Snowboarding equipment guide for beginners
One of the most important pieces of equipment of snowboarding is your snowboard boots. They are your connection to the snowboard, by not spending time in finding the right boots; you can ruin your snowboarding experience. some quick tips for buying boots.
Should I buy Step in or Strap in boots…
The first decision is if you want the traditional strap-in boots or the newer step-in boots. If you decide to go for the step-in boots you will have to buy the bindings and boots together, this is because the strap-in boots will not work with the step-in binding. The trend at the moment seems to be softer boots with strap-in bindings.
The fit of the boots…
No matter how much you have to spend on boots it is very important that you take time finding the best fitting boots. If you buy boots that are comfortable in the shop you will find aching feet on the slope. So find boots that are snug. Remember be patient. Different brands of boots suit different types of feet. So go forth and find your boots.
Trying On Boots…
Here are a few things to remember when trying on your boots. Firstly wear proper socks. Put on a boot and push your heel into the back of the boot to make sure that your foot is secure. Then tie the boots laces tight but not too tight. Then close the outer lining of the boot, repeat the process with the other boot. Attach the bindings and stand up. Notice how secure your feet are, move forwards and backwards making sure there is no rubbing that may cause you discomfort later on.
Heel lift…
Heel lift is when you lean forward in your boots and your heel lifts and not your snowboard. But this will be minimized if you find the best boots for your feet.
Inner Boots…
There are many advantages of having inner boots or lining, usually the inner boots can be laced like the outer boots, and they provide a little extra stability on the slope. You can take the inner boot out to dry after a long day snowboarding.
Some Boots have additional features…
As you search for the perfect pair of boots you will notice that as the price for boots goes higher with the features. For example air-pumps. All you must remember is that these features are useless if the boots don’t fit you in the first place.
So, you are planning a snowboarding trip. You have your travel and lodging plans all set up, but have you gotten your equipment yet? While buying your own equipment may be more convenient, its also a lot more expensive. If you have never been snowboarding before, you may want to consider renting in case you find you dont like it. You can always buy equipment the next time you go. Renting also makes it affordable for people who cannot spend hundreds of dollars to buy equipment. Plus, you wont have to lug all the extra baggage on the plane or in the car. If you have children, you know how quickly kids can grow out of their clothes. When you rent, you dont have to buy your kids new equipment every year or two when they grow out of the old stuff.
Once you have decided to rent equipment, you should make sure to reserve it well before you take your trip. This is especially important if you are going during peak season. If you wait until you get there, you may have to do a lot of searching to find appropriate sizes and equipment. You definitely want to make reservations if you are renting snowboarding equipment. Snowboarding has greatly increased in popularity and many stores have not caught up with demand.
You will probably have a choice of renting equipment at the mountain, or from other stores in the area. At certain resorts where there is not much of a town you should probably rent at the mountain. At other resorts, you may have many other rental options. The benefit of renting elsewhere is that you will probably get a better price. If you are only renting for one day, the mountain will probably be more convenient because you wont have to carry equipment as far.
If you decide to rent at the mountain, you should arrive an hour before you plan to snowboard. This will give you time to get your equipment and get fitted. If you rent elsewhere, its best to get the equipment the day before you go out. This way, you will be able to find other accommodations if they do not have the appropriate equipment. When you get there, you should be ready ahead of time with everyones shoe sizes, heights, and weights. While some people may want to fudge on their weight, you should be honest. The type of equipment you need depends on your weight. If you give the wrong weight, you may be risking your own safety. If you have a very large shoe size, you should make sure the shop you rent from has the right size boots. If not, you should buy equipment online before you show up. You should ask the shop before you do this; you may be able to buy boots that fit their equipment.
When you get ready to sign the contract for your equipment, they will offer you insurance on the equipment. SAY YES! While your chance damaging the equipment is probably fairly low, its still a great idea. Cost for insurance is generally about a dollar a day. Thats 3 or 4 dollars per trip. Compare this to the tens or hundreds of dollars you could pay to fix damage to a snowboard. And thats nothing compared to the cost if you completely ruin the equipment. You should also remember that it does not take that much to damage equipment. A mountain is covered in snow when you board on it, but under that snow are rocks and branches. If the snow cover is thin on a mountain, you risk hitting these objects and you generally cannot see them to avoid them.
Hopefully these tips will help you get the right equipment for you and have a great trip!