Snowboarding
jackets
Winter jackets have changed a lot over the years as technology
has improved. The best solution used to be those big, puffy,
down filled jackets. While they where warm they really didn't
stand up all that well to wear and tears, moisture or active
movements. Once again technology has come to our aid with
the invention of new materials.
The new materials available have resulted in jackets that
are warmer even when wet, lighter, more compact, tear resistant
and fashionable. The most important area of improvement is
the functionality of these new products. The main areas of
improvement are in waterproofing, wind proofing and breathe
ability.
Waterproofing is perhaps the most obvious idea and potentially
the most important as well and is linked to your jackets ability
to breath. Your body heat will be drained off very quickly
if your clothing is wet make you cold much faster. Waterproofing
has moved way beyond a simple chemical coating. Now it is
at the point where there is a standard for waterproofing that
is measured by how many centimeters of water can rest on top
of the material before leaking through. The best fabrics can
support tens of meters of water before leaking!
Waterproofing is more than just the type of fabric used since
the final product is only as strong as its weakest link. What
good is a waterproof jacket of water can pour through the
zipper? A good quality waterproof jacket will have many extra
features built into it that may not be visible. For example
a jacket should have all of its seams sealed with a waterproof
tape, the zipper should be covered, the inner layer must not
absorb water and the entire jacket should be made of waterproof
materials not matter what the section is.
The next area to consider is wind proofing. Wind proofing
is almost becoming a thing of that past. Of course the wind
will greatly effect how fast you loose body heat but is a
non-issue if your jacket is highly waterproof. A jacket that
can with stand a column of water tens of meters high is wind
proof. The only time wind proofing is an issue is if your
jacket is either entirely fleece or not fully waterproof.
The final thing to consider, and arguably the most important,
is the breathe ability of your jacket. As we work and ride
we create heat that translates into sweat. Of course a build
up of sweat is a bad thing since it will allow cold to be
conducted through to us so it must be dealt with. In order
to deal with moisture we must use layers of clothing. The
purpose of the first layer is to pull the moisture away from
our skin but it must go somewhere. A breathable cloth will
allow the moisture that is pulled away from our skin to escape
outside our jacket without letting water seep in.
One option that you may find when shopping for a snowboarding
jacket is something called a shell. A shell is a relatively
special purpose adaptation of the snowboarding jacket in that
it is intended for those who live in mild climates or who
are not bothered by cold very much. A shell is a stripped
down version of a full jacket in that it still provides wind
and water protection but does not provide much, if any, climate
protection. A shell is intended to be worn in relatively warm
climates where the rider may only need a little water proofing
and will add their own insulating layers as needed.
After deciding the amount of protection that you require
you must then think about options available and if you want
them. Things commonly available include removable hoods, over
sized pockets for snacks and drinks, lift pass pocket, cooling
vents, waist pull cords and reflective materials. Then of
course you need to consider the style of the jacket if you
haven't already decided.
Putting all of these elements together will ensure that you
have a good jacket for all of your snowboarding needs. While
you may not need to know all of the details, being well informed
will help you make a better decision that will enable you
to enjoy snowboarding even more. |
