The Best Snowboarding Gear for Teens.
Whether your teen is a seasoned shredder or a first-timer just beginning to feel the thrill of snowboarding, they need the right gear to make the most of their experience. From winter coats, snow goggles, and insulated riding pants to proper footwear, a snowboard, and bindings, the most comfortable and safest snowboarding experience for your teen begins with quality gear.
In this guide, we’ll review the essential snowboarding gear for teens and explain what features to look for when making your selection. We’ll also provide advice on how to help your teen get the best fit out of their gear and what sizes are recommended for teens.
Staying Warm and Dry
Cold and wet weather isn’t just a buzzkill—it can also be downright dangerous if your teen isn’t properly bundled up. With that in mind, the first and most important piece of gear in any teen’s snowboarding wardrobe is a quality coat and pants designed to keep the snow at bay and body temps in check. A few features to consider when selecting a coat and pair of pants for your teen include:
Waterproof and Windproof Material: Most modern coats and pants for snowboarding are made from some combination of polyester, polyurethane, and other waterproof and windproof materials. This ensures that your teen stays warm, dry, and comfortable on the slopes.
Insulated and Breathable: Most quality coats and pants are insulated with synthetic down (like PrimaLoft or Thinsulate) and are also designed to be breathable. This is important to ensure that your teen isn’t overheating while snowboarding and can also help regulate airflow throughout their clothing.
Powder Skirts: A great feature to look for in ski and snowboard coats is an internal or external powder skirt. This extra layer of fabric makes sure that no snow or moisture gets up your teen’s jacket while they’re gliding through the powder.
Goggles: Eye Protection is Key
While this seems like a no-brainer, protecting your teen’s eyes is essential for snowboarding. Bright sunlight can quickly cause sunburns, snowbound debris like sticks and stones can easily damage the eyes, and fogging lenses can cause your teen to lose critical clarity. The best snowboard goggles offer important features like 100% UVA/UVB ray protection, dual lenses, anti-fog coating, and an ergonomic, adjustable fit.
Additionally, helmets are a great way to protect your teen’s head and face from injury while snowboarding. Look for helmets that are rated for snowboarding and have adjustable, comfortable straps and padding that fit snugly around your teen’s head.
Snowboard Bindings: Comfort and Control
The connection between the rider and snowboard, snowboard bindings are important because they offer dynamic control, flexibility, and the comfort of a surfer-style ride. The best snowboard bindings for teens offer important features like adjustable forward lean, adjustable footbeds, and adjustable straps. Most teen snowboard bindings also have a new school fast-spinning disk that makes attaching your teen’s snowboard quicker and easier than ever.
When selecting snowboard bindings for your teen, it’s important to make sure that the bindings are compatible with your teen’s snowboard. You can typically find this information on the marketing material of most snowboard bindings or contact the manufacturer directly.
Footwear: Choosing the Right Boot
Choosing the perfect snowboarding boot for your teen can be the difference between a great, memorable day on the slopes or a cold, uncomfortable experience. There are many factors to consider when selecting footwear for snowboarding, but here are a few of the most important features to look out for:
Lacing System: The lacing system of a snowboard boot greatly impacts your teen’s ability to tighten or loosen the boot as needed. There are three lacing systems commonly used in today’s snowboard boots: Traditional, Speed, and Bead. Traditional lacing is the most widely used system and is known for its durability. Speed lacing, commonly found in snowboard boots built for higher-end performance, requires less effort and time when tightening or loosening the boot. The Bead lacing system, which uses tabs and a pullcord to tighten or loosen the boot, is best for beginners and younger riders as it can be easier to use for those without much experience in snowboarding.
Flex Rating: A snowboard boot’s flex is determined by a numerical rating that runs from 1-10, with 1 being the softest and 10 being the stiffest. Generally speaking, younger riders and beginners should stick with a boot on the softer side of the flex spectrum, while experienced riders can opt for a stiffer, higher-rated flex.
Liner: A quality snowboard boot should be able to keep your teen comfortable and efficient on the board—no matter how long they decide to stay out. Look for boots with well-insulated liners and double or triple laces (which prevent snow from seeping in and keep the boot snug).
Buying a Snowboard: Size Matters
Your choice in snowboard should be based on skill level, as well as the terrain your teen is most likely to ride in. For example, all-mountain boards are designed with “all terrains” in mind and make a great “all-in-one” option for those just learning the ropes. Freestyle boards are usually shorter and better suited for jumps and tricks, while freeride boards are longer and meant for higher speeds. That said, it’s important to note that board length is based on your teen’s weight as well as their riding style.
A good rule of thumb to follow when selecting the perfect snowboard for your teen is to measure the distance between their chin and the floor (this will give you their height). From there, you should subtract 10 cm if your teen is a beginner, 5-8 cm if they’re a more experienced rider, and add 5 cm if they do a lot of speed riding.
Getting the Best Fit
No matter what type of snowboarding gear you’re purchasing for your teen, it’s important to make sure that the fit is just right. It’s best to try out the gear before heading out to the slopes, or buy from a retailer that offers an easy return policy in the event that the fit isn’t quite right. This applies to coats, pants, boots, boards, and even goggles—all of these pieces of gear should fit securely and comfortably on your teen’s body to ensure the best possible performance.
Conclusion
Snowboarding is a great way for teens to hone their skills, have some fun, and get a great workout in while they’re at it. With the right gear, your teen can have the most comfortable, safe, and enjoyable snowboarding experience. Investing in quality pieces of gear designed specifically for teens is a great way to make sure that your teen stays warm, dry, protected, and has all the control they need while they’re getting their shred on.
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