A lot of people would consider winter as a time to hibernate, stay indoors, and just wait for the climate to get warmer.
But for outdoorsy people, a few inches of snow can’t stop them from enjoying the season and making the most out of winter. There are a lot of fun activities to do in the snow.
In fact, winter is a wonderful time to get healthy and fit. One of the fun activities that you can enjoy during this time of the year is snowboarding. It’s a cool way to get your adrenaline pumping, burn some calories, and spend time with your friends and loved ones.
Aside from offering an exciting way to spend your winter, it has a lot of health benefits as well.
1. Snowboarding is a form of aerobic exercise.
In fact, it is considered an intense cardio workout that burns around 450 to 500 calories an hour. It utilizes all of the major muscle groups in the body, including the muscles in the shoulders and arms. It affects the muscles in the lower part of the body because the weight is concentrated in the feet and ankles as you steer and maneuver the board.
2. It increases your flexibility and endurance.
When you snowboard, you change your directions and pace quite frequently. You need to maintain perfect balance so you won’t fall. As you practice more, you will keep improving. You need endurance if you want to get better at this sport.
3. It also helps relieve stress.
Snowboarding is not only good for your physical health. It also helps reduce or eliminate stress and anxiety. Being cooped up inside the house most of the winter can be very boring. Having an exciting way to spend your time allows you to socialize and take your mind off stressful things.
Snowboarding is a fun and worthwhile activity. If you’re interested in trying it, you need to know the basics of the sport.
First things first, you need your own snowboarding gear and equipment. One of the things that you need to pay attention to is the shoes or snowboard boots. One of the common mistakes that beginners make is picking the wrong pair of boots.
To help you out, here’s a list of the things that you need to consider when looking for a pair of snowboard boots:
Snowboard Boots Buying Guide
1. Boot Flex
Snowboard boots come with different levels of flexibility. There are boots that are very flexible, and some that can be very stiff.
The choice will depend on your riding style and how comfortable you are wearing them. What you should be aware of, though, is that the flexibility of the boot is subjective to the brand.
Each brand has their own degrees of softness or flexibility with their boots. If you are still developing your own riding style, then you’d be better off with a boot that has intermediate levels of softness or flex.
2. Laces
Laces may be something minor but they can still affect your ride. There are two common types of laces to choose from: traditional and quick-pull.
Traditional laces are generally cheap and allow you to control the tightness of the fit. However, they can be really hard to tie or adjust with your gloves on while you’re out in the cold. Quick-pull laces have a more convenient lacing system but can be quite expensive and difficult to find replacements for.
3. Boa System
The boa system takes care of the fit from the lower leg down to the foot. It’s what you use to adjust the snugness around that area. It could feature one or two dials which are located at the boot tongue and somewhere near the ankle. Most people choose the two-dial boa system because it allows them to customize the snugness of the boot.
4. Snowboard fit
If you have already bought a board before buying boots, you have to consider how the boots will fit the board. Again, each brand has their own sizing, and snowboard boots follow a standard footwear sizing. If you are going to choose different brands for your boots and board, just be sure that the sizes complement each other.
These are the major factors that you need to consider when buying snowboard boots. If you’re still confused about how to choose the perfect boots for you, check this list of the best snowboard boots to get you started.