Past Season Reviews for Burton X Custom Archives

2023-2024

Hello and welcome to my Burton Custom X review.

In this review, I will take a look at the Custom X as an aggressive all-mountain snowboard.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Custom X a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other aggressive all-mountain snowboards.

Overall Rating

Board: Burton Custom X 2023

Price: $859

Style: Aggressive All-Mountain

Flex Rating: Stiff

Flex Feel on Snow: Stiff (8/10)

Rating Score: 89.3/100

Compared to other Men’s Aggressive All-Mountain Boards

Of the 19 current model aggressive all-mountain snowboards that we tested:

• The average score was 84.3/100
• The highest score was 90.4/100
• The lowest score was 78.5/100
• The average price was $622
• The Custom X ranked 2nd out of 19

Overview of the Custom X’s Specs

Check out the tables for the Custom X’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Who is the Custom X Most Suited To?

The Burton Custom X is best suited to anyone looking for a board that can do a bit of everything but in a much more aggressive way. It excels best being ridden fast and laying out deep carves, as opposed to cruising around and slashing.

While it does some things incredibly well, it has its weaknesses like riding deeper powder or jibbing. If you don't plan on doing these things very often, then this could certainly be a one-board-quiver style board.

This board is certainly not for beginners or intermediates as it is just way to aggressive and demanding to ride. But if your an advanced-expert rider who prefers an aggressive riding style, then I would definitely  recommend it as it's loads of fun, once tamed. 

The Custom X in More Detail

O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Custom X is capable of.

Demo Info

Board: Burton Custom X 2022, 158cm (254mm waist width)

Date: March 22, 2022

Conditions

Raining. Visibility wasn't unlimited, but wasn't terrible either. 

Temperature: Warm. 36°F (2°C) in the morning. Up to 39°F (4°C). No wind chill.

24hr snow: 0.8" (2cm)

48hr snow: 18" (45cm)

7 day snow: 29" (74cm)

On groomer: Soft pack to slushy. Well groomed to start but even at start could feel it a little slushy. Progressively slushier over day. 

Off groomer: Plenty of fresh snow around, but it was heavy and sticky and lumpy, so not great. 

Set Up

Bindings angles: +12/-9

Stance width: 560mm (22″)

Stance Setback: 12.5mm (0.5")

Width at Inserts: 265mm (10.43") at front insert and 267mm (10.51") at back insert.  

Tester: Fraser

Rider Height: 6'1"

Rider Weight: 180lbs

Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Tactical Lexicon ADV

Bindings Used: Burton Malavita: M

Weight: 3000grams (6lbs 10oz)

Weight per cm: 18.99 grams/cm

Average Weight per cm: 18.59 grams/cm*

*based on a sample size of around 200 models that I’ve weighed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 models. So the Custom X we tested was a little heavier than normal on the scales, but not by much. And on snow it felt normal. 

Powder

Unfortunately we had no powder to test in on this day but looking at the specs we get a good idea on how it would perform.  

The Custom X has a full camber profile which isn't ideal for powder as it doesn't float as well as a board with rocker but the directional shape and setback stance help sink the tail, making it somewhat capable in powder.

Carving

While the Custom X does require effort when carving, it's worth it because it's fully capable of laying out any size carve and always held an edge really well at any speed. 

Turning 

Ease of Turning/Slashes: It's a more locked in feel, so slashing turns at slower speeds isn't super intuitive on this board, but it's not incapable of it. 

Maneuverability at slow speeds: Fairly quick edge-to-edge at slower speeds, with effort, allowing good maneuverability. Could feel a bit catchy if weren't always on edge.

Skidded turns: Prefers to be on edge - and can feel catchy if you get too lazy. 

Speed

The Burton Custom X is fast and perfect for bombing hills. I never noticed any chatter or wobble from it. Overall felt really damp and stable.

Uneven Terrain

Crud: Handled Crud/chunder nicely smashing through it without getting bucked around whatsoever.

Bumps: The Custom X was fairly quick quick edge-to-edge, even if it wasn't effortless when riding slower, allowing you to maneuver between bumps/moguls nicely. It was also quite capable of going over bumps/through ditches when required.

Jumps

Overall solid and capable on any size jump

Pop: More pop than I was anticipating but with that being said you have to put in some effort to access it.

Approach: Preferred it on approaches that required some speed but overall felt good-  just really have to stay on edge.

Landing: The overall stiffness made absorbing landings forgiving and stable. When landing tail heavy as you could still ride away.

Side-hits: Enjoyable on almost any side hit thanks to its maneuverability, speed, and pop. But preferred faster approaches, so bigger side hits were better. 

Small jumps/Big Jumps: Without a doubt capable on any size jump but because it prefers a faster approach, it's best on larger jumps. 

Switch

While the Custom X is directional in shape, the setback stance is very minor allowing it to feel pretty similar in both directions. With that being said, transitions could be a bit catchy if you get sloppy.

Spins

Felt solid for landing/setting up switch and the good amount of pop allowed you to really get some extra air for spins. Once in the air the Custom X felt pretty light allowing you to whip it around when desired.

Butters

The Custom X is on the stiffer side which made butters doable but a good amount of effort was required as you will really have to transfer your weight and lean into them to get a good press out of it. But once in place, they were pretty easy to hold.

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

2018-2022

Board: Burton Custom X

Price: $799 (USD recommended retail)

Style: Aggressive All Mountain

Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (8/10)

On Snow Flex Feel: Stiff (9/10)

Rating Score: 87.6/100

Compared to other Men’s Aggressive All Mountain Boards

Out of the 16 men’s aggressive-all-mountain snowboards that I rated:

Who is the Custom X Most Suited To?

The Custom X is a great board for anyone who likes their riding aggressive. Anyone who wants to ride the whole-mountain but wants to really carve trenches, bomb asty speed and have access to some serious pop.

Not for the exclusively freerider because the float in powder isn’t that great. Also not for the beginner at all – way too aggressive for that. Also not for an intermediate rider – This is really an advanced and up board. And also not a jibber.

This board is really for those advanced to expert riders who want to carve all day at speed and hit some pretty aggressive lines.

The Custom X in More Detail

Stance Setback: 12.5mm (0.5")

Rider Height: 6'0"

Rider Weight: 185lbs 

Powder

The Custom X is a traditional camber snowboard – so this will naturally stop it from being the best floater in powder. However, it does have a reasonable setback, which helps to redeem it in the powder somewhat.

Note that the 2018 model and onwards has a smaller reference setback of 12.5mm (was 25mm on the 2017 model)

I got a bit of shallow powder to test over and it doesn’t float like a dream and not like a freeride or powder board of course – but it’s slightly above average.

Carving and Turning

This is where this board really shines. You could really lean into a carve on this board and it never for a second felt washy, even when really pushing it.

Edge hold felt really good too. Held an edge nicely in hard conditions. It has Burton’s frostbite edges which helps with that edge-hold – and that stiffness and camber profile also help.

Really fast going from edge to edge if you’ve got the muscle to pull it around – it’s pretty light but also pretty stiff so takes a bit of oomph to ride it. The response is awesome and you get some real spring out of turns.

Speed

No doubt this board is quick. There’s no issues with coasting on flats and keeping momentum on up-hills.  It has a sintered base – which helps this board with it’s speed (in addition to the sidecut, shape, camber profile and stiffness). Just make sure to keep it waxed.

And, more importantly, it felt really stable when riding at speed. Carving and speed is what this board is all about really.

Uneven Terrain

This board is too stiff to be really good in the bumpy stuff. But if you take aggressive lines on this thing you’ll fly right over it or smash right through it!

But navigating Saturday afternoon groomers where it’s all chopped up and bumpy isn’t really where this board excels. The Flying V version of this board is much better for those conditions. This board wants nice smooth snow (soft or hard doesn’t matter) where you can really open it out.

Jumps

It’s pretty good on jumps. Not really a park jumper in my opinion – though you could definitely take it there – but has plenty of pop for ollies over rollers and lips and generally getting some air off natural terrain. But you’ve got to really load that pop up to extract it. It’s not easy to extract pop.

Switch

Not what it’s really designed for and doesn’t feel that natural riding switch on it. It does have that semi-twin shape between the contact points (see video above) but it still feels odd riding switch. Maybe because it has a 25mm setback. (2018 and onwards models now have a 12.5mm setback so it’s a little better for riding switch).

Also because of it’s stiff, aggressive nature that makes it harder to ride switch on – unless you’re at an advanced level in riding in your unnatural direction it’s not going to be the easiest riding switch.

You can do it but that’s not its forte.

Jibbing

You can if you’re a really competent jibber. But not the easiest to jib with – and to be honest not fun to jib on. Not a board that I would ever use for jibbing.

Pipe

I didn’t take it in the pipe but from what I’ve heard, and based on the boards specs, I think it would do o.k. in there. Not amazing but you could definitely still have fun in the pipe on this thing, if you’re an experienced pipe rider.

Changes from 2021 to 2022

The 2022 model looks to be essentially the same as the 2021 model, bar the graphic.

Changes from 2020 to 2021

The 2021 model looks to be essentially the same as the 2020 model, bar the graphic.

Changes from 2019 to 2020

The 2020 model looks to be essentially the same as the 2019 model, bar the graphic.

Changes from 2018 to 2019

As far as I can tell the 2019 model is the same as the 2018 model, except for the graphic.

Changes from 2017 to 2018

The 2018 model has a number of changes compared with the 2017 model.

1. The sizings are different (see sizing section above) in both lengths offered and in terms of width
2. The reference setback stance is now 12.5mm – was 25mm for the 2017 model
3. The sidecut and effective edge have both changed as well

This is one of the better choices out there for aggressive all mountain snowboards.

So if you like your riding fast and really rail your carves and you want some great edge hold in hard conditions, then you should definitely have this on your wishlist. If it’s in your budget of course. It’s not the cheapest deck in the world.

Also, you’ll want to have some decent strength behind you and you want to be an advanced rider – if you are an advanced rider and relatively strong, then this board can take you beyond where a lot of boards can – but if you don’t fall in this category, then it could be difficult to ride.