2013 Snowboard Gear
A short guide to what’s kept us warm, dry and in touch this season
While it may not entirely feel like it in certain cities, winter is in full swing, dumping snow in many regions and offering temps low enough to fire up the snow guns in others. After introducing the Nitro T1.5 and ThirtyTwo + Crab Grab collaboration earlier this week we’ve pulled together four more pieces of gear that have been keeping us warm, dry and safe this season.
L1 Outerwear
Working under the helm of Nitro Snowboards, L1 makes street style-conscious outerwear that toes the line between fashion and function. For pants we’ve been running the Skinny Cargo, an aptly named, military-inspired pant in a heavy wale twill fabric. Admittedly, they’re very slim fitting. But as team rider John Kooley says on the brand bio, “it’s not for everyone.” So once we got past the initial doubts and gave in to the fit we were pleasantly surprised by just how comfortable a form-fitting pair of pants were while riding. With all the right vents and plenty of secure pockets the final word on the Skinny Cargo is nothing but good.
Up top we’ve been testing the 2014 Essex Peacoat, a slightly more insulated iteration of this season’s Essex Parka. Although the fit was nice, an overzealous amount of velcro on all pockets kept them securely shut, but also extremely difficult to open while wearing gloves. Hopefully they’ll improve upon this next season. Find more on L1 outerwear directly online.
Dragon APX Goggle
When it comes to on hill eyewear the Dragon APX goggle has been our go-to so far this season. The “frameless” goggle offers the most unobstructed field of vision of any goggle we’ve experienced, with a convex lens allowing for impressive peripheral vision. Yes, they are very large, but the oversized lens keeps the frame out of sight, keeping distractions to a minimum—you only “see” the goggle at the nose bridge. The Dragon APX goggles are available online from EVO for between $155-$200 depending on lens choice.
Celtek + Youth Shelter Supply Mitten
Owned and operated by snowboard industry vets Erik and Bjorn Leines, Celtek makes gloves and mittens meant to stand up to frigid Midwest winters. This season they’ve teamed up with fellow Minnesotan boardshop The Youth Shelter Supply for an exclusive collaboration. Outfitted with a 15K waterproof ripstop nylon and grippy palm face—with art by Paul Hartman and Mike Thienes—the cozy mittens feature a glove-like interior with individual finger slots for added warmth (plus, they help stave off clammy mitten hands). Support independent snowboard companies and find the collab mitts directly from The Youth Shelter Supply for a reasonable $45.
Burton + Nokia Insulated Phone Case
Cold weather drains batteries faster than you’d think. Even with a full battery phones can die in seconds once exposed to the bitter cold, leaving your bare hand freezing and your Instagram likes to a minimum. An easy remedy to missing the shot—or a call from your ride home—is this insulated electronics case from Burton and Nokia—think of it as a puffy coat for your phone. Although relatively bulky, the case will keep your electronics warm and fully charged even in sub zero temps. Get the collaboration case from Amazon for $27.
Mitten image by Youth Shelter Supply, all others by Graham Hiemstra
