Best Snowboard Clothing Brands and Where to Buy Them

If you’re someone who hits the slopes often and opt for an objectively cooler snowboard instead of those lame skis, then you’ve come to the right place. 

When it comes to snowboarding, quality gear is majorly important, not only because flimsy gear will leave you chattering your teeth and praying for a warm fire. But also because this is an extreme sport, and wear and tear will inevitably happen. 

This is why you need to have the best tools for the job, but actually mapping out which brands are best is a little trickier than you might think. 

So, in a bid to get you kitted out with the right gear, we have devised a list of the most reliable brands on the market and the online snowboarding retailers that stock them. 

Selection Criteria

For clarity, we want to discuss the metrics that we will be using to decide which brands are worth investing in. Here are the criteria that we were looking for when piecing together this list: 

Durability: Ultimately, you want a product that will last you for a long time, so we have taken the potential longevity of use into account 

Aesthetics: Most Snowboarders will be willing to sacrifice looks for functionality within reason, but you also want to look the part if possible. So, we have taken overall aesthetics into account. 

Price/value: No one likes to pay through the nose for a cheap product, so we will be taking price and value for money into account. Meaning we will consider budget and premium brands. 

Waterproofing: Lastly, we will consider the quality of the product from a waterproofing perspective, one of the biggest factors that separates good snowboarding gear from the trash stuff. 

Burton

Burton is one of the most trusted and consistently high-quality snowboard brands on the market, offering a wide range of gear in various styles to suit just about any boarder. 

Range of Products: Boots, Snowboards, Bindings, Jackets, Pants, Hoodies, Gloves, Shorts, Socks, Balaclavas, Padding

Best Place(s) To Buy: Tactics, Absolute Snow, Burton Snowboards, The Snowboard Asylum

Burton is pretty much the runaway favorite for all snowboarders that know their stuff, offering innovative Step on bindings, some of the most eye-catching, yet warm and durable clothing and accessories on the market, and a range of cool snowboards into the bargain as well. 

While you can certainly purchase straight from the Burton-owned online store, usually, you don’t get the best deals. So, I would suggest buying Burton from somewhere like Tactics, who have an excellent range of their products, usually at lower prices than the dedicated Burton store. 

They’ve been the market leader for going on 40+ years now, and they don’t show any signs of stopping. So, in short, you can’t go wrong with Burton. 

The North Face

Next up, we have a brand that is, at least in my humble opinion, the best one to go for if aesthetics are your number one priority. But that doesn’t mean they are slouches when it comes to quality either. 

Range of Products: Jackets, Beanies, Bags, Boots, Sneakers 

Best Place(s) To Buy: Tactics, Snow+Rock, Passenger, Blue Tomato, Absolute Snow

I do need to caveat this right away and say that for time spent on the slopes, actually snowboarding, The North Face does not excel. But what this brand is best for is for Apre Ski wear, or underlayering when on the slopes. 

Think of The North Face as your companion clothing for your outerwear. The stuff that looks incredible but needs the functional gear alongside to make your time on the board enjoyable. 

This list can’t all be about function, and for me, The North Face is pretty much the leading brand at the various ski lodges if you want to look great while still wearing ‘the right gear’. 

This stuff is pretty popular and can be bought from most contemporary fashion outlets, but if you want a better selection, I would point you toward Absolute Snow, Blue Tomato, or Tactics. 

686

Moving away from aesthetics, we have a brand best known for its quality outerwear, all tailored to riders who want mobility when out there carving the mountain. 

Range of Products: Pants, Jackets, Hoodies, Bib Pants, Gloves, Socks, Balaclavas

Best Place(s) To Buy: Tactics, Absolute Snow, 686, Boardwise, The Snowboard Asylum

686 is one of the best outerwear manufacturers known for blending looks with functionality, offering street-worthy looks that function well in action. 

Offering excellent waterproofing and breathability thanks to GLCR Hydra Thermagraph technology, this apparel is designed to keep you dry and regulated no matter how hard you’re working. 

Plus, all of this stuff is snowboard-specific. So, you won’t see any skiers wearing this gear, which is always a plus. 

This brand is well represented in the snowboarding space, but you’ll find a wide range of products at stores like Tactics, Boardwise, and Absolute Snow. 

Volcom

Just about everyone knows that famous diamond logo, as this brand has been around for what feels like a lifetime, bleeding into the contemporary fashion world. But this all started with a focus on Snowboarding gear. 

Range of Products: Pants, Jackets, Hoodies, Bib Pants, Gloves, Socks, Balaclavas

Best Place(s) To Buy: Tactics, Absolute Snow, Volcom, SportPursuit, The Snowboard Asylum

Volcom has a wealth of amazing streetwear and everyday wear, which might just serve you well in the lodge after a day on the mountain. But we want to focus on their Snowboard-specific gear. 

Offering GORE-TEX apparel for with excellent waterproofing and durability, comfortable and stylish fits, and high-quality insulation that will keep you warm out there. Volcom does it all, while also looking eye-catching into the bargain. 

Again, you can get everyday Volcom stuff in lots of contemporary fashion retailers. However, for snowboard gear from this brand, you’ll want to either try their dedicated website or third-party retailers like Tactics, Absolute Snow, or Boardwise. 

Vans

This might surprise you, as Vans is mainly a streetwear and skateboarding brand, but they also occupy the snowboarding space, allowing riders to sport a familiar look even on the mountain. 

Range of Products: Boots, Socks

Best Place(s) To Buy: Tactics, Absolute Snow, Blue Tomato, Vans, Glisshop

I’ll confess, I’m including Vans mainly for one product line alone, and that’s their range of boots. These snowboarding boots are about as eyecatching as anything you’ll see, offering boarders the ability to wear boots similar to the classic old skool sneakers, while not compromising on boot quality. 

They naturally look incredible, are versatile in action, comfortable to wear, and feature a boa lacing system for adjustment to suit the rider. 

It’s worth noting that they are mainly geared toward beginner and intermediate boarders, so do bear that in mind when purchasing. 

These can be bought online from various snowboarding retailers such as Tactics, Blue Tomato, and Absolute Snow. 

Wildcard Entry: Lib Tech

If you’re in the market for a board above all else, it’s hard to look past Lib Tech when it comes to quality builds. 

Range of Products: Snowboards, Miscellaneous apparel 

Best Place(s) To Buy: Tactics, Boardwise, Lib Tech, Absolute Snow, Glisshop

Lib Tech does make the occasional bit of branded apparel like T-shirts and beanies, but above all, they are focused on making the best, eco-friendly snowboards on the market. 

With signature magne-traction edges and C2 Power construction, there are few other boards out there that can match the riding perfection of Lib Tech. 

You will need to shop elsewhere for your boots, bindings, and more. But if you’re willing to shop around for each individual part, Lib Tech does provide top-tier boards. Such as the Skate Banana, various C2 Boards, and gorgeous camber boards, all stocked at leading retailers like Tactics. 

If you’re looking to nab one of these for yourself, various online retailers have a great selection of Lib Tech boards. My personal picks would be Tactics, Absolute Snow, and Glisshop.