The Best Snowboarding Gear for Freestyle.
Snowboarding can be a thrilling experience—particularly if you find the right gear. For freestyle snowboarding, you need specific gear that’s lightweight, flexible, and durable. That’s why it’s essential to find the best snowboarding gear for freestyle on the market.
Freestyle snowboarders can perform all sorts of tricks and moves at various levels. They spin and flip off jumps, slide objects in terrain parks, and nose and tail slide rail features. If you want to join the ranks of these amazing athletes, you need the proper gear.
Understanding the Basics of Snowboarding Gear
Before diving deep into the gear specifics, let’s take a look at the basics of snowboarding gear. The three most important things you need are a snowboard, boots, and bindings.
When it comes to freestyle snowboarding, you’ll want to look for gear that is lightweight, flexible, and durable. The right gear will make all the difference when pulls off complex tricks.
Snowboard
When it comes to choosing a snowboard, freestyle boarders should pay attention to a few key specs: flex, waist width, construction, and shape. You’ll also want to think about the type of terrain you’ll be riding in most.
Flex: Flexible boards are best for freestyle — that’s because they can handle the unexpected and make landings easier.
Waist Width: Shorter boards are better for tricks and jumps, so opt for a waist width between 240 and 250 millimeters.
Construction: Since freestyle boarders need to be able to twist and turn sharply, they should look for boards constructed using materials such as sandwich or cap construction. These constructions provide the right mix of power and response.
Shape: Freestyle boards are usually twin tip boards – that’s because they provide balance and control no matter which way you’re riding.
Boots
Boots play an essential role in snowboarding, as they connect you to the board and are responsible for providing support and comfort. When choosing a boot, consider comfort, fit, flex, and lacing system.
Comfort: The pinching, discomfort, and itsy-bitsy numb toes feeling can ruin your jump. Look for thick padding in the liner and the footbed to make sure your boots fit properly and give you a good snowboarding experience.
Fit: Your boots should fit snugly—not too tight, and not too loose. To be sure about the size of boot, measure your feet and read the size chart.
Flex: Freestyle boarders should opt for softer flex boots as they provide more response when turning and allow the rider to better control the board.
Lacing System: Freestyle boarders have different needs when it comes to lacing system. For example, speed lacing systems are excellent for those that want to tighten their boots quickly, while traditional lacing systems provide a more reliable fit and more power transfer.
Bindings
Bindings are extremely important, as they connect you to the board and play a key role in safety and performance. Freestyle boarding requires bindings that are lightweight, responsive, and supportive.
Lightweight: Look for bindings made from a material like aluminum, as it’s both light and strong.
Responsive: Responsive bindings provide good board control and energy transfer for a more comfortable and reliable ride.
Supportive: Supportive bindings help keep the foot in place, even when you’re doing complicated jumps and tricks.
The Best Snowboarding Gear for Freestyle
Now that you know the basics of snowboarding gear, let’s take a look at the some of the best freestyle snowboarding gear that you can get.
Snowboards
1. K2 WWW Snowboard
Weight: 4.3 lbs,
Flex: 6/10 (Medium)
Waist Width: 250 Millimeters
Construction: Fusion 4000 Sidewalls/Hybritech
The K2 WWW board is an excellent choice for freestyle riding. With a medium flex and lightweight construction, it provides great power and response, perfect for squeezing out more performance in the park.
2. Burton Process Off-Axis Snowboard
Weight: 7.8 lbs,
Flex: 5/10 (Soft)
Waist Width: 248 Millimeters
Construction: Off-Axis, Super Fly II Core
The Burton Process Off-Axis board is an excellent choice for freestyle riding. It’s lightweight and responsive, with a soft flex that provides the perfect balance between power and control. Plus, its unique Off-Axis shape gives you a better edge control and ensures that your board won’t wash out when you’re riding.
Boots
1. Burton Charger Snowboard Boot
Weight: 5.5 lbs
Lacing System: Traditional lacing
Flex: 6/10
The Burton Charger is an excellent all-round snowboard boot that’s perfect for freestyle riders. It provides great support and good heel-to-toe power transfer, meaning you don’t have to compensate for lost energy when you’re turning. Plus, it has a thick padded liner and footbed for added comfort.
2. K2 Thraxis Snowboard Boot
Weight: 4.9 lbs
Lacing System: Speed lacing
Flex: 8/10
The K2 Thraxis boot is perfect for the Park. It’s lightweight, responsive and supportive, so it’s great for quickly adjusting your board on rails and jumps. Plus, it has a speed lacing system, so you can easily get your boots on and off.
Bindings
1. Burton Genesis X EST Snowboard Binding
Weight: 2.7 lbs
Flex: 7/10
The Burton Genesis X EST binding is highly responsive and reliable, perfect for freestyle riders. It’s lightweight and supportive, giving you good board control and great power transfer. Plus, its unique EST Baseplate ensures that you’re connected directly to your board for the best performance possible.
2. Union Strata Snowboard Binding
Weight: 2.9 lbs
Flex: 6/10
The Union Strata binding is designed specifically for freestyle riding. It’s lightweight, responsive and supportive, providing you with great board control and power transfer. Plus, its Stage III Duraflex Construction gives it added durability, so you won’t have to worry about it breaking when you’re doing tricky jumps and flips.
Conclusion
When it comes to freestyle snowboarding, having the right gear is essential. The right snowboard, boots, and bindings will help you perform the tricks you want and feel comfortable while doing them. We’ve outlined some of the best snowboarding gear for freestyle, but the key is to find what works best for you and your style of riding. Good luck on your pursuit of the perfect snowboard setup!
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