View Full Version : snowboarding kit advise
ok, after 2 weeks of renting, I have now decided to buy my own kit.
just having trouble deciding on what to get
I need:
board
bindings
boots
goggles
helmut
which ones are good? So far for the board I am looking at an Atomic Rapture.
I generally learn quickly, so want to stay clear of base/beginners kit.
I am not a huge speed freak on board, but prefer more of the jumping and trick side of things.
Boots are they key item there. Sort them out so that you've got a decent, comfortable pair that won't rub after 8 hours a day use for 6 days straight, and take it from there.
The pair of boots I've got limited my options on bindings and board choices. I've only done a few weeks boarding now, so the bindings didn't really bother me - I just went with some last season Burton Freestyles that I got dirt cheap. My boots mean I'll have to buy a very wide board (had to get size 13 boots as the 12s didn't fit!!).
I would go for a general all mountain/freestyle board to start with - good on and off piste and will enable you to venture further into the snow park stuff. If you're likely to spend all your time in the park though, a park board is probably the one to go for. Ellis Brigham at Milton Keynes Xscape offer a try-before-you-buy service, all you have to pay for is the time on the slope. Ideal if you can narrow yourself down to a couple of boards (and get there - not sure how far away you are).
From a goggles perspective, I prefer to wear sunglasses personally, as goggles hinder your peripheral vision. Not such an issue on skis, but I've nearly collided with people while wearing goggles as I've simply not seen them next to me, particularly when they're over my left shoulder (I ride regular).
Helmets I have no idea on sorry. I can barely land after the snowboard leaves the ground, so snow park territory is slightly out of my range! The only "safety" kit that I've bought is wrist guards (I was utterly useless to start with and kept falling over backwards and spraining my wrists!)
HTH :)
Shameless Plug
http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=144446
Boots are they key item there. Sort them out so that you've got a decent, comfortable pair that won't rub after 8 hours a day use for 6 days straight, and take it from there.
The pair of boots I've got limited my options on bindings and board choices. I've only done a few weeks boarding now, so the bindings didn't really bother me - I just went with some last season Burton Freestyles that I got dirt cheap. My boots mean I'll have to buy a very wide board (had to get size 13 boots as the 12s didn't fit!!).
I would go for a general all mountain/freestyle board to start with - good on and off piste and will enable you to venture further into the snow park stuff. If you're likely to spend all your time in the park though, a park board is probably the one to go for. Ellis Brigham at Milton Keynes Xscape offer a try-before-you-buy service, all you have to pay for is the time on the slope. Ideal if you can narrow yourself down to a couple of boards (and get there - not sure how far away you are).
From a goggles perspective, I prefer to wear sunglasses personally, as goggles hinder your peripheral vision. Not such an issue on skis, but I've nearly collided with people while wearing goggles as I've simply not seen them next to me, particularly when they're over my left shoulder (I ride regular).
Helmets I have no idea on sorry. I can barely land after the snowboard leaves the ground, so snow park territory is slightly out of my range! The only "safety" kit that I've bought is wrist guards (I was utterly useless to start with and kept falling over backwards and spraining my wrists!)
HTH :)
Are brands of boots important? I also believe its key, as I generally struggle with the arches of my feet.
Slopes as well, so an all-round board is key.
Sunglasses mist up on me... painful!
In my first week (still in snowboarding classes) I tried a jump, (nearly landed) but hit haedbutted the ground with the back of my head, had a headache for 3 days :D
Shameless Plug
http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=144446
Nice idea... actually sounds pretty good!
Are brands of boots important? I also believe its key, as I generally struggle with the arches of my feet.
Slopes as well, so an all-round board is key.
Sunglasses mist up on me... painful!
In my first week (still in snowboarding classes) I tried a jump, (nearly landed) but hit haedbutted the ground with the back of my head, had a headache for 3 days :D
I personally wasn't too bothered by the brand of my boots. Having large feet limited my choice anyway, but ideally I'd have gone for Burton or Van boots, although I was also recommended Salomon boots. They're very good at ski stuff and apparantly they're coming on leaps and bounds on the snowboard footwear front. Salomon and Burton are good for wide feet too. I got a pair of Vans Encore's in the end.
I'd have thought that there were inserts available to accommodate your arches too.
I've landed a few pathetically small jumps (feels like your flying though :superman:), but I've only been through a park a couple of times now. I find any large crashes I have are caused by catching an edge when keeping speed up for any flat sections of pistes (like I did the other week - landed on my head and got whiplash now!)
Nice idea... actually sounds pretty good!
Go on....you know you wanna ;)
I personally wasn't too bothered by the brand of my boots. Having large feet limited my choice anyway, but ideally I'd have gone for Burton or Van boots, although I was also recommended Salomon boots. They're very good at ski stuff and apparantly they're coming on leaps and bounds on the snowboard footwear front. Salomon and Burton are good for wide feet too. I got a pair of Vans Encore's in the end.
I'd have thought that there were inserts available to accommodate your arches too.
I've landed a few pathetically small jumps (feels like your flying though :superman:), but I've only been through a park a couple of times now. I find any large crashes I have are caused by catching an edge when keeping speed up for any flat sections of pistes (like I did the other week - landed on my head and got whiplash now!)
Go on....you know you wanna ;)
my boot size (from renting) is 10.5, no rub and no pain other than my arches...Which was a combination of the icy conditions and an existing issue with my feet. Will stick to decent brands for the foot wear.
The board I am looking at is still the atomic rapture... Previous years model.
:D need to speak to the missus... :(
Arches of my feet can get painful if I don't tighten my bindings up enough - really drags you down for the rest of the days boarding I find!
As far as boards go, I'm still looking for one for myself. I borrowed a friends Burton Bullet last time I went and it was so much better than any board I've ever rented! And he's abused it for an entire season + several weeks since then. Gives me hope that it's difficult to end up with a useless board :)
Arches of my feet can get painful if I don't tighten my bindings up enough - really drags you down for the rest of the days boarding I find!
As far as boards go, I'm still looking for one for myself. I borrowed a friends Burton Bullet last time I went and it was so much better than any board I've ever rented! And he's abused it for an entire season + several weeks since then. Gives me hope that it's difficult to end up with a useless board :)
Well I started to lose feeling in my feet, had them a little too tight. So also looking at a different type of binding, like the FLOW NXT (think its those).
I am also hoping that confidence in the board goes up and it becomes easier getting back into it after a bit of a break.
Well I started to lose feeling in my feet, had them a little too tight. So also looking at a different type of binding, like the FLOW NXT (think its those).
I am also hoping that confidence in the board goes up and it becomes easier getting back into it after a bit of a break.
Do you mean these bindings (http://www.bargainboards.co.uk/P/Flow-NXT-FS-Snowboard-Bindings(6938).aspx)? As far as I can tell, bindings are a much of a muchness. The only key differences that I've noticed are:
Burton have recently started providing theirs with a toe strap that actually wraps over the toe of the boots, so that your feet are pushed back into the binding as you tighten them. I've spoken to a couple of people who've used them and they said they honestly can't tell the difference. Also:
Burton offer a lifetime guarantee on their baseplates. Which is lucky as one of my mates broke his 2nd set of bindings the other week, and he's now looking at Burtons so he won't have to fork out again if they break! I'm not sure if other manufacturers offer this, but it was pointed out to my mate when he went in search of some new ones.
I found this year I was back into it within 5 minutes of hitting the pistes, whereas last year it took me a good hour or two to find my snowboarding feet :)
thats them... just like them as its not just 2 straps over your foot. and also the back comes down, so you can slip your foot out, instead of un-clipping and re-clipping.
Nice guarantee...
Yeah, took me an hour or two this time round...
thats them... just like them as its not just 2 straps over your foot. and also the back comes down, so you can slip your foot out, instead of un-clipping and re-clipping.
Nice guarantee...
Yeah, took me an hour or two this time round...
That's a good point on the constantly unclipping reclipping part of snowboarding. I just use it as an excuse to sit down for an extra 5 mins, since I do so little exercise normally, I need as much rest as possible :d
That's a good point on the constantly unclipping reclipping part of snowboarding. I just use it as an excuse to sit down for an extra 5 mins, since I do so little exercise normally, I need as much rest as possible :d
:rlol: I hate the sitting down
If I can just step into the biddings and lock, I would be happy!
I was in Tignes for a week in January - I was skiing but was with some boarder m8s, one of whom was his first time at a resort after learning at Xscape etc. and didn't really like the board he had bought and had been using (pretty long and stiff, can't remember make) so whilst we were there he bought a Burton Clash and absolutely loved it - said it was a dream to board on compared to the board he had. So sounds a decent newbie type board that will do through intermediate.
Cheers,
Brian.
whilst we were there he bought a Burton Clash and absolutely loved it - said it was a dream to board on compared to the board he had. So sounds a decent newbie type board that will do through intermediate.
I've not yet heard a bad thing about Burton boards. I'd love a Burton Custom, but at £500+ for a snowboard, they're a tad pricey.
I've not yet heard a bad thing about Burton boards. I'd love a Burton Custom, but at £500+ for a snowboard, they're a tad pricey.
My Burton choice was the T6... mmmm
i have an 08 atomic hatchet and burton custom binding a great set up which doesnt break the bank my mate brought the burton clash which is a simlar price, the clash is burtons budget board and your basicly paying for the name more than anything, the hatchet is a better snowboard and also looks better ;)
As for boots cant go wrong Thirtytwos :)
I got back yesterday from boarding the second time this year i cant get enough of it. end of the season now :( should be some bargins to be had!
I got back yesterday from boarding the second time this year i cant get enough of it. end of the season now :( should be some bargins to be had!
Are you up for joining some of us next season then? (Ian R's post above :D)
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