Snowboard Pants Buyers Guide - Learn the features that matter!

One of the best things you can do to stay comfortable on the mountain is get a great pair of snowboard pants. A good pair of pants are very important for snowboarders because, unlike skiers, we snowboarders have the ability to sit down on the mountain. We do this to strap our boot into the bindings or to just take a break. Spend enough time on your butt in the snow, and some water is bound to seep through if you are not wearing some very waterproof pants. Nobody likes feeling like they are wearing a diaper for the second half of the day on the mountain. Below I'll go through the features, as well as some tips to help your snowboard pants waterproofing last longer.

What features are important in snowboard pants?

Waterproofing - Nothing is more important then making sure that the outer material (shell) of the pants is waterproof. I would recommend getting a pair of pants that has at least 10,000mm waterproofing. So what 10,000mm waterproofing mean? This means that if you have a cylinder of water that is 10,000mm tall with an open bottom that is covered in fabric - the water would not leak through. So the higher the number, the better the more waterproof the material. Most manufactures of snow pants will include this information on their specs (as shown in the picture below). It is also important that the cuffs of the pants include an elastic band in the inside that seals the pants to your boots. All decent pants have these, but if they did not, snow would come rushing in every time you take a spill.

Breathability - It is important that the outer layer of the pants is also breathable as well. If you are the type of person that gets really hot on the mountain you may want to pay more attention to this. Breathability is measured by the rate that water vapor can pass through the fabric. I would shoot for a pair of pants that has at least 10,000g (sometimes written as 10,000gl). This means that 10,000 grams of water can pass through 1 square meter of fabric in 24 hours. Blah Blah Blah - I know that might be too much information. But just know that anything above 10,000g is good and breathable. The very best I have seen on the market are 20,000mm waterproof with 20,000gl breathability.

Interior and insulation - All pants will have some sort of interior built in, but only some will have insulation. If you are the type that gets super cold, and board in a cold area, you may want some insulation as well. Personally, I prefer pants that only have 2 layers the shell (waterproofing/breathability) and some simple material inside that helps to wick away moisture. If its extra cold outside, I will simply add an extra layer by wearing thermal underwear.

Other features - Other features that are less important include padding, pockets, and vents. I personally hate pants with padding, as I find them heavy and awkward. Pockets are important and venting is also nice for those warm spring days.

How to keep your waterproof pants waterproof!

Keeping your pants waterproof is fairly easy - don't wash them. This might sound gross, but it is very important. The more you wash your waterproof snowboard pants, jacket, or anything waterproof for that matter, the shorter those items will stay waterproof. Most waterproof clotting includes an outer layer of spray that helps to keep water out. The more this layer is washed with soap or warm water, the faster it will deteriorate. If they smell, and you must wash them, then do it by hand and with cold water, then let them air dry.

I hope you all found this article useful. If so, and you are looking to buy a board check out my hub for snowboard sizing and have fun on the mountain!