Hello and welcome to my CAPiTA Kazu Kokubo snowboard review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Kazu as a freeride snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Kazu a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other freeride snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: CAPiTA Kazu Kokubo Pro 2021
Price: $579
Style: Freeride
Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (6.5/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Rating Score: 87.5/100
Compared to other Men’s Freeride Boards
Out of the 36 men’s freeride snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Kazu’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Kazu’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freeride |
Price: | $579 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Medium-Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Directional Hybrid Camber - CAPiTA's "Alpine V2 Profile" |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Setback 0.5" (12.5mm) |
Base: | Sintered - CAPiTA's Hyperdrive base |
Weight: | Really Light |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
151 | 251 | 100-150 | 45-68 |
154 | 253 | 100-160 | 45-72 |
157 | 255 | 130-190 | 59-86 |
160 | 257 | 140-200+ | 63-90+ |
Who is the Kazu Most Suited To?
The Kazu is a great board for anyone who predominantly likes to ride powder when it's there and carve the groomers, when it's not. It's also something that's even better for those that like to send it in the powder, whether in the sidecountry or the backcountry - and a great board for riding trees.
Not for a beginner. You'll want to be a solid intermediate rider before riding this thing - but if you are, and the above description sounds like you, then this is a great choice.
The Kazu in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Kazu is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Capita Kazu Kokubo Pro 2021, 157cm (255mm waist width)
Date: February 25, 2020
Conditions: Lightly snowing picked up to moderate during testing. Some fresh over the prvious 48 hours too. Around 15cm I think.
Visibly wasn't bad though. Not 100% but 80-85%
-3°C (26.6°F) with wind. Feels about that. Cold but certainly not bone chilling cold
Off groomer some decent powder pockets in places. On groomer soft packed and quite cruddy
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 555mm (21.85″)
Stance Setback: Setback 12.5mm
Width at Inserts: 265mm (10.43") at front insert and 262mm (10.32") at back insert
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 175lbs
Rider Boot Size: US10 Salomon Lo-Fi
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Weight: 2600g (5lbs 12oz)
Weight per cm: 16.56 grams/cm
Average Weight per cm: 18.36 grams/cm*
*based on a small sample size of around 80 boards that I've weighed in 2019, 2020 & 2021 models. The Kazu is one of the lightest boards I've weighed! Capita boards are typically light, and the Kazu is even lighter than the average Capita board. On snow it felt nice and light too.
Didn't feel quite as light as the "Ultralight Powder Displacement Snowcraft" (which was heavier on the scales but felt lighter on the snow) but still felt really light on snow (light boards on the scales don't always feel light on snow and visa versa).
Damp or Chattery?
Right in the middle of the scale. Not ultra damp but definitely not chattery either.
Smooth or Snappy?
Again, right in the middle, but maybe just on the smooth side of the scale.
Powder
Felt really nice to ride in the powder I had. And that's no surprise, given the rocker in the nose, the taper and the little bit of a longer nose than tail, and little bit of setback. Not as surfy as something like the Ultralight Powder Snowcraft I rode on the same day, but fun nonetheless.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Really nice on a carve. For a board this good in powder, this is quite a precise carving board.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: Nice and maneuverable at slower speeds. Has that rare ability to feel stable at speed, but still be quite agile at slower speeds.
Turning: Easy enough to initiate a turn and good energy/spring out of a turn. The more you put in the more you get back - but you don't have to put in your everything just to turn it. You can get a little casual on it.
Skidded Turns: Not super easy/forgiving of skidded turns, so definitely not for the beginner. But not catchy feeling either.
Speed
Nice and stable at speed. For all its other qualities it has a remarkable ability of having good stability at speed.
Uneven Terrain
Nimble enough to weave through bumps and forgiving enough to absorb them.
Good in crud too.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Jumps
This is one of the better freeride boards for jumps. So if you're looking for a freeride board, but don't want to sacrifice too much for jumps, this is definitely worth checking out.
Pop: Good pop which is relatively easy to access. When you put more in you get more out too. So you can access some with very little effort, but you can get more if you load it up.
Approach: A good balance of being stable for faster approaches but nimble enough for trickier approaches
Landing: Nice and solid on landings and has some forgiveness for when you get it a little wrong.
Side-hits: Good combination of pop and agility. It's not ultra agile, but decently agile, particularly for it's flex, and the combination makes it a fun option for sidehits on the way to that powder stash (or in that powder stash).
Small jumps/Big jumps: Small is OK, but comes to its sweet spot more with medium to large air.
Switch
It's definitely not something you can't ride switch, but not ideally suited to it either.
Spins
Good enough for getting spins around, and good pop for getting the air you need. Not amazing landing and taking off switch for 1s, 5s etc, but doable for sure.
Butters
Not the hardest I've tried to butter, but not super buttery either. At best 3/5, but maybe more 2.5/5.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 4.0 | 16/20 |
TURNING | 4.0 | 8/10 |
POWDER | 4.5 | 18/20 |
SPEED | 4.0 | 16/20 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 4.0 | 12/15 |
JUMPS | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SWITCH | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 87.5/100 |
The Kazu is a great weapon for attacking the sidecountry, the trees and carving up the groomers in between. It's also one of those freeride boards that's also really good for jumps and handles uneven terrain really well.
It's a freeride/powder board with the versatility of an all-mountain board.
Versus something like the Navigator I rode on the same day, the Kazu has just that bit more bite, bit more precision - a little less surfy. And when you put the energy in, it gave it back - that's the same with any board, but versus the Navigator, and the average board, it had a higher ceiling of the energy you could get back. But you didn't have to put a ton of effort in just to get it to ride - you could still ride it a little casual when you felt like it.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Kazu, 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 freeride snowboard options, or if you want to compare how the Kazu compares to other freeride snowboards, then check out the next link.
Hello and welcome to my Capita Kazu Kokubo review.
Hi Nate
I was wondering if I can get your thoughts on some boards I’m struggling to decide between, I’m 5′ 10″, 160lb, boots size 9-9.5. The boards I’m looking at are Capita Kazu, Arbor Bryan Iguchi pro camber, Burton flightier attendant, Lib tech BRD C3. I ride a little bit of backcountry, mostly sidecountry to groomers, pow, trees, some jumps no jibs and I like a decent amount of speed. Do you have any insight in comparing these boards and any suggestions?
Hi Bryce
Thanks for your message.
I haven’t ridden the Lib Tech BRD, but I’d say it would be suitable for what you’re describing, but give any more than that on that one.
For carving and speed, I would say Flight Attendant (FA) over the Kazu and Iguchi Pro Camber. For powder Kazu and FA over the Iguchi. For uneven Terrain, I’d take the Kazu over the other 2. For jumps, Kazu over the other 2 as well. Kazu for trees for me too. I think based on what you’re describing, I would be leaning Kazu out of those 3. The other 2 would certainly be suitable for what you’re describing, but I’d be leaning Kazu.
Size-wise, I would go 157 for Kazu, 156 for FA and 156 for Iguchi, for you. Unless you have strong preferences for riding shorter or longer than that. Got to take preferences into account, but purely based on specs and riding style, those are the sizes I would be looking at for you.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hi nate , I recently purchased some of the atlas Kazu pros and an now considering the board to go with them. 157 would be my size.
262 at front insert is that the first holes or at the reference point? it’s 265 back foot insert? Just checking as usually it’s wider on the front inserts when there’s taper? Sorry I’m just trying to weigh up if it’s worth getting being wide enough. Which I think it is.
Cheers
Tim
Hi Tim
Thanks for the message – and for pointing out my mistake! I had those inserts figures reversed. You’re correct that typically with taper the back insert is narrower. Unless there’s a really big setback, and then the back insert can sometimes be wider or the same, even on a tapered board. But the Kazu only has a moderate setback, so you were right to question that. And I just double checked my notes and 262mm was definitely the back insert and 265mm the front insert. I will correct on the review now. And those measurements are taken at reference stance.
Width-wise, I think you should be alright with 262mm on the back insert with 10.5 Tactical ADVs. With longer profile 10.5s, it could be pushing it, depending on bindings angles and riding style, but I think you’ll be fine in the Tactical ADVs.
Hey Nate, awesome review! I am just over 5”10 and 168 lbs, I am curious on which size would be best suited to me?
Thanks
Hi Mitchell
Thanks for your message.
It’s a tight call between the 154 and 157. If you could let me know your boot size, that would really help.
Hi Nate,
So I’ve been looking into getting a board and I am more of an All-Mountain rider but Kazu really caught my eye. I know your review is from a Freeride standpoint but how does it hold up as an All-Mountain board? The reason I ask is the board really sticks out to me but I don’t ride in crazy powder conditions. Thanks for your time.
Hi Denis
Thanks for your message.
Stands up really well as an all-mountain board, IMO. It’s a good ride on groomers and still good for jumps. The biggest thing is whether you like to ride switch much or not. It’s not something that you can’t ride switch, but it’s less suitable for riding switch than all-mountain boards – and it’s not great of butters, or setting up/landing switch for spins, that kind of thing. If those things aren’t something you’re that worried about, then it would work well as a daily driver, all-mountain board, IMO.
Hope this helps
I’m 5’9” , 175lbs with a size 9 boot size. Would you recommend the 154 or the 157? Also I’m thinking about the union Force bindings with this board. Would love to get your opinion on the size and binding recommendations. Thank you!
Hi Denis
I’ve ridden the Kazu in both the 154 and 157 and liked both and kind of torn between the 2 for myself as well, but I think ultimately I would go 157. Testing the 154 I was 185lbs and testing the 157 I was 175lbs – so actually lighter when I tested the longer board. But I didn’t mind the 154 at all, even at 185lbs. Note that this is at 6’0″, and with a size 10 boot.
For you, it’s a really tough call, but I think just with boot size, I would be ever so slightly leaning towards the 154 for you. Just note that at 154, with your specs, it might feel subtly more maneuverable, subtly softer flexing, subtly less stable at speed, compared to how I felt the 157, but not to the same extent as I would feel the 154 compared to the 157 (hope that makes sense!). i.e. what I mean is that the difference I would feel in those factors on the 154 would be more pronounced (less subtle) in comparison to how I felt the 157.
But yeah, long story short, I am slightly leaning 154 for you.
If you do go 154, then I think the Force would work well as bindings. If you go 157, then maybe something a little stiffer to better drive the 157 which will feel a little bigger/stiffer feeling. Something like the Atlas or Falcor, if you were going Union – and lots of other options too, if you wanted them. But yeah, if you go 154, I think the Force would work fine (or the Strata).
Hi Mate. I have UK 11 size boots (Vans Infuse 29cm mondo) and I was thinking of buying Kazu Kokubo Pro 154 (waist 25.3 cm). Do you think that should I buy it or to look for another wider powder board ?
US11 sorry
Hi Alex
Thanks for your message – and for the correction. With UK11s definitely too narrow, IMO.
With US11s, it’s still probably too narrow, IMO. The width at the back insert on the 154 is around 260mm. Something I am certainly comfortable with with US10s, but not sure I would be with US11s. I’ve ridden as narrow as 255mm at the waist with US10s and didn’t run into any issues, but 260mm on 10s would be roughly the equivalent of 250mm on US11s. The Infuse are low profile, so that does help (only 2.3cm on the outersole versus mondo on the pair that I measured). So for your 11s, I would expect the outersole to be roughly 31.3cm. That’s going to mean around 5.3cm total overhang on the back insert (or 2.65cm per edge if your boot are perfectly centered), with a zero degree binding angle. A bit more angle on the binding gives you a bit more leeway. Certainly on the toe edge, I wouldn’t want to go any more than 2.5cm overhang max, and even then I’d prefer it to be less.
I don’t think it’s undoable, but it’s definitely borderline. One other thing is how you ride. If you like to get deep in your carves, that makes it less doable. I think it’s possible that you get away with it – especially if you were to center your boots so that you had mildly more overhang on your heel edge, but it’s pushing it a little. And if you’re riding it in softer snow, then there’s more chance of drag too.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hey Nate, you rip. This board seems to be wait I am looking for, but I wear 11.5 boots, 5´11 height and 176kg. You think the Kazu 160 x 257 waist could fit my boots with no drag?
Hi Alan
It would be risky, IMO. WIth 11.5s, you’re likely to have a boot length around 32.5cm and the width at inserts on the Kazu I would estimate to be around 26.3cm at the back insert. That’s total overhang of 6.2cm (3.1cm per toe and heel edge with perfect centering). With a bit more of an angle on your back foot, that would reduce a little. It’s more overhang than ideal, IMO. If you have low profile boots and ride with a reasonable angle on your back foot, and aren’t doing any super aggressive carves (like euro carves), then you’d likely be fine, but otherwise, there would likely be risk of boot drag.
Hope this helps
Dear Nate, I am 176cm (5’8″) and 67kg (148 lbs) and not a particularly powerful rider (long thin legs). I wanted a board more focus for mostly Japow and some all mountain. Would you recommend the Mercury 155cm or the Kazu? And which size for the Kazu? 151? 154? Thank you very much!
Hi Jeremy
Thanks for your message.
I think the Kazu would be better for Japow. Also it’s maybe a little softer flexing. On paper Capita rates Kazu 6.5/10 and the Mercury 7/10 for flex. The Mercury by my feel is more like a 6.5/10. The Kazu feels stiffer in hand to flex – more like a 7/10, but on snow felt more 6.5/10 or even 6/10.
So, flex-wise (going with the fact that a little softer means it should be easier to power if you don’t have that much power) the Kazu might also be a little better. Overall, I would go Kazu for you, based on what you’re describing.
Size-wise, you’re on track with 154 or 151. Both would work but there are pros and cons to both sizes.
The 151 would be more maneuverable and easier to power than the 154.
The 154 would offer better float in powder, better stability at speed and better for long wide carves.
Hope this helps with your decision
Thank you so much Nate, you are a legend!
You’re very welcome Jeremy. Hope you have an awesome season!
You are the best. Cheers.
You’re very welcome Mike. Hope you’re having/continue to have an awesome season!
Hi,
great review! How would you compare it with the 2018 Kazu, some say a bit stiffer so even more in the all-mountain direction, making it even more interesting. Thoughts on that?
Hi Tim
Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to ride the 2018 model, so I couldn’t say for sure – but they are supposed to have stiffened it up marginally. Capita rates the 2018 model 6.5/10 and they rated the 2017 model 6/10 (which I would say was pretty accurate). So yeah, supposed to be a little bit stiffer but I couldn’t say for sure.
Ok thanks Nate!
Still haven’t tried the 2018 one dude?
Hi Mike
No, unfortunately haven’t had a chance to ride the 2018 model yet.
Hi Nate,
From your experience from the previous model, what will be the best size ( for 2018 model) for height 165cm and weight 70kg in order to float easily in pow but also carve through the trees and play in the park a little?
Hi Mike
I’d say the 151cm would be the best size for your specs. I would put you on around a 152 for an all-mountain board – and 153, 154 for a more freeride/powder oriented board. However, this is the kind of board, IMO, that you go a little shorter for. And for the trees and the park the 151 is going to be a much better size for you, IMO than the 154. And even though the 154 would float better in powder, I’d say the 151 would do a good job for your specs – and certainly better than other boards that aren’t as oriented for powder as this one (it’s got a big wide nose (296mm – which is rather wide for a 151) that’s rockered up and a narrower tail, and it’s camber right back to the tail – this board is designed to sink the tail and raise the nose).
But yeah, long story short, I’d definitely say 151 for you.
Hope this helps