Guide to Riding in Style: Get Fashion and Function
When it comes to clothing and snowboarding, there’s a fine line between fashion and function. More and more boarders are starting to coordinate their gear. Manufacturers are developing product lines that allow you to have equipment that matches, pretty much from head to toe. Jackets, pants, boards, bindings – if you can name it, you can match it.
Put Your Best Foot Forward
The key word in snowboarding lately is flashy – more colors, more patterns, bigger graphics. “Patterns are huge over the past couple of seasons,” says Dustin Adams of Pacesetter Ski Shoppes in Edmonton. “Everyone wants them, and every company is offering matching jackets and pants.” Younger riders generally favor brighter colors more than older riders, but of course there are exceptions to every rule.
According to the experts, bold is in – plaid, leather, herringbone, suede, it’s all fair game. Looking for something so cutting edge that it doesn’t have any, well, sewn edges? Helly Hansen has developed the Virtue Jacket, with seams that are sonically welded. That means no stitching or glue. It breathes well, and it’s waterproof, it comes in apple green and neon orange…and if you’ve got about $480, it can be yours!
If you’re looking for something that’s environmentally friendly, you might want to consider the R4 Jacket from Patagonia. It’s made from recycled soda bottles, so you can feel good about this choice while staying warm in a fleece jacket with a windproof laminate. This jacket will set you back about $250.
Of course, boarding is no fun if your hands are freezing. Black Diamond’s new Guide gloves are versatile and warm, featuring primaloft lining that’ll keep your digits toasty and comfy. You’ll shell out about $70 for these beauties.
In fashion, the only constant is change, and one fad that’s making a comeback is the jumpsuit. Almost every snowboarding clothing line carries one-piece suits, and they are flying out the stores. New, dynamic patterns are making them more dramatic and more attractive to the fashion-savvy consumer.
The Joys of Being a Lightweight
Gone are the days when athletes had to smother themselves in huge jackets and tons of layers of clothes to stay warm. Innovations in fibres and materials have created a whole different world when it comes to beating the freeze.
“We are getting much more light weight insulation than we’ve ever had before,” Dustin says. Heavier isn’t always better anymore. New materials have created ways of making lighter weight jackets and pants. Some high-end product is even woven with aluminum fibre that, in the ultimate act of energy conservation, actually reflects your body heat back to you.
“Bonfire, for an example in high-end coats, uses primaloft, which is more light weight and warmer. They also use it in jackets for the military because it’s thin and there’s no extra bulk,” Dustin says.
These kinds of fibres allow you to turn your nose up at layering. You can wear a t-shirt under them and still stay warm and comfortable in even the most challenging weather.
Down insulation still has its fans, but they are dwindling in number. “Down filled jackets are not as popular as they used to be,” Dustin says. “They’re my favorite, though. I love them – they feel like you are wearing a sleeping bag.”
What’s a fashionable-yet-functional jacket going to cost you? There’s a pretty wide spectrum with prices, from a mid-point of about $200, up to over a grand for higher end gear. “There are Spider jackets that sell for upwards of $1,000,” Dustin notes. “There’s a big range there.”
Budgeting for pants? Plan to spent between $150 to $700, depending on the style and look you’re after.
The good news is that jackets and pants are generally coming down in price, as are many of the other snowboarding accessories, largely because the Canadian dollar is performing well against its American counterpart.
Men’s Verses Women’s Styles
As far as coats go, shells are becoming less popular, with new options for insulation making jackets lighter and less bulky. Most men’s coats are fully insulated, but shells still sell to those who love their layers. Women are less likely to wear shells, and all of the women’s product on sale at Pacesetters is fully insulated.
Heat: Good; Wet: Bad
When choosing clothes for snowboarding, comfort has to come first. And to stay comfortable, you need to be warm and dry. “The most important thing is to keep warm – to stay dry, and keep the weather out,” Dustin says.
You need clothes that don’t trap perspiration inside, but which breathe. Most good-quality clothes have mesh ventilation in the underarms and on the inside or outside of the leg to make sure there’s enough airflow to keep you cool and dry.
When you are buying your gear, it’s important to pay attention to the details – like, for instant, how waterproof it is. There’s a numbering system in play to show just how waterproof a garment is.
Generally speaking, 500 is a bare minimum for waterproofing levels, 2,000 is usually a good starting point, and 20,000 is getting pretty high-end. “Our average jacket is going to be around 10,000 in Alberta, because with this dryer climate, 10,000 is pretty much all you need,” Dustin says. In other areas where there’s more moisture, and the snow is wetter, you might be better off going with a 20,000 Gortex to keep you dry and comfy.
A family-oriented shop, Pacesetters has one of the largest selections of snowboarding clothes in the city of Edmonton. Dustin says their clothing lines have been flying off the shelves, demand is so great.
It’s been absurd this season, so far. Patterns coats have been the first to go, and bright colors are definitely very popular. Younger kids are looking for bright pants. Basic light weight jackets really go quickly.”
Après Board Fashions
The importance of looking good doesn’t end when the boarding does. Most shops carry a range of clothing lines that look good afterwards, in pubs, chalets or wherever the wind carries you.
If you’re younger, Dustin says t-shirts and hoodies are what to wear after boarding. “J. Lindberg is a huge name with kids,” he says, noting the sweaters are particularly popular. Other big-name brands for casual after-boarding wear include Billabong, Quiksilver and Roxy.
