FXR Helium Pro 3 in 1 jacket
FXR Helium X pant
I’ve been successfully losing so much weight in the last year that sometimes I feel like I could just float away. Now imagine the extra danger of wearing gear called “Helium.” It’s a wonder I didn’t end up tangled in the overhead power lines at some point over the winter.
But seriously, the FXR Helium Pro 3-in-1 jacket and matching Helium X pants were mine to test last winter, and I put them through the ringer as best I could.
Upon unpacking the gear, first impressions were good. It is a two-piece set – an inner liner that can be worn as a stand-alone jacket and an uninsulated outer shell. The liner can zip into the shell as an insulation layer – thus the 3-in-1 nomenclature.
That inner layer is a classy looking puffer jacket. It is stylish and current, so I often wore it for casual wear. In fact, I received many compliments on it. It features a synthetic down material for insulation and has a soft texture inside and out.
The outer jacket, meanwhile, is made of a nylon and spandex four-way Omni-Stretch material that flexes a bit while I move back and forth across the sled when riding.
It also has an amazing look – black in the arms and over the shoulders, with dark-gray/asphalt in the body and subtle touches of burnt orange in the zippers and logos. Trying to find a helmet to match it was a bit of a challenge, though.
For three reasons, I rarely rode with the inner layer zipped in. First, I always wear a TekVest safety vest, which traps heat. Second, I generally work up a sweat while riding. Third, the FXR outerlayer did a good job of knocking down the wind.
In fact, wind and water resistance from FXR’s Dry Venter system, Vision AquaGuard front zipper, sealed seams and waterproof pocket and vent zippers proved to be top-notch. I wore the jacket and pants about eight times out west for mountain riding and about six times in Minnesota for trail riding in varying conditions, and I didn’t have one complaint about warmth, dryness or wind resistance.
Details matter, and this jacket has them covered, with a removable hood, an adjustable inner windskirt, a microfiber chamois inside a chest pocket and more.
Frankly, the Helium X Pants didn’t make quite as positive of a first impression. At first it appeared like they might’ve been too heavily insulated and I worried that they would feel bulky.
But they turned out to be comfortable, not bulky and just the right fit for me. They have 120-gram ThermalFlex fill insulation and an M-Series Omni-Stretch 450D polyester shell. I never wore anything under them other than just light sweatpants or a base layer, whether mountain riding or trail riding.
Overall, I was impressed with the gear. It kept me comfortable all season, looked good and was highly adaptable.
- Jeff Oberg
Terick Solutions EZ Wheelz
Premium 9-Inch
Since their introduction, we’ve been running Terick Solutions EZ Wheelz on our trail sleds, originally using the 8-inch version with excellent results. Over the years, they’ve proven to be one of those rare products that simply works as advertised — and once you use them, it’s hard to imagine not having them.
Anyone who spends time around snowmobiles knows that maneuvering a sled in a shop or loading and unloading from a trailer can be awkward at times depending on the surface. On most surfaces, carbides can leave marks or even cause damage. EZ Wheelz have become a regular part of our routine when moving sleds in and out of the shop, reducing track spin and eliminating the risk of carbide damage.
When EZ Wheelz first hit the market, they felt like a classic “Why didn’t someone think of this sooner?” solution. The design is straightforward, easy to install and highly effective. Terick Solutions offers both coarse- and fine-thread versions, so it’s important to make sure to select the correct option for your skis. The website has all the details for getting the right version.
Recently, Terick Solutions introduced its new Premium 9-inch EZ Wheelz, and we were eager to put them to use. The larger diameter provides slightly more clearance for the ski and carbide when fully turned.
The premium kit includes heavy-duty 9-inch airless rubber wheels with an aluminum mag-style rim, precision roller bearing hubs, a stainless-steel precision-machined axle and a cast aluminum, powder-coated, form-fit hand wheel. One standout feature is the solid wheel design, which makes this version particularly well-suited for long-term storage, as there’s no concern about flat-spotting.
After spending time with both versions, the new 9-inch Premium EZ Wheelz built on an already-proven concept. They offer increased clearance, enhanced durability and improved long-term usability, making them a worthwhile upgrade for riders who frequently move their sleds in a shop or store them for extended periods.