Tl;dr: Snowboarding, while extremely fun, can be a dangerous activity. Those who want a little extra protection on the slopes should consider wearing protective gear such as helmets, goggles, high-quality base layers, impact shorts, wrist guards, elbow pads, shin guards, and knee pads. For more extreme protection, riders can wear spine protectors. Most importantly, ride safely!

As a snowboard enthusiast, I can tell you from first-hand experience that snowboarding is one of the coolest and most exciting things I’ve ever done. That said, I’ve had my fair share of gnarly slams out on the slopes. Snowboarding, unfortunately, is a dangerous activity. Fun… but dangerous.

My name is Sam. I’m a former snowboard instructor and an expert here at Curated. I try to snowboard as often as I am able. At the end of January, I’ll be taking my 2024 Capita DOA to Purgatory Ski Resort, and in February, I have the pleasure of snowboarding Ski Big 3’s Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Mt. Norquay.

What is Protective Gear?

Snowboarding is tough. It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or an expert; everyone takes big falls, and in some cases, those falls result in injury. One of the best and most convenient ways to ensure you stay safe on the slopes is to wear protective gear. In addition to a helmet, there are hoards of products that can keep you safe from getting hurt on the mountain.

Who is snowboard protective gear meant for? The short answer is everyone!

That said, as a seasoned snowboarder, I’d say that snowboard protective gear is best used when it is used by beginners and those actively trying to become better at snowboarding.

What to Consider When Buying Protective Gear

Is Protective Gear a Necessity?

Yes and no. While you don’t have to wear any protective gear, it’s highly recommended by just about everyone. You might look cool without a helmet on, but it only takes one bad fall to end up with a nasty heady injury.

What Gear is Most Important?

Your helmet and goggles are the most important protective gear. Everything else should come second. That said, if you have a helmet and goggles already, I’d recommend some crash pants.

What is More Important Than Protective Gear?

Riding within your limits is way more important than owning the right protective gear. My crash pants are cool, but they are not going to protect me from a tree as I’m hurdling down that mountain at 100mph. Ride smart and ride safe.

A year ago, I was riding with a friend who hadn’t ridden in a long time. They were not prepared, and they did not ride within their limits. We spent two whole days in the ER because she broke her leg and needed emergency surgery. I don’t want to scare you away from snowboarding, but I do want to warn you that it’s dangerous, especially if you don’t ride within your limits.

Sprains, fractures, and serious head injuries are all too common. So, wear a helmet, wear protective gear, and make sure you ride within your limits. This is the best way to avoid the most common snowboarding injuries. Also, have fun!

What are the Different Types of Protective Gear?

There are tons (and I mean TONS) of different types of protective gear to choose from. While some are more essential than others, such as helmets and goggles, you can’t go wrong with wanting a little more protection when snowboarding.

Beginners should wear protective gear because they are more likely to fall. Everyone falls on their butt and face, and wearing the correct protective gear can help cushion those crashes.

Snowboarders trying to up their skills should wear protective gear, too. If you are trying to learn new tricks on the jumps, rails, boxes, pipes, etc., wearing some extra layers is going to help protect your muscles and bones from sustaining too much damage. Likewise, those who like to go skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry should always wear appropriate protective gear.

1. Helmets, Goggles, and Base Layers (the essentials)

You might not look steezy wearing a helmet, but you should ALWAYS wear one. Broken bones and torn tendons can repair themselves but a damaged brain is a hard one to fix. The best way to protect yourself from unnecessary head injuries and concussions is to wear a helmet like the Smith Scout MIPS Helmet.

Goggles are a must, too. Sure, they let you see better on the slopes, but they also protect your eyes from the harsh UVs that bounce off the snow. Get yourself a pair of stylish goggles.

Wearing the correct base layers when you snowboard is essential, too. The right base layers (the next-to-skin layers) will shield your body from even the coldest of days.

2. Crash Pants a.k.a. Impact Shorts

I own a pair of Burton Total Impact Shorts, and they have saved my butt countless times. Impact shorts protect the hips, thighs, and tailbone. Crash pants are especially useful for snowboarders who frequently fall on their butt (like me!). This is the best way to avoid a broken tailbone.

When I wear my crash pants, I feel more confident, get more air on the jump, and try new tricks. Besides helmets and goggles, this is the one piece of protective gear I’d recommend the most.

A pair of crash pants with hip pads, butt pads, and the right fabric is going to save your little tushy. Most snowboard slams impact the lower back, tailbone, and hips. Cushioning your fall is one way to minimize damage.

3. Wrist Guards, Elbow Pads, Knee Pads, and Shin Guards

While the snow is often a forgiving adversary, there are times when more protective gear is needed. Wrist guards and elbow pads will protect your hands and arms, and knee pads and shin guards will protect your knees and legs.

A good pair of wrist guards are great for those who spend a lot of time in the terrain park and often fall on features such as boxes, rails, and hard-packed snow. I’d highly recommend some of these to avoid painful wrist injuries. The same goes for elbow pads. That said, I wouldn’t mind wearing a pair of elbow pads on steep groomers (just in case I lose balance and slam into the snow)

Shin guards to protect your shins when banging into objects, crash pants to absorb impact when you fall backward, and knee pads to absorb impact when you fall forward. A pair of carbon fiber shin guards from Speed Demon will protect your shins from banging into rails, trees, boxes, other snowboarders, and more. Knee pads will protect your knees when you go tumbling forward into the ground.

4. Spine/Back Protectors

Spine protectors might be a little out there for some riders. However, these products are sure to protect your back from heavy slams. There was a time I jumped onto a rail, slipped, and landed on my back directly on the rail (I wish I had a spine protector then!).

There are a lot of spine protectors out there. Some look like small backpacks, and others look like vests that go underneath your jacket. The Shred Flexi Back Protector Naked is one I’d recommend, even though I’ve never tested it. It looks lightweight, low profile, comfortable, and like it’ll get the job done.

How to Choose the Right Protective Gear

Choosing the right protective product is directly correlated to the kind of snowboarder you are. If you fall on your butt a lot, I’d recommend some crash pants. If you are worried about falling on top of features in the terrain park, I’d recommend some wrist guards and maybe some knee pads. If you are dropping into Corbet’s Couloir, I’d recommend wearing everything all at once.

Here are two snowboarders, Chase and Emily, that you might want to model your protective gear after. They have very different riding preferences, so they have different protective needs.

Chase

Chase is a park rat and spends most of his day on the mountain grinding rails, buttering, riding the half pipe, and trying new tricks on the jumps. As an intermediate rider, he likes to push his limits as a snowboarder and, as a result, falls a lot.

Features Chase should look for:

• Gear that is going to minimize damage and protect his joints (wrists, elbows, knees).
• Helmets with high-quality tech such as MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection).

Products to consider: Smith Scout MIPS Helmet, Burton Total Impact Shorts

Emily

Emily is a powder hound and loves to snowboard off-piste and in the backcountry. She is an advanced rider but sometimes she crashes and crashes hard. With the backcountry littered with trees, rocks, and other unseeable dangers, Emily needs gear to protect herself from serious injury.

Features Emily should look for:

• Protective gear specifically designed for the backcountry and off-piste snowboarding.
• Tools to help her get out of sticky situations.

Products to consider: Shred Flexi Back Protector Naked, Black Diamond Jetforce Pro Split 25L Avalanche Airbag Pack, Black Diamond Deploy Shovel

Find the Best Protective Gear for You

Want to know how you can stay safe on the mountain? Talk to a Curated Expert! We are here to solve your snowboarding dilemmas and help you find what it is you need. We are passionate skiers and snowboarders, and we want to share that passion with you. Don’t wait; talk to a Curated Snowboarding Expert right now!