Motorcycle Gear vs. Snowmobile Gear

Whether you ride on two wheels, or skis and tracks, choosing the right gear can help make the difference between a good ride and a great one. However, if you haven’t shopped for riding gear in a while, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the different choices available. While MotorcycleCloseouts does carry a full-line of snowmobile gear, you will also notice when browsing our Snow selection that some products are not snowmobile-specific. The purpose of this section is to help explain the differences between motorcycle and snowmobile-specific gear, so you can make the best choice of gear for your next ride.

The Evolution of Gear Versatility

The main reason most folks wear a jacket and pants while riding a motorcycle is protection. Time and time again, it’s been proven that a sweatshirt and jeans just doesn’t hold up against pavement at any speed above a brisk walk, so in the interest of saving skin, motorcycle-specific clothing was developed. For many years, motorcycle gear was made almost exclusively of leather, and for good reason. Leather boasts excellent abrasion resistance, and with proper care can last through season after season of use. However, as protective as leather gear is, it does have its shortcomings. Leather garments are heavy, and tend to be very conductive of outside temperatures. In other words, in hot weather, leather makes you hot, and in cold weather, it keeps you cold. Not the best combination for riding in less-than-ideal conditions.

Within the last decade, textile street riding apparel has become quite popular. Modern textile jackets and pants, which are constructed of materials such as nylon and polyester, offer abrasion resistance nearly as good as that of leather while being much lighter. And with the advent of Gore-Tex and other waterproof breathable fabrics and fabric treatments, textile gear has also become a very effective tool for managing body temperature. For today’s motorcyclist, these advances in gear technology are nothing but good news. Waterproof, breathable fabrics have largely made traditional rain gear unnecessary, and intelligent venting, mesh panels, and removable liners now allow the rider to wear the same garment in temperatures from 20 degrees to 90 degrees in relative comfort. However, these advances aren’t reserved exclusively for motorcyclists. In addition to the specialized gear designed exclusively for their sports, many snowmobilers, skiers, and even ultralight plane pilots find modern textile motorcycle gear perfectly suited for their own adventures, but there are some differences…

What’s the Difference between Snowmobile and Motorcycle Gear?

Just as motorcycle gear is designed primarily for protection in the event of a spill, the chief purpose of wearing snowmobiling apparel is to keep you warm and dry in the nastiest conditions, all while offering plenty of protection. While snowmobile and motorcycle gear share many of the same construction attributes, there are some key differences between the two based upon their primary focus.

Jackets & Pants –
The majority of both snowmobile and textile motorcycle jackets and pants are constructed of nylon or polyester, with either an outer shell, or inner “jet liner” constructed of or treated with a waterproof and breathable material such as Gore-Tex. Due to abrasion-resistance requirements, most motorcycle apparel is constructed of a heavier material, or higher “denier” fabric in their outer shells. Most motorcycle apparel also includes heavier, reinforced fabric in high-wear areas such as the elbows, shoulders, and knees. These jackets and pants also often come standard with removable armor in the elbows, shoulders, knees and back for extra protection in a fall, removable insulated liners for warmth, and zippered vents for additional temperature management.

With abrasion-resistance less of a concern on the snow, snowmobile-specific jackets and pants are often constructed of lighter nylon or polyester that is somewhat unsuitable for motorcycle riding. The reason for this is because many snowmobile jackets and pants use relatively thick liners, and a lighter outer shell allows the rider to move more freely during aggressive riding. In addition, most snowmobile jackets do not come equipped with removable armor or as many vents as their motorcycling cousins, as these features are considered less of a necessity in snowmobiling.

Gloves-
The primary difference between cold-weather motorcycle gloves and snowmobile-specific gloves is the palm. Most every motorcycle glove features a reinforced palm constructed of leather or goatskin and reinforced, padded knuckles. Once again, this is for the purpose of abrasion-resistance. Many snowmobile gloves have a lighter, synthetic palm made of Clarino or rubber, and heavier insulation for below-freezing temperatures. While most any insulated motorcycle glove can work for snowmobiling, snowmobile-specific gloves without reinforcement on the palm and knuckles are not suited for motorcycle riding on the street.

Boots-
The differences between snowmobile and motorcycle boots are so big that the two really aren’t interchangeable. Most motorcycle boots are made of leather (street touring boots) or a combination of leather and impact-resistant plastic (road race and motocross boots), with little or no insulation. While both types of boots do usually offer protective shanks in the soles, that’s where the similarities end. Snowmobile boots are highly insulated and designed for use in temperatures down to 70 degrees below zero in some models. Snowmobile boots also usually lace up like hiking boots, which would be dangerous near the spinning sprockets of a motorcycle. Basically, the two types of boots are designed for different purposes, and it is advisable that they only be used for what they are intended.

Helmets
Unlike boots, snowmobile and motorcycle helmets are essentially the same thing, just with a few different parts. Most snowmobile helmets start out as motorcycle helmets, and usually have identical outer shells. What really makes a snowmobile helmet a snowmobile helmet is the shield. Instead of the traditional shield most street helmets use, snow helmets usually come with a double-paned shield that is less likely to fog up in cold conditions. In addition, most snow helmets also feature internal breath guards and chin curtains for warmth and fog-resistance.

On most helmets, shields and internal accessories are easily removable and replaceable, so converting a street helmet to a snow helmet, or vice-versa, is usually no problem. Please note that double-paned snow shields are not designed for riding on the street, as they are not guaranteed to resist impact, so be sure to install the correct shield. For extremely cold conditions, many helmet manufacturers offer electric heated shields for their snowmobile helmets. These shields are double-paned like a regular snow shield, but also feature an electric heating element to prevent fog, snow and ice buildup in harsh conditions.

For aggressive riding, racing, or riding in warmer conditions, many snowmobilers prefer to use a motocross helmet. Like full-face street helmets, MX helmets used for snowmobiling are very closely related to the motorcycle helmets they’re based on. Most snowmobilers utilize a balaclava when using these helmets, and a breath guard to deflect their breath down and away from their goggles. Speaking of goggles, the models used in the snow also differ slightly from their dirt bike cousins. Unlike a traditional dirt goggle, snowmobile goggles use a double-paned lens with outer vent holes to prevent fogging, while still offering more eye protection than traditional ski goggles.

Recap

With the quality and variety of gear currently available, it’s easy to see that now is a great time to be a powersports enthusiast. When shopping for your next set of gear, be sure to examine the attributes of the products you’re interested in closely. Do you want armor? A removable liner? A Snell rating on your helmet? Only you know your exact requirements, because only you know where and what you ride. However, if you do have a question, feel free to email us and we’ll do our best to answer any questions you have.

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