When to Buy, Where to Save - Boots, Goggles and Outerwear

Summer is nearing its end and now we make our transition into season-standby mode. Fall is almost like purgatory for shredders. The temperatures start dropping and each day we wake up hoping that guns are blowing. You can almost feel the season in the weather, but knowing its so close but yet so far away is pure agony. That's why, with most companies now stocking the 09/10 stuff and making huge markdowns on leftover 08/09 products, this is as good a time as ever to start shopping around for gear. Unfortunately with the economy having been so down, scrounging up precious cash for snowboard gear can be tough; so how can you make the most of every dollar? To save the most money you have to know what you absolutely need to purchase, so the first step is taking a general inventory of your gear.

Your boots are a good place to start. Snowboard boots usually receive the most wear out of any other piece of snowboarding equipment (unless you jib rocks). Even if your boots show no signs of physical wear, try to think back to your last ride... if they felt incredibly loose or non-supportive than your liners may be shot and boots should be your first "Need to Purchase" item. Expect to spend the most money on your boots for two reasons: your boots are the most important factor in board control and should not be skimped on, and boots are 150% about fit... so if the boot that fits you the best is a brand new 09/10 model retailing at over $300 you are out of luck savings wise. Another thing you need to tack on to the cost of new boots if you use them is the price of custom orthodics. This can range from $30 to $150 depending on your needs (if you don't use orthodics and ride near or over 30 days a year, they come highly recommended). Note because boots must be purchased by fit, your best bet is to head to your local shop and try some on. If you purchase online be prepared; you will either have to buy several boots in several sizes at once or be willing to play a very long game of receive and return (though at least there are several [link]guides to point you in the right direction). It's a good idea to purchase your boots first as they are part of determining your binding and board choices.



The next pieces of gear you should inspect are your goggles, gloves and outerwear. Your board may be delaminating, your bindings may be completely stripped of all padding, but if you are freezing and can't see a damn thing you can be sure those factors above all else will be the end of your day. Check your outerwear for tears or abrasions and replace anything likely to have lost it's waterproofing/warmth capabilities. The good news is outerwear is more or less the same year to year, only styles change, so here is a good place to hunt down gems from seasons past. It is not that difficult to find a legit outerwear setup, pants and jacket, for under $150. If money is an issue, consider sewing a waterproof fabric over any tears and give your outerwear a coat of spray-on waterproofer; this will also give you a unique patchy snowboard-hobo style if that's a route you are interested in pursuing.



Check your goggles for any rips or separations between the plastic and the foam padding. If you find any than your goggles need replacing. Goggles are another fairly unchanging piece of equipment, so here is another good place to take advantage of older models. Obviously, if your lenses are severely scratched than you should invest in replacing them (unless the cost of the lens = the cost of new pair).



Gloves are another almost guaranteed replacement for 30 or more day-a-year riders. Most of the popular glove styles really aren't made to last very long. Check your glove for rips or heavy abrasions around the fingertips, palm and thumb. If money is an issue than duct tape may be your only solution; if you don't find any rips or holes than give you glove a quick coat of spray-on waterproofer
anyway to prolong its life. Again, gloves change more in style than anything else, so you can buy up older models and save a ton of cash.

Coming next: Snowboards and Bindings