Ultimate Beginner Setup - Page 2 - Snowboarding Forum

08-07-2007, 08:39 AM

dhoro,

thats a tough thing to define, because i am sure between all the guys in here, we are looking for slightly different things from our equipment. understand the mechanics of your snowboard (sidecut, length, base construction, etc...) and equipment (comfort of boot, response from edge to edge, high back, etc...)and then you can compare the differences in the goods you demo/rent. that would be the best approach especially if you would be lookin to drop 800 bones on a setup...make it one that you wont want to turn around and replace.

EverBorN · 08-07-2007, 02:25 PM

My setup is about $680 for board/boots/bindings but then again I used to snowboard as a kid, stopped for a while then restarted up last year. I know i'm going to have my stuff for a long time so I made it good but as far as JUST starting ya everyone is right you shouldn't be spending $600+ you may find out you hate what you just bought. Also some of the more advanced boards have super sharp sidecuts and will punish you badly if you don't know what your doing! You can buy a nice board from 2006/2007 (last years models) in the $200 range & bindings from about $80-120, Boots for $100 or less. That stuff will also be nice stuff that will stick with ya.

kimchijajonshim · 08-20-2007, 12:21 PM

Trust me, rent. I do a lot of buying and selling of snowboarders, and there are waaaay too many people who take a loss on equipment because they thought they would try it it and it turns out they don't care for boarding. If you insist on buying, focus on boots. Get your feet fit well. I might even suggest finding a decent pair of used boots in good condition (might not be possible) and resetting the liner through heating. Won't be new, but it might be economical. Nothing worse than blowing a couple hundred dollars on boots that fit in the store and give you pain on the mountain. Trust me, that happened to me twice before I found out which brands fit my foot the best.

BurtonAvenger · 08-20-2007, 09:03 PM

^ No don't buy used boots there's a reason they're called used, they're broken in for someone elses foot, the stiffness is more than likely gone. Seriously kim if you don't know what you're talking about don't recommend something thats wrong. You are seriously what makes my job of boot fitting suck, I get people that come in having used only used boots and they are oblivious to how a boot should fit.

kimchijajonshim · 08-21-2007, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurtonAvenger

^ No don't buy used boots there's a reason they're called used, they're broken in for someone elses foot, the stiffness is more than likely gone. Seriously kim if you don't know what you're talking about don't recommend something thats wrong. You are seriously what makes my job of boot fitting suck, I get people that come in having used only used boots and they are oblivious to how a boot should fit.

I have ridden used boots before. Made my life quite a bit easier finding what fit my foot. And obviously I am not talking about something thrashed to hell or 5 or 6 years old, I'm talking about reasonably new equipment that's been lightly used. I picked up a pair of used 07 Sabbaths in reasonably good condition, used them a few times, and found that I definitely had a Burton foot. I picked up some Rulers towards the end of the season, and later on when I came into some more cash I upgraded to a pair of new Ions. Long term, I think it's a terrible solution, but when you're new and have no idea what will fit your foot, I think it's a decent option. Obviously the best solution is to try on as many boots as humanly possible on the mountain, but that's not a feasible option for anyone. I think it's better to risk a poor fit with used equipment then to throw down a bunch of money on something new only be fucked over when you realize it fits like shit and you can't return it. This is provided of course that you can get decent equipment in good shape at a reasonably good deal. If he can't, then he obviously shouldn't bother.

BurtonAvenger · 08-21-2007, 07:52 PM

There's a reason every company has a varying price range. Any good shop will have at least 10 plus models in every price range to slam your foot in.

kimchijajonshim · 08-22-2007, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurtonAvenger

There's a reason every company has a varying price range. Any good shop will have at least 10 plus models in every price range to slam your foot in.

Having ridden brand new Motos a few years back and having ridden used Sabbaths, I'd go with the Sabbaths any day of the week. Paid roughly the same price for them... in fact I think I got the Sabbaths a lil bit cheaper.

BurtonAvenger · 08-22-2007, 11:44 PM

There's a reason they were cheaper, they were used. Sorry but I tell all the tards that come in my shop that want to buy our rental boots. Why would you want a boot thats broken in for someone elses foot, just doesn't make sense when its the most important piece of equipment.

12-25-2007, 02:34 AM

I went with a 2008 Burton twin, 2008 Burton Freestyle boots, and 2008 Flow M9 bindings. $400 board, $100 boots, $135 bindings.

I did find a 2007 Burton twin online after I bought mine for $290 so I could have saved even more that way. Just look around....you can find great deals out there. Most shops will give you 15-20% off when you purchase more than 1 item and some will give you a free board bag with a board purchase as well.

12-25-2007, 09:55 PM

I just went through getting a beginner setup so I would be happy to share whatever insight I have. The #1 thing i learned is that it is very important to get stuff that fits properly. I am a big guy so i had a tough time finding proper gear. I snowboarded for the first time last year and had some bad experiences with stuff that was just too small (4 inch toe drag?!?!?). I went to a lot of board shops, tried on whatever they had in my size (which was limited) and tried to find things that worked for me. I felt bad for not buying stuff from the shops i tried stuff on at, but honestly, they really would only have a couple things to fit my size (6'2", 240 lbs, size 13 shoes) and i didnt want to rush into buying somethign i didnt like. Most shops are super cool about making sure you find what you want. #2 things i learned is that you can find treamendous deals on stuff online. If you are patient, ebay is gold. I got a setup that based on my research is really good for a beginner set at az amazing price...GNU CHB (wide baby to fit my feet), Flow Flite 3 bindings, and 32 lashed boots. The whole thing cost me less than $400!!! I really wanted to upgrade the board to a Baron ES but for the price i paid for GNU, I wasnt going to complain. Best of all, everything fits great, I love the colors and I super stoked to get on the mountains this weekend to try out boarding on gear that fits!!

All in all, I agree with everyone else that for $800, you'll get some great stuff but you should definitely go out and hit the powder and try out different boards. Find something you like and you'll be good to go. Good luck.

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08-07-2007, 08:39 AM	#11 (permalink)
geoteknikal Guest Posts: n/a	dhoro, thats a tough thing to define, because i am sure between all the guys in here, we are looking for slightly different things from our equipment. understand the mechanics of your snowboard (sidecut, length, base construction, etc...) and equipment (comfort of boot, response from edge to edge, high back, etc...)and then you can compare the differences in the goods you demo/rent. that would be the best approach especially if you would be lookin to drop 800 bones on a setup...make it one that you wont want to turn around and replace.

08-07-2007, 02:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
EverBorN Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Chicagoland Area, IL Posts: 306	My setup is about $680 for board/boots/bindings but then again I used to snowboard as a kid, stopped for a while then restarted up last year. I know i'm going to have my stuff for a long time so I made it good but as far as JUST starting ya everyone is right you shouldn't be spending $600+ you may find out you hate what you just bought. Also some of the more advanced boards have super sharp sidecuts and will punish you badly if you don't know what your doing! You can buy a nice board from 2006/2007 (last years models) in the $200 range & bindings from about $80-120, Boots for $100 or less. That stuff will also be nice stuff that will stick with ya.

08-20-2007, 12:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
kimchijajonshim Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 191	Trust me, rent. I do a lot of buying and selling of snowboarders, and there are waaaay too many people who take a loss on equipment because they thought they would try it it and it turns out they don't care for boarding. If you insist on buying, focus on boots. Get your feet fit well. I might even suggest finding a decent pair of used boots in good condition (might not be possible) and resetting the liner through heating. Won't be new, but it might be economical. Nothing worse than blowing a couple hundred dollars on boots that fit in the store and give you pain on the mountain. Trust me, that happened to me twice before I found out which brands fit my foot the best.

08-20-2007, 09:03 PM	#14 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,169	^ No don't buy used boots there's a reason they're called used, they're broken in for someone elses foot, the stiffness is more than likely gone. Seriously kim if you don't know what you're talking about don't recommend something thats wrong. You are seriously what makes my job of boot fitting suck, I get people that come in having used only used boots and they are oblivious to how a boot should fit.

08-21-2007, 07:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,169	There's a reason every company has a varying price range. Any good shop will have at least 10 plus models in every price range to slam your foot in.

08-22-2007, 11:44 PM	#18 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,169	There's a reason they were cheaper, they were used. Sorry but I tell all the tards that come in my shop that want to buy our rental boots. Why would you want a boot thats broken in for someone elses foot, just doesn't make sense when its the most important piece of equipment.

12-25-2007, 02:34 AM	#19 (permalink)
jasonjcarney Guest Posts: n/a	I went with a 2008 Burton twin, 2008 Burton Freestyle boots, and 2008 Flow M9 bindings. $400 board, $100 boots, $135 bindings. I did find a 2007 Burton twin online after I bought mine for $290 so I could have saved even more that way. Just look around....you can find great deals out there. Most shops will give you 15-20% off when you purchase more than 1 item and some will give you a free board bag with a board purchase as well.

12-25-2007, 09:55 PM	#20 (permalink)
Mazimo Guest Posts: n/a	I just went through getting a beginner setup so I would be happy to share whatever insight I have. The #1 thing i learned is that it is very important to get stuff that fits properly. I am a big guy so i had a tough time finding proper gear. I snowboarded for the first time last year and had some bad experiences with stuff that was just too small (4 inch toe drag?!?!?). I went to a lot of board shops, tried on whatever they had in my size (which was limited) and tried to find things that worked for me. I felt bad for not buying stuff from the shops i tried stuff on at, but honestly, they really would only have a couple things to fit my size (6'2", 240 lbs, size 13 shoes) and i didnt want to rush into buying somethign i didnt like. Most shops are super cool about making sure you find what you want. #2 things i learned is that you can find treamendous deals on stuff online. If you are patient, ebay is gold. I got a setup that based on my research is really good for a beginner set at az amazing price...GNU CHB (wide baby to fit my feet), Flow Flite 3 bindings, and 32 lashed boots. The whole thing cost me less than $400!!! I really wanted to upgrade the board to a Baron ES but for the price i paid for GNU, I wasnt going to complain. Best of all, everything fits great, I love the colors and I super stoked to get on the mountains this weekend to try out boarding on gear that fits!! All in all, I agree with everyone else that for $800, you'll get some great stuff but you should definitely go out and hit the powder and try out different boards. Find something you like and you'll be good to go. Good luck.