by Nicole Parris

Created on: August 27, 2009   Last Updated: August 29, 2009

Whether it be cold hands or wet feet, nothing can ruin your day on the slopes more than being uncomfortable in what you are wearing. That is why before you head out for a day of shredding down the mountain you should make sure you are properly dressed from head to toe.

When on the mountain the temperature and conditions can fluctuate drastically. That is why the key to being comfortable all day is layering with warm, breathable, moisture wicking materials. This will help you regulate your body temperature. Layering will allow you to add an article of clothing when you are cold or you can remove a layer when you are hot and sweating.

The job of the first layer or base layer is to keep you warm and dry. The base layer should include a long sleeve shirt, long underwear bottoms, and long socks. Your socks don't necessarily have to be thick. If your socks are too thick and don't fit in your boots comfortably they can cause painful pressure points. They can also make your feet hot and sweaty which can make your feet cold and numb. It is important that the base layer be made of either wool or another synthetic material with moisture wicking abilities. Moisture wicking fabrics will pull moisture away from your body and allow it to evaporate keeping you dry and warm. You should never wear cotton material as a base layer. Cotton absorbs moisture which will then freeze keeping you cold all day.

The next layer should be a warm breathable sweatshirt or hoodie, to help insulate and keep you warm. A good choice would be fleece. Fleece is a light weight and warm material. It is also breathable which will allow moisture to evaporate through it keeping you dry. When you're hot you could either remove this layer or wear the hoodie as your outer layer.

The final outer layer is designed to protect you from the elements. This layer includes a snowboarding-specific jacket, pants and boots. When picking your jacket and pants there are a variety of things to consider. The main thing to consider is whether it will keep you warm and dry. Some things to look for are taped seams and covered zippers to keep the moisture out. Some jacket-pants combinations can be fastened together to keep the snow out when you fall. Another functional option that many jackets and pants have are arm and leg vents. These are vents under the arms and on the inner thighs that can be unzipped to release excess heat. Along with everything to protect you from the elements there are other features you may be

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