Is It Worth It to Buy a Snowboard?

(Or should you just keep renting the weird-smelling ones?)

So you’ve caught the snowboarding bug. Maybe you survived your first lesson without becoming an actual human snowball. Maybe you nailed your first turn and felt like Shaun White for approximately 0.8 seconds. Now you’re asking the big question: Is it worth it to buy my own snowboard?

Let’s get real. The answer is: probably… yes. But also maybe… no. Welcome to snowboarding — nothing is ever straightforward.

1. Rentals Are the Mystery Meat of Snowboarding
   When you rent, you never quite know what you’re getting. Is it a trusty, well-maintained deck… or a plank that’s been thrashed by 200 stag-do lads who think “waxing” is just for surfboards? Your own board is yours: you know where it’s been, you know it’s tuned right, and it doesn’t smell like old gloves.

2. It Actually Saves You Money (Eventually)
   Let’s do some napkin maths:

• Rental snowboard + boots + bindings: ~£30–£40 per day

• Your own gear: a decent beginner-to-intermediate setup is £300–£500
  If you ride more than a week or two per season, you’ll break even fast — and that’s before factoring in the priceless smugness of walking past the rental shop queue.

3. It Feels Better. A Lot Better.
   Your board will be the right length, flex, and shape for you. It’ll ride like it’s an extension of your feet, not like you’re borrowing your uncle’s slippers.

4. In the UK, You Can Actually Use It More Than You Think
   We might not have the Alps in our backyard, but we do have some surprisingly decent indoor slopes dotted around the country - Milton Keynes, Castleford, Glasgow, Manchester… even Hemel Hempstead if you’re feeling fancy. If you live within striking distance of one, suddenly your “once-a-year” snowboard could be earning its keep all year round.

The Case Against Buying

1. You Only Ride Once a Year
   If your snowboarding career is basically a long weekend in the Alps once every February, buying might not make sense. Storing a snowboard in the UK is easy - until you remember your loft is also where old Christmas decorations and that broken exercise bike live.

2. You’re Still Figuring Out Your Style
   Beginners tend to change their riding style fast. That board you bought for “learning” might feel like a wet noodle once you start charging harder - meaning you’ll be back shopping again sooner than you think.

3. Traveling With It Can Be a Pain
   Airline baggage fees + the fear of watching a baggage handler drop your baby onto the tarmac = stress. Sometimes rentals abroad just make life easier.

But Let’s Talk About Boots

Here’s the thing: in terms of comfort, fit, and hygiene, boots are actually the smarter first buy. They’re the single most important part of your setup - they’re what connects you to your board, and they’re the main culprit for foot pain if they don’t fit right. Plus, rental boots are basically pre-worn foot prisons that have hosted hundreds of strangers’ sweaty toes.

And lets not even get into hygiene.. i promise you, go on a boarding trip, use rental boots for a day then leave them sat drying out next to your bed.. i promise you.. you'll be shopping for your own pair that very night!! Yuck!

👉 Find your perfect pair in our boot collection — trust us, your feet will thank you.

But… most people still buy the board first. Why? Because boards are big, flashy, and feel like a proper “snowboarder” purchase. You can hang it on your wall, you can show it off to your mates, and let’s be honest - no one’s ever said “check out my sick boots” and meant it.

If you’re ready for that step:
👉 Check out our snowboard range - go on, you’ve earned it.

The Middle Ground

If you’re unsure, buy boots first and keep renting boards until you’re confident in your riding style. Or, if you’re feeling bold, get the full setup and use those UK indoor slopes to squeeze every ounce of value out of it before your big trips.

Verdict

If you’re riding more than one trip a year - especially with indoor slopes nearby - buying is worth it. You’ll save money in the long run, you’ll ride better, and you’ll have the emotional satisfaction of knowing your board isn’t a community plank that’s seen more stacks than a Jenga set. If you’re still a once-a-year holiday shredder, maybe wait - but know this: once you do get your own board, you’ll never look back.