Baggie pants can be more than just fashionable.
Do you remember the days of having to put a snowsuit on in order
to go out sledding or skiing? No matter what you did the snowsuit would
always climb, let snow in, get wet and usually was uncomfortable
because your pants where bunched up inside. Fortunately for those of us
who can remember that, those days are long gone.
Modern snowboarding pants, and even regular snow pants, have
vastly improved over what we might remember. Snowboarding pants are now
worn like regular pants, thinner, lighter, tougher and warmer than ever
before. Of course this is only possible thanks to demand and
technological advances.
When thinking about snowboarding pants it helps to understand
how they work. Generally snowboarding pants use a three-layer system.
Some may only have two layers and are either inteended for very mild
climates or to be worn over some type of underpants.
The first layer is the base layer and it is in direct contact
with your skin. When riding outside you will heat up very quickly and
then cool down while on the lift before repeating the process. The
purpose of the base layer is to ensure that this can be done without
you getting cold. The main reason you get too cold is because your
sweat gets caught in the base layer against your skin and begins to
freeze. A modern base material will prevent this by wicking the
moisture away while providing some temperature balancing benefits.
The next layer is the insulation layer. The purpose of the
insulation layer is to retain your body heat and the best way to do so
is by trapping a layer of air around your body. This air will greatly
decrease the heat exchange between your body and the outside world.
Generally the insulation layer mostly consists of polyesters.
The most popular materials are fleece, bunting and pile. Fleece is the
most common material and is a dense fabric that has been raked on one
side to make the ends of the fibers stand up and trap the air. Bunting
is a fleece that has been raked on both sides creating a tight solid
weave with wooly air retaining surfaces on both sides. Pile is a
single-sided fleece that has undergone more raking and has been
processed further to create a much thicker open fabric.
The final layer is the outer shell, which is the only layer
with direct contact to the outside world. The purpose of this layer is
to protect against wind, rain and snow while letting moisture escape
and protect the wearer from cuts, scrapes and chaffing. This layer is
made from a material, such as Gore-Tex, which has holes that allow
water vapor from your body to escape but are too small to allow a large
drop of water in.
Now that you know how the products works you can begin
shopping. After determining the number of layers you require you must
look for other features. If you like to ride at night or in the dusk
you may want reflective strips. For security you may wish to have
inside zippered pockets. Large pockets are great for packing around
food and water and a see through pocket is great for you lift pass.
If you keep in mind your snowboarding style, needs and what
products are available you are sure to get the correct snowboarding
pants. Having the correct gear goes a long ways towards maximizing your
comfort and enjoyment while snowboarding. Have fun and stay warm.
