Too many hung up on the "cool" factor I guess. I actually hate the look of sleds without some sort of windshield. They look unfinished.

Cold hands is another similar issue. I started using gauntlets this season and they are the best goddamn thing ever invented. Lots of people are adverse to them because of the looks but boy are my cold weather rides more enjoyable now.

 

When I ride in Canada and it is going to be 0 Fahrenheit for a high I put my grandpa windshield on.

 

before I even take delivery of a new sled I have the dealer take the stock windshield off and put at least a medium height on. He usually puts the low one in stock and it doesnt cost me anything. I dont give shit about looking cool

 

Tall windshield, gauntlets, good boots, as stated, do whatever makes you comfortable and you will pound out a lot of miles.
I unload the sled and I ride until I put it back in the trailer. I don’t go inside all day. I pack a lunch and eat on the trail. I’m there to be outside. If you have to go inside to warm up, you aren’t properly dressed or set up.

 

Had to upgrade The wife's xps so called windshield. Lol.

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Yup I'm guilty of going for the look. I've also owned high windshields with the intentions to use it on long trips but never did. Gaunlets are dangerous in my opinion. I like to let oncoming trafic how many sleds are following me and I have also struggled with/high low beams etc that takes my attention off the trail and that's a big no for me.

Heated gloves, handguards, warm suit and short or mid windshield is all I need.

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My whole lifetime of riding ive ridden at warp speed...Having to focus on the trail while looking thru 4 different pieces of plastic ( eye glasses,helmet shield, sled windshield) is waaaaay to much for me...If I purchased a sled and the windshield was to high, it immediately got cut down...The pu$$ification of mankind continues and provides free entertainment for me when I see MEN with tall windshields and gauntlets on a SNOWMOBILE...LOL

 

lol...This may be the most hilarious thing I've read. I have Gauntlets on all five of my Gen 4's. Me, the wife and kids are happy beyond words we can ride with warm hands. We all ride even when it's well below zero. Medium windshields across the board too except for my Summit, but I still wear the gauntlets even in the mountains. Wet gloves (even GORE TEX) and wind equals cold hands.
You get points for pu$$ification, though, AND I'm sure all the Arctic Cat guys carry Vagisil in their glove box.

 

It’s not often that cold here to need a piece of plywood for a windshield. I just don’t NEED a windshield. So I go for the look also. On axys I use the lil stripper band up top but on matryx I use a small mountain windshield as that sled doesn’t look finished to me with nuts the lil strip windshield.

 

I spend maybe 40% of my time off trail and windshields are the first thing taken out by tree branches, secondly I don’t get cold while riding trails being on a 146” track with a 2” lug just means I have to work it a little harder than the guys on shorter tracks. I’m also using a Skidoo helmet I bought new back in November of 2008. As far as keeping my hands warm, finding a pair of 3x gloves where I have some movement was key in keeping my hands warm.

 

Per my original post: "are not boondocking". I totally get not running a windshield if you are boondocking or have a decent chance of going over the bars.

 

Our 2020 xc Axys with a higher windshield would rub in my Floe protector enclosed trailer. Would just pull off center hood with windshield attached for transport.

 

That's what nice with skidoo at least. Rip your windshield off dor a while .... pop it back on. Love the rubber grommets set up . Windshield changes are super easy.

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Probably for the same reason you see riding standing up.🙃

 

Most dangerous thing you can do on a sled is take your hands off the bars. NYS Park and Rec even came out against the use of hand signals.
At best, they give people a false sense of confidence when getting the ‘last rider’ signal. Never know when the next group is one corner behind that ‘last rider’. If you feel strongly that you want to signal approaching riders then consider a Ridelite.
For those that appear to be going for ‘the look’ with no or short windshields, My experience is the short is actually warmer than the medium shields (although I do prefer the tall). The medium seems to direct all the air to my neck. People of different heights will certainly have different experiences. So for some, and how they ride, the short be a good option.

 

Most dangerous thing you can do on a sled is take your hands off the bars. NYS Park and Rec even came out against the use of hand signals.
At best, they give people a false sense of confidence when getting the ‘last rider’ signal. Never know when the next group is one corner behind that ‘last rider’.

There's no group coming up behind our group [emoji6]

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I think you made my point. If your group is riding that fast then your hands should stay on the bars.

 

And they do when it's not safe to take them off to signal. We also have Sena's and always warn one another of oncoming sleds, unexpected challenging turns and good opportunities to get some airtime lol

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I don’t care for windshields. I have the low versions on all my sleds. We do about 70% or more off trail. Not about cool factor as much as I like to feel like I’m in the elements. I also run hot so I like the additional air flow. It’s not that I don’t get cold from time to time, who doesn’t, but I like to be comfortable and for me that means no windshield. One thing I have found for comfort in the hands is thinner gloves. I have several pair of gauntlet style gloves for extreme cold and the only thing they do is make my hands colder. I can run my mountain riding gloves on the coldest of days without issue.

 

The purpose of the windshield is not to "shield" you from the wind but to deflect it so it's forced around the rider. I.e. rider height and width matters for what windshield to use. Normally you don't actually see trough it but over it. if you see through it, it's higher than you need. Too low and you'll get a lot of buffetting around your helmet and if you don't wear plugs you'll hate yourself in the long run. As with most stuff, actually. You can "man up" and take the absuse in your 20's and 30's but you'll hate yourself for paying more attention to "cool" over "comfort" by the time you're in your 40's and 50's. Take that from someone with a fubar lower back and knees that are shot and still wants to go out sledding the backcountry. So I cheat. I have a longer and deeper track than I need, a windshield, mirrors and more gadgets and gizmos to make my experience (comfort) better. I might take the windshield off if I expect to (have to) roll the sled.

 

Seems shield, or defect are doing two similar things if not the same. I could recall when i went to quebec with my new 05 xc 600 50th that came with the low windshield it was -20 something when we left for our bag ride. The first town that had a polaris dealer we stopped to buy myself a much higher windshield that made riding a night, and day difference. Imo, its plain stupid, and maybe illegal to ride with no windshield up there....at least it was back in the 80's.

 

Remember folks, most sleds with windshields will have less drag, thus better acceleration and higher top speed than the same sled without a windshield.

 

My "cross country race sled" XRS came with the low windshield. I took it off last week but added the glovebox extension which is similar in size to a low shield. I simply don't need much wind protection. My gear keeps me plenty warm.

I do use Doo Gauntlets though. Haven't found a downside to them. I rode this year at 5F with no gloves and heaters on low. Usually I wear thin gloves though.

 

Hand signals are fine the problem lies in that lot's of novice riders don't have common sense. If your coming around a corner or over a hill and come across another rider heading the opposite direction well common sense would tell you that it makes more sense just to concentrate on staying on your side and in control instead of trying to signal. But they don't because they think it is some sort of mandatory action.

If your on a nice straight stretch or are in some other safe situation I appreciate hand signals and I provide them myself. If I'm in the twisties I've got both hands on and maintaining control.

 

I see they improve them from years past, but they still resemble donkey ears.

 

I still have an old clamshell trailer. My sled does not fit with the mid windshield. I only use the taller windshield in temps below 10 degrees. The glovebox extension kinda works to deflect wind also

 

IMO< its due to we live in a very superficial world anymore, , where looks and image matter more than function does!
same goes for the fact so many rather have all sorts of NEW junk often,, rather than anything made to last!
its the mindless generation leading the parades anymore! and OEM's are finding the higher the price tags on things, practical or not, doesn;'t deter the superficial folks at all, and the multi media folks, from spending way more than anything is worth as well!
ALL about image, and getting as much attention as possible !

its a sad world if you ask me anymore! and OH so glad I grew up when I did!

 

IMO< its due to we live in a very superficial world anymore, , where looks and image matter more than function does!
same goes for the fact so many rather have all sorts of NEW junk often,, rather than anything made to last!
its the mindless generation leading the parades anymore! and OEM's are finding the higher the price tags on things, practical or not, doesn;'t deter the superficial folks at all, and the multi media folks, from spending way more than anything is worth as well!
ALL about image, and getting as much attention as possible !

its a sad world if you ask me anymore! and OH so glad I grew up when I did!

So my only question is.... If I do not get cold up here in Canada with my Mid or Short windshields... So I will go for looks every single day. I bought a used 2019 lastbyear with à large windshield...I hated the look... changed it forna med and handguards....loved the look and never felt the difference in warmth.

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Needing (more) comfort comes with age and experience.

 

Maybe when I get old... For now, I'm 53 years young [emoji6]

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Tall windshield, No windshield?? Only windshield I care about is mine. Set your sled up however you like. Good conversation though. Love a good argument. Funny!

 

Im glad I went with the mid tall. Plus I look so good in my gear that nobody's ever gonna notice my uncool windshield! 🤣

 

First thing I did on my XF was improve the windshield. Original is the same height but narrower then the one I put on. Alot of lake riding up here, heck its 70 miles from one end of the Park to the other and when you come out of the portages and hit a 20 mph (or more) head wind when already doing around 50 mph for sustained distances with little rider input or effort it can get darn cold, no leaky gear just single digit or colder air compressed against your chest for long periods of time eventually creeps through. I ride with kids and wife as well so windshield and mirrors is a must. My neck only turns so far anymore. Not to mention I can dress a little lighter than looking like King Kong. I feel the same way. Look how cool my sled is with no windshield and giant gauntlets. I wear ice fishing waterproof mittens about a 1/2 size too big. Hands not an issue.