Beginners Guide To Snowmobile Types

As the big four launch there 2012 models the range of choices on offer is staggering. So if you're looking for a new sled where do you start?

Well, according to where you look and what you read the market has now been split into many sectors:

• Trail/Cross Over
• Mountain/Deep Snow
• Performance/Sport/Racing
• Touring
• Utility
• Youth

Sounds good, but what are the differences and do they really matter that much? We undertook some detailed research to find out.

Trail/Cross Over

Also known as entry level sleds, Trail Snowmobiles have lower powered engines, are easier to ride and relatively inexpensive compared to the other models discussed here. If you're just strating out this is the best place to start.

Mountain/Deep Snow

A Mountain Snowmobile is, as the name suggests, a sled specifically designed for mountain riding. They are usually longer and narrower than other sleds

Performance/Sport/Racing

Performance Snowmobiles tend to be just that - high performance, great fun machines (if a little more dangerous). They will have higher horsepower engines, are heavier than entry level machines and will also benefit from more robust compoentry, especially, suspension. This is needed to enable the sled to cope with travelling over humps at increased speeds.

Touring

A Touring Snowmobile is basically a multi passenger machine. They can comfortable seat two people and as such are larger, heavier, slower and less agile thean one man machines. There primary purpose is to ride for long distance in comfort.

Utility

Utility Snowmobiles are the workhorses of the snowmobile range. They are typically used to tow equipment and are adept at working trails with heavy snow.

Youth

Finally there are the youth machines which are designed specifically for youngsters and beginners on the trails. These machines focus on comfort, handling and perhaps, most importantly, safety.

Now one would think that choosing one of the five types was by itself a big enough decision (okay I exagerate slightly) but the choice in each sector can be simply overwhelming. By way of example, Arctic Cat alone, has a mere 10 models in its Mountain Range!

The corporate blurb will no doubt position this excess as offering maximum choice to the consumer. Something to suit every person and every budget but personally we find it all a bit over the top.