Choosing the right snowboarding gloves is one of the most important decisions that you need to make when outfitting yourself for your ride. When you ski, you hold onto two poles that keep your hands away from the snow and ice. When you snowboard, you need something that protects your hands from not only the snow and the ice, but also the cold temperatures on the mountain.

Most people think about frostbite, but few think about the wind. The wind is bad enough on its own, but that wind becomes even worse as you whip down the mountain. The faster you move on your snowboard, the faster the wind passes by you, and the colder you and your hands get. Snowboard gloves cover your fingers, hand and upper wrist, protecting the skin from the cold. Without the right gloves, you risk the wind and cold weather seriously damaging your skin, or at least just bumming you out.

Snowboarders can be especially prone to skin damage because they often move faster than skiers. As the wind crosses your skin, it leads to dryness and red spots. You might even suffer from skin chapping, which causes raw spots on your skin. The chapping is extremely painful and might stop you from hitting the mountain in the future. The pain can be so extreme that the idea of even getting back on your board is unbearable.

Whatever snowboarding gloves you choose, you should ensure that they fit your hands properly. The gloves should fit comfortably without limiting any of your movement. If the gloves fit too tightly or have too much padding, then you might not get the same freedom or dexterity. Snowboarding gloves come in dozens of different styles and designs. You can find designs that match your jacket and snowboard, as well as more colorful designs and basic styles.