Snowboarding boots - The key to comfort on the hill.
The boots that you wear when snowboarding will make a huge difference with your ability to control your snowboard and your comfort on the hill. You will quickly find that cold, sore or wet feet will destroy a day of snowboarding faster than anything else will. When it comes time for shopping for your snowboarding boots it is important to… [Choosing Snowboarding Boots]
If you receive ill-fitting, damaged or simply the wrong type of snowboard rental equipment your snowboard holiday can be completely ruined from the outset.
Follow this snowboard equipment rental advice to help you make a more informed decision on where to get your rental snowboard equipment and what to look out for when choosing your rental snowboard equipment.
Where to rent snowboard equipment from:
You have a few choices as to where you can get your rental snowboard equipment.
The first and most obvious choice is actually from a rental shop in the resort you are going to. The advantage of this is that if you have any problems with your rental equipment you can get them fixed straight away. The downside of this is that often the day you need to get your rental equipment is the same day everyone else needs to get theirs because holiday makers tent to leave and arrive in resorts around the same times (weekends) and so you may be faced with enormous queues and waiting times on your first day. This is very frustrating when you are only going for one week and every day counts. If you end up at the back of a queue you may find the choice of rental equipment available by the time you get to the front is some what limited and only the older tatty equipment is left. You can always go to another shop but by then most rental shops will have the same problem. Renting in the resort can also be more expensive than the other options, however, at the end of the day it is the safest bet if you are not experienced with snowboard equipment.
Another option for your snowboard equipment rental is to go nearer to home. You will often find sports shops catering for winter sports around winter time which often includes equipment rental. The advantages of renting your snowboard equipment from a non-resort based shop back at home is that the snowboard equipment can often be of a higher quality, you will save valuable time and hassle when in the resort and renting this way is usually cheaper. The disadvantages are that you will have extra luggage when travelling to your resort so make sure you have a snowboard bag or the rental shop provides you one with your snowboard equipment rental. You may also find that these ‘local’ sports shops tend to have a much more limited range of equipment compared to the resort-based rental shops. Another issue with renting your equipment outside of the resort you are going to is that if you have problems with the snowboard equipment you will have to pay for a resort shop to fix the problem and if the problem is serious you won’t be able to just swap out your faulty snowboard equipment with a replacement; you will need to pay a rental fee again for a new snowboard equipment rental from a resort shop.
One other option you have for snowboard equipment rental is locating a cheap internet rental shop. Whilst this can save you the most money it id fraught with the same problems as the previous option of renting snowboard equipment outside of the resort you are going to PLUS another issue with this method, and a big issue, is that you do not get to actually see the exact snowboard rental equipment until it arrives at your door. This makes the whole process guess work and when choosing snowboard boots especially this could be a big problem. Unless you know exactly what you want and what you are getting I would highly suggest against renting your snowboard equipment in this way. If however you do choose to go this route to save money, make sure you rent your snowboard equipment way in advance of your snowboard holiday so that you have time to check the rental equipment and return it to receive a refund or replacement if it is not right.
Those are the three main options for obtaining your snowboard equipment rental, however, above all I would say that if you are serious about snowboarding there is no substitute for having your own equipment. It will be far superior to any rental equipment, you will get used to one set of equipment and you will save money in the long run. For the price of three winters worth of snowboard equipment rentals you can pick up a half decent snowboard setup (especially in the sales at the end of a season).
Fitting your snowboard boots and choosing your snowboard:
When you are in a snowboard equipment rental shop the first things that you will be measured up for will be your boots and the size of your snowboard. Different width snowboards are available for different sizes of feet so if you have particularly small or large feet make sure you go to a snowboard rental shop that can cater for both extremes of sized feet; good snowboard rental shops should have narrower and wider models of snowboards.
The length of the rental snowboard you get depends on a few things including your level of snowboarding and the type/style of snowboarding you intend on doing. Make sure the tell the rental shop assistant these details so they can accurately provide you with the right length snowboard. Also with snowboarding size is more important than height when sizing a person for a snowboard, however, if you are of average size & height you can expect your snowboard to to come up to between your nose and chin.
Snowboard boots are one of, if not the most important part of your snowboard rental equipment to get right. If your snowboard boots don’t fit right or cause you discomfort your snowboarding and holiday will be massively effected. When having your snowboard boots fitted make sure they feel comfortable and snug - tight but not to tight so that your circulation is cut off! Your heel a toes should reach and be in contact with both ends of the boot. Unlike normal shoe fitting where you want a bit of room at your toe end of the shoe, with snowboard boots it is important that your toes are touching the end of the boots when you stand up straight. This is because when you are snowboarding your knees will be slightly bent because of whats called ‘forward lean’ which causes your toes to be brought away from the front end of the boot. When this happens the distance of your toes from the front of the boot should be just right. Because of this make sure you cut your toe nails before snowboarding otherwise they can become sore from pushing up against the front of your snowboard boots when you are not snowboarding. Having the right snowboard boots is very important so make sure you get a good pair, decent snowboard rental shops sometimes have top-end snowboard boots which have a memory-foam inner liner that moulds and readjusts to each new wearers feet. This can solve a big problem in rental boots where they become very loose and stretched over time making it hard to find a tight fitting rental boot. If you are considering buying your own snowboard equipment I would recommend that your snowboard boots are the first item you purchase.
Setting up your rental snowboard equipment:
The snowboard rental shop assistants should help you find the best and most comfortable stance for you on your snowboard if you do not already know it. You may find even if you have tried other board sports you may prefer a different stance when you are snowboarding so keep an open mind when figuring out your snowboarding stance. There are pro snowboarders who prefer to skateboard regular (left foot first) yet snowboard more comfortably in a goofy stance (right foot first). I won’t go into detail on snowboard stance setup here because if you are renting snowboards you won’t need to know about setting up your stance as the shop assistants will figure it out for you and setup your rental snowboard accordingly. One thing to note here is that it isn’t always easy to get your stance perfect the first time round so make sure your snowboard rental shop is happy for you to return for stance setup adjustments until you get it just right. Any decent resort rental shop will provide this service for you at no extra cost.
You will likely be presented with a choice of snowboard bindings when you rent your snowboard equipment. This choice consists of two different types of snowboard bindings: Step-ins & Strap-ins. Sometimes the rental shop assistants will just give you whatever they have or feel you should use. If you have a preference make sure to tell them or you could end up with a setup you are unfamiliar or unhappy with. So whats the difference between step-in bindings and strap-in bindings? Snowboard step-in bindings are much easier an quicker to use. They have no straps that go over the top of your boots holding your feet down in place. They simply consist of a disc shaped plate that has a locking mechanism which locks the matching pair of snowboard boots in place when you step-down on them. This makes them quick to operate, however they have been known to be troublesome when they get clogged up with snow in heavy conditions. They can also be tricky to put on when on a steep slope because the bindings have no high-back to rest your calf against keeping the board perpendicular to the slope; getting your first foot in can be a hassle. Snowboard step-in bindings can also have reduced responsiveness compared to the strap-in bindings and thus result in you feeling less confident and secure. Strap-in snowboard bindings are the original type of snowboard bindings and are still the preferred choice of most pro snowboarders because they really do provide much better support, response and versatility in your riding. As most most things in snowboarding it is all down to personal choice so try both types of bindings out when you rent your snowboard equipment and see what prefer. Some snowboard rental shops allow you to swap around your snowboard gear until you are happy with what it. Some snowboard rental shop assistants may not look happy to constantly change about your bindings but they will do it if asked!!
Snowboard equipment rental insurance:
Make sure your snowboard rental equipment is insured otherwise you may end up having to pay a lot more than just the weeks rental costs for the equipment! This can be the case even if your rental gear look years old. Many rental shops offer insurance as part of their snowboard equipment rental service so check this with the rental shop assistants. If you have already got winter holiday insurance your rental snowboard equipment may already be covered but do check your winter holiday insurance details as what you are covered for can vary greatly from one insurance company to another.
Last but not least, check your snowboard equipment regularly for loose parts and problems just to be safe and so you can have fun without worry on the mountains!
Here’s a quick list of do’s and dont’s for when you go out to buy your next snowboard:
Dont:
Do:
Buying secondhand snowboard gear is an effective way to obtain all the snowboard kit you need if you are wanting to get into snowboarding on the cheap. But you must be careful with what you buy and so try to take someone experienced with you who knows what to look for if you are new to the sport.
How To Buy Secondhand Snowboard Gear:
Buying secondhand snowboard boots
Do not even consider buying secondhand snowboard boots. If they have only been warn a couple of times you may get away with it but how are you going to be sure they have only been worn a couple of times unless you are buying them off a trust worthy mate. To be honest, even then I would not recommend buying a secondhand pair of snowboard boots. Besides the previous users lovely foot-rot and the rancid smell(!), secondhand snowboard boots that have been worn heavily will have moulded to the shape of the previous users feet and will therefore have lost a lot of their support.
Buying secondhand snowboard bindings
Considering that snowboard bindings are pretty cheap to start with buying secondhand snowboard bindings is fairly pointless. Never the less, if you manage to find a good bargain here are a few things to look out for:
Buying a secondhand snowboard
Again snowboard prices are constantly coming down all the time and there are some great board & bindings combo deals around so you should try to look at new snowboards in the deals sections as well. Plus your snowboard kit will be under warranty. If you are still adamant about buying a secondhand snowboard then be sure to follow this advice:
Most snowboarders shouldn’t try to rip you off but as always when buying secondhand snowboard gear or anything secondhand for that matter, always always be super thorough.
This is a quick guide to help answer the first common snowboarding question: what size snowboard do i need?
People will usually ask: what length snowboard do I need? however, an often missed question, but just as crucial is the question: what width snowboard do I need? The length AND width are both very important with regards to finding and buying the right size snowboard for yourself.
When you become a more advanced snowboarder the right size snowboard also depends on the style of riding you intend on doing; tricks in the park, racing or back country powder riding for example.
Determine What Size Snowboard Do I Need: Length
Snowboard length is shown in centimeters and is often shortened to the last two digits only. For example, a Burton S-Series 62 Snowboard measures 162cm long (tip to tail). A small kid’s snowboard can be only 100cm in length whereas a long racing snowboard or power snowboard can reach 190cm in length and sometimes even longer!
To start determining the answer to your question: what size snowboard do i need?… begin by measuring the snowboards length against your height. When standing the snowboard up straight, a board that reaches somewhere around your collar bones and chin is a short board. Shorter snowboards are much easier to maneuver and throw about so they are good for learning on and lend themselves very well to tricks & freestyle riding in snowboard parks and half-pipes.
A snowboard that is of a medium length will reach between your chin and nose when stood on it’s tip or tail. This is a suitable length snowboard for intermediate to advanced snowboarders. These riders may take on a variety of terrains including steeps and snowboard parks.
What would be considered a long sized snowboard would reach from your eye level to anywhere within a few inches above your head. A long snowboards purpose would be for deep powder riding (snowboards should also be very wide for this too), big mountain terrain riding and high speed race carving.
If you are heavy for your height you can stick by these rules as well but you should also look at snowboards with a stiffer flex. So to the opposite effect of this if you are a light person aim for boards that have a softer flax. Keep in mind that this is a general set of guidelines to help get you going and individual preferences and riding styles may, and eventually probably will, sway your decisions as to what size board you prefer.
Determine What Size Snowboard Do I Need: Width
As previously mentioned snowboard length size can be determined with both the guidelines and some personal preference. With snowboard width size your options are less flexible as it is directly linked to the size of your feet. Snowboarders who’s feet are small require narrow snowboards and at the other end snowboarders with bigger feet need to use wider snowboards. Many manufacturers actually make snowboards specifically for individuals with larger feet. If you do have big feet be careful when choosing your snowboards bindings as some can add even more length to surface area your feet take up and if it is already an issue you want to minimise this as much as possible, not make it worse.
Again as with the length, the width of a snowboard is displayed in centimeters and you’ll find this information within the snowboards specifications as waist width. A snowboards specifications is usually found on the sales tag, manufacturers catalog, the brands website or even occasionally on the snowboard itself (usually between the two binding areas). To figure out the correct snowboard width, lay the board out flat and stand on it. Either strap-in to your bindings or just stand in them whilst making sure your stance is exactly the same as when you normally ride. This is crucial because if you increase the angle of your feet in your stance then less of your snowboards width is going to be taken up by your feet.
When you are strapped in on your snowboard and are in your riding position check to see how much ‘over-hang’ you get from your toes and heals. Your boots need to be either aligned with or a little over the snowboards edges. If you find your heels & toes are not coming close to the snowboards edge you will be unable to put proper pressure on your edges when making a turn plus your edge to edge control will suffer. If you find your toes and heels are hanging over the edges of your snowboard to much they will then be likely to ‘catch’ the ground during a turn causing you to loose your edge in the snow. This is called toe-drag. You want to aim for less than 1inch over-hang.
That concludes this guide for finding the right size snowboard. You should now be able to answer your question: what size snowboard do i need?
Admittedly, snowboard boots and how great they are is totally down to the individual. What one person likes the other may hate. But one thing we can all agree on is that finding the right snowboard boots is massively important. I actually consider snowboard boots the most important part of all the snowboard gear. If your boots suck, it doesn’t matter how great your board or bindings are your riding will be greatly effected.
When I started snowboarding I rode for the first year with a pair of Salomon’s and I experienced massive pain over the bridge of my feet for almost the entire time. I have a tendency to do my bindings super tight and thought that this pain was just something everyone gets and was a result of my over-the-top attitude about heal-lift and thus having super tight bindings. Plus as these boots got older and more packed out the pain inflicted on my feet just got worse. I knew many people who had Salomon snowboard boots without any pain. So I decided it was time to get some new snowboard boots to see if this pain was really necessary. I went through countless shops trying loads of different makes pissing off all the shop attendants and came to the conclusion that a new pair of ThiryTwo’s would do the trick. Basically they seemed the most comfortable in the shop. Buying a snowboard boots is actually a bit of a gamble because you can never really tell if they are for you until you have ridden in them for a while and of course as soon as you use them that’s it, no going back. You can’t return them all sweated up!
Anyway, to cut a long story short after riding in the ThirtyTwo’s for about a week to break them in and get used to the new feeling I was amazed,.. I no longer got that pain over the bridge of my feet. Of course I still cut of the circulation with my over tight bindings(!) but I could now ride pain free which opened up my snowboarding completely. I was able to push myself so much more than before simply because I was now not being punished with enormous amounts of pain for every twist and turn.
One thing to note here is that whenever you get a new pair of snowboard boots don’t expect to like them at the start. Every time you ride with a new pair of snowboard boots there is a grace period where your new boots need to get softened up, mould to your feet and pack out a little. This will take a week or two depending on how often you get to ride. Initially they will feel super weird and stiff, I thought I had totally made the wrong choice with my first pair of new boots and was totally gutted, however just give them a bit of time and chances are if you properly tested them out in the shop you should be ok. The test your snowboard boots in the shop there are a few things you can do.
Here are some snowboard boots buying tips:
That’s it for choosing the right snowboard boots. I can’t stress enough how important this is. If you’re somebody who just uses rental equipment and is looking to get your own snowboard gear. I would highly suggest you get your snowboard boots first and as soon as you can. You will immediately notice a huge difference in your riding ability with your own boots. Your snowboard boots need to be able to mould to your feet only and ‘become’ yours. You will progress better with snowboard boots you know and that fit properly. You should never buy secondhand boots for the same reasons, not even if they have only been worn a couple of times.
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