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Good quality snowboarding gear is essential on the mountain for keeping you warm, safe, and riding your best. From head to toe, these are things you should keep in mind as you outfit yourself for a day on the mountain.

• Goggles. Of utmost importance is a good pair of snowboarding goggles. The best ones help to improve your vision on the snow by reducing glare from reflected sun, or by making it easier to judge bumps/dips in the snow as you ride along. Not to mention, they prevent the chilly wind from chapping your delicate eyeballs! I kid. Seriously though, I’d recommend a pair that has multiple colored lenses that you can switch out dependent on the sun and snow conditions. Rose snowboard goggle lenses are best for bright sunny days, amber lenses are good for cloud cover, and clear lenses are good if it is downright gloomy or if you go night snowboarding. I personally have one of each pair because it’s kind of what I’ve collected over the years. And your goggles must be fog-free - it sucks when you’re up there getting all a-fogged. Carry a fog cloth with you. One more thing… you could also consider polarized lenses in your snowboard goggles to really improve your vision on the mountain. (Note: Sunglasses for snowboarding are OK, but don’t cut the wind very well, and I would not recommend them.)
• Helmet. People hate wearing them because, yes, they do look dorky, but it comes down to the age-old “well, would you rather look like a dork, or be able to count to 10 when you wake up in the morning?” Helmets are necessary for protection… not so much for yourself if you’re not running around jumping off tabletops and half-pipes, but for those other idiots (yes, I said it) who are out of control on the mountain. You never know when you’re sitting down taking a rest at the side of a run, and some asshole runs you over. I’ve seen it happen… anyways… When buying a helmet, get the salesperson to advise you on the fit. It should be snug but not insanely tight like a motorcycle helmet. You may also consider getting one with vents, if you think you’ll get too hot. Sometimes you can buy one with the ability to remove the insulation so you can wear a beanie under the protective shell. In addition, some helmets also have special slots for putting your iPod headphones in.
• Gloves or mittens. Your ten little fingers will get mighty cold up there if you have poor quality protection! Invest in a good pair of gloves or mittens to keep warm. I prefer mittens because they keep your fingers warmer, but some people like the dexterity of having gloves on. Either way, get ones that are lightweight with a well-insulating material like Thinsulate, yet very warm, and have a waterproof exterior such as Gore-tex. My favorites are the gloves-inside-mittens that I bought in Vail… these keep your fingers in individual fleece “casings” inside a double-insulated waterproof mitten which zips and unzips when you need to use your fingers (e.g. when strapping in, taking a picture, answering your cell phone, etc.)
• Snowboarding Jacket. Now, girls, we all like to look good on the mountain, but the looking good has to be paired with functionality. (put your rule about stiletto heels on hold for a moment here.) Luckily, most jackets nowadays are super-stylish, but have the key functions that we need, such as warmth, waterproofing, and lots of pockets. Based on your own individual tolerance for cold, as well as weather conditions where you most often ride, you’ll have to decide for yourself just how warm of a jacket to buy. You may just want a shell with only light insulation. Or you may want to get a fully-lined, highly insulated jacket with a hood and a removable additional liner. There are tons of options, but the core functions are what I mentioned above (warm, waterproof, pockets.) Up to you on the hood - I don’t like them because they restrict my peripheral vision too much. In addition, you’ll want one with a gaitor that snaps around your hips to keep snow from plowing up your back and down your pants when you fall.
• Snowboard pants.The core features in your jacket are also considerations for your pants. Waterproofing is the key here. They should also have a snug gaitor which tucks over the outside of your boots to keep snow and wetness out. Many pants nowadays are sold with padding on the knees and butt built-in. If you’re a beginner snowboarder, this protective layer could prove helpful.
• Boots. The best boots are warm, fit well, and have many options for customizing the tightness. Good boots will usually have an inner liner that is able to be separately tightened from the external waterproof part. You’ll want to ensure that you are able to tighten the boots to your desired level, so that your heel doesn’t rise too far off the floor of the boot when you rock onto your toes - this is no good, and will result in a feeling of lost control when you’re making turns on the mountain. Again, get a good salesperson to advise you on the fit.
• Fleece and/or long underwear. These items are really more of a personal preference… some people find fleece to be too warm, and some people find “long johns” or silk underwear too cold. The key is to find pieces that are streamlined enough so that they still fit well under your outer layers. Wear multiple layers so you can remove pieces if you get too warm. Remember, it’s always better to be too warm than too cold - you can always take clothes off & stash them in your locker, but it’s not too easy to run all the way back to your condo for more clothes!
• Socks. I hate when my feet get cold, don’t you? Tingling toes is not a good feeling! For this reason, get nice warm socks of wool and/or thinsulate that are specifically made for snowboarding - these will have extra padding in the pressure points inside your boot, like at the top of your foot and the back of your heel. However, socks, regardless of their high-tech-insulation, don’t always keep your toesies 100% warm when you’re at 10,000 feet and it’s 20 degrees out. Therefore, I ALWAYS recommend putting in some of those toe-warmers before you head out… they work like a charm!

Now get out there and ride safe and warm!