So you’ve booked your first snowboard holiday – the very best of times awaits (hopefully), but as you venture off into unfamiliar territory you’ll want to be sure that you’ve packed the right kit.
As you venture off into unfamiliar territory, you might not be so sure you’ve packed the right kit
Never fear! The Whitelines team has thought long and hard over what essentials you’ll absolutely need, as well as what you might not. We’ve tried to pick out options that won’t break the bank, as you’ll never really know if throwing down a whole wad of cash is worth it until after you’ve given it a proper try.
As we’ve advised in other beginner snowboarding articles, you should probably be looking to rent a board, boots and binding package for your first couple of trips at least, after that you can start to get a feel for what sizes and styles you like, rather than gambling on eBay and getting stuck with a stinker.
Rental shop staff should be able to match you with exactly what you need hardware-wise for your first adventures, but for everything you need to bring with you, just scroll on down…
Good Snowboard Socks
We can’t say it enough, a good pair of snowboard specific socks is truly essential for anyone sliding sideways on the hill. And no, we don’t mean cheap, thick acrylic tube socks from Mountain Warehouse – those things will make you sweat so hard your boots will start to leak from the inside out.
Proper snowboard socks will wick moisture away, leaving your feet dry and warmer than coating them in extra layers will ever manage, plus they give your toes freedom to move a little, meaning your circulation won’t get cut off. The WL team’s sock of choice for years now is the Burton Merino Phase sock – a couple of these is all you’ll need for a week as they won’t get at all stinky. Indeed, as discussed elsewhere, one of our editors rocked the same pair unwashed for a whole season and still has his feet at the end…
