Going to the snow can be an amazing adventure, either packing your car full with friends or hopping on a plane to an overseas winter wonderland. The right snow gear can play a major role in how comfortable, functional and mobile you feel on your Snowboard or snow skis. Let us run you through everything you need to have the best day on the mountain every time you go.
Base Layer
Base layer is the first thing you put on and play an important role in keeping you dry and warm, your base layer should whisk away sweat while keeping you warm.
Depending on your expected weather base layers come in preparation for different weather. Best idea is to check the weather forecast or typical weather for the time you are going down and pick accordingly.
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Snow Jacket
A great jacket will have you moving comfortable with great breathability and a good waterproof rating. A jacket has to carry all your essentials, look good and be functional all at the same time. The things you should be looking for in a jacket are;
- Minimum 10k - but look higher if you are travelling or want to keep dry in less then ideal conditions.
- Vents - for breathability these are awesome after a long run or when you start to feel the sun warming you up.
- Powder Skirt – this will stop snow coming up your jacket
- Wrist gaiters - to stop snow coming up through your sleeve
- Insulated Media pocket – This will keep your phone warm preserving precious battery life
- Insulation – this will keep you warm and on the mountain all day
Some examples of our favourites include;
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Snow Pants or Bib
What you wear on the bottom is important as you will need as much movement and comfort to ensure you can perform at your peak. Picking between pants or bib comes down to personal preference and also likelihood of snow coming up your jacket. Bibs are great in soft snow as they keep you dry and snow free. Things you should look for in pants and bibs are;
- Stretch – You want to be able to bend your knees comfortable and move around without restriction
- Good waterproofing – as they are more likely to encounter snow, snowboarders will want to keep the bottom warm and dry
- Vents - for breathability these are awesome after a long run or when you start to feel the sun warming you up.
- Pockets – to your preference
- Insulation - To keep you warm and toasty on those below average days
Some examples of our favourites include;
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Snowboarding and Snow skiing Gloves / Mitts
Since your hands and feet get colder than the rest of your body keeping these warm will make your whole body feel warmer. A good pair of gloves/mitts will have your hands dry and warm. Mitts will always be warmer then gloves as your fingers can keep the heat close, so if you have any issues with cold hands we suggest going mitts. Things to look for in the Gloves/mitts include;
- Warm insulation – Keep your hands comfortable and warm
- Waterproofing – to make sure your hands remain dry
- Liners – great if you are sensitive to the cold, you can also remove these when you get too hot
Some of our favourites include;
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Beanie/ balaclava
Keeping the snow and wind off your face will have you riding longer and enjoying your snow days so much more. You want to pick something that works well with your googles, jacket and helmet. Some key features you want to look out for include;
- Breathable face covering so that you don’t restrict your breathing
- Comfort as this is directly touching your face and head you don’t want anything annoying
- Warmth
Some of our favourites include:
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Snow Helmet
A helmet is your most important part of your snow attire, protecting your head not from just falls and trees but also wayward other skiers and snowboarders. You might think that you are comfortable and don’t fall over so why do you need a helmet. But it doesn’t take much for another skier or snowboarder to lose control and take you out. What to look for in a great helmet;
- A comfortable liner that you can wear all day
- Easy adjustment for the perfect fit every time
- Vents to keep your head cool
- Mips if you predict multiple impacts
Our favourites include:
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Snow Goggles
Being able to see not only makes skiing and snowboarding more comfortable, but also easier as you can spot out bumps and changes in terrain. A good pair of goggles will enable you to see great in both blue bird days and when it is snowing heavily. What you should be looking for when buying goggles;
- Easily removable lenses or adaptable lenses, this will ensure you can change mid-session as the weather changes
- Comfortable and well fitting to your face
- Compatible with your helmet so that you don’t have large unnecessary gaps
- Large range of sight, the more you can see the better when you are on the mountain
Some of the best include:
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Socks
Keeping your feet dry and warm stops a lot of the issues people associate with bad boots, if your feet sweat or get cold this can make your feet more susceptible to callus and splitting of the skin.
- Keep your feet dry by whisking away sweat and melted snow
- Warmth – warm feet help a warm body
- Comfortable
Our top picks:
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As you can see there are lots of parts that come together to give you the best time on the snow. Just remember your outfit and performance is only as good as the weakest part of your outfit you can have the best of everything and cheap goggles, your day would be ruined because you won’t be able to see. This is the same for all crucial parts of your outfit.