Below are Snowboarding Profiles Top 10 cheap snowboard pants.
This list has been updated for the 2022-23 season.
Not everyone has the means to get the top of the line, first-in-class snowboard pants, so this list has been designed to find the best snowboard pants from those that cost $200 or less. It's not simply a list of the cheapest pants you can find, but rather pants of as good a quality as possible, but costing no more than $200.
As per tradition I have given each pair of pants a score out of 100. This isn’t an exact science but it’s an easy way to represent their quality. Each score is broken down into categories like waterproofness etc.
When there are 2 or more pants on the same score, the pants with the lowest price gets the higher position.
Compared to other Snowboard Pants
Below are the stats for all the 53 snowboard pants that I researched:
Note that this list is based on specs only and not by personal experience with these pants. So this is only going by taking the given specs at their face-value. Style, fit durability and weight haven’t been taken into account.
O.k. let’s take a look at the top 10
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #10
Pant: Oakley Best Cedar RC
- CA
Score: 75/100
Insulation: 60g | Synthetic
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Starting off the list at #10, we have Oakley's Best Cedar RC pants.
Like all on this list, the Oakley boasts a score higher than the average for those I looked at for under $200. Getting Fully Taped seams at this price is really good - plus providing what I would consider minimum waterproofing and breathability and really good functionality.
They are also the cheapest pants on this list.
Score Breakdown for the Best Cedar RC
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 3.0 | 21/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL | 75/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #9
Pant: Armada Corwin
- CA
Score: 76/100
Insulation: 40g | Polyester (90% recycled)
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Armada's Corwin come in next.
Again featuring fully taped seams and decent overall waterproofing and brethability performance, the Corwin are also lightly insulated for those who want their pants to provide a little more warmth than a shell, without necessarily having to layer underneath.
Score Breakdown for the Corwin
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 3.0 | 21/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL | 76/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #8
Pant: 686 Infinity Insulated Cargo
- CA
Score: 76/100
Insulation: 40g | infiLOFT®
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Next up we have 686's Infinity Insulated Cargo pants.
Like the two pants above, the Infinity also features fully taped seams (which is a feature of this top 10, but not typically a feature of pants in this price range) and possess the same amount of waterproofing and breathability in the fabric.
They are the 3rd of 3 pants in this list to feature insulation. The rest of the following pants are shell options.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Infinity
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 3.0 | 21/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL | 76/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #7
Pant: Flylow Patrol
- CA
Score: 76/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
In at #7, we have Flylow's Patrol pants. Please excuse the ski boots in the image above, it was the only one I could find. And these pants work just as well as snowboard pants as they do as ski pants.
The Patrol are the 1st of 7 shell pants on this list. Being shell gives you the flexibility to wear the pants without base layer for those warmer days, to keep cooler - or layer underneath when it gets colder.
Score Breakdown for the Flylow Patrol
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 3.0 | 21/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL | 76/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #6
Pant: Oakley TNP Evoke RC
- CA
Score: 76/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Next up, at #6, we have Oakley's TNP Evoke RC pants.
The same performance specs as the 3 above and 2 below, the Oakley come in at a really good price for the performance you get.
Score Breakdown for the TNP Evoke RC
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 3.0 | 21/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL | 76/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #5
Pant: Burton Southside
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 76/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Next up we have the Burton Southside snowboard pants.
Whilst not endowed with anything epic in terms of waterproof or breathable fabric, the 10,000mm/10,000k isn't bad for the price. But what makes these pants really good value is that you get them fully seam sealed, which isn't that common for this price range, as we've mentioned.
That plus all the functionality of these pants make them a great deal for the price.
These come in a slimmer fitting option for those that like things a little tighter.
Score Breakdown for the Southside
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 3.0 | 21/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL | 76/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #4
Pant: Burton Cargo
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 76/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
In at #4, we have the Burton Cargo snowboard pants.
Coming in with the same performance specs as the 5 pants before it, the Cargo is the cheapest of all of those on this score, providing great value for money.
Score Breakdown for the Cargo
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 3.0 | 21/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL | 76/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #3
Pant: Volcom Freakin Snow Chino
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 77/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 15,000g
Seams: Critically Taped
At #8, we have Volcom's Freakin Snow Chino pants.
They are the only pants in this list to have only critically taped and not fully taped seams, but they're also the 3rd cheapest on this list and have great waterproofing and fabric breathability for the price.
Score Breakdown for the Freakin Snow Chino
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 28/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 2.5 | 10/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.0 | 20/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL | 77/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #2
Pant: DC Code
- CA
Score: 83/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Coming in at #2, we have the DC Code snowboard pants.
Stepping up the waterproofing now, with both 15,000mm and fully taped seams, the Code offer pretty unbelievable waterproofing when you consider the price. The highest performing jacket in terms of waterproofing in this list, besides the next Jacket (see #1 below).
Note that most pants on this list, including the Code, have multiple color options.
Score Breakdown for the Code
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 28/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL | 83/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD PANTS #1
Pant: 686 Dojo
- CA
Score: 86.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 20,000mm
Breathability: 15,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
At finally, in at #1, are 686's Dojo snowboard pants.
If you're looking for as much waterproofing as you can get at a price that's way below what you'd pay for probably any other pants with this much waterproofing and breathability, then the Dojo are an option you'll wanting to be looking at.
Especially so, if you prefer a more relaxed fit in your pants.
Score Breakdown for the Dojo
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.5 | 31.5/35 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.0 | 20/25 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
GAITERS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 0.0 | 0/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL | 86.5/100 |
Thanks for reading and I hope this post has helped you to find the best cheap men’s snowboard pants for you.
Check out the links under each pants description for current prices, availability and more information.
I want to thank you so much for doing all this research it makes it so much easier for us to select the correct gear.
Thanks Hannes and you’re very welcome.
Hi,
I am looking for not expensive pants for a beginner. I Found some favorable reviews on The North Face Freedom insulated pants but I noticed that they didn’t make it to your list.
what do you think about them?
Thanks
Michael
Hi Michael
Thanks for your message.
They look like they’d probably do the trick. North Face don’t tend to include comparable waterproofing specs, so it’s hard to compare them to others, so I don’t include them in my research. It does say that they’re fully taped, which is a good sign for waterproofing, but hard to say about the waterproofness of the fabric, without having that info published. You’re probably good though – a lot of pants in this price range are only critically taped and not fully taped.
Nate , thank you for your response .
I am still researching before making a decision. Any thoughts about Burton Covert Pant(insulated and not)
Thank you.
Michael
Hi Michael
The Covert scored 71/100 in my system. The biggest reason they score lower than others on this list is less breathability. They’re a 10K waterprooding/5k breathability. So waterproofing isn’t great either. However for the price, 10K with Fully Taped seams is pretty good. With a little more breathability, they would have made this list. Of course the shell version will be a little more breathable. That said, the insulated version looks to have pretty light insulation, so it may not make that much difference.
What about bibs? Looking at the Quiksilver Utility or Volcom Roan. Six of one, half dozen of the other?
Hi Mark
Thanks for your message.
Have been wanting to do a bibs list for a while, but haven’t been able to find the time!
Comparing the two you’ve mentioned, there’s not a lot in it. Looks like the Roan are a little more breathable but both with the same waterproofing. The Roan looks like it’s supposed to have a looser fit to the Utility, so that’s something else to consider – whether you’d prefer a looser fit or not.
I own the Utility bib and it’s done me well. In terms of waterproofing, it’s certainly not perfect – and in this mid-price range and with 15K waterproofing not expected to be. It keeps me dry on all but the really wet days. I’ll go out in almost anything, so I’ve been out in some relatively heavy rain and it’s kept me dry for a while, but eventually things start to get wet. So just don’t expect gore-tex waterproofing or waterproofing as good as you’d get for like 20K+ waterproofing or anything. I was just out in the rain yesterday and was bone-dry on my top half (gore-tex jacket) but a little wet on my bottom half. We were out in the rain for about 2 1/2 hours.
But yeah, a quick look at specs and it’s pretty much six of one, half dozen the other – so if you wanted to pick on price or on style/fit, then that would be a valid way to choose between them, in this case.
Hope this helps
You’re the best, thanks so much.
You’re very welcome Mark. Happy riding!