Why New Snowboarders Should Buy Their Own Gear
Prepare yourself, because this may be the most biased thing you read today. I've been selling snowboards and helping people get into snowboarding since 1993. So sure, it's very self-serving for me to say so but here's what I've learned: the fastest way to fall in love with this sport is to buy your own gear and give yourself the right foundation from day one. Much more important than any specific brand name or model (ours included) is the correct fit. Gear that fits you perfectly and is set up specifically for your weight and foot measurements is the key to learning and progression and most importantly enjoying that process.
Let me explain why owning your own setup makes such a difference:
Proper Fit and Setup Changes Everything
When you buy your own gear, you get a package, which is ideal for your specifics. That means a boot size that matches your actual foot, not just "close enough." Binding angles set for your natural stance. Stance width adjusted for your height and flexibility. Board width matched to your barefoot measurements. Centering adjusted to perfection.
These details sound technical, but they're the difference between fighting your equipment and having it work for you. For new riders especially, correct setup isn't just helpful—it's imperative. It can shave months off your learning curve and make those challenging first days dramatically more enjoyable.
Consistency Builds Confidence
Learning to snowboard is challenging enough on its own. When you ride the same setup every time—with everything dialed to your body from day one—you're building pure muscle memory. Your body learns what to expect. Each session builds directly on the last one. You are not constantly learning your gear, but rather you are learning the sport.
Here's the reality: mountain conditions change constantly. One day you're riding hard pack, the next it's fresh powder. Morning groomers feel different than afternoon slush. Temperature, visibility, snow texture—there's always something new to adapt to. That's part of what makes snowboarding exciting, and it's how you develop as a rider. It is also plenty to accommodate all of these changes as a new rider.
Here's what you don't want: adding gear variables on top of those natural conditions changes. When your equipment is consistent and properly selected and set up, it actually helps mitigate these variations. Your board becomes a known quantity that you can trust, allowing you to focus entirely on reading and adapting to the conditions—not fiddling with boots that feel differently today, adjusting to a new board width or stance angle.
Think about it this way: you're teaching your body a new language while the terrain is constantly giving you new sentences to read. Consistency in your equipment means you're building fluency without having to relearn your vocabulary every session. Your progression becomes smoother, faster, and more enjoyable.
You're Setting Yourself Up for Success
When you own your gear, you're making a commitment to yourself and to the sport. Your board becomes your partner in learning, always ready, always consistent, always fitted to you. There's no friction between deciding to go and getting on the mountain—you just go.
And here's the thing: I've watched hundreds of thousands of people learn to snowboard. The ones who progress fastest and stick with it longest? They're the ones who gave themselves proper equipment from the start. Equipment that's fitted correctly and set up specifically for how they ride.
The Most Affordable Option.
A complete snowboard package—quality board, bindings, and boots—runs under $400. That's high-quality, brand new gear, professionally selected for your body, set up specifically for your learning style, with a full warranty. Here are some great examples: https://wiredsport.com/collections/snowboard-packages
Compare that to season rentals at $200-300 for used gear that's already broken in to someone else's feet and body. After one season of renting, you've paid most of the cost of ownership—but you still don't have gear that's truly yours and fitted to you.
And here's the best part: That package has resale value. Sell it for $200-250, and your actual cost for that first season drops to $150-200. You've essentially paid less than a season rental, but you got new, perfectly fitted gear that helped you progress faster.
You Deserve to Learn on Proper Equipment
If you're excited enough about snowboarding to even be reading this, you deserve to give yourself the best possible start. Quality gear that fits you correctly and is set up to help you learn.
That's what owning your own package provides: a proper foundation for progression, consistency that builds confidence, and equipment that's tuned specifically to help you succeed.
After 30 years of watching people discover this sport, I can tell you with absolute certainty: starting with your own Gear is the best investment you can make in your snowboarding future.
Welcome to the sport. Let's get you set up right.
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