Snowboard Jacket

Are you looking for a new snowboard jacket this year?  Well, you’ve come to the right place…

Welcome to the Snowboard Jacket.org, where we feature the latest fashions, features, and information of the hottest snowboarding jackets for 2010…And also news, product reviews, safety tips, and some awesome videos featuring the hottest freestyle boarders in the world.  And you’ll also find exclusive deals and deep discounts (you don’t even have to wait till the off-season) from the premier online board shop, The House Boardshop.com.

Next to your board itself, a high-quality snowboard jacket is your most important peice of snowboard gear…It may even save your life someday (see below).

Here’s a quick overview at what’s  new this year in snowboard jackets for men, women, and youth snowboarders.

Men’s Snowboarding Jackets:  Men have always had the most choices of styles and colors when it comes to finding cool-looking jackets, and there’s even more to love in 2010 from manufactures like Burton, 686, Volcom, Foursquare, and Salomon, Bonfire, Forum and DNA.

This year’s men’s snowboard jackets are more tricked out than ever, and you’ll find more functionality (as well as funky graphics) than ever before.  In fact, this year it’s possible to be visible from outer space — not to mention carving out fresh powder at the the top of the trail — with amazing designs like Pixelated, Glamocamo, Optic Nerve, X-Ray, and Chocolate Tweed.

Remember, it doesn’t pay to cheap out on a low-grade, “discounted” jacket.  There are a lot of choices out there, and like everything else, you definitely get what you pay for.  Our advice is to go with a brand that you know you will be happy with If you’ve had success with a Burton jacket, go with it again) and has a reputation for manufacturing high quality gear…But we’re probably not telling you anything that you don’t know already.

Women’s Snowboard Jackets:  It used to be that women looking for a stylish snowboard jacket were out of luck…Their choices were limited to a handful of dorky-looking jackets in solid colors with maybe some fur fringe on the hood, while the men had an amazing variety of radical colors and styles to choose from.

In 2010 this is certainly not the case anymore…Today manufacturers like Burton, Bonfire, Oakley, Vans, and Roxy are creating jackets for women using the same cutting-edge design and styling that used to be available only to the men.  In fact, online retailers like ProBoardShop.com feature exactly 421 different snowboard jackets for women this year…and many designs have been created exclusively for the female snowboarder.

Ladies, be sure to look for these features for you next jacket:  a 2-ply waterproof Gore-Tex shell with tapered Gore-Tex seams, adequate ventilation that will allow body vapors to escape from out of the jacket, a powder skirt that will attach easily with your existing snowboard pants, and of course a good fit that allows full range of motion for your arms, chest, and neck (Our advice is to try it on in the pro shop if you can, and then order it online for the discount).

Here’s some ideas of what to look for in your next snowboard jacket:

1. A lightweight jacket: You don’t want a bulky, hot jacket for snowboarding…Instead, you are looking for a light, weatherproof shell that allows plenty of space for layering underneath.   The best jackets offer a two-layer Gore-Tex shell with mesh lining and taped seams.  You’ll find zip-out fleece liners on some other jackets, but this is not necesary unless you are boarding in severe cold conditions (you don’t want to overheat on the hill).

2. A full range of motion: As a rule of thumb, baggy is best when it comes to snowboard jackets…Remember, you will be layering your clothes underneath your jacket depending on the temperature outside, so keep it loose.  Spins, takeoffs, and hiking also make it neccessary to have a loose fitting snowboard jacket.  The best jackets come with articulated sleeves for the best range of motion, and you want one long enough to cover your waist when you lift your arms up (A “sig-fit” jacket offers a great combination of roominess with a  long, tapered waist).

3. Waterproof: Wet = Cold = Less time on your board…There’s nothing more demoralizing than getting soaking wet and cold halfway down a huge trail…Make sure you stay dry and comfortable with a quality waterproof jacket.  Because snowboarders tend to be “in the snow” more than any other winter sport, look for a high “mm rating”  — up to 20,000 — for maximum waterproofing protection.

4. Lots of pockets w/ velcro closures: You will be stashing goggles, lenses, digital cameras, snacks, Ipods, cash, keys, etc. on your person, so make sure you have plenty of pockets for these items.  Look for a jacket with pockets in the sleeve, chest, and inside the jacket itself to optimize your stash capacity.  Fleece-lined handwarmers and pass pockets are pretty handy as well, and key clips are also a good way to secure your keys and keep them out of the way.

5. A hood: Look for a contour hood that zips up all the way to protect your face.  It’s nice to have fleece on the inside of the hood where it meets your face when zipped in order to protect your face from the scratchy zipper…You won’t be using it all of the time, but it’s sure nice to have for when the weather gets dangerous at the top of a mountain.  Most manufacturers offer the option of a zip-off hood.

6. Powder Skirts:  This will help prevent powder from blowing up your shirt or getting down into your pants…Many snowboard jackets offer a removable zip-off skirt, as well as a draw cord around the waist.  Today many skirts are able to integrate with snowboard pants to give you the protection of a one-piece snowsuit without looking like one.

7. Ventilation:  Some jackets feature zippers and velcro openings that give your jacket  instant ventalation, essentially giving you the ability to instantly open up a “window” on the jacket for a moment if you become overheated, and then closing it back up.   For example, armpit vent zippers are a nice feature to release body heat and moisture.

8. Breathability:  A jacket that “breathes” is very important…This will prevent your body from overheating, and allow moisture to escape so you’re not drenched with sweat. Look for a jacket with a mesh linkg that “wicks” away moisture from your body.  Different jackets are rated for different climate conditions (i.e. wet weather vs. dry), so be sure to get one to match your own private Idaho.

8. Wind resistance:  This is one of the most basic and important features in a snowboard jacket.  Look for a material like Gor-tex to make sure that your next jacket will keep you comfortable in adverse conditions.

9. A colorful design (not white):  The choice of colors, design and styling of your snowboard jacket are one of the best ways to make an individual statement with your gear.  However, a colorful jacket also serves a more practical purpose: If you ever need to be rescued, you want your jacket to provide as much contrast against the white snow as possible.  For this reason, it’s a good idea to go with a jacket color that other than white.

10.  A lifetime warrantee:  Premium snowboard gear manufacturers like Burton routinely guarantee their equipment for life, and I reccomend spending a little more on a jacket with a warrantee like this…Like most everything else in life, you get what you pay for, and it doesn’t pay to cheap out on a peice of equipment as important as your snowboard jacket.

And one more tip…You’ll save a lot of money purchasing your next snowboarding jacket before you get to the pro shop at your favorite pile of snow.  Your best bet in terms of price and selection is always to purchase your snowboard gear at an online retailer, where you don’t have to wait for off-season sales to find a good deal on the jacket of your choice.  You’ll also  pay no sales tax, and will often pay no shipping charges either for any snowboard jacket purchase.  In addition to jackets, you’ll also find snowboard pants,  snowboard bindings, snowboarding gloves, goggles, beanies, fleece, and sunglasses at many online retailers, with a selection that is hard to beat.

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