Snowboarding Gear – Essential Must-haves For Freestyle.
Snowboarding is an adrenaline-filled adventure sport, and while performing different stunts, the right snowboarding gear is vital to ensure a safe, fun, and enjoyable experience. When it comes to freestyle, having the right protective gear, accessories, and even clothing items, is essential to help you stay comfortable and perform confidently.
Whether you’re a first-time snowboarder or an experienced winter racer, there are some snowboarding gear items that you should always have with you for a successful freestyle session. Here’s our guide on the essential snowboarding gear you should consider for freestyle.
Protective Gear
When it comes to freestyle, you’ll want to make sure you have the right protective gear. This includes helmets, goggles, and a back and spine protector.
Helmets: These protect your head from serious head injuries that can result from any kind of fall and impact. Make sure to choose a helmet that fits your head perfectly and most importantly, one that meets the right safety standard for snowboarding (ASTM, EN 1077, CE1077).
Goggles: Goggles help protect your eyes from the cold and from objects and debris flying up from the snow. When buying goggles, make sure to opt for a model that fits your face shape, is suitable for a long day of snowboarding and also comes with anti-fog and anti-scratch features.
Back/Spine Protectors: Spine and back injuries are one of the most common injuries for skiers and snowboarders. To protect yourself, you need to wear a back or spine protector, to help absorb shock and provide extra protection against any impacts.
Clothing
Alongside your protective gear, the right clothing is crucial in order to keep warm and dry, avoid frostbite and ensure maximum comfort whilst snowboarding. Choose waterproof outerwear and layering pieces, including a base layer, mid-layer, and shell layer. The best outerwear is made from lightweight materials and seals out rain and snow whilst allowing you to move freely and comfortably.
Boots, Bindings and Boards
Choosing the right boots, bindings, and boards is essential to ensure a good freestyle session. The key is to ensure compatibility; your boots, bindings and boards should be designed to fit each other.
Snowboard Boots: Snowboard boots are the key to a successful session; it is essential to choose them well. You’ll need boots that are comfortable, durable and waterproof, as well as boots that fit your foot shape and width.
Board and Bindings: After choosing the right snowboard boots, you should find a board capable of delivering a fast and accurate response. For freestyle, you’ll need a snowboard that is designed for big flips and spins and is stable enough to maintain speed. Similarly, choose bindings that are flexible and responsive to match your style of riding.
Accessories
In addition to these must-have items, there are some extra accessories that you may want to consider in order to get the most out of your time snowboarding. These include a wax set and easy-to-use waxing iron, a tool kit to fix your board during a session and a small backpack to store your gear.
Conclusion
The right snowboarding gear is essential in order to safely and confidently perform some spectacular stunts. The key is to choose the right items that fit your style of riding, ensure utmost safety and make the session enjoyable. Get your hands-on the correct protective gear, clothing, boots, bindings and boards – these are a must-have for a successful freestyle session. Add the extra accessories for a truly complete experience. With the right gear, you’re sure to have an adventure-packed freestyle session!
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