How We Choose Kids' Snowboard Gear

Winter can be a quiet time, an indoors time, but not if you’re into snowboarding. Many of our Gearheads who snowboarded as kids can attest it made winter beyond bearable—it made it one of our favorite seasons. And for many of us that was in the late ’90s and early ’00s when gear was, well, let’s just say not as good as it is today. These picks are top-notch for young rippers, but not so far out of parents’ price range considering kids could grow out of them quickly. Make winter more fun with gear that’ll keep them coming back for more.

Snowboards

• Length: The length of the snowboard determines maneuverability and stability. When your kid stands with a board vertical next to them, it should reach somewhere between their shoulder and eye, but this size will also be determined by the style of riding they plan to do. Many riders pick longer boards for powder and freeride, while park riders choose shorter boards. All-mountain or resort boards are often in-between, or medium in length. Some beginners like the maneuverability of shorter boards, too. And larger/heavier riders might appreciate the stability of a longer board. We recommend all-mountain boards for most kids.
• Width: The ideal board width will be just barely narrower than the length of the boot, meaning your heels and toes will hang over just slightly. The width of the snowboard, especially in the middle, influences how it performs in different snow conditions. Narrower boards are better for groomed runs, while wider boards provide better flotation in powder.
• Profile: A snowboard’s profile refers to the shape of the board when viewed from the side, specifically the design of the underside from the tip to the tail, and it’s made up of a combination of camber and rocker.
• Camber is the arch in the middle of a snowboard, which helps with grip, stability, and control, especially on hard-packed snow. Camber acts a bit like a spring and can ease transitions between turns and landings, and it’s particularly beneficial for making precise turns and maintaining edge hold on groomed runs. Do-it-all boards usually have some amount of camber for versatility. If a board does not have camber or is advertised as having reverse camber, it’s usually a specialized tool for pivoting, slarving, and playful jibbing.
• Rocker refers to the upward curve at the tip and/or tail of a snowboard. Rocker is especially beneficial for increased floatation or planing over deep snow and fosters easier turn initiation. The transition point between camber and rocker is usually where you’ll find a snowboard’s contact point, or where the edge hits the snow for turn initiation.

Snowboard Bindings

• Strap in bindings are the most common type of binding you’ll find. They’re reliable and secure, and come in every price range, from begginner and inexpensive to high performance and pricy.
• Rear entry bindings are made for ease of transitions. The highback pops down so you can slide your boot into the binding. When you step down the highback pops into place and the straps cinch down snugly over your boot.
• Step On bindings are closer in design to ski bindings as the boot clicks into the binding securely when you step down. This system is super easy to use and minimizes the time spent sitting in the cold snow transitioning.
• Binding flex is often on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being softest and 10 being stiffest. Many kids, beginners, and park riders gravitate toward softer bindings while freeriders and powder hunters could prefer bindings on the stiffer side. All-mountain riders generally pick a binding somewhere in the middle, with a flex rating between about 3 and 7.

Snowboard Boots Just like every foot, every boot is different. It’s best to try boots on before you buy, but knowing what flex rating pairs with your style of riding will give you a good foundation of options.

• Flex index refers to the stiffness of the boot. Beginners often look for softer boot ratings (1–4), while more experienced riders can benefit from stiffer boots (6–10). Style of riding will also determine what boot stiffness is best for you. Many park riders like softer boots and many freeriders like stiffer boots.
• Lacing systems most common on snowboard boots are lace-up and BOA. Lace-ups are less expensive but take more time to dial in. BOA systems take no time at all to achieve the perfect fit making them ideal for splitboarding. Some boots feature a combo of these two systems or a hybrid lacing system (such as speed lace) featuring a cordlock for cinching down a boots’ liner. Many kids’ boots with feature hook and loop (Velcro) for ease of use.

When you stand a kids’ board upright beside them, it should be somewhere between their chest and chin. If the kid is small it’s all right to err on the shorter side because shorter boards are easier to maneuver, which makes for a more comfortable learning experience. Go longer for bigger kids or if you want to give them some room to grow. Don’t go too long, though, or the board may be too difficult for them to maneuver, thus inhibiting their fun factor. Most kids’ boards are in the all-mountain category with camber underfoot and a rockered tip and tail, and we think this is the best place to start for versatility. If your child wants to veer into different profiles once they’ve figured out if they’re a parky or a freerider, they can make those decisions on their second board. As far as boots and bindings? Think simplicity. A traditional strap binding with a soft flex paired with a hook and loop (Velcro) boot will do just fine. It’s okay to size up a bit assuming they’ll grow, but it’s important for the boot to fit well, so size it with a thick sock to begin with and hopefully the won’t grow toooo fast and can get a few seasons out of it.

Roxy Poppy Snowboard Package
The Roxy Poppy packs freestyle and all-mountain versatility into an approachable (and inexpensive) package. It includes both a light and poppy full wood core board with an easily adjustable binding. This package is made for those just learning, so it’s designed with a catch free radial sidecut (oh, they’ll still catch some edges and have some pretty hard splats) but this shape along with its soft flex will give them the confidence they need to stay upright and shredding.

Vans Juvie Mini Snowboard Boot Kids’
They’re growing fast, so there’s no need to put them in a high-end performance boot with all the bells and whistles. The Vans Juvie Mini Snowboard Boot runs in whole sizes from 7 to 13 in kids and is reasonably priced, so you can buy it one size too big, layer up their socks, and get several seasons out of it before they transition to fancier gear. With their UltraCush Footbed and Grow-With-You Shim, you might just get three or four seasons out of these boots! Plus the Juvie Minis feature hook and loop closures for easy on and off and reduced fuss when using mittens and in chilly conditions when hands are too cold. On top of all that, this is also just an excellent boot! It’s warm, has ample traction, and a soft flex for comfort.