Burton Skeleton Key Review

Who is the Skeleton Key Most Suited To?

The Skeleton Key is best suited to someone looking for a mellower than average directional freeride board but still want that predominantly camber feel. It's easier going flex, helps to mellow it out, but it's still a camber feeling board. 

It's a pretty versatile ride, particularly for those who don't ride switch often. 

Not for beginners, IMO. But a solid intermediate rider shouldn't have any issues with it being too much board or anything. 

The Skeleton Key in More Detail

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance width: 560mm (22″)

Stance Setback: Setback 2" (50mm)

Width at front inserts: 268mm (10.55")

Width at back insert: 270mm (10.63")

Rider Height: 6'0"

Rider Weight: 180lbs

Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Response ADV

Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M

Control Board for Control Laps: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker 

Weight: 3080grams (6lbs 13oz)

Weight per cm: 19.49 grams/cm

Average Weight per cm: 18.71 grams/cm*

*based on a sample size of around 250 models that I’ve weighed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 models. The Skeleton Key is a little heavier on the scales than average, though given it's also a little wider than average, it's about average on the scales. It did felt just a touch heavier than normal on snow. 

Powder

Nothing significant on the day to test in, but based on specs, feel and previous experience with the board, it should do really well in powder. And no surprise, given it's quite setback, has a longer nose than tail, 10mm of taper and rocker in the nose. 

Carving

This board can lay down a really decent carve - and whilst it's not a high speed juggernaut or anything, you can lay down carves at moderately high speeds without it getting too washy. 

Turning

Ease of Turning/Slashing: It's not effortless to initiate a turn on, but it's pretty easy overall, especially considering how camber dominant it is. You can slash out turns pretty easy on it too. 

Maneuverability at slow speeds: Really decent edge-to-edge quickness at slower speeds, especially when you dial it in. 

Catchiness: Overall not a board I would call overly catchy. It's not the most catch-free out there either, but nothing super catchy or anything. 

Speed

Really decent in terms of stability at speed. The nose does start to flap a little when you open it out, but you don't really feel it underfoot too much. 

Uneven Terrain

Crud: Handles crud pretty well. It's not immune to being thrown off its line, but it takes a little bit to do it. It's also relatively damp, without being ultra damp, so you feel some chatter but not too much. 

Trees/Bumps: Really decent. It's pretty nimble, even at slower speeds, for weaving between obstacles. 

Jumps

Overall decent board for jumping. 

Pop: Reasonably easy to access its pop. Not effortless but you don't have to put too much effort in. When you do really wind it up and put your weight into, it gives you a little more back and has decent total pop. 

Approach: Good balance between being stable for faster approaches but also easy enough to adjust your line or speed check, when you need to.

Landing: Pretty solid overall, but can be a little sketchy on tail heavy landings. 

Side-hits: Not top tier, IMO, but still really decent. 

Small jumps/Big Jumps: Medium is its sweet spot, but no problems with bigger or smaller jumps either. 

Switch

It's not amazing riding switch. It does feel a little weird. Not surprising, given how directional it is. Transitions aren't completely catch-free feeling, but also not too catchy feeling. 

Spins

Not ideal, particularly when you're having to setup or land switch. And it's on the heavier and wider side, but also very doable. 

Butters

Quite easy to press the tip/tail. It's definitely got a different feeling between the nose and tail, but to lock in a press doesn't take too much effort. 

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Overall, the Skeleton Key is a great weapon for those looking to ride powder when they've got it but then when it's not around they want something that will give them an overall camber feel on the groomers with above average carving abilities.

It's versatile in the sense that it can ride well slow, it can ride both powder and hard pack well and you can take it in trees and even the park, so long as you're not looking to do too much that involves riding switch.