In this blog I am sharing with you everything I bring on a snowboard trip. No one wants to forget any gear or outerwear before travelling so it's always a good habit to make a checklist as the items easily add up.
I was headed to Zermatt in Switzerland last summer for three weeks of snowboarding on the famous backdrop of the Matterhorn mountain (the inspiration behind Toblerone chocolate and apparently, the most photographed mountain). Apart from the snowboard, accessories, safety gear, hard goods and outerwear, I also had to take all my filming gear with me.
Because this was a trip during the summer, I brought appropriate outerwear for warmer weather, but without forgetting that the temperature in glaciers can suddenly turn and feel like a cold winter day.
Hopefully this will give you a good idea of what to bring in your snowboard trip so that you don't forget anything!
Starting with safety gear, I had my lightweight (about 350 grams) Smith Maze helmet with MIPS technology for an extra degree of safety, plus, I find it comfortable to wear for long periods of time.
Next, Burton impact shorts, they are key to protect your tailbone! I rode mainly the terrain park and the low-key padded shorts were crucial for absorbing slams. I highly recommend beginners to wear impact shorts to avoid damaging their tailbone and have a comfortable learning experience.
My Anon M4 goggles with two lenses, one for bright conditions and one for low visibility.
The mitts I brought with me were the Crab Grab Punch Mitt, a mid-weight glove ideal for all-around temperatures.
I took three pairs of light Stance snowboard socks and a Oyuki facemask. Highly recommend a face mask to keep your neck shielded from the sun but also any rain, snow and wind.
For outwear, a baselayer, lightweight pull-over Analog jacket and Volcom Guch stretch gore-tex pants. All very lightweight and perfect for travelling.
For my feet, traditional laced Adidas Samba boots which I found very comfortable when I tried them out at the store. They are mid-flexed which I like when riding in the terrain park. I also prefer the traditional laces because it gives me full control on the looseness and tightness across the face of the boot - I don't mind the extra few seconds it takes to tie up the laces as they usually last the whole day. I have since changed to the Adidas Tactical Lexicon boots.
I chose the Union Strata bindings because I really like toe and ankle straps and they are also mid-flex, good for riding the terrain park.
The snowboard was the Capita Outsiders park board which I hadn't ridden before. The highlights that stood out to me was the stiffness, camber profile and a fast base. You can watch my review of the Capita Outsiders on YouTube.
The adaptor plug is an important travel accessory and you should always check in advance! Plus took some headphones for the long journey.
For filming snowboarding, my go-to camera, the Go Pro, and the DJI Mavic Air 2 drone for those incredible views on the Swiss Alps, be sure to always check with the resort on flying rules!
This was my first snowboard trip with the Go Pro MAX 360 and I was very happy with the end results. It allowed me to choose the best angles when editing and the MAX also removed the pole from the shots which was a great bonus.
The extension pole was important specially for self-filming to capture as much as possible. And of course, batteries!
I chose the Arc'teryx Khamski bagpack for both travel and snowboarding on the mountain, a 38 litres bag, which is larger than what I normally use but great to fit more things in case I went over my check-in allowance. I am now using a smaller and very versatile Jones Descent 25l bagpack.
Shades, some face masks, a tool for screwing on bindings and a SnowboardProCamp beanie to finish off.
I managed to fit everything into my Burton snowboard bag as only one check-in luggage was included with my ticket. I recommend a bag with wheels so it's easier to move around with.
I hope everyone can get out to a mountain soon. Have fun snowboarding!
Watch the video:
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