Snowboard Jackets
We’ve been working with outerwear for a very long time and gathered knowledge and experience. We’re hoping that you’ll find the perfect jacket for your ski and snowboard adventures on the mountain. In order to provide your with a better experience, we’ve tried to add product videos together with the product information, check them out!Snowboarding Jackets
Are you going skiing or snowboarding this winter? It’s way more fun riding when you’re not to cold, warm or wet. It’s even better if you look good in the process. Insufficent gear can ruin your well deserved vacation and it’s much better to do the preparations on beforehand. The evolution of outerwear is hard to follow and we’ll try to help you square everything out below.
When looking for new outerwear we recommend to have the following things in mind
Waterproofing, Breathability, Fit and Insulation.
Waterproofing
When riding, the utmost important feature is waterproofing. You’re playing in snow, it’s much more pleasant if they snow stays on the outside. The waterproofing is graded in order to determine how long it will take until the fabric let water through. It’s measured in millimeters, with a waterfilled pipe pressed against the fabric. The rating displays at what force the water pressure can penetrate the fabric. For example, a fabric with 2000mm waterproofing will resist the water pressure up to the depth of 2m in a swimming pool. The higher the rating, the better waterproofing you get. To simplify, outerwear normally have 10 000mm waterproofing and it will be sufficient for most people. But if you expose yourself for really wet conditions and stay out for a long period of time, you need more than that. We have outerwear with 20 000mm which will protect you long enough.
Breathability
As we measure waterproofing, we measure breathability. This is measured by finding out how effectively a jacket transports moisture from the inside to the outside of the jacket. The same fabric pores that help the jacket to penetrate water also allow sweat molecules to pull out of your jacket and keep you dry and warm.
Breath rate is measured in grams (g). The measurement is done by finding out the transfer rate of moisture in the fabric. It determines how many grams of sweat per 1 square meter that can be pulled out of the jacket during a 24-hour period. The higher the number of grams, the more moisture is pulled from the jacket, which makes the jacket breathe more. It’s normal that jackets have around 10 000g, but we have jackets up to 20 000g. Then the jacket breathes extremely well and will keep you dry and warm.
The combination of waterprooding and breathability is something to look for if you are looking for a jacket that can do the most. Of course it affects the price, but it may be worth putting some extra coin on a good ski jacket. Especially for Swedish tough conditions with harsh weather such as rain and wind. You will benefit from it in the long run.
Fit
Fit and fit are a matter of taste. Some like tighter jackets and some like more baggy jackets. Each brand has a different fit and it can sometimes be difficult to find the right one. Using the size guide in the product text will make it easier to find the right one. This is usually seen on the model.
Insulation
It is cold up in the mountains, make sure you are warm enough for the conditions that prevail. Some only prefer a shell jacket to dress with multiple layers under the jacket. Others choose to invest in a lined jacket that does not require as many layers. This obviously depends on how cold it is where you go. A shell jacket acts as a thinner outer layer. Then you have to build layers from below to create "pockets" of warm air between the different layers of fabric. Many jackets are also manufactured with some type of lining / insulation that can be effective and comfortable. At Picture we have a scale where you roughly estimate the thickness of the jacket.
It is always better to be too hot than too cold. It is a rule of thumb to follow when looking at a new ski jacket or snowboard jacket.
Fully taped seams or Critically taped seams?
Fully taped seams are just as it sounds. All seams on the jacket have been taped for waterproofing. This is done with a waterproof tape that is glued on from the inside of the jacket. Critically taped seams are a cheaper alternative. This means that the jacket is only taped in exposed places. Critically taped seams are definitely not bad. But if you know that you will be in places with lots of rain and snow, you should bet on a fully taped jacket. It may be more expensive but in the long run it will benefit you.
20 articles
