This is just a brief overview of the 2018 Salomon Snowboards line-up.
I have categorized each board below, to make it easier to get a perspective of each board. These classifications aren’t necessarily the same as what Salomon puts them as, but my own classification.
There a couple of new boards in Salomon’s line-up this year and a couple that have dropped out.
New Salomon Boards for 2018
- Salomon Assassin Pro – this replaces the Assassin Classicks that was in the 2017 line-up – but there have been some changes that make this board a different feel. Enough to not be just a name change. The Assassin Pro is more different from the Assassin than the Assassin Classics was – it is stiffer and tuned to more on the all-mountain side of all-mountain freestyle than the Assassin. It’s bordering on aggressive all-mountain freestyle but feels more catch-free.
- Salomon First Call
- Salomon Sleepwalker
- Salomon Huck Knife Classicks
- Salomon Gypsy Classicks
Drop-Outs
- Salomon Assassin Classicks
- Salomon Premiere (Split)
- Salomon Sanchez
- Salomon Derby
O.k. here’s the 2018 line-up by category.
Beginner Boards
All of the beginner boards listed also fit into other categories.
Men’s
- Salomon Sight
- Salomon Pulse
Women’s
- Salomon Oh Yeah
- Salomon Lotus
Jib/Street Boards
Men’s
- Salomon Solomonder
Freestyle/Park Boards
Men’s
- Salomon Villain
- Salomon Villain Classicks
- Salomon Sleepwalker | NEW
Women’s
- Salomon Oh Yeah
All-Mountain-Freestyle Boards
Men’s
- Salomon Assassin – See Full Review
- Salomon Assassin Pro | NEW | Full Review Coming
- Salomon Huck Knife – See Full Review
- Salomon Huck Knife Classicks | NEW
- Salomon Craft
Women’s
- Salomon Gypsy
- Salomon Gypsy Classicks | NEW
- Salomon Rumble Fish
Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle
Men’s
- Salomon Ultimate Ride
All-Mountain Boards
Men’s
- Salomon Sight
- Salomon Pulse
Women’s
- Salomon Lotus
- Salomon Wonder
Aggressive All-Mountain Boards
Men’s
- Salomon Man’s Board | See Full Review
Freeride Boards
Men’s
- Salomon Super 8
- Salomon Sick Stick
Powder
Men’s
- Salomon First Call | NEW
Women’s
- Salomon Pillow Talk
Split Boards
- Salomon Split
Salomon’s Youth & Kid’s Boards
- Salomon The Villian Grom
- Salomon Gypsy Grom
- Salomon Grace
- Salomon Grail
- Salomon Team
Thanks for reading
So, there you have the Salomon snowboards line-up for 2018.
I had the privilege of riding some of Salomon’s 2017-18 line-up towards the end of the 2016-17 season and I will be publishing my reviews of those throughout the rest of the year (if I haven’t already).
The stand-out Salomon board for me was the Assassin Pro.
If you want to check out what I think are the top of all of the categories listed above, check out the link below.
>>Snowboards Top 10’s lists
Curious if you can compare the old (2008 or similar) Sick Stick to the new one? I’m 5’5”, 135lbs and comfortably ride the old Sick Stick in a 160 when the snow is soft. It’s a bit cumbersome at that length in more firm conditions. My daily driver is a 152 Jones Flag Ship, and a more playful, 148 Salomon Rumble Fish. I just ordered a 2018 157 Sick Stick, and a bit nervous that it’s gonna feel huge and too stiff. Any insight on how the new one compares to the old, or how it rides for smaller riders would be awesome.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Lauren
Thanks for your message.
I don’t have any experience with boards from that era, so I can’t really give you a direct comparison. But a couple of things to note spec-wise.
1. The 2018 157 has a wider waist than the 160 from 2008 (255mm vs 252mm). So even though you’ll be dropping some length, overall it’s likely they’ll have a similar surface area.
2. Boards tend to be a little softer flexing than they used to be, typically. Though the difference between 2008 and 2018 won’t be as big as the difference between now and the early 2000s. Boards now, in comparison have more spring and flex, but still achieve the same stability – at least that’s the goal. So, I don’t think that the Sick Stick 2018 would be stiffer than the 2008 model (though I can’t find the flex rating for that model), if anything it may be a little less stiff – but that said, it’s pretty stiff overall, compared to other modern day boards, without being super-stiff. Probably a 7 or 8 out of 10. The First Call is a similar board but softer flexing – or the women’s Pillow Talk.
3. Looks like the 2008 had a setback stance, whereas the 2018 is centered (well, centered along the effective edge anyway – it is longer past the contact points on the nose than it is on the tail)
Since you’re used to the flagship, which is quite stiff – and since you’re used to the 160 2008 Sick Stick, I think the 157 2018 Sick Stick is going to be something that you can ride. It’s going to be a bit wider than the 2008 160 Sick Stick and certainly a good bit wider than you’re Flagship and Rumble Fish, but the 2008 Sick Stick is already a good bit wider than those 2 as well. Ordinarily, I would say go for the 151 Pillow Talk, with your specs, but given your past, given that you’ve felt comfortable on the 160 2008 Sick Stick, I think it will be fine. It’s likely not going to feel any smaller than the your 2008 160, so if that’s what you were going for, I don’t think it will be that, but I also don’t think it will feel any bigger.
That’s my take anyway, hope it helps
Would a size 10.5 or 11 US snowboard boot fit a 156cm salomon sight? Evo says it is not compatible yet the sizing charts say they are.
Hi Andrell
Thanks for your message.
I would say for 10.5s you could just get on there but only if you had binding angles something like +15/-15 (i.e. a reasonable angle on the back binding). Anything straighter on the back foot and I’d say it’d be getting a bit narrow. Evo’s size chart and Salomon’s size chart both say up to 10.5 and I’d say that’s the max and only then with certain binding angles. On a size 11, I would say it’s risking being too narrow even with a 15 degree angle on the back foot. You could try and risk it, but it would be risking too narrow in my opinion. The 155W would be a safer bet for 10.5s/11s.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Thanks for the review.
I’m looking at the Salomon sight or pulse which would you recommend? Is there much difference?
Thanks,
Hi Ayden
Thanks for your message.
There are a lot of similarities between the Pulse and the Sight but also a couple of major differences.
They are both soft flexing, directional twin boards with a 10mm setback.
The biggest difference is that the Sight has a hybrid camber profile that has camber between the feet and rocker to the tip and tail – which starts just around the inserts. The Pulse has a bit of a unique camber profile where it’s flat between the feet, cambered under the feet, and then flat again to tip and tail.
They are also different in terms of shape, in that the Pulse is a little wider overall. E.g. the Sight 156 for example, has a 248mm waist with 290mm tip and tail whereas the Pulse 156 has a 251mm waist and 300mm tip and tail.
Overall, the Pulse is a little more freestyle oriented and the Sight a little more all-mountain oriented.
If you are a beginner, I would recommend the Sight over the Pulse – mainly because of the camber profile.
Hope this helps with your decision
Nate,
Your reviews are great! Thanks for all of your efforts.
I am looking to get a powder specific board for my quiver to complement my all mountain 2014 Rossi angus.
I’ve narrowed it down to a few options, want something surfy for trees that can also do powder bump jumps and decently steep lines. What do you think/ have you ridden any of these? I’m 6’1 180-185 lbs
Salomón first call 157
Rome powder division MT 157
Jones storm chaser/mind expander
Thanks again!
Hi Carlos
Thanks for your message.
Powder specific is one category of boards that I don’t really test, unfortunately. So, I can’t give any first hand experience here.
But I do find, of the very few short/wide powder boards I’ve ridden that I like them in the trees. They’re wider, which typically means slower edge-to-edge/less agile but because they take off considerable length, that balances it out (shorter usually means more agility/quicker edge-to-edge). Shorter is also nice in tight trees in terms of fitting in some tight spots. And the extra width also allows them to still float in powder well – the surface area is in made up in width, where it’s lost in the length. But that’s just theory/my limited experience with this type of board – I haven’t specifically ridden anything that you’ve got on your list there.
In terms of length for you – I would say a general all-mountain length for you would be around 162 – adding a little bit of length for a powder specific board. But going short/wide of course means you should be dropping length. It depends on the particular short/wide and how wide it is, but I think looking at around that 157 mark for both the First Call and Powder Division sounds about right to me.
The Storm Chaser has a seriously wide waist – 275mm and just really wide in general. The 157 is probably still the goer (because the next size down is 147 and that’s probably getting a bit short I think? But again, not an expert on these types of boards. For the Mind Expander I would say 158.
There are some others along similar lines, like the YES Optimistic, the K2 Simple Pleasures and the Never Summer Instagator (this is by no means an exhaustive list but just the other ones that come to mind).
Hi Nate,
thanks for your overview! I’m thinking to buy the Asassin Classicks from last season, cause I found a good deal. It’s just really hard to find any information about it. Do you know how it differs from the Assassin? From what I can tell, it’s a bit more flat between the bindings, but then I read something like it is made for higher speeds. Do you know which flex it has?
Hopefully you know something. Thanks in advance! 🙂
Paul
Hi Paul
Thanks for your message.
I didn’t get the chance to ride the Assassin Classicks but from what I know it was more similar to the regular Assassin, than the Assassin Pro is. From what I can tell, it’s in between the 2018 Salomon Assassin and 2018 Salomon Assassin Pro.
The Assassin Pro is stiffer than the Assassin – I’d say 6/10 – maybe even stiffer than that, maybe more like 6.5/10. The Assassin, on the other hand, is more like 4.5/10. The Assassin Pro is definitely supposed to be stiffer than the 2017 Assassin Classicks, but I think the Classicks is a little stiffer than the Assasssin – so I’d say it’s 5-5.5/10 in terms of flex. Again, I can’t confirm that but that’s the impression I get.
As far as I know it’s got the same camber profile, so shouldn’t be flatter between the bindings, but I can’t confirm that. With a slightly stiffer core, it’s likely to better in terms of stability at speed.
I’d say overall that the Assassin Pro, though still an all-mountain-freestyle board, is more all-mountain, freeride focused than both the Assassin and the Assassin Classicks, and that the Assassin Classicks is somewhere in between the Assassin and the Assassin pro. That’s my understanding anyway.
Hope this helps
So for a lady friend (I know obviously you didn’t test the women’s boards, I think 🙂 ), based on specs, would the Salomon Pillow Talk be a good carving board for a gal? It is marketed as a board that can carve a groomed run well, but is more powder oriented (like the Sick Stick/First Call). Or something like the Rumble fish? The Rumble Fish is centered stance/true twin, and Pillow Talk set back and tapered. The lady in question doesn’t ride switch too much at all, and wants a better carving board. Both of these have camber dominant profiles, she is currently on an older Burton Lipstick, which is flat and more soft of a design. Her biggest complaint is it doesn’t hold a good edge on carves. Like to stay with Salomon. Thanks!
Hi Eric
Thanks for your message.
No I don’t test women’s boards – but often there is a men’s equivalent to a lot of women’s boards. In this case, the Pillow Talk is virtually the same board as the men’s Salomon First Call.
I wouldn’t say it was the king (or queen) of carvers, but will definitely offer more in terms of carving and stability at speed than the Lipstick and will be better in the powder than the Lipstick. Won’t be as good for riding switch of course, but if she doesn’t tend to ride switch much, then that shouldn’t be an issue.
So yeah, definitely a step up in terms of carving, edge-hold, speed and powder.
It will take a little bit to get used to compared to the Lipstick, of course being a very different type of board, but it sounds like it will suit her better. It actually has a centered stance on the sidecut – but you are still setback on the board because the nose is longer than the tail – it’s also tapered as you say, with the nose being wider than the tail. It will be stiffer flexing too – but that will help with speed and carving, but something else to get used to – but it’s still medium flex, so it shouldn’t feel too stiff.
The other thing to note is that the Pillow Talk is a volume shifted shape – so it’s designed to be ridden at a shorter length but is wider than normal.
The other option, if you wanted a more traditional shape would be the Wonder. It’s still directional (nose a bit longer than tail) and has a 10mm setback. It’s likely to carve as well as (or maybe slightly better) the Pillow Talk and be as good at speed. Not quite as good in powder, but a little better for riding switch (though that sounds like that’s not that important). Likely to feel like a more aggressive ride too.
Hope this helps and if you want any sizing recommendations, let me know your friend’s height, weight, ability level and boot size and I can give my opinion.
Hey thanks again Nate. So she is 125lbs without gear, ‘5”3, boot size 6 or 6.5, strong intermediate (has been riding for 10 years, the past few years goes 20 or so days a year). Would the 145 pillow talk or maybe the 148 Rumble Fish be good sizes? She’s on a 144 Lipstick. Thank you again in advance!
Hi Eric
I think something around 144 to 145 would be a good size for your friend. However, with the Pillow Talk it’s a volume shifted design – so it’s quite wide for it’s length. With this type of wider board, it’s a good idea to go shorter in length, IMO. Unfortunately the Pillow Talk’s smallest size is 145. This would be fine for riding in powder but when it came to carving and quick edge-to-edge transitions, this might feel quite slow and not very agile. In terms of width, with size 6 boots, I think anything from around 232 to 239mm for the waist width is a good width. Any wider and you’ll want to go shorter (IMO).
For the Rumble Fish, I would say that the 144cm (239mm waist) is the best size for your friends specs, both in terms of length and width. The 148 is getting a bit long IMO and also too wide. Even though it’s the same size as her Lipstick, and for carving, speed etc it’s tempting to go longer, but the Rumble Fish should be a better carver than the Lipstick (based on the Rumble Fish’s closest equivalent – Salomon Assassin Pro [but softer fexing]) – better at speed etc. The Rumble Fish won’t be as good in powder as the Wonder or the Pillow Talk – but will be close in terms of carving and speed. I think this board will work as long as she doesn’t spend most of her time in powder – if she’s only occasionally in powder, then the Rumble Fish will be fine – just will take a bit more effort getting that weight onto the back foot than the others in terms of keeping the nose above deep powder.
Hope this helps
So if you could have a 3 board quiver from Salomon, but don’t need a park specific jib noodle, but rather a softer flexing less camber option for getting better at spins and butters, basically messing around when the snow isn’t great for powder or tearing groomers, what would it be? I have a Super 8 now…looking at that softer more playful forgiving slot, and maybe a sick stick for pow, but the sick stick looks like a lot of over lap with the Super 8. Maybe I size down to a 151 Sick stick for a tree killer, and ride the Super 8 on deep days and groomer slicing days. Don’t know…and maybe I am just day dreaming about having too many boards when the weather is warm and dry!!!
Hi Eric
I think going with something like the Sick Stick or First Call in a smaller size to use in the trees is a good idea to compliment your existing Super 8. But if you could let me know your height, weight, boot size and the size of your super 8 – that would be great – just to make sure that the 151 would be suitable.
In terms of something on the softer more playful side. There’s the Assassin, which will be better for more freestyle stuff – riding switch, spins, butters, finding side hits etc. But it’s still not that soft – it’s still around a medium flex. There’s the Huck Knife which is maybe mildly softer – but it’s got a reasonably aggressive camber profile so prob not suitable. I haven’t ridden the Craft – but it looks like it’s medium flex (according to Salomon anyway). The Pulse is softer but it’s less freestyle oriented – got a bit of a setback and a directional twin shape.
That leaves the Sleepwalker and the Solomonder – both park boards really – but it looks like the Sleepwalker could be what you’re looking for in terms of playfulness and being softer. The Solomonder is what I would say is probably even softer and it’s more designed for jibs – more of a noodle, that you’re trying to avoid. The Sleepwalker still has their Rock Out Camber profile which will help it to be a little more responsive than than something like the Salomonder.
Hope this helps.
I got the 157 Super 8. I went a little bigger for stability at speed. I am 165lbs without gear, ‘5 “8.5, size 9.5 boot. It feels amazing on edge on a groomer, haven’t been able to hit pow as this season is lousy. Maybe the standard Assassin would be good so I can still carve well, bit better than some other options. Thanks for all the help!
Hi Eric
Yeah you would still get that carving ability out of the Assassin, if you went with that as your more all-mountain-freestyle option. Glad you’re loving the Super 8. Hopefully you get some pow soon!
Hey Nate I am buying Salomon but having trouble deciding which to buy. I want a board good in pow that I can ride switch. I also love to ride fast and do jumps. What you thinking? I like the first call, Assassin pro, sick stick, but I’m scared the first call and sick stick won’t ride well in pow.
Hi Tyler
Thanks for your message.
The Sick Stick and First Call are probably Salomon’s best boards in powder – so I wouldn’t worry about how they ride in powder – I would be more concerned about the Assassin Pro in powder. And that’s the only thing that wouldn’t be ideal with the Assassin Pro – it would handle everything else you could throw at it.
In terms of powder the Super 8 would also be a good option, as well as the Sick Stick and First Call.
The Assassin Pro would be the best option for riding switch, and for jumps by a good margin, IMO.
For Speed, they’re all pretty even when it comes to speed.
When it comes to riding switch in powder, the Assassin – being a true twin, centered board is probably as good or better in powder in the opposite direction – just because for the other boards, the tail is designed more to sink and the nose to float – whereas the Assassin is the both in same directions. So, even though it won’t be as good riding in your normal direction in powder than the others, you will get a consistent feeling in both directions – if you like to ride switch when you get in powder.
Hope this gives you more info to go off.
Nate, can’t decide on the Salomon Super 8 or the First Call. Both are the same price. I love riding pow when there is some….love riding through the trees off groomed trails but also ride groomed trails often. I do not ride switch nor do I do the park but like jumping in and out of trees. I know these boards are but great for powder but which one is going to suit me best for my other needs? Please help and thanks for reading.
Hi Nick
I haven’t ridden the First Call but based on specs and what others are saying, I think the First Call would be fine for you for the powder and the trees – but I think the Super 8 is going to be better on the groomed runs – and will still be as good for powder and still good in the trees, though maybe not quite as good as the First Call for trees.
The First Call is something that you can size down on length wise (shorter and wider) – which I find great for the trees. It’s also a more playful, surfy kind of ride than the Super 8.
The Super 8 will be better for carving up the groomers and is a slightly stiffer ride.
You could still ride the First Call on groomers, it’s just not going to be one for laying down any hard carves – it’s more playful/surfy.
I think both would be fine for handling jumps in and out of trees. And neither would be great for switch but since that’s not something you do, then no issues there.
Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision.
Thanks Nate!! I think I’m going to buy the Super 8. I appreciate the reply man!!!
You’re very welcome Nick. Hope you enjoy the new board and have an awesome winter!