Home Shopping Men’s Winter Outerwear – Steps to Finding the Best Pants and Jacket

Men’s Winter Outerwear – Steps to Finding the Best Pants and Jacket

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Being improperly dressed and being cold while hitting the slopes is a sure way to make your experience less enjoyable. Your first line of defense from the cold weather is your outerwear, which is why it is of the essence to choose quality pieces that will protect you from the elements without restricting your movement. However, choosing the best from the best can be tricky, as there are quite a few factors to consider when shopping online or from your local brick-and-mortar store. For that very reason, here are some of the most important things to consider when buying mens outwear.

Breathability

First things first, you’ll need to find a jacket and pants that have good breathability rating as you are going to sweat even if it’s cold outside, due to the nature of this sport. Quality mens outerwear for snowboarding is MVTR (Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate) tested, which means that the amount of moisture that can escape your jacket or pants in a 24 hour period is predetermined. If you are casually sliding down the slopes, then breathability of about 5,000 to 10,000 grams will do the trick, but if you are someone who likes to go a bit more extreme then you should aim for a rating closer to the 15,00 mark or above.

Waterproof Rating

While a breathability rating shows how much moisture can escape the jacket or pants, a waterproof rating shows just how much moisture can the jacket or pants keep out. Here the rating is measured in mm with the lowest recommended rating being 5,000 – you can go lower than that but it’s not a good idea. The same rating applies here – the range between 5,000mm and 10,000mm is suitable for the regular snowboarder, while the adrenaline junkies should look for 15,000 and above. Remember that the price increases together with the rating.

Durability

While waterproof and breathability ratings protect against the cold and keep you dry, what will actually make these properties last longer is the material of the clothing. Durable mens outerwear is made of tightly woven polyester or nylon, which offer the highest form of performance even in the most extreme of conditions. You should also check for the type of seams in order to get the best protection possible. The durability and quality of the waterproofing rating are reinforced with fully taped seams as they are made using waterproof materials both on the inside and outside. A jacket or pants with critically taped seams typically have this material only on the most vulnerable spots.