This is a quick-start guide for anyone who is looking to buy some snowboard gear.
I’m going to start with some hard truth. Good gear alone won’t make you a better snowboarder.
On the bright side, this also means that your gear won’t be the thing to hold back your ability to learn and it doesn’t really matter what gear you end up with (to a certain extent).
Get the Facebook marketplace stuff if it aligns with your budget! Whatever gets you out on that snow.
The only exception to this concept is boots. If you pick one item to splurge on, it should be your boots. You will have a better time with boots that fit you and fit you well. More on that later.
Keep in mind that your personal experience should be valued above all else! There is no singular right way to buy gear. These suggestions are based on my own experience and should serve as a good starting point.
How do I find a snowboard right for me?
Easily the most overwhelming thing to shop for. Start off by determining your priorities for the board.
Do you want a board that suits your riding needs? Or are you looking for a cool graphic? Ideally you end up with a board that fits both criteria, but that’s not always possible.
If you are someone (like me) who prioritizes the graphic, this section is more for keeping at the back of your mind while you’re shopping rather than a guide! If it’s ugly, I won’t ride it (sorry).
A decent rider is likely able to handle all of these board types. Having it suit your exact riding needs isn’t as important as online forums make it seem!
The most important items to consider are length and width. The rest is up to your preferences!
How long should my snowboard be?
A proper snowboard length depends on a combination between your height and weight.
I’ve pulled a chart with information from evo so you can get a good idea of the range of lengths that suit you.
| Height (ft, in) | Weight (lbs) | Snowboard Length (cm) |
| 4′ 10″ | 110-120 | 128-136 |
| 5′ | 115-130 | 133-141 |
| 5′ 2″ | 120-135 | 139-147 |
| 5′ 4″ | 130-145 | 144-152 |
| 5′ 6″ | 140-160 | 148-155 |
| 5′ 8″ | 150-170 | 152-158 |
| 5′ 10″ | 160-185 | 156-162 |
| 6′ | 170-195 | 158-164 |
| 6′ 2″ | 180-210 | 160-166 |
| 6′ 4″ | 190+ | 162+ |
A longer board will give you more control on the hill and holds speed well, but if it’s too long, it might be difficult to initiate those turns.
A smaller board is easier to turn, but less stable on the hill, especially at high speeds.
In general, if you were to stand on flat ground next to a board, it should come somewhere between the bottom of your neck to your nose.
How wide should my snowboard be?
Width is primarily based on boot size. Your boots should overhang the front and back of your board by 1-2 cms.
You probably won’t notice if it’s off by a little. Not enough overhang could lead to a harder time getting on the edges, too much overhang means you risk catching your boots in the snow.
Ideally, your toe and heel land right over the edges of your snowboard.
What snowboard shape best suits my riding?
Twin tips
Same cut on the nose and the tail, symmetrical. Good for switch riding, commonly seen in the terrain park.
Directional
One side is clearly the nose and one side is clearly the tail. Great for high speed & carving.
Asymmetrical
These can be viewed as specialty boards for people trying to hone in on specific skills. I won’t even pretend to know much about this category, so I’ll leave specifics out of the conversation here.
What is a snowboard camber and which camber is right for me?
(“cam” like camera & “brr” like it’s cold out)
The camber refers to the side profile of a snowboard.
Types of camber and their applications:
Camber Profile:
4 touch points in the snow on the corners, center is lifted. Good for carving.
Reverse-Camber Profile (Also known as Rocker):
center is touching the snow, the corners are lifted up. Harder to catch edges. Good for park riders.
Hybrid Profile:
Has a mix of camber and reverse-camber, best of both worlds! The degree of each camber in a board may vary and that’s true for all of the options listed.
How much flex should my snowboard have?
Soft Flex:
Good for park, butters, easier to turn. Not as good for speed and carving.
Stiff Flex:
Good for carving, harder to initiate turns as a beginner, more stable on the hill, built for speed.
Medium Flex:
Middle ground between soft and stiff flex, multi-purpose option.
What to look for in snowboard bindings
Despite being the things that keep you on your board, the bindings are way less complicated to shop for than the snowboards themselves.
There are probably more options than what I’ve gathered here, but these are what I’ve been seeing recently. They all have their pros and cons.
Types of bindings and how they function:
Two-Strap Bindings:
Pros:
- Most affordable option
- Secure
- Any boots fit
Cons:
- Tiring to strap on and unstrap for each run
Step-In Bindings:
Pros:
- The easiest in/out. There is no need to bend down at the top of the hill.
Cons:
- I’ve heard first hand that any powder makes this option difficult since snow easily gets in the way.
- Pricier option
- Requires special boots so you’ll need to check compatibility.
Neutral:
- Requires some balance
Supermatic Bindings:
Pros:
- Easy In/Out – no need to bend down at the top of the hill
- Any boots fit
Cons:
- Pricier end, the brand that sells these kind of owns the whole market
Neutral:
- Requires some balance
- Can be thought of as the automatic version of flow bindings.
Flow Bindings:
Pros:
- Relatively easy in/out but you need to bend down to get secured.
- Any boots fit
Neutral:
- Priced between two-strap and step-ins
- can be thought of as a manual version of the supermatics
What to look for in snowboard boots
It’s important to get boots that fit you. Used boots may work, but comfortability may be impacted if the soles are already worn in by someone else. Highly recommend buying new, if possible.
How should a snowboard boot fit?
Street shoe size does not necessarily translate directly to snowboard boot size. I’ve found that Burtons run about a half size too small.
Here are some things you should look for when trying on boots. When you’re standing upright, your toes should barely touch the front of the boots. When your knees are bent, your toes shouldn’t pull significantly away from the front of the boot.
The types of laces on a snowboard boot
Classic Laces
Pros:
- Easy to repair
Cons:
- Need to manage excess laces
- Depends on your strength for tightness
Boas:
Pros:
- Lifetime repair warranty
- Easy tightening
- Easy release
Cons:
- Higher in price
Quick-Pulls:
Pros:
- Faster than laces
Cons:
- Need to manage excess laces
- Depends on your strength for tightness
Quick-pull boot laces tip! Wind the excess around the handles before tucking them in the handle pockets.
All of this is personal preference, boas are going to be the easiest to use since the tightening method doesn’t depend on your strength. They’re also likely to cost the most!
Stiffness
Soft:
- Good for park
- Easier on your feet
- Lots of maneuverability
Stiff:
- Responsive
- Good for carving & resort riding
- Good for high speeds
Medium:
- You guessed it, mix of both!
I hope this little guide has been helpful. But again, your experience is the most important thing you can add to your knowledge base. Have fun out there!
The next step is determining how to set up your snowboard bindings.
Even after 15 years of snowboarding, I still learn many new things each season. If you have any questions or suggestions on how to make this a better guide, email [email protected]
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