My brother wants to start getting into snowboarding so I want to get him some stuff for christmas...price isn't an issue I just want to be able to get him good quality stuff that functions well.
2006-11-21 00:12:59 · 10 answers · asked by ahafner2 3 in Sports ➔ Winter Sports ➔ Snowboarding
Burton is by far the best, but you pay for it.
Some other good ones are Ride, Salomon, Never Summer(good boards from what I've been hearing)
You may want to stay away from actually buying him a board/boots/bindings though. These are things that should be fitted for him and you wouldnt want to buy him something he's just going to take back. Maybe talk with a local board shop and see if they can set you up with a package gift certificate so he can just come in and get fitted and sized for what he needs.
You may want to even look into a season rental program from a local shop too until he figures out his style of riding that he wants to do, then he can buy something designed closer to that style. Board lengths/brands/design are a MAJOR factor in this as well as his height/weight and a good fitting boot is just as important.
Other than that, some good cold weather clothing(preferably waterproof), some goggles too.
If he is just starting out, I HIGHLY recommend a helmet and some wrist guards and knee pads. Helmet in case he falls and smacks his head. But he WILL fall and he WILL fall on his knees and wrists. Don't forget to protect them too. Don't wait for an "I told ya so". I'm a big fan of the Burton/Red impact gloves ($100 pair)with the built in guards and the Burton/Red knee gaskets($100 pair. Although, they are getting harder to find. Pro-tec makes a viable runner up($20-35 pair), but if you can find the burton stuff, it IS worth the money.
Now that we know rick is a complete BONEHEAD........
Why anyone would tell you not to get pads is beyond me. It doesn't take a backflip to hurt yourself. All it takes is to catch one edge at a decent speed. Something a beginner WILL DO. Blown out knees and broken wrists aren't the most common injury among boards b/c they don't. The physics of the matter dont get much clearer. Not to mention it takes some of the pain out of learning (minor bumps and bruises)and puts the fun back into it. Yeah it's snow, but it's best friend is ICE. Which can be hard as concrete at times, especially on a groomed/packed snow base which you'll find on about 90% of the slopes out there. Unless your brother plans to be a strict powder hound, get the pads. And definitly dont listen to knuckleheads like rick that dont put safety and well being first.
2006-11-21 01:04:06 · answer #1 · answered by snwbrdr960 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't really think that this is such a one answer question. Burton maybe very popular, but are very overpriced and not everything they make is of such a quality (though of good style).
Burton are famous for their great boards, but their boots suck. Great boards except Burton's, are Forum and GNU for example. About the bindings check out Drake and Burton. For shoes, I believe 32 and Northwave make some of the best boots, because they focus on it. Especially ThirtyTwo who partnered with Etnies and Emerica into an institute to research how different extreme activities effect on the foot and thus to perfect the shoe for these extreme activities.
However probably the best thing to do when you want to buy somebody some gear is to buy him a gift certificate, cause it's way too personal. The most important thing is the boot and the person has to put it on, to force it a little, to feel where his toes stand and how his heel is moving. Also the board has to be chosen according to the height and weight of the boarder. Not to mention that if he doesn't know how to assemble his board, the folks at the store will do it for him, so it's essential for him to be there so they could set the angles of the bindings and the space between them.
2006-11-22 23:15:15 · answer #2 · answered by zbrox 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Morrow used to be a good company but there products seem to have gone downhill over the years. Maybe the brand that was so good in the 90s is now run by totally different people and the only similarity between the boards then and now is the name morrow? im not sure on that im just guessing?. Morrow do ok boards but there are lots of other brands that do really good boards. I assume this is the first board you have bought so ive listed a few womens boards which should suit you. K2 Skyla Sapient Fluid Solomon Maiden Ride Vista Option Paloma
2016-03-29 04:06:35 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you love your brother and price isn't an issue buy a quality board made here in the USA,Denver Colorado.They make the best boards in the world,Burton and their mass produced China boards don't come close.98% of the boards you'll see on the slopes are made in China.As for boots let him chose his own due to comfort.Bindings are all reasonably the same once again China made.The NorthFace is best in clothing in my opinion,if it's got Gore Tex it's outstanding.I hope this helps and support our country and buy the best.Happy Turkey Day.NeverSummer.com
2006-11-23 08:41:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
burton is ok but over the years they have been doing far too much "mass production" they turned into a company that just wants to sell sell sell. the quality of boards have not been keeping up with other companies. and it cost to much for their boards. I have been riding for years and i work at a snow resort in northern california as a snowboard instructor and a shop tech. Ride, Santa cruz, Soloman, and Nidecker are some very very good brands of snowboards
2006-11-23 07:07:13 · answer #5 · answered by micky c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Burton is the Microsoft of Snowboarding. They can do what they want but their quality is amazing. Can't say the same about Microsoft's quality but you get the picture.
2006-11-23 03:40:18 · answer #6 · answered by JigZor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Burton, Best Brand in the Market
2006-11-21 17:17:28 · answer #7 · answered by tlwulf324 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
burton is definitely one of the best brands for snowboarding gear. but when it comes to boards they are way over priced you should look into Gnu or Palmer they make really good boards for a really good price. Salomon makes a really comfortable boot if he has a narrow foot and if his foot is wider i would reccomend vans boots. gore-tex gloves are the best it doesn't matter who makes them but don't buy him wrist gaurds or knee pads it is SNOW. if hes not trying backflips he doesnt need a helmet so take it easy on the safety gear and just make sure he is gonna be comfortable on his board. and make sure to buy some decent goggles cheap ones will fog up all day and make the day miserable.
2006-11-21 05:09:59 · answer #8 · answered by Rick 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i almost didnt answer this question- it looks like you've been told enough. burton is the best you can buy (at least as far as boards go). flow are the best bindings and 32 makes the best boots. but belive me none of these come cheap
2006-11-23 05:38:41 · answer #9 · answered by iisasnowboarder 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
burton hands down
2006-11-21 09:06:45 · answer #10 · answered by crdnlnwhte 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋