Hello and welcome to my Capita Birds of a Feather snowboard review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Birds of a Feather as an all-mountain-freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Birds of a Feather a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other all-mountain-freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Capita Birds of a Feather
Price: $549
Style: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium (5.5/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium (6/10)
Rating Score: 84.3/100
Compared to other Women’s All-Mountain-Freestyle Boards
Out of the 23 women’s all-mountain-freestyle snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Birds of a Feather's Specs
Check out the tables for the Birds of a Feather's specs and available sizes.
Specs
STYLE:
ALL-MOUNTAIN-FREESTYLE
PRICE:
$549
Ability Level:
flex:
feel:
DAMPNESS:
SMOOTH /SNAPPY:
Playful /aggressive:
Edge-hold:
camber profile:
HYBRID CAMBER
HYBRID Camber - Capita's "Resort V1" camber.
SHAPE:
setback stance:
Centered
BASE:
Sintered - Capita's "Quantum Driveâ„¢ Base"
weight:
Felt A LITTLE LIGHTER normal
Camber Height:
4.5mm!
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
140 | 226 | 85-135 | 38-61 |
142 | 229 | 90-140 | 41-64 |
144 | 232 | 95-145 | 43-66 |
146 | 235 | 100-150 | 45-68 |
148 | 238 | 105-155 | 47-70 |
150 | 241 | 110-160 | 49-73 |
152 | 244 | 115-165 | 52-75 |
154 | 247 | 120-170+ | 54-77+ |
148W | 244 | 110-160 | 49-73 |
150W | 246 | 115-165 | 52-75 |
152W | 248 | 120-175 | 54-80 |
154W | 250 | 125-180+ | 56-81+ |
* the 154W is a new size for the 2024 model
Who is the Birds of a Feather Best Suited To?
The Birds of a Feather is most suited to anyone looking for a lightweight board, that is something that is at its best when you ride it a little aggressively. It's not something that's ultra aggressive, but performs best with a little speed under it and when you're leaning into the edges more than slashing/skidding turns.
Not great in powder and not great in icy conditions, but otherwise very versatile.
Not for beginners, as it has a catchier than average feel when riding at slower speeds. That feeling goes away with a bit of speed under it, but if you're new to snowboarding and riding slower trying to learn your turns, then it could be a frustrating or confidence reducing ride.
The Birds of a Feather in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Birds of a Feather is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Capita Birds of a Feather 2024, 146cm (235mm waist width)
Date: March 20, 2023
Conditions
Overcast to start. But higher cloud. 85-90% visibility. Towards the end of the day there was some rain.
Temperature was around 2°C (36°F) - and -2°C (19°F) with wind chill in morning and 1°C (34°F) (and -2°C (19°F) with wind) in the afternoon. SE winds morning and afternoon at 10kph (6 mph) morning and 5kph (3 mph) in the afternoon.
24 hour snow: 0" (0cm)
48 hour snow: 0" (0cm)
7 day snow: 4" (11cm)
On groomer: Soft packed and bordering on slushy. But not ultra slow or sticky or anything. Got a touch slushier towards the end of the day, but not by much. Was pretty consistent.
Off groomer: Decent enough. Borderline slushy but not quite. Not ideal but OK.
Set up
Bindings angles: +12/-9
Stance width: 500mm (19.7″)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 244mm (9.61")
Weight: 2420g (5lbs, 5oz)
Weight per cm: 16.58g/cm
Average Weight per cm: 17.38 grams/cm*
* based on just over 40 women's boards that I've weighed in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 models. The BOAF was noticeably lighter on the scales. It felt slightly lighter than normal on snow.
Tester: Meira
Rider Height: 5'4 (163cm)
Rider Weight: 130lbs (58kg)
Rider Boot Size: US Women's 8 (Burton Limelite)
Bindings Used: Union Milan
Powder
Nothing to test in on the day, but based on feel and specs, the BOAF would sink pretty easily in deep powder and you'd need to really be leaning back on that back leg to stay afloat without nose diving.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Carves had a good locked-in feeling for shorter and longer carves. Edge starts to loose stability for higher speed carves and can start to wash out, particularly on toe side.
Ease of Turning/Slashing: Pretty easy to initiate turns on. Not the easiest in the world, but not hard either.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: Not super nimble at slow speeds. It wasn't sluggish either but it preferred having a bit of speed underneath it. Not super high speeds (as we'll discuss below) but does best at moderately high speeds - rather than really slow or really fast.
Catchiness: It could feel a little catchy at slower speeds, but that feeling goes away with moderate speed underneath it.
Speed
It feels fast and is semi stable at speeds but does get a little chattery and wobbly when you really get it up there, but can handle up to really decent speeds, still feeling stable. Can start to feel washy when carving at higher speeds, but moderately high speed carves were good. Had good glide through the snow.
Uneven Terrain
Crud: Slight buck around and instability going over crud and variable snow but smashes through most things pretty well.
Trees/Bumps: Does a good job without being an excellent job. It's quick enough edge-to-edge for weaving between obstacles, but it's not super quick edge-to-edge. With powder in trees, you'd have to work hard to keep the nose from sinking.
Jumps
Overall performs really well for jumps.
Pop: Not super easy to access its pop, but there is heaps of pop when you put in the effort and wind this thing up. And you get full value for that pop, with the board being as light as is. On snow it doesn't feel much lighter than normal (a little but not that much) but in the air, you notice the lightness more.
Approach: Great mix of being stable but also with decent enough maneuverability to adjust setup position and speed check.
Landing: Can stomp landings when you get it right. Didn't feel super forgiving though, when you didn't quite get it right.
Side-hits: Could be easier to access pop which would make it better, but otherwise really good.
Small jumps/Big jumps: Sweet spot is medium jumps but can handle larger and smaller jumps too.
Switch
Easy to ride switch on (no surprise being a true twin). Transitions were pretty easy too, though at times could feel a little catchy, when transitioning at slower speeds.
Spins
For the most part really good for spins. Light and easy to spin it around and it rides well switch for 180s etc. The only thing holding it back from being amazing is that for slower setups, it can have a bit of a catchy feel - and having easier access pop would make it easier for slower, smaller spin tricks.
Jibbing
Approach is decent, though again, for slower approaches can feel a little catchy, so keeping some speed under it makes it feel better on approaches. Have to put that effort in to pop onto features, so some easier access pop would also improve its jib performance. Otherwise good.
Butters
Decently easy to initiate and hold a press. You've got to lean into it a bit and get your weight over the tip/tail, but you don't have to throw everything into it.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
JUMPS | 4.5 | 18/20 |
CARVING | 3.5 | 7/10 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 3.5 | 7/10 |
SWITCH | 4.5 | 9/10 |
SPEED | 3.5 | 7/10 |
SPINS | 4.0 | 8/10 |
BUTTERS | 3.5 | 7/10 |
JIBBING | 3.0 | 3/5 |
CRUD/CHUNDER | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TREES/BUMPS | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
POWDER | 2.0 | 2/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.3/100 |
The BOAF is one of those boards that's not ultra aggressive, but is at its best when you ride it a little more aggressively. With a bit of speed and leaning into its edges it starts to purr and becomes a really fun board.
It's versatile and well suited to jumps, switch and spins and butters pretty well too, but can also handle a good amount of speed and lay down a decent carve.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Birds of a Feather, 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 women's all-mountain-freestyle snowboard options, or if you want to compare the Birds of a Feather to other all-mountain-freestyle snowboards, then check out the next link.
I just wanted to mention how grateful I am that somebody else has the same experience as I do with noticing the extra push the BOAF needs when initiating turns. Took my hardest edge-catch spill on my BOAF this season on really hard snow and I’m still struggling to feel confident on it as I progress. I ride the Equalizer 9/10 times for how easy it is to turn and how catch-free it feels no matter where I’m at on the mountain. BOAF has such great reviews and I hope to gain more confidence on mine next year! It feels to me like my Equalizer can handle almost any conditions, and I have to be more intentional about when I ride the BOAF. Just really appreciate all the info in this review, so thanks, team!
Hi,
I currently ride the Arbor twin zygote in 149cm and am looking at getting a Capita BOAF or Equalizer, or equivalent. I am 5.8 120 lbs intermediate rider looking for ultimate all mountain versatility, capable of some off piste powder and (mostly) groomed carving and side-hits and some park. I love my current all mountain board but I do find it slightly heavy. I wear women’s shoe size 8 and currently have Union Contact bindings in meidum. What would you recommend? Thanks 🙂
Hi Stef
Thanks for your message.
BOAF not great in powder, so I’d probably be leaning Equalizer for you. And if you’re not doing a lot of switch riding or 180s or anything like that, then it should be fine for your park and side-hits. And even if you’re riding a bit of switch, it’s not bad switch anyway. The BOAF a little better suited to park/sidehits/switch but the powder performance is a bigger difference between the two, so I’d go Equalizer. Size-wise, I’d go 146. Based on your specs, I’d put you, for your “standard all-mountain size” right on 146. It’s a little smaller than what you’re riding now, but I think it will be your best size. Capita boards tend to be light, and the Equalizer is no exception – so you shouldn’t have any issues with it feeling heavy.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hi there!
I’m an intermediate rider thinking of getting this or The Equaliser (I currently have the Burton Day Trader – 149cm length). I prefer all mountain – my height is 165cm, weight is 52kg. I was wondering what length of a board I should get and which one? My goal is just to be better at all mountain riding, esp off piste and black runs.
Thank you so much
Bec
Hi Bec
Thanks for your message.
IMO, the Equalizer would be the best choice. It’s better for off piste and all round more all-mountain-freeride focused, which it sounds like is how your ride, versus the BOAF, which is more all-mountain-freestyle.
Size-wise, for the Equalizer I would be looking at the 146. I would put your “standard all-mountain” size at around 145. Your used to the 149 in the Day Trader, but the effective edge is less on that versus overall length than on the Equalizer. E.g. if you went to 150 on the Equalizer you’d be looking at 116.6cm of effective edge, versus the 112.5cm on the 150 Day Trader. Even the 146 Equalizer has more effective edge (115.2cm) than the 150 Day Trader. It is narrower, but I’d still look at the 146, I think it’d be the best size for you. But if you could also let me know your boot size to confirm that it’s the most appropriate.
Hope this helps with your decision
Thanks so much Nate! I’m also looking at Yes Hel Yes – heard really good reviews on that. What are your thoughts of that instead of the Equaliser or BOAF? The main concern with the Equaliser is that it may be too aggressive for me (and I want the board to also be something I can take to advanced levels).
My boot size is 6.5.
Hi Bec
The Equalizer isn’t overly aggressive, so I don’t think there’d be any issues there. That said, the Hel Yes is also a great all-round board and would certainly work for what you’re describing as well.
With 6.5s, I think the 146 is still the best choice. And for the Hel Yes, it would be the 146 as well.
I don’t think you can make a wrong choice between them, for what you’re describing, but a few things to consider.
– The Equalizer is a little more directional, but still one of those freeride boards that could just as well be argued that it’s an all-mountain board.
– The Hel Yes is a little better for riding switch, and better edge-hold in icy conditions
– The Equalizer is a little better at speed and in powder
– They are both a really similar flex and both have a stable feel – not loose but also not overly locked in. And both fairly similar in a lot of other categories
Thanks so much for your insight and your detailed response on this – so much appreciated Nate!
I do have a few follow up questions:
– I did try the 146 BOAF in around 2019. I liked it a lot, but found it skidded a fair amount in black runs / icy spots (could just be my lack of skill though). I was wondering if the Equalizer would feel a bit more stable and how it feels overall to comparison to BOAF (considering I tried it already, I can use that as a baseline to compare)?
– I’m also looking at the Burton Step Ons (latest versions). Would you recommend these for a Capita Board? I currently have Burton bindings and boots – would these be ok as well?
– would you recommend any other boards or would The Equalizer still be good considering I enjoy freeride, and I would like to go faster with more confidence and carve hard with confidence without feeling too much chatter?
Hi Bec
Compared to the BOAF, I would say:
– The Equalizer has a little better edge hold in hard/icy conditions. Not as good as the Hel Yes in ice, but a little better than the BOAF.
– In terms of speed and carving on groomers, fairly similar to the BOAF – a different feel, but similar level of overall performance
– For the likes of powder and in trees and uneven terrain in general, the Equalizer is better
– Both the Equalizer and BOAF are light boards, which limits their dampness. For light boards both are pretty good at not feeling too much chatter, but when boards are that light, there’s usually a limit to how damp they can feel. That lightness is good for other things of course, but the one downside is that their only going to be so damp.
A Burton Step On setup should work fine with the Equalizer. And so long as your current Burton bindings are Re:Flex, rather than EST, then they’ll be fine with the Equalizer too. But if you could let me know the make/model of your Burton bindings/boots, just to make sure they’re a good flex match.
If you wanted to step up to something a little more aggressive, you could look at the likes of the Jones Women’s Flagship, or Hovercraft – or the Burton Story Board or GNU Barrett (as in see Top 5 Women’s Freeride Snowboards) but the Equalizer is a great choice as a more mellow freeride/bordering on all-mountain board, IMO.
Thanks Nate, my boots are the Burton Ritual in black (2016) and Burton Lexa EST (2015) for the bindings. My Day Trader is from 2014 (but purchased end of 2016). I’m keen to get the Equalizer from what you mentioned – should I also upgrade my boots and bindings? I also just realised my boots are a 7 rather than a 6.5 (although I normally wear a 6.5 on day to day basis, but was told to size up all those years ago). Would that affect the 146 length choice?
Hi Bec
Firstly, the 7 boot doesn’t affect the 146 length choice, IMO.
The Lexa EST won’t mount to the Equalizer unfortunately, as EST bindings only mount to the channel mounting system. If it were the Lexa Re:Flex, then they would have been compatible – and a good match to the Equalizer, IMO, but unfortunately the EST version isn’t compatible.
The Ritual would work. If you were being fussy, then ideally a little stiffer. But if they’re still in good condition and comfortable, then I would stick with them, particularly if you haven’t done a huge amount of days on them.
Thanks so much for your thoughtful replay and insight, Nate! I was looking at some charts and there was such a wide range of numbers. Thank you for narrowing it down! Have a wonderful weekend!
You’re very welcome Jen. Hope you had a great weekend and have a great season ahead!
Hi Nate. Great website you have and I love how you are so good at responding to all your replies and have great recommendations. I’m looking to buying my first set up and want to get the birds of a feather board. What is the best size I should buy? There are so many numbers in my range I just want to know what number would be most suitable. Also, What best boot and binding do you recommend to go best with it? I’m a Beg-Int but fast learner and want something that I can grow into/forever board and not have to keep buying boards. My stats are:
7.5 shoe size
All mountain
West coast
5’2 115lbs
Any insight would be much much appreciated! Thanks!
Hi Jen
Thanks for your message.
Length-wise, either the 140 or 142 would work. I’d be leaning 140, except for the width. Even with the 142, there is some risk it’s a little too narrow, depending on a few factors. i.e. if you have quite a straight back binding angle (e.g. 0-6 degrees), then that will increase the risk of boot drag. Will also depend on the model of your boot and how low profile it is. With some angle on the back foot and a not-too-bulky boot, you should be good width-wise, but I’d be leaning 142 to be safe.
Note that, IMO, the BOAF isn’t the ideal beg-int board, IMO, as I’m guessing you’ve already taken into account. But just note that it will be a bit of a steeper learning curve, but doable if you’re a quick learner.
Hope this helps with your decision