What no snowboarder should ride without

If you are new to snowboarding or just looking to upgrade some gear before the next season, here are the basic accessories every snowboarder should have before they head up to the mountain:

Music: No doubt about it, plugging in to your favorite tunes can make you shred harder than anything else. Make sure you have a protective case and good sturdy headphones.

Helmet: If you want to ride hard don’t forget to pick up a helmet. It may look silly, but it will make crashing a lot more enjoyable. And don’t pretend like you don’t crash. If you don’t crash, you aren’t going hard enough.

Warm socks: Don’t underestimate the importance of good, warm socks. Keeping your feet warm will keep you on the mountain longer. Nothing can end a trip faster than frozen toes.

Gloves: Pick sturdy, warm gloves that aren’t too bulky or hard to work with. Some people prefer mittens with liners, while others want gloves. It’s all up to your personal preference. But whatever you pick make sure you can do your bindings with ease and without compromising hand warmth.

Goggles: Picking the right goggle is important. It’s too scientific to explain here so check out this site. It will tell you everything you need to know about the goggles you need for the weather you will be boarding in.

Shovel: You don’t need a fancy shovel, but if you feel like making a quick kicker it will help a lot. Any shovel that can collapse or fold in to make it more compact and easy to throw in a backpack will do.

Screwdriver: If your bindings come loose on the mountain having a tool kit handy could save your day. You can purchase small ones that you can carry around in your bag or jacket pocket.

Leash: Yup, you need one. Most mountains won’t even let you on the lift without one. Save a lot of grief by getting one before you get there.

It’s not fun to be inches from the gondola just to be told you need a leash before heading up.