Snowmobile Basics—Before You Ride
What to Wear

Nothing can protect you completely, but knowing what to wear can reduce the chance of injury as well as make your ride more comfortable.

Essential Clothing Items

Never operate a snowmobile without these essential items:

Helmet

• Helmets help prevent serious head injuries.
• Snowmobile helmets differ from motorcycle helmets. Special ventilation provides air flow that prevents fogging. Vents can be opened and closed as needed.
• Snowmobile face shields have a double lens that resists fogging better than a single lens. Some face shields have built-in defrosters that are plugged into an outlet on the snowmobile.
• Helmets should fit snugly and fasten securely. Try on helmets over head gear you’ll wear while riding. Have someone try to turn the helmet after you’ve strapped it on. If it turns or feels lose, it’s not snug enough.
• A full-face helmet protects both your head and face and offers these advantages:
  • Provides best protection during collisions
  • Offers protection from tree branches and falls
  • Provides warmth and some protection from loud noise
• Place a strip of reflective tape on your helmet to add extra visibility when riding after dark.
• Helmets are made of fiberglass or plastic and become brittle over time. Replace your helmet every five years.
• Don’t paint your helmet because solvents in the paint can weaken the shell.
• Select a helmet that carries a Department of Transportation (DOT) label or the New Memorial Foundation label.

Eye Protection

• Branches, falling snow, and debris kicked up by snowmobiles ahead of you can hit your eyes and distract or even blind you.
• A snowmobile’s windshield doesn’t provide adequate protection, nor do sunglasses.
• Goggles or a face shield offer better protection. A helmet-mounted face shield provides the best protection, offers the widest field of vision, keeps your face warmer and is comfortable to wear.
• Combine sunglasses with a face shield for maximum protection. Sunglasses reduce glare, enhance contrast for better vision, and reduce harmful ultraviolet rays, which are amplified by snow.
• Wear eye protection with lenses tinted for your lighting conditions: gray for a bright day, yellow for overcast, and clear for night.
• Choose eye protection marked VESC-8 (or V‑8) or Z87.1, or made of hard-coated polycarbonate.
• Eye protection should be:
  • Free from scratches
  • Shatter resistant
  • Securely fastened
  • Well-ventilated

Gloves

• Keep your hands warm in cold weather.
• Offer protection during a spill or collision with branches.
• Choose gloves with padded knuckles.

Boots

• Heels prevent your feet from slipping off footrests.
• Off-road boots are best, offering protection for lower legs, ankles and feet.