are tired or cold.

Questions riders ask us

Do you sell a heated snowmobile suit?

No. A heated jacket or vest liner under your own snowmobile jacket, plus heated gloves or liners, adds warmth to the clothing you already ride in.

Do heated gloves need extra wiring on a snowmobile?

Usually, yes. The cord or controller depends on whether you plug the gloves into a jacket liner, a vest or straight into the sled. Each product page has a wiring table; send us your cart and what you ride and we will check it.

What size balaclava fits under my helmet?

The Breathable Waterproof Balaclava comes in XS/S, M/L and XL/2XL. When riders ask us, we start from their helmet size (small helmet XS/S, medium M/L, large helmet or bigger head XL/2XL), then check the fit under the helmet.

Can I trailer my sled with the storage cover?

No. The Universal Storage Cover is made for storage. For towing, use the Trailerable Snowmobile Cover, which uses an elastic hem cord, tension panels with quick-release straps and rubber-tipped J-hooks to stay in place at highway speed.

Will the tunnel bag fit my sled?

It is designed to fit all snowmobiles, including Ski-Doo LinQ, and attaches with four cam-buckle straps lengthwise or crosswise. See the full range in our snowmobile gear collection.