Jackets & Layering
There was some discussion in the general forum regarding snowboard jackets. Thought the topic was worth it’s own discussion.
My 2cents is the cheapest option is to buy a shell from an outdoors/camping store. You can get a variety of colours around the $50-$70 range. Wear a hoody underneath on cooler days. If you layer up you can easily survive those bitterly cold chairlift rides or rain affected days on the hill without your good gear getting soaked.
Layers - anything from a singlet, long-sleeve with t-shirt, hoody, zippered hoody then shell (all at the same time). Any combo of these will have you set for any weather.
Personally I wear my compression top, T-shirt and hoodie with my DC shell. This handles really cold days.
If the wind chill is reading -40 I wear my 4square jacket (very warm) but usually have to undo my zips after a run.
Sunny days I ditch the hoody.
Spring - compression top and hoody only.
I’m a pretty sweaty person and cotton is not good in the cold - once wet it holds moisture then freezes which will make you very cold and affect muscles causing injury or you will get sick.
Nylon is worse.
Wool is the better option as it is water resilient.
Expensive compression wear is the best. It is designed to wick moisture away as well as moving heat to were it’s needed on your body. It also supports muscle and reduces fatigue.
(the above materials advice is important when choosing socks especially if you have poor circulation)
What is your preferred wear?
My layers are:
outer breathable shell
fleeces of different weights depending on temperature
thermal underlayer, currently moving away from synthetic towards wool eg. Icebreaker.
On spring days I may ditch one of the two thermal layers.
I often use a neck warmer on nasty cold windy days to pull up over my lower face.
I used rock on most/all occasions;
-A shell
-Hoodie
-Tshirt
Until Tahoe end of last year.
Over there i rode;
-A shell
-Compression/thermal undershirt (long sleeve)
-A tshirt
This combo did me fine, but admitedly there wasnt many really cold days.
I usually start out with a hoodie underneath but as the day progresses and depending on the weather i usually take the hoodie off.
This year i will most likely (obviously depending on current weather conditions) ride the shell with compression top/t shirt underneath and a hoodie(which i will most likely take off after 1 run and put in my bag)
I also use a face mask but mainly only wear it on the chairlift to prevent chapped lips.
No matter where I am I use,
Peak Winter
Thermal base layer l/s shirt + pants
T-shirt
Shell (somethin mid range quilted and insulated)
Face Mask (only on lift or very cold conditions)
Spring Time
T-Shirt, Hoodie and Pants!!!!!
The most important rule is NO COTTON!!!
Shell with at least 10K breathable/waterproof
Tshirt
Singlet
Thermal if its cold (kathmandu I got years ago)
Facemask for the chair lift
Snowboard pants with at least 10K breathable/waterproof
thermals if its cold (kathmandu I got years ago)
The most important rule is NO COTTON!!!
yeah i’m wondering about that. when you guys say “hoodie” do you mean a regular cotton hoodie or some high-tech thing?
^ Mine’s “some high-tech thing”. Cotton hoodies are like sponges when they get wet.
interesting that no-one has listed an insulated jacket as their outer layer
The most important rule is NO COTTON!!!
yeah i’m wondering about that. when you guys say “hoodie” do you mean a regular cotton hoodie or some high-tech thing?
I only wear a normal cotton hoodie, but that is in spring only, and as an outer layer!!!!!
If a cotton hoodie is worn under ya outer shell, it defeats the purpose of havin the breathability part of the jacket!!!!!
I also have an Analog DryRide quilted l/s shirt that is awesome in spring!!!!!
I usually wear:
Altica Thermals top and bottom - no matter what the weather is in winter, replace bottoms with board shorts in spring.
A tshirt - cotton or otherwise
A cotton hoodie for the morning when it’s cold (or a fleece hoodie when it’s raining/super cold)
And either my quicksilver puffer or Bonfire 10k shell depending on temperature or rain.
For work I may also sometimes wear a cotton/nylon soft shell that the mountain provides ontop of the hoodie layer for extra warmth.
On super cold/rainy days for work I will also wear fleece pants on my legs. And non-waterproof goretex shell work pants.
I’m pro cotton - I don’t discriminate.
interesting that no-one has listed an insulated jacket as their outer layer
well in aussie snow i dont see the point in wearing one. you will get too hot 99% of the time unless your in a blizzard/cold snap.
And if you layer under it you will get way too hot to quick.
yeah i’m wondering about that. when you guys say “hoodie” do you mean a regular cotton hoodie or some high-tech thing?
i wear a normal hoodie, most of the time its fine, there will be the odd occasion where it gets wet due to me eating shit but most of the time its fine. But when it does get wet, man it sucks!
interesting that no-one has listed an insulated jacket as their outer layer
Interestin that ya didn’t read my post properly!!!!! 
Thermal - Tall T 
- Jacket.
Works a treat and keeps the snow out
Thermal - Tall T
Works a treat and keeps the snow out
If you didn’t wear a tall T, the snow patrol would arrest ya for havin 5KG of crack on the mountain!!!!!
If I wear a hoodie without a shell I’m gonna get very wet very quick as I eat it… lots… 