Riding the trails with your buddies is always a good time no matter what. There could be plenty of things that can go wrong, but you still come out smiling. There are always some things you say you wish you had when riding but didn’t. Now is your chance to figure out what those things actually are.
Even though this sport is very enjoyable to some people, there could be some tiny things that bother you, or could potentially go wrong. You could run out of gas, your buddy dumps his sled and gets it stuck, your blow your belt, you’re freezing etc. That is why they create different accessories to alleviate those headaches. Let’s talk about what the top 7 best snowmobile accessories are to have when riding.
Top 7 Snowmobile Accessories To Have When Riding
Heated Shield
I will never ride my snowmobile without a heated shield on my helmet. No matter what the conditions are or if I have the vents open on my helmet, my shield still gets fogged up. When you’re following someone down the trail, it’s hard enough to see when they are kicking up snow from their track, let alone if your shield is fogged up.
That’s why they make heated shields. Probably the most popular thing on this list. It’s basically a shield that you buy that will fit your type of helmet. I think it must be known that your helmet already has to have an existing shield on it to be able to put a heated shield on in place of it. The heated shield has heated coils that run along the outside rim of the shield that will heat up to prevent any fogging of the windshield or freezing.
There is a cord that runs from your helmet to a plug on your snowmobile, either the cigarette lighter outlet (auxiliary outlet) or you can have a reputable dealer install a plug specifically for your heated shield. You might need an adapter depending on what system you have going on.
Helmet Communication System
The helmet communication system. These are basically like walkie talkies for riders. You can communicate with the group of people that you are riding with. This can be fun and easy to communicate while riding. It’s basically a microphone and earpiece that you put in your helmet and get everyone on the same “station” or “channel” as you are and boom. You can be talking and or singing to each other while you are riding.
Now I have heard good and bad things about these. I’ve heard they work great and come in handy when something is spotted on the trail or there is something to be cautious about up ahead. They make for a good riding experience when you just enjoy talking to your buddies about whatever it is you guys talk about.
On the other hand, I’ve heard of spotty connection with these. Also, the battery life on the communication system you get could potentially not last as long as you think. And there is always the issue with constantly adjusting the microphone in your helmet when you are taking your helmet on and off alot. What I would recommend is if you do get one of these systems, don’t cheap out on them. They will offer longer battery life, better communication quality and better reception.
Extra Gas Tank
The extra gas tank is always good to have in your arsenal of snowmobile accessories. If you are one of those trail riders that will do 200+ miles in a single day, then there is a chance that you may run into fuel issues. Where you’re going, there may not be a gas station within 30 miles. Having that extra bit of gas on the back of your snowmobile could help you get to your next fuel stop.
Water Resistant Rack Bag
Most snowmobiles come with a dry storage compartment that is on the back of your sled. Well sometimes that compartment is big enough to hold 2 water bottles. My point is that they are usually pretty small. Well if you have a dry storage bag/box that is strapped to the back rack on your snowmobile, then you could put some snacks, extra clothes, and whatever else you want to bring with you on your journey.
Most manufacturers will create specific back rack storage bags that will fit your specific model sled. If they don’t there will be universal bags that they sell on amazon or in a dealership that you can make work on the back of your sled. These come in handy if you are riding a big and bulky 2-up that has basically saddle bags on the back of it.
Tool Kit/Survival Kit
Plan for the worst, hope for the best. At least that’s what my grandpa always said. The previous snowmobile accessories that we’ve talked about have been more leisurely. A tool kit/survival kit is for the worst. There could always be something that happens to your snowmobile. It could be a mechanical issue where you need tools to fix. That is why a small tool kit with basic tools could definitely come in handy. The last thing you want to do is hitch a ride with your buddy and leave your broken down snowmobile on the trail overnight.
The survival kit is worst case scenario. I would hope you are not riding the trails by yourself. Always ride with someone incase something does happen. But if there is a chance you get stuck out in the woods with no cell signal to call anyone, a survival kit could come in handy. Not only that, but there is a million other things that could happen when riding a snowmobile. There could be something in that survival kit that could get you out of a bind.
Rope/Tow Strap
Oh no. Your buddy dumped his snowmobile into 2 feet of snow. Looks like you have to try and pull him out of his situation. Luckily you have a rope in the back of your sled. Ropes and tow straps are always a good snowmobile accessory to have on you when you’re riding. For obvious reasons.
Not only can they be used to pull out a stuck snowmobile, they can be used to towing someones snowmobile home. I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve seen someone being towed back home cause their snowmobile broke down. You don’t want to leave your snowmobile out overnight.
Anything To Keep You Warmer
Now let’s talk about the obvious. The biggest complaint I have heard when riding is that it’s freezing outside. While that may be true, that is why they have plenty of different snowmobile accessories to keep you warm. Anything that will provide you heat in the freezing temperatures is always a plus.
They sell heated gloves, a heated vest, a heated pouch to put your hands in, boot warmers, heated socks. I mean the list goes on and on. All of these things are usually battery operated and will only last for so long. But as long as they keep you comfortable when riding in the frigid air, then your ride can be that much more enjoyable.
If you found this article on snowmobile accessories useful, then be sure to check out our other articles on snowmobiles here.
