I’m a certified snowboard instructor and here’s my review of the best snowboard gloves with wrist guards.
We all want to stay warm and safe while going out snowboarding, a good pair of snowboarding gloves with wrist guards can satisfy both needs by keeping your hands warm and dry and protecting your wrist from injuries.
In this article, I am going to talk about everything you need to know about getting a pair of snowboarding gloves with a built-in wrist guard that fits you the best.
Contents
Who Should Get This?
A pair of snowboard gloves or mittens with wrist protection normally exist as a pair of gloves with built-in wrist guards under the gloves.
These wrist guards are specifically built for use with the gloves, they are either made of metal or plastic, most are flexible and strong so they can absorb the shock when you fall.
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, snowboarders were more likely to suffer wrist injuries with the percentage scoring 19%.
Although wearing a wrist guard doesn’t guarantee you will not be suffering from a broken wrist, it certainly helps in protecting your wrist. Also, Dr. Knight from The Hand and Wrist Institute says,
Laboratory studies have shown that with a proper wrist guard on, additional energy or force is needed to cause a wrist injury.
So wearing a wrist guard can protect you from a broken wrist. In addition, I do believe that all levels of snowboarders should wear a wrist guard, from beginner to expert black diamond riders.
Most beginners to intermediate snowboarders fall quite a bit, a pair of good wrist guard could save you from a broken wrist.
For advanced to expert riders? Honestly, I think you need more protection than beginners because you are now either riding at a higher speed or in some very difficult trails, your injuries would be so much worse than a beginner if an accident does happen. Or maybe you are a park lover? Sure you need a good pair of wrist guards for all those jumps, kicker, half pipe!
The more you love snowboarding, the more you should keep yourself safe.
So we have talked about the importance of wearing a wrist guard, why should we get a pair of snowboarding gloves with wrist protection?
As I mentioned in my other article about tips for first-time snowboarders, it is always a good idea for us to bring less to the mountain, having a pair of snowboard protection gloves can save some room for putting your necessity like chocolate bars, lipsticks and less chance of losing them.
In my experience, the most common items you can find in the lost and found are usually gloves, and the only reason for me to buy a pair of new wrist guards had been and still is: I lost them. I’ve never lost my gloves but I’ve lost over 5 pairs of wrist guards in my snowboarding life.
So it’s really a good idea for you to get them attaching to each other so as to minimize the chance of losing them.
Top Snowboard Gloves with Wrist Guards
Here are my top picks for the best snowboard gloves with wrist guards of the year.
1. Dakine Nova Glove with Wrist Guard
This is a great pair of wristguard glove comes with waterproof and high insulation, lightweight and full-length over-the-cuff gauntlet. It is removable. It’s easy to put on and take off and is adjustable. There are different color options is available!
The part that I dislike? You’d better try them out first before purchasing these gloves since some have reported the size was too small on an online store.
==> You can get it on Buckman’s.
2. LEVEL Fly Snowboard Gloves with Wrist Guards
Another great pair of wrist-guard trigger mitts made by the built-in wrist guard gloves specialists. It’s warm, breathable, waterproof, and comfortable. It also comes with a removable fleece liner and wrist protection.
What I also especially like is the trigger design offers you great flexibility and yet keeps your hand warm.
What is not that nice? The price. It’s on the expensive side.
==> You can also get it on Blue Tomato.
3. Level Fly Trigger Snowboard Gloves with BioMex Wrist Guards
This is a pair of super warm mittens with built-in wrist protection. Waterproof, breathable, very durable too.
It comes with a removable fleece liner and wrist protection. Also, the full-length gauntlet style cuffs so as to keep the snow out.
The part I don’t like so much is you have fewer color options, and it’s usually more expensive than other brands.
Best Wrist Guard Snowboard Gloves: What to Consider
The following sections will give you some crucial factors to keep in mind when shopping for new snowboarding gloves with wrist guards.
Removable Wrist Guards
Is the built-in wrist protection removable? It is always better for you to get one with removable guards because it’s easier for you to wash them and gives you more flexibility.
For example, I am wearing a pair of gloves with removable guards, on my teaching days, I will just remove the guard of my right hand so it’s easier for me to carry the kids and gears.
Fit and Style
Your hands should be comfortably fit in with the wrist guards and gloves/mitts, and yet your hands should be free to move too because you need both freedom and protection. And make sure there is enough room for you to wear your inner gloves too.
It is also a good idea for you to try different styles too: gloves, mittens, or trigger mittens. Mine is a trigger mitt because I love the great balance between dexterity and warmth.
Other Features
Other than the safety part, we want a pair of gloves or mittens that can keep our hands dry and warm, the outer shell of your mittens should be waterproof. The insulation is also an important factor since you want to keep your hand warm and yet not too sweaty.
So the insulation level is kinda depending on your need, just make sure you get one that fits your need. However, do make sure you get one with moisture-wicking liner, vents is a bonus so it helps cool your hands off when they are getting too hot. Breathability is also very important too since your hands will get wet with sweats.
It’s better to get a pair with extra durability too since a pair of gloves with built-in wrist protection so you want to use it as long as possible. I would say wrist loops or idiot straps are necessary too since with the built-in wrist guard your gloves would be bigger than normal gloves and therefore it’s more difficult to put them into your side pockets. With these strings, you are less likely to lose them.
A zipper pocket at the back of your gloves is always nice for you to put your ski pass in so it’s easier and faster for you to go through the chairlift entrance machine.
Also read:
- Best Women’s Snowboard Gloves
- Best Men’s Snowboarding Gloves
- Best Snowboard Wrist Guards
- Mittens vs. Gloves
Additional Tips
Always wash your gloves according to the instruction given, normally using a mild detergent with lukewarm water is preferred, or if possible, wash them with a tech wash like Granger’s or Nikwax.
Depending on the instruction given, you may choose to hand wash or wash with a machine. If you are washing them with a washing machine, make sure you put them in a laundry bag.
Dry your gloves from the finger down towards the wrist, line dries them, and make sure you hang them up from the fingertips. If your liner and wrist guard can be separated from the gloves, it’s a good idea that you just separate them out first then wash them.
Final Words
So we have talked about everything about the best snowboard gloves with wrist guards, it is so important that you try to protect yourself as much as possible when you are heading up to the mountain.
If possible, getting a pair of all-in-one snowboarding gloves with built-in guards is probably the best option, or else, still, do get a pair of wrist guard them and wear them when you go for your ride.
About Lorraine