So, you’ve read Equipment – The Snowboarding Essentials and you feel like you know the basics about snowboarding equipment. You’ve got your board, boots and bindings – now you need the rest.

You could spend months on the slopes and still never see two snowboarders that look the same. The reason? With hats, glasses, jackets, pants and more, there are so many choices to be made when choosing snowboarding gear.

In The Complete Guide to Snowboarding Gear, we will start from the top and work down from there. So, get a pen and paper ready and start writing your shopping list…

Helmet – After a much publicised tragedy in 08/09 ski season, the importance of wearing a helmet was once again brought to the ski/snowboard community’s attention. Skiers and snowboarders often hit the slopes without this vital piece of equipment. Combine your helmet with a hat and keep the cold out for longer during endless runs on the snow.

Glasses/Goggles – Travelling at speed will send gusts of icy wind and snow into your face. Protect your eyes from the elements and give yourself better visibility as you hurtle down the mountains.

Jacket – You must be prepared for the cold when hitting the pistes. It may be bright blue skies outside but the temperature will be low and every time you take a break from snowboarding, you will really feel the cold. Get a warm, waterproof jacket and protect your body from the inevitable cold and wet.

Trousers/pants – Just as important as your jacket. Waterproof and warm are the two most important characteristics to look for in a pair of snowboarding trousers. Buy a cheap pair at your peril as your days on the slopes will be spoiled by cold and wet legs that will force to spend more time off the mountains.

Your boots, bindings and boards have already been discussed in the Snowboarding Essentials blog, so take a look if you want to refresh your memory before moving on to the supplementary snowboarding gear section.

So now you look and feel like a snowboarder, what more do you need?

Stay warm on the snow with a couple of important extras that will make a massive difference when snowboarding for considerable amounts of time. Protect yourself from the cold with a thick pair of socks and an equally warm pair of gloves.

Snowboarding can be quite a painful experience if you spend a lot of time on the floor after the inevitable falls and slips. Ankles, wrists and knees are most vulnerable to the pressures of heavy falls so give yourself the added protection of wrist guards, elbow supports and knee pads.

Underneath your jacket and trousers, there is plenty of space for more clothing. Fleeces and thermals are excellent for keeping your body warmth in and allowing you to spend more hours on the slopes. However, with more time on the slopes you should adapt your snowboarding gear accordingly.

The sun can be pretty strong when out on the mountains, so make sure you apply plenty of sun-block. Don’t follow the British stereotype and let the sun burn you to a crisp before taking action. Prevention is better than cure, as they say.

So, now you should have a decent understanding of what you need for your snowboarding holidays. Remember, shop around and make sure you’re getting what you need, rather than what you want.