For more than 15 years now, I’ve had the chance to try out the CKX line of clothing and accessories produced by Kimpex, a local company located in Drummondville. In addition to talking with the artisans of this Quebec success story, I was able to observe the trends and orientations that have emerged over the years. Historically focused on the needs of Quebec snowmobilers, this strategy has allowed the manufacturer to target a wide audience looking for an optimal quality/price ratio. In addition to meeting this objective year after year, CKX offers more and more specialized products for specific needs such as its new Titan modular helmet. Once again this season, there are several CKX clothing and accessories that caught my attention and I had the chance to try them out.
Technogrip 2.0 gloves
One of the key elements sought after when snowmobiling is extremity protection. Gloves are often a topic of discussion for many snowmobilers. The second generation Technogrip gloves caught my eye this season, as I was looking for a warmer glove with better wind protection. Many will say that mittens will always be warmer, but I much prefer the agility of gloves. Indeed, leather offers this protection and the Technogrip gloves protect the top of the hand well. Of course, leather requires some time to gain flexibility so that the glove becomes more flexible and comfortable. These gloves are essentially designed for the trail, as leather does not breathe very well and the glove will become ineffective if the rider sweats on the hands. Based on my testing, the Technogrip series is clearly a trail glove that can tolerate low temperatures down to -20c.
Revelstoke technical coat
My favorite this season is clearly the CKX Revelstoke technical wind jacket. It’s the perfect jacket to wear underneath your snowsuit, for both trail and off-trail snowmobilers. It can be easily folded and put in a bag for an extra layer at the end of the day. Off-trail snowsuits are much less insulated and when the day on the mountain is almost over, you can often feel the cold on the way home. The Revelstoke is perfect for this purpose. Plus, the look, fit and technical fabric it’s made of are on the cutting edge of the latest trends. I also use it on other occasions after a hike or when I prepare snowmobiles.
X-Track Boots
Another great discovery during my tests was the Snow cross X-Track boots that combine solidity and good insulation. Many of the boots I tested in the past few years had a nice look, but lacked short-term durability for certain types of use. In fact, they would quickly degrade over the course of the season due to repeated rubbing of the boots on the soles. In the case of the new generation of CKX boots, the manufacturing quality has greatly improved, as has the design. During my first outings, I had a reluctance on the strategy of CKX by proposing a boot without removable lining, but the X-Track has an intermediate level of insulation ideal for the amateurs who move on their snowmobile.
CKX Squamish Suit
When I requested the Squamish model on the Kimpex website, I had in mind to have a warm snowsuit for my trail rides on cold days. Kimpex used to have a heat classification system for their clothing line that was very easy for their customers to understand. Unfortunately, they abandoned this system and honestly, it would be nice to come back with this good idea. The result: I ended up with a garment that was intermediate in warmth, which led me to change the use of this garment. My nice surprise was that I was also looking for a suit for off-trail, but on cold days. The Squamish was a great revelation because the insulation is good, but the garment breathes a lot because the outer fabrics have a weave that lets a little air through so you don’t get too hot when you are active. The cut is nice and the garment is very flexible so it is very comfortable. I found a solution for this type of use or for those who are always hot on the trails and looking for a garment that breathes while being very comfortable.
À propos de CKX
Created in 1983 in Quebec, the CKX brand has quickly become a reference in terms of snowmobile helmets. Driven by a deep desire to improve the snowmobiling experience, CKX also offers snowmobile clothing and underwear in addition to its helmets of all kinds (Integral, Modular, Off-Road,…). The CKX brand is exclusively distributed by, and owned by, Kimpex. www.ckxgear.com www.kimpex.com
