Hello and welcome to my Capita Ultrafear review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Ultrafear as a freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Ultrafear a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Capita Ultrafear 2023
Price: $499
Style: Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium (5.5/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating Score: 85.3/100
Compared to other Men’s Freestyle Boards
Of the 36 current model aggressive all-mtn freestyle snowboards that we tested:
❄️ The Ultrafear ranked 13th out of 36
Overview of the Ultrafear’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Ultrafear's specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freestyle |
Price: | $499 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: | |
Flex: | |
Feel: | |
Smooth/Snappy: | |
Dampness: | |
Playful/Aggressive: | |
Edge-hold: | |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Camber (Capita's Resort V1 Profile) |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Sintered/Extruded (Capita's "Superdrive FX") |
Weight: | Felt Light |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
---|---|---|---|
147 | 248 | 90-150 | 40-68 |
149 | 250 | 90-150 | 40-68 |
151 | 252 | 100-150 | 45-68 |
153 | 254 | 110-170 | 50-77 |
153W | 259 | 110-170 | 50-77 |
155 | 255 | 120-180 | 54-81 |
155W | 260 | 130-190 | 59-86 |
157 | 256 | 140-200+ | 63-90+ |
Who is the Ultrafear Best Suited To?
The Ultrafear is best suited to those looking to ride park first and foremost. And when not in the park you'd likely be buttering around and seeking out sidehits - though it also does well in trees, when there's no powder in there.
In powder it will be a sinker, so not the board for that.
Quite easy to ride though not quite beginner beginner friendly.
The Ultrafear in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Ultrafear is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Capita Ultrafear, 2023 155cm (255mm 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.
Set Up
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 555mm (22″)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 265mm (10.43")
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 180lbs
Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Tactical ADV
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Control Board for Control Laps: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
Weight: 2780grams (6lb 2oz)
Weight per cm: 18.29 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. A little lighter than normal. On snow felt noticeably lighter than normal.
Powder
We didn't have any to test in, but it from the feel of the board and the specs, it's not going to do great in powder. It will handle shallow powder OK, but once it gets deeper the Ultrafear is likely to be a nose diver.
It's a centered twin without any real rocker in it.
Carving & Turning
Carving: The older Ultrafear's weren't much to carve with, when they had a flat to rocker camber profile. But their new hybrid camber profile has really improved this board in this area. Still never going to be a carving master, but certainly improved and fun for shorter/sharper carves at not-too-fast a speed.
Turns/slashing: Really effortless to turn and slash with this board.
Maneuverability at Slow Speeds: Nice and nimble at slower speeds, quick to switch edges.
Skidded Turns: Fairly catch-free. It's not the most catch-free ever, but it's not catchy either.
Speed
Whilst the camber now helps it to be a little better at speed, it's still not a bomber. Getting into moderately fast speeds you feel it get a bit wobbly and you feel the chatter.
Uneven Terrain
Crud: Gets bucked around in crud fairly easy but it is easy to correct and maneuver.
Bumps: Nice and agile for weaving between bumps.
Let's Break this Text up with a video
Jumps
Overall fun for jumps with nice easy access pop.
Pop: Doesn't quite have the pop of other Capita boards like the DOA or indoor Survival, but still decent pop - and it's the easiest pop to access of those mentioned. Just doesn't have as much to give when you wind it up.
Approach: Not ultra stable but easy to speed check/make adjustments to your line.
Landing: Not a stomper but stable enough. And quite forgiving of bad landings.
Side-hits: Really fun for sidehits. Easy access pop, good maneuverability, light weight.
Small jumps/Big Jumps: Best for small to medium jumps.
Switch
It's a true twin, so no surprise it's good for riding switch. Transition to/from switch is nice and easy too.
Spins
Really easy to get the spin around, it's light and has this easy pop that helps get the air time you need. For smaller spins, it's just about ideal. Not as suitable for bigger tricks though.
Jibbing
Really good. Easy to setup, easy to pop onto and off features.
Butters
Nice and easy to butter.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
---|---|---|
JUMPS | 4.0 | 16/20 |
JIBBING | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SPINS | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
SWITCH | 4.5 | 9/10 |
BUTTERING | 4.5 | 9/10 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
POWDER | 2.0 | 2/5 |
SPEED | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
CARVING | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 85.3/100 |
The Ultrafear is a playful, snappy fun board that is most at home in the park.
It has become better at carving since receiving camber in the profile, but biggest benefit from that camber, for this board, is how it makes jumps, sidehits and spins more fun.
If butters, park riding and sidehits are your main stay, then the Ultrafear is a tool worth considering.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re interested in the Ultrafear or want to research current prices and availability or are are looking to buy online, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other freestyle snowboard options or want to see how the Ultrafear compares to others in the same category, check out the next link.
Marek says
Well unless you suggest something else that might be more gracious to me . I was considering Bateleon evil twin plus or disaster plus as well as capita indoor survive , capita spin break resort , capita pathfinder and ultrafear . I will add that I have been riding for 7 years and geared so far towards Caving what I love and fast aggressive mountain riding . Now I want to taste the fun, spins and various flat tricks.
Nate says
Hi Marek
For ease of learning flat-tricks, spins butters etc, the Ultrafear would be a great option. The Pathfinder and Disaster Plus would also work well, IMO. The Evil Twin Plus and Resort Twin would be OK, but they would be more challenging to learn on and the Indoor Survival a little more challenging again. So, if you want the most playful feel and ease of learning, then the Ultrafear, Disaster Plus or Pathfinder would be your best bets, IMO.
Marek says
Hey Nate . I’m looking for a new board for myself to play flat tricks , butters and all the fun at the top . He wants to start learning to freestyle . I’m thinking between 153-155 comparing my old yes basic 155 board it’s more like 155 in performance but effective edge to 153 . I know it’s meant for something completely different . I would like something for easy spin . I am 181 cm and 74-75 kg in weight . The boots are ride lasso 28,5 cm . I fit in two ranges what will be better for me to learn ?
Nate says
Hi Marek, thanks for your message.
I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 158 but this is a board you’d ride shorter and for the use of learning butters and flat tricks, I think the 153 would work well. If you’re going to be riding with angles like +15/-15 or similar and aren’t going to be laying any eurocarves, or similar, on it, then I think it should be wide enough for your 28.5cm Lasso’s. If you are riding flatter binding angles or want to carve deep, you could also look at the 153W.
Hope this helps with your decision
Elijah says
What would a 147 be like for me? Im 150lbs, 5’9, size 9 boot. Looking for a really playful park board. How would jumps/jibs/butters feel at that size?
Nate says
Hi Elijah
Thanks for your message.
In the 147 it should be super playful and super easy to butter, spin and pop. It would likely lack stability for faster approaches to bigger jumps and might feel a bit wobbly on landings from bigger air as well. If the jumps you’re doing aren’t going to be big, then that wouldn’t be a problem. I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 154/155, so it is sizing down quite a bit, but you do want to size down for a park board like this anyway and if you want to make it especially playful, then the 147 would work, IMO. And the width should be good for your boot size too.
Hope this helps with your decision
Ivan says
Thank you for the awesome reviews. Could you tell me if Capita Ultrafear 157 can accommodate large Union Ultra bindings without hang out?
Nate says
HI Ivan
Thanks for your message.
Couldn’t say for sure, having not specifically had the Large Ultras on the 157 Ultrafear, but I think you should be fine.
The Ultrafear should be around 26.6cm wide at the inserts, assuming a 22″ (560mm) stance width. The Medium Ultra is 23.8cm on the footbed and 23.6cm on the baseplate. I haven’t measured a Large Ultra, but based on how much bigger some of the other Large models are, I wouldn’t imagine it to be much longer at the baseplate than around 25cm, which should fit fine. But, again, I don’t know for sure, so no guarantees.
Hope this kind of helps
Diman says
Hi Nate! Thanks for reviews it’s always pleasant to read them.
I’m confident advanced rider and looking to replace my Outsiders 2019 with something more flexy, but remain ability have fun in park (jumps small-medium, side hits, buttering and doing first steps at jibbing)and ride piste with friends at moderate speed . On my radar are: Artifact Pro, Indoor Survival, Ultrafear and Agent). Which board you would advice for I looking for, thanks?
Nate says
Hi Diman
Thanks for your message.
Of those boards, I haven’t tested the Artifact Pro yet (though I have one sitting next to me, which I’ll be taking out this week) but for the rest, it depends on how much softer you wanted to go vs the Outsiders. I would consider those boards, flex-wise:
– Outsiders – 6.5/10 flex
– Indoor Survival – 5/10
– Agent – 4.5/10
– Ultrafear – 4/10
But I would be leaning Indoor Survival (potentially Artifact Pro, but again, not sure yet), given that you still want to maintain decent stability at speed.
Hope this helps
Diman says
Thanks for reply!
So I will come back with some questions after you will review Artifact Pro.
Nate says
You’re very welcome Diman. And yes, feel free to come back to me once I’ve done the Artifact Pro review
Kevin says
Hi, is there any difference between the Ultrafear and the Ultrafear Japan Limited? Because on the website it says the Japan one is better for all mountain. I’m looking for a board to progress on and wont be doing much park but I love the desgin of this board. I’m thinking since I won’t be doing any hard carvings or going super fast this would still be a good board for me. Thanks!
Nate says
Hi Kevin
Thanks for your message.
I wasn’t aware of the Japan Ltd version, but just going through and comparing the specs of both, they look to be identical, except for that diagram showing it being less urban and more all-mountain. I suspect, they didn’t adjust that diagram for the Japan Ltd model, so I would just assume it’s the same as the regular Ultrafear. But if you’re not going to be going super fast or doing any hard carves it could work as a board to progress on.
Hope this helps
Bob says
Hi Nate,
Great site! I’m looking at the Ultrafear for our son. 23 years young, 6′ 1-2″ about 180 pounds and has a Thirty Two Lashed boot in an 11.5. He is an expert (done Mt Washington and Stowe backcountry) but riding 80%park/ jibbing and 20% tight New England trees. I found a 153 Wide Ultrafear at a killer price at our local mountain. Would that size/width be apropritate?
Thanks for any help!
Bob in Maine
Nate says
Hi Bob
I wouldn’t say it’s a definite no-go on that size but I think the 155W would be a better size for your son. I know it doesn’t sound much different being only 2cm more and only 1.5mm wider but on both counts, the 155W is more ideal.
You usually want to size down for riding in the park and it’s also an advantage in the trees – so certainly sizing down a bit is good. But I put your son on a 161-162cm “all-Mountain” length. Going down to a 155 would be appropriate given how he likes to ride. Going down to a 153 is going down quite a bit.
But like I say it’s not out of the question. Some people like to really size down a lot. For me (6’0″, 185lbs) I would get the 155. i.e. I wouldn’t want to go as low as the 153 – but some might. What size does your son currently ride? If he’s already riding a size close to that, then it might make it more appealing but if he has to drop down a lot it might be a bit too far to go.
I hope this helps with your decision.
Bob says
Thanks for the help Nate. He is currently on a regular width 2015/2016 Capita Horrorscope 155cm. He enjoys the 155 and thought that maybe the 153 wide would work. I know it’s only a great deal if it fits!
Bob
Nate says
Hi Bob
If he’s used to the Horrorscope 155 regular, then the 153W Ultrafear could work – it wouldn’t be going down too much from what he’s used to and that little bit more width would add back a bit of stability. That said, the Horrorscope 155 does have a 256mm waist (and the ultra fear 153W a 258mm waist) so not too much wider – and you would be down-sizing in terms of effective edge (1193 on the 155 Horrorscope and 1160 on the 153W Ultrafear).