509
How a snowmobile film crew in Spokane built a rider-first gear brand, from the Sinister goggle to a full line of helmets, outerwear, and street equipment—and what the name means in the riding world.
Tom Delanoy didn’t set out to build a gear company. He was just a rider with a camera, filming his friends in the powder around Spokane. Those raw tapes became First Ascent, a snowmobile film that captured the way real riders rode—no script, no ski-resort gloss. That film, and the crew behind it, gave 509 its name and its soul. Today, 509 is a snowmobile-first brand that expanded into dirt and street riding, and its identity is tied to rider-made films and activity-specific equipment. It matters because it grew from the same two-stroke, deep-snow world you ride in, not from a boardroom trend report.
Origins and character
The story starts in the early 2000s, when Tom Delanoy began filming local riders in Spokane, Washington. The 509 area code became the crew’s shorthand, and in 2003, 509 Films released First Ascent on DVD. The movie wasn’t a polished production—it was a raw, music-driven look at snowmobiling that resonated with riders who saw themselves in the footage.
Delanoy’s operation moved from his apartment to a garage, then to a warehouse as demand for the films grew. But the real pivot came from a frustration every snowmobiler knew: ski goggles fogged, fit poorly with helmets, and couldn’t handle the wind blast of a sled at speed. In 2004, Delanoy and his team designed the Sinister goggle specifically for snowmobile use. They pre-sold 500 units before production, a signal that riders were hungry for gear built around their sport, not borrowed from skiing.
The Sinister’s success opened the door to helmets, gloves, and outerwear. Early riders like Joe Parsons, Matt Potratz, and Brett Turcotte became the faces of the brand, testing gear in the backcountry and appearing in 509 Films. Scott Wilhelm, who started doing freelance catalog work, soon moved into goggle design and product development, shaping the brand’s technical direction. The films grew into a culture: Winter X Games appearances, packed Hay Days booths, film premieres with giveaways, and a rider-facing vibe that made 509 feel like a crew, not a corporation.
Distinctive goggle-strap designs like “Caterpillar” and “Naughty Pine” became calling cards, but the brand’s identity was always tied to the riding itself.
In January 2016, Polaris acquired 509 for an undisclosed sum. The brand remained distinct under Delanoy’s leadership, with operations staying in Spokane. Polaris already had a three-year co-branded goggle relationship with 509, and the acquisition placed it alongside Klim, Kolpin, and Pro Armor in Polaris’ aftermarket portfolio. The name “509” stuck because it meant something to riders: it was the area code of the Spokane riding scene that started it all, a badge of local, rider-built credibility.
There’s a piece of rider lore about a red truck with a 509 sticker that supposedly sparked the name. It’s a good story, but it’s just that—lore, not verified history. What’s real is that 509 grew from a film crew into a gear brand without losing the rider-first mindset. That origin explains why the brand still feels like it belongs to the people who ride, not to a marketing department.
Line
509’s product architecture revolves around snowmobile riding. The line splits into two clear use cases: Trail Rider equipment for long, fast, cold rides, and Mountain Rider equipment for high-intensity riding, mobility, and changing weather. Snow categories include helmets, goggles, outerwear, gloves, and boots. Dirt and off-road categories—helmets, goggles, jerseys, pants—extend the same design philosophy to motocross and ATV riding. Street and motorcycle gear—helmets, jackets, boots, gloves, riding footwear—rounds out the portfolio, but snow remains the center of gravity.
The brand’s differentiation comes from its integrated-system approach. Helmets and goggles are designed to seal together without gaps. Removable liners and cheek pads allow fit customization, and multiple shell breaks mean a size Large shell might share components with Medium or XL, but cheek pads aren’t always interchangeable across shell sizes. Heated Ignite lenses and visor options address fogging, and communication-compatible helmet variants let riders integrate radios or Bluetooth. This isn’t a ski line adapted for snowmobiles; it’s gear built from the ground up for the way sled riders move, breathe, and see.
Sizing runs broad, from youth to 4XL helmets, and the rider-facing dealer network is the primary try-on channel. If you want to understand 509’s center of gravity, start with the snowmobile line. Dirt and street are extensions of the same rider identity, not evidence that the brand began as a general outdoor label.
Failure modes
509’s helmet recalls are serious and well-documented. They don’t mean every 509 helmet is defective, but they demand attention. Here’s what the official record shows:
- February 5, 2025: Tactical 3.0 Youth, Mountain, and Trail helmets, plus 509-for-Polaris Tactical 3.0 helmets, recalled for certification or protection concerns.
- April 21, 2025: 2023-manufactured small and medium Tactical 2.0 helmets, including Fidlock versions and 509-for-Polaris versions, recalled for insufficient impact protection.
- May 1, 2025: Fidlock-equipped Tactical 2.0, Altitude 2.0, Delta R3L, Delta R4, Delta V, Mach III, Mach IV, and Mach V helmets recalled because of incorrectly routed chin-strap webbing. The remedy involves inspection and, if needed, rerouting or support-led correction.
- July 3, 2025: CPSC recall 25-374 covered about 201,200 units in the United States, offering refund, replacement, credit, or repair depending on the affected population. The CPSC notice mentions one report of a concussion associated with a Fidlock-related issue.
- February 19, 2026: 509 and Polaris expanded the Fidlock-affected population to include 509 Altitude 2.0 Carbon Fiber R-Series helmets.
- Youth Tactical 2.0 eye-port-gasket lead recall: About 11,390 helmets globally were recalled for a lead-containing gasket, with no reported injuries.
These are official recalls and manufacturer notices. Customer reports and forum discussions may surface additional concerns, but they are leads, not verified facts. No technical service bulletins were found.
What to do: Check the official 509 recall page and the CPSC notice. Identify your helmet’s exact model, size, and manufacture date. If it’s affected, follow the stated remedy before riding. The documented issue is decision-relevant, but the evidence does not justify treating every product category or every helmet model as identical.
Dealer and fit
Getting the right fit starts with the official dealer locator. Use it to find a local shop where you can try on helmets and goggles together. For helmet sizing, measure the circumference above your eyebrows and around the thickest point at the back of your head. 509 helmets run from youth sizes through 4XL. Standard goggles fit XS–XL helmets; for 2XL–4XL helmets, use XL goggles to maintain a proper seal.
Most of 509 helmets has an intermediate-oval head shape. Shell breaks mean that cheek pads from one shell size often won’t fit another, so don’t assume you can fix a shell-size mismatch with a different pad. Outerwear sizing covers men’s, women’s, and youth, with measurement guidance for chest, sleeve, waist, inseam, and hip on the size guide page.
509 offers a 30-day return, exchange, or refund policy for new and unused items. The product warranty is stated on the brand’s website. Customer service is available at +1 (877) 743-3509 or support@ride509.com, Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. MST, from Rigby, Idaho.
Action: Use the size guide to narrow your range, then try the helmet and goggle combination through a dealer when possible. A different cheek-pad size can fine-tune fit, but it won’t solve every shell-size mismatch.