Equipment Guide - This Guide will cover the major pieces of equipment that you need to go snowboarding. Snowboarding equipment can get expensive quickly so I will cover the basics first and indicate where you should spend your money. For beginners you can use this general formula - Boots > Bindings > Snowboard. I will work on getting a ski equipment guide posted to the site however you should note that this formula generally holds true for skiing as well.

Boot Guide
Your boots are the most important piece of equipment that you will buy. You should never skimp on boots, and if possible buy the most expensive boots in the store. Your boots are what transfer the movements of your body to the snowboard allowing you to maneuver. If your boot fit is too loose you will waste energy and your snowboard won't be very responsive. To compensate you will have to tighten your binding to the point where you can cut off your circulation. If you have a mechanical binding there is nothing that you can do. If your boot is too tight you will loose circulation and you will be very uncomfortable.

When do I have the correct fit - With properly fitting boots your toes should be slightly smashed into the front end of the boot. When you bend your knees(correct snowboarding position) the pressure sensation should stop and you should have a snug but comfortable fit.

Flex/Stiffness - In general more advanced snowboarders like boots will very little flex. This relates to energy transmission. A stiffer boot transfers energy to your snowboard more easily. Beginners shouldn't get a boot that's too stiff since they can be a bit unforgiving if you mess up.

Boot types -
There are 3 boot types - The major difference between them is the fastening system. Within these three types there is a whole range of boots. In general: pick a fastening system and opt for the most expensive option you are comfortable with. Good boots should run from $250-$300. Cheap boots can go for as little as $150 but I wouldn't recommend that option.

Boa System - I personally use these boots and highly recommend them to everyone. Instead of shoe strings the boots use a system of cables and a dial allowing you to quickly put on and adjust your boots in a matter of seconds. These boots are so popular that the local stores sold out in 2 weeks last year.

Pull String system - Similar to the boa system. They are based off of conventional shoe strings but are fastened by pulling on a small plastic lever. They aren't faster than the boas but they are significantly faster than

Standard laces - They work but are slow. If your boots become loose they are difficult to readjust with gloved hands. The cheapest of the three types. You can certainly find great boots that use laces, but the added convenience of the boa or pull string system is nice.

Nice Add-ons -
Thermal Liners - Boots are composed of two parts an outer boot and an inner one. Most boots require a break in period that can be uncomfortable as the liner molds to your foot via body heat. Some boots come with a special thermal liner - at purchase time your inner boots will be placed in a convection oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes you place your foot into the warm inner boots and they are instantly packed out.

<find out the name> - Passive avalanche transceivers - God willing no one will end up in an avalanche, however if you do this option could save your live. Search and rescue can use a device which will cause your boots to emit a radio signal response allowing you to be located more quickly. It's a nice option if you enjoy boarding off of the main trails.

Binding Guide

Bindings are what attach your boot to the snowboards. The differences in boot types are relatively simple when compared to bindings. As far as price goes - a beginner should find a nice middle of the road binding. Unlike boots you aren't going to be able to recognize what a high end binding does for you. You should base this decision entirely on binding type.

Switch/Clicker Binding - I am grouping these bindings together because they are similar in principle. They use specially designed boots that mechanically attach to the snowboard. The primary advantage is that in perfect conditions they are very fast. However you will have difficulty using them if they ice up or you are caught in deep powder. Additionally they are tied more closely to the performance of your boot. If your boot doesn't fit well this binding is essentially useless since you can't adjust the binding to compensate. Lastly by using mechanical bindings you are serverly limiting your boot choices. I do not recommend acquiring mechanical bindings. Get Flow bindings instead.

Flow System - The flow system combines the speed of mechanical bindings with the flexibility and fit of a strap in binding. They work with any boots and are very fast to get in. The only major problem with flow bindings is the initial fit which can be problematic. However this only occurs once and you won't have many problems afterwards. Flow bindings have great energy translation as well. I generally recommend these bindings for beginners. They are a bit more expensive but well worth it I think.

Strap ins - Strap bindings provide the most control and allow for the most flexibility. They easily adjust to any boot type and can be easily adjusted to compensate for a poor fitting boot. They also provide the best translation of energy from your boots to your snowboard. If you watch professional snowboarders you will note that they use strap ins 100% of the time. Strap in bindings take longer to put on than the other two systems - which means they can be a bit of a chore for the beginner that tends to fall on flat spaces. Strap ins will work with any standard snowboarding boot.

If you are going to go the strap in route I highly recommend Ride bindings. They are manufactured by a local company and are considered the best bindings in the sport.

Snowboard Guide

This is a simple recommendation for beginners. Purchase the cheapest snowboard that you can find that's appropriate for your height and weight. There is no way you are going to be able to tell the differences between a high end snowboard and a cheap one. Here are some general rules

Nose/Chin rule - This is a hard and fast rule for finding boards. Try to find a board that comes between your nose and your chin. While this isn't the most accurate way of determining the right board it's good enough in 95% of all cases.

Big Feet? - You need to get an wide board. You don't want your boots hanging off the ends because the toe drag will cause you to catch an edge and slam your face into the ground.

Size - what does it affect - Larger boards are faster and don't turn as quickly. They are also better in deep powder. Smaller boards turn much more quickly and are lighter and are thus better suited for the terrain park.