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If you want a better snowboarding experience, these are 6 must-have snowboarding accessories that will enhance your experience.  They are 6 things that you’ll always see me wearing/carrying when I’m shredding, because they keep me warmer, help my performance, and let me stay out longer. Take a quick look through the list to see if you’re missing out on a piece- and if so, I highly recommend you equip yourself with it for your next trip. NOTE: if you’re wondering why things like helmets, jackets and gloves aren’t included, that’s because they’re essential.  Safety.  Duh.

List of Snowboarding Accessories

1. Bib pants

With these pants you’ll never have to worry about getting snow down your legs again.  These beauties also protect you against the wind and keep you warmer and are more cozy than traditional pants.  Absolute must haves for anyone going to the back country, where powder heavens can be a literal frozen pain in the ass if you’re not prepared.

Pro tips for buying:

• Check the pockets– make sure that you’ve got enough space to carry what you need.  Bib tech is diverse in this area- chest pockets, radio holders, waterproof zippers, phone holders, so you’ll have your pick of options when buying.
• Seams– critically tapered seams means that only select areas, normally around the backside, are stitched up with extra waterproofing protection.  They tend to be more affordable than fully tapered seams, but don’t offer the same level of protection from snow seeping in.

As seen in my “10 min snowboarding workout” video, I rock Burton AK bibs.  They’re super comfortable and I would recommend them to anyone.

2. A snowboard app

We’re in the 21st Century, and wifi is everywhere, even on the slopes.  Far from taking away from your snowboarding experience, apps can give you important information in real time, track stats, and even help you get better.  Here are some apps that I have on my phone that you can download for free.

1. Ski & snow report– you’ll never miss out on fresh snow with this app.  Get global snow reports and alerts for over 2,000 mountains.  Use this app to plan your trip so you don’t run into bad weather.
2. Trace snow– this app lets you track all the stats from your day on the mountain, including speed, calories, and a GPS map of all your runs.  You can even compare stats with friends or use the app to track improvement over time.
3. SNOCRU– basically social media for snowboarders.  You’ll be able to stay in touch with your friends whilst on the slopes with the handy tracking features, and compete with them in real time.

3. Snowboard Lock

Unfortunately, I’ve had my snowboard stolen before.  But that wouldn’t have happened if I had had a snowboard lock for my board.  When you buy your lock, make sure to know these terms:

• Cable vs tether lock- a cable snowboard lock is a retractable steel cable that you can use to wrap around your board bindings and rack to lock it up.  A tether snowboard lock is a bit bulkier, meaning you have to carry it around, but more secure.
• Combination or key- I recommend using a combination lock.  There’s nothing worse than losing your key somewhere and having to find a lock cutter.

P.S speaking of snowboard locks, the Ride Easy Line isn’t just a portable snowboard footrest for chairlifts- it’s also a super lightweight cable lock.

It’s fixed onto your bindings so you never have to carry it around.  I’ve just been working on product development and can’t wait to show it to you in action soon.

If you haven’t already, sign up to my newsletter and I’ll keep you updated with the latest news on the Ride Easy Line, share with you useful articles like this one, and even give you a discount when it’s released!

Sign up here.

4. Socks

Surprisingly underrated, but these are definitely part of my must-have list.  The right pair of socks keep your feet warm and prevent blisters and sore feet.  Trust me, you’ll know if you don’t have a good pair of socks at the end of the day… which by then will be too late.  Avoid buying the wrong pair with these handy buying tips:

• Thickness- always make sure to try on socks with your snowboarding boots before buying them.  Whilst thick socks can be more insulating, often, light weight socks are good enough at keeping the heat in while being much more breathable.
• Material- different fabrics have different degrees of comfort and moisture wicking properties.  Synthetic materials as a whole tend to maintain their shape better than natural materials like wool.  For synthetic materials, I recommend ones that are mostly made of acrylic, because they are incredibly soft and lightweight.  For natural socks, you can’t beat Merino wool, which are incredible in their warmness and breathability.
• Wear only one pair of socks- once you’ve bought the perfect pair, only put on one.  Wearing two pairs of socks at a time increases friction and pressure around your boots, giving you blisters and sore feet.  Buy socks of higher quality if you find yourself wearing two pairs of socks because of cold feet.

5. Smart Gloves

These gloves go well with no. 2, because it’s a huge pain to have to take your gloves off every time you want to use your phone on the slope.  Smart gloves let you use touchscreens with your gloves- basically by conducting a little amount of electricity from your fingertips through your glove.  Here are some things to keep in mind when buying your pair of gloves:

• Area of conductivity- because the touchscreen sensitive material is expensive and less durable, most gloves only cover the fingers with it.  Some only even cover the index finger and thumb.  If you go for the latter option, you’d better be a good one handed typist.
• Sensitivity- you’ll find that most gloves will be much less sensitive than using your fingers.  I’ve learned from experience to always make sure there’s a refund policy when buying these gloves, because there’s a chance that your pair won’t work well.

6. Go Pro

If you didn’t post it on social media, did you even go snowboarding?  Love them or hate them, you’ll want a record of at least one of your legendary runs so you’ll have something to look back on in summer time.  I’ve even done some Go Pro filming myself- the video above of a tester trying (and loving) the Ride Easy Line was shot with a helmet Go Pro.  Watch it here.

Here are some of the different tools you can use to carry a Go Pro around with you on the slopes:

• Remote poles- these gadgets make filming with one hand super easy, with a lock to keep it secured to your hand and stabilizing mechanisms so you don’t have to worry as much about keeping your hand steady.  You’ll even be able to capture your own expression as you crash into a tree because you were too focused on the camera.
• Helmet fixtures- some helmets, like GIRO, have an integrated stand so you can add and remove your camera whenever you like.  Otherwise, if you want a first person POV shot, you’ll have to go with a head strap or look at installing a permanent stand.
• Drones- if you want to film the ultimate video of your run, you need a drone.  They may be more pricey, but checking out this breathtaking footage of what they can do had me sold.

P.S If you liked this article, check out my 2017 Snowboard Gear List.  I breakdown all the stuff that I have ready for the upcoming season.  I love to talk about gear with anybody so feel free to leave a comment below the video.