Hello and welcome to my Burton Territory Manager review.
In this review I will take a look at the Territory Manager as a Freeride snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Territory Manager a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and also see how it compares with other Freeride snowboards.
NOTE: The 2023 model was the last model of the Territory Manager.
Overall Rating
Board: Burton Family Tree Territory Manager
Price: $659 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freeride (but with a freestyle after taste)
Flex Rating: Personality 5-8 (Medium-Aggressive)
Flex Feel: Mid-Stiff (7/10)
Rating Score: 84.2/100
Compared to other Men’s Freeride Boards
Out of the 35 Men’s Freeride snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Territory Manager’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Territory Manager’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freeride (but with a freestyle after taste) |
Price: | $659 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Smooth/Snappy: |  |
Dampness: |  |
Playful/Aggressive: |  |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Directional Hybrid Camber | Burton's "Directional Camber" |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Setback 1" (25mm) |
Base: | Sintered (Burton's "Sintered WFO" base) |
Weight: | Felt Normal |
Camber Height: | 7mm |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
142 | 240 | 80-120 | 36-54 |
148 | 248 | 100-150 | 45-68 |
154 | 255 | 120-180 | 54-82 |
160 | 260 | 180-260+ | 82-118+ |
165 | 268 | 180-260+ | 82-118+ |
Who is the Territory Manager Most Suited To?
The Burton Territory Manager is ideal for freeriders who want that one board they can consistently rely on no matter the conditions or the mountain. A freeride leaning do-it-all board that can be taken all over the mountain and excel.
Ideally for freeriders who aren't quite done with their freestyle ways, the Territory manager excels in deeper powder more than anything but is fully capable of being taken out on a spring day and hitting the jump line or ripping down a groomed run laying out some carves.
Certainly not a board for beginners as the Territory Manager is on more of the aggressive side. I would recommend it to upper intermediate riders and up.
The Territory Manager in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Territory Manager is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Burton Family Tree Territory Manager 2023, 154cm (255mm waist width)
Date: March 22, 2022
Conditions
Raining. Visibility wasn't unlimited, but wasn't terrible either.
Temperature: Warm. 36°F (2°C) in the morning. Up to 39°F (4°C). No wind chill.
24hr snow: 0.8" (2cm)
48hr snow: 18" (45cm)
7 day snow: 29" (74cm)
On groomer: Soft pack to slushy. Well groomed to start but even at start could feel it a little slushy. Progressively slushier over day.
Off groomer: Plenty of fresh snow around, but it was heavy and sticky and lumpy, so not great.
Bindings angles: +12/-9
Stance width: 20.9″ (530mm)
Stance Setback: 1" (25mm)
Width at Inserts: 10.43" (265mm) at front insert and 10.39" (264mm) at back insert.
Tester: Fraser
Rider Height: 6'1"
Rider Weight: 180lbs
Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Tactical Lexicon ADV
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita: M
Weight: 6lbs 3oz (2820grams)
Weight per cm: 18.31 grams/cm
Average Weight per cm: 18.59 grams/cm*
*based on a sample size of around 200 models that I’ve weighed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 models. So the Burton Territory Manager was a little lighter than average. On snow felt normal.
Powder
While there was lots of fresh snow around it had been rained on making it heavy, slow, and somewhat sticky but it still gave us a pretty good idea of how it would ride in powder.
It handled even this wet heavy powder pretty effortlessly most of the time. It does have 8mm of taper plus a setback stance, both of which naturally sink the tail while the rocker in the nose keeps you afloat with ease. The stiffer flex also helps keep you from over flexing.
Carving
The Territory manager has camber under both feet which felt nice when carving as it didn't feel washy when holding a carve large or small. It felt really stable when maneuvering edge-to-edge. I preferred it for quick sharper carves vs longer more drawn out carves.
Turning
Ease of Turns/Slashing: Even though it is directional it rides similar to a true twin. I found it easy to release your tail at any speed and initiate a turn or slash with minimal effort.
Maneuverability at slow speeds (nimbleness): Really nimble. Felt quick edge-to-edge even at slower speeds.
Skidded Turns: Handled them nicely the camber underneath the feet feels predictable and stable while the rockered nose makes for no catchiness whatsoever, at any speed.
Speed
Because of the camber just being under the feet it's not as quick as a full camber board but overall it still has a good amount and it doesn't get chattery allowing it to be stable at higher speeds. Also had a good amount of glide which was a nice surprise.
Uneven Terrain
Crud: At times the Territory Manager could get bucked around a bit in it but even when you did the board stayed stable and was easy to maneuver to make any necessary corrections.
Bumps: Like stated before, it's quick edge-to-edge allowing you to maneuver through bumps nice and easy. For certain terrain, like in the trees, when your going up and down bumps I found it easy to hug them when you had to.
Jumps
Overall the Territory Manager feels nice and smooth when hitting jumps.
Pop: Has a good amount of pop that was easily accessible as I found it didn't require much of a load up to get all of it, which is ideal for smaller jumps or flat ground spins.
Approach: Quick edge-to-edge allowing you to feel confident on your approaches as your able to make last second adjustments if needed. And also stable enough for faster approaches.
Landing: Didn't find the board catchy on the landings at all. You could also get away with landing tail heavy and ride out with minimal effort. I found the width really helped with landings too as it absorbed impacts really nicely.
Side-hits: Really enjoyed it on side-hits. Super predictable feel underneath the board, coupled with that pop made any size side hit enjoyable.
Small jumps/Big jumps: Really capable on any size jump but I found the medium sized one's is were it was optimal.
Switch
Switch riding felt pretty easy and effortless on the Territory manager. Transitions weren't catchy whatsoever and even though it's directional it feels close to true twin - fully capable of landing or taking-off switch on bigger side-hits or jumps allowing you to throw 180s and 540s with confidence.
Butters
Found the nose and tail pressable with a bit of effort. I preferred to use the boards pop to really help get the presses started as I found just leaning into a press required some work, in large part due to the board being on the stiffer side
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
POWDER | 4.0 | 20/25 |
SPEED | 4.0 | 16/20 |
CARVING | 4.0 | 12/15 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 4.0 | 8/10 |
CRUD/CHUNDER | 3.5 | 7/10 |
TREES/BUMPS | 4.0 | 8/10 |
JUMPS | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
SWITCH | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.2/100 |
The Territory Manager is a versatile snowboard more than capable of being ridden anywhere on the mountain. It does have freeride leanings, but very much on the all-mountain side of things.
With very few weaknesses, the Territory Manager carves really nicely, has a solid amount of pop for side-hits and feels close to a true twin allowing you to jump off and land on anything with confidence.
Overall I expected a less versatile/nimble board. I figured it was going to just be a one track powder specialist, and whilst it does excel at powder, it was really enjoyable all over the mountain. And was very capable of things I didn't think it would be.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
Check out the links below for more info on the Territory Manager, where to buy or if you are researching prices or available sizes.
If your keen to check out some other Freeride options or to see how the Territory Manager compares to other freeride decks check out the link below.
Hi Nate, I have been reading your site for a few months now and I really appreciate the insights and that you take the time to respond to people’s comments.
I recently purchased a 154 Territory Manager. Haven’t had a chance to ride it yet – took a bit of a gamble since it was on sale, although from the reviews I was quite confident with my decision. That being said, I am a little worried about the width of the board, given that the Burton site says ‘L’ for binding size (not even M/L) and I have relatively small feet.
My specs
Weight: 72 Kg
Boots: 8.5 US (26.5 Mondo)
Height: 180 cm
I would say that I am a solid intermediate. Learnt to snowboard in my teens (late 90s) and then didn’t ride for 20 years, although I surfed and windsurfed during this time. Got back into snowboarding 3 years ago, and although I only get to ride 1-2 weeks per year, I’m comfortable carving around the pistes, hitting small side hits and occasionally going into some pow if there is any. Not going into the park at my age.
The TM seems to tick the boxes, apart from the width / binding rating.
Have just seen another shop has the Custom Camber available in 150, for a similar price that I paid for the TM. Besides that I’m in love with the Custom’s graphics this year (and the TM graphics are a bit boring) I am also wonder if the Custom would be a better size/shape for me. True that 150 is on the low end of the size spectrum. A 154 custom would be perfect but cannot find one anywhere.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.
Hi Oliver
Thanks for your message.
For your weight/height specs, I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 158, so whilst the board is wide for your boots, I think it will be fine in the 154, given that you’re sizing down a little bit. I think the 150 in the Custom would be too small for you. Despite Burton saying L for the bindings and M/L for the 154 Custom, the 154 Custom isn’t massively narrower or anything. At waist, it’s 5mm, which is quite a bit, but it’s only around 1mm narrower at the back insert and 4mm narrower at the front insert. So overall, certainly narrower, but the difference isn’t huge.
Hi Nate,
Love your site and inputs you give to readers. Its huge help.
Ive recently bought the Territory Manager as there was this big sale at local shop.
After reading reviews I was pretty confident after going forward with.
However, I am having doubts with the board height I went for.
I bought the 160cm.
I am 5’10 and weight 200 lbs. When looking at I feel its quite long and heavy. I used to ride the directional Ride smokescreen 2022 157cm in all mountain.
Any thoughts? Did I chose right with such long 160cm board?
Hi Olivier
Thanks for message.
Based on just your height/weight specs alone, I think 160 is a good length for you. However, depending on your boot size, it might be the case that the combination of height and width might make it a little on the big size, particularly if you’re used to riding smaller boards. It would also depending on how you typically spend your day riding (like trees, park, powder, need for speed or more casual, etc etc). So, if you could let me know more about your riding style and let me know your boot size and I’ll have a better idea. Also, if you can also let me know if you would consider yourself to be particularly strong/athletic or not or in between.
Hi Nate,
Thanks for the quick response. Sorry I didn’t give more details 🙂
I use Burton Photon size 10 with burton step on Medium.
Casual intermediate rider, I never go in park but love trees, pow riding and a bit of speed from time to time.
Used to be athletic 😛 but a bit heavier on the board than in the past year.
Thanks again
Oli
Hi Olivier
Because the board is a little wide for your foot size (not massively so or anything, but a little wider than optimal, IMO) and that you love trees, I think it’s borderline a bit too big to be ideal. Being on the wider side is typically more noticeable for lighter and less athletic riders, so you may not notice that width as much as others, but you might just find it feels a little big when you’re in the trees. I wouldn’t say it’s gigantic for you or anything, but on the bigger side of optimal, IMO.
Hey Nate,
I’m super interested in this board but I’m wondering if there’s any similar boards you think that do it better that I should check out? Looking for that freeride board that’s super nimble in the trees on powder days while still having that freestyle feel for jumps/sidehits/switch/spins
5’’11 size 11 195 lbs
Hi James
Thanks for your message.
I think the Territory Manager is a really good option for what you’re describing.
The first alternative that sprung to mind is the Capita Kazu.
Or if you wanted a looser, more surfy feeling ride the GNU Hyper or Never Summer Shaper spring to mind.
But if you’re still looking for a more precise feeling ride, then the Territory Manager and Capita Kazu would be great options, IMO.
Hope this helps
Hello, first of all, I love the website been using it for a while. I have never summer protoslinger 154w and a korua cafe 164. I am trying to get something to bridge the gap but also be my main board for high level instructor training (my own training). The most important aspects being black diamonds (short and long turns), moguls/bumps, trees, riding switch with flow on blacks, carving hard enough and holding an edge. Park is not an issue but I need some freestyle like butters, small spins. The custom camber 158w would be considered one of the best boards for it by high level instructors but this board seems like the same, but better in powder. I would get a 160. What am I losing from the custom in getting a territory manager. Does it lose some aggression or versatility with the differences and by how much? My priorities are ordered as trees, steeps, bumps, groomed, powder, park. Powder would be nice to have but nothing worth a big sacrifice
Hi Ameer
Thanks for your message.
I think I’d be leaning this one. As you’ve pointed out, it’s better in powder versus the Custom, but not as good for riding switch or freestyle overall, but it’s not something that’s unbutterable or anything and not too much different in terms of butters as the Custom. Doesn’t ride switch quite as well – but actually pretty decent for that, and spins, for a more freeride oriented board. The Territory Manager is a little stiffer than the Custom. It does have that rocker in the nose, but overall doesn’t feel any less aggressive.
Hope this helps with your decision
How does this board compare directly with the Hometown Hero? There seems to be a significant amount of overlap, and I struggle with differentiating between the two models
Hi Mark
Thanks for your message.
As I can’t find detailed specs on this board yet (Burton hasn’t published them on their website and can’t find them anywhere else) it’s hard to say what some of the finer differences are. Things like effective edge, contact length and those types of things in relation to the overall length, sidecut radius etc all make a difference to how a board rides. I currently don’t have that information (but if you do know some of these details, I would be grateful to get them!). So in terms of technical specs, the only real differences I can see is that the HTH has 12mm of taper versus the 8mm of taper on the Territory Manager and that Burton rates the TM 6/10 for park vs 4/10 for park for the HTH – but the same for all-mountain and powder. But those I take with a bit of a grain of salt anyway. The other difference is that the Territory Manager is wider at the waist and inserts (and likely at the tip and tail as well) relative to length. i.e. the 154 TM is 255mm at waist and 265/264 at inserts versus 156 HTH which is 252mm waist and 263/262 at inserts.
So on the surface, only the taper and width appears different, but there are likely sidecut and effective edge/contact length differences as well.
The didn’t find they rode super different though, so they are quite similar. The Territory Manager a touch stiffer and a little more agile/snappy. But more similar than they are different for sure.