Snowboarding is a fun sport that is popular among many winter sports enthusiasts. Maybe it’s something you are planning to undertake this year. You can have a lot of fun snowboarding but it’s important to keep in mind that it is an extreme sport with a high risk of injuries. You can reduce the risk of injury by wearing the appropriate snowboarding gear.
Let’s start with snowboard boots since they are one of the most important elements in snowboarding. The boots, together with snowboard bindings, aid in the transfer of the snowboarder’s energy from the feet to the board and provide support for the boarder. The boots and bindings are paramount in determining the manner of control of the snowboard. Good boots should keep your feet warm, protect your feet from the pressures of the high speed turns, and give you maximum control over your snowboard. The bindings should tightly attach the boots to the board.
Safety is of paramount importance in snowboarding and, to this end, the helmet is an essential piece of gear. Many snowboarders suffer from head injuries, an occurrence easily preventable by wearing a helmet which is specially designed to help protect against head injuries in collisions. When looking to purchase a helmet, make sure you choose one that fits you well and is comfortable.
Another critical item when snowboarding is a reliable pair of goggles. When you are barreling down the mountain on your snowboard, goggles protect your eyes and part of your face from the icy snow and cold wind that will be hitting you. Snowboarding goggles also protect the eyes from the harmful sun’s rays, either directly or reflecting off of the snow. Some options to consider when you are choosing your goggles are anti-scratch coating, as goggles tend to scratch easily, double lenses, anti-fog coating, colored lenses to help with vision, and even interchangeable lenses that can easily be switched based on visibility. Most importantly, make sure the goggles fit you well and are comfortable. Goggles are so critical that you might want to buy two pairs and take both with you when you go boarding in case one is lost or broken.
The next essential piece of snowboarding gear is the snowboarding jacket, specially designed for outdoor activities and made for the particular needs of the snowboarder. Snowboard jackets have added functionality with a three-layer system. The third layer helps to make the jacket waterproof and windproof while improving breathability.