Snowboard Outerwear Guide
How to get dressed for snowboarding
You are finally going snowboarding; your board is waxed and your board bag is packed. Make sure to also prepare your snowboarding clothes so you don’t get cold and wet on the mountain. Read more about how to choose the perfect equipment for you and how to use layers below.Outerwear Buyer’s Guide
1. Fit
Snowboard Outerwear is just like regular clothing and comes in all kinds of shapes, styles, and sizes. The fit of the garment affects its functionality, style, and how it feels on the body.
Skinny Fit
A very tight fit where the garment is close to the body. The garment is snug almost everywhere.
Slim Fit
A tight fit but with enough room for movement. The garment follows the body's silhouette but is not tight.
Regular Fit
The traditional fit with room for layers and freedom of movement without being baggy.
Loose Fit
A baggy and roomy fit that allows space for layers and freedom of movement.
Oversized Fit
The roomiest fit, designed to be very baggy with generous freedom of movement.
2. Warmth
Snowboard outerwear comes in various thicknesses that define how warm the garment will be, what it’s suited for and how it should be used. We have outerwear with 3-layer and 2-layer constructions. In a 3-layer construction, the water-repellent shell, waterproof membrane and lining are combined to be lightweight, flexible, and durable. In a 2-layer construction, only the water-repellent shell and the waterproof membrane are joined, with the lining being separate. We have snowboard Outerwear for those who get warm, those who get cold, and for everyone else.
Shell Outerwear
Shell jackets and shell pants are usually uninsulated or lightly insulated. Shell jackets and shell pants are often very comfortable and provide a lot of freedom of movement, but it’s your layers that determine how warm you are for the day. Shell’s are perfect for people who runs hot and splitboarders.
Insulated Outerwear
An insulated outerwear also protects against weather and wind but generally doesn’t have the same breathability as shell outerwear. Snowboard jackets and pants with mid-weight insulation are the standard and what almost everyone uses. Mid-weight insulation is usually the perfect middle road, allowing you to add a layer when it’s cold or open the ventilation when it’s warm.
3. Water Proofing
There are different levels of waterproofing and which level that perfect for you is determened by what conditions you’ll be exposed to. Water proofing is measured with the measurement "Water Column" which describes how much water is needed to penetrate the material over 24 hours. The higher number, the better.
10,000mm (Good)
If you will be riding in reasonably dry conditions, a water column of 10,000 mm is sufficient. These garments should keep you dry in light rain and moderate snowfall.
15,000mm (Better)
15,000 mm is a good level for most riders. The garment should handle moderate rain and snowfall.
20,000mm+ (Best)
Water column over 20,000 mm is the best if you want to stay dry in all weather conditions. You will remain dry even in heavy rain and snowfall, perfect if you’re out in all weather, touring, and using splitboards. If you’re unsure, you can always choose a garment with Gore-Tex which ensures both high water proofing and breathability.
4. Breathability
You want the outerwear to keep the water from getting in but also wick away the moisture from the inside. The more you move and sweat, the more moisture needs to be transported so you don’t feel wet and cold. Breathability is measured by how much vapor is released over 24 hours. The higher the number, the better.
10,000g (Good)
Snowboard jackets and pants with a breathability of 10,000g work when you’re not exerting yourself and sweating too much. If you’re riding on-piste, a few laps in the park, or off-piste, garments at this level should suffice.
15,000g (Better)
Snowboard jackets and pants with a breathability of 15,000g suits most riders. If you’re doing several laps in the park, long days on-piste, and sometimes riding off-piste, you’ll likely sweat more, and this level should keep the climate comfortable.
20,000g+ (Best)
Over 20,000g equips you for all types of activities on the mountain. If you’re doing many laps in the park, riding aggressively on-piste, spending a lot of time off-piste, or touring and using splitboards, you’ll sweat more and need excellent breathability. If you’re unsure, you can always choose a garment with Gore-Tex which ensures both high water resistance and breathability.
Features and Characteristics to Consider:
Snow Gaiters
Waist snow skirts are very useful when riding in deep snow. They prevent snow from getting into your mid- and base layers. Wrist gaiters prevent snow from getting into your arms and hands. Boot gaiters prevent snow from getting into your boots and socks when hiking in deep snow.
Cuffs
Cuffs at the wrists, waist, and hem help to keep snow out. They are also very much on-trend in terms of appearance.
Sealed Seams
When sewing snowboard outerwear, the waterproof membrane is punctured. To maintain water proofing, the seams are sealed. There are critically sealed seams or fully sealed seams. Fully sealed seams mean that every seam has been sealed, while critically sealed seams only have the most exposed seams are sealed.
Pockets
How much stuff do you want to bring when snowboarding? Snacks? Goggles? Spare lens? Lift pass? Beanie? It might be good to think about this before buying a snowboard jacket or pants, as garments come with different amounts of pockets.
Hood
It’s easy to forget the hood, but if it’s raining or snowing heavily, it can be your best friend. There are hoods designed to fit over helmets and also hoods with adjustable sizes.
Water-repellent Zippers
Water-repellent zippers are sometimes found on technical garments. They ensure that water cannot penetrate through the zippers.
Accessories
The principle of “Layering” is important to remember. Each layer has a job: a base layer should wick away sweat and moisture, a mid-layer should provide warmth, and an outer layer should keep you dry. Together, they create a comfortable climate regardless of the weather if you do it right.
Base Layer
The first layer is called the base layer and is the one you wear directly against your skin. Base layers provide warming insulation but their primary job is to wick away moisture and sweat. The most common materials for base layers are synthetic fabrics or merino wool. Merino wool is soft and comfortable, with antibacterial properties that reduce unpleasant odors. Merino wool regulates temperature, wicks moisture, and provides relatively good warmth. Synthetic base layers are often more durable and quick-drying while wicking moisture very well. They are easier to wash but tend to absorb more unpleasant odors than merino wool.
Mid-Layer
The mid-layer is the primary source of warmth. The mid-layer is what you will vary the most, so it’s good to have at least two sets, one for very cold and one less cold days. There are many fantastic mid-layers on the market, but we often use fleece or insulator jackets.
Fleece
Fleece sweaters come in various forms and thicknesses. They are made from synthetic materials, making them durable, elastic, and very lightweight. A warm and comfortable fleece is an excellent mid-layer and also cozy when sitting on the couch.
Down/puffer jackets
Down/puffer jackets are ideal for cold days. It is common for the insulation to consist of either down or synthetic material. They are often very warm, incredibly comfortable, and can be easily packed without taking up much space. Since down insulates poorly when compressed or wet, synthetic insulation is actually preferable for snowboarding.
Snowboard Socks
Having cold feet while snowboarding is not a pleasant experience, but we’ve all experienced it. Besides having good snowboard boots with the right fit, it’s also important to have good snowboard socks. Don’t use your regular cotton socks, as they are a recipe for wet, painful, and cold feet. There is also a difference between ski socks and snowboard socks. Snowboard socks are usually thicker, warmer, and more comfortable than ski socks, which aim for thinness. A snowboard sock has more padding over the toes, ankles, heels, and calves. A snowboard sock uses a blend of merino wool and synthetic materials; the more expensive the sock, the warmer and better the breathability it provides. A good snowboard sock does not bunch up on the foot, has cushioning/padding, is resistant to odors, wicks moisture, and keeps your feet warm.
Gloves
If you want maximum flexibility, choose gloves. It’s very easy to strap into your bindings, open vents or adjust your goggles but the downside is that the design makes a glove naturally colder.
Mittens
If you want to stay warm, choose mittens. All your fingers are together, so they retain heat longer. If you still want flexibility and freedom, make sure you can fit liners/inner gloves inside the mitten.
Neckwarmer
Don’t forget a neckwarmer or balaclava. Wind in the neck and throat can create a significant cooling effect even when it’s not very cold. A balaclava is your best friend when the cold and wind are present.