I've called this the GNU T2B direcictional review, althougth the name of the board is simply T2B.
But in it's prior models (2019, 2020), it was a centered twin and now it's a setback tapered directional board - so has had some big changes.
In this review, I will take a look at the T2B as a freeride snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the T2B a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other freeride snowboards.
NOTE: The 2021 model was the last model of the T2B.
Overall Rating
Board: GNU T2B 2021
Price: $499
Style: Freeride
Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium (5.5/10)
Rating Score: 80.4/100
Compared to other Men’s Freeride Boards
Out of the 36 men’s freeride snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the T2B’s Specs
Check out the tables for the T2B's specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freeride |
Price: | $499 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Medium-Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Rocker but camber predominant - GNU's "C3 Camber" |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Setback 38mm (1.5") |
Base: | Sintered (Sintered Knife Cut) |
Weight: | Felt Normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
155 | 255 | 130-210 | 59-95 |
158 | 257 | 140-220 | 63-100 |
158W | 267 | 150-230 | 68-104 |
161 | 258 | 150-270 | 68-122 |
161W | 268 | 150-280 | 68-127 |
Who is the T2B Most Suited To?
The T2B is a more affordable than most Freeride board, that is easier to ride than the harder charging, stiffer typical freeride board.
So, if you're an intermediate rider looking to get into more freeriding or if you just prefer to have an easier going feel for your freeride board, then the T2B is a great option.
Not for beginners, but can certainly accommodate the intermediate rider, IMO.
The T2B in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the T2B is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: GNU T2B 2021, 155cm (255mm waist width)
Date: February 20, 2020
Conditions: Beautiful sunny day with perfect visibility. Almost too hot!
Off groomer quite crunchy and icy and the steep run I test on was quite crunchy too, but on groomer was really nice - hard packed underneath but with some soft on top.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 535mm (21″)
Stance Setback: Setback 38mm (1.5")
Width at Inserts: 262mm (10.32") at front insert and 261mm (10.28") at back insert
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 175lbs
Rider Boot Size: US10 Salomon Lo-Fi
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Weight: 2820 grams (6lb 3oz)
Weight per cm: 18.19 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. So just a little lighter than average, but pretty close to average. And felt average on snow too.
Damp or Chattery?
Pretty close to the middle of the scale. Maybe just on the damp side of scale.
Smooth or Snappy?
Right in the middle.
Powder
None really to test it on, but based on specs it would be a pretty good board in powder.
It's got a tapered directional shape, with a good amount of setback. There isn't a lot of rocker in the profile, but it's otherwise well setup for riding powder.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Carves pretty well without being epic. It's on the more playful side of aggressiveness without being overly playful, right in the middle.
Turning: Just felt like a normal snowboard to turn. Easy to ride from the first turn.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: Nice and agile at slower speeds, which made it nice in trees and tighter spots.
Skidded Turns: Easy to skid turns on. Not beginner easy, but pretty easy, despite being mostly camber.
Speed
Not too bad but not amazing either. Like most things with this board it's really good, but not amazing riding at speed.
Uneven Terrain
Nice and nimble - felt great going through trees.
Doesn't crush crud, but it's good in there and easy to adjust if you get thrown about a bit.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Jumps
Nice for jumps. Not exciting, but still really good.
Pop: Decent pop but nothing that's going to spring you into the clouds.
Approach: A good mix between being stable and being nimble.
Landing: Not a stomper but a nice blend of forgiving yet stable
Side-hits: Good all round for side-hits.
Small jumps/Big jumps: Small to medium best, but can handle larger jumps too.
Switch
For how directional it is, it's not too bad riding switch.
Butters
Middle of the road. Not overly buttery, but not something that you can't butter either.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 3.5 | 14/20 |
TURNING | 4.0 | 8/10 |
POWDER | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SPEED | 3.5 | 14/20 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 4.0 | 12/15 |
JUMPS | 3.5 | 7/10 |
SWITCH | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 80.4/100 |
Everything about the T2B just feels normal and how you would expect a snowboard to feel. This is a good thing for the most part, but just don't expect anything that's overly exciting. It's not got a lot of X-Factor but it does have a consistent feel and just feels natural to ride.
A great option for an intermediate rider looking for something directional or a more advanced rider that just prefers their ride a little more easy going for freeriding.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the T2B, 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 T2B compares to other freeride snowboards, then check out the next link.
Is the flex on the T2B the same as the Lib Tech Dynamo?
If you can recall, is there a difference in how demanding each board was when railing turns?
Thanks!
Phil
Hi Phil
Thanks for your message.
I found the flex of the Dynamo and T2B to be very similar (5.5/10 for both). In terms of railing turns, they are both pretty easy on that account too. Neither are monsters when it comes to big aggressive carves, but they both strike a balance of being pretty easy to turn but still being able to lay decent big carves when you want to. But that’s not to say that they feel the same to ride. The T2B to me just felt like a very normal regular snowboard. Which isn’t a bad thing, but there’s not a lot of x-factor there. But it does everything you want it to pretty easily. The Dynamo is a little livelier, a little snappier. Still not ultra snappy, but a little more snappy than it is smooth, if that makes sense.
Hope this helps