The winter months are coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still take advantage of the little snow that is left. Snowboarding is one of the most enjoyable past times and even though it is a little risky and dangerous, there is nothing like having an adrenaline spike.
Top Snowboard Pants Comparison Chart
Snowboard Pants Buying Guide
But when you go snowboarding you will need to have the right kit and snowboarding pants is a must when you plan your next adventure. Normal winter pants are just not sufficient in giving you maximum protection from falls and they also will not keep you warm.
We have set out to find the best snowboarding pants and show you exactly how they could make your snowboarding experience a little warmer and definitely safer. These pants have been specifically designed to allow you the opportunity to go full out and they will even provide enough ventilation and moisture-wicking to ensure that the sweat does not ruin your experience.
But before we dive into the top snowboard pants, you will need to know exactly what to look for in your journey of purchasing the right pants. Not all pants are created equal and therefore, it is imperative to know the required features to ensure that you get quality and value for your money.
Key Features
When it comes to keeping you warm and protected, the cheapest option is not always the safer and most efficient one to go with. Snowboarding pants are a little more expensive than normal winter pants, but they will certainly provide you with a much more comfortable snowboarding experience. So let’s look at a few features that you need to look for in these pants:
Comfort
Comfort is obviously one of the most sought-after features when it comes to any clothing apparel and with snowboarding pants, it is no different. If the pants are uncomfortable, they will not sit well and could possibly ruin your experience; therefore, we recommend looking for the materials you are most comfortable with wearing.
Waterproof
Since you will be in the snow and might even possibly take a few tumbles in the snow, it is really important to look for waterproof pants. Great moisture wicking will also help this along and ensure that your lower body also stays dry and warm.
Ventilation
While you definitely want to stay warm up in the mountains, you will need to have proper ventilation in the pants. Great ventilation will help dry up the sweat in no time at all and you will also be able to ride with less irritation.
Protection/ Padding
Falling in the snow at top speeds can cause a lot of damage and injury to your body, but when you have adequate padding, you will be able to resist these falls much better and your body will also be less prone to injury. Extra padding might increase the weight, but your safety is much more important.
Cuffs or Gaiters
While this can be found in most snowboarding pants, it is important to look at the quality of the elasticity as it will help to reduce any moisture and also evacuate the excess to give you a much smoother riding experience.
While these five features might seem like a mountain on its own, it is important that you take a moment to absorb all of this information before looking for the best snowboarding pants to meet your needs. Luckily, we have your back and we have searched for them in our selection to help make your choice easier.
Best Snowboard Pants Reviews
1. Arctix Men’s SnowSports Cargo Pants
Materials: 100% other fibers
Special features: Provides great flexibility, added moisture-wicking, good ventilation, ThermaTech patented insulation, seamless design
The arctix men’s SnowSports cargo pants have been designed with comfort and insulation at the forefront of the construction. The pants feature patented ThermaTech insulation to ensure that you are kept warm in the coldest of conditions and the boot gaiters also have their own grippers to allow for a seamless integration that will not only result in fewer abrasions but also keep the warmth inside.
The pants also allow you to keep your keys close by and the added O-rings will allow you to keep multiple items close to you. These will even keep the items attached during falls, thus making sure that you could save a few bucks when buying a jacket with fewer pockets.
Furthermore, the pants also feature their very own boot zippers which can be zipped up or down to allow you more ventilation after riding and giving your legs some air to allow the sweat to dry up. The only downside to these pants is the lack of ventilation holes, but in the coldest of weather, you will be kept warm and insulated.
These pants are highly recommended for all snow sports and they can even be worn if you work in the snow. They are also really affordable and extremely comfortable to wear.
Pros:
- Soft comfortable design
- Really affordable
- Offers advanced insulation
- Has great moisture-wicking capabilities
- Extremely flexible
Cons:
- Does have a lack of ventilation
2. Arctix Women’s Insulated Snow Pants
Materials: 100% other fibers
Special features: ThermaTech insulation, great moisture-wicking, lightweight, low bulk design, adjustable waist, wear and tear-resistant
Much like the men’s version, the Arctix Women’s insulated snow pants are also extremely well designed. This is especially true when it comes to the insulation they provide. The pants also feature the patented ThermaTech insulation to keep all of the warmth on the inside of the pants.
The pants are also extremely lightweight and this should be especially beneficial to women riding their snowboards as you will have more speed and less drag. The pants are also a lot slimmer to adjust for a perfect fit and to increase the capabilities of providing a great fit; the pants also feature an adjustable waist.
Furthermore, these pants also have great moisture-wicking capabilities, but the lack of ventilation might cause you to overheat from time to time. These pants also feature 600 denier ballistics thus, helping to protect them from everyday wear and tear, thus providing you with great quality and value for your money.
Finally, we highly recommend these pants for women that like to spend a lot of time in the snow. They will hold up perfectly for snowboarding and the wear and tear protection will also protect your body from any injuries.
Pros:
- Really affordable
- Provides excellent comfort
- Good moisture-wicking capabilities
- Features the patented Thermatech insulation
Cons:
- Does have a lack of ventilation
3. Arctix Men’s Essential Snow Pants
Materials: 100% nylon
Special features: patented Thermalock for insulation, lightweight, low bulk garment design, hold up against everyday wear and tear, added boot gaiters, zippered handwarmer pockets
The Arctix men’s essential snow pants are not only snow pants, but they also offer a lot of versatility for sports in the snow. These pants feature an improved Thermalock technology, which has been incorporated to keep the warmth inside. The added boot gaiters will also help with this and since they have their own grippers, there are no seams to cause any abrasions.
The pants also feature 600D ballistics in the design to help resist any wear and tear from everyday use. This feature will also add another level of protection for your body against any possible injuries that might occur from falling. Furthermore, you will have insulated zippered pockets to help protect the hands from the cold when you take off your gloves.
The pants also feature an adjustable waist to allow you to adjust the pants when you are on the go and since they are extremely light, you will have less drag and reach even better speeds while riding your snowboard.
We highly recommend these pants for the value they provide and because they are extremely affordable. Men will love them, regardless of the sport they are doing in the snow and they will even be perfect for everyday use.
Pros:
- Really affordable
- Offers multifunctional use and versatility
- Extremely lightweight
- Abrasion-resistant
Cons:
- The pants are oversized
4. Arctix Women’s Cargo Snow Pants
Materials: 100% other fibers
Special features: Good moisture wicking, 600D ballistics for durability, adjustable waist, available in multiple colors, abrasion resistant, lightweight
The Arctix women’s cargo snow pants are one of the top-rated snowboarding pants for women. The pants offer great versatility and with the adjustable waist option, you will be able to adjust the pants for the perfect fit on the go. The 600D ballistics have been incorporated for more durability, thus protecting the pants from wear and tear and allowing you to wear them more often.
The pants also feature boot gaiters with their own grippers, thus giving you a seamless integration of the boots and the pants and this will also help to keep all of the warmth inside, this feature is also responsible for keeping most of the moisture out, but with a lack of air vents, you might need to open them up every now and again when you take a break.
Furthermore, these pants have been stylishly designed for women and you will have multiple color schemes to choose from to make sure the pants match the rest of your clothing. The pants are also really lightweight and since they do have a tighter fit, there will be a lot less drag when going down the hill to allow you to get much better speeds.
We highly recommend these pants for snowboarding and skiing and we believe that they will offer you great value for your money. The pants are also great for just visiting and hiking in the snow.
Pros:
- Offers multifunctional use
- Great array of colors and styles to choose from
- Offers great insulation
- Abrasion-resistant
- Protected from wear and tear
Cons:
- Limited ventilation
5. Burton Women’s Avalon Bib Pant
Materials: DRYRIDE two-layer waterproof and breathable fabric
Special features: Stretch paneling at the center back for unrestricted mobility and to keep snow outside!
The Burton name is not only one of the best in the world for snowboards and all things related to the sport, but they also offer stellar quality, albeit at a higher price! This bib pant offers maximum protection from cold by incorporating a chest panel with suspender straps. It features a hook and loop closure. It’s a slim fit design for maximum dexterity and mobility without the bulk. Burton offers something called “living lining” (sounds futuristic) that regulates your temperature more effectively, and it has fully-taped seams to lock out the elements. The Living Lining reacts to your body heat, accelerating moisture wicking when you’re hot and retaining warmth when you’re cold for balanced comfort all day long.
The zippered drop-seat construction makes it easy to take off and put on, and the mesh-lined thigh vents are a great feature to help minimize sweating in your warmest areas (yes, I mean the crotch, OKAY?!!)
We highly recommend these pants for serious snowboarders and since they are a little expensive, you will have to ensure that you are practicing the sport often to ensure that you get value for your money. You will be able to wear them constantly as they are protected from everyday wear and tear.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Great ventilation
- Thigh vents
- Stretchy in just the right areas
Cons:
- Expensive
6. Volcom Men’s Freakin Snow Chino Pants
Materials: 100% polyester
Special features: machine washable, zippered closure for ventilation, modern baggy fit, stylish design, waterproof resistance rating of 10,000mm
Volcom has been known for its baggy style of pants and with the men’s freakin snow pants it is no different. The pants are extremely durable and they offer great versatility to snowboarders. The pants can easily be adjusted on the go and the zippered ventilation will offer you the opportunity of choosing the best time to let ventilation pass through.
The pants also have a staggering waterproof rating of being capable of resisting 10,000mm, thus ensuring that you will be kept dry in the snow. You will also be able to wash the pants in your automatic washing machine at home to ensure that they stay clean for every snowy experience.
Furthermore, the pants have multifunctional use and they can also serve as skiing pants to allow you the opportunity of hitting two birds with one stone when you purchase them. The pants might look heavy with the baggy design, but they are extremely lightweight, thus ensuring that you will have less drag going down those hills.
These pants should be an easy choice for casual snowboarders and we would recommend them for beginners as well. The pants are really affordable and they offer a ton of value.
Pros:
- Stylish baggy design
- Lightweight
- Great ventilation
- Really affordable
Cons:
- The length is quite short and you might need to buy one size bigger
7. Burton Women’s Society Pants
Materials: nylon and polyester
Special features: Waterproof, Bluesign approved, Thermolite insulation, mesh-lined inner vents, fully taped seams to resist abrasions, added Taffeta lining throughout, tighter fit
Many believe Burton to be the king of snowboarding pants and this can be seen when you look at the women’s society snowboarding pants. These pants have been constructed from a mixture of nylon and polyester and the seams have all been taped to help resist any possible abrasions that might occur.
Thermolite insulation has been added to keep the warmth inside and the DRYRIDE technology has been included that is used in many of Burton’s high-quality jackets, allowing the pants to have a waterproof rating of 10,000mm. This will ensure that you are kept dry in the snow. Throughout the inside of the pants, mesh-lined vents have been added to allow the wind to pass through and create perfect ventilation. Unfortunately, this ventilation cannot be sealed up and you might have some of the cold wind get through while walking.
Throughout the pants, a Taffeta lining has also been added, this adds to the insulation and will combat the vents to keep you warm on the inside and with a tighter fit, women will enjoy having less downhill drag as they commence on their snowboard.
We recommend these to all women who like to go snowboarding. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, these pants will be great and they are also really affordable compared to more advanced pants.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Offers great ventilation
- Multiple insulation features have been added
- Offers a stylish and tighter fit
Cons:
- Does not have a lot of pockets to store valuables
8. Columbia Boys’ Ice Slope II Pant
Materials: nylon and polyester
Special features: Outgrown grow system, adjustable waist, hammerhead reinforced cuff guards, large cargo pocket, and added fleece for more insulation
Last but certainly not least on our list is something for the younger ones as they also like to join or even just watch you go snowboarding. The Columbia boys’ ice slope pants should be the perfect gift you could buy your young one before the winter months. These pants are not only really affordable, but the outgrown grow system will ensure that they do not outgrow them that easily. This should provide you with more value.
The pants feature their very own cargo pockets, which should be great for your children to carry along some of their smaller toys. The pants are also available in multiple different sizes for your children. The adjustable waist will allow your children to adjust the pants on the go as well.
Furthermore, an added fleece has been added to make the insulation better on the pants and this should also keep much of the warmth on the inside of the pants. The reinforced hammerhead cuff guards will also make the pants much more durable and versatile.
We highly recommend these pants for your younger ones of all ages and we believe that the outgrown grow system will offer the best value when it comes to your child growing up around the snowy sports.
Pros:
- Really affordable
- Durable construction
- Waterproof
- Abrasion-resistant
Cons:
- The sizing is a little undersized and you will need to buy one size bigger
Final Conclusions and Thoughts
We would like to thank you for reading this article and we hope that you have a better understanding of the snowboarding pants that are considered to be the best. The first four are some of the cheapest, but they have been included for the versatility and affordability they will provide and beginners should look to start off with them.
We would like to encourage some of the pro snowboarders to let us know what you think of them and also to share your thoughts on the selected pants. We would also like to encourage you to let us know if you think we might have missed any that you think would be worthy of a top 10 list!
