The 4 Things Every Snowboard Jacket Needs
... and how to pick the coolest snowboard jackets for you!
Snowboarding jackets are no longer simply snowboarding jackets -- they need to have a LOT of things going on to make them useful to riders! Thankfully, manufacturers of snowboard jackets are getting that, and have given us a wide range of possibilities, for a wide range of budgets.
Here are all the characteristics of all good-quality snowboard jackets ...
1. Snowboard jackets need to keep you warm, first and foremost, but not be too bulky. That means that they need to be made from lightweight materials that still hold the heat in and keep the wind out, or have really good insulation layers.
Snowboard jackets also need good venting (especially under the arms) to be 'breathable', and should include hoods. They might also have zip-out inner linings, storm 'flaps', or front venting, depending on the particular manufacturer.
2. Snowboard jackets also need to keep you dry, because if you get wet, you get cold -- so snowboarding jackets should have things to keep the snow out, like wrist 'gaiters', zip-off powder skirts (so you can wear them when you're not snowboarding, too), and be fully seam-sealed.
3. Snowboard jackets need to be extremely durable, mainly because they're usually pricey, and most of us can't afford to buy new ones every year. So snowboard jackets should have water-resistant or laminated zippers, preferably with zipper covers or 'garages,' and ideally there should be no side seams (to eliminate chafing where you carry your board).
4. Snowboard jackets need to be practical, too. They should have lots of pockets ... to hold your iPod (and some snowboard jackets even include headphone 'guides' within the pockets!), snacks, goggles, and whatever else you might need to take up the mountain with you.
Finally, snowboard jackets need to have you looking your absolute best on the hill, because when you look good, you feel good -- and when you feel good, you're stoked for riding!
So look for snowboard jackets with any or all of the other features, but make sure it comes in your favorite color and in the perfect size for you.
Decide which features are most important to YOU, and then figure out your budget -- in a perfect world, you should have TWO snowboard jackets anyway! :-)