Why buy a snowboard package?
Updated: Jul 21, 2020
Whether you are a beginner looking to get into the sport, or a more experienced rider trying to upgrade your gear without going through the hassle of synchronizing different components to get the right set up, buying a snowboard package could be an ideal option.
Snowboard packages are great because most of the time the package comes with components that have synergy together. If you are a beginner and aren't knowledgeable on all the different types of boards, boots, and bindings, finding a killer package deal may save you the trouble of doing loads of research.
When I bought my first board about 10 years ago, I spent several hours at a local ski and snowboarding shop (which by the way is 4 hours from the closest mountain) shopping around trying to find parts that went together. At first I was looking at the graphic designs on the boards and literally judging books, or in this case boards, by their covers. A lot of the nicer looking boards came with a higher price tag as expected, but I really wasn't sure what I was doing or what I needed as it was my first time in this situation. I had initially picked out a nice board in the $250 range thinking that was a fair price, then a pair of bindings, and lastly a pair of boots. After all was said and done I was looking at around $500 for gear I had no idea if it was good or not. After spending some time looking totally lost, a staff member in the shop finally came around and started to help me out. Turns out the board was a wide board designed for bigger people with a larger boot size(I'm about 5'10", 150lbs), and was a directional board. Not only that, but the bindings were not the correct design for the board. The only thing I did right was find boots that fit my feet. I wasn't aware of the different styles and profiles of snowboards at the time. Cambers, rockers, twin tail, directional...all terms I'd never heard of before. After some help from the nice gentleman at the store, I ended up walking out with a decent beginner board by M8trix that lasted me a couple of seasons, bindings by a company I can't even remember the name of, Burton boots that would carry me throughout the years without needing to be upgraded, and the regret that I didn't think of buying a snowboard package!
Although I got away with a couple of seasons, the board only lasted a few rides before the integrity of the rails started to fade by chipping away. Something I probably would have known had I done research before purchasing. In addition to the board starting to fail, the binding straps had all but given up on me as they wouldn't hold tight under stress. In today's world there are reviews on everything, making it easy to find out if something is really great, or really terrible. Real world people will show a product no mercy.
Buying a decent snowboard package can be significantly cost effective. For what I spent on off-brand component parts at a local shop, I could have bought a package for roughly half the price for pieces that are meant to go together. Usually, and from experience at least with Amazon, the product descriptions are pretty detailed giving you all you need to know about the setup you are buying. With a small amount of research on some of the terminology and some quick web browsing for snowboard packages, you can have the setup of your dreams in under an hour.
Most of the snowboard packages I have found are twin tails, making them ideal for beginners, but can be for advanced riders as well. There are a multitude of options out there. Burton, for example, has a package building tool on their website that gives you a few options from boards, boots, and bindings that all play well together. Evo is another site that sells quality snowboard packages. Even though Amazon's selection seems to cater to a more beginner crowd, they also have a few advanced options to choose from.
All in all, snowboard packages are an ideal way to purchase a cost effective setup that you know will work well together, whether you are a beginner or an advanced rider. We have reviews of some of the best options we could find right here on our site:
Top 3 Women's Snowboard Packages
Or, if you want to snoop around on Amazon here is what they have to offer: Amazon Snowboard Packages