The most important thing you need form your snowboarding jacket is quite simply that it keeps you dry all day long. If it does nothing else but that, then you have more chance of enjoying your day on the mountain because you arent wet and miserable!
Snowboarding Jackets, in the main, are all waterproof… however not all jackets are created equal… some are more waterproof than others! If your jacket isn’t up to the job, chances are you will be heading back to your hotel for a hot drink sooner than you would like.
For the most part, you won’t need the top of the range jacket to enjoy your day. Just make sure that you check the tech specs, and go for a snowboarding jacket that gives you a minimum of 10,000 mm of waterproofness. Personally I’d steer clear of anything below that, and whatever you do, don’t ever buy a jacket that is simply just ‘water resistant’. Without too much persuasion, they don’t resist the water for very long.
If money is no object, go for gore-tex – the absolute best in waterproof material!
For more information on waterproofness, check out this snowboarding jacket article.
Breathability is also of huge importance. When you excersise, you sweat but with snowboarding, you are wearing a jacket that is trying keeping the elements out, which also makes it difficult for your sweat to leave your body… if it doesn’t escape, you get wet from the inside, and you may as well not be wearing a waterproof snowboarding jacket!
The best jackets are the ones that are highly breathable, and this is where the gore-tex fabrics win hands down… and in my humble opinion having a jacket that keep you dry inside and out makes your day in the snow so much more enjoyable because you’re comfortable all day long.
