Hello and welcome to my Burton Process review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Process as an all-mountain snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Process a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other all-mountain snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Burton Process
Price: $549
Style: All-Mountain
Flex Rating: Medium-Soft
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium (5/10)
Rating Score: 85.4/100
Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain Boards
Out of the 38 men’s all-mountain snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Process’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Process’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain (though you could certainly argue that it's an all-mountain-freestyle deck too) |
Price: | $549 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Medium-Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Camber - Burton's "PurePop Camber" |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | 12.5mm (1/2") |
Base: | Sintered |
Weight: | Normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
152 | 249 | 120-180 | 54-82 |
155 | 251 | 120-180 | 54-82 |
157 | 252 | 150-200 | 68-91 |
159 | 255 | 150-200 | 68-91 |
162 | 257 | 180-260+ | 82-118+ |
157W | 257 | 150-200 | 68-91 |
159W | 260 | 150-200 | 68-91 |
162W | 262 | 180-260+ | 82-118+ |
Who is the Process Most Suited To?
The Process is a an all-rounder, with powder being it's biggest weakness, but can still ride powder. You could just as easily classify it as an all-mountain-freestyle board - so I would say it's in between all-mountain and all-mountain freestyle.
So, it's great for anyone looking to do a bit of everything, favoring freestyle just a bit, but don't see much in the way of deep powder, or have a separate board for deep powder days.
Not suitable for beginners, but intermediate riders should be fine with it.
The Process in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Process is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Burton Process 2021, 155cm (251mm waist width)
Date: March 7, 2020
Conditions: Cloudy but still around 90-95% visibility.
Groomers had a decent layer of soft with mostly a medium firmness under that layer, with some harder spots in patches.
Off groomer soft with some overnight fresh. Not waist deep or anything, but a nice amount.
Wind around 10-15kph (6-9mph). Temperature was -8°C (17.6°F) and with wind chill -11°C (12.2°F).
Completely forgot to take an pic when I was demoing this board! - and forgot to take measurements, which was the more annoying part.
Was too eager to ride it I guess.
Out of the 100s of boards, boots and bindings I've tested over the last couple of years, this is only the second time I've forgotten. Still super annoying though!
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 530mm (20.9″) - forgot to measure, but I was riding on reference and reference is 530mm.
Stance Setback: 12.5mm (0.5")
Width at Front Insert: forgot to measure but likely around 260mm (10.24") based on other similar Burton boards I have measured
Width at Back Insert: forgot to measure
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 175lbs
Rider Boot Size: US10 Salomon Lo-Fi
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Powder
There's a little bit of a setback but otherwise there isn't too much in favor of riding powder. Was fine in the shallow powder I had, but could feel it in there that it wouldn't like the deeper powder as much and would take some work to keep the nose afloat in the deep stuff.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Really fun for shorter, snappier carves vs long drawn out ones. On those shorter/sharper carves, it was super fun though.
Turning: Nice when you put in just a bit of energy. Not super easy when you go super-casual. Certainly don't have to throw all your weight into it or anything, but just a bit of energy needed. When you do put that little bit in, it's a nice turning board.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: Good maneuverability at slow speeds, not ultra-agile, but really good none-the-less.
Skidded Turns: Not super easy but not super hard. Very mildly catchy feel, when you got too casual.
Damp or Chattery?
Right in the middle.
Smooth or Snappy?
Slightly more snappy than smooth, but close to the middle of the scale.
Speed
Felt pretty good at speed. Not an out and out bomber, but stable enough at good speeds.
Uneven Terrain
Good in crud and going over/through bumps. Not amazing, but above average.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Jumps
All round a fun board to jump with.
Pop: Not epic but really decent. Easy enough to extract.
Approach: A good balance of stable but being decently nimble
Landing: Solid but also with enough forgiveness
Side-hits: Really fun for sidehits
Small jumps/Big jumps: Good for anything from small to large.
Switch
Really good riding switch. Feels quite natural and not really a surprise. It has a small setback on effective edge, but otherwise it's pretty much the same each way.
Spins
Good for spins - good, relatively easy to extract pop with good setup and good for landing and taking off switch.
Jibbing
Not a jib specilaist by any means, but still decent enough. I had no issues in my limited jibbing capacity with it.
Butters
It's just that little bit easier to butter than average. But it's not super buttery.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
POWDER | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
CARVING | 3.5 | 7/10 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SPEED | 3.5 | 7/10 |
CRUD/CHUNDER | 3.5 | 7/10 |
TREES/BUMPS | 3.5 | 7/10 |
SWITCH | 4.0 | 8/10 |
JUMPS | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SPINS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
BUTTERS | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
JIBBING | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 85.4/100 |
Overall, the Process is a really good all-round board that would work well as a daily driver for the right rider. Someone who likes to do a bit of everything but favors freestyle just a little bit, and isn't overly concerned with deep powder, or has another board for that.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Process, or if you are ready to buy, or if you just want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other all-mountain snowboard options, or if you want to compare how the Process compares to other all-mountain snowboards, then check out the next link.
Hey nate, I did a day on the outer space living by capita and it was great. I practiced my switch and I don’t even think I caught an edge the entire day. I was talking to Burton the other day, and they recommended me the Burton process.
How would you compare the process and the outer space living? Which board is more forgiving on catching edges?
I’m intermediate. I took lessons at keystone this year and I can do the blues at keystone if I’m feeling brave.
Hi JC
Thanks for your message.
The OSL is more forgiving of catching edges than the Process, assuming your talking about the PurePop camber version of the Process. The Process isn’t super catchy or anything, but the OSL is more forgiving. If you were talking Process Flying V, then that might be even less catchy than the OSL, but close in that respect.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate
Catchy on flat surfaces or catchy when you have a poor technique ( for the Burton Process ) ? Please let us know your thoughts about the Burton Process as an all mountain board for intermediate riders , especially when compared to OSL ? Mostly on groomed trails, the primary surface is anything but fresh cat tracks.
Hi Mando
Thanks for your message.
I would say mostly poor technique. It’s not super catchy by any means and I think it’s certainly doable for an intermediate level. But is slightly catchier when you get off your game compared to the OSL, IMO.
Hi Nate, this review was very helpful to me, but I still can’t decide what board to buy next.
I can define myself as an intermediate rider who rides mostly on tracks, but I also love side-track powder (even though I rarely get the chance to ride it) and I would like to learn some tricks.
My current board is a 2010/2011 Santa Cruz Slasher with surf rocker bend, which is my first board and the board with I progressed the most, and which has seen better days.
With this board I approached carving turns, which I have achieved, and I am trying to get more confident and push myself harder. The problem is that since the back of the board gets sometimes loose I am scared to try; furthermore, I think its size does not suit me, because it is a 159 with 252 mm waist width and I’m 182 cm (6.0), 72 kg (159 lbs) and 45 (12) foot size, so I think a wide would suit me better.
Now, I took a look on Burton website and compared the Process Purepop camber with the Custom Flying V and on paper they seem to be very similar, but I don’t know what to expect from each one since I never ridden neither a camber board nor a Flying V board.
The question is that I think that the Custom Flying V, being a rocker-dominant board, would likely ride the same as my current board, but since I ride mostly on track, maybe a Camber board would be better; also, being an all-mountain-freestyle board, the Process Camber could help me with learning tricks.
On the other hand, having never ridden a camber board I’m afraid that the camber “catchy” feel could not suit me, so this would point the choice towards the Custom Flying V, which, for what I could understand, is more forgiving.
In other words, the Custom Flying V seems to be the board that suits my riding style the most, but I don’t know if, riding mostly track, it can properly hold the edge as the Process Camber and what are the differences between the two for what concerns tricks learning.
I hope that my essay is understandable and not too annoying.
Thanks in advance and cheers from Italy!
Hi Luca
Thanks for your message.
The Flying V profile is quite loose feeling – so I think it’s worth trying out a more camber dominant profile. With the back of your board currently getting loose, you might experience something similar with the Custom Flying V – and since it sounds like you’re looking to avoid that this time, I would be leaning more Process. Gives better edge hold in harder conditions too, IMO. And is good for tricks and has a bit more pop. You can certainly ride the Custom Flying V for park and tricks too, but overall for what you’re describing, I would be leaning Process. Note that the Custom Flying V is better in powder, IMO, but if you’re not seeing deep powder very often, then it’s not that big a difference. The Process I didn’t find super catchy – it’s not going to be as “un-catchy” as the Custom Flying V, IMO, but it’s also something I don’t think you’ll have too hard a time adjusting to.
Size-wise, going wide is certainly recommended with your boot size. Length-wise, I would put you on roughly a 158 as your “standard all-mountain” size. This assumes a relatively advanced level. If you think you wanted something a little more playful for leaning tricks etc, then the 155 could work for you for the Process. But if you preferred to optimize things like stability at speed, float in powder and for carves, I would be leaning more to the 157.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate, thank you very much for your reply.
Your advice was very helpful, I was afraid of the Process being much much more catchy than the Custom Flying V, but since it is not that catchy and since it is a matter of getting used to it, I think the decision is made.
Thank you again and have a good day!
You’re very welcome Luca. Hope it works out well for you. If you think of it at the time let me know how you get on, once you’ve had a chance to get it out on snow. Happy riding!
Nate,
Awesome work with your reviews. I’m 6’2” 205 pounds and have for the last 12 years been riding a Burton Custom vRocker 159 (my first “real board”). I ride east coast and typically only get out 2-3 times per year for a few consecutive days.
I tried out the process during a recent trip to a Vermont resort. Conditions were soft then icy and I thought the board handled well.
I haven’t researched outside of reading endless reviews on your site and am stuck on what to get. I liked this board but feel like I’m missing out if I grab the first thing that I happened to try out?
I love to carve and ride fairly fast (not like my 20s) but enjoy a bit of speed. I stick to blue trails mainly.
What would be your top 3 recommendations for me?
Appreciate it!
Ryan
Hi Ryan
Thanks for your message.
I think since you like to carve and ride fairly fast on blues, the Process would work – it’s decent at speed and carving, but isn’t overly demanding in terms of flex or anything – and likely similar flex to the Custom vRocker, or perhaps a little softer. What size did you ride it in?
But I think you could also step up the flex a little bit, particularly for your specs, if you’re wanting to stick to something around a similar size to 159. I would be leaning more like 162/163 for your specs, length-wise, but if you wanted to stick to the more familiar size around 159, then going a little stiffer is probably a good idea.
Tough to choose 3 boards for carving, fairly fast and blue, but I think the following list would offer you some good options.
>>My Top 10 All Mountain Snowboards
This is assuming you’re not looking for anything overly aggressive. But I think stepping up that flex to around 6/10 would be a good idea. If you can narrow it down to 2-3 boards would be happy to give my sizing opinion on those specific boards – would just need your boot size.
Hope this helps
Thanks Nate. My boot size is
12. I actually ordered the Yes Standard 162 before you replied. It’s delayed and I can cancel/change sizes if I want. The 162 is 268 wide…too wide? What do you think?
Also, I was looking at the Capita Mercury or Jones Mountain Twin. Paralysis by analysis but fun no doubt researching. In the end I want something fun to ride with some forgiveness that can handle hard pack and stick a carve.
Appreciate the feedback.
Ryan
Hi Ryan
I think the 162 works for you. It’s a wider board, but with 12’s you should be good with the width. If you had smaller feet, then I would size down to the 159, but with 12s, I think you should be all good on the 162.
Hey,
I am an advanced rider (digging trenches in groomers, blowing through chunder, fine edge work on ice, tree runs and bowels/chutes, but not advance enough for cliffs or bombing chutes/bowels); however, I am weak in the park (can do simple butters, can ride a rail, can barely boardslide, working on cleaning up my 180s, trying to progress to 360) .
I also have a partially fused ankle so I run +27-33 on my front foot and need a wide stance if I want to be able to squat low (been experimenting with stances 26inch, 27inch. The ankle also prevents me from doing much of a press with that front leg).
For this reason, I was going to sell my Yes. Basic – due to the max stance width for a 156W being 24.1′ -, which I have been using as an all mountain freestyle board. I was thinking that the Burton Process would be a good replacement (all mountain freestyle with channel system for wide stance). Is this a good move? Are there boards from other brands that allow for 25’+ stance width on boards in the 156W size range that I should consider?
Thank you you so much for your knowledge and expertise!
Hi Sky
Thanks for your message.
I don’t tend to take note of max reference stance, but measuring a couple of 156s and 158s I have here and doing a bit of research, I’m not seeing any 156s that have a max stance beyond around 24.8″. So, I think going Burton is probably your best bet, to get the extra stance width from the Channel. The Process should for you as an all-mtn freestyle board. With your level of riding, I don’t think you’d have any issues using it as a board to focus on freestyle with. I think it would work well. If you wanted to go closer to the flex of the YES Basic, then I would look at the Kilroy Twin.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Great reviews and information on your site! I am heavily considering this board and wanted to know your opinion.
I am 43 and snowboarded for 15 year or so. Probably a high intermediate level. For the past 5 years, I skid with my young kids. Now that they’re older and we’re hitting the whole mountain, I am going back to snowboarding.
I ride primarily northern Vermont. I don’t really mess with the park that often anymore. I like to charge hard and bomb runs and also head into the trees. I do like to slowdown sometimes and ride with the kids and mess around on smaller jumps and such.
I’m 6’0 180 lbs. Would this be a good board to get back into riding? It seems a bit soft which may be an issue. However I am getting older and might ride ride as hard as a did 5 years ago.
Hi Chris
Thanks for your message.
I found the Process can handle a good bit of speed, but it’s not an out and out bomber or anything. You would need to go stiffer for that. Good for jumps and decent on a hard carve. Can slow down with it for sure. Not great for powder.
Instinct tells me it might be a little soft for what you’re after, unless you think you will mellow out your riding compared to 5 years ago.
If you did go Process, I’d be looking at 159 (or 159W depending on boot size).
Hope this helps
Hey can we do press with this board? I am strating snowboarding and I am especially interested in learning butters.
I can have a discount on a 157 Wild one.
I am 180 cm, 70 kg, and 11US foots, do you think it would be a good option ?
Thanks, and really nice and complete review
Hi Fabien
Thanks for your message.
Size-wise, I think the 157W would be a really good size for your specs and what you’re describing.
You can butter with the Process. It’s not what I would call the easiest board to butter, but it’s definitely a little easier to butter than the average board. Better boards for learning to butter on though. And if you’ve just started snowboarding, better boards to learn on too. The Process is fine for intermediate riders, but if you’re more of a beginner, it’s not ideal.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
I’m thinking about getting the process camber, I don’t have a lot of time under my belt, but I do want a board that I can grow with. Do u think this board would give me too much difficulty? And what are your recommendations for me if I were to go with this board in terms of size? (I’m 5’10, 160lbs)
Hi Jay
Thanks for your message.
It’s not super forgiving, in it’s camber profile, but it is quite soft, which makes it more forgiving than a stiffer board with the same camber, if that makes sense. It’s something you want to use pretty good technique with. It’s not fully forgiving of skidded turns. So, I’d say it’s an intermediate and up board. A bit of a challenge for a beginner, I would say. If you’re like low-end intermediate, you might get away with it, with a little bit of a steeper learning curve. But it’s not a super advanced board or anything. Hard to say for sure how you’d get on with it, but hopefully that gives a little bit more info.
Size-wise, I’d say probably 155, but if you could also let me know your boot size, so I can confirm.
Hey Nate!
I’m Marcos and I’m 173cm and 174 kg boot size 9.
Which size of process would you recommend, 152 or 155?
I’m not very into powder, I would prefer a playful board for parks and grooming, and sometimes powder.
Thank you
Hi Marcos
Thanks for your message.
I would say 155 is just right for your specs, assuming at least a solid intermediate level. The 152 could work as your park board, but for your do-it-all board, I’d go 155 (this is with the assumption that you meant 74kg, rather than 174kg)
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Thank you very much for your quick reply, very helpful. My height is 5’8, weight is 160 lb, and snowboard boot size 10.
I check the BRD as you suggested and it looks great. But in Switzerland I can only get the 162 (I believe too big for me). The other sizes are out of stock. Capita Mercury is available basically all sizes. I found a significant promotion with Nitro boards. Do you think there is a Nitro that could also fit for me?
Which sizes of boards could work well for me?
Thanks
Jorge
Hi Jorge
Thanks for the extra details.
In terms of sizing, it can depend on the board, but generally speaking I’d say between 154 and 156 for your specs, an intermediate level and how you describe your riding.
And yeah, IMO, the 162 BRD would be too big for sure. I’d say 156 for that board.
For the Mercury, the 155 would be your best bet, IMO.
From Nitro, the Team Gullwing (155) would work – it’s borderline too narrow and that would be the only question mark there. Also it’s hybrid rocker, and it sounds like you kind of want to stick away from that. I haven’t tested many Nitro boards, so I can’t say from experience, but the Dropout, Magnum and SMP look like they could be suitable (all cam-out camber – which is hybrid camber) and rated 7/10 flex. The Team and Team Gullwing and both rated 7/10 flex also by Nitro, but I felt them at 6/10. Can’t say for sure if the Dropout, Magnum and SMP will also feel like 6/10 though. Or if you wanted something more directional the Fusion could work too (also Cam-out, 7/10 flex).
Hi Nate,
Thank you so much for your insights, very helpful for my decision
You’re very welcome Jorge. If you think of it at the time, let me know what you go with. Hope you have an awesome season!
Hi Nate,
Sorry for the late reply, but this year I only finished my season in the beginning of July at 4000 meters’ in Zermatt. I followed your suggestion and acquired the capita Mercury. Excellent recommendation. It is very stable, fast, and really easy to ride. I have a colleague of mine with more than 20 years of experience of Snowboarding he rides a Burton Custom, once I went ahead of him and he was not able to take me. Well it was only once, but it shows how good Mercury is.
I tried a bit of everything with Capita, and only in very deep snow or really very icy I would say the cold brew is better. For 95% of my ride it is really excellent. To be honest I don’t know what to chose else in the future, the Mega….
My daughter she is also doing Snowboarding and she is getting better now, she is using a ride rapture, but she really liked my Mercury. She is 160 cm, 50 kg. Which is the female version of Mercury?
Thank you so much for your excellent advice it really changed my season.
Jorge
Hi Jorge
Thanks for the update and awesome to hear that the Mercury is treating you well.
There isn’t a direct women’s equivalent of the Mercury, unfortunately. The closest equivalent would be the Paradise but that’s the women’s equivalent of the Capita Outerspace Living rather than the Mercury. But the paradise could certainly work for her. The Mercury does come down to a 147, but, IMO, that would still be too big for your daughter. Even if she was OK with it length-wise, it’s likely too wide, depending on her boot size. I’d be more inclined to look at the Capita Paradise 141.
Hi Nate,
My name is Jorge, I’m doing snowboarding for the last 3.5 years in Switzerland. My current snowboard is a lib tech cold brew that I acquired almost new when I started to learn. I’m 5.8 (73 kg) and my board is 153 cm. I like my board, although is not in perfect shape now. I would say that now I’m on an intermediate level. My board is a hybrid rocker, and now that I start to ride faster I feel it a bit unstable when carving, and even when I need to go flat. I mostly go to resorts, there are a lot in Switzerland, not a lot of backcountry, or powder (although here the cold brew seems quite good). I’m not interested in park. More a all mountain board (able to ride from soft to icy snow)
I select a few boards: Burton: custom and process. Lib tech Orca ( or maybe another with a C3 chamber). Capita Mercury or GNU. To be honest I’m not sure which one and I’m open to other suggestions.
Thanks for your support
Jorge
Hi Jorge
Thanks for your message.
Not too surprised you found the Cold Brew good in powder and a bit unstable when riding faster. I haven’t ridden the Cold Brew but that’s what I would expect from it.
The Custom and Process aren’t great in powder, in my experience and aren’t great in hard/icy conditions. Not too bad, certainly better than the Flying V versions of those boards, but still not amazing.
The Orca is really good in powder and it’s good in hard/icy conditions. Not something that I liked for riding slow though (or in trees when there was no powder) – but if you don’t think you’ll ride slow that often it’s doable – though I’d say more of a an advanced to expert board.
The Mercury is definitely an option. A good all-round board.
In terms of something C3 camber from Lib Tech/GNU, given you’re not riding park and sounds like you want something decent in powder, even if you don’t get it that often, I would say:
– Lib Tech BRD
– Lib Tech Dynamo
– GNU Antigravity
I’d be leaning BRD from those.
If you’re not that worried about powder, then the TRS or RC C3 are also options.
In terms of sizing, if you could let me know your weight and boot size as well – both important factors for sizing.