Dressing for the Mountain: A Beginner's Guide to Snowboarding Clothing

Beginners and advanced snowboarders alike have something in common: the need to dress properly for a day on the mountain. Even when it seems like a clear winter day with no possible need for extra layers, weather can blow in at any moment. If you're on top of the mountain when it happens, you're going to be glad you wore that sweater.

Before you can even think about your board, it's important to get the right clothing for a day on the mountain. There are two crucial steps to keep in mind when dressing yourself for a day of snowboarding: remember to layer, and cotton kills.

Don't even think about including cotton in your snowboarding outfits! It absorbs water rather than wicking it away and will generally cause at best discomfort and at worth death. There's no exaggerating about how harmful cotton is. Avoid it at all costs.

The purpose of layering is to be prepared for any sort of weather at the drop of a hat (but please don't drop yours). Sometimes, storms will creep up, and it will be important to have layers for maximum warmth. Other times, noon on the slopes, especially during the start or the end of a season on a sunny mountain, will require removing some layers as to not get too sweaty.

Long underwear and non-cotton socks make up the first layer to any snowboarding outfit, known as the core or initial layer. The purpose of this layer is to wear material that clings closely, but comfortably, to your body, keeping the heat trapped in. The thinness also makes the layers that come afterwards feel and appear a lot less bulky.

The insulation, or middle, layer is for staying warm and keeping that core heat locked in for a day out on the slopes. Snowboarding pants, snowboarding boots, and a sweater or pull-over of some sort make up the middle layer. Pants should fit into the boots for a minimum chance of getting a leg full of snow, and boots should lace up firmly without pinching the feet.

The outer layer of any snowboarding outfit is the stuff that actually keeps you from getting snow in your clothing. It is important to make sure that even something as simple as a cap is not made of cotton, as it is just important for your body to be able to "breathe" while bundled up as it is for the heat to stay locked in. Hats should cover your ears as well as the top of your head, and as people lose almost all of their body heat through their heads, it's important to find one that fits securely and keeps the heat locked in.

The outer layer of snowboarding clothing also consists of your goggles and gloves, which are equally important. Gloves are a must-have item because your hands will spend time touching the snow and the cold lift poles, and should be waterproof and easy to fasten tightly at the wrists to prevent any snow leakage. Sometimes in very cold conditions, riders wear additional wool gloves inside of their synthetic, waterproof gloves for insulation.

Snowboarding goggles are important because of many things. One, in the event of a sudden weather change and a big snow, you're going to need something to block the snowflakes from getting in your eyes. Another is that a bright, white, reflective surface can do damage to your eyes after an hour or so, so the tinting in the goggles decreases the UV rays. Goggles also keep things like tree branches from doing any damage to your eyes.

The most crucial part of your snowboarding outfit is the snowboarding jacket. A water and wind repelling jacket is a must for riders, as well as an inner-shell that fits a little more snugly and keeps water out in case you fall down at any point during the day. Once you're all suited up, it's time to hit the slopes!

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