Klim or HMK gear

[Van Epps]

Motorfist

Hey Motorfist, you guys should be plugging the new fabric you will be using next season. I'm excited to pick up a pair of Free ride type "Motorfist" pants.

 

[F-Bomb]

Catwoman,
I rode all last year in HMK Action gear and it's "EXCELLENT". The outer fabric is a little heavier and course then the Stealth series and proved to be a bit more durable in our heads up testing. (heavily tested in all conditions from rain to super cold in the mtns of Idaho as well as multiple trips throughout the NW)

Anyway great fit and finish, easy to ride aggressively over the top of body armor and always dry irregardless of the conditions of the day. The proper loose shoulder fit was probably the greatest advantage of this apparel over others that I've tested.

Another really nice plus is that you get a removeable liner. Never actually warn it riding but makes a nice after ride jacket. If people do a lot of trail or sitting around in the very very cold it is nice to have the added layer.

 

[Funoutfitters.com]

We sell both, and have great deals on both right now. I would say Klim is a little better...

Josh Zieske

 

[enis750]

buying direct from HMK is pretty cheap as well
spoke to F-Bomb on the phone, said to call Lucas at HMK direct and he hooked me up
got my Ascent pants for $200USD + a bit of shipping

showed up w a bunch of FREE goodies as well

pants r sweet too and look "bomb" proof
cant wait to try them out

 

[enis750]

that motorfist stuff looks neat, except the logo looks real similar to a little store called "Princess Auto" here in Canada

see http://www.princessauto.com/

 

[timber_tramp]

that motorfist stuff looks neat, except the logo looks real similar to a little store called "Princess Auto" here in Canada

see http://www.princessauto.com/

HaHa , I thought the same thing.

 

[Kootenay-Stomper]

what is the difference between their boots??

 

[CatWoman]

Thanks MUCH for the info Rob, that is exactly the sort of info I was looking for!!

Sandy

Catwoman,
I rode all last year in HMK Action gear and it's "EXCELLENT". The outer fabric is a little heavier and course then the Stealth series and proved to be a bit more durable in our heads up testing. (heavily tested in all conditions from rain to super cold in the mtns of Idaho as well as multiple trips throughout the NW)

Anyway great fit and finish, easy to ride aggressively over the top of body armor and always dry irregardless of the conditions of the day. The proper loose shoulder fit was probably the greatest advantage of this apparel over others that I've tested.

Another really nice plus is that you get a removeable liner. Never actually warn it riding but makes a nice after ride jacket. If people do a lot of trail or sitting around in the very very cold it is nice to have the added layer.

 

[Spur]

I've learned my lesson, if it doesn't say gore-tex dont buy it.Check out what the manufactures have to do to get it approved by the gore-tex outfit.

The truth of this statement has been very clouded since Gore pulled their contracts with all the sled manufactures and gave it to Klim. All of the sudden there were 2 or 3 new waterproof membranes that were just as good according to those who were trying to sell them.

I've done the research on this and if it doesn't say Gore-Tex your buying a sub par product. Rather Gore-Tex is necessary is a matter of opinion, but there is no substitute for Gore-Tex. They are so far ahead of the rest of the industry right now it's not even funny.

Klim and Gore-Tex is a great combination for two reasons. They both hold each other to the very highest standard. Getting Gore-Tex approved was the smartest thing Klim could have done. They now have the full backing of Gore which comes with unprecedented R&D. I laugh when I hear guys bashing Klim. Trust me, if ANYONE in the world made better gloves, boots, or any other riding gear than Klim, Gore would know about it, and so would Klim and they would work together to improve the product. I mean let's get real, if anyone made better gloves than Klim don't you think both Klim and Gore would figure this out? What is the next thing they would do? Do you really think either company is going to allow some other glove manufacture to make a better product?

The day will come when they get knocked off the top, but until somebody develops a better product than Gore-Tex, this will be impossible. I'm not expecting this to happen anytime soon. Gore-Tex was a monumental invention. They will be on top for years to come with Klim right beside them.

 

[pwdrhogRMK800]

I would say Klim gear and HMK boots

 

[TEAMCAMORRA]

klim all the way I bought hmk last year and its crap I gave my boots away after 3 rides to a guy in the parking lot on grandmesa my feet where always wet by lunch time. I had pro boa clickers.

 

[klimandboondock]

just bought all klim gear and am really excited.. except for boots. bought some last year Burton freestyle boots ( medium flex) for $120 . i am surprised more guys do not go with snowboarding boots ( thousands of models to choose from with different flex, looks, weights and all the good stuff) before i had klim i was rockin Oakley gear. and it was amazed at how warm and dry it would keep me without being manufactured with gore tex. could wear a t shirt and boxers underneath and not feel the slightest chill in the -20 rides. plus it had a fresh look to it.

 

[sledneck_4]

well im not saying i hate hmk but i bought a brand new set of hmk pro boa boot for 100 i know i got a steal. they were at the dealership and all too so dont say i bought recked boots as these were straight from the factory. so i get home and am all excited so i put them on and dont tighten them to much i hop on my sled to see how they are with the running boards and i hear this pop. plastic broke in the wheel that tighten them. so i took them back and the dealer ordered me the part gave me my 100 bucks back and gave me a sweet deal ona pair of skidoo boots i like even more. i did like the ankle support in them but found it was almost to stiff. the skidoo boots i have now do give ankle support and i like them alot more

 

[Tec]

Neither

I just bought my GF a pair of pants and a jacket from Castle, This stuff is twice the gear for a fraction of the price, IMO. Got both the jacket and pants witch are both insulated and have removable liners, for a little bit more than just the Klim non insulated pants. These Castle pants also come stock with knee pads and a kidney protection at no extra cost

I myself ride with most of my snowboarding gear, Burton jacket, gloves and pants, airwalk boots etc. It's all made for blizzards and extreme conditions, I'm sure what ever you choose will be great and keep you warm!

 

[eludnu]

I'm giving Motorfist a run

I swear I've paid the rent for more than a few months for the great folks a Klim. Having said that, I looked at the Motorfist gear a month ago, and love the fact that a little healthy competition for Klim may just make them both better. I tore the crap out of my new Klim bibs yesterday riding (Yep, deep snow too) so I'll be ordering a set of Motorfist pants sooner than I had hoped.

 

[M.M. 700]

I bought the HMK Action Jacket and Action Bibs from "snowday" off the forums here.
Got a great deal on it from him.


I have yet to wear it out sledding, but it looks like some quailty gear.!!

 

[Spur]

I swear I've paid the rent for more than a few months for the great folks a Klim. Having said that, I looked at the Motorfist gear a month ago, and love the fact that a little healthy competition for Klim may just make them both better. I tore the crap out of my new Klim bibs yesterday riding (Yep, deep snow too) so I'll be ordering a set of Motorfist pants sooner than I had hoped.

I don't see how they can even try to compete with Klim. In order to do this they have to get in the same class as Klim, and this won't happen until they sport a tag that says Gore-Tex . I don't see Gore dropping Klim, and I don't see Klim dropping Gore anytime soon. Until this happens Klim will remain in a class of it's own. They may make great gear, but they will have to compete with HMK, Polaris, and all the other Gore-Tex Wantabee's.

 

[yamamike]

Yes---by all means do the research!

Spur--well written article on Klim and Goretex. You have totally bought into the marketing plan. That's OK, because in this day and age, marketing is what it is all about. Reality however is usually something quite different. Now, if your mind is open lets discuss facts and not marketing. First thing to do is check out the Gore-Tex wikipedia link below. This little tidbit should catch your attention, along with other Gore-Tex users.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gore-Tex

"However it was found that when used in clothing the exposed Teflon membrane layer was easily damaged, as well as being compromised by exposure to the wearer's own sweat. As a result a third layer was added - either a loose fabric shell layer, or a bonded coating (typically fabric, or occasionally a carbon layer as in Gore-Tex Paclite Shell). This final design has been criticized as offering greatly reduced performance and more marketing benefits than performance ones.[4]
More recent fabrics avoid the need for this inner PU coating[5] and have been shown to have higher breathability as a result, while still being rainproof.[6]

Now, if you are thinking that the Wikipedia information may be a little slanted or biased, let's consult with the U.S. Army and their most recent tests on fabric breathablity.

http://www.shelby.fi/tips/breathability.pdf

This is the research and these are the numbers. I have seen the Gore-tex demonstrations with their fabric and the competing fabrics over the jar of water. Read the US Army study very carefully and see why their testing applies to real world application. Especially riders in the Rocky Mountain West. (Dry Climate) You'll figure it out.

Remember, the US Army isn't looking at this from a marketing standpoint.
They don't care. They want to keep the troops dry and warm!!

Is Gore a good product? Exactly! A good product.
Are they the best? Fabric ( ) Marketing ( ) Testing ( ) Real World ( )
You fill in the blanks! Do your own research. In a Google world it is easy.
Type in GoreTex vs (any other competing fabric) on your computer and you won't have to take any elses "opinion".


These are some of the things that you will find. By the hundreds!!

[/QUOTE] So, I turned to an expert. Phil Gibson is a Materials Research Engineer for the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center—in other words, he tests fabrics for Army uniforms. The Army currently uses GORE-TEX in its Extended Cold Weather Clothing System, or "Eckwacks", yet Gibson, like myself, is a GORE-TEX skeptic. He says the Army's long-term use of GORE-TEX mostly just stems from inertia.
According to Gibson's tests, GORE-TEX is only "in the middle of the pack" when it comes to breathability. It was the first waterproof/breathable fabric, and it has the big name, but it's not really any better than the rest. [QUOTE]

Here's the link---http://www.slate.com/id/2085417/

Fact-- Keeping moisture from your body means warmth. Effective riding gear must keep it from the outside and keep it from building up on the inside. No one disputes this. As in any industry, technology and competition moves us forward. Are there new technologies out their in outdoor apparel. Certainly! What are they? Do your own research. Watch these forums. They are being mentioned.

Bottom line----I will try to state the facts.
Klim does a good job with Gore-Tex but nothing is standing still. Most industries can't afford to stand still. See what the latest gear is featuring in the Ski Wear industry, the Backpacking and Climbing industry, the Rain-Gear industry. These are the big boys in the outdoor apparel world. See what they are talking about and you just may surprised what is happening out there.

Now----here is what to watch for in our industry. Watch for the new companies that will use the latest technology and are not tied to a marketing concept. Make sure their construction and build is at least as good or superior to KLIM. Make sure they are responsive and loyal to you and loyal and responsive to their fabric supplier second and you will know how it should really work. Keep in mind what drives most business decisions. $$$$$$$

There just might be a new wind blowing--------------I'll let all of you who read this figure it out for yourselves. I did!

More coming soon--------