Hello and welcome to my Nitro Santoku snowboard review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Santoku as an all-mountain-freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Santoku a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other all-mountain-freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Nitro Santoku
Price: $639
Style: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium (5/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Soft (2/10)
Rating Score: 84.3/100
Compared to other Men’s All-Mountain-Freestyle Boards
Out of the 27 men’s all-mountain-freestyle snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Santoku's Specs
Check out the tables for the Santoku's specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | All-Mountain-Freestyle |
Price: | $639 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Full Camber - Nitro's "True Camber" |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Sintered "Sintered Speed Formula 2.0 Base" |
Weight: | Felt on the ligher side of normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
156 | 250 | 130-175 | 59-79 |
159 | 255 | 145-185 | 66-84 |
162 | 260 | 155+ | 70+ |
Who is the Santoku Best Suited To?
The Santoku is a great option for anyone looking for a super buttery all-mountain-freestyle board, that's bordering on all-mountain, in the way it rides powder. It has a long nose and tail for an all-mountain-freestyle board - a really good option for those that like to ride switch when they get in the pow.
Not for beginners, mostly because it is a full camber profiles - that said, a high end beginner probably wouldn't be too far off it - and it doesn't feel like a typical full camber profile would, IMO.
The Santoku in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Santoku is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Nitro Santoku 2020, 156cm (250mm waist width)
Date: March 7, 2020
Conditions: Cloudy but still around 90-95% visibility.
Groomers had a decent layer of soft with mostly a medium firmness under that layer, with some harder spots in patches.
Off groomer soft with some overnight fresh. Not waist deep or anything, but a nice amount.
Wind around 10-15kph (6-9mph). Temperature was -8°C (17.6°F) and with wind chill -11°C (12.2°F).
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 540mm (21.3″)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 263mm (10.35")
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 175lbs
Rider Boot Size: US10 Salomon Lo-Fi
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Flex
The first thing that struck me about this board was the flex. Think it's the softest board I've ridden. The Nitro rep even said that it was the softest board ever. That's why I was so surprised to see Nitro rate it as 5/10 for flex. It's the most off-rated board I've ridden. Certainly stiffer than 2 between the feet but tip and tail was like a 1/10 almost. I would put it down to the fact that it had become a noodle over time, but the rep did say to expect it to be soft. Granted also, if I'd ridden the 159, which was probably the better size for me, it would have felt a little stiffer, but still no more than 3/10 I'd say.
Powder
It has a long nose and tail and that helps this thing to float in powder. It's a centered twin and a full camber profile, which is usually a recipe for pretty poor powder performance, in my experience. But that longer nose and tail makes it float pretty decently for a twin.
Good option for those looking to ride switch in pow a lot.
Carving & Turning
Carving: It's not ultra carvy, but it definitely carves better than you would expect for a board that feels this soft. I think the camber profiles helps there - and the fact it's a little stiffer throught the middle of the board.
Turning: Easy and snappy on regular turns.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: I found it super nimble at slow speeds.
Skids: Actually pretty easy to skid turnds on, despite being full camber. The softness defintitely helps there though.
Speed
Again, for how soft it feels, it's surprisingly good at speed, which is usually not a characteristic of a super soft board. It's still definitely no crazy bomber, but can handle more speed than you would think for the flex.
Uneven Terrain
It's pretty good. Doesn't crush through the crud - can get bucked around a little, but easy to make adjustments when you get thrown off a little.
And super nimble for weaving between bumps.
Jumps
Overall decent without being epic for jumps.
Pop: Not oodles of pop but as easily accessible as it gets.
Approach: Stable enough and really nimble.
Landing: Not a stomper but more solid than I was expecting.
Side-hits: Fun on sidehits. Super maneuverable for those trickier approaches and easily accessible pop.
Small jumps/Big jumps: Small is best, IMO and medium fine too, but not as suited to larger jumps, IMO.
Switch
Really good for riding switch.
Spins
Really easy to get the spin around, despite the longer nose and tail - and good for landing and setting up switch.
Jibbing
Easy to jib with. I'm not a strong jibber and I found this board easy to jib with.
Butters
So buttery it's almost too buttery. Almost too easy to butter. Just had that feeling like it was too squishy. Usually I find the easier the better, and this is super easy to butter, and all round very good, but just that feeling like it was too easy to overpower.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
JUMPS | 3.5 | 14/20 |
CARVING | 3.0 | 6/10 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SWITCH | 4.5 | 9/10 |
SPEED | 3.0 | 6/10 |
SPINS | 4.5 | 9/10 |
BUTTERS | 4.5 | 9/10 |
JIBBING | 4.0 | 4/5 |
CRUD/CHUNDER | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TREES/BUMPS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
POWDER | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.3/100 |
Overall, the Santoku is a very intersting board. Ultra soft in the nose and tail and overall felt very soft to me, despite being rated 5/10 by Nitro, I felt it more like 2/10!
But a fun board and something that is better for carving and speed than you would think - but still definitely more on the playful side.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Santoku, 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 all-mountain-freestyle snowboard options, or if you want to compare how the Santoku compares to other all-mountain-freestyle snowboards, then check out the next link.
Hey thanks for this great and extensive overview. I was interested because I am also looking for a replacement board and I just demo-ed this Santoku 156 for a week in the Austrian Alps. My current board is a 2006 Burton Seven (Se7en) 158. I asked the shop for a board that was good for ground tricks, jumps, switch riding – and all mountain. (I’m not a big park guy – as a dad, my risk appetite has waned quite a bit haha.) But I try to ride switch as much as possible, I love small and medium jumps and rollers, and do some buttering, and 180s. So, back to the board, I was shocked at how much lighter and easier to maneuver this Santoku was compared to my Seven. Much lighter and easier to switch. I liken it to riding a popsicle stick compared to my Burton which took a lot of core and leg effort to turn in the air. Very playful board, and yes, SUPER bendy. Which was irksome to me at first, since in my traditional mind, bendy boards were for beginners (like my first one was). For my needs (180s, switch, jumps) this board felt and performed super well. Often felt to me as if it was slippery at the center, too easy swing around to switch. I’m not a speed bomber but when I wanted to move fast it did not lack in pace at all. I’m seriously considering buying this, but am wondering if I should demo a couple more. I know my style better and now I know that this is much closer to what I want to be riding. If you have any suggestions for similar boards for this kind of riding, I’m all ears.
Hi Diz
Thanks for your message and for sharing your experience.
You could also check out the following:
>>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards
Not the same as this, as nothing really is, it’s quite unique, and not as soft, but it’s what I’d look at for the style you’re describing.
Or if you want to look at some softer flexing options, could also look at:
>>My Top 10 Men’s Freestyle Snowboards
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Thanks for a great review. This board caught my eye, but I am struggling to really assess if I will like it. I only had one board 2005 Burton Custom 158. I learned on it and still use it. But as I grow in my skillset, I want to start doing tricks (butter, jumps…nothing crazy for now) and I have been struggling to do it on my Burton. However, I still like to carve and speed down the pistes, when needed. After reading your review as well as other videos, I am a bit concerned with how flexible it is. I would like some more flex than my burton, but also not flexible too much so that I feel every bump. Do you think this board can still satisfy my needs or I need to look somewhere else?
A bit more about me: 5’10, 145lb, goofy, all-mountain (mostly on piste) and I am looking to get this board in 156.
Thank you,
Hi Boris
Thanks for your message.
I think if you were going to use it as a compliment to your Custom, it could work, but if you’re looking for something as a replacement, as your do-it-all board, then you might find it a bit soft. Really surprised me how soft it was. For something a little softer/easier to butter and do tricks on, but still pretty good for speed/carving I would check out >>our top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards. And pay attention to the score breakdowns.
But yeah, as a compliment this could work, but as a replacement, given you still want to bomb and carve, I think there are better options.
Hope this helps