Your favorite snowmobiler is gearing for another season of powdery exhilaration, and you can make their next adventure safer with these essential gifts for trail riding. Supplementing their gear with the latest technology and practical tools will help them master what can be a nerve-wracking winter sport with fewer bumps, injuries and close calls. Use these gifts for snowmobilers to celebrate their love of this thrilling hobby.
1. Wireless Headset
Whether they ride with a pack of snowmobilers or with a passenger, give your winter rider a set of off-road headsets so they can communicate hands-free while driving. Each device mounts seamlessly onto their helmet without obstructing their view. When they want to chat, all they have to do is speak into the receiver. The headsets connect automatically using Dynamic Mesh Communication to create a direct link between each rider so they don’t have to keep resetting the device. It enhances their experience and facilitates stronger relationships between riders to improve coordination.
2. Avalanche Probe
If they’re riding around steep slopes, subterranean rumbling could inundate the path with snow in a sudden avalanche. Help them explore the wilderness safely with a foldable probe. They can use it to test the structural integrity of snowbanks and rescue fellow riders trapped under debris in an emergency.
3. Backpack Airbag
They can’t use the probe to pull themselves out from under a pile of snow. Have your solo rider use a backpack airbag designed for sledding/snowmobiling that inflates under pressure. It helps them float to the top of the rubble instead of getting buried.
4. Tracker Beacon
You or their companions should also have a way to find them in white-out conditions when everything looks the same. The beacon logs their location to aid search and rescue teams. Even if they never use it, knowing they have it will give you peace of mind.
5. Folding Shovel/Saw
Help them beat back the elements when nature gets too close for comfort with a compact shovel or saw. They can cut or dig themselves out of a sticky situation to limit their time in the cold.
Source: irina02/Shutterstock.com
6. Sled Protection
With snowmobiles costing between $4,000 and $20,000, help your rider maintain their cruiser by reinforcing the exterior. A front and rear bumper will minimize damage if they collide with an obstacle. Undercarriage protection shields the heat exchanger from rocks and debris to prevent coolant leaks. A snow flap keeps the moisture on the ground instead of soaking their outfit. Ski guards fortify the bottom of the sled and make it easier to move the vehicle around their garage. Help them insulate the vehicle from moisture and extreme temperatures when it’s not in use with a waterproof cover.
7. Cleaning Kit
Teach your snowmobiler to take responsibility for their belongings. Maintaining a high-ticket piece of machinery is no joke, considering a mechanical breakdown could put their health and safety at risk. Buy them a cleaning kit with polish for getting out tough stains and wax for lubricating the chain or track. Refill their supply of coolant, oil and fuel additives to prevent internal wear and tear.
8. Club Affiliation
There are more than 3,000 snowmobile groups across the U.S., including over 40 non-profits. Pay their dues for a year of membership to help them get more involved in the community. They can make lifelong friends, gain valuable knowledge, maintain the trails they love and even save on passes to local parks. Search for organizations by state to see what’s happening in their neck of the woods.
9. Kill Switch
A kill switch allows them to shut off the engine with a flip of the wrist in case they veer off the path or are headed for trouble.
10. Performance Handlebars
Improve their posture with a handlebar that reaches across the dash. It gives them more room to hold on and allows them to quickly adjust riding position. You can also use a kit to raise or lower the handlebars based on what feels most comfortable.
Gift the Packtalk Edge ORV to Keep Them in ControlSource: Connect Images - Curated/Shutterstock.com
Gifts for Snowmobilers They’ll Never Forget
’Tis the season for snowmobiling safety. You can’t go wrong with gifts that help your winter sport enthusiast enjoy their favorite activity. Research where and how they ride to find the best gear for the upcoming season.