The Top Snowboarding Gear: Get Ready for the Slopes.
So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and get into snowboarding? Great! Snowboarding is one of the most rewarding, thrilling and unpredictable winter sports around, but you’ll need to equip yourself with the right gear in order to stay safe, have fun, and make the most of your time on the slopes.
Snowboarding, like any other sport, has its own essential pieces of equipment. With a dizzying array of snowboard packages on the market, finding the right setup can seem daunting at first. To help you out, we’re breaking down the list of must-haves, so you can purchase the right products that you need and start shredding!
The Most Important Snowboarding Gear: The Board
The first thing to get your hands on before hitting the slopes? A board, naturally! You’ll want to select a board that properly fits your height, weight and riding style for maximum control and maneuverability.
The length of a board should come up to around the middle of your chin and should be proportional to your weight in order to ensure you have the proper weight distribution across the bottom of the board. Plus, you’ll want to make sure that the flex rating matches up to your style. Freeride boards come with a stiffer flex for carving and going fast, while freestyle boards are generally softer and more flexible for terrain-park tricks and jumps.
Your snowboard package will usually include your board, boots, and bindings. If you’re just starting out, then it’s a great idea to invest in a complete package, as they are generally pre-assembled by experts and come with important features like sidecut, camber, and rockers to ensure maximum performance and control.
Boot and Binding Facts
The right boots and bindings are essential to make sure you are safely and securely attached to your board and have optimal control over your board. The boots should be comfortable and fit snugly enough to make sure your feet have the support they need while snowboarding safely. Making sure the bindings fit correctly to your boots is almost as important as making sure your board fits correctly. Snowboard bindings come in a range of styles and levels — from basic to extensive — so it’s important to select the right ones for your level, riding style, and personal preference.
Protect Yourself: The Snowboarding Gear
Head protection is a must! Helmets are an essential piece of snowboarding gear to help protect you against head injury in the event of a fall. Not just any helmet will do. A good snowboarding helmet should have an appropriate safety rating and ventilation, fit snugly on your head, and match your style.
In addition to a helmet, you’ll also want to consider wearing other protective gear. A pair of good-quality snowboarding goggles will help protect your eyes from snow, sun, and wind, and help keep your vision clear. Snowboarding gloves will help keep your hands warm, offer excellent grip, and protect against scraping your palms in the event of a fall. And of course, it’s snowboarding, so players will want to be sure to keep their bodies warm and dry by wearing multiple layers, including breathable waterproof snowboarding jackets and pants.
Essential Accessories
Now that you’ve got your snowboard, boots, bindings, and protective gear, you’re almost ready to hit the slopes. But there are a few more important pieces of snowboarding gear you’ll want to pick up.
Stomp pads are an easy way to keep your feet in place on the board while adjusting your bindings or stopping. Lacing accessories like ratchet buckles can be used to help tighten your boots and bindings and ensure a snug fit and maximum control while riding. And finally, storage systems like board and boot bags can help you safely and easily transport your board, and keep your gear clean and organized.
Finding the Right Snowboarding Gear for You
With the proper selection of snowboard gear, you’ll be ready to start shredding the slopes in no time. While the list of necessary snowboarding equipment may seem overwhelming at first, following the basics outlined above will help ensure a more enjoyable experience on the slopes. Keep in mind that it pays to invest in a good quality setup from the very beginning, so do your research, and select the boards, boots, bindings and accessories that meet your needs for maximum comfort, performance, and control.
Now get out there and start shredding!
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