The CKX brand of snowmobile gear is a Canadian icon in the snowmobile business. Owned by the parent company Kimpex of Drummondville, Québec, they are a familiar brand throughout Canada and across North America.
At Sledmagazine.ca, our findings, experiences and knowledge are written to be helpful to you. We want you to be able to make decisions for the very best gear that fits your type of riding and personal budget. We ride and often own the very same gear that you can purchase. So… I will be candid. I will share what I like. I will express what should be improved.
Testing CKX Snowmobile Gear—Titan Helmet, Conquer Jacket & Bibs in Real Winter Conditions
I purchased my first CKX gear back in the mid 1990s. They were a pair of short-cuffed, full leather gloves. This is in the era when we were still riding with full leather jackets and leather bibs. I wore those faithfully for about five seasons and still have them. Today they serve as my work gloves for hooking and unhooking the snowmobile trailer.
For 2025, I will be evaluating and testing some of CKX’s newest gear and some old favourites. I’ll be reviewing the Titan helmet with 210 goggles, the Conquer jacket and bibs combo, Colton mittens, and EVO boots. I chose each product for very specific reasons, which I will outline in this article and in my season’s wrap up.
Rider’s Favourite—Titan Helmet
The helmet chosen for 2025 was a CKX Titan Original Carbon in Size—XL—Carbon, with Red and Gloss Orange colours. This Titan was the Trail and Backcountry Trak—Included 210 Goggles in Amber with Dual Lenses. The Titan is no longer a new helmet for CKX but very recognizable and adopted by many riders.
When the CKX Titan was introduced in the 2017 season, it almost instantly changed the market. Amongst multiple improvements it specifically weighed less than many comparable helmets. Its backcountry look, along with modular helmet features and benefits, sets it apart. The retractable muzzle allowed riders to control their breathing—not fogging up the goggles—while allowing the rider to speak clearly and easily to the riders with the helmet on. The innovation was commendable. Its acceptance has been successful.
I chose this specific helmet for three reasons. I wanted to see how warm it was compared to other helmet brands that are designed for goggles. Second, I wanted to see if riding with a carbon constructed helmet was noticeable at the end of a day of riding. Last, I wanted to evaluate if this CKX helmet was as versatile on groomed trails versus performing as an off-trail option.
My first impressions after two days of riding with the CKX Titan Original Carbon helmet are:
- This may be the most versatile helmet (with Goggles) I have owned or tested. Its versatility with the options for setting it up is well thought out.
- I love the colours.
- I love the weight.
- I was warm both rides with no air leaks on my face.
Titan Helmet comes with 210 Double Lens Goggles
In addition to the Goggles that came with the Titan helmet, I ordered a set of CKX Replacement Lens, 210 Ventilated in Amber. I also ordered a CKX 210 Backcountry Frame and Lens.
The ’210′ refers to CKX’s 210-degree field of view for all their googles designed for the Titan helmet. They all use Rapid-clip technology that can be interchanged with a standard strap.
Their advantage; they offer the widest field of vision for this class of goggles. I will be attempting to try all of the variations I have.
Warm Choices vs. Popular Choices…Because It Can Be Cold
My choices for my feet and hands were predetermined. These choices are not what the majority of riders may choose as their first option. As the snowmobile aftermarket for gear has developed, it has become very specialized. There are a lot of choices. This is to our benefit.
For my hands I chose the CKX Colton Mittens, Size 2 X-Large. I chose mittens on purpose. I have one overall objective this winter, and that is to test how much warmer I am wearing mittens versus gloves on the colder days. The only colour available is black.
As snowmobilers, options for our hands are usually satisfied with riding gloves. Gloves can have longer and/or shorter cuffs and come with a variety of insulation, or not. One of my personal go-to gloves is the CKX leather gloves in this photo beside the new CKX Colton leather mittens I am evaluating. I love the feel of a glove for riding, but they all have one major shortcoming. After a certain temperature, your hands and fingers can become cold.
The CKX mittens are made from 100% goat leather, and this feel is noticeable right away. The membrane claims to be Kortez, waterproof and breathable. There is also a goggle wiper on the left index finger; this is good, as I will be wearing the 210 Goggles on the Titan. My last first impression is the claimed 533 g of insulation on the back of the hands. This is significantly more insulation than my CKX gloves.
For my footwear I asked for the CKX Taiga EVO Boots, Size 12. I chose these boots on purpose also. My primary objective is to determine how warm the CKX boots are?
These CKX Boots are definitely lightweight at 1.27 kg or 2.8 lbs. I am not aware of a lighter boot in the industry other than CKX’s own competing boots: CKX Eva or CKX Boreal. The Taiga EVO has a 12-inch high nylon upper.
Of most interest to me is that it has removable foam liners insulated with Primaloft 200 g. This means they can be removed from the main boot to be dried at night. This amount (200 g) of insulation does not appear to be very much to achieve such warmth. Marketing claims warmth up to minus 85 degrees Celsius or minus 121 ºF.
These CKX snowmobile boots are not new to the market. They have been available for more than a decade, but what has made them so popular with many riders?
At the time when the NATS boots became a snowmobile boot, CKX claimed, “these snowmobile-quality boots are distinguished by the use of technical materials, including an EVA base with properties of flexibility, insulation and lightness”. These materials protect us from cold and dampness. I will report if they are as warm as claimed.
CKX Conquer Jacket & Bibs—Better than their Competitors?
I chose the CKX Conquer Men’s Jacket, Scarlet, Size—X-LARGE for my jacket. The manufacturer defines it as a crossover, or hybrid, jacket for uninsulated to warm activity. Primaloft provides the insulation.
My first impressions of the CKX Conquer jacket:
- I was impressed by a very tall collar that fits perfectly with the Titan helmet chin guard.
- I was not impressed that the jacket has no pockets on the right arm or at the right chest level for left-handed riders; this is an industry weakness amongst all manufacturers of gear I have tested, not just CKX.
- I was pleased with the functional magnetic front flap.
- I do not understand why manufacturers include hoods on their jackets. It adds extra cost and weight, and I have yet to see anyone utilize them. In fact, most hoods are removed by most riders.
- I enjoyed the removable liner, which is actually another coat. An inner coat versus a liner is becoming an industry standard.
- Again, I love the colours of this garment—Scarlet.
I chose for pants the CKX Conquer Men’s Bib, Size LARGE in Black. This CKX garment is classified as another Crossover or Hybrid. This is accomplished with the multi-layers, and the warmth comes from Primaloft insulation.
My first impressions of the CKX Conquer Bibs
- I was curiously surprised by the Bib’s removable inner lining for insulation. In layman’s terms, the layers can be separated! I have never seen this in riding pants before, and trust it may add quite a range of flexibility over cold days versus warm weather rides.
- I was disappointed that CKX did not install pull tabs on all the zippers. This was especially noticeable on side legs near your boots. Maybe my bibs were just a single oversight.
- Again, there are no pockets for us, who are left-hand dominant on the chest of the bibs.
- I was impressed that CKX has found a way to shorten the legs on the Bibs with a hook and loop fastener strap near the top of your boots.
- I look forward to utilizing the thigh vents on the Bibs for spring riding. I cannot recall if I have had riding pants with this option before but often wished I had.
- I believe the Original Cordura on the Bib’s knees and lower pant legs is an excellent design choice.
First Ride—Off Trail in New Snow
My first ride in early February was an all-day excursion off trail. We covered 139 km on forest rods primarily. I wore all of the new CKX gear for this day. When we departed, the temperature was -18 ºC. In the afternoon it possibly reached -15 ºC. There was some warmth from the sun, but it was not a warm day.
I wore all of the gear chosen as it arrived. All of the layers were in the jacket, pants and helmet. The only piece of gear not from CKX was a favourite balaclava and my TekVest. At no time was I cold or did I become wet. Everything was new but adequately comfortable for a first impression.
Second Ride — On Groomed Trail
My second ride in later February was on groomed trails. We covered 177 kilometres of forest and field riding under a blue bird day. It was slightly warmer, approximately -8 ºC, at midday.
Today I chose to ride without a balaclava to rest in the warmth of the Titan helmet with Goggles. I also removed the inner liner jacket of the Conquer Jacket and removed the liner of the Conquer Bibs. I did dress with an extra base layer, however.
At no time was I uncomfortable or cold during this trail ride. In fact I even felt fairly more relaxed. Indeed, with the jacket liner removed, there was more air space for my base layers, TekVest, and CKX Conquer jacket to compliment each other.
Does everything perform as Intended?
My overriding objective in the 2025 season is to establish if the CKX gear chosen performs as it was designed too? This is what you want to know, so we strive to answer that basic question before you commit to purchasing your apparel.
This is also why I have chosen some newer generation CKX gear and some “older” established gear. While new may be more popular, it still needs to function as designed. The “older” gear I expect to be excellent, but it will be interesting to assess if any improvements were made since the original launch dates.
Are my short cuff leather gloves “pretty”? Well no, but they have lasted all these seasons and make me reflect on how long CKX has been supporting and innovating for the snowmobile world. When Kimpex—CKX began in 1983 in Canada, we did not have all the garment choices we make today.
Leather was “in”. Today I am glad it is only “in” on my new CKX Colton Mittens.
