For the past several years, Stephane and I have had the chance to try out different products and clothing from Drummondville-based manufacturer CKX. We can say that we have experienced their evolution over the years and 2018 is synonymous with transition! New concepts and new ways of thinking are being born! The CKX team is passionate about their work, but also about motorsports itself. The professionals we work with are also snowmobilers like you and us, they are able to understand and evaluate the needs that the practice of our sport requires.
So once again this season, in collaboration with Passion Motoneige Magazine, we are proud to offer our impressions on the Quebec company’s clothing.
These lines were written at the very beginning of January during the period of intense cold that the province experienced, although these are not ideal temperatures to practice the sport of snowmobiling, it is still perfect conditions to evaluate clothing. And passionate as we are, there’s no question of not getting on our bikes!
From head to toe!!!
Titan Helmet 2018
Many great improvements on the 2018 version of the Titan helmet!!! Trail and off-road enthusiasts will be thrilled! For off-roading, there is an Air Flow version in 2018, which is more ventilated than our test version, so better suited for those who are more extreme. The trail version is warmer with more possibilities! The folks at CKX are listening to consumers to offer them a hybrid helmet that allows for a multitude of configurations that can fit everyone. When you buy, take the time to read the instructions and follow them, they are well detailed and give you the steps to follow according to the desired configuration. Just like last year and a bit more, the choice of colors on the market is vast and it will be very simple and fun to match it with your chosen snow ensemble.
What’s new…
The muzzle seal has been lengthened to direct moisture to the bottom of the helmet to prevent possible freezing of the muzzle opening mechanism. The engineers modified the face guard, to limit the entry of air to the forehead and temples. This one is longer and goes down on each side. A new chin guard is introduced this year, much longer, with velcro that reduces air intake at the neck. The bezel foam is softer and the redesigned frame has two adjustable openings for ventilation, regardless of the lens used. Also new for this year is an electric lens! Engineers positioned the electrical connection on the elastic band on the right side of the bezel so that it can still be repositioned on top of the helmet when stopping.
Essay by Stéphane and Marie-Andrée…
-22 wind chill factor -33… What a great opportunity to test the Titan in an isolated configuration! Although the wind chill factor does not change the actual temperature, it does cause a faster acceleration of the temperature drop, so in a 70 kilometer per hour headwind, even the smallest opening will become a problem more quickly. After following the instructions to the letter to install all the options, we can say that it works very well. At first, a little air was felt at the top of the bezel, after taking the time to tighten the bezel straps so it would fit better on the face, everything was tight. No air infiltration, no fogging or icing problems. Note that you must use the balaclava designed specifically for the helmet. However, the one size does not fit all; for smaller heads, you will have to readjust the balaclava after putting on the helmet. Three sizes would be appreciated.
Meticulousness guarantees good results: properly positioning the face guard, chin guard, goggle; using the right opening and closing sequence according to the chosen configuration is a guarantee of success. The ventilation openings are important depending on our position in the group: following another snowmobile means a greater amount of blowing snow that can infiltrate through the ventilation openings if they are not closed.
When riding in extreme temperatures, it is possible that after several kilometers at good speeds without a windshield to protect the head, frost may appear on the lens. It must be said that this would be the case for most full face or modular helmets on the market without an electric visor, so in this situation, the use of the electric lens would become a good asset.
More evaluations will be done throughout the season, but for a start, this is very successful!
Husky coat and overalls for men
Completely new for 2018, this garment is the result of many hours of testing, both on and off the trail by active users! The Husky line is a 3-in-1 multi-layer concept that allows for two combinations to practice our favorite sport. The Husky package is designed for the intense, fast-moving enthusiast, and its insulation and air permeability have been developed accordingly. For the more passive trail enthusiast, you’ll be better served with the Pulse line, for example, which has more insulation.
Husky coat…
The jacket’s membrane is by Voltez and it has 60 grams of insulation, which may be appropriate in spring conditions or when the need for insulation is less. When the weather gets colder, a low-collar inner liner with 120 grams of insulation, sold with the coat, can be added to make it warmer.
The jacket has two ventilation areas positioned on each side, slightly under the arms towards the front so that they can be used even when wearing a backpack. We add: an adjustable and detachable hood, an inner sleeve in lycra, an emergency switch ring and a reflective strip. All seams are sealed, the central clasp is water and air resistant.
Dungarees Husky…
On the overalls side, there are knee pads, Cordura 500D reinforcements on the knees, seat and lower legs. Adjustable straps and much more. Like the jacket, the Voltez membrane is used to block wind, air and water with 60 grams of insulation.
The essay by Stéphane…
Our test snowmobile had very little wind protection (perfect for evaluating a garment) and the result was very conclusive for me, who is aggressive on the trail. At -22 degrees Celsius, the use of the liner was a must, despite this, we keep a good freedom of movement. The liner, well designed at the neck level, does not add an extra layer considering that there are already two layers with the jacket and the balaclava, which allows for ease of movement of the head. The only small drawback is when you take off the coat with the liner. Although the lining is attached to the inside of the sleeve, it is best to grab it by the wrist before removing it, otherwise it is more difficult to get your hand out of the lining. As with any garment, always remember that the underlayer is very important, in my case, the test was satisfactory for these conditions.
As for the overalls, additional insulation is required when riding on the trail at these temperatures, especially over a long distance. If a relatively short distance is covered and then you’re going to be very active in deep snow, only the overalls and the basic suit should be suitable, but that’s relative. In terms of comfort, size and length, it is adequate and I greatly appreciated the freedom of movement.
The Husky package, like most CKX products, offers an attractive return on investment for the consumer.
Fleury coat and Celeste overalls for women
Being warm while being beautiful and flirty is possible with CKX. I chose the orange, pink and white Fleury coat and the white Celeste overalls! It’s hard to go unnoticed with this fashionable and flamboyant coat, but it’s also safe on the trail, because it’s very visible for those who follow in the snow dust, and also at night thanks to the reflective strips installed on the coat.
Fleury coat…
The coat is comfortable, light and flexible, allowing for freedom of movement. There is an inner elastic snow guard at the waist to keep snow out. 220 grams of insulation on the body and 180 on the sleeve, plus fleece on the shoulders and back for extra warmth. The YKK Aquaguard front zipper is completely waterproof, as are the seams, which are sealed. The hood is adjustable and detachable, and there is a ring to attach the snowmobile’s safety cord. Important to know, the CKX clothing sizes respect the measurement chart.
Celeste overalls…
The Celeste overalls offer 180 grams of insulation, and like the jacket, they use the Voltez membrane to block air and wind. The waist is adjustable, as are the straps, which are also removable. There is a Reetex reinforcement at the seat, knees and inside legs, protective pads at the knees and of course, the seams are also sealed.
The use of Reetex is very appreciated, the three dirtiest places on a snowmobile pant are undoubtedly the buttocks, the knees and the lower legs, so to go with a different fabric and black, is strategically well thought out, both in terms of wear and dirt.
The essay by Marie-Andrée…
On the silhouette side, and god it is that it is important for us women, the pants and the coat provide beautiful feminine curves. The dungarees are adjustable with velcro and respect the shape of the hips, while the coat fits well at the waist. On the practical side, the addition of an elastic band at the bottom of the coat could be an option to consider!
On our first try, since I am by nature very cold, I used my Fusion liner which offers 100 grams of extra insulation. The combination of the two allowed me to retain my warmth. Of course, the base layer is necessary, so it is essential to use the right underlays (underwear), as we now know that cotton is a no-no.
The overalls offer a nice ease of movement on the snowmobile, the leg length is well adapted to my 5’4″ and allows freedom of movement when sitting/standing. Worn with an undergarment and Win-Tec inspiration pants, I kept an acceptable level of warmth considering the extremely cold conditions.
This new duo from the 2018 collection rivals products from the competition that are much more expensive, the value that CKX offers is one of the best on the market.
Taiga Evo Boot
CKX was among the first to offer a line of light and warm boots on the market. The Taiga Evo is a warm and flexible snowmobile boot with a sole that offers good grip on the ground.
The base and sole are made of ultra light EVA. The sole is now reinforced with rubber in the back, center and front. The Velcro fastener has been redesigned to be more durable, and the height of the boot has been increased. The removable 200 gram Primaloft liner keeps you warm without the moisture. CKX gives a comfort level of -85 degrees Celsius (-121F).
The essay by Marie-Andrée…
Once again, we find a quality-price ratio that is hard to match. The Taiga Evo boot is warm and will be effective in most climatic situations. In very cold weather like we had, the addition of insulating socks was necessary to stay warm. The boots are perfectly waterproof, no snow infiltration, and feet stay dry and moisture free. The addition of rubber to the sole will definitely extend the life of the boot, especially for those who have running boards with a lot of non-skid, which is very demanding on boot soles…
In short, the Taïga EVO is a good warm boot, light that will allow you to be warm without ruining you!
X-TRAK boots
Introduced last year, the X-TRAK is definitely for the extreme enthusiast! This boot is very rigid to provide excellent support to the ankle and foot. CKX mentions that it is the lightest in its class at 3 pounds per pair. Although lined with synthetic fur, the X-TRAK is not a boot that will keep you warm on a quiet hike, it is an action boot that requires physical activity. To get a boot with this much support, you’ll have to pay a lot more money from competing manufacturers.
L’essai de Stéphane…
Lors de ma première sortie, avec une utilisation en sentier à une température très froide, j’ai eu des séquences de conduite trop paisibles pour le type d’utilisation qui ont fait en sorte que je n’ai pas conservé le bon degré de chaleur. Aussitôt que la cadence augmentait nécessitant une activité plus exigeante, je retrouvais le confort calorifique adéquat. Côté support de cheville et pieds, c’est sans reproche, elle rend bien justice à ce pour quoi elle a été conçue!
Les vêtements CKX, c’est beaucoup plus que ce que l’on vient de vous présenter! La collection 2018 comporte des ensembles une pièce pour homme, visant le marché du ‘’backcountry’’. Plusieurs catégories de manteaux, pantalons et salopettes pour habiller tous les types de motoneigistes selon le style de conduite. Une grande variété de casques pour tous les besoins, des tout-petits à l’expert. On y retrouve également : bottes, gants, sous-vêtements, passe-montagnes, chandails et bien plus!
It’s really a transition year for the visual aspect as well as the concept of the collection! Seeing what has been done this year, it promises for 2019!
Visit www.ckxgear.com or authorized retailers for all the details!
