Klim Guys - Need Your Advice in Picking the right Jacket and Pants/Bibs

[Frostbite]

Wow, do I ever need new gear!

I have Blue Reima/Yamaha gear and a new white Arctic Cat Sno Pro M8. I plan to go with mostly black gear this time around so the sled I ride doesn't matter.

I'm quite certain I'm going to go with Klim gear (unless you can convince me otherwise). I know I want Gortex (or a no-name Gortex) so the Inversion coat is out of the mix.

I see there are the Klim Valdez, Tomahawk, Allure and Klimate jackets. What are the bennefits of one over the other.

As far as pants/bibs go. I see there are the Extreme Bibs and the free Ride pants.

I am predominantly a boondocker (freerider) but, I also don't want my pants falling down while I'm riding so I can sure see the benefit of wearing bibs with shoulder straps. What are the benefits of each?

I'll need a new helmet too. How are the Klim helmets?

Thanks for any advice you may be able to provide.

 

[Osborne Performance]

klim makes very good gear . but i would check out scotts and fxr and hmk as well before you buy all have web sites.In klim i would go with a valdez jacket and extrem or togg bib the pants fall down i use the pants they the valdez is a good jacket you will stay dry with all there stuff but check out the other out fits because klims price is up there. and yes i was a dealer for klim and i sell the other line now and make sure if you go to klim layer the klimate coat is a lined jacket it has 100 grams of thinslate the to is not lined it does not have a the same gortex layers but know all the gear offered has the same abilitys it is a color and design deal know

 

[Frostbite]

Thanks for the great infomation.

I see Cat has some nice backcountry gortex jackets too and some of them are on clearance. Then again, when I buy my next sled I could be stuck with having to buy all new gear again (not that it's entirely a bad thing).

 

[Tookes]

Klim Pullovers and pants are working great for me! Klim is the Best, imo. If it's not gortex don't get it, imo.

 

[newmy1]

I am totally sold and am only buying Klim gear foing forward. I have the Klimate jacket and Tog bibs, tog gloves and adrenalive boots...VERY HAPPY with all of it.

 

[Thistledoo]

valdez and extreme bibs....

 

[CO_MapMaker]

Freerides with suspenders, still room for a vest.

 

[ak m8]

valdez and extreme bibs....

I wear the same chit and love it. I have got the Adriniline boots as well that work great.

 

[Thistledoo]

I wear a vest with my extremes...perfect fit. Tog bibs and a vest doesnt work.

 

[Frostbite]

I don't ride without my Klim Tek Vest and my riding belt so maybe the Extreme bibs and the Valdez jacket would be the way to go?

Why is the Valdez a better jacket than the Klimate or the Tomahawk?

 

[ak m8]

I wear a vest with my extremes...perfect fit. Tog bibs and a vest doesnt work.

Yep, same here. Plus you do not have to wear a bunch of bulky crap under it and feel like the Michellin Man!

 

[Frostbite]

Let me ask you about inseam length.

On my Reima gear the elastic snow gaiters keep coming up over the top of my boots and then the snow gets into my boots. I wear 34" inseam jeans and really have a 33" inseam. I was thinking of getting the new bibs or pants in a "tall" size so that doesn't happen anymore. Maybe the Klim gear is already made long to compensate for this and I don't need to order a "tall" size?

What do you guys think?

 

[mrquick68]

Freeride pants and valdez jacket, i hate bibs as i get way to hot in them. more room for the body armor w/ pants too.

 

[Ollie]

Extreme bibs
B-wear vest under Klimate jacket (also works with the klim vest).
Don't get the Allure line. It's cut for the ladies (well, unless you got SERIOUS man boobs).

 

[Thistledoo]

I wear a 34x34 jean and have the Large tall extreme bib....be the same for you me thinks.

 

[Frostbite]

Aren't the extreme bibs basically very, very similar to the Freeride pants other than the addition of shoulder straps?

By the way, I just got off the phone with Klim.

The gal said I should get a medium/tall because the waist on their medium is sized from 32-35". The inseam on the regular length for a medium is 31" and the tall is 33" (I think).

She was really impressed with the technology of the new Valdez parka but, she said the Tomahawk was probably a better buy (at $100 cheaper) because it was basically the same design and technology of last years Valdez. The Klimate has 200 gram thinsulate in it, where the others are basically just a shell.


She also said to wear the Inferno top and bottom under the Valdez or the Tomahawk. If it's really cold, wear the Agressor top and bottom under the Inferno top and bottom.

 

[Thistledoo]

I had amed tall last year and it was tight.....waist tight. So I moved up to the large and its just right. I wear a 34x34 jean.....

 

[Kevin]

I looked at the parkas this winter and just picked up a Valdez. Maybe pants next season

I have also heard that this year's Tomahawk is pretty much the same as previous Valdez. I like to layer, so the Klimate was out for me.

One thing I noticed when trying them on, they seemed just a touch on the small side of sizes. I got XL valdez, but I wear large in most everything else. Especially when adding layers, bibs, beacon, radio, etc underneath, I needed to move up to XL. Someone else had a similar comment on this thread KLIM Tomahawk fit?

 

[HiWaYman92]

I had a new castle jacket for 1 ride before I dumped it for Klim. The price is spendy, but look for last years stuff that is just as good but much cheaper. Also, you might as well get cat colors because once you go cat, you never go back! I have last year's Valdez Jacket, and Klim bibs too. 1st ride with them it was 31 below 0 at the parking lot. Never got cold. Wednesday I rode in 41 degree weather. While riding in temperatures that range 72 degrees, Klim gear remains comfortable, light, breathable, and flexible. The best there is, bottom line!

 

[Frostbite]

Yes, klim seems to have the ultimate snow gear but, some of the Cat gear is on sale for over 50% off. The ones I'd consider are Gortex (thanks Al Gore ) and look like pretty nice stuff. I'm sure they don't compare to the Klim stuff though, right?