What To Look For
Evaluate snowboarding pants' waterproof protection to be sure it is adequate for protection. You'll often find protection depicted on a scale from 5,000 to 30,000mm; higher numbers equate to better waterproofing. Unless you snowboard in reliably warm, sunny conditions where the powder is very dry, you'll want to buy on the high side of the scale for pants. For example, 15,000mm is a good start and for colder, wetter conditions, but 25,000-30,000 is better. Also look for reliable fabrics such as GORE-TEX. Breathability is a characteristic of pants that relates to how well your inside heat and moisture are able to pass through the pants and into the air. This is also often given in numerical form on a similar scale as waterproofing, only the unit used is grams. Again, the higher the better. In addition, you should look for:
Zipped vents--Help you adjust for warmer, spring conditions.
Sealed seams--Enhance waterproof protection.
Gaiters--Provide extra protection against moisture slipping into your boots.
Suspenders--Keep the pants up and protect from snow sliding underneath.
Reinforced knees and butt--Protect wear on the parts of pants most subject to contact with the ground.
Insulation--Some snowboard pants have insulation built in, while others are simply a waterproof shell that requires insulation underneath.
Fit--Pants feature a variety of cuts to provide the fit you need. Find what's comfortable to you.
Common Pitfalls
Snowboarding pants are arguably the most important piece of clothing that you will wear during snowboarding. Spend the money and shop for a good pair. When you fasten your bindings, you'll likely be sitting on the ground, and when you fall, your knees or backside are likely to be on the ground again. Pants make a lot of contact with the snow, so you should buy pants that have tight waterproofing to keep you dry even if it means spending more money. While a jacket is a more stylish piece of clothing that will likely be worn more often, pants provide more important waterproof protection, so you should shop accordingly. Skimp on snowboarding pants and you'll endure many a cold, wet, uncomfortable day.
Where To Buy
Snowboarding pants are available at a wide variety of dealers. For the highest-quality pants, skip the general sports retailers and go to a snowboard/ski shop. Online, shop for pants at snowboard retailers like The House and Sierra Snowboard, or at greater outdoor retailers including Trails.com and Backcountry.com. While trying pants on ahead of time is advisable and will help in getting the right fit, it's not quite as important as it is with other snowboarding gear and clothing, like boots.
Cost
Snowboard pants come in a wide range of prices. It's wisest to avoid pants at the lowest end of the spectrum when your budget allows and shop for something of better quality and protection.
Insider Tips
Plan your snowboard pants purchase ahead of time. You'll find a good selection of pants with prices slashed by 50 percent or more in the off-season and even in the late season. To save money, don't purchase pants at the very beginning of the season or during the heart of the season.
