How to Choose: Protective Snowboard Gloves and Snowboard Wrist Guards

Forwards and backwards falls occur more frequently in snowboarding than skiing, since the sport dictates that one or both feet be attached to the board without any type of quick or automatic release mechanism. When you catch and edge or are knocked off balance, the most instinctual thing you do avoid a wipeout is to stick your hand out to break your fall.

And, as common as not, you do just that. You break your fall by breaking your wrist.

Each year about 100,000 wrist fractures occur among snowboarders worldwide (newbies as well as more advance boarders), making it the most common injury for the sport.

This is why protecting your wrists with a pair of protective snowboard gloves or snowboard wrist guards is very important.

#1: What Type of Snowboard Wrist Protection Do You Need?

Level Snowboard Protective Gloves VS. Snowboard Protective Wrist Guards

Snowboard Protective Gloves/Mittens

Snowboard protective gloves and mittens offer comprehensive wrist protection with the protective wrist guard built specifically for use with the glove

Since the wrist guard is integrated with the glove, you don't have to worry about fitting your gloves with a separate wrist guard

Some models of protective gloves allow you to remove the wrist guard so you can decide whether you want to wear it or not

Level Protective Gloves (which many of us at XSP wear and highly recommend) have a patented Bio-Mex Wrist guard system that addresses the many types of joint rotation that could possibly fracture your wrist.

Check out the video below for the rundown on how the Bio-Mex guards are so protective!

Snowboard Protective Wrist Guards

Snowboard wrist guards are a great option if you already have a pair of snow gloves or mittens you love

Most snowboard mittens are slim and soft, so they can easily slip inside of a pair of snow gloves that you already have

Under glove wrist protection usually has a semi-flexible splint or batten on the palm side and/or top side of your wrist to support your joint in case of a fall

Snowboard wrist guards can be sold as a pair OR separately if you only have one wrist that needs the extra support

Snowboard wrist guards tend to be more budget friendly

We offer a range of snowboard wrist guards from many different brands (RED Impact Snowboard Wrist Guards, Triple Eight Snow Underglove Guards & ProTec IPS Underglove Wrist Guards as seen above.)

Wrist guards for other sports, like skateboarding or inline skating may also work as under-glove wrist protection, provided they are not too bulky to fit comfortably underneath your snow gloves

#2: Prices for Snowboard Wrist Protection Vary and Depend on Extra Features.

Under-glove Snowboard Wrist Guards.
The snowboard wrist guards that we sell at XSportsProtective mostly range from $15 to $25 in price. These guards are soft and slim and come with a metal or plastic splint on the front, back or both sides of your wrist. The difference in price can be attributed to the material of the splint and the durability of the upper material (usually a canvas or Nylon). Most of these snowboard-specific wrist guards are water-resistant as well.

Snowboard Gloves and Mittens.
We highly recommend purchasing a pair of Level Protective Snowboarding Gloves & Mittens, which are the only ones we feature on our site. All Level Gloves intended for snowboarding have a removable and ergonomically formed, Bio-Mex wrist guard that protects in case of a crash or hard fall. Along with this piece of techy-protective gear, different models of Level Gloves include a wide range of extra features that influence their price:

Level Super Pipe PRO Gloves - $160
These are Level's top-of-the-line, professional quality snowboard gloves. They feature:

Bio-Mex wrist protection
A Gor-Tex, waterproof, yet breathable liner
A removable, plush fleece liner that can be removed on warmer days
Passive venting system to release hot, sweaty air
A leather palm for extra durability
A soft goggle and nose cleaner
Kevlar reinforced palms and finger tips for a sure grip and toughness
A long, over-the-sleeve, cinch-able cuff
An interior powder cuff to further keep snow out of your gloves

Level Half Pipe Gloves and Mittens - $120
The Level Half Pipe Gloves & Mittens offer many of the same features as the Super Pipe PRO's, except they not not feature a leather palm, or an interior powder cuff.

Level Half Pipe Gloves for Women - $120
The Level Half Pipe Gloves for Women offer many of the same features as the Super Pipe PRO's, except they not not feature a leather palm, or an interior powder cuff. The Women's models include a Bio-Mex guard that is specifically designed for women's hands.

Level Network Snowboarding Gloves - $85
Level's Network Gloves offer similar features as the above models, but come in an appealing short-cuff style. They also employ Level's proprietary Membra-Therm Plus liner, which is water-resistant as opposed to being waterproof.

Level Level Fly Gloves and Mittens - $95
The Level Fly Gloves & Mitts are very similar to the Half-Pipe style, but the employ Level's proprietary Membra-Therm Plus liner, which is water-resistant, not waterproof.

Level Butterfly Gloves and Mittens for Women - $95
The Butterfly model is exactly the same as the Fly, but with a women-specific fit.

Level Fly Junior Gloves and Mittens for Kids - $75
Level Level Fly Junior Gloves and Mittens offer all of the same features at the regular Fly and Butterfly models, but with a kid-specific fit and without the goggle cleaner.

#3: Do You Want Snowboard Gloves or Mittens?

Level Snowboard Gloves and Mittens offer the same Bio-Mex wrist guard with the same amount of wrist protection, so whether you choose gloves or mittens is your own personal preference!

"I used to be a HUGE fan of mittens because the tips of my fingers tend to get cold while riding. Some say mittens are a little warmer, but after trying the Level Butterfly Gloves I have to say that the rule of mittens being warmer is not necessarily true. It seems to me that the quality of the glove/mitten dictates how warm and comfortable it is, rather than the fact that it is a mitten or glove. Level gloves employ a wide, box-like construction at the tips of their gloves and mittens to reduce constriction in your fingers, increase blood-flow and warmth, keeping your finger tips nice and toasty. Most models also feature a breathable vent to release any extra moisture, keeping your hands dry (and therefore more warm). Also, gloves tend to be a bit easier to maneuver around bindings, zippers, clips and buckles."

-Erica
Snowboarder and XSportsProtective Staff