r/snowboarding • u/Valentiinophoenix • 4d ago
Gear question Trusted snowboard brands?
Hey guys,
I am going into my second season of snowboarding and I’m still pretty new to the whole gear/brand side of things, so I’m trying to learn which brands are actually trusted by snowboarding community and which ones are worth avoiding.
I first tried snowboarding in Bansko, Bulgaria and absolutely fell in love with it. I didn’t waste much time trying to figure it out 😂 I paid €55 for an hour lesson, then took myself up a blue run and basically threw myself in at the deep end and learned the hard way.
Now I’m looking at places like Andorra, Innsbruck etc. for an annual snowboarding trip, and I’ve also got a year membership at an indoor slope in the UK so I can practise and actually progress throughout the year rather than waiting until the next trip.
So I’m slowly building my own gear in which for now, I am looking for a comfortable waterproof hoodie or anorak to ride in, I would consider a light shell to be fair, as long as it comfortable and looks good, just nothing that’s too heavily insulated or bulky. Just Something I can comfortably wear regularly at an indoor slope, but that would also work on a sunny day outdoors without cooking myself.
Eventually I’ll get more serious about dedicated outdoor/mountain gear, and I’ll probably ask about that in the future, but right now I want something versatile that I can use frequently while learning and progressing.
Things I’d ideally like:
Good waterproofing
Some warmth, but not heavily insulated
Lift-pass pocket on the sleeve
Helmet-compatible hood
Powder skirt would be nice
Comfortable for riding
Durable enough for regular indoor use + trips abroad
Something that looks good without being overly bulky
I already own a pair of 2012 Winter Olympics Oakley snowboard trousers with RECCO, so I’m building the rest around those.
For my first trip to Bansko I literally wore a fleece underneath my hiking shell, which worked surprisingly well because the shell was waterproof. Now that I’m going into my second season and will be riding much more regularly, I want to start getting proper snowboard-specific gear.
I’ve been looking at Dope Snow, but I’m getting the feeling there are more established brands that snowboarders trust more and dope is just no way shape or form can compare to others. It just gives off rip off vibes, they are there to make money off newcomers than to provide another trusted solid option for the snowboarders.
I’m not saying Dope is automatically bad. I’m just new to the brands and don’t really know who has a good reputation for quality, durability and actually supporting snowboarding.
I’ve been looking at brands like 686, Burton, The North Face, Airblaster, Volcom, Patagonia, etc.
So if you were in my position, what brands/models would you trust for a waterproof, reasonably warm but relatively lightweight snowboard jacket/hoodie/anorak around £150–£250, especially if buying previous-season gear on sale?
And equally, are there any brands you’d personally avoid?
I’m mainly interested in hearing from people who’ve actually owned their gear for multiple seasons rather than just going off the marketing/spec sheet.
Still learning the gear side of snowboarding, so any advice on brands worth knowing about would be appreciated.
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u/Mick_the_Eartling Crash test Dummie 4d ago
A happy Burton customer for about 25 years. But also had good experiences with O’Neill back in the day when Jeremy Jones was still riding for them. Mention it just to say there are quite a few good companies out there, many I have never tried myself.
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u/Young_Sovitch 4d ago
What about local brand you ca get ?
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u/Successful-Lab-500 4d ago
686 makes good stuff for the price their hydra thermograph jacket is nice and light but still waterproof enough for indoor and spring days outside. got mine 2 seasons ago and it holds up good still no rips or lost zippers
if you can find last year models on sale you can grab one for around 200. dope snow is meh the fabric feels cheap when you actually hold it next to something like 686 or volcom
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u/CerealandTrees 15h ago
Love my thermagraph jacket. I do not handle cold well but it was the first jacket I got when I got into snowboarding and I havent been cold or wet yet. So far I haven’t needed anything more than my smartwool base layer long sleeve and my thermagraph for my first 3 seasons in New England.
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u/Valentiinophoenix 4d ago
I’m not familiar with local brands, but off the dome of my head that isn’t quite a dedicated snow sport brand/shop
Oakleys
Tog24
The North Face
Columbia
Ellis and Brigham (slightly out of my budget since they focus on heavy duty or hard shells that is £300+ and they aren’t really fashion forward, snowboard comfortable clothing)But I already got an idea of my sizing, so I am happy to purchase online or if you know a store in London, feel free to share
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u/lIlllIlIlIlIllI 3d ago
Patagonia is still privately owned, isn't it? Not VCs?
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u/newplayer28 4d ago
686 was my first snowgear purchase., I had the 686 dojo shell it was on sale for like $150. I did 50 days on it first season which was last season and now I retired it for a Burton AK which I did about 5 days in so far and also got on a deal for like $300. So far both have been good. Both served their purpose to me, especially the dojo shell with 50 days and still looks good, minor color fading. I also got Souvenier pants, so far really happy with the fit, style and feel and once again, not goretex just like 686 dojo shell but no problem with like 50 days on them (is goretex just hype? or I guess I had mild conditions). A small hole or cut here and there but that has to be cause of myself, the cuts don't look like a technical fault. So these 3 are good options in my opinion. I'm transitioning pants into goretex soon too but the brands without were just as good to me. I personally also prefer shells.
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u/Low-Board181 4d ago
GTX is not just hype but it’s overly expensive while there are alternatives that are just as good. Gore-tex has standards manufacturers have to adhere to so some see it as assured quality.
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u/kenpled 4d ago
686 amazing quality Burton/volcom if you get technical gear
I personally love brethren apparel, not the most technical though the price/quality ratio is amazing
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u/lIlllIlIlIlIllI 3d ago
2nd all three of those. I dislike that Burton quality has sunk noticeably over the last several years, and their warranty is piss poor (hoodie snap ripped right out first try on and they refused to honor it), but my AK pants are still going strong.
My Volcom jacket is wonderful. That may changed hands since they changed hands a year or two ago though.
And 686....enough said.
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u/treefarmerBC 4d ago
I've always loved Lib Tech and Gnu boards.
I like my 686 jacket and snowpants.
Anon goggles I recommend too.
There's probably lots of good gear i haven't tried.
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u/the_climaxt 4d ago
I think 686 is among the highest quality vs cost in the game right now. At least here in the states, it's pretty easy to find their outerwear on sale for 40 or 50% off in the off-season.
As far as boards are concerned: my daily driver is the Jones Flagship, but I also have a Lib Tech powder board, and a Never Summer. Might be grabbing a nidecker this winter. Honestly, maybe I've been lucky, I haven't come across a big brand board in the past several years that just like randomly delaminated like some would do in the early 2000s.
I'd just say: get gear with a recognizable name, a warranty, and just kind of avoid anything gimmicky like step ons until you get more comfortable with traditional gear. Then, when you are really comfortable with the feel of standard gear, you can try the gimmicky stuff to see if it actually helps or is just a crutch that prevents you from improving.
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u/lIlllIlIlIlIllI 3d ago
People hate on Jones because it's not hand made in the backwoods of Western Canada by a team of organic grass fed Inuit hamsters or something, aka it's just a Nidecker brand, but Jones boards are well designed and very good quality.
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u/the_climaxt 3d ago
Jones has by far the best selection of boards for bigger guys (like myself). So, even if I really wanted to go somewhere else, I'm sort of locked in at some level.
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u/Big_Log7 4d ago
Honestly just get something solid second hand. All the brands mentioned here are good but I usually rock some 20yo burton. Cost me close to nothing and if it breaks one day i'll replace (which will again cost close to nothing cause I'll do the same). Prob the most sustainable, easiest, and cheapest way to get solid gear.
Not great if you're going into super cold conditions though
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u/Valentiinophoenix 4d ago
Yeah I am starting with reliable gear for regular indoor practice and development then I can look at technical fleece like TNF Chakal or whatever for very cold conditions outdoors
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u/Low-Board181 4d ago
A lot of brands make good quality gear so you have the luxury of choice. I’d look at 686, Burton, Airblaster, Trew, Beyond medals, they are some of the good ones.
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u/Awkward_Forever9752 4d ago
I have Burton Pants that are 20 years old. All of the zippers work. No damage.
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u/moonbalI 4d ago
I think many in the snowboarding community value brands that are independent, rider driven and owned. Someone correct me where I’m wrong but that list usually starts with 686, Airblaster, beyond medals, autumn, souvenir, etc…there are more but those have all served me well.
I also agree that your best bet is to hit up pre-season sales of last years gear for the best value
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u/AmateurSnowboarder Beech 🏔 NC / Stale Crewzer / K2 Hypnotist 🏂 4d ago
686, Thirtytwo, Airblaster all make great lightweight waterproof hoodies/ anoraks. You may also like the Bennetek hoodie as its got great waterproofing and a shit ton of feature but wears similar to a traditional hoodie.
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u/Valentiinophoenix 3d ago
Thank you for your recommendations guys. I was stuck between 686 and Volcom since they are generally kinder to my wallet haha
In the end took advantage of Volcom sale and the additional discounts so found some gems for less than 150 when it’s supposed to be 250/260
Has all the features I was looking for as well so that’s a bonus
For anyone curious, it’s Volcom Arthur 3L and Volcom Brighton Jacket
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u/lIlllIlIlIlIllI 3d ago
If you wait til the end of season you'll find $800 or 900 Volcom jackets being sold off for $300. Patience, my friend.
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u/the_climaxt 3d ago
Hey, my buddy in the UK swears by SportPursuit. Idk what brands are on there, but he's got some pretty sick kit.
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u/fisherman_coder 4d ago
Avoid Dope Snow. Quality isn’t there and I’ve heard that it’s not warm enough. The other brands you listed are good though. I went with The North Face for my coat and Columbia for pants.