Jacket specifically for snowboarding?

[binxb]

I bought a Marmot shell the other day -- for hiking. A friend of mine said it's a snowboarding jacket. Does anyone know what would features a jacket specifically used for snowboarding would have? My friend was a little vague....

 

[jkennett]

What model of jacket is it? If it is a snowboarding specific jacket... who cares? It would probably have double layers of fabric at the elbows, armpit zips, be light-weight, snaps to connect your mits at the ends of the sleeves, and have an inner liner that is elastic at the waist to prevent snow getting in under the coat. All those functions aren't really snowboard specific, and the company isn't a snowboarding brand, so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[AR_Six]

Marmot is an absolutely core, jackson-hole style, pinner, beard-and-granola ski brand. They have absolutely nothing to do with snowboarding. Like, less to do with the sport than Arc'teryx. No image-conscious snowboarder would wear it on the hill. It is a solid hiking jacket.

 

[dshack]

"Snowboarding-specific" basically means baggy. There are no features a boarder would need that a skiier wouldn't, and vice versa.

I board, and I can't stand the steezy styling on the slopes. I wear fitted Patagonia and Lowe Alpine gear.

 

[jefe]

Some items by other manufacturers (DC, Burton, Ride) have some snowboard specific features, however many of them are in the pants of an outfit rather than a jacket. Marmot is a mountaineering-oriented brand just like Patagonia, Arc'teryx, Cloudveil, OR, Black Diamond, Norrona, Mountain Hardwear, etc.

Nothing wrong with wearing Marmot to snowboard, it's just not popular amongst the x-games crowd. If the jacket is waterproof(ish), warm, and provides the freedom of movement needed, it's gonna work just as well as anything else for the slopes.

 

[sonick]

A stretchy 'skirt' under the jacket that hugs the pants to keep snow out of inside the jacket.

Straps in the arm opening meant to go between thumb and index finger to prevent snow from going up into sleeve.

 

[unrated]

Good replies so far. I'd make sure its fully-taped and at least 5000mm waterproof. Depending on what kind of conditions, you might even want Goretex, which is guaranteed to keep you dry. Some jackets have a pants interface, where they connect to your pants to produce a snow seal. Venting zippers are important, as well as a removable hood. My pants and jacket are Helly Hansen, so they interface real well with each other.

 

[AdventureJunkIe*]

Id make sure its 10 K 10 k, go to http://www.whiskeymilitia.com . the yhave huge sells on snowboard jackets.

 

[Brutus]

First off if it's a shell it shouldn't look anything like a snowboarding jacket. The shell usually doesn't have any true insulating layer. Essentially it's a fancy rain coat. Shells are ment to be the outer most layer of many layers so that layers can be removed when the hiker/climber gets warm but will still remain dry because of the shell.

Originally Posted by sonick

A stretchy 'skirt' under the jacket that hugs the pants to keep snow out of inside the jacket.
I think this ^ is what really defines a snowboard jacket because you spend half your day scooping up snow on your butt. The stretchy shirt prevents the snow from making it's journey all the way up. Honestly, this is an absolutely necessity for new-to-snowboarding folks.

Originally Posted by unrated

Venting zippers are important, as well as a removable hood.

I'm not so much of a removable hood fan. When the conditions are really bad you'll really want that hood and might really regret having removed it at the car 4 miles back. I hear it's even possible that wind could blow the hood right off.

 

[randomtw]

anybody recommend any brands? I'm thinking about starting again after a particularly nasty fall that left me with a severely bruised tailbone

 

[AR_Six]

^ Ideally, look for anything with "3L" after it. If you're small, buy this. http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...cket-Mens.html If you're a L, this is a good call (in alloy, not Kuwait) http://www.backcountryoutlet.com/out...cket-Mens.html Generally, Sessions, Holden, Burton (and Analog) are all good. Orage and Helly Hansen are decent. Oakley has taken a downturn. Salomon outerwear is getting steadily better, but isn't there yet (and given what the brand is going through I don't know that the trend will continue).

 

[jefe]

Originally Posted by JD_May

Generally, Sessions, Holden, Burton (and Analog) are all good. Orage and Helly Hansen are decent. Oakley has taken a downturn. Salomon outerwear is getting steadily better, but isn't there yet (and given what the brand is going through I don't know that the trend will continue).

All good recommendations. Watch the sizing on some of this stuff if you want to avoid the steeze factor that's very popular in outerwear right now. **** is baggy for sure, but, in my opinion, snug fitting garments would not serve you well for snow sports.

Also the two best fabrics are Event and Goretex XCR/Proshell... Entrant and regular Goretex being close behind. All will function exceptionally. Patagonia's water resistant coating also has worked very well in my experience.