Snowboarding is an increasingly popular winter sport. Every year, millions of people head to the mountain slopes to enjoy the fresh air and unwind. If you’ve never snowboarded before, learning how to do it and finding the right pieces of equipment do it might seem like mission impossible, but worry not – I got you. For the ultimate experience, besides the obvious piece of equipment – a snowboard – you will also need to have the proper snowboarding gear and clothing. Let’s take a look at the basics.
Snowboard Boots
While you can certainly rent snowboard boots, I highly recommend that you buy your own pair. This piece of snowboarding gear is designed to conform to your feet specifically, which means that owning your own pair will be far more comfortable. Snowboarding boots come in regular shoe sizes, but sizing can vary from one brand to another. Choose a pair of boots that fits snug but not too tight to the point of restriction.
Good Snowboard Socks
Cold feet can easily ruin your day, which is why having quality snowboard socks is of the essence. And since your feet will sweat from the heat of your boots, you need socks that wick moisture and are good insulators. If your socks are too thick though, your feet will sweat and lose warmth. Also, make sure that your socks are high enough so that your skin does not rub against your boots and get irritated.
Low Light Goggles
You will have a huge array of snowboarding goggles to choose from but for your first trip, you won’t have to spend a fortune on a designer eyewear with interchangeable lenses. A basic pair is all you’ll need. While the mirrored lens looks great, on cloudy days you won’t be able to see a thing, which is why for a first pair you’re probably best off choosing an orange or similar low-light lens as this will still work best once the sun comes out.
Mid-Weight Gloves
Snowboarding beginners tend to make the mistake of buying heavy gloves for their first trip to the mountains. After all, snow means cold, right? Wrong, unless you are snowboarding during at the coldest point of the winter season. It is a better idea to pack a light-to-mid-weight pair of gloves that won’t overheat your hands and get them too sweaty, which can put you at the risk or getting your fingers frozen when you cool down.
Non-Cotton Thermals
You may think that wearing a simple T-shirt as a base layer will do the trick. However, cotton’s inability to wick moisture away means that a sweat-soaked thermal can easily freeze you out. To stay on the safe side, it is a better idea to invest in some decent thermals, preferably merino.
Comments are closed.