Gear: bibs,pants,or onesy?

[Curt_T]

Thought I'd ask to see what everyone likes the best. I have rode with bibs, and pants but thinking a one piece suit might be the ticket. Anyone try onesy?
And the best boots for the bike are? I wore my mx boots once they wernt bad but feet got wet and cold. I ware my muck boots for everything and were great for the bike. But I know there has to be many options out there and I'd like to know. Before you guys get rough and laugh at my choices, I'm just a farmer and make do with what I have. Not big on show, just on the go part. Lets see whats out there..

 

[tomk]

i prefer footie pajamas

 

[Curt_T]

i prefer footie pajamas

I would agree. Feet get cold its all over with.

 

[speedybeedy]

You'll probably laugh at this but for years I used hmk highmarks and spent fist fulls of money on new boots year after year, I started riding with some old timers that put on over 3000 miles a year, year after year and live to ride, the first time I went with them I laughed because they were all wearing Marks work wear rubber boots, taped up around the ankles with tuck or duct tape, its not because there cheap guys, they snow check brand new doos every year. We would get back to the truck and my feet were always soaked, especially on the clutch side from the hot air melting the snow on the boots, theres were bone dry, so they were the ones laughing now, I melted one of my liners one day over the camp stove so the high marks were toast, I went out and bought a pair or 60 dollar rubber boots and have never looked back and have bone dry feet after every ride, love it, sometimes you can learn a thing a two from the old timers, haha

 

[vmax1200]

Dont forget the chest high hip waders ,just use duct tape to close off the top so the snow doesnt get in. Klim gear year round for me ,since they been makeing it .never had a problem with warranty ,first class service

 

[powderzone]

Hip waders? Rubber boots? Where the heck are you dudes riding?
Just a thought on the onesy...I wouldn't do it. If you're riding in avalanche country then having the bib pants and jacket will allow you access to your transceiver in the unlikely / unfortunate event that you need to conduct a search. You can pull the transceiver out without getting half undressed or getting unzipped. You're not going to be doing anyone favours freezing cold during a search.
If you're riding in Minnesota then by all means...wear the onesy.

 

[Curt_T]

I live i southern michigan, have to drive 4-6hrs north to get good snow. Dont know if I'll ever see deep snow like some of you guys ride in the moutains, but I see a lot of woods, medows, and ungroomed trails. But I'm leaning to a one piece suit I think. Was hoping someone as crazy as me has tried it and will chime in.

 

[J&L Snowhawk]

Check out the new fly jonny Campbell gear. They made t with snowbike in mind
Leather on pipe side and water proof. If i remember right they are
300$ for pants going to have the rep bring some by so I can check out
If good I might try them. If anyone wants them I can hook u up

 

[Curt_T]

Check out the new fly jonny Campbell gear. They made t with snowbike in mind
Leather on pipe side and water proof. If i remember right they are
300$ for pants going to have the rep bring some by so I can check out
If good I might try them. If anyone wants them I can hook u up

I just looked these up and they look good. But I rode last winter with pants, bibs and differnt coats. I'm thinking I want a suit, I'm at least going to try one. I Think it might be more relaxed and you wont have the pulling or binding of the coat or the pants falling down and the have your shoulders strap free. I've looked at a bunch and have it down to the FXR, and TOBE.

 

[powderzone]

I live i southern michigan, have to drive 4-6hrs north to get good snow. Dont know if I'll ever see deep snow like some of you guys ride in the moutains, but I see a lot of woods, medows, and ungroomed trails. But I'm leaning to a one piece suit I think. Was hoping someone as crazy as me has tried it and will chime in.

Ok then a onesy makes sense. Just not as flexible for varying weather conditions. Good luck in your search.

 

[yukondood]

I think I have tried them all and they all have their purposes.
Love my klim gear bib and jacket and still own it and this combo gets ued the most- cant beat the warranty. I have sent gear back due to wetness and cant complain as they fix or replace each time. I even use the gear on my Tenere in the summer
Last year scooped a Tobe mono suit and LOVE it, other than a seam splitting under one of the arms on the last ride of the season- sent back and we will see this year. The freedom of movement and ability to layer up or down is awesome. I am not sure about the comment about transceivers and access but there are zippers and you can access this easier as it is one zipper in and out as opposed to a jacket and bib to deal with.
Boot I have tried the rubber boot or muck boots an no doubt you will stay dry from snow getting in but my sweat too much and there is no ankle support. If I was going on a spring pleasure ride maybe use them but anywhwere else have have good luck with klim and last 3 years motofist. Both boots provide excellent support, wicking and dryness.

 

[Curt_T]

I think I have tried them all and they all have their purposes.
Love my klim gear bib and jacket and still own it and this combo gets ued the most- cant beat the warranty. I have sent gear back due to wetness and cant complain as they fix or replace each time. I even use the gear on my Tenere in the summer
Last year scooped a Tobe mono suit and LOVE it, other than a seam splitting under one of the arms on the last ride of the season- sent back and we will see this year. The freedom of movement and ability to layer up or down is awesome. I am not sure about the comment about transceivers and access but there are zippers and you can access this easier as it is one zipper in and out as opposed to a jacket and bib to deal with.
Boot I have tried the rubber boot or muck boots an no doubt you will stay dry from snow getting in but my sweat too much and there is no ankle support. If I was going on a spring pleasure ride maybe use them but anywhwere else have have good luck with klim and last 3 years motofist. Both boots provide excellent support, wicking and dryness.

I think I would like suit, I have good gear with pants and bibs and two jackets.. On all the snowbike trips I went I wore something differnt and was most pleased with bib coat combo but still hand a few crashed that I got filled with snow, and all the snow dust still found its way in. Now on my sled I have no problems. I'm going to find a different boot for this year I need one that the kick start wont break down but think I'm dreaming.

 

[wakeandsnow]

I spend 50+ days a year in the back country. Multiple over night trips at 6-8000 feet in -20C and I only wear Arcteryx stuff. It's expensive but really durable and when you scorpion flip over the bars of your machine and rip a 10" hole in your coat, they fix it/replace it for free. It's made to layer and wick sweat so you don't freeze. Nothing beats their gear for waterproof and warmth. Their colors are really bright so you can be seen in low light on a glacier and all of it is built for ice climbing so if you're really crazy, a climbing harness fits their gear. I wear a ski helmet sometimes, and the hoods fit right over to keep you really warm.

Look up Hestra gloves too. I have had the same pair for 2 seasons and they are still in great shape. Totally waterproof and the seams are all still good. I used to blow through a pair of gloves in a season...

 

[n16ht5]

I'm worried about not having enough foot protection by not wearing my MX boots.. I wore my Dynafit ski mountaineering boots and they work well and support well, but it is hard to stay on the pegs and shift.

I picked up a one piece suit, hope it works well

 

[somepunk22]

My Volcom goretex snowboard jacket and pants zip together to make a onesie and they don't look like a giant set of pajamas. I've used this and a old set of snowboard boots. Everything seals up very nice in a deep pow cartwheel. My gaerne boots also work pretty decent, but not as warm. Can't comment on Volcom durability quite yet. I'd love some Klim gear, but I just picked up a full Klim motorcycle suit and it's hard to justify dropping that coin twice in one year.

 

[Curt_T]

If the gear I had zipped together it would be great. I like to be differnt and never spent big money on gear. I have wore klim gear and loved it, but I only ride a dew weekends a year and to spend $1000 is hard. My thinking is try a suit this year, if i dont like it just tough it out or ware my old gear. then next year get on some Klim gear. From a few post and what guys say about a suit is making me want to try one. The only thing is there is no dealer close so if it dosn't fit well I'd have to send it back is the only down fall..

 

[Curt_T]

After looking at differnt things I found Klim has released their line of snow bike bibs. Just short of $500 but look top notch like their other gear. choices

 

[torkd]

Klim Togwotee bibs and TOBE coat has been a solid set up for me. The KLIM undergarments make it even better.
I like the TOBE coats because they are light weight, long in the mid section and have a big hood. Some guys don't like hoods on their coat's but I can't go without.

I think the Togwotee's have been discontinued

 

[Curt_T]

Klim Togwotee bibs and TOBE coat has been a solid set up for me. The KLIM undergarments make it even better.
I like the TOBE coats because they are light weight, long in the mid section and have a big hood. Some guys don't like hoods on their coat's but I can't go without.

I think the Togwotee's have been discontinued

The new Klim Havoc snow bike bibs have leather inner legs for heat. Just found a dealer that has few left. Cant wait to get them.

 

[wakeandsnow]

arcteryx makes bibs and just pants, but most of their more insulated jackets have a gator that you snap together just around your waist in the inside of the jacket to keep the cold/powder out.

Their aggressive ski pants have a crazy durable gusset across each ankle to keep your skis from cutting the gore-tex. It scratched the hell out of the polished tunnel of my XP so bad I re-polished it and put 3M tape where my pants touch the aluminum. Not sure how this material reacts to heat, but probably not well...

As an EMR I stay away from any 'one piece' snow suit. There is no flexibility/adaptability with onesies. What happens if you're 70 km from your truck at 2500 meters and you break through a snow bridge on a creek? Pants/boots are soaked, jacket is dry....... Now what? Take off everything and freeze until your pants can be rung out and hung over a fire? One piece suits to me are a fad. If anything ever happens to you while you're up in the alpine, you want to be as flexible as possible.

I wear 1-2 base layers, insulated layer, then a hard shell with or without insulation depending on what kind of temps we expect. On multiple night excursions a 'onesie' would be a very poor choice. Probably would work great on a day trip on the prairies, but not in the back country... just my 2 cents.