How to Buy Snowboarding Pants

Snowboarding pants are arguably your most important clothing purchase for the sport. Strive to purchase a quality pair of pants. If you need to save money, cut your jacket or accessory budget, but spend what it takes to buy a quality pair of pants. Even experienced riders need to spend time sitting on the ground to adjust bindings, wait for buddies, etc. Having your pants soak through will make for a cold, miserable remainder of the day.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Consider waterproofing. Waterproofing is the main function of your pants. Beginners, in particular, will be spending a lot of time with their knees or seat on the ground. Therefore, a pair of pants with good waterproofing is key. Purchase pants with waterproof ratings of 15000mm or greater. Ideally go for pants with an even better waterproof rating of 25000 to 30000mm. Gore-Tex provides optimal protection from water. Seam sealing helps to increase the overall waterproof integrity of the garment. Remember, even if you don't live in a particularly wet climate, you'll still be sitting on melting snow, so don't skimp on waterproofing.

Step 2

Check breathability. While outside moisture needs to be blocked, inside moisture, i.e. perspiration, needs to be released. Breathability is often depicted as a rating in grams, the higher the rating the better. Breathability has a range similar to waterproofing from around 5000g to 30000g.

Step 3

Look for insulation. Depending upon how cold you tend to get and how low the temperatures drop where you ride, consider how much insulation you want. Too much insulation can be heavy, uncomfortable and stifling. Unless you tend to get cold, consider purchasing pants with light or no insulation and adjusting what you wear underneath (long underwear, different weights of fleece pants) to protect yourself from weather.

Step 4

Check the fit. For the best results, try the pants on before buying them. Make sure that they are loose enough to provide the maneuverability you seek. The legs should fit over your boots without hanging onto the ground (or they'll scrape on the ground and wear more quickly).

Step 5

Look for reinforcement material on high-wear areas. The knees and seat of the pants are going to take more wear and tear than the rest. Pants are often reinforced in these areas, which will help prevent ripping and lengthen wear life. This is particularly important if you're a beginner.

Step 6

Purchase pants with suspenders or belt loops. Not everyone prefers suspenders, but they help to keep the pants up and protect from snow getting inside. Belt loops also will ensure the pants stay up and keep you protected from moisture.

Step 7

Look for ankle gaiters. Ankle gaiters prevent snow from slipping up into your pant legs. Ankle gaiters aren't necessary, but are a good added protection.

Step 8

Look for venting. Venting on the thighs will allow you to cool down during the warmer temperatures of spring weather. Vents can be kept closed for cold weather.

Step 9

Decide if you want or need pockets. Jackets generally come with a variety of pockets that are more secure and easier to access. However, you may still want pockets on your pants to store whatever you plan to carry. Make sure that the pockets close, ideally by a zipper, and that they meet your storage needs.

Tips & Warnings

The focus is on quality, not expense. While quality pants tend to be more expensive, shop for late- and off-season sales.

Article Written By Joe Fletcher

Joe Fletcher has been a writer since 2002, starting his career in politics and legislation. He has written travel and outdoor recreation articles for a variety of print and online publications, including "Rocky Mountain Magazine" and "Bomb Snow." He received a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Rutgers College.

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