There are a number of reasons why you might want to get the latest snowboard gear and there are also arguments for why buying last season’s gear might be better.
What’s best for you will depend on your own circumstances. Below are what I consider to be the pros and cons of buying the latest snowboarding gear.
The Pros
The following I think are the best reasons for buying the latest gear.
- The most up to date technology
- The largest selection of gear
- Gear deteriorates, all be it slowly, even if not being used
The Cons
- Less user reviews than last season’s gear
- More expensive than last season’s gear
O.k. let’s take a look at these in more detail.
The Pros in more Detail
Most up to Date Technology
If you buy the latest season’s gear then you are getting the benefits of the very latest tech on offer.
This is particularly good if there was a tech breakthrough on a particular product. You get the benefits of that new tech right away.
The Largest Selection of Gear
If you are looking at last season’s gear there is often limited choice. So the snowboard that you really want, or the boots you really want, may be all sold out – or they don’t have any left in your size.
If you get the latest gear there is a greater chance that they’ll have what you’re after in stock and that they’ll have your size.
Gear Deteriorates, even if it’s not being used
Of course it happens much more slowly and stores and warehouses etc do usually store things in the optimum conditions (optimum heat, humidity etc) so that deterioration is minimized. In these cases there will be little or no deterioration.
But if gear has been sitting around for more than a year in less than ideal conditions some deterioration can occur.
The Cons in more Detail
Less User reviews than last season’s gear
If you are buying last season’s gear, as opposed to the latest season’s gear, then there are typically a lot more user reviews for that gear. This can give you a greater insight into a product’s performance.
For the current season’s gear you typically don’t get as many user reviews, at least not until the end of the season. And a lot of the professional reviews you see are from pro riders, which don’t necessarily give you the perspective of your average rider. Of course the reviews on this website are different because they are from the point of view of your average rider. But I digress.
Latest Gear more Expensive
Perhaps the biggest con of buying the latest snowboard gear, and concurrently the biggest pro of buying last season’s gear, is that the price is usually significantly lower on last season’s stuff.
This goes for boards, bindings, boots, outerwear, you name it. Of course, it’s harder to find exactly what you’re after but if you do you could be in for some decent savings.
Related: How to Snowboard for Less: 7 Tips and Tricks for Saving Cash
Thanks for reading
I hope this post has helped you to way up the pros and cons of buying the latest snowboard gear or last season’s gear.
It really comes down to personal preference. Are you on a tight budget? Do you want the most choice? Do you want the most up to date tech? Do you want a greater number of user reviews?
Can you think of any other pros or cons I’ve left out? If so let me know in the comments below. Any other comments or questions welcome as always.
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