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Worth buying?

3K views 33 replies 3 participants last post by  BurtonAvenger 
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#1 ·
Hi, I am a beginner on a snowboard starting out this year. I recently attained my ESF class 4 and was wondering if its worth buying a board for my third trip out or carry on renting boards and equipment? And if it is worth buying what equipment should I be looking at and how much will it be? I'm not to sure about what's what when it comes to equipment:dunno:

Cheers
 
#2 ·
How many days are you planning on getting this season? If you are going to do more than 10 days, getting your own equipment is probably not a bad thing to do. If it's less than 10 maybe not so much. 5 or less, I would probably just rent. As you progress you are going to find you will out grow whatever you are using anyway.
 
#4 ·
Boards are weight specific. Height has almost nothing to do with selecting a board. In fact, if a shop is going by height in recommending a board, turn around and walk out, because you already know more than they do.

I would say you are boarder line on wanting to own. Rental prices do add up and probably for the cost you could have your own equipment. If you buy, make sure you do not spare any expense on boots (if you don't already own), that is the number one thing to not skimp on.
 
#6 ·
The one's that fit your foot. Seriously, that is the number one thing. Vans, Salomon, Nitro, even Burton (reluctant to recommend them but they do make some good boots, not all), all make good boots. Vans probably being my company of choice, but they fit my foot properly. If Vans don't fit your foot, well they suck for you. I would go into your local shop and try on a bunch of different boots. Speed lace systems are nice (such as BOA) but not necessary. Just make sure you don't buy a price point boot. Get a pair that is meant to last. Being that you are a beginner, a boot that is made for solid intermediate riding is where I would look. You're going to get out of the beginner stage quickly so no point is buying a low end boot that you will quickly outgrow.
 
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#7 · (Edited)
Salomon make incredibly comfortable boots, you could wear those things all day if you wanted too. I own a pair of Burtons and they are hard and uncomfortable, would not recommend burton for boots. Try different boots on and see which ones fit best, but definitively keep Salomon in your list, they are my boots of choice.

Plus my burton boots leak water like no other boot I have ever tried, they SUCK. they are soaking wet by the end of the day and your feet are freezing cold, maybe it's time that I should get new boots ;).

The Salomon boots I am talking about are my friends boots, I wish I would of bought those.
 
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#8 ·
i have salomon and recommend them. the guy at the store was a jackass, but he did recommend salomon to me, and since then i've heard more salomon recommendations than any other brand. vans get a lot of good reports too.
 
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#9 ·
So, in a nut shell, Go with salomon? as long as they fit:thumbsup:

For bindings, step in or strap ups?

And for a board, would the burton clash do me?

Really appreciate all the advice btw
 
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#10 ·
For bindings I would go with conventional strap in's. Step ins are generally more expensive and end up being a bigger pain in the ass than the conventional ones, especially if you get any ice in them. Cheers!!!
 
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#11 ·
boards and binding it depends with what type of riding you do freestyle or free ride or a lil of both.

Good bindings are the strap ones, I don't think they make the step in any more, plus those were sold with the appropriate type of botties.


give us stats, weight, height, foot size, type of riding and that way we could further help you

and by the way, there are way better brands than burton ;) and at a cheaper price.
 
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#12 ·
I had recently gotten a friend to swtich over from skiing to snowboarding and he picked up the Clash. It's a good beginner board and from what I hear from him there's not to much to complain about the board. He seems to like it a lot, but I would definately have to agree with simply^ride. There are a lot of good brands out there other than burton; especially for cheaper. Burton's are just like the Nike of footwear. Good luck!
 
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#13 ·
the clash will work just fine. salomon boots are great unless you have a wide foot. ride lx or burton custom bindings should be ok if you are trying to spend as little money as possible. words of advice... spend the extra dough on your boots and skimp on the bindings if you have to
 
#14 ·
spend the extra dough on your boots and skimp on the bindings if you have to
Sound advice.

Just bear in mind that the perfect boot for one person is an icey torture chamber for others. You may end up wanting another board, you may dislike your bindings, but if you hate your boots your day will always be miserable.

I'd suggest that you stay away from entry level boots. Seems to me that their comfort is directly related to their flexibility. A few $$ more will get you into a decent intermediate boot. The learning curve up to intermediate isn't steep, so you don't want to be out riding your boots the same season you bought them. Most major brands have something decent in the mid range of their product line. Seeing as how you're a teenager, I wouldn't spend huge $$, your feet will grow out of them long before they're worn out.

Seriously though....try on as many boots as you can. And really try them on. Spend 20 minutes in them. Walk around the store. Look at boards, check out girls, whatever. The hot spots don't always up right away.

Painful, cold, wet feet will ruin your day faster than a bad board or bindings.
 
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#18 ·
exactly. and make sure when you buy them that they fit really snug. the first time you try them on will be the tightest they will ever fit... the liner will continue to pack out as you wear them. my street shoes are a 10 and my boots are a size 9(Deeluxe ID's and i love them). this is stuff your sales person should tell you but you never know nowadays... it seems like everybody who has ever seen snow thinks they are experts.

WorD
 
#19 ·
No the problem is most shops hire fucking idiots. My shop takes a strong stance on not hiring idiots. Last time we did that poor kid didn't last a week we brutalized him till he quit.

The other thing is watch out for city shops. Sure its great that you have a shop in your city, but city shops are full of tools that are weekend warriors. Mountain shops almost always know more than city shops.
 
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