The term “all-mountain” is a pretty broad one. So choosing the best all mountain snowboard for you will firstly depend on what type of all mountain rider you are.
Are you an aggressive all-mountain rider or a more playful rider?
This post will cover three types of snowboard that are sometimes just labelled all-mountain but can be quite different.
- All-mountain freestyle
- All-mountain
- Aggressive all-mountain
I looked at the specs of over 100 different all-mountain, all-mountain-freestyle and aggressive-all-mountain snowboards – this post will cover those specs and also look at what will suit your riding style best.
What aspects this post will look at?
- Flex
- Shape
- Camber Profile
- Length
- Width
- Edge-tech
- Base
What is All-Mountain?
For the purposes of this post I will define “all-mountain” so that we are clear on what I consider an all-mountain snowboard to be.
All-mountain, to me, means a snowboard that can do everything you can think of on the mountain. It won’t do certain things as well as a more specialized board will but it should be able to everything reasonably well.
So;
- it should be able to take you into the back country. It won’t do as well in the backcountry as a freeride or powder board would but it will be able to handle the task.
- It should be able to tackle any trail you throw at it from the beginner to expert and everything in between.
- It should also be able to take you into the park, be able to perform freestyle wherever you want to do freestyle riding and into the pipe – it won’t perform as well as a specialist park/freestyle board but it should be able to do the job.
A freestyle-all-mountain board will lean more towards freestyle riding and an aggressive all mountain board will lean more towards freeriding. Check this out for definitions of styles
With that in mind let’s see what specs you should look out for if you are interested in an all-mountain board.
Flex
Whilst freestyle boards usually have a softer flex and freeride boards a stiffer flex, all-mountain boards are usually somewhere in between.
All mountain
If you are really a jack of all trades and like to do a bit of everything, including freeriding and freestyle and everything in between, then you are probably going to want to get a board with a medium flex rating of a 5 or 6 out of 10.
Or if you just like to stick to the trails then an all-mountain board is probably for you too. For a more playful, casual ride then a medium-soft flex (3-4 out of 10) might be your thing.
| Flex | % |
|---|---|
| Stiff (9 or 10 out of 10) | 0% |
| Medium-Stiff (7 or 8 out of 10) | 16% |
| Medium (5 or 6 out of 10) | 50% |
| Medium-soft (3 or 4 out of 10) | 34% |
| Soft (1 or 2 out of 10) | 0% |
All-Mountain-Freestyle
If you lean a bit more towards freestyle riding then an all-mountain-freestyle board might be more for you. This will usually mean a medium flex if you like the pipe or medium-soft flex if you don’t go in the pipe.
| Flex | % |
|---|---|
| Stiff (9 or 10 out of 10) | 0% |
| Medium-Stiff (7 or 8 out of 10) | 10% |
| Medium (5 or 6 out of 10) | 73% |
| Medium-soft (3 or 4 out of 10) | 17% |
| Soft (1 or 2 out of 10) | 0% |
Aggressive-All-Mountain
If you are a more aggressive rider and like things hard and fast then an aggressive all mountain board is probably more your style. If this is the case you probably want a stiffer flexing board – a 6,7, or 8 out of 10 depending on your preference.
| Flex | % |
|---|---|
| Stiff (9 or 10 out of 10) | 4% |
| Medium-Stiff (7 or 8 out of 10) | 88% |
| Medium (5 or 6 out of 10) | 17% |
| Medium-soft (3 or 4 out of 10) | 0% |
| Soft (1 or 2 out of 10) | 0% |
Shape
All mountain
Generally speaking an all-mountain board will have a directional or directional twin shape (with the latter being the most common). This favours riding in one direction slightly more than the other (your dominant direction be it goofy or regular) but still allows switch riding as an option.
The percentage of the shapes of the all-mountain boards I looked at are below. As you can see all-mountin boards are seldomly true twin or tapered directional – as these favour freestyle and freeride riding respectively.
| Shape | % |
|---|---|
| Tapered Directional | 3% |
| Directional | 16% |
| Directional Twin | 76% |
| True Twin | 5% |
All-Mountain-Freestyle
A freestyle-all-mountain board might have a directional twin or a true twin shape so that it is more setup for riding/landing switch.
| Shape | % |
|---|---|
| Tapered Directional | 0% |
| Directional | 0% |
| Directional Twin | 25% |
| True Twin | 75% |
Aggressive-All-Mountain
An aggressive all mountain board is likely to have a directional shape or a directional twin shape – on occasion they might also have a tapered directional shape – but this shape is usually reserved for freeride boards.
You typically don’t want or wouldn’t find an aggressive all mountain board in a true twin shape (this is usually for freestyle or freestyle-all-mountain boards).
| Shape | % |
|---|---|
| Tapered Directional | 8% |
| Directional | 38% |
| Directional Twin | 54% |
| True Twin | 0% |
You can start to really see how different the range of all-mountain boards can be.
Setback
Freestylers typically like to be centred on their board. Freeriders prefer a good amount of setback (usually more than 20 millimetres (mm)). Naturally all-mountain riders like it somewhere in between.
Again aggressive riders (closer on the spectrum to freeriders) will prefer a larger setback and those that ride a bit more freestyle will prefer it more centred or closer to centred.
All-Mountain
| Setback | % |
|---|---|
| Centred | 0% |
| Between 5mm and 10mm | 16% |
| Between 10mm and 15mm | 32% |
| Between 15mm and 20mm | 47% |
| Greater than 20mm | 5% |
All-Mountain-Freestyle
| Setback | % |
|---|---|
| Centred | 98% |
| Between 5mm and 10mm | 2% |
| Between 10mm and 15mm | 0% |
| Between 15mm and 20mm | 0% |
| Greater than 20mm | 0% |
As you can see all-mountain-freestyle boards are predominantly centred to favour a more freestyle oriented rider.
Aggressive All-Mountain
| Setback | % |
|---|---|
| Centred | 4% |
| Between 5mm and 10mm | 13% |
| Between 10mm and 15mm | 38% |
| Between 15mm and 20mm | 42% |
| Greater than 20mm | 4% |
Camber Profile
All manner of camber profiles can be used for all-mountain riding and the same applies whether you ride all-mountain, all-mountain-freestyle or aggressive all-mountain.
To check out the percentages of each of the different camber profiles and a more detailed discussion on the different camber profiles for different styles of riding check out the link below.
Edge-tech
Generally speaking the more aggressive you will be riding the more important it is for your board to have good edge-hold. If you like things fast and steep then some good edge hold tech like Magne-traction or the likes is a good idea.
This is less important the less aggressive a rider you are.
But edge hold is also dependent on the conditions you ride in. If you often ride in hard or icy conditions then good grippy edges are more important than if you tend to ride in nice soft powder.
Base
The base of your board will depend on a few things. Probably if you are on the aggressive side then a sintered base is more necessary than for your all-mountain-freestyle rider – though a sintered base might be a good thing to have for speed in the pipe.
What base you get will also depend on the price of the board (sintered bases are more expensive than extruded bases) and how willing you are to maintain it (extruded bases require less maintenance than sintered bases).
Length
When you see any length tables or charts or calculations the number they come up with is typically for a an all-mountain rider. Freestylers tend to go with shorter boards and freeriders with longer boards.
As is usually the case, all mountain riders are somewhere in the middle. The more aggressive you are the more you are likely to lean to a longer board and the more playful you want your ride then you will likely lean towards a shorter length.
Width
Finally we come to width.
Freestyle riders prefer a wider width (better stability for landing jumps) and freeriders prefer a narrower width (better response and quicker edge to edge).
You guessed it – all-mountain riders fit somewhere in between!
This is typically the case for all the specs we have talked about because your all-mountain snowboard needs to strike a balance between everything you want to do on the mountain.
Remember with your width that you also want to make sure that it is also right for your foot size.
Over to You…
Thanks for reading. I hope this post has helped you to choose the specs you want on your next snowboard.
If you are looking for a great all-mountain board check out my top 10 list below (lists for the top 10 agreessive all-mountain boards and all-mountain-freestyle boards still in the works).
- Top 10 Men’s All Mountain Snowboards
- Top 6 Women’s All Mountain Snowboards
- Top 5 All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards
- Top 6 Aggressive-All-Mountain Snowboards
Hey Nate im younger and looking to get a new snowboard. i am more of a all mountain rider and have a smaller budget somewhere around 300$-350$. I am 5’8 if that helps any. Could you help me find one?
Hi Trey
Thanks for your message.
If you could let me know a little more information it would help to narrow it down.
1. Can you give me a few more specifics about your riding style. Do you like to ride fast? trees? powder? park? is it often icy where you usually ride? would you say you’re a more aggressive or more playful rider? Just a little more about how you like to ride.
2. Thanks for your height. If you could also let me know your weight and boot size – both things are important for sizing.
Hi thank you so much for your site, it’s been super helpful as I am choosing a new set up. Your advice is so clearly presented! I have been riding a Burton Fortress for many years. I liked the board but sometimes it felt hard to maneuver when I got tired, worked best when I rode really aggressively. I am now in my 40s but have been snowboarding since I was 18. I ride mainly in Austria, that can often be steep and icy, and in Utah where I am seeking out tree runs and powder. Looking for a board that’s good for both. I think will be going with the Yes Hel Yes board. Still debating size (I am 5’6″ / 125lb)…
Anyway, my question for you is which binding do you recommend I pair with this board? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Hi Tasha
Thanks for your message.
For what you’re describing, I think the Hel Yes should work well. Size-wise I’d probably go with the 146. But if you could also let me know your boot size, that would help with sizing too.
In terms of bindings, I would pair the Hel Yes, with something around a 6/10 flex and up to 7/10 flex. Something from the following:
>>Top Women’s All-Mountain Bindings
>>Top Women’s Freeride Bindings
Hope this helps
Hi Nate, thanks for all the great info on your site.
I bought my first board going into my second season riding last year. Lib Tech ejack knife 154. At 5’11”, 190lbs it’s a little small for me but I think it allowed me to get into a somewhat aggressive board without too much trouble. Love the board just want something bigger.
I’m looking for something similar, a hard charger, grip, stability, dampness able to lay a good carve, but want to experiment with hitting natural features, learn switch, and possibly buttering but that’s last on the list. I’m in the northeast so a lot of hard pack, but something half decent in powder would be great to. Not opposed to getting the same board at a more fitting size but it would probably make more sense to try something new.
Jones Mountain Twin
Rossignol One(22)
Capita Mercury
Lib Tech EJack Knife
Jones Ultra Mountain Twin
Capita Mega Mercury
Jones Aviator 2.0(22)
Capita Black Snowboard of Death(21)
These are some of the boards that I’ve been looking at. I grouped them together with similar boards as far as I understand them. If you could let me know your thoughts or having other suggestions that would be great.
Hi Reed
Thanks for your message.
Yeah Ejack Knife a tough one to go into for second season but size would certainly make it more mellow, as you say, so I’m not too surprised you were good on it, given the size. But yeah certainly small for your specs and if you’ve advanced more now, sizing up is a good idea.
Going Ejack Knife (probably 159) is certainly a safe bet, given that you know you like the board. But if you wanted something a little more switch friendly and something a little more buttery and easier going, then there’s definitely some options more suited to that.
From your list, the Mountain Twin (MT) and One are going to be the most buttery, the softest flexing and the best (along with the Mercury, Mega Merc and Ultra Mountain Twin (UME) for riding switch. But they’re still not super soft or anything – around 6/10 flex. The Mercury just a little stiffer and more aggressive but not to the same extent as the other options on your list. I’d say the MT, One & Mercury are the most versatile.
The UME and Mega Merc are pretty versatile too, but a good bit stiffer than their counterparts. More suitable for hard charging but less suitable for slowing things down and more effort to load up for ollies, sidehits etc. And not as nimble for setting up for that kind of thing.
I wouldn’t necessarily call the MT, One or even regular Merc hard chargers. The Merc more so than the other two. They can definitely handle a bit of speed and they can carve, but not to the same extent as the others on the list. But they provide a good balance between riding fast, riding slow, hitting sidehits, buttering etc. So if you wanted to keep a more hard charging feel, then just note that the MT and One not super hard charging.
In terms of grip in hard/icy conditions, I would say that the Ejack Knife and Rossi One are the best of the list, but the Jones options are also good and the Capitas not bad either but a step down from the others.
The UME and Mega Merc are stiffer than the Ejack Knife, IMO. How I would rate the boards in terms of flex, from my feel:
Jones Mountain Twin – 6/10
Rossignol One(22) – 6/10
Capita Mercury – 6.5/10
Lib Tech EJack Knife – 7/10
Jones Ultra Mountain Twin – 7.5/10
Capita Mega Mercury – 8/10
Jones Aviator 2.0(22)
Capita Black Snowboard of Death(21) – 7/10
Note that I haven’t ridden the Aviator 2.0, but the Aviator that I tested I felt at 7/10 flex.
All have decent powder performance, though I would predict the Aviator to be prob the least in powder, just because it now has basically a traditional camber profile.
I have reviews on the site for all of those, except the Aviator 2.0, so if you want more details, you can check those out too.
Happy to give my sizing opinion too, but would also need your boot size.
Hope this gives you more to go off
I read the reviews for all the boards except for the Mega Merc, it looks like you haven’t quite posted it yet.
I like to have the board on edge, go fast and be stable, but if I go to other the UMT or the Mega Merc am I going to hurt my ability to slow down and learn how to hit jumps and natural features? If so, it would seem that the Merc and One are the more aggressive of the other three and possibly suitable for my situation?
If you think I should be looking at another particular board I’m open to suggestions.
I read what you said about icy conditions, are any of the boards not great for it or are all of them going to do pretty well?
And I’m a size 10.5 boot
Hi Reed
Thanks for the extra info. Oh yeah, I haven’t published the Mega Merc review yet. Going to try to get that out by early November.
In terms of slowing it down and learning jumps, I think the UME is a little easier to do that on than the Mega Merc – or even something like the Capita BSOD.
I think the Mercury sounds like a really good middle ground – something you can get quite aggressive on, but still not something you really have to ride fast all the time. It’s not as easy going at slow speeds as the Mountain Twin or Rossi One, but will give you a little more when it comes to bombing and carving, IMO.
In terms of icy conditions, there’s not really any in your list that are bad in those conditions. Some Capita boards aren’t the best in those conditions, but the Merc and BSOD are two of the better Capita boards in those conditions. The Ejack Knife and Rossi One are a step above, IMO, in those conditions, but the others aren’t bad or anything, in my experience.
The YES Standard is another that I would consider as well. It’s kind of in between the One and the Mercury in terms of aggressiveness, IMO, and I think it would suit what you’re describing. And very good in icy conditions, in my experience too.
So at this point, I would probably be between the One, Standard, Mercury and UMT, assuming you don’t want to go back to the more directional Ejack Knife.
Size-wise I would be looking at the following (I’ve also noted the expected width at inserts – I would go at least 265mm at the inserts with 10.5s and given that you want to be able to rail your carves, that’s the minimum – and if you’re not riding with a pretty straight back binding angle, I would even up that minimum):
– One: 159 (254mm waist – 265mm width at back insert)
– Standard: 159 (263mm waist – 275mm width at inserts)
– Mercury: 159 (259mm waist – 268mm at back insert)
– UMT: 160 (257mm waist – 272mm at back insert – this is assuming the rather wide reference stance of 600mm (23.6″) – at a 560mm (22″) stance width, more like 270mm at back insert).
Hope this gives you more to go off
Hi Nate,
I am 5’9” 175 lbs size 11 boot. I have a Funslinger 154x w/ contact pros.
I also have a pair of Union Atlas bindings I am not using. I was thinking about picking up another board to build a quiver and using the Atlas’s on that.
What would be a good compliment to the Funslinger in your opinion? I live in the Midwest so other than freak storms and rare trips I’m mostly riding groomers and ice.
Thank you for this website, it is a great resource!
Hi Craig
Thanks for your message.
Even if you don’t see powder that much, something with at least a somewhat directional is a good way to go – and something in general that’s going to ride at least OK in powder, for when you do get it.
And one of the main things will be to go for something stiffer flexing. The Funslinger is quite soft, so to have a complimentary board, going stiffer is a good idea – and will match the Atlas better too. The Atlas by my feel is 6.5/10 in terms of flex. Going with a board that’s around 6/10, 7/10 is a good idea. And would be a good compliment to the Funslinger, without going ultra-stiff.
And since you’ll be riding icy conditions a fair bit, something tackles that kind of terrain well.
Going longer is also a good idea – again for that difference, and to help you have a ride that’s more tuned to speed, carving powder and less so to freestyle, like the Funslinger. But since you’ll mostly be in the resort, then not too long, but something around 156-158 would be a good bet, IMO.
I would look at these options:
– Jones Mountain Twin
– Capita Mercury
– Jones Frontier
– Nitro Team Gullwing
– Niche Story
– Rossignol One LF
– YES Standard
Also check out:
>>My Top 10 All Mountain Snowboards
Which most of those are on.
The Story, Rossi One and Standard are the best for icy conditions, IMO, but the others not far off.
Sorry if some of this stated the obvious, but wanted to cover all bases. Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision.
Hi Nate,
I am in a dilemma in choosing my second snowboard. I have narrowed down my choices to 3 snowboards Salomon Sick Stick 157, GNU Space Case 156 or 159, and Burton Deep Thinker 156. The type of riding I want to get into is All-Mountain (for both powder and groomers) and slowly learn to do tricks (buttering, jibbing, and jumps). I love to charge down the mountain, but also love to casually carve down as well. I basically just want a one board quiver type of board that can just about do anything.
My height is 5’9″, weight is 185, and boot size is 8-9ish depending on the boot. Thanks for your help in advance.
Hi Jacob
The likes of the Sick Stick and Deep Thinker aren’t the best for buttering/tricks, so probably aren’t that suitable, IMO. They’re more what I would deem freereide boards rather than all-mountain. And the Deep Thinker and maybe to a lesser extent the Sick Stick are also not going to be that suitable for when you’re wanting to ride more casually. And the Space Case, whilst being good for tricks and buttering, not as good for when you really want to bomb it. I would consider the Space Case a freestyle bordering on all-mountain-freestyle board. Your best bet, IMO, is to go for an all-mountain board like one of:
>>My Top 10 All Mountain Snowboards
Or if you were willing to sacrifice a little in terms of powder, then something like an all-mountain-freestyle:
>>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards
Hope this helps
Hi nate
I got a never summer SL-R 2011 161 as my first board. I am 166cm 176lbs and. Uk 8 shoe. I was told it was a 158 but when I got home and found it was a 161. I will be riding mountain in Scotland. I am a beginner never snowboarded before but skated surfed for years. Just like to fined out if this board will be ok
Thanks
Hi Trevor
Thanks for your message.
In my opinion 161 would be too long for you. Ideally I would be looking at a 151 to 153 range for your specs as a beginner. So quite a bit too long, IMO. At a more advanced level, something around 156 would be good, but it’s a good idea to go a little shorter as a beginner.
The SL-R itself (based on specs as it’s something that I haven’t ridden) isn’t the ideal beginner board (at any size), but doable (I’d say an intermediate level board). But at 161, I think it would be a difficult board to learn on.
Hope this helps (even if it’s not the answer you were hoping for)
Hi Nate,
Similar question to some previous but I am also currently tossing up between the Jones twin sister and Hel Yes women’s 2018/9 boards.
I live in Australia but go to Japan or elsewhere on a yearly basis to find the pow we miss over here. I’m an intermediate/advanced rider and would love an all mountain board that is versatile so that although I don’t spend much time in the park I’d still like the opportunity to do so! I’m 165cm and 67kg.
Thanks again for your help!
Sophie
Hi Sophie
Thanks for your message.
I think you’re looking in the right place for sure. Both of those boards are really versatile and both would be a good choice. I would say that the Twin Sister is subtly better in powder and the Hel Yes subtly better for jumps. The Hel Yes marginally more of an aggressive ride, but again, not by a massive amount.
The Hel Yes a little better in hard/icy conditions, which i hear are quite common in Australia. But the Twin Sister is pretty good there too. To put a number on it, for hard/icy, I would say Hel Yes 5/5 vs Twin Sister 4/5.
Size-wise, I would say 149 for both – assuming you are at a relatively advanced level. But you could certainly ride the 146s, and they would become more appealing if you considered yourself more of an intermediate rider. But also, what you’re used to in terms of length comes into it too. So if you’re used to riding significantly longer or shorter we can reconsider that.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Question for you. I’m looking at getting the DC Ply ’19 & just wondering what you think which bindings would be a good fit for it. So far I’m looking at the Fix Truce, I’ve read & been told good things and looks good value without breaking the bank. Have also been looking into Union as well, nothing in particular though as I’m not too savvy in matching boards to bindings and for the most part just seems to be similar descriptions to the untrained eye. Considering the all-round good reviews for the Truce (especially from a mate of mine who really rates them) that’s where I’m leaning towards; but it’d be cool to read your opinion on it
Cheers,
Oli
Hi Oli
I don’t test Fix bindings, so I couldn’t say for sure. I also don’t test DC boards. But based on specs the Fix Truce should be a good match to DC Ply – both the boards and bindings are rated as a 6/10. In my experience flex ratings aren’t universal from different brands, and since I haven’t ridden either I couldn’t say how close they are, but I’d say they’re probably a good match.
If you did go Union, then the Union Strata would be your best bet, IMO. But the Force would also be a solid choice for that board (assuming 6/10 is a fairly comparable flex) and are the cheaper option.
Hope this helps
What would be a good board for like a free rider but will occasionally go off jumps and enjoys a softer flex like a 4-5.
Hi Zavier
Thanks for your message.
You could check out the following:
>>Ride Wild Life (softer flexing – around a 5/10 – all-mountain, but with a freeride feel)
>>Jones Explorer (not a 4 or 5/10 flex – more like a 6.5/10 – but a little softer flexing and would otherwise be a good freeride option and work with jumps)
>>Rossignol One LF (6/10 flex, bordering on 5.5 – not strictly a freeride board but works for freeriding)
>>Jones Mountain Twin (6/10 flex – not strictly a freeride board but works for freeriding)
Some other options that I think would fit what you’re describing – but boards that I haven’t ridden, so I couldn’t say for sure.
>>GNU HyperKyarve: GNU say 6/10 flex but based on other GNU boards, I’d say it would be more like 5/10.
>>Salomon Super 8: Mid flexing board that is more freeride than all-mountain
>>Burton Ripcord: Though it’s probably too soft – more of a 2/10 flex – and more for beginners – and prob not that great over jumps
Jones Mind Expander: Though more of a specialist powder board, that’s ok when the powder’s not there, from what I can tell. Probably not the best jumper. But sounds great for riding trees and riding powder.
Those are the ones I can think of off hand with a softer flex, but still mostly freeride. There are certainly others, so if you can’t find something that you like the sound of among that lot, let me know and I can dig deeper.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Thanks for all of that. You’re a legend. After looking into it I really like the Typo. I’m thinking of going the 155 to keep it a little playful.
Hi Dan
You’re very welcome. Yeah certainly if you want to keep things playful, then 155 is a good bet. If you think of it once your season starts, let me know how you get on.
Hi Nate,
I came across this article whilst researching my next board. I’m a solid intermediate rider that loves carving turns and hitting the pow when mother nature turns it on but also have to live with hard pack and ice. I’m not a park rat, too old for that, so from what I’ve looked at I have a short list. They are the Capita Mercury, Jones Explorer, Rossi Templar or do I go more aggressive and get a Rossi One LF or Jones Mountain twin?
I’m 5’10 and 168lbs and I wear size 10 boots. I have my existing 2 year old Burton Cartel bindings to use also. This board will probably have to last 3-4 seasons. I’d like to know your thoughts?
Hi Dan
Thanks for your message.
In my experience the Mercury and Explorer feel more aggressive (though still not super-aggressive) than the Rossi One & Jones MT. But any of those options would be suitable for what you’re describing, IMO. The Templar is a little more playful than the rest, IMO. But still stable and all-mountain oriented.
If you haven’t already, check out:
>>My Top 10 All Mountain Snowboards
>>Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards
For hard/icy conditions, I would say:
Capita Mercury: 4/5
Jones Explorer: 4/5
Jones MT: 4/5
Rossi Templar: 5/5
Rossi One: 5/5
In terms of length, I would say something around 157 to 159 would be a good length to go with. But what you’re used to riding and personal preference plays a part there too.
Width-wise, for your boot size I would say to look at something in the range of 247mm to 257mm in terms of waist width, if you ride with a reasonably angled back binding (i.e. 12-15 degrees) and between 254mm to 259mm at the waist, if you ride with a fairly straight back binding angle (i.e. 0-3 degrees). Add a couple of mms if you like to carve deep and take off a couple off mm if you have low profile boots (e.g. recent Adidas, Burton, Ride and Vans).
Hope this helps
Thanks heaps Nate.
I’m leaning towards the Templar or Mountain Twin. Probably the Templar seeing as it’s a little more forgiving and slightly better on the hard pack. I’ll be in North America in January so I’ll be keen to pick up a board then. I’ll be interested in what the reviews of the 2019 models are like before that time.
You’re very welcome Dan.
Let me know if you have any more questions before your trip and watch this space for some 2019 reviews.
Hi again Nate,
Plans have changed and I’m looking to get a board this Australian season. The Rossignol boards are hard to find at the moment but there is plenty of 2019 Jones and Yes boards. So my question is if I had to pull the trigger what would be best, the MT or the Typo or the Basic. Is the Standard too much board for intermediate? Also, what size do you think would be good in those boards? I was looking at a 156 in the One LF.
Cheers,
Dan.
Hi again Nate.
My plans have changed and it looks like I’ll be getting my board before I go. There aren’t many places that stock the Rossi boards here in Australia. There are many that stock the 2019 Jones and Yes. With that in mind I’m thinking of going the Yes Typo in a 155 or 158? The other choices are the Standard (maybe too aggressive for me) or the Jones MT which I mentioned before. I have also looked at the Capita DOA instead of the Mercury. What do you think?
Hi Dan
Thanks for your message.
Looking at your past messages and what you’re after, I don’t think the DOA would be that suitable for what you want. It’s more freestyle oriented and isn’t great for powder. Also not great in hard/icy conditions. Not as good as the Mercury, IMO. And though it’s softer flexing than the Mercury, it’s still quite aggressive – quite an aggressive camber profile. I think the Outerspace Living would be a better alternative if you wanted to go Capita (more like the Mercury but softer, a true twin and a centered stance) but again, it’s not the greatest in hard/icy and more freestyle oriented than all-mountain, IMO.
>>Capita DOA Review
I wouldn’t say that the Standard was too aggressive. I would describe it as lively, but not necessarily aggressive. I would call it intermediate suitable too. Probably would want to be solid intermediate, which it sounds like you are. You can read more about my 2018 review at the link below:
>>YES Standard Review
Size-wise, it would be a weigh up between the 156 or the 153. I would be leaning towards 153 for you. It’s the kind of board that I find is good to size down a bit for. You’d also be fine with the 156 though. I prefer the 156 (6’0″, 185lbs, size 10).
The Typo would also work, IMO. It’s a more traditionally shaped board, so size-wise, I would say 158cm would be the best choice, but if you think you prefer shorter boards, then the 155 is definitely still an option. The 155 would be the more easy going length, but would also lose a little in terms of powder and stability at speed. But the Typo is more easy going in general than the Standard.
>>YES Typo Review
The Mountain Twin is also still a good option. A board that’s very consistent across all terrain, IMO. Size-wise, I think the 157 would be the best option for you. You could also ride the 154, you would certainly get away with that, IMO, but I think the 157 would be slightly more suitable, taking everything into account.
>>Jones Mountain Twin Review
Hope this helps
Hi Nate
I would love some of your expert advice on a Never Summer board size for my next purchase.
I am definitely going to get the NS Snowtrooper as it seems to be the perfect all mountain board for me, and I did my initial beginner learning on a NS Evo (which was back in 2011) I was a proper beginner at the time, so I couldn’t tell you how I found the board, other than the fact that it was easy to manoeuvre and I didn’t catch my edges after I started riding it! Not even sure what size I had! I was just starting to get the hang of some buttering and I’d like to have a playful board where I could develop those skills.
I’m 5’10 and 85kg and US9.5 … the Snowtrooper 159 board seems like it would be the right size for my weight but would the 156 be a better option in your opinion? also there is the width to consider
I’m not a good enough rider that I would be bombing down the hills at max speed, just want something easy to progress from beginner to intermediate and something really cruisy and playful
I know that the 159 will have slightly more stability at speeds (as I progress) but I’m completely torn between which size would be suitable for my stats…if you say 156, that’s the one I will get!
Your help is really appreciated on this!
Thanks
Hi Kial
I agree that the Snowtrooper is a good option for you, based on what you’re describing.
In terms of size, it’s a close call between the 156 and the 159. I think either size would work for you, but I’m leaning towards the 156. At an advanced level, I would say that the 159 would be the best length for you for sure – but as a beginner going on intermediate, I think the 156 would work just that little bit better, especially given that you want to develop things like buttering.
I think the 156 will be a slightly better width for 9.5s too – though there’s not too much difference in the width between the 2 sizes, but it’s another small thing leaning towards the 156.
The last thing that leans me slightly towards the 156 is that the effective edge on the Snowtrooper 156 is reasonably long for a 156. So the 156cm has a 120cm effective edge, which is longer than the average 156 – so it will feel a little longer because of that.
Pros and cons to both – the 159 will be better in powder, better when riding fast and when putting in big carves. But the 156 will be better for butters, jibs, more agile (especially at slower speeds) and more playful generally. The 159 would still be quite playful, as this is quite a playful board but you’d get just a bit more in terms of playfulness out of the 156. The 156 will be easier to ride overall.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Thanks for your amazing blog! I’m looking for advise and was hoping for your help. I’m now riding the all mountain Nitro Mystique 146, but it is time to step up the game. I’m looking for a new board and can’t pick between the Jones Twin Sister and the Yes Hel Yes (size around 150). I’m in my fifth year (6 weeks) of snowboarding now and being lucky to have good snowboarders around me teaching me the fine arts of riding. The guys are snowboarding for years and love to go as fast.
Naturally I think I am more the type of snowboarder who plays around, learning switch and doing technical stuf/little tricks (just started with ollies). But I still have to learn basically everything in this field. During the holidays I’m always the slowest in the group, which means I spend most of my time improving my speed and carving. They don’t mind waiting for me, but improving my skills on speed would be nice.
Naturally I’m a very technical sporter , enthusiastically puzzeling my way through tougher situations. With speed I can get scared, mainly when there is ice.
To finish the story, there is just one thing for sure. When there is fresh pow you will always find me between the pistes, the guys can wait!
I have the feeling the 2 boards are very similar where the Jones Twin Sister is slightly more freestyle and the Yes Hell Yes is slightly better on ice. Feeling more confident on the ice would help me a lot in confidence in speed, but I would also love to start developing myself slowly in the freestyle area. Where there is fresh snow I forget everything and just go for the pow.
Do you have any advise on which board to choose and what size would be good? (I am 1.68 high and have a very thin light build). You would help me a lot!
Hi Ankie
Thanks for your message.
I would say that the Hel Yes is a little stiffer flexing and a little more of an “aggressive ride” overall. It’s going to be a little better in terms of carving but both will be very similar in powder – probably the Hel Yes slightly better for speed and a little bit better in icy conditions too – the Twin Sister is pretty good there, but not quite as good as the Hel Yes.
The Twin Sister will be a better option overall for freestyle stuff. But the Hel Yes isn’t bad for riding switch or for jumps – the equal of the Twin Sister there – except that the Twin Sister will be easier for learning jumps and better for small jumps, where the Hel Yes is better for larger jumps. The Twin Sister would be an easier board to butter with and better for jibs.
So for developing your freestyle game, the Twin Sister will be easier to do that on – and it’s not far behind the Hel Yes in terms of carving and speed. And though not quite as good in icy conditions, is still not bad.
For the Powder, I would say they are very similar so you can’t really go wrong there.
In terms of size, I would say, if you have a light build then probably sticking to around that 146 size would be a good idea, but it’s hard to say without an exact figure in terms of weight. Both boards have a 149, and if you really wanted to go longer that’s an option – and it would give you more float in powder, and a little more stability at speed going longer – but you will have better agility at slower speeds on the 146, and it’ll also be easier in general for learning freestyle type stuff on the 146.
But if you can give me a more exact figure in terms of your weight, I can give a more accurate size recommendation – but my feeling is to go with 146 – with 149 an option if you really wanted to go longer – then 149 but I wouldn’t go longer than that.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Thanks for the quick reply! You definitely helped me a lot!
Your comment on the difference in big or small jumps or big or small turns made me decide to go for the Jones. As a girl I think I’m allowed to say that for the Yes Hell Yes it breaks my hard to not go riding the prettiest snowboard I’ve ever seen :p. But the Jones will suit me better.
I found a scale so I got all information for you now:
Length: 168 (cm)
Weight: 54,7 (kg)
Foot size: 39 (eu size)
I checked out your article about snowboard length compared to weight and length. Since Jones does not offer advice on this. You have a good feeling, the table said to for a 146. I wanted to size up to get a better flow in powder and better hold on ice. But forgot that the turns will be easier with a shorter board. With this extra information. Do you still advice to go for the 146? (Just to be a 100% sure).
Thanks to your help I will have my new snowboard in time for the next holiday. Thanks a lot!
Hi Ankie
Yeah sometimes it’s hard to not buy the best looking option! But usually it’s a good decision if something else is more suitable.
I think the 146 is the best option for you. You’ll get a little more float in powder and stability at speed from the 149, but on balance I think the 146 is better for you overall. And just based on the Mystique’s specs (Nitro isn’t a brand I test so just based on specs) – I’d say that the Twin Sister will have better float even in the same length – and it’s a little wider overall too, which will help with float.
You wouldn’t be completely wrong with the 149, but I think the 146 is the better option overall.
Thank you for this most informative blog on snowboarding.. You sure cover a lot, its a very comprehensive and beneficial site for people interested in this sport. I particularly liked your reminder to wear waterproof clothing. Its something many people forget about and it is such a basic need when out in the snow. And when did Butt pads become popular? I didn’t really know about these. I do now and I think its great…
ha ha! You must have been reading my safety equipment post – i don’t know if butt pads are popular as such but they do exist. Never tried one myself but I do know a guy who wore one when he was just starting out snowboarding.
If your someone who thinks that falling on your butt a lot would put you off or hinder your learning process then definitely go for the butt pad but not an essential piece of equipment.
Thanks for visiting and I’m glad you like the site. Oh yeah and waterproof clothing def super important as you say.
Wow I learned a lot about snowboards in your post I’m not a snow boarder but want to try it at some point in my life. Never thought there was different snow boards for different things like styles and the stuff you talked about. definitely learnt a thing or two from your site thanks.
Hey Joyce
Thanks for stopping by. Glad you liked the post. I think you should definitely take up snowboarding – haven’t met anyone that’s regretted it so far!
But I would start with a snowboard that is specifically good for a beginner – same applies for bindings and boots. Check out the posts below to get off to a great start with the right gear for getting going.
>>How to choose a beginner snowboard
>>How to choose beginner snowboard boots
>>How to choose beginner snowboard bindings
Also check out some of the posts in the gear advice menu above for more tips for beginners and getting setup.