Tested: Klim PowerXross Pullover and Freeride Pant
What: Klim's latest
in freeride outerwear, the new PowerXross Pullover and Freeride Pant
Contact:
www.klimusa.com, 208-552-7433
Description: Klim
has offered the PowerXross pullover and Freeride pant for several years now and
the two outerwear pieces have become extremely popular among extreme
snowmobilers. So why wait until now to do a product test? Because for 2009,
Klim has changed the technology behind the design of most of its outerwear pieces,
including these two.
The new technology
is Klim's Comfort Mapping. What is Comfort Mapping? Basically, Klim has taken
the typical outerwear piece apart and built it around the varying heat zones of
the rider's body. Areas that need more thermal retention have more material,
like the chest. Areas that need less thermal retention have less material, like
the underarms and sides. There is no hanging liner, nor one single piece of
material that covers the jacket or pant's entire pattern. It makes for a lighter,
more efficient and more comfortable set of riding gear.
How it works: Klim
has a few things working for it in the Comfort Mapping line of outerwear:
Gore-Tex: The
breathability, thermal retention ability and waterproofing ability of the
latest technology behind Gore-Tex is second to none. We purposely used the term
waterproof because of experience. We've ridden in steady pouring rain for
several hours in Klim's PowerXross pullover and Freeride pant without getting
our long johns wet. We get stuck with annoying frequency and the breathability
of the PowerXross and Freeride pieces has yet to cause us to soak from the
inside out with sweat.
Durability: The
materials used in Klim's pieces are stout without being heavy. Trees, hot
parts, sharp running boards-they all do their damage to our riding gear
throughout the season, but the Klim gear comes out none the worse for wear.
Fit: The waist
retention, inseam, boot cuff, sleeves and neck cuffs all have a custom-tailored
fit. The new-for-`09 neck gaitor on the PowerXross pullover keeps snow out and
is a nice addition.
Quality: If your
grandpa used to tell you that you get what you pay for, he would use Klim as an
example. Klim's outerwear is expensive. But you get Gore-Tex performance and
long-term durability. We've been in situations where we've depended more on our
riding gear than on our sleds. Comfort is more than just feeling comfortable in
these situations-it's staying dry and warm in a wet and cold environment, and
the PowerXross pullover and Freeride pant deliver.