With a bold logo featuring a fist in place of a piston, an assertive message, a downright aggressive marketing campaign that directly targeted another Idaho-based brand and a “106 year or 6 feet under true lifetime warranty,” MotorFist burst into the snowmobile outerwear scene last fall with a bluster, leading with a big, square chin.
But the MotorFist Rekon gear that showed up in mid-January and became my main riding gear for the season wasn’t nearly as loud – though the militant-sounding “Snowmobiling Is Not A Crime” message on the back did elicit strange comments at snowmobiling pitstops. The jacket and bibs were a classic-looking black and charcoal gray. By habit, I ordered an extra large; the suit that showed up truly lived up to its name – it was EXTRA large. I’ve never understood why a completely average 5-foot, 11-inch, 185-pound guy like myself would qualify as “extra large” from most brands. I floated a bit inside this gear.
The exterior shell is made of a two-layer, waterproof, breathable, 390-denier Tetratex fabric that feels sturdy and heavy for uninsulated gear. Clearly, it was designed by Western riders who know all about aggressive riding. Huge vents in the arm pits and a big exhaust port in the upper back looked like they’d allow a lot of airflow; high-end waterproof zippers, taped waterproof seems throughout and powder cuffs in the jacket and ankle gaiters in the pants were employed to keep me dry. Pre-curved elbows and knees looked to keep movement easy. Attention was even paid to the front zipper, which zips up at a slight angle to make it more comfortable at the chin.
I was most amazed at the wind-stopping abilities of the shell. I wore this gear for well more than 1,500 miles of riding last winter. Ride days varied from minus 25 degrees F in February to 50 degrees in March, and I kept surprisingly comfortable using this one set of gear. With standard layering underneath, even on super-windy, cold Midwestern mornings, the chill was kept at bay. The eight pockets (four in the jacket, four in the pants) gave me plenty of room for odds and ends.
Complaints? I wish the leg vents didn’t run up so high toward the waist so they could be accessed without having to remove or reach inside the jacket. As a TekVest wearer, I prefer jackets with vents in the upper chest, though the armpit vent moved a lot of air.
Overall, it was great gear at a fair price ($299 for the jacket, $320 for the bibs) for such high-end products, and it still looks like new after multiple washings.
MotorFist
Idaho Falls, Idaho
877/347-8411
motorfist.com
