Benefits of Outer Layers: How to Select the Ideal Snow Pants and Jacket

While you’re on the slopes having all the fun and excitement in the world lapping the mountain and chasing untracked lines, your snowboard jacket and pants are working hard to keep your body comfortable and dry. Your outer layer provides you with the weather and waterproofness you need to stay dry and warm even in the most extreme conditions. So if you’ve decided to stop playing the renting game and get a pair of snowboard pants and jackets of your own, there are a couple of important things you need to consider in order to make sure you’re getting the best ones for your budget.

Many people wonder “can you ski in snowboard pants?”, and the answer is – yes, you definitely can. Snowboarding snow pants and jackets provide far more freedom of movement than ski pants and jackets, which is why skiers oftentimes wear snowboarding pants, but snowboarders stay away from ski pants. But regardless of whether you’re snowboarding or skiing, the process of choosing the most suitable pants is more or less the same.

Waterproof Rating

Most snowboard and ski pants and jackets come with a waterproof rating of anywhere between 5.000 and 20.000mm. The higher the waterproof rating – the more water-resistant the fabric. You’ll come across products that don’t specify their rating, but instead the technology they’re using, such as eVent and Gore-Tex. Further, the waterproofness of your outerwear will be impacted by its seam taping. There are softshell and hardshell versions of both pants and jackets. The softshell types are more stretchy and comfortable, while the hardshell ones are more waterproof.

The amount of waterproofness you need from your outerwear will depend on where you’re riding. For instance, it can be both warm and wet on some mountains, so you’ll need something with a relatively high waterproof rating that’s more breathable. Usually, the more waterproof the jacket and pants are, the more expensive they will be. The same applies to the seaming – the more seams the piece has, the more expensive it’s going to be.

Warmth

The amount of warmth you need from your snowboard pants and jacket will vary from person to person. There are uninsulated models that come with a shell with some type of lining for extra comfort and warmth. For people who get hot easily, the outer layers alone will be enough to keep them warm. Others, who don’t bare as well in the cold, will need to consider insulated outer layers, or just wear extra insulation layers beneath the outer layers. Many people wonder what to wear under snowboard pants. The answer to that is middle layers that provide the insulation that uninsulated outer layers don’t provide. And as far as what to wear under the jacket, you can just put on a hoodie or a polyester fleece.

What to Look for in Snowboard Pants and Jackets?

I briefly talked about breathability, which is an important feature for your outer layers to have. Breathability is accomplished through vents. These vents are typically zipped, and you can open them up to promote air circulation and dump heat when you get too hot. Most vents are located at the areas of the body that are most prone to sweat, like the underarms or inner thigh inseam. These vents are covered with mesh lining to keep snow from getting in. Some pants, for instance, have zip vents along the outer or across the front seam.

Next, you should consider if the pants and jacket you want to get have a connection system for easy compatibility. This can be important for creating an impenetrable barrier which prevents wind and snow from making their way down your pants or up your jacket. This compatibility is extremely important when riding in deep snow.

Further, consider whether you want your outer layer to feature pockets and how many of them. If you typically board or ski with a backpack, then you won’t need more than the standard hand pockets. However, if you’re going to be hanging around the piste or exploring unknown terrain, you wouldn’t want to carry around a backpack the entire time, and that’s when having some extra pockets can come in very handy.

And lastly, you want to consider the style and fit. The style will come down to personal preference, and there’s no right or wrong choice in this regard. Getting an outer layer that fits you properly, on the other hand, is extremely essential. The fit can be regular, slim and loose. Although there are many differences between and within fits of different manufacturers, these three categories are a good starting point in finding the most suitable one for you. Usually, the store you’re buying from will be able to assist you in finding the best fit for you, regardless of whether you’re shopping online or from a brick-and-mortar one.