Creature Comforts

[Vanni]

Weird one but.. Stance X Injiji X Scotty Wittlake socks. Yeah, they’re weird toe socks. I could never get my feet to stop being clammy and would end up being freezing cold in a variety of conditions. Those thin, stick-on toe warmers were a band aid fix for awhile. Different boots, plenty of different socks, anti-sweat lotion, etc. Found a random pair at my local shop in 2014, no one was buying them. Owner gave me a pair for free, changed my life! I think I have 6-7 pairs in rotation now and will seek them out once a season or so for back ups.

I love toe socks! I have some pairs of them, Injinji and others (I'm in barefoot shoes, toe spacers, etc, for few years), but I didn't know there were a specific model for snowboard

[Spenser]

This thread is an interesting topic. I'm pretty particular & anal about my setups, but when it comes to kit, I can't really think of anything other than the aforementioned balaclava preference. Outside of that, I just prefer to be strapped to a snowboard when I snowboard, wearing outerwear, with goggles... haha

Perhaps we open this up to any particular idiosyncrasies & personal details we may have within the snow experience? Or maybe that's what you meant in the first place!

This is one of those cool little things that happens on EL, within our small little group.

[scrub]

I wear a ninja suit every day I ride, regardless of the temp or conditions. I've got a sumo suit (thin), normal one, and a Dan merino one. Definitely a worthy investment.

I got a hoodless Ninja Suit last season and it is comfy but I was a bit disappointed by how smelly it gets, I really prefer 150 Merino wool and I finally replaced my seasons old embarrassingly threadbare stuff for this season.

The one layering piece I still don't feel like I have dialed is the mid-layer, it doesn't get too cold here in the PNW and I don't usually need one but when I do my puffy feels too bulky and my fleece isn't quite warm enough. I need to try some more stuff on.

[eleveneightnate]

Perhaps we open this up to any particular idiosyncrasies & personal details we may have within the snow experience? Or maybe that's what you meant in the first place!

Yeah man, basically anything other than the regular hardgoods! As I get older, I find that the small things really start making days more fun on the mountain whether that be specific pieces of gear, gear hacks, routines/habits, pre/post riding comforts, etc.

I'll throw another one in. I snagged these North Face puffy shoes last season and they make the ride home fucking awesome (usually hours in Colorado). They're like sleeping bags for your feet after a long day, and they even have tread made for ice on the bottom:

712WEuwINYL._AC_SL1500_.jpg (84.99 KiB) Viewed 1056 times

[eleveneightnate]

The one layering piece I still don't feel like I have dialed is the mid-layer, it doesn't get too cold here in the PNW and I don't usually need one but when I do my puffy feels too bulky and my fleece isn't quite warm enough. I need to try some more stuff on.

Have you tried a grid fleece? I have a few and they seem warmer than my regular fleeces. I know Burton makes a few. Also really like their polartec pullover.

[C.Fuzzy]

These are key comforts for me on the hill that once I added them, I had an improved experience. But of course, I could and sometimes do, go without.

1. Bluetooth earbuds. Really don't like to ride w/o music. I'm partial to the ones that have the over the ear hook, which keeps them from dropping out and getting lost when I invariably tumble. Nothing cray, just cheap crap off amazon.

2. Burts bees in the round tin. Chapsticks with the twist bottom will end up pushing the chapstick up into the cap while riding and going to crap, I cure this issue with the tins. (And I can melt whatver into these tins too, like a home made beewax balm of my choosing).

3. Rose lens goggles. 90% of the time I'm rocking rose bc winter is grey af in the midwest and they work with my eyes. (Taller mtns above the clouds or inversion layer, or where bluebird days are more common, I'll may go darker.)

4. Ultra lightweight merino blend socks. My feets sweat a lot and anything but ultra thin merino and my feet will sweat too much and stay freezing all day.

5. If riding by myself a tiny wee bit of mushies to tune into feeling and enjoying nature, the terrain and the flow of riding. Just enough to help me leave my over thinking brain behind. Not enough to have any handicap in cognition or skill.

[Krazylegz1485]

Just enough to help me leave my over thinking brain behind.

Finding something to accomplish this is one of the biggest struggles I have in life. It sucks. (Disclaimer, I've never "used" any type of anything before.) This is half the reason I snowboard at all anymore. Throw on some headphones and just zone out for a little while.

In response to some of your bullets, I'm old school and still use big over the ear, corded headphones and an iPod... haha. I don't really like earbuds but would definitely consider it in order to ditch the bulky phones and cord.

For chapstick I prefer the Carmex squeeze tube. Sometimes gets a little cold and doesn't wanna come out, but at least it's not making a mess. And I usually wear a pteryclava as well so if it's cold I just cover my mouth with it.

Totally agree on the rose lens thing. I bring two pairs of Airgoggles with every time. One mirrored, one rose. Faster than switching lenses and easy enough to pack.

Might have to look into the merino socks thing. Feet comfort can be a struggle.

[Krazylegz1485]

Another random thing I can't ride without is my Protec padded shorts. They're kinda dual purpose in that they sorta act like compression shorts and keep the junk in place, but also have that little bit of padding that helps when my scrawny ass inevitably makes contact with the ground.

As far as layering goes, I go impact shorts>ninja suit>t shirt on top, pajama pants on bottom if it's really cold>hoodie>freedom suit.

[eleveneightnate]

4. Ultra lightweight merino blend socks. My feets sweat a lot and anything but ultra thin merino and my feet will sweat too much and stay freezing all day.

I feel this. I actually figured this out for hiking first and then it translated to snowboarding for me. I snagged some lightweight/thin Darn Tough hiking socks one summer and my feet were sweating way less and getting zero blisters. Grabbed some for snowboarding and got the same results.

[eleveneightnate]

Another random thing I can't ride without is my Protec padded shorts. They're kinda dual purpose in that they sorta act like compression shorts and keep the junk in place, but also have that little bit of padding that helps when my scrawny ass inevitably makes contact with the ground.

I avoided impact shorts for years for fear of them making me overly confident haha.