Ski Snowboard Jackets For All Climates

Ski snowboard jackets are constructed specifically for snowboarding, and take into account, the conditions and necessities of snowboarding. If you want to purchase a snowboard-specific jacket, you need to keep in mind a few points before making your selection.

First, and most important, as you can imagine, is that the jacket must keep you warm, waterproof, and breathable. Having just one of these key elements can let the elements get to you and certainly make you more uncomfortable. You need to stay warm, of course, but this also requires you to keep the wet snow out, but at the same time, you need to have a means to allow your sweat out.

Of everything skiing and snowboarding, nothing is gone through rapid redevelopment than jackets. Some years back, a snowboarding jacket was simply a hooded sweatshirt of sorts. Today, function has caught up to fashion. Color and design is now taking into consideration, with fashion forward-thinking for the outdoor arena.

What has not changed though, is the versatile and functionality of the three-layer system. This helps keep the wet and wind out and allows moisture out. This system is known by a few different names, with different fabrics, laminates, and coatings. Each brand, model, and style has its own advantages, disadvantages, and priced appropriately.

Let us look a bit closer at the functionality of the three-layer system.

• Waterproofing
  Being waterproof is probably the most utilized function of any ski or snowboarding jacket. Now waterproofing is called by numerous names, but all fall into a specific ISO category. In general, waterproof fabric is measured by keeping out a stream of water of four to five feet. This is tested by taking a piece of tubing and laying on the jacket material. The tube is then filled with water and poured onto the fabric until beads of water become visible on the other side. To be deemed waterproof, it is not just the fabric that must resist water…the seams, zipper, and other stitching must be taped, and constructed to keep out moisture as well.
• Wind proofing
  Temperatures can be influenced by wind. Unlike fleece jackets, where wind is a factor, a waterproofed jacket will not be of issue, because the waterproofing will also help keep the wind out.
• Breathability
  Now you make not think much about releasing moisture, but did you know that just standing still, we each lose half a liter of fluid everyday? This factor increases when your activity increases. As such, you need to have a means to get this moisture out and that is where the technical fabric of modern ski snowboarding jackets come in handy. Since cotton and nylon fabrics are breathable, you may not realize the complexity of this, however, take into consideration that these layers must also keep the wind and water out. The basic principle behind moisture extraction is by allowing normal humidity to carry the moisture out through the fabric.

The outer section of any ski or snowboarding jacket is called the shell. This layer acts as the waterproofing element, while the inner layers help in keeping warm. This is why jackets can be so versatile, because you can either wear the jacket with all three layers on the cold, windy, rainy days, or just the shell during nice weather days.