A Beginner's Guide to Technical Snowboarding Clothes
Dec 05 '00 (Updated Feb 19 '01)
The Bottom Line My guide to help you with technical snowboard clothing.
(…no, I’m not talking about baggy pants and board company logo tees.) I feel that clothing should be the first thing any new snowboarder should purchase. Quality outerwear is essential to enjoying a day on the mountain, especially if it’s your first time. Many beginners don’t realize how much gear is needed to comfortably enjoy this awesome sport until they start doing some research. I’ll point you in the right direction, but you’ll have to do your own research into actual brands of clothing, specific models, prices, etc since new equipment is put out every year.
There are basically three layers of clothing that a snowboarder should be wearing: The Outer layer, the Warmth (middle) layer, and the First layer. I’ll work from the outside in.
Outer Layer
The outer layer serves a few purposes. A high quality jacket and pair of snowboarding pants primarily create a shell which keep a snowboarder dry and warm. Obviously, waterproofing from the elements is needed to keep moisture out, but moisture from the body also needs to be able to escape to stay dry inside (breathability). Heat also needs to be retained to keep warm. Windproofing achieves this by keeping the cold air out and keeping the warm air in. If a beginner snowboarder can afford to buy only one layer of technical clothing, it should be the outer layer.
Each company has their own technical name for the different materials that they use. A good company will also have several different types of materials ranging from average to space-aged in order to have a few price ranges to satisfy their customers.
There really is no perfect pair of pants or a perfect jacket. There are many aspects of outerwear that some might hold more more important than others. Here is a random list of different features of outerwear that you can look for when shopping:
-Durability is a factor. Falling down many times, kneeling and sitting will wear away the material. Some styles of outerwear have extra material in key spots to help avoid wear and tear. Other styles even have extra padding in the rear, knees and elbows to help cushion falls.
-Taped seams are found on high quality outerwear. Lack of holes from stitches increase all the necessary functions of the clothing. How many layers of material does it have? Usually, the more layers (up to 3) provide the most warmth and waterproofing.
-Zip vent systems help to vent off excess heat if you start getting too warm. They are usually located on the sides of the pants and jacket. Open them up, cool off, then zip them back up.
-Detachable hood, attached hood, or no hood at all? I personally like having a detachable hood. I only wear a hood on a rainy or a heavily snowing day to keep dry. I usually remove the hood and stick it in a pocket just in case. If the hood were to remain attached, but unworn, snow would accumulate inside the hood by the rider falling or snow just getting kicked up into it. Now and then the hood will get flopped up onto your head and all the snow will get all over your head, fall down onto your neck, and down your back.
-Powder belts, Powder skirts, or whatever the company decides to call it are very helpful in keeping snow out. They are little flaps inside the jacket that you Velcro, zip or strap around your waste creating a barrier, which keeps snow from going up your jacket. Velcro around the wrists, gaiters around the wrists and ankles also help keep snow out.
-Little things like the number and location of pockets can actually be a big deal. There’s usually a certain amount of stuff that a boarder carries onto the slope (keys, wallet, lip balm, energy bar, disposable camera, picture of mom(j/k), etc). Sometimes, pockets are too numerous making the jacket or pants too bulky and/or heavy. Other times, there aren’t enough.
-Removable liners are nice because you can take them out on a warm day or keep them in when it’s really cold. Also take into account the thickness of the jacket. A thin jacket that is really nothing more than a shell is more versatile than a heavily lined jacket. You can increase the layers underneath on cold days, or remove layers on a warm day. With a heavily lined jacket, you’re stuck sweating on a warm day.
Unfortunately, you sometimes end up paying a little more just to have that well known company’s logo embroidered on the outside of the clothing. Most of the time you do pay for quality clothing, but now and then, well reputable companies sell mediocre equipment at a high price because their logo is on it.
Lastly, make sure the outerwear fits properly. Remember that you will be wearing more layers underneath so outerwear should not be too tight. You should also be able to move easily and not feel restricted. And, if at all possible, don’t worry too much about the way the clothes look. Most snowboarding clothes are pretty cool looking anyway, but you need to remember that functionality and fit come first. Do not choose the badly made, badly fitting jacket because you like the way it looks!
Warmth Layer
The warmth layer’s main purpose is to keep you warm. Once again, there are many types of technical types of materials that companies use. Quality, warmth layers are very light, not bulky, provide unrestricted movement, keep in body heat, and are usually expensive. Warmth layers should also allow moisture to escape. Any moisture retained inside the outer layer will make you uncomfortable. One thing people don’t usually think about is that you get hot and sweaty while taking your run down the mountain. If this moisture is not allowed to escape it will cool off as your body cools off… usually on the lift ride back up. Cool sweat will make you cold. On a really cold day, this retained moisture can freeze, making you really cold.
I personally don’t have many friends that own any expensive warmth layers. Cotton and wool sweaters and sweat shirts are a no-no since they retain moisture, but they are still used often by those on a budget and those that aren’t into the sport enough to want to spend their money. I currently own one technical Warmth layer sweater, and usually wear tee shirts as the rest of the warmth layer if needed.
First Layer
The first layer for many novice riders is your underwear. For the hard-core snowboarders that care about comfort, well… we have hi-tech underwear. As I have repeatedly said, you want to stay dry. A good first layer is made with material that wicks away the sweat from your skin and sends it to your warmth layer, which sends it to your outer layer, which sends it to the outside. Keeping your skin dry keeps you comfortable and warm.
There are many first layer snowboarding products out there, which include boxers, briefs, long johns, tank tops, short sleeved tees, long sleeved tees, and sports bras. As usual, all the companies have their own technical materials. I would personally just go with a reputable company that has the cheapest prices. As with the Warmth layer, I do not have many friends that own technical First Layers. I opt for cotton boxers and a technical long sleeve shirt that I bought from Burton. Technical boxers are next on my list.
Don’t forget…
Socks – Socks probably count as first layer, but since there are no Warmth and Outer layers over them, I put them here. A regular pair or two of athletic socks is okay. Never wear more than two socks though. Bunching of material in your toes restricts their movement. By being able to wiggle your toes, you increase blood flow, thus warming them up.
A good pair of snowboarding socks will have wick-a-way material to keep your feet dry and warm. They will also have an angle in them to allow for forward lean. Straight tube socks tend to bunch at the top of your foot, above the ankle, due to you leaning forward while riding. This cuts off circulation and simply feels uncomfortable having the bunched up sock pushing into your ankle.
Gloves/Mitts – Gloves are a necessity. You need to keep your hands warm, dry and protected. Falling on granular snow will cut scrape up your hands. Trust me, I got a little cocky on a spring day where many people were riding with tee shirts on. I decided not wear my gloves because I never fall… or so I thought. I fell. A few times. Since the snow numbed up my arms, I didn’t even realize how much I was bleeding until a friend pointed it out.
Purchase high quality waterproof gloves. Your hands will be in contact with snow the most, so they will need the most protections. In general, follow the same guidelines when looking for quality outerwear.
Some people like gloves, while others like mitts. It’s a personal preference really. Some people think mitts look funny. Some feel they have better grip and dexterity (holding things, strapping, etc) with gloves while others feel the same about mitts.
My main choice deals with warmth. Mitts tend to provide more warmth since your entire hand is in one chamber. Rubbing your fingers together, making a fist, and the simple fact that heat radiating from one finger is shared with the rest of your hand keeps it much warmer than if you were wearing gloves.
I have a pair of each and purchased the mitts first. I found that they kept my hand too warm and my hands would easily get sweaty. I purchased a pair of gloves and they’re just right. The separated fingers keep my hand cooler.
Hat – Don’t forget that knit hat granny made you. A simple knit hat will keep your head and ears warm. It will also provide some protection if you ever hit the ground in a fall. Even on a warm day, I always have a hat tucked away in a pocket
Goggles – Goggles, I guess should be mentioned here as well. Goggles are not a necessary piece of equipment, but they do help tremendously. Goggles will keep cold wind out of your eyes, keeping them from welling up with tears as you carve down the mountain. A good pair of goggles will have interchangeable lenses to allow versatility. Different light can require different tints. Low light and night snowboarding require clear or lightly tinted lenses. Polarized lenses are expensive, but they sharpen detail in terrain.
Helmet – Another piece of equipment that I should throw in here are helmets. Good snowboarding helmets are specially designed to be worn without hats. They keep your head warm while allowing for a perfect fit. Helmets in general should not wobble.
Here’s one last tip for all you beginner boarders. If it is your first day out, I would highly recommend borrowing waterproof pants from a friend. If that isn’t possible and you’re not sure if you will like the sport, consider purchasing an inexpensive pair of waterproof ski or snow pants ($20-$30. You can always use them in snowball fights and such if it turns out snowboarding isn’t for you). Why? Beginners fall, and they usually fall a lot on their first day. Also, snowboarders end up kneeling in the snow to rest, and they usually sit down in the snow to strap into their boards. In the cold, a wet behind and wet knees make for an uncomfortable day.
I hope this guide has helped any beginners interested, and even those not interested in snowboarding, learn a little more about my favorite sport. Feel free to email me any questions or leave me any comments.
(Epinions version 1.0 used to have a subcategory called "Purchasing Snowboarding Equipment". This editorial was located in that category.)
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
rodeo7
|
 - Top 1000 |
|
Member: Eddie
Location: Virginia, USA
Reviews written: 28
Trusted by: 71 members
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.