6 Tips for Staying Warm

6 Tips for Staying Warm When Riding Side by Sides in Cold Weather

Article: February 2016

I love to ride in “nice weather”. Nice being the key word as in warm, not cold.

Maybe it’s because I’m from an area that is typically warm so the thought of any kind of fun outdoor activity proceeded with the words “it’s going to be 40 degrees outside this weekend” really sucks the fun out of it for me.

So how do you stay warm when you ride?    Are you one of those people that are having such a good time you don’t even notice?    Guy or girl, no one really wants to be cold all weekend.   A shot of whiskey or a simple coat could possibly keep you warm for a bit but eventually you will be cold if you stay outdoors all day.

Do you know someone (or maybe you are the couple) where one of you wants to ride outdoors for a weekend of fun but the other feels like it’s just too cold outside so they have to either skip the ride all together OR if they do ride someone is not going to be very happy because they are freezing their butt off (and we all know an unhappy passenger makes for a very unhappy driver).

We rode in the Oklahoma area recently and “after dark” when the temperatures dropped I thought I was going to freeze to death. Even standing by a campfire it just felt extremely cold.

Knowing we would have another ride coming up with similar weather we set out on a quest to come up with some better ideas for STAYING WARM.

#1     LAYERS

So exactly how many layers does it take on a cold day?   I have seen a lot of people riding with only a single layer and can’t help but think they look cold! I love layers because if the day starts out cold you are fully layered and can start to shed clothing as the sun comes out. We spent New Year’s in Florida and made a stop in Louisiana to join some friends for a New Year’s ATV ride. It was a last minute decision so I had to depend on the little bit of “winter clothing” I had on hand and a single layer did not cut it.      Your mom’s old fashioned advice is still good ~ layer up when you play outside on a cold day!

Ideas when Layering:

Tank Top (or T-Shirt) for your first layer. If you get hot or want to catch some rays while the sun is out you will be ready.

Long Sleeve Light Shirt for your next layer. Athletic Shirts make a great next layer because they fit close to your skin. Look for fabrics that utilize some type of special technology designed to help keep you warm and dry. Our top pics are Nike and Under Armour® but there are many brands out there that are targeted to help with outdoor activities.

Sweatshirts or Turtle Neck Athletic Shirts work great as a top layer. Our fav would be an athletic shirt geared towards either hunting or running that utilizes the same special technology that keeps you dry and warm AND has the added benefit of coverage around your neck area.

Coat/Jacket/Gloves/Hats are all a must! Jackets and gloves that are made for Hunting and Skiing work great when riding.   You want to look for fabrics that are not only warm but will help repel some of the water if and when you get splashed.   Call it what you want ~ a good toboggan or beanie type-hat will be your best friend to keep your ears and head warm.

Waders or Coveralls are another option. Look for brands that are targeted towards cold weather.    The key is to wear what keeps you warm and comfortable for the day.   Ski Pants and Bibs are another great layer you can wear over your jeans to help add extra protection for staying warm and dry.

Thermal Underwear under your jeans adds an extra layer of warmth. Think “Long John’s”. Thermal Long Underwear, Base Layer Pants, Leggings are just some of the options out there. Just like the Base Layer Shirts look for bottom fabrics with the same technology that keeps your warm and dry. These also fit snug so they work great under a pair of jeans without looking bulky.

#2     HOTHANDS®

One of my favorite all time inventions would have to be HotHands®. Thank you to the maker of these small warm wonderful packets. If you could pour hot cocoa into a hand held shape and hold onto it for hours this is how great they feel to the touch.   HotHands® makes Hand Warmers, Body Warmers, Foot Warmers, Toe Warmers and more…    I prefer to order these in bulk because I find that if I am outdoors and start feeling cold that soon these are being stuffed in any pocket I can find.   They stay warm to the touch for hours and can simply be thrown away at the end of the day. They are an inexpensive way to get some extra heat.

#3     FULL WINDSHIELD

If you don’t have a full windshield then this is definitely something to consider.    Our RAZR had a half windshield during the last ride and I swear there was just no escaping the cold wind on your face.    We bought a new full windshield prior to our next ride and it made a HUGE difference.   A new full laminated safety glass type windshield (similar to looking out of the windshield in your car) will run anywhere between $250 - $800 depending on the material and options such as a vent, wiper, fold-down type. Venting is important to ensure you keep good air flow. Be sure and check out the specifications to ensure a good range of visibility keeping in mind if the frame of the windshield is too wide it could impact visibility (the larger the windshield the greater your visibility will be). A fold-down type windshield allows you to fold it up or down without having to take time to remove it.   We ordered ours on amazon and had it within a couple of days.   It was easy to install and had a snug fit which is what you are looking for. When warmer weather arrives it will be easy to change back to the open/partial windshield we had prior.

We sprayed anti fog on the interior glass before riding each day and that seemed to help some with “fogging” which can occur especially after dark in colder weather.    If you are riding in an area where you anticipate mud splashing on the windshield ~ then definitely pack some extra bottled water to keep the windshield clean.       I have assumed that your buggy already has a roof enclosure so if you don’t have one~ that is a definite must.

#4     RECHARGABLE WARMING CLOTHING

When I first heard about “warming clothing” I thought the concept seemed crazy “but” considering the amount of hot hands I was using to pack in every pocket I could find the idea started to catch on so I decided to order something to try out.   After researching coats, jackets and vests I decided to go with a vest. Simply because when I layer I could put my coat over the vest. The vest I ordered was a Gerber Heated Puffer Vest that I ordered off of Amazon for $149.89. When it arrived it came with a small battery back that fits into the front pocket with a small remote to select low-medium-high. You have to charge it ahead of time and if you opt to go with the high setting the “heat” it generates runs out pretty quickly so next time I will use the lower setting to get a longer period out of it. Overall I loved the vest and it made a huge difference in how warm I stayed. It was definitely worth the extra money and the vest looked nice.    There are many different brands on Amazon and a great selection for both men and women. You can expect to spend anywhere from $125 to $300 depending on what you order.

#5     ENCLOSURES

If you are a boater you are probably familiar with the Isinglass and Canvas that you can snap and zip onto your boat to enclose it during the rainy or colder months of the year. The enclosures I have seen for side by sides reminds me of the Isinglass that we have on our boat and it attaches to your UTV in a very similar manner.    You can go big or small on this and the enclosures I have seen are definitely something that are on my wish list for next winter. I have a talented friend who even did a DIY enclosure with zip ties. I am not that crafty so if you are like me it’s worth either paying someone to custom make an enclosure for you or to simply order from one of the well- known makers online such as Rocky Mountain ATV or UTV Cab Enclosures.

Enclosures run on average around $500 depending how much coverage you are looking for. Some of the full enclosures that include a greater coverage area can run over $1,000.    Be sure to order the type that fits your make and model.



#6     UTV HEATER

So how much do you want to spend?     That may be the real question when deciding how warm you want to be.     This one is also on my wish list for next year. I have several friends though who are staying warm and toasty inside their side by side when all of us are still pretty cold.    This is definitely something that we will look at installing for next winter.    When looking online you will see many types of UTV Cab Heaters ranging from the inexpensive type that you can just plug into the 12 volt charger on your dash to the “big boys” that are wired in and create the type of warmth you are accustomed to while riding in a car. Pros with the smaller heaters are definitely the inexpensive cost. Cons would be the smaller amount of warm air generated and potential drain on your battery.   If you want to go big then you should check out the cab heaters that can be wired in. Pros with these are that you will feel like you are sitting in a warm car. Cons would be that you will have to take time to install the heater and the cost will range around $500.

I hope these tips and ideas are helpful in your preparation to stay warm while riding outdoors.

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