In this review I will take a look at the Cool Bean as a Short/Wide Powder snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Cool Bean a score out of 100.
A couple of Caveats with this particular review:
- Usually I would compare this with other similar snowboard types, but since I don’t test a lot in this category, I won’t be
- K2 only allow you to test with their bindings on their boards, so this wasn’t tested with my usual control bindings. This makes it difficult to give it a fair review, not knowing the extent to which the board or bindings were giving me the feel. So for this reason, the accuracy of this review isn’t as good as most on this site, IMO
Overall Rating
Board: K2 Cool Bean 2019
Price: $469 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Short/Wide Powder
Flex Rating: Medium (3/5 on K2’s flex scale)
Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Rating Score: 74.5/100
Overview of the Cool Bean’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Cool Bean’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Short/Wide Powder |
Price: | $469 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Slow |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | |
Shape: | |
Base: | Sintered |
Weight: | Felt heavy side of normal |
Sizing
Length (cm) | 138 | 144 | 150 |
Waist Width (mm) | 275 | 287 | 287 |
Rec Rider Weight (lb) | 100-180 | 120-220 | 140-230 |
Rec Rider Weight (kg) | 45-82 | 54-99 | 64-105+ |
Who is the Cool Bean Most Suited To?
The Cool Bean is best for anyone looking for a powder board for powder days to add to their quiver. Certainly not a one-board quiver. This would be one to add if you want a specialized board just for powder days.
Not for beginners, partly because it feels too stiff to be beginner friendly and partly because usually beginners aren't leaving the groomers to search for powder.
The Cool Bean in More Detail
Demo Info
Board: K2 Cool Bean 2019, 144cm, 287mm waist width
Date: April 15, 2018
Conditions:
There was a little bit of fresh snow in the morning but just a few centimeters but there was also some left over fresh snow from the previous couple of days.
Quite cold in the morning, especially for April, but warmed up in the afternoon as the sun came out.
There were a couple of harder spots but mostly pretty soft/medium all round.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 540mm (21.3”)
Stance Setback: Not sure what the setback on the effective edge is on this board – but I measured 61.5cm (24.2″) from the center of the front binding to the nose and 28.5cm (11.2″) from the back binding to the tail – and just 14cm (5.5″) from the back binding to the swallow in the tail. So a huge setback on board – not sure how much of that is on the effective edge.
Width at Inserts: 290mm (11.4″) at the back insert and 306mm (12.1″) at the front insert – so seriously wide!
Powder
I didn’t have oodles of fresh powder – most of it tracked, but there were still some pockets – and this is where the Cool Bean certainly felt most at home and most fun.
It’s definitely set up for this with a massively long and wide nose and a short tail that’s tapered a lot from the nose. And plenty of rocker in the profile too. And heaps of surface area, especially given it was a 144! The only downside in powder – was that it wasn’t quite as good when it wasn’t untouched – not as good in tracked powder.
Carving/Turning
Slightly better than I expected to be fair, but overall not great. But this isn’t made for big carves – it’s made to surf powder.
Turning on groomers overall it wasn’t the board for me. But felt better when you lean back on it a bit.
But my biggest disappointment was edge to edge speed/maneuverability. It was just too slow to turn for my liking – and for a board that I would want to use a lot in the trees. Personally I prefer something more nimble for riding trees – it just took too much effort/time to change direction for my liking.
Learn more about the Cool Bean in the Video Below
Speed
Felt pretty wobbly going at any kind of real speed. Again, more designed to surf the powder, so not really made for it.
Uneven Terrain
Did not like it if the snow wasn’t flat. Felt everything on uneven terrain. Whether it was bumps or crud, I really didn’t enjoy it in there. Much prefers soft, smooth snow – whether on or off groomer.
Jumps
You can jump on it, but it felt pretty unnatural to me. Not heaps of pop either.
You’d think at 144 that it would be easy to spin, but it was harder to get around than I expected. And of course felt really weird landing and taking off switch.
Switch
Definitely not made to ride switch and felt really weird attempting it. Like every board, it’s doable, but not the best for it.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Powder | 4.5 | 49.5/55 |
Speed | 2.5 | 5/10 |
Uneven Terrain | 2.0 | 4/10 |
Carving | 2.5 | 5/10 |
Jumps | 2.0 | 4/10 |
Switch | 1.0 | 1/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 74.5/100 |
Overall the Cool Bean, to me, is a very one dimensional board - get it on smooth soft groomers or in untracked powder and it's super fun, but didn't do much for me outside of those conditions.
Again, some of that may have been bindings - it's hard to tell when I'm unable to use my control bindings to test K2 boards.
Certainly a quiver board - one to add as a compliment and used only on soft snow and powder days, IMO.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
Check out the links below for more info on the Cool Bean, where to buy or if you are researching prices or available sizes.
>>K2 Cool Bean at backcountry.com
I have had a TOTALLY different experience on this board.
Done about 12—16 days on it on Mt. Ruapehu, NZ. Which is NOT known fof its deep, pristine, or even extant powder.
This thing rails carves as needed and holds edge on crust/ice.
I’ve bought the special effects, but not yet ridden. Its a similar board with spoon nose and flat base, so basically more pow focused. I was so impressed with thd bean I bought one of the last batch as its now cancelled and will kee it wrapped until the first is thrashed…
I’d disagree the cool been isn’t a quiver-killer. I mean that board simply doesn’t exist -if you like varied terrain, snow conditions and activities… For really high speed stability especially in chunder – no, you’re going to want something else. Because it’s simply not long e ough to remain stable and will wear you out.
But for everything else the cool bean can handle it.
Love it. But it.
Because it won’t be back for a long time if ever.
Hey Tim
Thanks for your input. Always appreciated. And glad you’ve found a board that sounds really well suited to you.
Wasn’t my experience with the board, as you know, but experiences can certainly differ. I typically find that a lack of camber makes a board less fun for carving and the Cool Bean was no exception – also that much taper I typically find effects how hard I can put in on a carve, which was also what I found with the Cool Bean. But it sounds like you’ve been able to rail carves on it no issue, so that’s awesome to hear. It’s agility disappointed me as well – it was something I was expecting to be better in trees, but wasn’t as good as I’d hoped. Was probably a little harsh on it in terms of uneven snow though, looking back at it! Part of my experience might have also been the ultra wide nature of this board – I don’t typically like wide boards – and even sizing down as much as I did – I mean 144 is never a size I ride, that massive width just didn’t suit me, I don’t think.
But yeah, I agree that there’s no such thing as a board that’s great at everything, but some that are decent at everything. I’d still argue the Cool Bean is more specialized, but if you find it’s above average for everything, then that’s awesome. Do you take it in the park as well?
Also curious, can I ask what size Cool Bean you ride and your height, weight and boot size?