A Complete Guide to What to Wear for Snowboarding - aLittleBitOfAll
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A Complete Guide to What to Wear for Snowboarding

A Complete Guide to What to Wear for Snowboarding

Nothing can ruin a ski trip more than wearing clothes that are unable to keep your body heat at a comfortable level. So, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, wearing the appropriate apparel will keep you dry and comfortable even on the coldest days of the year.

Snowboarding Jacket

woman smiling in blue and yellow snowboard jacket
source: kathmandu.com.au

When shopping for snowboard clothing, waterproofing and breathability are sometimes the first technical phrases you’ll come across. This makes sense when you consider that getting your turns in on a powder day without a waterproof jacket isn’t exactly optimal. But, it’s all about striking a balance between being waterproof and breathable materials.

Because if a jacket is exceedingly waterproof yet lacks breathability you’ll easily start sweating, and as a result, you’ll be wet after only a few laps. So, if you’re looking to buy a snowboard jacket online, try to look for a fabric with high waterproof properties and good balance to breathability rate.

The waterproof rating is measured in millimetres, and they typically range in size from 5,000mm to 20,000mm. These ratings are rather confusing, as they are supposed to assess how much rain the garment can withstand in a 24-hour period. If you spend most of your time running about the park, a 5k-rated jacket should suffice.

A greater waterproof rating for the snow jackets, on the other hand, becomes considerably more vital if you plan on venturing into the backcountry. If this is your goal, you should look for coats with a minimum waterproof rating of 20k. Of course, you’ll want to consider the jacket’s breathability in this situation, since the backcountry frequently necessitates significantly greater physical activity.

Snowboarding Pants

woman in motion on snowboard in mountains on the slopes
source: outsidepursuits.com

If you’re pondering how to choose snowboard pants, you might be shocked to learn that it’s relatively similar to buying a snowboard jacket online. The majority of snowboard pants have a waterproof certification ranging from 5,000 to 20,000mm—the higher the number, the more water-resistant the fabric.

Some high-end textiles, on the other hand, do not have precise ratings. Another factor influencing waterproofing is seam taping, either fully taped seams or crucial seams taped. Some snowboard trousers are made of softshell material, which, while supple and comfortable, isn’t as waterproof as typical ‘hardshell’ pants.

Gaiters are perhaps the most distinguishing feature of most snowboard pants. They are located beneath the cuff of the pants and are intended to keep snow out of your boots and lower extremities. They may have somewhat varied features, such as hooks to attach to laces or buckles or hook-and-loop holes along the sides, but as long as they’re worn properly, they all work pretty much the same. Some pants will feature zippered cuffs that make it easy to access the gaiter.

Base Layers

snowboarder dressed in comfy snowboard jacket and pants mid air
source: thesnowcentre.com

The most vital part of snowboarding apparel is the base layer. As you might guess, it’s what you wear underneath the rest of the snowboarding attire, and unlike the tops, this section requires choosing comfort and durability over style. The base layer comes in three weights: lightweight, midweight, and heavyweight.

The colder the conditions you’re snowboarding in, the thicker your base layer should be. In terms of fabrics, synthetics like polyester are a popular fabric choice for long underwear because of the breathable and thermo-regulating properties. You may also come across nylon, polypropylene, rayon, or a fabric combination. Spandex-infused fabrics have a nice elasticity and may fit tightly without feeling constrictive.

However, if you’re searching for a natural alternative, stay away from cotton. Even organic cotton fails to perform when it comes to moisture-wicking and thermo-regulation, so you might end up sweaty and cold as opposed to when wearing man-made fabrics. Merino wool is a great natural choice for head-to-toe clothing items that’s preferred for its incredible warmth and odour-resistant properties.

Another plus is that it’s soft, so you don’t have to worry about skin discomfort or irritability. One downside to it that might put you off from adding merino wool items to your shopping cart is the higher price.

Mid-Layers

man on snowboard in motion going down a hill
source: koaa.com

Any piece of clothing worn over your base layer and/or under your outer shell is considered a mid-layer. Depending on the climate and activity, mid-layer options might range from microfleece sweatshirts to down vests, but they all function to keep you warm. The mid-layer’s job is to insulate and retain body heat while allowing moisture to pass through to the outer layers. The type of mid-layer you wear will depend on the weather and the style of snowboarding you do.

A mid-layer is dependent on ‘loft’ – space in which to trap warm air – because its job is to provide insulation for your layering system. Microfleece, merino wool, synthetic insulation, and natural down are examples of materials having this feature, and each of these has its own set of advantages and is appropriate for specific scenarios.

Ian Tompson
iantompsonlee5@gmail.com