Snowboard gloves

To get the true pleasure of snowboarding, it is important to take care in advance and purchase professional equipment and equipment. The main piece of equipment is snowboard gloves, which will keep your hands dry and prevent them from freezing.

The main difference between special gloves, which are equally suitable for skiing and snowboarding, is the presence of fasteners and other devices for reliable sealing of the hand from external influences.

As a rule, they are made of high-strength leather, equipped with reliable cuffs. In addition, there are no seams at the fingertips.

Modern snowboarding gloves are specially treated on the side of the palms to maximize protection of the hands from external influences and to increase the durability of the attributes themselves. Natural leather or vinyl is traditionally used for this area.

In addition, this protective element of the snowboarder's wardrobe has several cuff lengths to prevent snow from entering:

1. Short ones allow the arms to move more freely. But to prevent snow ingress, they should be worn with jackets fitted with Velcro.
2. Long, overlapping sleeves of the jacket guarantee 100% snow protection. But they limit the mobility of the wrists.

The various add-ons available on the various models include:

• Pads that allow you to quickly and effectively wipe the mask.
• Exact repetition of the structure of the fingers (articular), which increases perception and helps the athlete to hold on to the rails of the lift.
• Kevlar inserts for even more strength and durability.
• Storm harness - cord to ensure safety when removed. It is a strap for attaching to the wrist or outerwear.
• Inserts that allow you to wipe your nose without removing special gloves. They are made of suede, less often of other high quality materials.
• Internal silicone lining for increased hand sensitivity and ease of grip.
• Rubber scraper in the area of ​​the thumb - for cleaning the mask from snow and ice.
• A ventilation hole (zippered pocket) on the back of the hand for a more comfortable microclimate inside the product and its quickest drying. Opens - closes the pocket as needed, giving the snowboarder the ability to control and create the most comfortable conditions for his hands.
• Rigid insert to prevent injury from falls.
• System for adjusting the cuff width.

Traditionally, snowboarding is divided into three areas:

• freeride;
• freestyle;
• carving.

Each of them has its own specifics, which should be taken into account when choosing protective equipment.

So, for freeriding - a natural relief descent and skiing on mountain slopes, you need the most durable clothing for your hands, equipped with high cuffs and strong fasteners.

For freestyle, with its dizzying stunts, safety takes a back seat. More attention is paid to the appearance, the combination of the accessory with the rest of the clothes.

In carving, the lightness and practicality of special gloves are important. Here, as in freeriding, you should pay attention to products with hand protection - to prevent serious injuries.

In addition to well-known materials, manufacturers of sports equipment also use all kinds of the latest developments.

For the outer layer, apply:

• Outlast. One of the novelties with a thermostat, characterized by increased thermal characteristics. In things made of such material, there is a layer of absorbing microcapsules that release their own heat. Its excess is removed to the outside.
• Gore-tex. Waterproof and windproof with breathable membrane. Products made from such fabric are considered the most comfortable.

• Windstopper - will protect well from any piercing wind and even the most severe frosts. It is based on polytetrafluoroethylene, fluoropolymer and Teflon. The minimum thickness of the accessory made of this fabric will greatly facilitate movement. However, they are not effectively protected against moisture, so they are best used in cold, dry areas.
• 3M Thinsulate is a synthetic fabric consisting of insulation microfibers. Reliably retains heat inside and protects from the wind.
• Hipora is a polyurethane based film material with microscopic pores. Provides maximum protection from cold air and wind.

The following are used as a heat insulator and an internal filler for special gloves for snowboarding:

• Pooh. The main advantages are naturalness and high quality. It perfectly protects against any frost. But only in dry weather. In case of precipitation, the down not only does not retain moisture, but also gets wet itself. Down products dry out for a long time.
• In addition to down, various companies use flick and natural wool for the glove lining. But most often, manufacturers prefer synthetics.

• Primaloft is a synthetic filler based on high quality microfiber. Allows the athlete's body to retain heat and conserve energy. It is considered one of the best in its segment and exhibits excellent performance in high humidity conditions.
• Slightly inferior to down in thermal insulation qualities, Primaloft has additional advantages. It maintains optimal air circulation, does not restrict movement, is waterproof and compact.
• Thinsulate is another modern material based on fine microfibers.Being compact and warm, it provides comfort to the athlete's hands without limiting their mobility.

The assortment includes products with combined lining materials. And also with removable layers - for self-adjustment of the degree of insulation.

For snowboarding, as for any extreme sport, safety is of great importance. It is equally needed by both professionals and novice snowboarders.

Among the models there are accessories with wrist protection that reliably protect this part of the hand from dislocations and fractures. But some athletes and amateurs prefer to use independent (separate) protection, which is worn under special gloves. What is the difference? And what is more effective?

Self-supporting fits snugly to the hand, and therefore more effective. However, if it is not there or you just don’t want to wear it, then you need to use special gloves with built-in protection.

They have several features that set them apart from the rest:

• more cumbersome;
• equipped with a strap that wraps around the wrist and is fixed with Velcro. Designed so that at the moment of impact the protective part does not move and correctly and effectively perform its function;
• has exceptionally long cuffs that are worn over the jacket.

The price for such accessories is higher than for counterparts without protective functions, but they significantly reduce the risk of injury.

To make the most of your snowboarding hand accessory, you need to choose the right one. In this case, several basic criteria must be taken into account.

The main rule is that the thing must fit exactly in size. For its correct determination, a measurement is taken from a part of the palm from the index finger to the little finger. The resulting figure is checked against the size table.

Buying for growth, or, conversely, end-to-end is not worth it, as this will reduce the comfort of the attribute and its functionality.

When choosing, priority should be given not to what is cheaper, but to what is of higher quality and more reliable. To get the most out of your hands and not worry about wet and cold hands, you should choose warm, moisture-resistant and windproof gloves.

In addition to gloves, manufacturers of snowboarding equipment also offer snowboard mittens, which also have their own characteristics, in which the hands will be much warmer.

But at the same time, the latter also have an important drawback - some things in them are simply inconvenient to do due to the fact that the fingers do not have sufficient mobility.

In any case, the choice here remains with the athlete and depends on his preferences.

On the modern market there are products of various companies, each of which has its own "chips".

According to the rating of the popular German edition Sport und Abenteuer, Level Biomex gloves are the best among analogues. The Biomex protective system increases safety, and the Membra-Therm Plus membrane reliably protects against all possible negative environmental influences.

The features of these products include:

• suede pad for wiping the mask;
• repetition of all anatomical features of the fingers;
• removable inner part;
• inserts for extra strength;
• ventilation system;
• long cuff.

However, this accessory, which received the title of "Best Gloves", is rather short-lived - it lasts for a couple of seasons maximum.

Bask is a Russian company offering the best value for money. Its latest models are equipped with:

• Kevlar palm, which makes the product almost eternal;
• long cuff;
• removable Porelle membrane + fleece interior;
• wrist cord;
• external protection.

The disadvantages of the snowboarders are the lack of ventilation and the device to wipe the mask.

Burton gloves. Their feature is the use of Screen Grab Toughgrip technology, which allows you to use the smartphone's sensor without removing the attributes.

Also among the leaders is Fischer, which offers high-quality accessories that "breathe" and reliably protect hands from moisture and cold.