I've gotten a lot of first-timers interested in boarding this year, and a lot of them have asked me what they need to buy. I thought it'd be a good thing to have all of that info conveniently posted in one spot, as well as details about what to look for in each item so that they don't have to scour the internet to find info. Hopefully this can become a complete detailed list for newer riders (myself & friends included) to reference this as a prep list aka shopping list :laugh:
Newbies: plz comment with any questions or gear you'd like to see mentioned or explained.
Vets: plz comment with any revisions or additions to this list that you'd like to contribute.
(edit: I don't want to come across as a know-it-all cuz I'm not, and thats why I need your help making this list. PS sorry if this ends up being a dumb idea =p )
General Info:
- The idea is to get all your layers working to "wick" your sweat and heat away from your body and pass it through each layer until it has released. Buying the proper clothes will ensure that you are warm, dry, and comfortable.
- Cotton is evil. It soaks up moisture resulting in a very wet and heavy material.
Outter layer - Jacket
Outter layer - Pants
Middle layer
Base layer
Socks
Goggles
Gloves
Helmet
Beanie
Boots
Newbies: plz comment with any questions or gear you'd like to see mentioned or explained.
Vets: plz comment with any revisions or additions to this list that you'd like to contribute.
(edit: I don't want to come across as a know-it-all cuz I'm not, and thats why I need your help making this list. PS sorry if this ends up being a dumb idea =p )
General Info:
- The idea is to get all your layers working to "wick" your sweat and heat away from your body and pass it through each layer until it has released. Buying the proper clothes will ensure that you are warm, dry, and comfortable.
- Cotton is evil. It soaks up moisture resulting in a very wet and heavy material.
Outter layer - Jacket
- Waterproof & Breathable ratings of 10k or more.
- Zip vents.
- Adjustable cuffs & hood.
- Wrist Gaiters and a Powder Skirt and are nice bonuses, but not absolutely necessary for resort riding.
Outter layer - Pants
- Waterproof & Breathable ratings of 10k or more, Gore-tex if you can afford it. You will be falling on your butt a lot so don't cut corners when buying quality waterproof pants.
- Zip vents.
- If you buy your pants & jacket from the same brand, they usually have a way to connect the jacket's powder skirt to the pants via buttons or zippers. This is very nice, but not necessary if you can't afford it or if you'd just rather mix & match from different brands.
Middle layer
- Avoid cotton such as everyday hoodies.
- A lightweight, hoodless, longsleeve fleece jacket is preferable.
Base layer
- A bast layer is a somewhat tight fitting long-sleeve shirt and thin pants. They are Wool, polyester, or polypropylene. Anything cotton is NOT a base layer and should be avoided at all costs.
- Every snowboard brand makes a base layer, as well as companies like Under Armour and Nike. Any of these are fine but you can get a cheaper base layer at Ross in the "Active" section (again, avoid cotton).
- These are made in compression fit and loose fit, try on both to see what is more comfortable for you.
Socks
- Not cotton. Wool, polyester, and fleece are ok.
- Calf-high.
Goggles
- Helmet-compatible.
- Rounded lenses > flat lenses
- Aim for an all-purpose lens if you're only buying one.
Gloves
- Warm & waterproof, Gore-tex if you can afford it.
- Big & thick is not always best, a mid-weight articulate Dakine glove has worked fine for me in 25F weather.
- If your fingers get very cold, try mittens as they retain more heat than gloves.
Helmet
- Probably best to buy locally, not online, to ensure proper fit. Just go to your local store and try on everything... Make sure it fits snug to your dome without any gaps or wiggle room.
- Ear pads are a bonus for very cold conditions.
Beanie
- Not cotton. Wool, polyester, and fleece are ok.
Boots
- You can rent these on the mountain with your board & bindings, but it is still recommended that you buy your own boots if you can afford a good quality pair.
- Fit is most important here, look for a pair that hugs your foot fairly snug since the lining will become a bit looser when broken in. First try a boot that is one size smaller than your shoe size.
- Try on multiple boots in multiple sizes. Make sure there is virtually no heel lift or toe lift as you walk around. "Comfortably snug" is what you're looking for.