Names of Snowboarding Gear

Snowboarding demands many pieces of gear to make the sport an enjoyable experience. Due to the cold weather and the demanding physical nature of the sport, specialized gear is required from head to toe. Weather conditions and temperature will determine how many layers you should have under your jacket and pants. Most items can be purchased from your local sporting goods store, while other items will require a visit to a snowboarding shop.

  1. Helmet

    • Snowboard helmets are the most crucial piece of safety equipment and are built specialized for snow sports. Snowboard helmets are built to fit goggles and protect against impact from trees, hard snow and other riders.

    Goggles

    • Goggles shield your eyes from wind, sun and snow. The lenses come in many different styles and colors that guard against the plethora of lighting conditions on the mountain. Ski and Snowboard goggles have different ventilation systems that keep them from fogging up from the moisture on your face.

    Jacket

    • Simply, your outer layer keeps you warm and dry. Most snowboard jackets have a waterproof rating that indicates how thick the layer of waterproof material is. This number is between 5,000 and 20,000 mm with the higher number being the most waterproof. Many jackets have Gore-Tex, which is a light, effective material that is fully waterproof.

    Base Layer

    • Your base layer is the layer that touches your skin. This layer is often made of a synthetic material such as spandex or polyester. Synthetic materials wick away moisture from your body, thereby keeping you dry. A base layer of a material like cotton will do the opposite and push moisture onto your body and contribute to coldness.

    Gloves

    • Gloves keep your hands warm. Gloves are crucial in snowboarding as your extremities often get cold first. Snowboarding gloves should have extra padding in the fingers as you are using them to carry your board with its sharp edges as well as being exposed to rocks and tree branches on the hill.

    Pants

    • Snowboarding pants are built to keep your lower extremities warm. They need to be waterproof for the same reason that a jacket does. Look for reinforcement in the rear end as snowboarding falls often impact this area.

    Socks and Boots

    • Your socks and boots work together to keep your feet warm. Your snowboarding socks must fit with your boots as the wrong size can contribute to cold feet. With socks, a synthetic material is preferred as they repel moisture.

    Snowboard

    • The tool used to ride. Your snowboard must fit your boot size to ensure safe and enjoyable riding. Your board may be the most expensive piece of all the equipment so take special care in selecting this piece of equipment.