Hello and welcome to my GNU Headspace review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Headspace as a freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Headspace a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: GNU Headspace
Price: $559
Style: Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating Score: 88.0/100
Compared to other Men’s Freestyle Boards
Out of the 37 men’s freestyle snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Headspace’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Headspace’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freestyle |
Price: | $559 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Smooth/Snappy: |  |
Dampness: |  |
Playful/Aggressive: |  |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Rocker But mostly camber. GNU's "C3 Camber" |
Shape: | True Twin - Asymmetrical |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Sintered |
Weight: | Felt Light |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
146 | 247 | 85-155 | 39-70 |
149 | 250 | 90-160 | 41-73 |
152 | 250 | 100-180 | 45-82 |
155 | 254 | 110-200 | 50-91 |
155W | 264 | 120-240 | 54-109 |
158 | 255 | 120-240 | 54-109 |
* 146 is a new size for 2023 model
Who is the Headspace Best Suited To?
The Headspace is most suited to someone looking for a mostly camber board to be used predominantly in the park - or for freestyle over the mountain, so long as you're not looking for break-neck speed.
For someone that likes to butter, spin, jump, ollie, everything in sight, this thing is super fun.
Not quite beginner suitable, but a pretty easy going ride, so low intermediate or up, looking to step up their freestyle game.
The Headspace in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Headspace is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: GNU Headspace, 2022 152cm (250mm waist width)
Date: April 9, 2021
Conditions: Snowing! Visibility around 70%
Temperatute -4°C (25°F) - so quite cold for April!. -9°C (16°F) with wind chill.
15kph (10mph) winds.
24 hour snow: 15cm (6") (and more snow while we were testing)
7 day snow: 20cm (8")
On Groomer: Was a little crunchy and even icy in patches to start, which was really surprising given the snow. But it was good in other patches. Then as the day wore on, the snow got softer and softer.
Off Groomer: Pretty good but a little crunchy with some icy patches on steeper slopes to start. As the snow kept falling it got better and better though, until it felt like a proper pow day by the end.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 560mm (22″)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 258mm (10.16")
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 175lbs
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: 18.43 grams/cm*
*based on a sample size of around 100 models that I’ve weighed in 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 models. So the Headspace is pretty much right on normal - just a little lighter. It felt light on snow, but part of that is that it was a 152 which is shorter than I'd typically ride. Part of that is that softer flexing boards tend to feel a little lighter on snow.
Powder
We had a bit of fresh snow but nothing super deep or anything. It was fine, but in deeper stuff, this thing would nose dive pretty easy. There's almost no nose and tail past the contact points, it's twin, centered and very little rocker to speak of. Not the board for powder, IMO.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Felt great to carve when it came to short sharp, lower speed carves, but not so much for longer, higher speed drawn out carves. Whilst the sidecut isn't super deep, it's still better suited to shorter, sharper carves.
Turning: Effortless to turn. I was riding the 152 which helped in that factor (I would likely ride this board in a 155).
Maneuverability at Slow Speeds: Super nimble edge to edge at slower speeds. Again though part of that was size, but the 155 would still have been nice and agile.
Skidded Turns: For how effortless and snappy this board was it wasn't super forgiving of skidded turns. Not super punishing either though
Speed
Quite hard to pick up speed and got squirrelly fairly quickly - and the glide wasn't great. Factoring in the shorter size that would have exacerbated this, it's still never going to be a bomber, but that's not what it's designed for, to be fair.
Uneven Terrain
Crud: Gets bucked around pretty easy in crud, but it is easy to correct after getting bucked around.
Bumps: So easy/good for maneuvering between bumps. So fun in the trees. And hugs bumps going over nicely too.
Let's Break this Text up with a video
Jumps
Really fun for jumps.
Pop: Good pop and super easy to access.
Approach: Not super stable and wasn't the easiest to get the speed needed for bigger jumps, but part of that was size. Really easy to correct and adjust your line though.
Landing: Decently solid on landings, even in the smaller size - and nice and forgiving of errors with not-so-perfect landings.
Side-hits: So fun. Super nimble, so lining even the trickiest approaches was easy - and was nice and forgiving for any uneven landings - that plus good easy access pop, made this thing super fun for sidehits.
Small jumps/Big Jumps: Small, but fine on medium too.
Switch
Basically perfection riding switch.
Spins
The way it rides switch, plus the ease of the spin, plus that easy pop. Just so easy and fun to spin on. Only reason it doesn't get full marks is that it's not as ideal for going big.
Jibbing
It's good on approach, good popping off the end, etc. No complaints on jibs except that it wasn't perfectly un-catchy. When going board slide didn't feel super confident on it. But otherwise good.
Butters
Super easy and fun to butter. Plenty of press in the nose and tail.
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 |
JIBBING | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SPINS | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
SWITCH | 5.0 | 10/10 |
BUTTERING | 4.5 | 9/10 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
POWDER | 1.5 | 1.5/5 |
SPEED | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
CARVING | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 88.0/100 |
The Headspace is a fun, snappy, park/freestyle deck, that loves jumps, butters, sidehits, ollies, spins etc. If you want to find everything you can on the groomer to hit, butter when there's nothing to find and finish off (or start in or simply lap the park all day) in the park, then the Head Space might be the right tool for you to get creative on.
Don't expect a bomber, but for creative, fun freestyle riding, this thing is dynamite!
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Headspace, 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 freestyle snowboard options, or if you want to compare the Headspace to other freestyle snowboards, then check out the next link.
Any difference with Headspace between 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and current model?
Hi TJ
Thanks for your message.
As far as I know it’s stayed the same all that time. The only difference I noticed was from the 2019 to 2020 model the tip and tail shape changed a bit – it got more rounded. But I doubt that changed the ride. Because it’s a span of 5 years there may have been some subtle changes in production processes and that kind of thing that might have subtly changed it over the years, but otherwise don’t think it’s really changed in that time.
Hi Nate,
Thanks again so much for all your sizing advice.
I found a good deal on the Gnu Headspace in a 155cm. Knowing that I’m 150 pounds with a size 9boot who likes to cruise the whole mountain, carve hard, ride switch and hit park – do you think I can get away with that size?
Or should I really stick to the 152cm. Looking forward to your advice. Thanks!
Hi Ryan
I feel like the 155 would be a little big for your specs for the park. You’d likely get away with it, but I think it’s on the bigger end of your range, so for park, I think it might feel a little big for you. I’d go 152 if you can.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Dan here again, I’m deciding if I should add this board to my quiver, I currently have a doa and warpig, I find the doa a bit too aggressive for jib progression and want to try something softer with magnetraction for icy firm days. Would the 152 be ok size for my 10.5 boots at 140 lb? It’s primarily gonna be used in park and cruising around looking for side hits. I know I won’t be able to hard carve but wondering if it’s way too narrow.
Hi Dan
Thanks for your message.
The 152 is narrow for 10.5s, IMO, but if you’re not pulling any big carves on it, you’ll probably get away with it. What size DOA did you get in the end? 154? If so, then the 152 Headspace is going to be pretty much the same width at the inserts, so if you haven’t had any boot drag issues on the DOA (assuming it’s the 154 you got and not the 153W), then I don’t think you should get any on the 152 Headspace.
Thanks for the quick reply. I ended up with a 154 doa, it’s a great jump board but harder to progress on rails due to the aggressive flex. I don’t usually get too much boot out on the doa unless it’s a super slush day, but I’ve decided to use warpig on slushy days. I’ll do some more thinking, mainly want to use the headspace for firm days or those Vancouver night riding death rinks.
Hey Dan. Yeah, then you should prob be OK on the Headspace. Less likely to drag boot in harder conditions – or when it’s like an ice rink!
Hey Nate, first off thanks for the advice about a board for my girlfriend a few weeks ago, went with a Salomon gypsy and she’s had a blast on it! Now I am looking at a new board upgrading from a 2011 Burton whammy bar (soft rockered jib board) and malavitas. Hoping for something that is also playful but more aggressive, poppy, and grippy on the icy conditions here in PA and this seems perfect.
* I’m 5’8, 140lbs, size 8-8.5 boot, 152 is a no brainer right?
* Binding recs? I really liked the malavitas but wouldn’t mind saving some money if it doesn’t make too much of a difference. Based on what’s on sale I’m mainly looking at the bent metal axtion or Salomon hologram. The salomon flexy heelcup thing sounds great on paper, I used to skate and it took a while getting used to being locked into bindings, but not sure about it. But could also pony up for forces, stratas, or malavitas. Also size M would be good right? That’s what my malavitas are. Thanks!
Hi Casey
Yeah, I think the Headspace would be a good bet, given what you’re describing.
152 would be a good bet, IMO. Particularly if it’s your one and only board. If it was your park/freestyle deck in a multi-board quiver, I would consider the 149. But in a one board quiver, I think the 152 is a good way to go.
I haven’t ridden any Bent Metal bindings in a while and haven’t ridden the Axtion, so can’t say much there. I think the Hologram could certainly work – I really like the flexy heel cup on Salomon bindings. Given the board and how you’re likely to be riding it (more freestyle oriented, I’m guessing?), I would go either Strata or Malavita over the Force, if you were to go with one of those.
In terms of size, I would M for any one of those brands, with 8.5s.
Hope this helps
And glad to hear your girlfriend is getting on with her Gypsy
Gnu headspace vs Proto slinger for a more beginner oriented individual?
Hi Zack
Thanks for your message.
Close call, but I would say that the Proto Slinger is marginally easier to ride. But very close. Neither are overly challenging to ride – they’re not complete beginner friendly boards, but they’re fairly beginner friendly, in my experience.