Winter isn’t just a time for hiding under the blanket or drinking hot cocoa all day. There are a lot of things you can do in the great outdoors, and you don’t have to let the season go by without doing anything worthwhile.
If you’re bored with all the board games at home and browsing the internet seems uninteresting already, why not try something that is more physical like snowboarding?
Snowboarding is a fun and exciting activity for the winter season. It has become increasingly popular in the last few years as more people find it interesting and healthy.
It serves as a cardiovascular exercise that improves the condition of the heart. It also helps burn calories, making it a fun way of losing weight – especially for those who are doing it on a regular basis. Plus, it helps reduce stress and anxiety by improving one’s mental health.
It really isn’t a big surprise that more and more people are getting hooked on the sport. Aside from the fact that it is a healthy and beneficial activity, it’s also very fun to watch. Anyone who’s up for a challenge will surely find themselves enjoying learning how to snowboard; only to get more and more hooked as they become better at it.
If you’re also interested in learning how to snowboard, you should know that it’s not going to be easy at first. With determination and consistent practicing, however, you will get better.
One other factor that will help you improve a lot faster is having the right gear and equipment. It is important to have a board that you will feel comfortable riding, not to mention a good pair of boots that will fit perfectly with the board and your feet.
For beginners, it is understandable that you are not yet familiar with the terms and slangs in the sport. It’s also expected that you might be confused when choosing the right gear to spend your money on.
So, in order to help you get started, here’s a list of things that beginners should consider when buying snowboard boots.
Tips for Choosing Snowboard Boots for Beginners
1. Your boots should fit well
The importance of well-fitting snowboard boots cannot be stressed enough. It is not just about the ride, it’s about your safety when you’re gliding down the hill.
Loose boots can be extremely dangerous, while really snug ones can hurt your feet. Thus, you should have in mind your body type, i.e., if you have big feet, narrow feet, big calves, etc.
Furthermore, boots that don’t fit well can create excessive heel lift and significantly affect responsiveness. This is why you have to check and double check the boots to make sure they fit before purchasing. You have to consider that a size from one brand may not be the same from another.
2. It should have shock-absorbing properties
Aside from making sure that the boots fit well, you also have to feel comfortable wearing them. One factor that makes for a comfortable pair of snowboard boots is having plenty of shock absorption.
Snowboarding puts a lot of pressure on the lower part of your body, especially the feet and lower legs. Some people may want to compromise on shock absorption and get better traction instead, since beginners won’t really be doing a lot of tricks and jumps while learning to ride.
That may be true, but as soon as you start your first couple of lessons, you’ll be glad that you got a pair of boots with excellent shock absorption properties.
3. Your snowboard boots should have just the right amount of flex
Flexibility is one of the major factors to consider when choosing your snowboard boots. Boot flex has a significant effect on the quality of your ride.
Additionally, a snowboarder’s style is usually developed according to how well they adjust or work with their boots’ degree of softness. Soft flex boots tend to be more forgiving of errors. Stiff or rigid boots offer more stability but can be a little challenging to maneuver.
For beginners, experts would recommend the medium soft flex snowboard boots, which are somewhere in the middle in terms of flexibility. Starting with a pair of boots that are too stiff isn’t a good idea. Also, boots that are too soft may not help a lot when it comes to balance.