When choosing a snowboard jacket, it is essential to pay careful attention to the measurements of the snowboard jacket that you are selecting. If the snowboard jacket dont fit correctly, then cold air will be allowed into the snowboard jacket, and the snowboarder will be unable to enjoy there chosen physical activity due to the restriction in movement that will result from wearing a snowboard jacket that does not suit their body. A snowboard jacket must provide warmth, dryness, and mobility.
If a snowboard jacket is the wrong size for the wearer, then the snowboard jacket may ride up the wearers body when they are performing physical activity. Any snowboard jacket that rides up will allow snow and cold air to reach the body and negate the purpose of wearing a snowboard jacket. To determine the size of the snowboard jacket that will best suit the wearer’s body, the wearer should use a flexible measuring tape to take a series of measurements of there body.
How to Choose the Right Snowboard Jacket
The wearer should take the chest measurement at the fullest part of the wearer’s chest while their arms are lowered. The wearer should measure the waist at the narrowest part of the wearer’s waist. The measurement of the wearer’s hips should be taken at the widest part of their hips.
The wearer should measure the length of the sleeves from the wearer’s shoulder seam to the wearer’s wrist bone while their elbows is slightly bent. Finally, the wearer should measure the length of the torso from the top of their neck to the back of their torso. These measurements should be taken while the wearer is in a relaxed state so that measurements taken while the wearer is sucking in there stomach may not be accurate; snowboard jackets that are too tight for the wearer’s torso may be purchased.
Attempting to guess the size of the snowboard jacket by looking in a mirror will likely result in snowboard jackets whose sleeves are too short for the wearer or whose hem lines may gap when the wearer is crouching. Mens snowboard jackets are typically sized based on the wearer’s chest measurement. The measurement of a man’s chest will determine the sizes of the man’s waist and hips on the snowboard jacket.
For example, a men’s medium size will typically fit the wearer whose chest measurement is between 38 and 40 inches. A medium size for men will provide enough space for the man to wear a fleece sweater underneath his snowboard jacket. The sizing of women’s snowboard jackets is similar to clothing sizes in the United States.
Women’s snowboard jacket sizes use US dress sizes in addition to the physical measurements of the woman. For example, a women’s medium size may have a chest measurement between 35 and 36.5 inches. Additionally, a medium size for a woman’s snowboard jacket will provide enough room for the wearer to have wider hips than the size of there chest.
Youth sizes for snowboard jackets are based on the height and the age of the wearer. For example, a youth size 10/12 is for children between the ages of 9 and 11 years old and whose height is between 51 and 56 inches. Beyond the size of the snowboard jacket, the cut of the snowboard jacket is also important.
Snowboard jackets can have a slim or athletic cut. These cuts is useful for people who desire more mobility in their body while wearing a snowboard jacket. Alternatively, snowboard jackets can have a regular fit.
A regular fit snowboard jacket allows room for the wearer to have a mid-layer while wearing the snowboard jacket. Additionally, snowboard jackets can have a relaxed or oversized cut. These cuts are useful for people who plan to wear many layers underneath there snowboard jacket.
The wearer can test the fit of the snowboard jacket when trying on the snowboard jacket. Raising the wearer’s arms can reveal whether their skin is exposed by the snowboard jacket, and crouching low allows the wearer to ensure that the hem of there snowboard jacket does not ride up when they are on their skis. Beyond the cut and size of the snowboard jacket, technical specifications of the snowboard jacket will ensure that it will serve the wearer well while on the ski slope.
The waterproof rating of the snowboard jacket will indicate the amount of water that the snowboard jacket can resist. A rating of 5K is appropriate for individuals who encounter light drizzle in the slope area but will not encounter rain. A 30K rating is appropriate for those who may encounter heavy storms while on the ski slope.
The breathability of a snowboard jacket will determine how much moisture can escape from the snowboard jacket. A 10K rating will allow the wearer to stay dry during casual ski activities. A 20K rating will allow more moisture to escape, making it suitable for individuals who plan to ski at high-intensity levels.
The insulation of a snowboard jacket is measured in grams. If a snowboard jacket is a shell-only jacket, it will have zero grams of insulation. This is because a shell-only snowboard jacket requires the wearer to add there own insulation in the form of layers.
A snowboard jacket with 40 to 60 grams of insulation is appropriate for individuals who intend to wear a mid-layer underneath the snowboard jacket. A snowboard jacket with 80 to 120 grams of insulation will keep the wearer warm in all weather conditions. An additional method of wearing a snowboard jacket is in the concept of layering.
Base layers will pull the wearer’s sweat away from skin. Additionally, mid-layers will trap the heat from the wearer’s body for those who wish to maintain their body temperature. Finally, the shell layer will prevent the snow from entering the wearer’s body.
Individuals can choose to wear insulated snowboard jackets that combine the functions of the mid-layer and the shell layer into one garment. Alternatively, those who wish more control over their clothing can purchase a snowboard jacket system that allows individuals to wear different layers according to the weather. Additionally, there are different cuts of snowboard jackets for those with different body types and sizes.
For example, tall individuals may benefit from purchasing a snowboard jacket with extra length for the torso and the arms. Such extra length prevents the jacket from riding up when skiing. Similarly, individuals who are shorter than 5 feet 4 inches may have shorter lengths for their snowboard jackets so that the proportions of their body are more correct relative to the length of the snowboard jacket.
Different clothing brands may use different measurements for the sizing of there snowboard jackets. Thus, it is up to the individual to review the size chart for the brand of snowboard jacket that they would like to purchase. Specific features can enhance the functionality of a snowboard jacket.
A powder skirt will prevent snow from entering the snowboard jacket. Snowboard jackets with helmet-compatible hoods allow the wearer to wear their helmets without losing there field of vision. Additionally, many snowboard jackets have pit zips, which allow the wearer to release heat from the snowboard jacket when they are active on the ski slope.
Lastly, wrist gaiters will keep snow from entering the sleeves of the wearer’s snowboard jacket. Finally, if an individual is between sizes for the snowboard jacket, they should of purchase the larger size to allow for the wearing of additional layers underneath there snowboard jacket.
