5—Arctic Cat M 8000 Alpha One 165
I love innovation. That’s why the first time I saw the prototype of the Alpha One I knew I wanted to spend time on this snowmobile. The Alpha One is the mono-rail rear suspension that not only cuts significant weight from the sled, but also allows the track to flex and roll with the terrain. Cat’s 3-inch track hooks up better than any track on the snow. This is a new snowmobile for 2019 and there’s likely going to be a learning curve on how to adjust it and complement it via the suspension settings. But it’s going to be a fun process to work through … and when it’s tuned, expect great things from it. Retail: $14,899.
6—Ski-Doo Freeride 154
This particular sled tops my list when it comes to most expensive … but for the suspension package that comes with it, it’s money well spent. When you throw on Ski-Doo’s three-inch track, you have a snowmobile that can attack the trail and terrain as hard as anything on the snow. It’s fun to ride, but is also a little heavy to lift. So there are some trade-offs you have to make for a quality suspension. Retail: $16,049.