How to wash snowboard jackets and pants

Before you wash a snowboard jacket or pants, find the care label on an inside seam or pocket. It tells you whether the item can go in a machine, the maximum temperature, the cycle, and whether it can be tumble dried or ironed. Brands test their own fabrics and insulation, so their instructions beat general advice, including ours.

If the label names a membrane such as GORE-TEX, check that maker’s guidance too. GORE-TEX’s outerwear care page (checked 23 September 2026) covers washing, drying and restoring water repellency, and flags that SHAKEDRY garments are handled differently.

How often to wash snowboard pants and jackets

No brand we checked sets a schedule. Burton’s GORE-TEX guide ties washing to gear getting dirty or starting to absorb moisture. Dirt, sweat and sunscreen reduce breathability and water repellency, so a gentle wash when the fabric looks grimy or stops beading water helps it work. Spot-clean small marks with a damp cloth in between.

1. Empty every pocket. Lift passes, lip balm and tissues all cause trouble. Remove any detachable fur trim, pass holders or electronics.
2. Close all fastenings. Burton says to close every zipper, including the main one, and fasten all pocket flaps. Do up hook-and-loop tabs and snaps and loosen drawcords.
3. Brush off loose dirt and treat small marks with a damp cloth first.
4. Clean the machine’s drawer. Leftover softener or ordinary detergent can coat technical fabric.
5. Don’t overload. Outerwear needs room to rinse properly.

To wash a snowboard bib, treat it like pants and also fasten the shoulder-strap buckles so they don’t bang around the drum.

GORE-TEX says to tumble dry on a warm, gentle cycle or line dry, and not to dry at a high temperature. Once dry, it recommends tumbling for another 20 minutes to reactivate the DWR, or ironing on low with no steam and a cloth between the iron and the garment. Burton’s guide gives the same approach: line dry, then around 20 minutes on low heat in the dryer, or a gentle, non-steam iron if you have no dryer.

Some insulated and down items need different handling, so check before using a dryer. Keep outerwear away from radiators, fires and heaters.

When the outer fabric darkens and soaks up water instead of beading (called “wetting out”), the DWR needs restoring. Snowboard pants usually go first at the seat and knees, where you sit and kneel in snow.

1. Wash first. Dirt can make a working DWR look worn out.
2. Try heat. Dry and reactivate as above, then sprinkle water on the fabric. If it beads, you’re done.
3. Reapply if needed. GORE-TEX says to use a DWR product of your choice, as a pump spray or wash-in, when water no longer beads. A spray lets you target the seat, knees and shoulders; a wash-in treats the whole garment.
4. Activate it as the product and label say. GORE-TEX recommends the same 20-minute tumble or gentle iron after application.

GORE-TEX says not to apply DWR to SHAKEDRY garments. Reproofing restores the outer finish only; it won’t fix a torn membrane or lifting seam tape. If a garment still leaks in one spot, look for damage and contact the brand about repair.

Gloves and mittens

Gloves are the trickiest item because they often combine leather, membranes and insulation. Check the label or the maker’s site first. Some can be hand washed; leather usually needs its own cleaner and conditioner. Removable liners can often be washed separately.

To dry snowboard gloves, open the cuffs, pull out removable liners and let them air-dry at room temperature, ideally cuff-down or on a glove dryer if the maker allows. Direct heat from radiators or fires can shrink or crack materials and damage membranes. Dry them fully after every day to stop smells.

Socks, base layers and neck gaiters

Follow each label. Merino usually needs a wool or gentle cycle, and synthetic layers are often easier. Skip softener on technical base layers. For Burton snowboard socks, check the label on the pair.

Boots, helmets and goggles

These need their own routines: see drying and deodorizing snowboard boots and safe goggle cleaning. For choosing what to wear in the first place, from base layers to bibs, our layering guide for snowboarders covers the full outfit, and off-season board storage covers the rest of your kit.