Snowboarding is an exhilarating sport, but it also comes with its risks. From falls on icy slopes to aggressive wipeouts, the potential for injury is always present. One of the most vulnerable parts of your body when snowboarding is your wrists. When you take a tumble, instinctively, your hands and wrists go out to break the fall, leading to sprains, fractures, or even more serious injuries.
Wrist injuries in snowboarding can range from minor sprains to more severe breaks, and they can sideline a rider for the rest of the season if not properly managed. That’s why choosing snowboard gloves with wrist protection is crucial. These gloves are designed to support your wrists and reduce the chances of injury while providing the warmth and dexterity you need to handle your board confidently.
In this article, we’ll review the eight best snowboard gloves with wrist protection to help you stay safe on the slopes. These gloves not only offer wrist support but are also designed for comfort, durability, and functionality, making them perfect for riders of all levels. Let’s dive into the world of wrist-protective gloves for snowboarding and find the best pair for your next adventure.
1. Burton Impact Gloves
Overview of Burton Impact Gloves
Burton is one of the most reputable brands in the snowboarding world, known for its quality gear and cutting-edge technology. The Burton Impact Gloves are engineered with wrist protection in mind, featuring an internal wrist guard that adds support and prevents hyperextension during falls.
Features of Burton Impact Gloves
Wrist Protection: The Impact Gloves feature a built-in wrist guard that provides excellent support to prevent wrist injuries during falls. The wrist protection is lightweight and flexible, ensuring you can still move freely while riding.
Thermal Insulation: These gloves come with Thermacore insulation, which keeps your hands warm without feeling bulky.
This feature ensures comfort even in extremely cold conditions.
Waterproofing: The gloves are constructed with waterproof GORE-TEX fabric, ensuring your hands stay dry even in wet conditions. This makes them perfect for a wide range of snow conditions.
Dexterity and Grip: The gloves have a soft, grippy palm that provides excellent control over your board while maintaining dexterity for other tasks, such as adjusting your bindings or handling your gear.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Lightweight wrist protection
- Excellent insulation and waterproofing
- Highly durable and comfortable
Cons:
Wrist protection may feel a bit rigid for some riders
2. Dakine Titan Gloves
Overview of Dakine Titan Gloves
Dakine is another popular brand in the snowboarding and skiing world. Known for their high-quality gear, the Dakine Titan Gloves provide excellent wrist protection along with superior comfort and warmth, making them a great choice for snowboarders looking for all-around performance.
Features of Dakine Titan Gloves
Wrist Guard System: Dakine Titan Gloves include a removable wrist guard that offers adjustable protection for your wrists.
This customizability allows you to modify the level of support depending on your preference or riding conditions.
Waterproofing and Breathability: The gloves are equipped with a Gore-Tex insert, offering a waterproof, windproof, and breathable barrier to keep your hands dry and comfortable.
Thermal Insulation: Featuring 170g of high-performance insulation, these gloves will keep you warm in colder conditions without being overly bulky.
Touchscreen Compatibility: Dakine Titan Gloves are designed with touchscreen-compatible fingertips, so you can use your smartphone without taking your gloves off.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Adjustable wrist protection
- Waterproof and breathable design
- Comfortable insulation
Cons:
Wrist guard can sometimes feel restrictive for riders not used to extra support
3. Level Fly Gloves with Wrist Protection
Overview of Level Fly Gloves
Level is a high-end snowboarding brand known for its premium gloves and gear. The Level Fly Gloves are designed for riders who demand both performance and protection. These gloves come with a built-in wrist guard system that ensures your wrists remain safe during high-impact falls.
Features of Level Fly Gloves
Integrated Wrist Guard: Level Fly Gloves feature a built-in, flexible wrist guard that provides support while still allowing you to maintain full mobility. This integrated system helps prevent wrist injuries without sacrificing comfort.
Waterproof and Breathable: These gloves are made with a waterproof, breathable fabric to keep your hands dry in wet conditions. The materials used allow moisture to escape, preventing sweat build-up inside the gloves.
Thermal Insulation: The gloves use high-performance insulation to keep your hands warm, even during the coldest conditions. Their ergonomic design offers an excellent balance between warmth and breathability.
Reinforced Palm: The gloves have a durable, reinforced palm to ensure a strong grip on your board and other equipment.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent wrist protection without limiting movement
- Durable and comfortable
- Great for long, cold days on the mountain
Cons:
A bit pricier than other options on the market
4. POC Resistance Pro Gloves
Overview of POC Resistance Pro Gloves
POC is renowned for its innovative safety gear, and the POC Resistance Pro Gloves are no exception. These gloves provide substantial wrist protection while also offering exceptional warmth and dexterity, making them a great choice for aggressive riders.
Features of POC Resistance Pro Gloves
Wrist Protection: The POC Resistance Pro Gloves feature a removable wrist guard system that provides solid support and protection without restricting your natural wrist movement.
Advanced Insulation: POC’s gloves are equipped with PrimaLoft insulation, a high-performance, lightweight material that offers excellent warmth without added bulk.
High-Quality Material: These gloves are made from durable leather and synthetic materials, ensuring long-lasting use.
The materials are also water-resistant, keeping your hands dry even in wet snow conditions.
Fit and Comfort: POC pays close attention to fit, and the Resistance Pro gloves provide a snug, comfortable fit, allowing for maximum dexterity and control.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Removable wrist protection
- Excellent fit and comfort
- High-quality insulation
Cons:
Higher price point
5. Reusch Giga Gore-Tex Gloves
Overview of Reusch Giga Gore-Tex Gloves
Reusch is a well-known brand in the ski and snowboarding glove industry, offering products with a focus on comfort and protection. The Giga Gore-Tex Gloves are designed to offer top-notch wrist protection while ensuring that your hands stay warm and dry throughout your ride.
Features of Reusch Giga Gore-Tex Gloves
Wrist Protection: These gloves are equipped with a built-in wrist guard that protects against hyperextension during falls.
The wrist guard is flexible and doesn’t restrict movement, making it perfect for snowboarders who need both support and mobility.
Waterproofing: The Giga gloves feature Gore-Tex technology, ensuring waterproofing, breathability, and windproofing for maximum comfort on the slopes.
Thermal Insulation: With Primaloft insulation, the gloves offer excellent warmth and comfort in colder conditions, making them suitable for winter snowboarding sessions.
Dexterity: The gloves feature a high level of dexterity, giving you the freedom to grip your board and perform fine motor tasks, like adjusting bindings, with ease.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent wrist support
- Gore-Tex waterproofing and breathability
- Great thermal insulation
Cons:
Slightly bulky design
6. Spyder Under Armour Gloves
Overview of Spyder Under Armour Gloves
Spyder and Under Armour have teamed up to produce high-performance snowboarding gloves that combine comfort with protection. The Under Armour Gloves are designed with built-in wrist protection, making them a solid choice for riders who want maximum safety without sacrificing style or warmth.
Features of Spyder Under Armour Gloves
Wrist Protection: The gloves feature wrist protection that helps prevent injuries during falls. The wrist guards are designed to support the wrist without feeling overly rigid or uncomfortable.
Gore-Tex Insert: These gloves are equipped with a Gore-Tex insert, ensuring water resistance and breathability. The breathable design helps keep your hands dry, even after hours of snowboarding.
Warmth and Comfort: Insulated with high-quality materials, the gloves offer excellent warmth while remaining light enough for extended use.
Style: With the collaboration between Spyder and Under Armour, these gloves have a sleek, modern design, making them as stylish as they are functional.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stylish and functional
- Excellent wrist protection
- Good balance of warmth and breathability
Cons:
Slightly more expensive than other options
7. Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex Gloves
Overview of Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex Gloves
Hestra is a brand known for its top-tier gloves, designed to perform in extreme conditions. The Army Leather Gore-Tex gloves combine wrist protection with durable leather construction, making them ideal for aggressive snowboarders.
Features of Hestra Army Leather Gore-Tex Gloves
Wrist Protection: The gloves come equipped with a flexible wrist guard that offers substantial protection during falls. The wrist guard can be adjusted for a more customized fit.
Waterproof and Windproof: Hestra’s Army Leather gloves feature Gore-Tex technology, which is renowned for its superior waterproofing and windproofing capabilities.
Leather Durability: The gloves are made from high-quality leather, ensuring they are both durable and comfortable. The leather provides excellent dexterity for handling your board.
Thermal Insulation: The gloves come with synthetic insulation, ensuring your hands stay warm even in the coldest conditions.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Durable leather construction
- Excellent wrist protection
- High-quality insulation
Cons:
Premium price point
8. Scott Deep Gloves
Overview of Scott Deep Gloves
Scott is well-known for producing high-performance snowboarding gear, and the Deep Gloves are no exception. These gloves combine wrist protection with a functional design, ensuring that snowboarders stay safe and warm on the mountain.
Features of Scott Deep Gloves
Wrist Protection: The Scott Deep Gloves feature a built-in wrist guard system that provides extra support during falls, preventing wrist hyperextension and reducing the risk of injury.
Waterproof and Breathable: The gloves come with a waterproof membrane to keep your hands dry while ensuring breathability, so your hands stay comfortable throughout the day.
Insulation: Featuring 3M Thinsulate insulation, these gloves keep your hands warm without adding bulk, making them ideal for cold conditions.
Touchscreen Compatibility: The gloves are designed with touchscreen-compatible fingertips, allowing you to use your phone without removing your gloves.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent wrist protection
- Waterproof and breathable design
- Great warmth-to-weight ratio
Cons:
Slightly less dexterity compared to other gloves
Conclusion
Snowboard gloves with wrist protection are essential for riders who want to minimize the risk of injury while maximizing comfort and performance. The gloves mentioned in this article are all excellent choices, providing a balance of wrist support, warmth, waterproofing, and dexterity.
Whether you choose the Burton Impact Gloves for their lightweight wrist guard or the Hestra Army Leather Gloves for their durability, you’ll be better equipped to handle falls and keep riding with confidence. Choose the gloves that best suit your riding style, and you’ll enjoy a safer, more comfortable snowboarding experience.