Hello and welcome to my Burton Custom X review.
In this review I will take a look at the Custom X as an aggressive-all-mountain snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Custom X a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other aggressive-all-mountain snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Burton Custom X
Price: $749 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Aggressive All Mountain
Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (8/10)
On Snow Flex Feel: Stiff (9/10)
Rating Score: 87.1/100
Compared to other Men’s Aggressive All Mountain Boards
Out of the 14 men’s aggressive-all-mountain snowboards that I rated:
- The average score was 82.5/100
- The highest score was 92.7/100
- The lowest score was 75.3/100
- The average price was $577
- The Custom X ranked 2nd out of 14
Overview of the Custom X’s Specs
Check out the tables below for the Custom X’s specs and available sizes in the charts below.
Specs (2018)
| Style | Aggressive All-Mountain | Flex | Medium-Stiff (8 out of 10) |
| Ability Level | Advanced to Expert | Feel | Locked In |
| Weight | Lighter than Normal | Turn Initiation | Medium-Fast |
| Camber Profile | Traditional Camber | Shape | Directional |
| Stance Setback | Setback 12.5mm (1/2") | Edge-hold | Hard snow |
| Price | $749 (USD) | Base | Sintered |
The flex on the Custom X is the same as on the Custom X Flying V – however, the Custom X Flying V feels softer than an 8/10 on snow (more like 7/10), whereas the Custom X felt stiffer than that (to me anyway) so more like a 9/10. This was a very stiff/aggressive board.
Specs (2017)
| Style | Aggressive All-Mountain | Flex | Medium-Stiff (8 out of 10) |
| Ability Level | Advanced to Expert | Feel | Locked In |
| Weight | Lighter than Normal | Turn Initiation | Medium-Fast |
| Camber Profile | Traditional Camber | Shape | Directional |
| Stance Setback | Setback 25mm (1") | Edge-hold | Hard snow |
| Price | $749 (USD) | Base | Sintered |
Sizing (2018)
| Size (Length) | 150 | 154 | 156 | 158 | 158W | 162 | 162W | 166W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waist Width (mm) | 248 | 250 | 252 | 254 | 262 | 256 | 264 | 266 |
| Weight Range (lbs) | 120-180 | 120-180 | 150-200 | 150-200 | 150-200 | 180-260+ | 180-260+ | 180-260+ |
| Weight Range (kgs) | 54-82 | 54-82 | 68-91 | 68-91 | 68-91 | 82-118+ | 82-118+ | 82-118+ |
Note that the sizings have changed for the 2018 model. The 152 size is gone and there is now a 150 and 154 instead. Also, the 160 is gone and replaced by a 162. The 159W has been replaced by a 158W. THe widths have also changed across all sizes. What used to be quite a narrow board is now a more regular width.
2017 Sizing
| Size (Length) | 152 | 156 | 158 | 159W | 160 | 162W | 164 | 164W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waist Width (mm) | 244 | 248 | 249 | 259 | 250 | 260 | 252 | 261 |
| Weight Range (lbs) | 125 - 165 | 135 - 175 | 145 - 185 | 145 - 185 | 155 - 195 | 165 - 205 | 170 - 210+ | 170 - 210+ |
| Weight Range (kgs) | 57-75 | 61-79 | 66-84 | 66-84 | 70-88 | 75-93 | 77-95+ | 77-95+ |
Who is the Custom X Most Suited to?
The Custom X is a great board for anyone who likes their riding aggressive. Anyone who wants to ride the whole-mountain but wants to really carve it up and get their elbows low and generate some speed and have access to some serious pop.
Not for the exclusively backcountry rider because the float in powder isn’t that great. Also not for the beginner at all – way too aggressive for that. Also not for an intermediate rider – This is really an advanced and up board. And also not a jibber.
This board is really for those advanced to expert riders who want to carve all day at speed and hit some pretty aggressive lines.
The Custom X in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Custom X is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Burton Custom X 2017, 158cm (249mm waist width)
Date: January 22, 2017
Conditions: Reasonably hard conditions first thing, with some icy patches. Puked snow midday and quickly became nice and soft with a good layer of fresh. Visibility stayed decent even whilst it was snowing.
Bindings angles: +18/+3
Powder
The Custom X is a traditional camber snowboard – so this will naturally stop it from being the best floater in powder. However, it does have a reasonable setback, which helps to redeem it in the powder somewhat.
Note that the 2018 model has a smaller reference setback of 12.5mm (was 25mm on the 2017 model)
I got a bit of shallow powder to test over and it doesn’t float like a dream and not like a freeride or powder board of course – but it’s slightly above average.
Carving and Turning
This is where this board really shines. You could really lean into a carve on this board and it never for a second felt washy, even when really pushing it.
Edge hold felt really good too. Held an edge nicely in hard conditions. It has Burton’s frostbite edges which helps with that edge-hold – and that stiffness and camber profile also help.
Really fast going from edge to edge if you’ve got the muscle to pull it around – it’s pretty light but also pretty stiff so takes a bit of oomph to ride it. The response is awesome and you get some real spring out of turns.
Speed
No doubt this board is quick. There’s no issues with coasting on flats and keeping momentum on up-hills. It has a sintered base – which helps this board with it’s speed (in addition to the sidecut, shape, camber profile and stiffness). Just make sure to keep it waxed.
And, more importantly, it felt really stable when riding at speed. Carving and speed is what this board is all about really.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Learn more about the tech in the Custom X in the video below.
Uneven Terrain
This board is too stiff to be really good in the bumpy stuff. But if you take aggressive lines on this thing you’ll fly right over it!
But navigating Saturday afternoon groomers where it’s all chopped up and bumpy isn’t really where this board excels. The Flying V version of this board is much better for those conditions. This board wants nice smooth snow (soft or hard doesn’t matter) where you can really open it out.
Jumps
It’s pretty good on jumps. Not really a park jumper in my opinion – though you could definitely take it there – but has plenty of pop for ollies over rollers and lips and generally getting some air off natural terrain.
Switch
Not what it’s really designed for and doesn’t feel that natural riding switch on it. It does have that semi-twin shape between the contact points (see video above) but it still feels odd riding switch. Maybe because it has a 25mm setback.
Also because of it’s stiff, aggressive nature that makes it harder to ride switch on – unless you’re at an advanced level in riding in your unnatural direction it’s not going to be the easiest riding switch.
You can do it but that’s not its forte.
Jibbing
You can if you’re a really competent jibber. But not the easiest to jib with – and to be honest not fun to jib on. Not a board that I would ever use for jibbing.
Pipe
I didn’t take it in the pipe but from what I’ve heard, and based on the boards specs, I think it would do o.k. in there. Not amazing but you could definitely still have fun in the pipe on this thing, if you’re an experienced pipe rider.
Changes from 2017 to 2018
The 2018 model has a number of changes compared with the 2017 model.
- The sizings are different (see sizing section above) in both lengths offered and in terms of width
- The reference setback stance is now 12.5mm – was 25mm for the 2017 model
- The sidecut and effective edge have both changed as well
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Carving: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Speed: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Jumps: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Powder: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Uneven Terrain: | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Pipe: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Switch: | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 87.1/100 |
This is one of the better choices out there for aggressive all mountain snowboards. So if you like your riding fast and elbow deep and you want some great edge hold in hard conditions, then you should definitely have this on your wishlist. If it’s in your budget of course. It’s not the cheapest deck in the world.
Also, you’ll want to have some decent strength behind you and you want to be an advanced rider – if you are an advanced rider and relatively strong, then this board can take you beyond where a lot of boards can – but if you don’t fall in this category, then it could be difficult to ride.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re keen to learn more about the Custom X, are ready to buy or want to research size availability and current prices, check out the links below.
If you’re keen to check out more options or see how the Custom X rated compared to other aggressive-all-mountain snowboards, check out the next link.
>>SnowboardingProfiles.com’s Top 6 Men’s Aggressive-All-Mountain Snowboards
Own this exact same board and this review is absolutely 100% bang on. The one thing I also find with the CX is the faster you go on this board the easier everything feels. This is where it wants to be. The CX just loves high speed for laying down some super sic’ heavy lines.
Hi Craig
Thanks for your input. Yeah definitely a board that wants to bomb at high speed!