Siroko (Spain) - 5 Tips to Invest in your Favorite Sport on Black Friday

Black Friday can either be a great opportunity to upgrade your equipment, or a marketing trap that results in buying things you don’t actually need. Prices drop and deals get snatched quite fast, so it’s easy to get carried away and get something just for the sake of it. But if you want to make the best out of your favorite sports and fully enjoy the experience, you need to change your approach.

The key is to go for truly valuable, useful items, instead of opting for the cheapest offers. 

In sports such as snowboarding, skiing, cycling, or trekking, technical equipment makes all the difference between a great experience and a bad one. This Black Friday, invest in you and your favorite sport or activity—think about what you really need. Now, let’s see what we can do to properly invest in good equipment amidst so many offers.

1. Start by going through the equipment you used last season

Before searching for any available offers, make sure to look over any garments or accessories you wished you had on previous seasons.

• Were you too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer?
• Did you get your clothes too easily wet in the rain or mud?
• Were there any days you had to stay home because you didn’t have the right equipment to go out?
• Which items fell too short in technical features or which ones did you never even wear once?

Examples:

• If you were cold while skiing last winter, look for a jacket with better insulation or a base layer with a heavier weight.
• If you want to keep cycling in the middle of winter and you live in quite a cold area, your priorities should be getting a thermal jacket, a pair of bib tights and accessories for your hands, feet and head.
• If you go trekking and feel like you always break out in a cold sweat, you might need to either get a new first layer with quick-drying properties or a more breathable mid-layer.
• If you like running but find it hard to go out in the winter because of cold, rainy weather, consider upgrading to a good pair of thermal leggings and a waterproof jacket.

2. Have layering in mind instead of thinking of individual garments

When it comes to outdoor and winter sports, it’s not about individual garments on their own. What truly makes the difference is the proper combination of all of them in an outfit.

1. The first layer deals with excess moisture.
2. The second layer provides warmth.
3. The third layer protects against harsh weather conditions.

If one of these layers fails, the whole layering system fails. So, before you buy anything, make sure to identify which of your garments is the weak link and start there.

Also, keep in mind that each sport has its own distinctive features. When it comes to running, prioritize breathability over warmth. It’s better to feel a little cold during the first 5-10 minutes than to start sweating after just 20 minutes. Wearing too many warm, less breathable layers for a long time causes moisture build-up, which will end up making you feel even colder. Still, if you’re planning on running just for 20 minutes or so, make sure you do wear these warm layers.

3. Black Friday: a great opportunity to get what you need

Make a list divided in three sections:

1. Need: that must-have garment you absolutely need to practice your favorite sport. Without it, you either end up cold/soaked or can’t even go out at all. If you don’t have it right now, then you most definitely need it. If you do have this essential item right now, keep in mind that sooner or later you’ll need to get a new one when it wears out. Examples: Winter jacket, thermal base layer, gloves, helmet, goggles/sunglasses…
2. Improvement: you already have that garment in your wardrobe, but it no longer serves its purpose or falls short of your needs. Examples: Enhanced waterproof properties, heavier weight, better fit…
3. Splurge: you really like this garment, but it doesn’t really make a difference in your performance or your needs, and you can live without it for the time being.

Black Friday becomes less of a consumerism cycle when you invest in items that allow you to practice your favorite activities more, and provide greater comfort.

4. Take note of these key technical features

For winter sports (snowboard/skiing):

• Waterproof up to 10K minimum (ideally between 15K and 20K).
• Breathability up to 10K.
• Insulation and protection levels according to region and activity. Insulation between 60 and 100 GSM is usually just enough for mild/cold temperatures and for winter sports like snowboarding or skiing. An insulated hardshell jacket increases protection against rain or snow.
• Key details: Sealed seams, snow skirt, ventilation, helmet compatible hood…

For winter cycling:

• Windbreaker properties.
• Breathable fabrics or panels, especially if you move fast and your body generates too much heat.
• Waterproof membranes or water-repellent fabrics if you go out in humid weather conditions on asphalt or trails.
• Thermal, brushed inner fabric to retain body heat.
• Key details: Zippers with large pullers, gloves with adjustable cuffs, thermal and/or waterproof boots…

For hiking, trekking and other outdoor sports:

• Softshell if the priority is lightness, breathability and ease of movement. Ideal for light hiking or trail-hiking at a good pace.
• Hardshell (2.5/3 layers) if the weather is your number one enemy (rain, wind, fog…)
• Waterproof: over 10K. The harsher the weather, the more waterproof your gear needs to be. 
• Breathability: over 5K. Your first layer has to be breathable enough to retain body heat but wick away moisture.
• Key details: Sealed seams, accessible pockets, adjustable hood, ventilation, good fit…

For running:

• Clothes that keep you dry, warm enough and well protected from the weather without compromising ease of movement.
• Fast pace: put breathability first by wearing thermal tops that wick away sweat quickly. 
• Slow pace: put maintaining body heat and protection first.
• On humid winter weather: look for DWR garments over 10K waterproof. 
• On dry, windy winter weather: A lightweight windbreaker jacket.
• On harsh, extremely cold winter weather: A thermal base layer top and a thin fleece jacket.
• Accessories and key details: Gloves, a headband or a beanie, reflective detailing, pockets, ventilation zippers…

The better you determine which garments and accessories you’re going to need, the more benefits you’ll get from investing in your favorite sport on discount seasons.

5. Remember that value lies in good usage, not in good discounts

A good technical garment must be used and loved to make the investment worthwhile. So, ask yourself:

• Will I be wearing it frequently this season?
• Will it let me practice sports outdoors on days when I usually can’t?
• Will it prevent an uncomfortable, painful experience? (frozen hands, moisture build-up…)

If the answer is yes, then you’ll most definitely benefit from these offers.

Conclusion

Shop smart this Black Friday. Less impulse and more purpose. Choose clothes that allow you to enjoy your sport to the max, make the best out of each season, and go out even on harsh weather days. If one purchase equals more days in the snow, more kilometers on the road, and more comfort, then it’s not an expense―it’s an investment in yourself.

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