Hello and welcome to my Capita Mega Merc review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Mega Merc as an aggressive all-mountain snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Mega Merc a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other aggressive all-mountain snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Capita Mega Merc 2022
Price: $799
Style: Aggressive All-Mountain
Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (6.5/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Stiff (7.5/10)
Rating Score: 90.4/100
Compared to other Men’s Aggressive All-Mountain Boards
Out of the 19 men’s aggressive all-mountain snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Mega Merc’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Mega Merc’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Aggressive All-Mountain |
Price: | $799 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Chattery/Damp: |  |
Smooth/Snappy: |  |
Playful/Aggressive: |  |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Setback 12.5mm (0.5") |
Base: | Sintered (Capita's "Hyperdrive" base) |
Weight: | Felt lighter than normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (CM) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
153 | 253 | 100-160 | 45-72 |
155 | 255 | 120-180 | 54-81 |
157 | 257 | 130-190 | 59-86 |
159 | 259 | 140-200 | 63-90 |
161 | 261 | 160-220+ | 72-99+ |
156W | 261 | 120-180 | 54-81 |
158W | 263 | 130-190 | 59-86 |
160W | 265 | 140-200+ | 63-90+ |
*note that the 156W, 158W and 160W are new sizes as of the 2023 model.
Who is the Mega Merc Most Suited To?
The Capita Mega Merc is for anyone wanting a stiffer, more aggressive board capable of bombing hills/carving down the mountain, while also being capable on jumps and dealing with crud/chunder.
It has its weaknesses like any board does. It won't excel in deeper powder but it's also not bad there. Nor will it butter or jib easily but if you enjoy doing everything else, especially aggressively, the Mega Merc has got you covered.
Not a board I would recommend to beginners or intermediates as it is just too much but for anyone who is an advanced/expert, this is certainly a board to consider
The Mega Merc in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Mega Merc is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Capita Mega Merc 2023, 157cm (257mm waist width)
Date: March 24, 2022
Conditions
Sunny with barely a cloud in the sky.
Temperature: 30°F (-1°C) in the morning, warming up to 36°F (2°C) in the afternoon.
24hr snow: 0" (0cm)
48hr snow: 0" (0cm)
7 day snow: 27" (69cm)
On groomer: Hard packed but not icy.
Off groomer: Icy and crunchy to start but softened up as the day went on.
Setup
Bindings angles: +12/-9
Stance width: 555mm (22″)
Stance Setback: 12.5mm (0.5")
Width at Inserts: 264mm (10.39") at front insert and 266mm (10.47") at back insert.
Tester: Fraser
Rider Height: 6'1"
Rider Weight: 180lbs
Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Tactical Lexicon ADV
Bindings Used: Fix Yale: M
Weight: 2720grams (6lbs 0oz)
Weight per cm: 17.32 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. The Mega Merc is light on the scales and felt a bit lighter than normal on snow as well.
Powder
Unfortunately on this day we had no powder to test in but looking at the specs the Mega Merc should be decent without being amazing.
It has a directional shape helping to sink the tail in deeper snow, while the rocker in the nose and tail help to give it some float when needed too. Overall it can handle decent amounts of powder but isn't going to excel on really deep days.
Carving
Really enjoyable to carve and I never noticed any washiness. Overall it felt best for long drawn out carves to me, as opposed to shorter/tighter carves.
Turning
Ease of Turning/Slashes: Some effort was required to release the tail but overall making turns/slashes was fairly un-catchy. But you couldn't get too lazy.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: Not overly quick edge-to-edge at slower speeds but not terribly sluggish either. The rocker in the nose and tail coupled with the Wha-Pow tech allows you to be more relaxed and less on top of the edges when at slower speeds, than you otherwise would be. But this is still a board that feels best on edge.
Catchiness: While it did feel less catchy at slower speeds, the Mega Merc could feel a bit catchy at moderate-higher speeds when you got a bit too casual and didn't lean as hard into your edges.
Speed
The Mega Merc had a considerable amount of glide allowing it to go really fast when desired, which was perfect for bombing hills. With all the speed came stability and dampness too and it never felt like you were pushing it too hard. It just always had more to give.
Uneven Terrain
Crud: Handled crud/chunder with ease, smashing right through it whenever needed. Felt like it would take a lot to throw you off - and I never found that limit.
Trees/Bumps: It required some effort to get it moving quickly between edges, particularly at slower speeds, but when you put the effort in, you could get through trees pretty well.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Jumps
Performed decently well on jumps.
Pop: Overall an average amount of pop. Some of it was pretty easy to access, but to get most of it, you had to wind it up a bit.
Approach: Pretty good, without being amazing, for making last second adjustments and really stable. I never noticed any chatter of note.
Landing: The Mega Mercs stiffness helped absorb landings nicely, which made it good for landings off larger jumps.
Side-hits: Enjoyable on most side his. It was capable of handling rough approaches and landings and the pop was solid enough to get some extra air.
Small jumps/Big Jumps: A great option on any size jump. I really didn't have a preference.
Switch
Even though it is a directional twin board with a setback stance, it's only a minimal amount, which allowed it to feel really similar when riding switch. Transitions weren't perfect but were fun so long as you didn't get too sloppy with them.
Spins
Capable of setting up switch takeoffs/landings with a bit of effort and practice. The transitions felt decent too and once the board was in the air it didn't feel heavy, allowing you to whip it around for 180s and 360s pretty easily.
Butters
Initiating butters on the Mega Merc requires you to apply some muscle, due to its stiffness. But leaning into it and using your weight is well worth it as it locks into place nicely when you get there. But certainly takes some doing.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SPEED | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
CARVING | 4.5 | 18/20 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 3.0 | 3/5 |
JUMPS | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
POWDER | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
CRUD/CHUNDER | 4.5 | 9/10 |
TREES/BUMPS | 3.0 | 3/5 |
SWITCH | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.4/100 |
The Capita Mega Merc is a capable board almost anywhere for the right rider. It's versatile but in a more aggressive way, which makes it really enjoyable for those that like their riding fast and hard.
Speed and carving are its two strongest attributes, while also being on jumps too. Don't expect it to rip powder like it does crud/chunder but it's still pretty decent in pow, particularly compared to other boards in this category.
Overall, if you can handle the Mega Merc, it's hard to find many faults in it. It's pretty well rounded.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Mega Merc, 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 aggressive all-mountain snowboard options, or if you want to compare how the Mega Merc compares to other aggressive all-mountain snowboards, then check out the next link.
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