Hello and welcome to my Nidecker Mellow review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Mellow as a mellow freeride snowboard (apt name for the category!).
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Mellow a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other mellow-freeride snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Nidecker Mellow
Price: $519
Style: Mellow Freeride
Flex Rating: Stiff (8/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Stiff (6.5/10)
Rating Score: 80.9/100
Compared to other Men’s Mellow Freeride Boards.
Out of the 33 men’s mellow freeride snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Mellow’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Mellow's specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Mellow Freeride |
Price: | $519 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Chattery/Damp: |  |
Smooth/Snappy: |  |
Playful/Aggressive: |  |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Directional Hybrid Camber Nidecker's "Surfy Camrock" |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Setback 1.2" (30mm) |
Base: | Sintered (N7000) |
Weight: | Felt heavier than normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
150W | 260 | 143-165 | 65-75 |
155W | 265 | 154-187 | 70-85 |
160W | 270 | 177+ | 80+ |
Who is the Mellow Most Suited To?
The Mellow is best suited to someone looking for a powder board to add to their quiver. Particularly good for those on a smaller budget for their powder board - not wanting to pay too much for a 2nd (or 3rd) board - and predominantly wanting something that's good in powder to compliment the other board(s) in their quiver.
Not beginner friendly, but solid intermediate riders should be fine with this board.
The Mellow in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Mellow is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Nidecker Mellow 2022, 155cm (265mm waist width)
Date: December 14, 2021
Conditions:
Sunshine and blue skies with fresh snow. Just a whisper of wind.
Temp -4°C (25°F) and -5°C (23°F) with wind chill factor.
24hr snow: 10cm
48hr snow: 24cm
7 day snow: 68cm
On groomer: Well groomed first thing. Soft on top, firm but definitely jot icy underneath. Overall medium firmness groomers.
Off groomer: All pow baby!
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 20.5″ (520mm)
Stance Setback: Setback 1.2" (30mm)
Width at Inserts: 273mm (10.75") at front insert and 275mm (10.83") at the back insert
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 180lbs
Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Tactical ADV
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Control Board for Control Laps: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
Weight: 3040grams (6lbs 11oz)
Weight per cm: 19.61 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. The Mellow is a little heavier than normal for it's size, though that extra width does add weight. On snow, it felt a little heavier than normal.
Powder
This is where the board shines and I was luck enough to get it out on a powder day. That big nose floats above everything and it surfs pow like a wave. Whilst the board doesn't feel particularly surfy on groomers, it really adopts that surfy feel in powder (every board gets more surfy in powder of course, but this was to another level).
No big surprises given the specs. A good setback on effective edge and even greater setback on overall length with the nose being considerably longer than the tail. There's also a little taper - and a swallow tail, plus some generous rocker in the nose, which all helps.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Actually really decent for the most part, but can feel a little washy in the tail.
Ease of Turns/Slashes: Felt a little labored turning on the groomers and needed a good bit of effort. It is a wide board - and being a couple of centimeters shorter to make up for that extra width, might have been more ideal for me, size-wise.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: Not super nimble - a little slow to change edges.
Skidded Turns: Not super unforgiving of skidded turns - i.e. not super catchy, but also not super easy with skidded turns either. Right in the middle.
Speed
Decently stable at speed. Could handle a good bit of speed but not an ultra bomber or anything.
Uneven Terrain
Crud: Can get bucked around a little but not that much - and that nose just goes overtop of everything, so even when it doesn't smash through you can glide over top.
Bumps: Hugged bumps really well when going over top, but not as good for weaving between bumps - not as good when you need to turn on a dime.
Jumps
Average.
Pop: Not much pop and not easy to access either.
Approach: Stable but not super easy for speed checks and not great of trickier approaches.
Landing: Solid but not super forgiving of errors.
Side-hits: Not great - not enough pop and no easy pop and not nimble enough for trickier approaches.
Small jumps/Big Jumps: Best for medium straight air with a good approach and landing.
Switch
Not great for switch, but doable.
Spins
Being heavier it took a bit of effort to get around - pop wasn't there to help and not great of setting up or landing switch - but not what it's made for.
Butters
Again not what it's made for, there was some pressability, but not heaps - it feels stiffer in the tip and tail than it does through the middle of the board. Tail and nose feel a bit different to press too.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
POWDER | 4.5 | 27/30 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 3.0 | 9/15 |
CARVING | 3.5 | 7/10 |
TREES/BUMPS | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
CRUD/CHUNDER | 3.5 | 7/10 |
SPEED | 3.5 | 7/10 |
JUMPS | 2.0 | 2/5 |
SWITCH | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 80.9/100 |
At first that big nose is a little cumbersome on groomers but you get used to it after a while, and it can lay down a decent carve, though does get a little washy when you really lay it down.
It's not ultra nimble and certainly not as mellow as the name suggests (and Nidecker rate it 8/10 flex - something that stiff doesn't say "mellow" to me, but that camber profile is pretty surfy feeling). But when she gets in powder, then she's in her element. That big nose floats above everything and it surfs the pow like a wave.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Mellow, 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 mellow freeride snowboard options, or if you want to compare how the Mellow compares to other mellow freeride snowboards, then check out the next link.
Hi Nate, I now buy boards with your advice and I thank you for the work you do. This time I would like to know which size is best for me: 180 cm, 82 kg, 44.5 (11) boot. One more thing, this board does not seem very suitable for carving? Is there something that could work well in pow and carving? Thanks
Hi Enzo, thanks for your message.
Size-wise, I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 160. Being a wider board, you could size down to the 155, but with 11s you don’t really need to. That said, the 160 being even wider is still on the wide side for 11s and maybe not ideal overall. But between the 155W and the 160W, I would go 160W. The Mellow can carve decently, but it’s not a super carver or anything. I would check out this list and this list for boards that are good carving and in powder. Pay attention to the score breakdowns.
Hope this helps
Thanks Nate, you are a safe bet.
You’re very welcome Enzo.