I’m thrilled to be wearing KLIM gear this year! Over the past couple of years, I have had the chance to try many different brands of clothing. As such, I feel like this will bring another dimension to my review. For this season, KLIM didn’t hold back and sent me a ton of gear to review! I got their Railslide one-piece, both their Spool AND Inversion gloves, and the Adrenaline Pro S GTX BOA boot. As you can see, we got a lot to unpack (both figuratively and literally), so let’s dive in!
KLIM’s Railslide One-Piece: Insulated Comfort for Backcountry Riders
The cornerstone of my winter gear is the Railslide one-piece. Yes, it’s insulated, and yes, I’m a backcountry rider. Over the past few years, I’ve become very sensitive to cold and ended up layering up just about every ride. At this point, it just made sense to get an insulated suit. I also think it’s an interesting point of view because those pieces of gear usually get less exposure (since they are less popular among backcountry riders).
My first impressions were just how warm and cozy the suit is. It fits great and still breathes well given the fact that it’s insulated. I also really appreciate the padding at knee level. It’s probably the best one I’ve ever reviewed. However, I wish the knee area was covered with a more resistant material like para-amid fibre (such as Kevlar), which we see from other manufacturers.
When going one level deeper in my analysis, I was, however, pretty disappointed with a few aspects of the Railslide one-piece. First of all, pockets are extremely rare. It only has a pair around the hips, and a tiny one hidden at the neck level. I’m also not convinced this last one can even be called a pocket given its size. I wonder if this one is meant to hide a cleaning cloth for goggles.
The zippers are also not great. To start, the main one has a rather unsatisfactory feel. Then, during my first ride, a pocket zipper got stuck really badly. I actually had to force it open. Finally, the venting zipper pulls are really small, preventing me from easily opening and closing them up.
My last complaint about the Railslide one-piece concerns the suspenders. They are very loose (even when properly adjusted), preventing them from doing their job better. I also wish they had a strap connecting both sides to secure them in place.
Gloves
KLIM allowed me to do something I’ve been wanting to do for many years: review two pairs of gloves in a combo. As a backcountry rider, I like to ride two pairs of gloves: a warmer one and a very light one. I rode the Spool as an all-around glove and the Inversion as a lighter one for technical terrains.
The way I operate is the following (and I’m sure many people do the same):
- I would start my day with the Spool gloves and store the Inversion in a handlebar bag.
- As soon as I get in a technical spot, I can quickly swap gloves and go have fun with the lighter model.
- Once this is done, after a bit of a break, I am ready to go back to riding. I then switch back to the warmer (and dry) pair of gloves.
KLIM’s Spool Glove: The Perfect All-Around Gear for Snow Adventures
The Spool gloves are made with Gore-Tex on the outside and leather on the inside. This allows them to provide a very firm grip on the handlebars. I like the fact that it has loops I can use to put on the second glove more easily. However, I do wish the Spool glove was a bit warmer on the back of the hand. I found that below -10 ºC they felt very cold and were harder to operate, as they’re partially made of leather.
KLIM’s Inversion Glove: Precision and Warmth Combined
The Inversion glove by KLIM is, by far, the best glove I’ve ever worn. There’s not a close second in my mind. It’s warm for its thickness, comfortable, fairly waterproof, and provides incredible dexterity. It provides the best handlebar feel I’ve ever seen in any pair of gloves, and provides solid grip thanks to the silicone strips on the palm. Furthermore, they allow you to interact with touchscreens. Like the Spool glove, they have loops for an even easier process of putting them on.
As soon as I received this pair of gloves, I started using it daily. Whether it’s to go for a walk, shovel the driveway, or strap snowmobiles on the sled deck, I wear the Inversion gloves. Unless it’s really cold, I’ll default to using them. I even noticed that when I’m heading back to the truck after a ride in the backcountry, I’ll often keep the Inversion glove on, even on the trail.
Adrenaline Pro S GTX BOA Boot: Premium Winter Performance
Last but not least, the Adrenaline Pro S GTX BOA boot completed my KLIM gear. This pair of boots feels extremely premium thanks to its Gore-Tex material and dual Boa fastening system. And, as if it wasn’t enough, the boot sole was designed by none other than Michelin.
To me, a good boot is one that I put on and forget for the day. I had a very rough start with that boot, as, during my first two rides, the lip hurt my shins to the blood. I had to wear another pair of boots to let my shins heal. Thankfully, once I got healed up, the boots appeared to be properly “broken in”, and I was able to keep wearing them for the remainder of the season.
It was pretty smooth sailing after this incident. The boot feels really comfortable and warm. I noticed that my feet sweat way less than usual in those boots. This was probably helped by the Aggressor sock I always make sure to pair with the Adrenaline Pro S GTX BOA boot. Naturally, the BOA system also makes the wearing process way easier and allows for a perfect adjustment every time.
On the snowmobile, the Adrenaline Pro S GTX BOA boot does actually feel amazing. Its grip is very impressive and allows for precise placement of the foot on the running board. The fact that they are stiff also adds an extra layer of protection, which we never have enough of when backcountry riding.
Conclusion
To conclude, I have mixed feelings about the KLIM gear I had to review this year. Some pieces of equipment were the absolute best I’ve ever worn, while others didn’t meet KLIM’s quality reputation. The Spool and Inversion are top-tier gloves, and I’d have a really hard time switching to another combination. The same goes for the Adrenaline Pro S GTX BOA boot. They actually turned out really well after breaking them in.
However, I wish I could say the same about the Railslide one-piece. At such a high price, and considering that it’s missing so many basic mono-suit features, I simply wouldn’t recommend it. There are better (and cheaper) alternatives if you’re looking for an insulated mono-suit.
Nonetheless, I’d like to thank KLIM for gearing me up for this season. I have also written a review of my F5 Helmet and Aeon Goggle combo, so give it a read!
