Anyone here do a lot of snowboarding? I'm looking at buying a board and wanted some advice. I've gone snowboarding twice and love it, picked it up pretty quickly and I don't feel like wasting any more money on rentals. I've already bought most of the gear (Karbon pants, Burton gloves, Columbia jacket, etc) and just wanted to find the perfect board, boots and bindings.

The bindings I'm looking at are the Burton CO2
http://www.burton.com/Gear/Default.a...490/204399100/

The boots I'm pretty much set on (worn twice and love them), are the Burton Hail
http://www.burton.com/Gear/Default.a...460/207486108/

And the board I was looking at is the K2 Zeppelin 159W
http://www.k2snowboarding.com/product/zeppelin_wide
or
http://www.k2snowboarding.com/product/darkstar_wide#

I don't want to go over the top with gear because I'm not good at all, but I don't want to buy garbage stuff that I'll end up replacing by next season.

 

If I think about it when I get home tonight I'll have my son log on here (with my account) and he can answer your questions. He loves snowboarding and he just bought all new stuff for this season so he's done his homework on all the current products. He didn't buy "top of the line" either but it's better than anything you'd find at a local sporting goods store. I do know that his jacket, pants, socks, gloves, boots and board are all Burton. His bindings are either Ride or Burton and his helmet and goggles are some other brand. He'd probably love to discuss this stuff.

He's had to sit out the last month or so because he got hurt. Nobody is 100% sure how it happened because nobody saw it and he was knocked out and doesn't remember. He had a stage-two concusion and shattered his collar bone. He can't wait to go again.

 

i want to help but your first 2 links didnt really work. there's a lot of good snowboarding companies but the boots i go by are the DC Judges http://store.dcshoes.com/Products/ME...08_301313.aspx
they are comfy as ****! plus not a hassle to put on. i have burton bindings and a burton snowboard. you cant really go wrong if you stick w/ DC, burton, rome, grenade, gnu. i know a missing a lot thats a few reputable companies for gear and/or boards. i haven't really riden any k2 boards so honestly have no clue about them.

 

open up the first link, open the US option, then reopen the first and second link, with the initial link still open.

 

Bindings
http://www.sierrasnowboard.com/2009-...-CO2-40351.asp
Boots
http://www.sierrasnowboard.com/2009-...Hail-40545.asp

 

ahhhh ty! bindings are great. im on last years burton freestyle. boots they come with laces still? seriously give the DC Judges a try, you'll fall in love.

 

I'm going to a Ski shop sometime this week to try out some boots, so I'm sure I'll find something else lol. I just liked the Hail's because I've used them and was comfortable in them.

Plus they're white. Everything has to be white.

 

Can't go wrong with K2 Boards. I have last years model of the Darkstar (157) and I love it to death!

 

stealth mode going down the mountain!

 

The Darkstar Wide 160 is one of the boards I want. I've heard it's one of the best boards under $400.

 

160W is a big boy board... what your height/weight?

 

6'3 180. I was told 158-163 is where I should be looking. Both of my rentals were 158W.

According to this calculator ...
http://www.frostyrider.com/tips/size-guide.htm
...I should be using a 161W (258mm wide). It even recommends the Darkstar 160W lol.

 

I <3 Burton gear. My board is white, but after a while of looking at the snow, my board looks off white haha.

 

Hmm, I was never a fan of size guides... they're never completely accurate... i think more for weight distribution.

I usually go more by what type of style you're going to be doing;.... (ex. crusing, tricks, all terrain).

I'm 6'0 and 220lbs and ride a standard 157... my toes hang off a touch, but nothing that would impair my riding. My board is small, light and easy to maneuver. I tried riding my brothers 162W GNU board and I was all over the place. I was way too big for me and I had no control over the board. It was however very nice for going straight... very smoothly.

If you have large feet... like size 13 boots or above... go for a Wide board. Or, the next time you're up, try renting a standard non-wide board and see how it rides. I think a 157 or a 158 would be golden for you.

Check out the 158 Brigade:
http://www.k2snowboarding.com/product/brigade

 

I used a 162W (Ride) and a 158W (K2) and really didn't notice much of a difference, so I figure 160 would be fine. I'm nowhere near good enough to be picky about specifics. I should be able to get accustomed to whatever board I choose, I managed to do it when I switched from the 158 to the 162. And I definitely need a wide board lol.

 

160W is right in the middle then. And yeah, you will have to get accustomed to the board you do end up getting. All boards are different (brand/contruction/shape), no matter the size. And if you're not too picky about specifics... then go by whatever board looks cool to you also! :D

 

That's the main reason I want the 160W Darkstar, lol. All white/red/black. It'll match the boots and bindings...then match my tC .





:D

Hopefully I'll be able to keep it under $600 for all 3. So far I found the boots for $110, bindings for $175 and the board for $240. I'm going to check out some other boots and try to find the most comfortable ones.