Helmet:

Every snowboarder should have a brain bucket whether you're just starting out, or huckin in the backcountry. Mine's already saved me twice in particularly nasty falls. As with all other equipment some are better than others. I use a Leedom helmet which covers the whole head, has adjustable ventilation and ear covers (okay, so it makes everyone sound like they have a speech problem, but it keep your ears warm). They make no difference whatsoever to balance or agility while snowboarding, they take very little getting used to.

Wrist guards:

Call me precautious, but I'd rather wear wrist guards and look like an unco (until I show off my style) than wind up in the lodge all day cause I busted my wrist. If you're just starting out, the fabric wrist guards your mum used to make you wear while roller-skating are fine. However, if you have a few spectacular falls, the plastic inserts (which are the parts that actually protect your wrists) will fall out and likely never be seen again. I have a pair of No Gomer guards, which are basically two pieces of molded stiff plastic held together and fastened to the wrists by Velcro straps. They're a little uncomfortable at first, but you get used to them. And the best thing, I can't lose the parts!

Tools:

If youre going off piste or just wanting to cruise the whole day without too many interruptions, its a good idea to carry your own tools. Full tool kits are available for boarders who want to venture into the backcountry, but pocket ratchets (which have 3 different size heads and a spanner) are produced by different brands but they are essentially the same. I recently bought myself the Burton "road show kit" which comes with a small grinding stone, rub on wax, laces, avalanche card, stacks of red gaff, whistle, knife, ratchet kit and random binding pieces. This is a great thing for me because my tendancy to do short radius turns on double blacks fucks up my bindings something chronic. I've already broken a clip and had my base plate come loose at a rather unfortunate moment.

Board lock:

Whether they're hired or your own, snowboards are an attractive target for thieves as they are easier to adjust and run away with than skis. Locks have a retractable cable and a 3 digit code. Just loop through the bindings, wrap around the ski rack (or nearest veranda/signpost), lock and hey presto. Just be careful, because if you fall on them while snowboarding the code can reset itself (trust me, its happened about 4 or 5 times to me).

Leash:

Either a toe leash or leg leash. Toe leashes are easy to conceal as they are short and clip to your boot (front foot). Leg leashes are like traditional surfing leashes. They come in all sorts of colours and designs and double as a strap to carry/drag the board by. I have a leg leash with flying pigs on it. These are mandatory on Australian slopes, and you can be fined if your board does not have a leash. Rather sensible considering the speeds at which a feral board can move down the hill, and the damage it can do if it actually hits someone. For everyone elses sake, keep your board strapped to your leg.

Board bag:

An easy way to protect your board from scratches and other peoples luggage. Bags range in price and style. Cheaper bags are just large enough to cover the board itself and are not completely padded. Large bags tend to have wheels and lots of extra space for clothes and other equipment to minimize the amount of luggage you have to haul around. And if you get bored, a wheelie bag can provide hours of entertainment by racing them or trying to ride them down escalators.