5 Kit Essentials by 5-hour Energy

This article was published in partnership with 5-hour Energy.

Perfect powder days are precious, and snowboarders want to maximize their time on the mountain from first tracks until the final run. But there’s no worse feeling than having to call it quits before the lift shuts down because you ran out of energy or left something important back at the lodge. Luckily, 5-hour ENERGY® shots are packed with the vitamins, nutrients, and caffeine to keep you on your feet, and are small enough to pack easily into your kit–along with these 5 essentials that will keep you on the slopes until the day is done.

1. Gear
Snowboarders know that sometimes the only way to stop your momentum is to fall—which can be tough on your facewear and accessories. That makes backup sunglasses a must, just in case your first pair falls off and cracks. If you rock goggles, make sure to stock your kit with plenty of goggle wipes, because clear lenses in the morning may turn into fogged-up frames after lunch. If you’re hitting the halfpipe or the snow park, it’s worth packing a full change of thinner layers so you don’t overheat in the afternoon sun.

2. Tools
You may have to adjust your board and bindings throughout your day on the mountain, but shredding with a screwdriver in your pocket is just asking for an injury. A versatile minitool won’t just help you out—it’ll make you the most popular person on the mountain, especially if it has a built-in bottle opener. Once you’ve tightened up your bindings, use a mini edge tuner to take care of those nicks and burrs on your board. Just grab a bench, pass the edge tuner up-and-down your board a few times, and get smooth, sharp edges that will let you carve up the mountain all day long.

3. Gadgets
It doesn’t matter how sick your playlist is: no one likes the rider with the speakers on the slopes. Stick to headphones—preferably ones without noise-cancelling so you can stay alert—and bring an inexpensive backup pair just in case you lose an earbud in a snowdrift. Same goes for batteries and external chargers. If you plan on recording your runs on your helmet cam or phone, make sure you have some way to charge them so you don’t miss out on capturing
something epic.

4. Fuel
Snowboarding is exhausting, and proper fueling will help you last until they shut off the lifts. A good collapsable water bottle fits easily into your kit or backpack so you can rehydrate throughout the day, and a 5-hour ENERGY® shot will give you the boost you need when you start to flag. Don’t forget to bring extra shots for everyone else—they’re the perfect pre-game for your evening activities.

5. Après
Sweating up a storm and rolling around in the snow can really put a damper on your post-slopes socializing, so bring an entire extra layer of clothes with you so you can strip down and style yourself for the après. If you wear a beanie under your helmet, bring a backup so you can tame your mane, as well as a strong lock for your board so you can leave your equipment outside without worrying. And if you want to swap your bulky boots for something more fashionable, stuff a pair of lightweight, compressable sneakers into your bag so you can outfit your feet for the evening.