However, the “sticker shock” of about $4,700 between the Polaris 850 Patriot Khaos Slash and the Patriot Boost may cause some to question if they really need that kind of power. (Hint: You can never have too much power.)

Polaris anticipated not only the huge gap in price, but also in power. Not every rider prefers the point-and-shoot performance. Many spend most of their days riding in technical terrain where maneuverability and instant torque reigns; where you can’t have too much power … but it needs to come in strong at the bottom. That’s where a big bore shines.

It’s a little weird to consider these two snowmobiles as lightweights … but they are the lightest 165-inch-track sleds on the snow. And both fit into the 165 horsepower class so they’re plenty capable in deep mountain powder.

Western snowmobilers tend to gravitate to two features when considering a mountain sled—the size of the engine and the length of the track. For those who have deep pockets, both these models are available with factory-stock turbos. The Polaris RMK Slash is also available with a Patriot 9R engine. But these upgrades increase the price and impact the weight of the sleds.

Modern sled designs have even reduced the cooling capacities of some models which makes over-heating a more frequent occurrence. So understanding the cooling process is your best way to avoid engine damage in these conditions.

Most mountain snowmobiles are liquid cooled. This means engine heat is regulated by coolant circulation. Snowmobile coolant, most commonly a 50/50 mixture of distilled water and ethylene glycol, circulates through a snowmobile engine and heat exchangers, passing through a thermostat that regulates the rate of flow. As the engine walls heat, the coolant heats. As the coolant circulates through the heat exchangers, snow cools the exchangers, which in turn cools the water, completing the cycle.