Snowboarding Gear Buying Guide: Strap In Before Carving Your Wallet

     Looking for new gear huh? Trust me when I tell you I feel your anxiety.  I mean between all the stores, promotions and online sites you're just waiting to get shafted.  If you are (or were like me I should say) there have been too many times you've bought gear, just to get to the mountain feeling jerked.  "Four people..same bindings as me...but they paid $80 less."  Well I've put together a list of my experiences purchasing from pretty much anywhere you can find gear.  They are ordered from best to worst overall. You will literally find all the options you have probably considered below:

     This is the Bro of all Bros in your life. Brociety even has a flying elephant! Can't beat that.  Or can you?  The key to taking full advantage of Brociety is to start Early!! If you don't mind buying gear in the summer preparing for shredder months then you are golden.  You'll find $2 shirts, $20 bindings, and snowboards you would actually ride for under $200 freakin' dollars (granted most of the stuff is last season, but who cares?). Wicked.
     The only thing is is you have to be on your game and keep an eye out, because Products are posted until they sell out or time runs out.  That's it dude, you have one shot to send it. 
     To help you out though (I use it, it's legit) they have alerts.  I use Email and the desktop alert.  So everytime a new deal arises, a little window pops up with a pic, price and quick description.  All the info you need to pull the trigger.  Don't worry it's not annoying, and doesn't randomly pop up in the middle of the screen.  Bottom right hand corner above your clock is where he'll throw you the sign.
     I've dealt with them a lot and loved every purchase.  First off buying is so simple and fast.  Straight to the point. Click, Pay, Shipped.  Now they come in strong here as well.  I was sketchy at first and thought it would probably take FOREVER to get my gear.  Not with that flying elephant.  That bad boy will get your gear to you faster than they claim 75% of the time.

BONUS: They also send you cool stickers with every order, and a nice personal message from the actual people who work there.  Not a BigWig with a desk. Good touch, always puts a smile on my face.

   

     Pretty much same deal as brociety.  Only difference is that Whiskey is more a "summer" sports type site.  However the reason why I have it listed here is because snowboarders also where clothes, and during the winter they obviously focus on snowboarding.  At least most of us, most of the time.  Well for those times we tend to choose a lot of the products Whiskey sells.
     For example I'm sure you wouldn't mind getting a Quicksilver watch for 90% off or Anon Sunglasses for 70%.  Again make sure that you use the alerts they offer to your advantage.  Just think, lets say you needed sunglasses and because of that email you just saved $80.  That's an $80 email dude!!
     Whiskey Militia is another one of my favorite places to buy.  I have dealt with them regularly as well and it's the same experience as Brociety minus the stickers if I remember correctly.  I believe they share a parent company.  Take a shot and join the Militia!


     You are probably familiar with Evo.  When I need something specifically and right away this is my first stop.  If you don't care how much you are spending continue on the site.  However, if you're on a budget, and most of us are, click on the outlet first and I promise you will find some killer deals.  Best part is that there is tons of them!  Also a Green company, so I feel good spending here.
     Another key tip with Evo.  Make sure you look at all the riff raff on the homepage.  Most of the time there are coupon codes, and if it applies to your order you score big.  Right now if you use code: PB&J you receive $25 of $125 order from the outlet.  Not a Double McTwist of a deal, but I'm sure it works for you. 
     On the topic of ordering.  Don't worry, they have everything you can think of regarding snowboarding.  Accesories, apparel, and all types of gear are covered.  They've got stuff from everyone from your 3 year old boarder to his grandpa.  They've got backcountry covered pretty well also.  Good to see as this type of riding is becoming ever more popular.    

     As can be expected, their customer service is amazing.  Fast order processing, email updates, and shipping that is always on time or early.  They send you an interesting letter about their founding and stickers as well.  If you are ordering from Evo you're set.

      Still not satisfied?! Hunt's not over!

     You have to at least take a standard look at Amazon and Ebay.  There is always a good shot you can run into something good poking around there. 

     You can even find some sick deals on new gear on Craigslist as well.  I once found a new board bag for twenty dollars that would have cost me seventy in the store.  Believe me there are more people than you can imagine that buy all new equipment then never ride or just never use it.

     Random opportunities must also be stomped on.  If you are at the mountain or anywhere and find a wicked deal take it! I don't care if you only have $30 for the week.  You will thank me the next time you take out your new Never Summer SL-r and only paid $200.  True story; that is how I ran into mine.  I was driving leaving a mountain I was riding up in Maine last November, and saw a shop.  Walked in just to look, sprinted out, and book stayed another day at the mountain! Never underestimate your luck.

     There are many different promotions you can take advantage of out there.  How do you find them?  It's simple.  Get on email lists.  Where it asks you "do you want to recieve promotional emails..." click yes.  I know spam.  You have a point however in my experience from doing this I've found that it's not that bad.  In fact, almost all emails I get from snowboarding stores have value.  Now whether I need/want that particular product, well life can't be perfect.  But I'll tell you one thing I have found some of my best buys that way too. 

Start with this guide and you should be fine.  In fact you will probably end with it as well.  I know there are so many other places/companies I did not mention, but like I said I meant this to be a quality guide that is consistent.  I've dealt with these places personally for multiple years.  They do things right.

     Now that all the hard work has been done for you, go shopping and don't make yourself, or me look bad.

We Are Now On Twitter

     Yes folks, we have given in.  Became addicted.  Followed the trend.  You can now find us on Twitter @snowpedia.  As pretty much with everything else around here we have kept our user handle short and simple.  We are tweeting now not because of trends or curiousity but because we see the value.
     Once the season kicks in Twitter will help us have real time contact with you, our reader and this will tell us what to write about.  We want to know what riders want to read now, not last week or last month.  I mean, let's face you probably forgot what you were into last week anyway.  You can find the Follow button on the right hand side above the pages list.  Tweet Tweet.

Snowboarding's Reputation: My Take

     I was just thinking about snowboarding and it's reputation.  Or more importantly our reputation as snowboarders.  I mean granted we didn't exactly enter snow sports in the most acceptable manner (there is a great short rundown of the history of snowboarding here).  I mean we basically hit the mountains like rebels.  Have to give it to the founding fathers though, they had balls.  I mean let's face it, back then it was a suicidal idea.
     Once board innovation settled down enough for some type of fundamental  blueprint to be established boards started reaching the public.  We used to call them Snurfers!!!  Our reputation really begins here, where the boards reach the mountain.
     

Image Credits

     When this did happen obvious problems arose. In my opinion childish but hey, skiiers became territorial. As natural human tendency goes, they were afraid of what was different. I just don't get that. If you see something new, why not be curious to learn about it. Give it a shot, you just might like it. Anyway, long story short at first mountains banned snowboards to keep snowboarders off. It wasn't helping that almost all snowboarders were the young, hippy, all about life type crowd, while skiiers always had a pole up their ass.  This is also how "back country" riding came to play.  Because they couldn't go to resorts they had to find their own lines.

     After the intial introduction period if you will, snowboarders were slowly starting to be allowed to resorts.  Since then it has pretty much been all uphill.  Our presence on mountains is beastly.  We've been doing pretty well. 
     Until these "boarder thugs" started multiplying like cockaroaches.  Now I know I'm going to get ripped for this comment because many reading this are that guy/girl.  If it's you, you know who you are, but I'll throw in a description anyway.  Those people bullying around the mountain, littering, causing destruction and inconsiderate of anything. 
     Great you're a snowboarder, we get it. No need to go cursing up a storm in lift lines just because kids are around.  Or cutting people off, skipping in line, or the worst: running into people and not even stopping to see if they are alright.  You're not tough, punk.  It's because of scum like you that we get treated differently. You're not helping the sport.   I'm not saying that skiiers don't act the same way, but I'm a boarder, and this is about snowboarding.
     The whole point is our future.  These people need to realize that we have the power to take over any mountain we chose as long as we act civilized and not cause counter pressure.  I mean I can't begin to tell you how many times I've heard negative things about snowboarders in my career, and I mean just walking around.  This has to stop.  We want places to be snowboarder friendly.  It helps a lot. Grow in a positive way.  Small wake, big line.

Need To Find Snowboard Gear Deals!!

     This season should be interesting.  With the way the economy is going, but more importantly the fear that controls spending will definitely have an impact on our sport.  I mean let's face it if anything companies are just going to take advantage of the situation and cry "overhead costs are rising."  That only means that wicked deals now are necessary to life.  Like the "Summit Bar."
     Well, all I know is last season steals were to be found. I'm scrounging as I type.  I'm sure I'll find something, but this one will be tough.   I'll cover Brociety, Whiskey Militia, and Evogear just to name a few. Keep you posted.  Oh and you're welcome.

East Coast Season Is Almost Here. Time To Think About Your Gear.

     You know it is still only August, but it sure feels close to snowboarding season on the East Coast.  I mean guys in Northern Vermont are saying it is in the 40's at night already.  How exciting does that sound!? Pretty lame, but we are addicted to snow, and that is pretty close to thirty.  Fahrenheit that is.
     Anyway, it is also that time of year where great deals on new gear can be found if you know where to look.  Over the next week or so I will post regarding some of the best deals that can be found, and my experiences with the companies. 
     But also remember one thing, don't get caught up in spending all your money on new equipment.  With the way things are going, lift tickets, travel, and lodging are only getting more expensive every year.  Really assess your gear inventory and if you are only going to ride 4 or 5 times this season, you might not need new goggles.  Have an extra day on the slopes instead.
     Now is the time to buy equipment though.  The closer we get to mid September,  the harder it is to avoid paying full MSRP.  Well until next time, keep day dreaming and watching Youtube.....we're almost there.