Snowboard Clothing Technical Outerwear Guide
Snowboard Clothing Waterproof Ratings:
e.g. 2,000mm wp. This relates to the waterproof testing of the piece of clothing. The 2,000mm says that the material will be waterproof with a 2,000 millimetre (2 meter) column of water on top of it. If there is more water than this the material may start to let water through. So obviously the higher the number the more waterproof the clothing is. One important thing to note is that if you wash the garment in any other way than what is specified on the label you could well end up reducing its waterproof rating. Be careful when washing your snowboard clothes! You can also reduce the waterproof rating of your snowboard clothing buy spilling food, drink or other substances down them. Also you should note that if a garments description states something like “high waterproof“, this actually means the ratings have not been provided.
Snowboard Clothing Breathability Ratings:
e.g. 1,000g. This is directly related to the breathability of the garment. 1,000g means that a square meter of the material used in the clothing will allow 1,000 grams of body moisture through every 24 hour period. Simply the higher this number the more breathable the piece of clothing is. As with the waterproof ratings you can also reduce your snowboard clothing’s breathability if you wash it incorrectly or spill food, drink or other substances on the garment. Make sure you read the labels to find out the right way to wash your garment(s). Again as before if the item of clothing’s description states something similar to “high breathability” then this means the garment has not had the breathability rating provided.
Technical Coatings on Snowboard Clothing:
A lot of snowboard clothing materials will have coatings: Ceramic coatings, Teflon coatings, etc. These coatings aid in the waterproof and breathable levels of the clothing items.
Snowboard Clothing Linings:
Many snowboard clothing items will have what is called “wicking lining”, this lining takes away the moisture from your skin and under garments. This moisture wicking lining is often made from mesh or tricot. There are some snowboard clothes that have quilted linings which does not lend so well to hot weather. Nylon and taffeta linings are fairly popular.
Snowboard Clothing Taped/Sealed Seams:
On normal everyday clothing seamed are usually stitched, whereas technical outerwear usually has its seams sealed or “taped” is it is sometimes referred to. This allows the seams to be totally waterproof. Major taped seams or “critically” taped seams refers to the fact that only the main seams are sealed and so the piece of clothing as a whole may not be 100% waterproof.
Snowboard Clothing Side Vents:
Side vents are often found on the outside thigh area of snowboard pants/trousers although increasingly they are also located on a snowboard jackets underarm area as well. The side vents are to aid in ventilation. They usually have a zip to open and close them. Side vents are useful for hot days but make sure you keep them shut if it is snowing heavily.
Snowboard Clothing Powder Skirts:
The powder skirt is a piece of material, usually elasticised, that is attached to the bottom of a snowboard jacket or the top of snowboard pants/trousers. When done up these stop snow from getting inside your clothing. Some powder skirts now feature a system to enable them to actually ‘hook’ on to your snowboarding trousers/pants as powder skirts can have a tendency to ‘ride-up’ which not only feels annoying and uncomfortable but also renders them ineffective.
Snowboard Clothing Storm Flaps:
Storm flaps are the flaps that cover any openings on your snowboard clothing, such as pockets or vents. Pocket and vent zips are not exactly water tight so flaps are introduced to cover these zips to prevent snow/moisture entering your snowboard clothing.
Snowboard Jacket Hoods:
There are a variety of snowboard jackets hoods, attachable/detachable, fold away, etc. Some hoods have tabs or pulls to adjust them to the size of your head. Snowboard jackets hoods can also feature visors and gaitors for added protection. A decent hood on your snowboard jacket can be a real saviour when the conditions are rough and you are stuck on a chair lift.. trust me, do not ignore the hood!
Snowboard Clothing Lined Pockets:
Your pockets on your snowboard clothing will be lined with brushed tricot or a similar material and are great for keeping your hands warm when you take your gloves off.
Snowboard Clothing Two Way Zips:
These do exactly what they say… zips that can zip up from either the top or the bottom.
Snowboard Clothing Reinforced and Insulated Areas:
Snowboard clothes are normally reinforced and insulated around the knees and butt areas and other areas likely to receive a lot of wear and tear. When sitting on cold snow for any period of time and insulated butt area is always welcome.
Snowboard Clothing Articulated Areas:
This is a system where the clothing is designed to move consistently with your body. These articulated areas are usually around the elbows on jackets and knees on trousers/pants.
Internal Gaitors on Snowboard Clothing:
These internal gaitors are normally found on snowboarding trousers/pants and the base of each leg. They are essentially a mini elasticised ‘skirt’ not dissimilar to a powder skirt (see above) and are there to prevent snow from going up your trousers. Quite often they have tabs that you can attach to your snowboard boots laces to prevent them from riding up.
Snowboard Clothing Chin Guards/Savers:
Chin guards can be found on many snowboard jacket collars and are normally made from fleece material. Apart from keeping your chin warm they stop the jackets zip from sticking to your skin when it gets frozen.
Snowboard Clothing Hand Gaitors:
These work in the same way as Internal gaitors for snowboard pants/trousers but this time is for your hands. Hand gaitors are usually made from Lycra.
Snowboard Clothing Suspenders:
Snowboard pants can sometimes have attachable or detachable suspenders which act like braces to help keep your snowboard pants/trousers up.
Lift Pass Tab Rings and Jacket Lift Pass Windows:
These are simple but very handy as they save you from hanging your lift pass around your neck on that useless piece of elastic you get from the resort. With a lift pass ring you simply hang the pass from a loop on your jacket and extend the cord with the pass on the end whenever you need to show it.. or if you are lucky enough to have a snowboard jacket with a lift pass window you get to have your pass ready for display 24/7! Also with a list pass window system you stand a much smaller chance of loosing your lift pass as it is securely tucked away inside your snowboarding jacket.
Snowboard Clothing Pockets:
Put stuff in them! If you have external pockets make sure they have storm flaps to help keep them water tight. Internal zip pockets are good for mp3 players, etc. Goggle pockets should normally be made from mesh for ventilation to prevent the goggles fogging up and to help clear them is they are already fogged up. Stash pockets are for the rest of your snowboarding gear such as mini tools.
