So what do you buy someone who’s just starting out as a snowboarder or even someone who’s been doing it for a bit now? This list will help clear some of that confusion and your doubts.

1. Tailsaver: We wrote about this back in October so it’s only natural that we include this item in the list. Tailsaver is a simple tailbone /butt protector which is made from ridiculously (their words, not mine) lightweight EVA foam. The good thing about it is that you won’t even notice or feel it when you put it on. It’s perfect for both parks and all mountain riding, especially if you’re just starting out. As the picture below shows, it’s rather hassle free. It’s available to North American, EU, and Australian folks and you can buy your Tailsaver from here.

Tailsaver

2. Snowboarding Goggles: Any beginner will love a pair of good goggles, that are comfortable and wont fog up. If you’re friend wears a helmet, make sure the goggle frames are not too big, otherwise they wont fit comfortable with the helmet on. And if you’re friend snowboards at night (check whether the local snow resort has night riding), make sure you buy goggles with relatively clear lens plates. Oakley and Anon goggles are well known for their quality and fog-free lenses.

Snowboarding Goggles

3. Snowboard lock: There’s nothing worse than having to worry about your board getting stolen and worse yet, finding out that your board was stolen. Buy your friend a board lock, and they’ll thank you forever. It’s inexpensive, but you’d be surprised how many riders just don’t bother to buy one. Any brand will do as they all work in the same way.

Snowboard Lock

4. Snowboarding Pocket Tool: On-snow binding adjustments and screw tightening are a fact of life for any rider. If it’s not for your own gear, it’s usually for your buddies. Pocket tools are small to carry and will prove pretty damn useful on the slopes when emergency calls. I know I’ve experienced this myself, and to be honest with you, it’s annoying have to go to the snowboard/ski tool station every time. Most pocket tools virtually identical, so just buy the brand that your friend associates with the most.

Pocket Tool

5. Wrist guards: Boy are these amazing! If it weren’t for the pair I bought myself when I first started out, I don’t think I’d even be able to write this post. Wrist guards are simply the most important set of protective gear any rider can buy. Plus the confidence boost you get from not having to worry about wrist injuries will come a long way in making you a better rider. Your friend will love you for these! I personally own a pair of the Dakine wrist guards shown in the picture below, and I recommend the same pair as your gift choice.

Dakine Wrist Guards

So that’s the list and trust me when I say this: any of these will make a good gift for a friend just starting out in the sport. They’re inexpensive (well maybe except for the goggles) and they’re very useful products that most riders don’t think about getting at first. If you have any questions or gift suggestions, just let us know.

Related posts:

1. Snowboard Safety
2. Snowboarding Gift Guide
3. Snowboarding Tips for Beginners

Snowboarding Gift Guide

Well, it’s nearly that time again boys and girls — the time that reminds us that we got way too much stuff when we were younger but completely failed to appreciate it. That’s right! It’s Christmas time — or holiday time for yee of varying faiths. No matter how humbug of a snowboarder you are, you’re likely unable to resist the Christmas cheer and hopefully, you have some people in your life who you can mooch some killer snowboarding gear from.

In the interests of documenting the top possible gifts for snowboarders as of right now (think pre-Thanksgiving), we’ve went ahead and compiled just such a list. And it’s frigging awesome! Without further ado:

1. Team Endeavor Boards

No doubt you were perplexed by this sections title, likely even asking yourself, “But wait a second — Team Endeavor is known for their ridiculously high-priced (while still warranted) snowboards!” And if you did so, you would be right. However! Team Endeavor has always been known to have an ear to the industry and apparently, the aforementioned fact got back to them. So they did what any other self-respecting, snowboarder loving company would do — they put together a fantastically designed snowboard at an uberly-affordable price. That’s right! You can stop breathing so heavily though, just go make sure this bad boy gets to the immediate top of your Christmas list!

2. Chuck Buddies ($25)

While certainly not about to win any awards for ‘Most Appealing Snowboarder Holiday Gift Idea’, Chuck Buddies must be seen to be believed. The best description we can come up with is an extremely sleek Play-Dough-esque sculpture of an in-run freestyle champion snowboarder in some cool pose. It really can’t be done a high service on paper (or screen!) so you’ll really need to get your hands on some type of picture for one of these guys, because when you do, they’ll very likely find their way onto your list almost immediately afterwards.

3. Warm, Durable Snowboarding Clothing

While you certainly might want to worry about what type of brand you get as a gift — because, well, in this day and age, who doesn’t — in the end, the most important thing to really any snowboarder at all is whether or not those clothes keep them warm. Sure, having “The North Face” emblazoned fifteen times on your jacket, gloves, beanie, snowboard, socks and boxer-briefs might be cool and everything, but those logos won’t mean jack shit if they aren’t heavy duty layers and there’s a nastily chilly cold front rolling through. So if you have the extra loot to play the name game with your snowboarders gift then by all means do it — but if you don’t, seriously, don’t worry too much about it. Just get something with quality material that isn’t some heinous color or covered in rival logos (see: skiers vs snowboarders).

4. Tail Saver

Let’s face it, as riders, we fall on our asses a lot and sometimes it can hurt. So this is where this little nifty product comes into play. Tailsaver is a simple tailbone /butt protector which is made from ridiculously lightweight EVA foam. The good thing about it is that you won’t even notice or feel it when you put it on. It’s perfect for both parks and all mountain riding, especially if you’re just starting out.

5. My Own Two Feet DVD ($16.95)
Leeward Cinema presents something new for the snowboarding community – a feature length snowboarding film produced without using any fossil fuel, 100% sustainable – so instead of using sleds, helis and chairlifts, they’re using human power.
With some of the best athletes from around the globe, they’re exploring the mountains of California on foot, accessing some of the steepest and most remote locations that snowmobiles and helicopters can’t.

“MY OWN TWO FEET” is the result of months hiking, traversing, winter camping and sub-zero nights in some of the most remote and undocumented terrain on earth. The entire film will be shot in the California Sierras, in wilderness areas illegal to all motorized vehicles. We will be uncovering new terrain that has yet to be seen in any other snowboard film, creating a truly unique action sports film experience.
With eighteen of the best and most diverse riders, from progressive freestylers to big mountain pioneers, these athletes have signed on to an adventure like no other, exploring on of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world, in the most environmentally sustainable style.

6. Airhole Facemasks

Not only do these look cool, they really are useful. These facemasks will keep your face warm and protected.

In the end, unless it’s just an off-gift for your third nephew or something, just get what you truly think whomever you’re purchasing your snowboarding gift for would like. Snowboarders are usually pretty easy to read and are also incredibly easy to keep pleased, so it’s very doubtful they’re going to give you a chewing out for getting them the wrong brand snowboarding video. Or at least, if they do do something like that, just start getting them ski gifts every as a gag. But seriously, just go with what you know they like — or think they like — and if worst comes to worst, just try and call their parents, siblings or grandparents or something in a non-creepy way to try and get some hints into what you should get. Any gift is a good gift as long as it comes from the heart, so just make sure it comes from there and you’ll be just fine!

Related posts:

1. Buying Your First Snowboarding Jacket & Pants Guide
2. 5 Snowboarding Gifts for Beginners
3. Ski and Snowboarding Goggles: Buying Guide