Base Layer Materials The materials used for base layers change constantly as textile manufacturers come up with new high-tech synthetic fabrics or re-invent natural materials like wool. In general, they all have common characteristics: The materials absorb only a very small percentage (< 1%) of their weight in moisture. In practice, this means that they retract moisture from your skin and dry very quickly.
LAYERING FOR WINTER RIDING
Mid/Insulation Layer Materials Fleece is most commonly used as a mid layer. It possess the ability to retain still air which insulates and prevents body heat loss as outlined above. Besides this, the treated polyesters used have almost the same moisture-transporting qualities as base layers and transport moisture to the outer layer and dry very quickly. OUTER SHELL The third and final layer in the three-layer system is the outer shell which is the only layer with direct contact to the outside world. The outer shell serves four main purposes: Protection from wind and outside moisture like rain and snow Getting rid of body moisture Insulation to keep you warm Protection from chafing, cuts, scrapes and other outside damage
MID/INSULATION LAYER The purpose of the mid or insulation layer is to retain body heat and the best way to do so is by creating a layer of still or dead air around your body. This still air will seriously decrease the heat exchange between your body and the outside world.
Nowadays, the generally accepted way of getting yourself dressed for snowmobiling and outdoor activities is to use a three-layer system. BASE LAYER This is the first and most important layer of clothing you put on as it is in direct contact with your skin. When riding, it is very likely that you will be sweating and cooling down numerous times and it’s important that your clothing works in a way that it can cool you down quickly but not too much. A common problem in many outdoor activities is “after-exercise chill.” Cotton T-shirts and other common underwear capture the moisture of sweat in their fabric and after your body has already cooled down and stops sweating, the wet cotton will keep on cooling your body down. Not only is this uncomfortable, it also forces your body to increase its heat production and it increases the chances of under cooling. The base layer should not retain moisture but transport it away from the skin, thereby countering “after-exercise chill.”
Outer Shell Materials Over the years, many textiles have been developed to be waterproof, water-resistant and/or breathable. Waterproof/breathable fabrics resist water droplets from passing through while at the same time allowing water vapor through and giving them the ability to block out rain and snow while allowing vapor from sweat to evaporate. The textile can be waterproofed by either adding a membrane or a sprayed-on coating. The coating will wear down faster over time since it is exposed to the elements whereas the membrane is fused/ bonded to the inside of the outer material or is a floating membrane sewn between the outer fabric and inner liner. Standard laboratory testing protocols define the performance of these fabrics. Water resistance/proofness is measured by the amount of water, in mm, which can be suspended above the fabric before water seeps through. Breathability is measured by the rate at which water vapor passes through, in the units of grams of water vapor per square meter of fabric per 24-hour period (g/m2/d), often abbreviated to just “g.” Typical mid-range fabrics tend to have values of 5000mm of water proofness/resistance and 5000g of breathability; the highest end materials boast 20,000mm and 20,000g or more.
The mid/insulation layer mostly consists of man-made fabrics/ polyesters that are treated in a way that makes the fibers stand up and trap air between the fibers. This trapped air forms a protective layer of still air forming the main insulation.
10
11
12
13
14
15
17
18
20
29
29-1/2
2XL
30
30-1/2
31
31-32
32
33
33-34
35-36
35-37
37-38
38-40
39-40
3XL
41-42
41-43
43-44
44-46
45-46
APPAREL SIZE CHART
Bibs
Bibs/Pants
Boots
Children Youth
Equivalent Women’s Sizes
Helmets are measured from top of head above the ears and eyebrows
Helmets
Inseam
Jackets
Men’s Sizes
Men’s
Size Label
Size Label 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 17 Height 2111 315 3111 415 418 4111 512 515 Chest 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 Hip 21 23 25 27 29 31 33 35 Arm Length 17-1/2 19-1/2 21-1/2 23-1/2 25-1/2 27-1/2 29 30-1/2
Size Label 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 17 Height 2111 315 3111 415 418 4111 512 515 Waist 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 Inseam 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 31
Size Label 6 8 10 12 14 17 18 20 Chest 35-36 37-38 39-40 41-42 43-44 45-46 47-48 49-50 Hip 36-37 38-39 40-41.5 42.5-44 45-46.5 47.5-49 50-51.5 52.5-54 Arm Length 31 31-3/4 32-1/2 32-7/8 33-1/8 33-1/2 33-7/8 34-1/4
Size Label S M L XL 2XL 3XL Chest 38-39 40-41 42-44 45-47 48-50 51-53 Hip 37-38 39-40 41-43 44-46 47-49 50-52 Sleeve Length 33-1/4 34-1/8 35 35-7/8 36-1/4 36-5/8
Size Label S M L XL 2XL 3XL Hat Size (inches) 6-7/8 - 7 7-1/8 - 7-1/4 7-3/8 - 7-1/2 7-5/8 - 7-3/4 8 - 8-1/8 8-1/4 - 9 Hat Size (cm) 56 58 60 62 64 66 Hat Size (inches) 21-3/4 22-1/2 23-1/2 24-1/2 25 25-3/4
Waist
Women’s
XL