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Intermediate Snowboard Kit
Take your riding to the next level.
It’s official: You’ve caught the snowboarding bug. You’re linking turns, making your way through all the blue runs on the mountain, and perhaps popping off the occasional side hit. Now you’re ready to take your riding—and your kit—to the next level. If you find yourself dreaming of powder days, but you haven’t yet made your way to the big leagues of black or double-black diamond terrain, this Intermediate Snowboard Kit has the gear that will get you there. We made our picks with a moderate budget in mind, choosing high-value equipment for any rider looking for quality snowboarding gear at a midrange price point.
Jones Mountain Twin ($580)
ThirtyTwo Lashed ($350)
Burton Cartel Re: Flex ($300)
686 Gore-Tex Core Insulated ($380)
686 Quantum Thermagraph ($310)
Oakley Line Miner L ($176)
Oakley Mod 1 Pro MIPS ($155)
Dakine Leather Titan Gore-Tex ($116)
Ridge Merino Aspect ($80)
Smartwool Snowboard Over the Calf ($30)The Mountain Twin (women’s Twin Sister) is Jones’ all-mountain, intermediate-oriented board. It’s a versatile, playful board that will help you move into more advanced terrain without the learning curve of a stiffer, more aggressive profile.
The Lashed is a popular all-mountain snowboard boot with a medium flex and solid support (thanks to its dual-density foam liner). It offers a wide range of adjustability and solid responsiveness that will help an intermediate rider progress without overdoing it on power transfer.
Most intermediate riders can benefit from a more responsive binding than the one they used on the bunny slopes. The medium-flex Cartel Re:Flex (women’s Lexa) is a versatile, all-mountain choice.
The Core (women’s Willow) features light insulation and 2-layer Gore-Tex waterproofing at an impressively low price (for Gore-Tex, that is). This jacket will keep you dry while you savor entering the white room.
This pant isn’t Gore-Tex, but hear us out: The Quantum Thermagraph (women’s Geode) still has 2-layer waterproofing and fully taped seams, meaning it will keep you dry through a wide variety of conditions. Plus, it features 140-gram synthetic insulation to up the coziness factor.
Good lens quality, an impressive field of view, and a midrange price make the Line Miner L a smart intermediate goggle pick. Only a fiddly lens-swap system keeps this goggle from ranking higher in its category.
The Mod 1 Pro MIPS is a durable helmet with a surprisingly stacked feature set. We like its safety and durability at this price, but it’s not very well ventilated and runs slightly narrow (though riders with rounder heads can opt for the Round Fit version).
Comfort
Warmth
Ventilation
Weight & Bulk
Durability
Sustainability
We really hate cold fingers, so we went with the Leather Titan (women's Sequoia) mitten, which includes Gore-Tex waterproofing and lots of insulation at a price that will warm your heart, as well as your hands. Plus, it features leather palms for a premium feel and added durability.
The Aspect offers high-quality construction, impressive durability (for merino wool), and comfort-boosting wicking at a reasonable price. Plus, we think this top is cozy and stylish enough to wear for après.
Warmth
Breathability
Durability
Comfort
Odor Resistance
Sustainability
We’re suckers for merino wool socks, and we think you’ll dig them, too. The Snowboard Over the Calf offers a premium feel, targeted cushioning, and seamless design to prevent chafing or hot spots. It’s pricey, but we think happy feet are worth the investment.
How We Built the Intermediate Snowboard Kit
In crafting this kit, we prioritized versatile gear with all the features you need and nothing you don’t, with relatively reasonable price points to match. The hard goods are of high quality; intermediate riders can benefit from a little bit more responsiveness and power in their ride than beginners, but we avoided gear that would overwhelm someone who doesn’t yet feel like one with their board. We picked apparel with confidence-inspiring waterproofing that still won’t break the bank, and accessories that help streamline your on-mountain experience, rather than complicate it. Our intermediate picks avoid sky-high prices and top-end performance; instead, we combed the market for the best of the rest.
When selecting this kit’s three flagship pieces—a snowboard boot, a binding, and a board—we prioritized versatility, reasonable pricing, and a manageable, medium flex. A medium flex in the gear attached to your legs offers enhanced responsiveness and support for better edge control, without being too twitchy and precise for an intermediate rider to handle. The stiffer the hardware, the easier it is to transfer power onto your edges, which is a double-edged sword as an intermediate rider. If you’re not ready to turn on a dime or react instantly to feedback from the snow, hardware that’s too stiff will hold you back rather than propel you forward. We looked for gear to keep you stoked top to bottom, with a preference for playful yet confidence-inspiring all-mountain options that most intermediate snowboarders should enjoy riding in a wide range of terrain.
While beginner riders typically will want a comfortable, soft-flex boot to ease into turn initiation and finding their form, an intermediate rider will benefit from a slightly stiffer flex, which adds responsiveness and control to their riding. There’s no need to buy the stiffest boot on the market at this point in your snowboarding career, though. In fact, many expert riders with a more playful style never go stiffer than a medium-flex boot like our pick, the ThirtyTwo Lashed. A boot that is too stiff for your skill level or riding style can hold you back if you’re learning tricks or exploring the park. Additionally, many riders find stiffer boots less comfortable, requiring more break-in time and modifications (though they typically offer better longevity due to their burlier construction, a trade-off some intermediate riders may be willing to make).
The Lashed is a nice middle ground for intermediates who want good responsiveness, out-of-the-box comfort, and enough mobility for playful riding. Plus, we love that it comes with a heat-moldable, dual-density Intuition foam liner to help you find a comfortable fit. A high-quality foam liner also prevents the Lashed from packing out too quickly, helping you keep it in play longer. More expensive options from ThirtyTwo (like the ThirtyTwo TM-2, which costs $430) offer a stiffer flex, a performance-fit liner, and more supportive footbeds, but for most intermediate riders, the Lashed is a great midrange choice.
While beginner riders typically will want a comfortable, soft-flex boot, an intermediate rider will benefit from a slightly stiffer flex, which adds responsiveness and control to their riding.
Adjustability is another feature you may want to upgrade when buying intermediate snowboarding boots. While a single-Boa system (found on many true beginner boots) is sufficient when you’re learning, being able to adjust a boot more precisely to prevent heel lift is helpful as the terrain you ride increases in difficulty. We like the Lashed’s traditional lacing system, which offers solid adjustability with few failure points.
Though laces offer better adjustability than a single-Boa system and fewer failure points than a SpeedZone lacing system (as featured in the Burton Moto), some riders find laces annoying to fiddle with in cold weather. If you fall into that category, the Lashed also comes in a double-Boa model, but it’ll run you an additional $50. Regardless of which you choose, laces or a double Boa are a nice upgrade in adjustability compared to single Boa systems.
It’s easy to forget about the crucial interface between your board and boots, but quality bindings can make a big difference. Compared to beginner bindings, better build quality will prevent them from breaking, and a stiffer flex can add responsiveness to your ride. There’s no need to overcomplicate things here, though—while there are plenty of impressive binding technologies out there these days (think step-ons, SkateTech, and the FASE fast-entry system), you won’t lose much on the performance front by picking a simple binding like the Burton Cartel Re:Flex.
The Cartels are reliable, durable, and compatible with nearly every board and boot. There’s nothing fancy about them, but there’s also little to dislike. Plus, they feature a medium-stiff flex, making them a versatile but high-performing binding for the price. The stiffer the binding, the easier it is to transfer power onto your snowboard edges, but also means you’ll need to respond appropriately to changes in the snow surface (or risk catching an edge).
It’s not out of the question that a newer intermediate rider could be overwhelmed by a medium flex. A softer binding decreases feedback from the snow surface, making for a more forgiving ride. For riders who aren’t yet comfortable putting their board on edge or linking turns down a blue run without overthinking it, we would recommend sticking with the softer Union Flite Bindings highlighted in our Beginner Snowboard Kit.
What do you give up with the Cartels, compared to higher-end options? Bells and whistles, better adjustability, and faster and easier entry. Extras come with an added (and unnecessary) cost: FASE fast-entry bindings help you get into your bindings faster, but they typically run an extra $100 or so. Step-on bindings are another option, but they also cost more, are compatible only with certain boots, and can be hit or miss in terms of feel depending on your riding preferences. We recommend tried-and-true, traditional bindings like the Cartels for their simplicity, versatility, and compatibility with most boots and boards at a price many intermediate riders can swallow.
A snowboard is the centerpiece of your kit, and likely the single biggest investment you’ll make in your gear. As your skills progress, you’ll develop preferences for the type of board and riding you like; you may choose to specialize by selecting a board better suited to freestyle or freeride terrain, for example. Still, you can’t go wrong with a high-quality, all-mountain daily driver designed to do a little bit of everything. It’s tempting to buy an ultra-floaty, wide-nosed board after your first powder day, but we beg you: If you’re planning to buy one board, hold off on the powder hound for now. Deep days are rare, and hardpack bumps are forever. You’ll be happier with a jack-of-all-trades board that feels good on firm groomers, chopped powder, wind buff, and everything in between.
So what constitutes a good intermediate daily driver? A directional twin is an excellent shape for any level of rider, but we think it’s ideal for an intermediate boarder dipping their toes into a wide variety of terrain. Directional twins let you ride switch or spin with ease while offering high versatility across varied snow conditions and terrain. Additionally, most intermediate riders will benefit from a board with underfoot camber (for increased edge hold) and some rocker in the tip and tail. Rocker and a medium flex make a board feel more playful and easy to turn, but come at the expense of decreased edge hold at speed.
Directional twins let you ride switch or spin with ease while offering high versatility across varied snow conditions and terrain.
Speaking of medium flex: Many all-mountain snowboards fall into this category, and we think it’s the best choice for an intermediate rider. To reiterate the same point we made on boots and bindings, there’s no need to buy the stiffest board on the market just yet. We recommend keeping it simple and playful, and the Jones Mountain Twin is just that. It’s a directional twin with a medium flex profile, designed for all-mountain riding. It's wide enough (and rockered enough) to keep you afloat in powder, but underfoot camber provides good edge hold on firm snow.
Though you can buy a new snowboard for as little as $300, the majority of intermediate boards fall between $400 and $650. The Mountain Twin, like many Jones boards, lands on the higher end of this range, retailing for $579. The premium price tag is the Mountain Twin’s biggest downside, but because a snowboard is one of the more essential components of your kit, we think it's worth spending more on a high-quality ride like this one. All in all, the Jones Mountain Twin is a strong choice for an intermediate rider looking for a quality, single-quiver snowboard that will allow them to progress their skills.
As an intermediate rider, you’re probably spending longer days out on the slopes than you did at the beginning of your snowboarding career. Plus, now that you know how to link turns, riding on storm days is something you dream of, not dread. Bell-to-bell days in inclement weather could warrant an upgrade to your kit, though, so we made sure that our outerwear picks will fend off precipitation and keep you comfortable, while also remaining reasonably priced (and looking steezy, of course). Value as it relates to the layer’s use case is paramount in this category, and so we opted for outerwear with a lower price tag (and more insulation) than the products we chose for our Advanced Snowboard Kit—if you’re not riding every storm day, it’s probably not worth it to dish out the extra cash for a three-layer shell, a synthetic midlayer, and a technical fleece. Better to save a bit of money and go with insulated, waterproof gear that’s still a step below premium level.
Intermediate riders are likely working up more of a sweat than beginners, so we chose a jacket with slightly lighter insulation than the Burton Reserve 2L Insulated Jacket in our Beginner Snowboard Kit. For the same reason, we selected pants with targeted insulation on the knees and seat, where you need it most. We picked the 686 Core Insulated Jacket—a two-layer Gore-Tex piece that won’t break the bank—and the 686 Quantum Thermagraph pants, which both feature 2-layer waterproof material and fully-taped seams.
Now that you know how to link turns, riding on storm days is something you dream of, not dread.
The Quantum Thermagraph’s waterproofing, while sufficient, isn't Gore-Tex, though, placing it at the lower end of the price spectrum (premium Gore-Tex-branded jackets and pants can cost well over $700). If your sights are set on Gore-Tex, it’ll run you an additional $30 to $60 for the 686 Gore-Tex Willow Insulated Pants or Core Shell Pants (which aren’t insulated). We think the 686 Quantum Thermagraph Pants are protective enough for most, but dedicated intermediates who frequently ride in wet weather—Pacific Northwest boarders, we see you—may consider taking the additional step up.
The Core is lightly insulated with 60-gram insulation, while the Quantum Thermagraph features insulation on the knees and seat, rather than full insulation. This combo will keep you warm enough while preventing overheating in warm conditions and during back-to-back laps. All good news—so what’s the downside? Unfortunately, the men’s jacket—the Core—includes a chest vent rather than pit zips, which is a much less effective system for dumping heat. But with the jacket being a steal overall, we’re willing to overlook that drawback.
If you’re spending hours on snow perfecting your form, you’ll need to stave off frostbite with a pair of warm and waterproof mittens. We picked Dakine’s Leather Titan Gore-Tex (women’s Sequoia) for its reliable waterproofing at a midrange price point. For $116, you get 280-gram back-of-hand insulation (and 110-gram on the palm), a Gore-Tex insert, and a removable liner glove. The removable liner gives you a variety of options in different conditions—in warm weather, you can ditch the liner or mittens to find a comfortable temperature. Plus, the leather palm on this mitt adds durability and a premium feel at a less-than-premium price point. Is the Titan the fanciest mitten on the market? No. Is it a reliable choice with plenty of features to get the intermediate rider psyched on a great deal? Absolutely.
If you want to save some more cash, you could opt for the full-synthetic Titan mitten, which runs $94 and offers the same waterproofing and insulation as the leather palm version (but is a step down in durability). And for riders who don’t like the fumbly feeling of mittens, you’re in luck. The Titan also comes in a glove version. For a step below, Dakine’s Nova Mitts will save you another $30, at the expense of name-brand waterproofing.
We chose to go full merino wool for our base layer and socks. Merino is seriously cozy, offers excellent thermoregulation, and keeps odor low—and you’ll be hitting the hill now more than ever, naturally. The downsides? Merino is typically less durable than synthetic fabrics, comes with a higher price tag, and some find it slightly scratchy. Still, we think it’s a big upgrade from our synthetic beginner snowboarding base layer pick, the REI Co-op Midweight. For our intermediate kit, we selected one of the highest-performing, lowest-cost merino wool base layers on the market: Ridge Merino’s Aspect Midweight Top. For $80, you get all the benefits of merino, and the Aspect offers surprising durability thanks to its 16% nylon content and excellent build quality. We like this midweight option for its high versatility; still, if you run cold or ride in sub-20-degree conditions on the regular, take a look at the Ridge Merino Inversion Heavyweight.
Happy, comfortable feet are also key to a great day on the slopes. We love Smartwool’s merino Snowboard OTC Socks, which feature cushioning and a fit specific to snowboard boots (thanks to all-over cushioning and a roomy cut). There’s no problem with rocking a pair of ski socks instead, but these snowboard-specific socks are designed to fit best with soft boots. Unfortunately, at $30, they’re probably the most expensive socks you’ll ever buy, but when it comes to merino, you’re unlikely to find socks cheaper than $25. Smartwool also offers an extra-stretch calf version, a women’s-specific cut, and lots of other models with varying levels of cushioning to keep your feet feeling good all day. Durability is always the crux of merino wool, and Smartwool socks aren’t immune to this issue (though we love its Second Cut program, which lets you return socks for recycling at the end of life). Still, we think durability is a worthwhile trade-off for comfortable feet.
There’s nothing cooler than keeping your noggin intact. And since you’re spending more time riding (and venturing into more difficult terrain), it could be worth upgrading your helmet to keep your head safe, with added comfort to boot. We think the Oakley Mod 1 Pro MIPS is a good bet if you’re looking for a helmet with a stacked feature set at a midrange price point. Our baseline for selecting an intermediate helmet was one with MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), which allows the helmet to move slightly during impact, reducing rotational motion of the head and force on the brain. We also considered helmet features and comfort—you can spend up to get more of both, but at the intermediate level, we don’t think it’s necessary to do so (unless it's the difference between wearing and not wearing your helmet).
We like that despite the Mod 1 Pro’s reasonable, $155 price point, it includes a Boa adjustment system and a magnetic buckle, both of which you should be able to operate with the Titan mitten. It’s also comfier, more padded, and less bulky than the Smith Rodeo MIPS, our Beginner Snowboard Kit pick. Unfortunately, unlike higher-end helmets, the venting is mediocre, and it runs slightly narrow (though riders with rounder heads could benefit from the Oakley Mod 1 Pro MIPS Round Fit version). If you’re looking for something with more of those features, consider the Smith Vantage 2 MIPS (featured in our Advanced Snowboard Kit); if comfort is your sticking point, check out the Smith Level MIPS—but expect to pay more.
We like being able to see where we’re going on the slopes. Oakley’s Line Miner L gives you a broad field of view and great lens quality at a price point that won’t make you blink—but its reasonable price tag comes with a handful of notable downsides. We love the Line Miner’s low-profile frame, comfortable triple-layer foam, and wide field of view. Unfortunately, it’s somewhat prone to fogging, the strap is short, and the lenses are a pain to swap. It also comes with only one lens, but at $176, few quality models come with more than that. For those who prioritize excellent visibility in all light conditions, spending more on goggles typically gets you a larger field of view, an additional lens, and a more user-friendly lens-swapping system. If the Line Miner L’s lens-change system makes you want to crawl into a snow cave, consider the Smith Squad Mag ($253), but note that it may not fit as well with Oakley’s Mod 1 Pro helmet.
Is the Intermediate Snowboard Kit for You?
If you’re still learning how to master your turns but are searching for great snowboarding gear to help you progress into more difficult terrain (and without a top-end price tag), the Intermediate Snowboard Kit was designed for you. Expensive isn’t always best, and we searched the market for high-value products you’ll enjoy from first chair to last. As an intermediate rider, you’ll be exploring a variety of new slopes and snow conditions, so the versatility of this kit will be a driving force behind your improving skills as well.
If you’re new to snowboarding (or looking to save some cash on your gear), check out our Beginner Snowboard Kit, in which we break down some of the most approachable and forgiving budget gear on the market.
Riders who are already comfortable shredding any terrain on the hill should take a look at our Advanced Snowboard Kit, which highlights our top picks for experienced, hard-charging boarders.
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