What to Wear First Time Snowboarding?

One of the most confusing things about snowboarding is what to wear to the mountain for the first time? It seems like you need 27 different pieces of clothing just to go snowboarding. In this article, I’m going to break it down step by step so you know exactly what to bring to the mountain. So you have a great day out there and you don’t get too cold or hot and you’re not scattered all over the place with your gear.

Secure your Bag

The first thing you’re going to want to do is to secure the backpack. You need a pack that can keep all your riding stuff. This is going to reduce so much stress in your life especially if you’re going on a trip and you’re not going to have to wonder: Do I have everything? You know exactly where everything goes in the bag and what you bring all right.

Base Layer

This is where it all starts. What I really like is the Airblaster Ninja Suit. It is a one-piece zip up and it runs the whole way down with a 359-degree zipper that goes almost the whole way around so you can get in and out of it easily. What this does for me is it builds the foundation of my whole kit because it is a one-piece with little cufflinks. You do have the optional hood and then it zips up nice and high with some softer material around your neck.

You can go with any base layer and you certainly don’t need to have a Ninja Suit. But this is my preferred base layer. These come in different varying degrees of how warm they can be. They go all the way up to merino wool, which is going to be a little bit warmer. I just take the basic acrylic and it works just fine for me.

Socks

Everybody has skiing or snowboarding-specific socks but what makes that a skiing or snowboarding-specific sock is important. The material plays a key role in keeping your feet warm and dry. SmartWool Merino wool socks work great when it comes to snowsports. They have some of the great merino wool snowboard socks with seamless toe boxes. There are no seams that are adding any bunches. Also, there is padding underfoot that gives you a little bit more support to wrap your arch. There’s more padding in the heel and then a little bit of elastic at the top just to keep everything tight at the top of the sock because you don’t want the sagging down and dropping.

Boots

Getting the right fit out of your snowboard-specific boots is important. Some people borrow boots from their friends and wear multiple pairs of socks with them just to get the right fit. Never do that! What it does when you wear multiple pairs of socks is that builds up a layer of condensation between layers when your body starts to sweat. This way, you are trapping a cold layer around your foot, which can be extremely uncomfortable.

So don’t wear multiple pairs of socks. You want to get the right size-fitting boot and wear a single pair of ski or snowboard-specific socks. Sock with different thicknesses are available and if you are concerned about the weather, get a pair that is warm and thick enough for that weather condition.

Bibs

You don’t really need bibs but personally, I like them (you can also go with snowboard pants). It is a great way to protect your lower body from the elements if you choose a good waterproof bib. Go for good waterproof material and I’d recommend a material that is rated to 10K or above. The choice of this material also depends on where you are at. If you’re in the northwest and get that wet heavy snow and rain, you may need a Gore-Tex material. But for the dry snow of Colorado, I get by with my 15k bibs.

Jacket

The next thing you are going to need is the snowboard jacket. I personally use the Quiksilver Mission Insulated jacket. This is a very nice jacket that comes at a very reasonable price. This jacket keeps you warm without a mid-layer in most conditions because it has 100g of insulation built into it. The jacket has all the essential features for getting you on the slopes. These features include a snow and wind-blocking shell, a powder skirt, and five pockets. There’s also a dedicated pocket for your pass on the sleeve.

Accessories

In addition to clothing, you need some accessories to be fully prepared for the slopes.

• Facemask: I always like to ride with my facemask, something that you can pull up or down to cut off some of that bite from the wind. The mask really protects your face because your face has sensitive areas that can easily get frostbitten without you noticing.
• Hood: Wearing a hood is also a good idea. It stretches over your helmet and makes you feel secure. It also provides additional warmth to your head.
• Beanie: I like orange beanies. It’s one of my favorite.
• Mittens & Gloves: They are very helpful and keep your hands warm. You can go either with gloves or mittens whatever you prefer. I think mittens are great because you know fingers need friends. When you have the mitten, your fingers together generate the heat for each other.
• Goggles: Goggles are important because they keep your eyes protected. I use Dragon DX3 goggles and they are awesome. They are over-the-glass compatible and it’s got great peripheral and it doesn’t break the bank.
• Helmet: Last but not least, a helmet. Something like 70 or 80 percent of skiers and snowboarders wear helmets now. So it used to be like uncommon or maybe even a little taboo but now it’s become taboo not to wear one. It can be tempting to want to be cool and not wear a helmet but the reality is you’re not going to be happy with yourself if you smash your head. It’s a lifestyle sport and an awesome time but let’s be safe out there, wear your helmet along with goggles and you’re going to shred even harder.

So there you go, all complete and ready to ride.