Hello and welcome to my Niche Aether snowboard review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Aether as an all-mountain-freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Aether a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other all-mountain-freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Niche Aether
Price: $549 (USD recommended retail)
Style: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium (6/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium (6/10)
Rating Score: 83.7/100
Compared to other Men’s All-Mtn-Freestyle Boards
Of the 29 current model all-mountain-freestyle snowboards that we tested:
- The average score was 83.7/100
- The highest score was 92.1/100
- The lowest score was 73.0/100
- The average price was $561
- The Aether ranked 20th out of 29
Overview of the Aether’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Aether’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain-Freestyle |
Price: | $549 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Medium-Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | |
Shape: | Directional Twin (flex pattern is directional but otherwise true twin) |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Sintered |
Weight: | Normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
153 | 252 | not available | n/a |
156 | 256 | n/a | n/a |
159 | 260 | n/a | n/a |
162 | 264 | n/a | n/a |
Who is the Aether Most Suited To?
The Aether is best for anyone who wants to explore everything the mountain has to offer, including the park, but to do it with a freestyle flavor.
It's got great edge-hold in hard/icy conditions, so if you get those a lot, then this might be a great option for you.
Not for beginners, but good for intermediate riders and up, for those who suit the style this board is meant for.
The Aether in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Aether is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Niche Aether 2020, 156cm (256mm waist width)
Date: March 2, 2019
Conditions:
Bright blue skies. Groomers hard but not icy. A little cruddy in places.
Some light fresh off-groomer.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 540mm (21.3″)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 262mm (10.32")
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 185lbs
Rider Boot Size: US10 Vans Aura
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Redemption
I rode the 2019 model of this board too and I had issues with it feeling grabby. So whilst not much changed for the 2020 model, I wanted to retest it to see if that was a one-off - and it was. This time around I didn't have those issues, which was great.
Flex
Overall 6/10, but I would say softer in the tip and tail - probably 5/10 there, and stiffer between the bindings - maybe 7/10 there. Maybe a little stiffer in the tail vs the nose.
Powder
There was a little around and the Aether felt OK but not great in there.
There isn't much going for it to make it powder friendly. It goes fine in shallower powder, but once things get deeper and steeper, this will likely tend to sink it's nose.
Carving & Turning
Carving: The Aether feels good on a carve - and it does prefer to carve than to skid but you can still get away with skidded turns on it.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: It's quite