Cheap Snowboard Equipment For Children

Snowboarding is one of the most popular winter sports behind skiing with more than half of the snowboarding population aged 7 to 17, according to ABC-of-Snowboarding. Kids can start snowboarding as soon as they have enough lower body strength to maneuver and control a board. One of the most prohibitive features of the winter sport is the price tag. Between renting or buying gear and slope fees, snowboarding can be an extremely expensive pastime for kids and adults.

Equipment

Snowboarding may look like a simple sport. In photographs you see an athlete on a board. Outside of the board, warm clothing, a hat and gloves, you may not notice a lot of equipment. The fact is, to keep your child safe you also need a helmet, bindings, boots, pads and goggles. According to Snowboarding essentials, snowboards require a specific kind of boot that is designed to transfer the movements of your body while you're on a snowboard. Bindings are the mechanism that fastens your boot to the board. Goggles help keep the sun and snow out of your eyes. Helmets can reduce the incidence of head injuries by 30 to 50 percent, according to the National Ski Areas Association.

Snowboard

A kid's snowboard should reach mid-chest to chin and should be flexible. Using a board that's too long is difficult to maneuver. According to ABC-of-Snowboarding, shorter, flexible boards are easier for training and learning to do turns. BoardsNMotion.com suggests getting a 138 to 140 cm board for kids that weigh 60 to 100 lbs. and 114 cm board for kids that weigh 70 to 110 lbs.

The average cost of a snowboard for a beginner is $150 to $250 as of 2011. In general, less expensive boards tend to weigh more. For a young snowboarder, however, that's not a bad thing. According to SnowboardGo, new riders can benefit from a board that's slightly stiff.

Keep your expenses down by avoiding shipping costs. If you find a good deal online, the additional shipping and handling fees will cancel out the great deal. You will also find cheaper equipment for kids at a general sporting goods store rather than a specialty snowboarding boutique with name-brand and top-of-the-line gear.

Boots

You have more flexibility when buying snowboarding boots for kids. Depending on your child's ability, you may be able to buy a boot one or two sizes up, which will save money when your child grows. If your child is snowboarding with a harness or hoops, and if she's not able to turn without assistance, a snug-fitting boot is not crucial. A sporting goods store can properly size a child's foot. Snowboard boots are measured in Mondo Point sizing, which measures the sole of the foot by length in centimeters. Kids snowboard boots typically run from a size 8 to 13.5. Look for the best deals on snowboarding boots at the end of winter when sporting goods stores are making room for spring and summer equipment.

Safety Gear

SnowboardGo reports that 25 percent of injuries occur with beginners, and often on their first run. PhysioRoom.com reports that the top five snowboarding injuries affect the lower limbs. Snowboarding injuries can damage knee ligaments, cause ankle or wrist fractures and head injuries. Look for a helmet that carries CE or ASTM certification. A helmet should be snug around the entire head and not droop below the eyebrows. As long as you buy a helmet with proper certification, feel free to look for the best deal. The best deals on safety equipment come on items that the manufacturer is discontinuing. A helmet and wrist guards that are on sale has no effect on the safety of the product.