You're only as good as your gear.

• Position: Athletic Arena - Brief Article

Snowboarding can be a cold, painful experience without the proper equipment. The right board system plus protective items plus weather-appropriate clothing equal a great day on the slopes. For us, this meant donning a wicking base layer to keep dry, and therefore warm, followed by an insulating one. Not taking any chances, Susan added padded shorts and kneepads to cushion impact and as an extra layer to maintain comfort while kneeling or sitting on the snow. A good outer layer is essential, preferably waterproof and breathable.

Next, we added helmets, goggles, and gloves. Although the Learn to Ride program minimizes falling, it happens even to seasoned snowboarders, and an ounce of prevention sure beats a concussion or broken bones. Helmets are seen more commonly on the slopes these days, provide protection for your gray matter, and are warm to boot. Goggles help a rider make out the surface of the snow in changing light conditions and keep one's eyes from drying out. Finally, gloves with built-in wristguards eliminate the problem of trying to fit an ordinary pair of ski gloves over conventional wrist supports. (For reviews of the Burton products we tested, see "What's New?," USA Today, January 2002.)

While Susan's LTR snowboard is primarily marketed as a rental product for use at Method Centers, the Cruzer that I used for...