So, you’re after some snowboard pants, eh? Us too. Nothing gets our binding screws all aquiver like an ace pair of snowboard pants. But how do you sort the good from the great and make sure you’re getting the right pair for you? It’s a tough job with things like cut, style, waterproofing, material, features, storage, and fly closure to consider. Yeah, fly closure is a big deal. When you gotta go, you gotta go, right?
We distilled choosing a pair of snowboard pants down to an art, and have spent weeks scouring the internet for every shred of information we could find about the latest and greatest from your favourite snow brands. And the result is this. The best snowboard pants for men and the best snowboard pants for women, laid out and argued for your benefit. You’ll find our top choices, as well as where they’ll do best listed below. So relax, think about the pow days to come, and grab yourself a truly awesome pair of pants for this season.
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How we rate the best snowboard pants
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the best pants, it’s crucial that we let you in on the criteria we used to rate the best ones. Now, you are aware that all models are made differently, right? But just how different are they? And which features are a must-have when picking the best models?
Waterproofing
Snow is frozen water. So it makes sense that snowboard pants would be made waterproof. However, waterproofing in these pants is not as straight forward like it is with tech gadgets and other clothes like raincoats. While high-quality pants are water resistant even when subjected to high pressures, the fabric eventually gives in and starts to leak. So in a sense, snowboard pants are not unconditionally waterproof. Why?
Well, waterproof materials are designed to prevent entry and exit of liquids. So while you could snowboard with a thick raincoat made from rubber, at the end of your snowboarding session, you’ll be soaking wet from your own sweat. Sounds nasty, right? The trick is to strike a perfect balance between letting perspiration pass through and protecting your legs from the weather elements.
The best fabrics are Dry.Q, FlashDry, and eVent. When checking on waterproofing ability, check the rating stamped on the pant. The waterproofing rating is offered in mm. The higher the number, the higher the water resistance.
Most models range between 0 and 20,000mm. So, say you come across a pair with a waterproof rating of about 15,000mm. If you place a 1×1 square tube over the fabric, you can fill it up to about 15,000mm before it starts to leak.
Past this, things get complicated and very scientific. So we won’t bore you with the unnecessary waterproof tech jargon. All you need to know to buy a great pair of pants is that a higher rating means the fabric is less likely to leak.
We recommend getting snowboard pants with a waterproof rating of about 5,000mm. But if you frequent the mountain slopes and snowboard hard, then anything above 10,000mm is excellent.
Breathability
Now, you are probably thinking that a high waterproofing rating equals low breathability. Well, while that might be true with other materials like rubber, it’s not the case with the materials used to make snowboard pants. And actually, the two concepts are different and distinct
Breathability rating (BR) is measured in grams. A high rating means you are less likely to get soaked in your sweat. A high BR rating translates to more water vapor passing through the fabric from the inside. We’ll put it into perspective to help you understand it better.
When you pick a model with a 20,000 gram BR rating, it means that the fabric will allow evaporation of 20,000 grams of sweat in 24 hours. This is the reason why manufacturers are working around the clock crafting materials with high BR and WR rating. They are looking to strike a balance between waterproofing and breathability. How awesome are they?
Snowboard pants & Features
This is where we get the clever stuff. Different manufacturers are trying different things. After all, they are all in the race for being the industry leaders. For consumers, this is a great thing as you’ll always find what you are looking for.
Some of the features include:
Venting – some snowboarding pants have zippered vents. The vents are opened to dump heat and improve air circulation when you start feeling too hot. Most vents are placed on the inner thigh. To prevent stray snow from gaining access to unwanted areas, they are protected by a functional mesh lining.
Jacket-pant connection – some brands have an elaborate system that will allow you to connect your jacket to the pants (if they are compatible). How cool is this? This further increases protection from stray snow that could otherwise work its way down your snowboard pants or up the jacket.
Pockets
These are pretty obvious. But even so, it’s important to consider them. For instance, if you snowboard with a backpack, then you don’t need the extra pockets. But if you are going to be exploring all day and don’t want a bag to weigh you down, then cargo pockets would be beneficial to carry essentials and snacks.
With all that said, it’s important to remember that the number of features included affects the price of the pants. For this reason, always check to ensure you don’t pay for features you’ll never use. But aside from that, you can pick out any pants that you fancy.
Snowboarding style
Now, let’s be honest. A pair of snowboard pants may have the best WR/BR rating, great features and all. But if it doesn’t look good or suit your style, it’ll probably end up in the back of your closet never to be worn. So instead of investing in a pair of perfect and expensive snowboard pants that you’ll never wear, get one that suits your style.
At the very least, you should like the design, fit and color.
Snowboard pants for men
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Dope Iconic
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Montec Fawk
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Dope Blizzard
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Montec Arch
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Dope Antek
Snowboard pants for women
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Dope Con
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Montec Fawk W
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Dope Iconic W
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Montec Kirin W
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Dope Tigress
How to choose the best snowboarding pants
Now that we have gone through some of the best snowboard pants on the market, here are some tips to help you choose the right ones for you:
Durability
It would be regrettable if you bought a pair of snowboard jeans only for them to fall apart after a few weeks of use. And believe it or not, this happens to a lot of people.
Check the material
To avoid being part of this statistic, you should always check on the material used to make them.
Warranty
Moreover, you should consider the build and construction of the pants as well as the warranty. The type of warranty offered can shed some light on their durability.
Don’t forget to check the reviews
Another great way to determine the quality of snowboard pants (especially when purchasing online) is going through consumer reviews before making a purchase.
Warmth and insulation
Most newbies think that since they’ll be gliding on snow, then the jacket and pants need to be warm. Well, that’s not entirely true. How warm the pants should vary from one person to the other. This is why some pants have microfleece lining for extra insulation and others don’t. You see, when snowboarding, the most significant part to keep warm is your core.
However, if you are the kind who freezes fast, then you should wear mid and base layer thermal leggings.
Zips and vents
Almost all snowboard pants come with vents on the inner thighs. These vents are designed to increase air circulation and to regulate temperature during the warmer days and when you are going extra hard and generating a lot of body heat. They complement the breathability of the pants.
For smooth operation, these vents are zipped. Additionally, they are lined with a mesh to prevent specks of snow from finding their way into your pants.
Pants designed for technical backcountry snowboarding have vents on the outside of the thighs along the length of the pants. They are longer and promote maximum ventilation.
Waterproofing
First, we need you to understand that when companies speak about ‘waterproof’ what they truly mean is ‘water resistant’. That said, you cannot afford to compromise on this. Why? Well, regardless of your snowboarding style, ability and crew, there is a high chance you’ll spend some significant amount of time seated in the snow or worse still, crashing through the snow.
You might not know it now, but there’s nothing as bad as snowboarding with a wet butt when it’s not even raining. And even if it is raining, waterproof pants will help keep you dry through the rain to a certain degree.
Some important features that we skipped earlier on were critical seams vs. fully taped seams. These features, along with the material used will determine the level of waterproofing. Pants with fully taped seams will have every seam reinforced to promote water resistance. The process is intensive, and as such, these pants are expensive. Critical seams, on the other hand, mean that only seams located in parts that will suffer significant wear and tear are reinforced.
Types of snowboard pants
Here are some of the main types of snowboard pants that you can choose from, depending on the mountain you frequent and your style:
Uninsulated snowboard pants
These are also known as shell pants. They are usually windproof and waterproof. These types of pants are made from thick nylon since nylon is durable and abrasion resistant. These pants can further be divided into three-layer and two-layer pants.
The two-layer pants have a breathable liner and a water-resistant outer material while three-layer pants feature a membrane between these two layers.
Insulated pants
Most newbies often assume that these are the best pants to purchase. But they are wrong. Here’s why. When snowboarding, unless you freeze fast, you’ll almost never feel the cold on your legs. As such, these pants are only necessary during frigid weather.
Insulated pants have different warmth ratings and thicknesses. These range from polar-explorer to bare minimum insulations. It’s often a challenge to manage temperature levels when snowboarding. And unfortunately, this can get uncomfortable fast.
Softshell snowboard pants
Though these are not a category on their own, it is important to point them out. Softshell pants are made from less durable and lighter material. They also have lower waterproof ratings. For this reason, if you are a beginner and will be crashing a lot, you should prepare yourself to get wet fast.
But there is an upside to these pants. They offer excellent breathability and flexibility in comparison to thicker snowboard pants.
Pants with suspenders
We know you think these will make you look like an old grandpa descending a mountain – but no. Actually, snowboarders have fallen in love with these pants for their protection and style. These pants stay up even after you’ve crashed many times. Also, they don’t allow snow to get into your pants since they have no waistline.
But while they are loved and popular, before you buy one, you should ensure that it’s the right size. If not, and this goes for the men, the straps will pull up your pants and make your ‘twins’ super uncomfortable.
Boot gaiters
These are a must-have. All snowboard pants have boot gaiters. In case you are wondering what those are, they are the elastic cuffs located on each leg. They are designed to stretch over your snowboard boots to prevent snow from finding its way into your boots.
Pockets
Most women’s snowboard pants feature small pockets. Sure, they reduce bulkiness, but in the grand scheme of things, they are not ideal for storage. Pants with thigh or cargo pockets are more convenient for essential items you’ll use while on the mountain.
Jackets to pants connection
Some snowboard pants feature a system that connects the pants to the jacket. However, to use these systems, the jacket and pants must be compatible. This feature creates a snow barrier. It makes your jacket and pants behave like a one-piece suit.
FAQ’s
What size of snowboard pants should I get?
Well, honestly, baggy pants have their pros and con even though most feel that baggy snowboard pants are a thing of the past.
They are loved because they offer a wider range of motion. But on the flip side, the baggy pants could fall off at any time.
So what should you do? Well, we recommend that you first get the waist measurements right. If you’ll be wearing some layering clothes, you should consider that as well. When the waist measurements are right, the pants will stay in place.
What materials are best for snowboard pants?
Nylon and polyester are the most common and preferred choices.
This is because nylon is durable, and when woven in the right patterns, it is waterproof. We love the fact that it is windproof as well.
However, polyester is also a great option. Though it doesn’t last as long as nylon, it is functional and serves its purpose. Since it readily absorbs moisture, it’s not the best material for those looking for pants with a high waterproof rating.
Which should I choose? A suspenders or a belt model?
Suspenders might make you look like a dork, but they are functional. For those having problems keeping their pants up, it works like a charm.
But even then, we recommend first getting the right size of the pants. This way, they will fit perfectly. You might even end up not needing suspenders or belts.
Wrapping up
Ultimately, the decision of which snowboard pants to buy lies with you. But we hope that this guide has left you with a better idea of what to look for and which features would be overkill for you.
And as you make your choice, remember to factor in your personal preferences. There’s no point in getting the top snowboard pants if you’ll not feel comfortable and confident in them.
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