First Time Snowboarding - What to buy?

stubie_doo

stubie_doo

stubie_doo

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Going snowboarding for the first time in January, want to start getting stuff together now so I can have lessons. What's the best to buy before I go and what equipment is best to rent?

I'm currently planning to buy the following before I gO...

Ski Coat
Ski Pants (Not sure how many pairs ill need though?)
Ski Boots (expensive but feel its worth it over a rented pair as ill be wearing them all day?)
Goggles
Ski Socks
Ski Gloves

Heard TK Maxx is a good place to start for jackets though not sure about the other stuff?
 
definatley would advise baselayers. Will help a lot to keep you warm!! Would also recommend a scarf of sorts - i use a thermal buff - as helps with keeping your neck warm

TK Maxx do some good stuff but never bought jackets from them. They normally have some good ski socks (which can get expensive!).

Personally i always take 2 sets of everything (except boots!) as if it snows all day it can be difficult to get everything dry for the next day.
 
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2 parts for the base layer. ANy good ski shop will have them but cheap ones can be had from TK Maxx or outlet shops like mountain warehouse or Trespass
 
Good goggles really make a difference, as well as protecting your face if you fall on it they won't be prone to steaming up so much as cheap ones. I go boarding in scotland and france and I don't usually have the need for a specialised base layer but I have a back protector now which keeps me warm enough. Also I recently got protective shorts which I can't praise enough keep you warm when your sitting down and protect you from one of the easiest but most painful injuries - the tailbone
 
Where are you going? Depending on how cold it is depends on what you will need to wear. I would get a couple of good thermal fleeces for a mid later and I use a t-shirt as a base layer

Ski Coat - Any Ski coat should do
Ski Pants - Specialist snowboarding ones are better than ski ones as some will attach to your boots stopping snow leaking in
Ski Boots - Since its the beginning of the season you might get a decent pair of rental boots but it can be a bit of hit and miss. If you have the money I would get a pair
Goggles - At least get a a half decent pair
Ski Socks - I take a pair per 2 days I will be there
Ski Gloves - Get the best you can afford, cheap gloves are no fun. If they get wet inside your hands will get cold and stay cold for the rest of the day

I would also echo getting a pair of impact shorts. Since its your first time you will be spending a large amount of time on your bum and anything that limits the discomfort doing so it a good thing. I would also suggest a pair of knee guards for the same reason.

Wrist protectors are good for your first time to minimise the chances of you breaking your wrists until you learn how to fall e.g. not trying to save yourself
 
there's some good advice here, good goggles are a must. Don't use shades and think it will be ok. You want an orange or yellow tint for low light conditions. Wicking base layers are also essential, if you wore a cotton t-shirt and sweat while you are hot as soon as you stop that sweat will get cold and you will be wet and miserable.

Just make sure your outer layers are breathable and fully waterproof shells, Get some wicking base layers and then have a fleece ready so you can layer up when it is cold. January is probably the least forgiving month so make sure you have the layers for when you need them.

T-k max is good if you'r not sure you're gonna like it. May also be worth looking on fleebay for shops selling off last years gear cheap before they get new season stuff in.

Enjoy it, snowboarding is the best thing in the world!
 
If you're going snowboarding - don't buy ski boots! ;)

You can get some good bargains now, but it's coming to the point when most shops will want to start promoting their new 2009 stock and will end the discounts. Ellis Brigham/TSA will still have some discounted gear online I would imagine, whereas local shops may not.
TK Maxx and Sports-direct will have cheap stuff in throughout the season though, some of it is decent.

Personally, I never bother with base layers. T-shirts, thin tops and jumpers have always sufficed for me. A scarf or buff is usefull though, and a good pair of gloves. Cheap goggles will steam up, but you can buy good branded ones from eBay cheap enough if you look around.

You can get by with 1 coat, but 2 pairs of pants is preferable. I prefer to use football socks than the cheap 'ski tube' socks you get. Proper ski/board socks can be expensive, however I have 2 pairs that are very comfy and warm :)
 
Good advice above, its worth noting if you want to buy fairly expensive kit it can often be cheaper to buy abroad, especially if you are going to the states..

I wouldnt buy a board/boots either for your first time.. You may not like it and prefer to ski, in which case the boots are totally wasted, while you can use the clothes for either..
 
Hutch said:
I wouldnt buy a board/boots either for your first time.. You may not like it and prefer to ski, in which case the boots are totally wasted, while you can use the clothes for either..
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Board and bindings, no. But boots maybe, I've seen a seen people suffer all week with ill fitting rental boots before - so I'd consider it whilst there are deals around. Plus you can sell them when you get back if you don't intend to go again.

I wouldn't advise walking into somewhere peak season and dropping £250+ on a pair though as a first timer though.
 
A great big padded pair of pants! I gave up snowboarding after 3 days & went back to 2-planks because my skinny ass couldn't take any more mountain punishment.

Ski jacket/trousers from TK Maxxxxxx are good value. Name brands (nike, columbia, etc) at cheap prices because they're last seasons styles. It would probably be good to get some ones specifically for boarding though, if you can find them.
 
WillyNelson said:
A great big padded pair of pants! I gave up snowboarding after 3 days & went back to 2-planks because my skinny ass couldn't take any more mountain punishment.
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You big wuss, that's just incentive to get better fast. :p

Although in fairness padding is a good idea if you are just starting out, impact shorts are what they are sometimes called. They won't prevent all soreness but can alleviate some of the worst of it.

For starting out the kit doesn't need to be fantastic, there is after all a fair chance that you'll fall over and rip something. If you do nothing else buy a decent pair of mitts, they are warmer than gloves and for most snowboard bindings you don't need to be able to operate your fingers independently. The rest of what you wear is less important as far as I'm concerned but few things are worse than cold hands and/or feet when doing winter sports - remember to get boots that fit and don't wear a pair of socks so thick they constrict bloodflow as your feet will get cold and you won't enjoy it much.
 
Ok all you *need* for your first snowboarding is:

Need:
1) Wrist protectors
2) Good gloves - you will be pushing off from snow and digging yourself out. So the best gloves you can get
3) Good seamless (and at least four pairs) of snowboarding socks - these will help pad against the hire boots.
4) Snowboarding bottoms - good bum padding as you'll be sat on it and zippable vents as you'll be expending a lot of energy when you first learn (getting up for starters!)
5) Snowboarding top - with zippable vents as
6) Goggles are better than sun glasses as they cover a wider range of weather.
7) Beanie to keep your head warm.

Now, additionally, in the non-essential need category:

8) sweat and thermal layers.
9) Crash helmet. I can't understate this as it helps from the higher speed learner crashes!
10) Knee protectors - ice and knee caps.. ouch.. these are cheap and worth it. You'll not feel as sore and you'll not make mistakes because of the fear of more pain.. also keep your knees warm if you decide to kneel rather than sit because your butt is cold!

Then.. when you like it:
* Boots

Then ... after several times with different types of boards:
* board + bindings

And if you're going out in -20 or below then perhaps a thermal under jacket.
 
I'd recommend getting a decent helmet and some protective shorts (they'll be worth their weight in gold trust me). I'd also consider some back protection, I'd no doubt be in a wheelchair now if I hadn't been wearing it when I took a big fall. It was a bit annoying when they cut it off me but I think it paid for itself that day. They're also a few pairs of gloves about with built in wrist protection, these are fantastic!

As for the other stuff it's often about as expensive on resorts as it is in the UK shops so unless you're visiting somewhere away from which ever resort you goto you probably won't make to much of a saving over UK prices as you would normally do.

You'll only need one pair of trousers, just have a couple of different base layers so you can vary them depending on smell/how cold it is.

Pick your goggle lens tint carefully, too dark and they'll be dangerous on the cloudy days and too light and when you have bright sun they won't be much good either. Ideally get two pairs/interchangeable lenses or if you're getting just one pair pick something that will be usable in most conditions.

Rental boots aren't too bad for beginners when it comes to snowboarding since they're much more flexible then ski boots so less likely to cause a lot of pain.
 
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Im off to Val Thorens in january :D cant wait!
Heres the list of stuff im taking:
Snowboard
Boots
Jacket
Hoodie (for when its not cold enough for jacket - not a good idea if you fall over a lot tho)
Salopettes x2
Impact shorts :cool:
Wrist Guards
Gloves x2
Hats x3/4
Scarf
Goggles + sunglasses
Camelbak
TShirts (you may need more than just a tshirt - i tend to get very warm when im snowboarding and usually just wear a tshirt + my jacket)
Suncream
Travel plug adaptor

think thats about it.
 
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