The 10 Best Snowboard Bags
Special Honors
Evo Roller Snowboard Bag This reliable selection can accommodate up to two boards (one with bindings and the other without), and has separate internal pockets for boots, outerwear, and accessories. It’s equipped with threaded wheels, YKK zippers, an ID tag, and a rubber handle on the end, and padded ones on the top and side. It’s backed by a one-year warranty and is also available in a similar version without wheels. Whether you're headed out on a spur-of-the-moment trip or a well-planned annual pilgrimage to the slopes, it can be counted on to get your gear there securely. evo.com
Editor's Notes
February 28, 2020:
Today we added some tried-and-true models from industry leaders Dakine, Burton, and Thule. The Dakine Tour is just as stylish as it is durable. Unlike many alternatives, this one is fully padded to ensure your board, bindings, and other gear remain free from damage during travel. You won’t have to go rummaging for long once you get to the slopes, since it’s equipped with a large exterior pocket and a full-length zipper, both of which provide quick access. It’s available in three sizes and a multitude of trendy colors and patterns with names like Dark Slate, Tandoori Spice, Green Lily, and Carbon.
If wheels are a must, look to the newly added Dakine High Roller, which is equipped with oversized urethane ones to help you get through airports with ease. It’s got enough room to hold your gear as well as a companion’s, and its removable bags are highly convenient for anyone who doesn’t want their wet footwear touching their other stuff.
Another wheeled option you can’t go wrong with is the travel-friendly Burton Wheelie, which comes with smoothly rolling Ixion skate wheels. This one also includes an interior bag, as well as handles on both the side and the ends for convenient transport. Its airport-friendly design accommodates TSA-friendly locks, and you can choose a neutral solid black one or one that features a pattern of camouflage or flowers. (Keep in mind these patterned ones can be much easier for you to spot at the airport.)
Also joining the list is the Thule RoundTrip Roller, which offers a well-designed S-shaped zipper that helps you to remove your board or other gear without much trouble, and it also helps you to keep all of the contents organized. It's also got sturdy, smooth wheels and multiple grab handles, so you'll make your way through the airport with ease.
Leaving the list in this update is the Demon Phantom Fully Padded, amidst user complaints of split seams and broken plastic components.
Why It Is Important To Own a Bag For Your Snowboard
Over time, this dirt can accumulate, having a negative impact on your snowboard's performance.
One of the most effective ways to protect your snowboard is by purchasing a bag or a case for it. This is especially true if you plan on using a snowboard multiple times, year after year. Loose dirt and gravel tend to lodge themselves between the grooves of any snowboard that has been left out in any cold-weather climate. Over time, this dirt can accumulate, having a negative impact on your snowboard's performance.
A snowboard bag is also beneficial in terms of transport. If you load your board into a trunk with other gear, skis, or snowboards, a cushioned bag will safeguard it against abrasions. A lot of snowboard bags also come with compartments, so you can pack a cloth and a spray bottle for wiping down your board before and after an excursion. Any bag with a shoulder strap will enable you to tote your snowboard, which is advantageous in that an average snowboard weighs 10 lbs, and the majority of snowboarders have to carry a pair of boots and a pair of goggles, as well.
Assuming you live in an area where you won't be using your snowboard for several months of the year, owning a bag may be the key to effective storage. Items tend to get tossed around inside a garage, a closet, or a shed, and a durable bag may be your snowboard's strongest line of defense against jagged objects, including power tools, household appliances, or even sleds.
How To Wax Your Snowboard
Waxing a snowboard is beneficial in that it can protect your board's surface, while enabling the board to move faster and turn more sharply. Fortunately, the waxing process isn't difficult. What's more, the process only requires a few towels, a scrub brush, a plastic scraper, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, a block of board wax, and a waxing iron (it is worth noting that a waxing iron is not the same as a household clothing iron) .
Hold the wax against the iron, while running both of these items in a back-and-forth pattern from approximately six inches above the board.
Once you've gathered these materials, place your board bottom-side up along a workbench. You can use a stack of books or a pair of concrete blocks to ensure the board sits level, without the bindings or the tail getting in the way. If the board looks dirty, wipe it down by using a scrub brush and some water. After that, gloss over the board with an alcohol-soaked rag to smooth it over.
At this point you want to heat your waxing iron until you notice that it is just warm enough to melt your block of wax. Hold the wax against the iron, while running both of these items in a back-and-forth pattern from approximately six inches above the board. If you are doing this correctly, liquid wax should be dripping down along the length of the board. If the wax begins to smoke, this means that the iron is too hot, and you should allow the iron to cool before repeating this step once more.
Once a coat of wax has been applied, use your iron to run along the board's surface, smoothing in the wax evenly from tip to tail. Be sure to run the wax all the way to - and along - the edges, as this will enable the board to make swifter turns. You'll want to avoid holding the iron over any section for too long, as this may cause the board to bubble. Perform four to five passes before letting the board breathe.
After the wax has dried, use a plastic scraper to run along the board at a 45-degree angle, shaving off the excess wax. Apply even pressure as you're scraping, so that the finished surface is free of nicks or bumps. Next, you'll want to run a scrub brush along the board to eliminate any tiny specks of wax that have gotten caught inside the grooves. Go along the board from end to end, completing a few passes until you have removed the excess dust.
When you're done, leave the board to sit for a few hours. Once the wax has settled, place your board inside its bag or case. A snowboard bag will keep dirt and dust from settling back in, and it will also protect your board from suffering any dings along its base.
A Brief History of Snowboarding
Snowboarding began as an underground activity during the 1940s, with minor pockets of enthusiasts crafting their own rudimentary snowboards throughout the cold-weather regions of the Midwest. A Minnesota man named Sherman Poppen is widely credited with inventing the first commercial snowboard, known as the Snurfer (i.e., snow and surf board) in 1965. Poppen's invention took a traditional water ski and smoothed down its edges.
The rise of skateboarding as a west coast fad had a major influence on snowboarding.
A lot of early snowboards were designed with a narrow shape and no bindings, and they were connected to the boarder's wrist by way of a lanyard or a leash. The lack of safety features proved to be an impediment to sales - a dynamic which manufacturers incrementally corrected by adding foot binders and steel edges to their boards, thereby ensuring a safer, sleeker sweep.
The rise of skateboarding as a west coast fad had a major influence on snowboarding. Not only did skateboarding inspire the more aerodynamic construction of a snowboard, it also opened the door to extreme snowboarding, which, in turn, redefined the boundaries of what a snowboarder could achieve.
The public's intrigue with snowboarding began to increase after James Bond (the Roger Moore version) rode a snowboard during the opening sequence of A View to a Kill in 1985. Thirteen years later, snowboarding became an Olympic sport, and, shortly after, iconic snowboarder Shaun White began competing on a professional level. Over the past two decades, White has not only become a two-time Olympic gold medalist, he has also become the biggest mainstream draw in the history of the sport.