Snowboarding is one of the best winter sports in the world, but it’s also a relatively expensive hobby. With all of the gear, lift tickets, and travel expenses involved, it’s easy to rack up a hefty bill in the winter months.
I’ve been snowboarding for most of my life and have spent the last decade working as a certified snowboarding instructor. I’ve spent quite a bit of money pursuing the sport, and I know firsthand the costs involved.
In this post, I’ll break down the various expenses so you can get a general idea of how much it costs to go snowboarding. There are a few ways to save money, and even a little extra can help.
Time to get out your wallet and get started.
Contents
Quick Answer
The cost of snowboarding can be broken down into two different ways. A daily price that involves renting equipment and paying for lift tickets or a yearly price that includes the cost of equipment and a season pass.
I’ll break both of these down in depth in the sections below, but if you just want a basic idea for budgeting purposes, here’s what to expect.
The price for renting equipment and purchasing daily passes will cost you between $150-300/day. This includes a snowboard, boots, and a lift ticket. It doesn’t factor in other gear or travel costs.
If you purchase your own equipment and buy a season pass, you’re likely to pay between $1000-2000. This includes the essential equipment mentioned above but doesn’t factor in travel or other gear and clothing.
Clothing/Basic Equipment Cost
Before we break down how much buying and renting a board and boots, let’s take a look at the essential clothing items you’ll need to have regardless of if you rent or buy.
Here’s everything you’ll need and price ranges for buying the items new:
- Jacket – $100-400
- Pants – $100- 500
- Gloves / Mittens – $30-150
- Helmet – $50-150
- Base Layer – $20-80
- Mid Layer – $30-100
Add all of this up, and you’ll spend anywhere from $330 to $1300 on new clothing alone. That’s a substantial initial investment, but you’ll be able to use most of these items for many seasons.
The extensive range in cost here is the result of having so many different options for every item. High-end items are more expensive, but you can still get quality equipment at a more reasonable price.
Rental and Daily Lift Ticket Costs
Many beginner snowboarders will rent equipment either ahead of their trip or once they get to the resort. This is a good route to take if you don’t want to purchase new gear or travel with a snowboard.
The cost for renting a snowboard will range from about $75-150/day. Usually, if you rent away from the resort, you will find lower prices.
The cost of a daily lift ticket will vary greatly depending on where you choose to ride. High-end resorts can cost $150-200/day, while smaller locations are still in the $50-100 range.
Let’s say you rent equipment and purchase daily lift tickets for one week using the price estimates above. That works out to $525-1050 for rentals and $350-$1400 for tickets.
Add everything together, and you can expect to pay $875-2450 to rent snowboard equipment for the week.
If you plan to snowboard for longer than a week, it can pay off to purchase your own equipment and buy a season pass. As you can see, those rental costs can start to add up quickly, especially if the whole family is along for the trip.
Owning Snowboard Equipment and Season Pass Costs
If you are an avid snowboarder who likes to get out on the snow as much as possible, I recommend buying your equipment and purchasing a season pass every year. This is a substantial initial investment, but it will save you money in the long run.
The cost of a new snowboard will be anywhere from $300-800. New boots will cost you $150-400. Bindings run from around $100-300.
Altogether, you’ll be looking at spending $550-1300 on a brand new setup. High-end equipment can cost more than that. And if you want multiple boards, the cost will increase as well.
You can always save a little bit of money by buying used equipment. This is a great way to own your gear without paying top dollar for it. If you look at sites like eBay or Craigslist, you can often find decent snowboard setups for much cheaper than what they cost brand new.
A season pass is recommended if you plan on riding for any longer than a week. These will cost you anywhere from $500-1000 or more, depending on which pass you buy.
The cool thing about a season pass is you can ride as many days as you want, and most passes work at multiple resorts nowadays, so you can go on trips if you want to. Passes can also get you discounts on food and other items at the resort.
The cost of buying your own equipment plus a season pass will be $1000-2300.
Additional Costs
The other cost to consider when factoring everything into the equation is travel. Unless you live in a resort town, you will have to drive or fly to the resort. If you need lodging, this can increase the costs of snowboarding substantially. Flights and fuel are additional expenses as well.
I’m not even going to break down travel costs here because there are too many factors to consider. You can take the numbers listed above and add them to your budget once you have travel itineraries figured out.
FAQs
Here are a few quick answers to some common questions relating to how much it costs to go snowboarding.
How much should I pay for a snowboard?
If you are looking at a new snowboard without bindings, I would expect to pay anywhere from $300-600 for a decent board. High-end options can cost more than that. If it’s a used board, shoot for about 40% under the sticker price.
Is it cheaper to ski or snowboard?
It’s typically cheaper to snowboard because boots tend to be cheaper than ski boots. The cost of your clothing and lift tickets are very similar, but you’ll save at least a few hundred dollars because snowboard boots are cheaper.
How can I go snowboarding cheap?
If you want to go snowboarding for cheap, I suggest getting used equipment and finding a season pass at a more affordable resort. You can also look into backcountry snowboarding, and you’ll be able to ride for free without paying for lift tickets or a season pass.
Final Thoughts
Snowboarding isn’t cheap. But it’s still more than worth it. Some people would pay just about anything for a chance to ride good snow. Luckily, there are more than a few ways to save some money and still have a fantastic time on the mountain.
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