It doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner, intermediate, advanced or pro snowoarder…eventually your riding will put wear and tear on the products you use. Sometimes they can last years and sometimes just one year. You’ll rarely see old worn out gear on pro snowboarders but the best place to look is on your home mountain, with your friends to see how gear will hold up and last through a season, through weather and through your riding ability. Pros might beat up their gear faster but average riders beat up their gear over a longer period of time. As a rider you determine when the product is done and when it’s time to replace it.
This year I picked up 3 important products needed for my riding, they remained on me throughout this entire season (December to May). These products were the 686 Snaggletooth Jacket, Union Forces and Rome Vamp Boots. They were all purchased around December with the exception of the Forces which I traded my Contacts to get.
Normally I wait till these products have hit 100 days, but I wanted to show after one season what they looked like.
Union Force Bindings
The most noticeable wear and tear is on my right binding which is the foot that I skate with. The ankle strap has lost alot of the red fabric but the material underneath still keeps the padding in and I haven’t noticed it being an issue when riding. This started to occur during the last month of the season when a small tear in the red fabric became worse.
[singlepic id=4792 w=400 h=300 float=]
686 Snaggletooth Jacket
One seam next to my right pocket has split and is exposed open but is hardly noticeable and can be fixed.
On the left sleeve, the closure has come apart from the seam but luckily for me it’s holding on with the last couple strands.
This mark is my reminder of the northwest, love riding the northwest but I forgot why you don’t wear light colors…this was dripped from the chairlift and no washing could remove it.
Rome Vamp Boots
First year riding the Rome boots and I was amped, my only concern from them came from the packing out quicker than I expected and the heel of the boot became an issue later during the season.
[singlepic id=4796 w=400 h=300 float=]
I noticed a couple months into the season that getting my boot on was taking longer and it was cause the heel and rear of the boot softened up so when I would put on my boot…it would bend and wouldn’t let me put my boot on easily. Any friends that have seen me put on my boots would vouch for the struggle to get them on and off.
Everything else on the vamps held up great and the boa worked fine for me all season.
[singlepic id=4798 w=300 h=400 float=]
Overall all 3 products made me happy this season, I expect some cosmetic blemishes as the season goes on and no product to remain perfect after 50 days of riding. The bindings and jacket remained rideable with no changes in how it rode, the boots softened up more than I was expecting and I just purchased new boots to replace them.
Fatbob
May 27, 2009 at 1:16 pmDo you attach your straps before scooting or leave them hanging free? If not, that’s why you may have the dmamage to the right strap.
Shayboarder
May 27, 2009 at 1:22 pmI thought about that. I skate with my foot behind the board and the straps hang over the toeside, so I think the ankle strap is just getting caught on the edge when I skate but it got one tear that eventually grew into what it looks like now.
JT
May 27, 2009 at 5:05 pmIronically I was just looking at my Legacy and noticed some nice battles scars from the season.. nice write-up.
Anonymous
May 27, 2009 at 6:07 pmwhich boot did you get?
Shayboarder
May 28, 2009 at 12:37 pmI’m pretty lucky that my boards don’t get much wear and tear anymore…especially with how often I demo versus ride my own.
I ended up getting the Vans Veil Boots…which are my original boot that I love to death. Vamps were great and I’m sure I’ll try them again but I needed a safety boot and so went back to Veils which were super cheap right now so I was happy. Thanks mom for my birthday present, haha!
Brek Leines
May 28, 2009 at 7:07 pmIts not how your straps hang off of your back binging or not, its the getting in, and getting out of your binding that causes wear and tear. My back ankle and toe strap are always gnarled up where it comes in contact with my boot.
Brek Leines
May 30, 2009 at 12:17 amAlso the most important thing about your equipment is NOT appearance. Its function, does your equipment still work the way its supposed to and is it still comfy. I like the tattered n trashed look personally, means you actually ride your gear.
Shayboarder
May 30, 2009 at 12:43 pmI like the tattered look as well because I earned it if that makes sense.
I have yet to find a piece of gear that will remain perfect the whole sense…but they last and that’s what counts.
Brek Leines
June 2, 2009 at 11:06 amWord!