Exploring the Basics of Snowboard Equipment: the Essential Pieces of Clothing
A well-fitted snowboard and a good pair of bindings aren’t enough to guarantee you the best possible snowboarding experience you could have. As with every sport, you need to be equipped with the appropriate pieces of clothing, not just to make your experience more pleasant, but to keep yourself safe as well. For that very reason, in today’s blog post I’ll provide you with a list of the clothing essentials you will need to make the most out of your next snowboarding adventure.
Boots
The right boots for your feet will feel snug and your big toe should be able to slightly touch the end of the boot. Remember to do this standing up with your knees bent. Be sure to always check if your heels are touching firmly on the bottom of the boot when you lift them. As is the case with most pieces of snowboard equipment, boots also come with a variety of features. You can choose between boots with different lacing styles – the Boa lacing system is the easiest and fastest.
Pants
When shopping for snowboard equipment, look for pants that have a solid structure of waterproof material and enough vents to allow moisture to escape but not get in. For the waterproofing of the material, the range between 5,000 and 30,000 mm is considered the standard. As for their breathability, look for ones that are between 5,000 and 20,000 mm. Also, if you don’t want snow to get in between your boots and pants, consider getting gaiters.
Jacket
Just like the pants, the jacket is also a piece of snowboard equipment that has breathability and waterproof ratings. They fall in the same range except that there’s one more option here, called Gore-Tex. This fabric doesn’t have any rating on it, instead, it guarantees you that the jacket is both 100% waterproof and breathable. These jackets are called “shell jackets” as they don’t offer insulation but only protection from the elements, so be sure to include some additional layers underneath. If you want to get a jacket with insulation, make sure that it is not very bulky.
Headwear & Goggles
Make sure to buy a proper helmet that will cover your forehead. When shopping, make sure to put on your beanie first to see if it fits well together with it. This is important as you will be probably wearing a beanie underneath it to keep you warm as helmets are not very good at that. As for goggles, you’ll want to go for ones with dark lenses if you are going to be snowboarding on very sunny days or paler lenses if you are going to be out on cloudy days. For those of you who are just starting out, invest in dark lenses first then go for lighter ones.
