Winter is a fierce season, which can test the most resilient people beyond their limits. Limits can be set higher if you prepare for the conditions that you will face. And KLIM sets them high, as usual, with the quality and ingenuity behind the Railside one-piece snowmobile suit. Read on to see how the suit performed in a vast array of conditions, and decide for yourself if it’s right for you! Later in this article, I will also introduce the F3 Carbon Helmet of the same brand. This helmet brought my entire gear together, and I’ll tell you why.
What Type of Rider is the Railside One-Piece for?
If you’ve read any of my previous articles, you will know that I’m a multi-faceted kind of snowmobile rider. I’ve been guiding sledders in the backcountry and on trails for 16 years. For the past five seasons, I have also been photographing riders for SledMagazine.com and it’s been a real pleasure! Rest assured, I’m not trying to toot my own horn. The point I’m trying to make is that I can be aggressive in powder one day, while, on another, I can be tootling down the trail, standing around chatting and photographing clients.
I often opt for a crossover-style suit for this very reason, hence KLIM’s Railside one-piece. I like the small amount of insulation it offers. KLIM claims that the body of this suit is protected by 140 g of 3M Thinsulate insulation. I find it to be plenty when trail riding at -20 ºF (-29 ºC), so long as you add some base layers underneath. Now, let’s say my crew wants to hit the powder just for a while. This is when I open the vents on my Railside one-piece. Effectively, they prevent me from overheating. KLIM integrated vents under each arm, and you can use the side leg zippers to that end as well. I believe this suit performed well for all styles of riding.
The Railslide One-Piece Is a Nice Suit, But Is It Comfortable?
I’ve been blessed to wear so many styles of suits and brands over the years. Because of that, I can truly say that KLIM has their fit dialled! Not many companies offer short AND standard sizing options. I am 5′7″ (1.70 m) tall, and weigh 175 lb (80 kg) with a 32 in. (81 cm) waist. I found that the Railside one-piece fits me best in the Medium-Short configuration. First, I had a comfortable amount of room left for extra layers. It also gave me plenty of mobility when maneuvering on my snowmobile. Then, I felt no restriction in the belly or groin areas when I was in the seated position. That usually happens when a suit is too tight. Finally, the Railslide one-piece offers huge adjustability!
Check out this list of possible adjustments:
- Adjustable Collar
- Adjustable Cuffs
- Adjustable Waist Straps
- Adjustable and Removable Internal Suspenders
- Removable Knee Pads
- Removable Hood
It’s easy to see how this snowmobile gear can be adapted to fit a large array of riders and riding styles!
What can be improved?
I’ve yet to find the perfect suit; that’s human, though, right? We are opinionated, and that’s part of what keeps designers and engineers striving to improve their products. Well, in my opinion, KLIM’s Railside one-piece does have a few areas for improvement.
It Needs More Pockets!
First, I can never have enough pocket options! For example, I would like to see an external pocket on the left-arm sleeve. That way, I could have instant access to my inclinometer or lip balm! Yes, I said “lip balm”. My lady doesn’t want crusty lips when I get home. The Railslide one-piece also lacks an internal pocket for my mobile phone. I know everyone has their own favourite place to keep the phone; mine is the internal left chest pocket. There, it stays warm and dry, and I can access it instantly. An increase in storage would greatly improve the suit.
Improved Zipper Seal
The next problem I encountered with this suit was air infiltration through the front zipper. While I appreciated this “feature” during high-intensity activities, it proved to be an issue on cold trail rides. Therefore, I think a better seal on the zipper would be an improvement.
Why the KLIM F3 Carbon Helmet Completes Your Gear Kit
When KLIM gave me the opportunity to test their gear, I chose carefully. I spend 40+ hours a week in a helmet, easily. With that being said, I usually go for lightweight and comfortable gear, and the KLIM F3 Carbon helmet is both. Effectively, it’s one of the lightest snowmobile helmets on the market.
On top of that, it boasts a huge vision port for a large field of view. KLIM also improved the visor to make it stronger and more aerodynamic. I’ve lost a few visors when tree riding, and this improvement will deter that from happening. I have a 22.5 in. (57 cm) head circumference, so I chose the F3 Carbon helmet in XL. It fits me perfectly! That means the dimensions are true to size with other brands I’ve worn in the past.
Finally, I tried several goggles and found that the KLIM Viper goes perfectly with this helmet. And it just so happened that the colour of the goggle strap (Petrol) matched my suit! I call that a win!
In Conclusion
As a whole, I think KLIM is on the cutting edge of snowmobile gear. Effectively, I found their products to be high quality and truly adaptive to fit and finish. The Railslide one-piece suit and F3 Carbon helmet will certainly be part of my guiding gear for years to come. I found them to be very comfortable after a long week of guiding, and that says volumes! I will be rocking this gear all season long!
It’s impossible to cover all the features of the KLIM Railside one-piece and F3 Carbon helmet in one article. So, be sure to visit their website for more in-depth technical features of these products. I want to thank SledMagazine.com and KLIM for this opportunity to test these high-level products! Happy riding!
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Comprehensive Review of KLIM’s Winter Gear: Railslide One-Piece, Gloves, and BOA Boots
