Some of the questions that I hear the most are, “What brand of equipment should I buy,” “How much should I spend,” and “Where should I buy my gear?”
The answers to these questions vary based on who you ask. If you are in the Boise area, I would recommend going to a local board shop. My favorite is Newt and Harolds. Newt’s has been in Boise for a long time and all the employees are knowledgeable and friendly. I prefer Newt’s to any other place for a few reasons. It’s a local Boise business. It’s not a big box/national chain (like Zumiez or Sports Authority) so you will get good equipment and advice/help from knowledge riders. This just my opinion though, so take it however you would like.
How much you should spend is up to you and your budget. You can spend as little as two hundred dollars for a board/binding/boot combo from a sporting goods store and it will work. Chances are it is not great equipment and it will be bothersome and break down quickly. When its 20 degrees out you do not want to be sitting in the snow after you just hopped off the lift trying to fix a binding strap. On the other side of that, you do not have to spend 1,000 dollars on your setup either. Keep in mind that you are a new rider and you probably do not need all the bells and whistles of high-end equipment.
The initial purchase of your gear may be between 500-700 dollars (boots, bindings, board) but it will be worth it in my opinion. Quality equipment will last and pay for itself if it is taken care of and your riding experience will be that much better in the end.
When I started riding it was on that $200 sporting good store setup. It was great to be able to ride whenever I wanted and have my own gear, but when I was able to afford better gear I noticed the difference between quality and budget gear immediately. Bindings went on and off easier, boots were much warmer and more comfy, and the difference in board performance was huge. In the end buy what you can afford. Don’t break the bank if you don’t want to.
A great way to offset the cost of new gear is to shop year end sales or pre-season sales. Buying equipment from the previous year is a great way to stretch your dollar and you can end up saving hundreds this way.
As for brands, this comes down to personal preference and budget. Going to a board shop will help a lot when it comes to this. They only carry quality brands so no matter what you get that shouldn’t be an issue. The employees will be able to steer you into what kind of board will fit the kind of rider you are. They will be able to explain the difference in all the boards and the materials they are made of. If for some reason the employee cannot tell you the difference between “board a” & “board b,” go somewhere else or ask for someone who can. You are spending your money on this and being informed is important.