Hello and welcome to my Ride Machete GT snowboard review.
In this review I will take a look at the Machete GT as an aggressive all-mountain-freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Machete GT a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other aggressive all-mountain-freestyle snowboards.
NOTE: The 2019 model was the last model of the Machete GT
Overall Rating
Board: RIDE Machete GT
Price: $579 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating Score: 84.5/100
Compared to other Men’s Aggressive All-mountain-freestyle Boards
Out of the 19 men’s aggressive all-mountain-freestyle snowboards that I rated:
- The average score was 85.1/100
- The highest score was 90.8/100 (see below)
- The lowest score was 76.4/100
- The average price was $513
- The Machete GT ranked 12th out of 19
Overview of the Machete GT’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Machete GT’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
| Style | Aggressive-All-Mountain-Freestyle | Flex | Medium (5 out of 10) |
| Ability Level | Intermediate to Expert | Feel | Semi Locked-In |
| Weight | Normal | Turn Initiation | Medium |
| Camber Profile | Hybrid Camber | Shape | True Twin |
| Stance Setback | Centered | Edge-hold | Medium snow |
| Price | $579 (USD) | Base | Sintered |
Sizing
| Size (Length) | 151 | 154 | 157 | 161 | 164 |
| Waist Width (mm) | 248 | 251 | 255 | 260 | 266 |
| Weight Range (lbs) | 75-135 | 100-150 | 130-180 | 140-190 | 150-220+ |
| Weight Range (kgs) | 34-60 | 45-69 | 59-82 | 64-86 | 68-91+ |
Who is the Machete GT Most Suited to?
The Machete GT is geared towards anyone who wants that true twin, centered set up for riding switch and for spins – but also wants to be able to lay down carves and ride at speed, in between the freestyle tricks.
Not a great jibber – it’s more suited to the jump line in the park and generally hitting natural hits around the resort. Not great in the powder – it’s a stick to the resort kind of plank.
Not a board for the beginner – it’s a bit aggressive for that – but fine for anyone intermediate or above that is after this kind of deck.
The Machete GT in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Machete GT is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Ride Machete GT 2017, 157cm (255mm waist width)
Date: April 16, 2016
Conditions: Hard conditions with some icy spots early on, then softened up a bit and a got a little bit slushy in the afternoon but still mostly firm. Sun and clouds in the morning then light snow in the afternoon.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Powder
Not what this board is made for. It’s a true twin with a centered stance. You’ll have to work to keep the nose above deep snow. It does have rocker in the tips and tails and that does help and is enough to make this board average in powder.
Carving & Turning
A really decent carver. I had fun getting up on an edge. It wasn’t un-washable but it took a bit to get to that stage where it started to feel like it could wash out.
Turn initiation wasn’t hard but it wasn’t super easy either. Edge-to-edge it wasn’t lightning fast but it was ok.
Speed
Pretty stable at speed. Could carve at pretty good speeds with minimal chatter. Only really felt like it was bordering on washing out when at good speed on some of the harder snow patches.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Uneven Terrain
This board was pretty easy to maneuver through uneven terrain. It’s on par with boards of similar flex and camber profile.
Jumps
Really liked the feel on landing jumps on this board and felt comfortable on small jumps and larger jumps a-like and really nice on natural kickers .
I’ve heard some say this board is poppy and others say it’s dead! I disagree with both!
To me it had a decent amount of pop but wasn’t the springiest either. You could definitely generate pop out of it but I’ve ridden boards in this category that you could get the same amount of pop with less effort. But it also pops better than some others in this and other categories.
Switch
It’s a true twin and a centered stance – so it feels pretty much the same in either direction. The only thing that would have given this better switch marks would be if it had an asymmetrical shape.
Jibbing
You can definitely jib on it and butter on it – but you have to work a little harder. Even though this category of board is a freestyle oriented all-mountain kind of ride – I never expect too much out of them in terms of jibs – so this board was typical for the category.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score for the Machete GT in the table below.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Switch: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Jumps: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Carving: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Speed: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Uneven Terrain: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Pipe: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Powder: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| Jibbing: | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 84.5/100 |
Overall the Machete GT is a good board but not a great board. It’s about average for this category. Which is fine, and the average in this category is of quite high quality (certainly out the boards I rated).
And if I went on an oversees snowboarding trip and didn’t have a board with me and my mate had a Machete GT in my size that I could use – then I’d be like sweet!. Nice board to ride.
But, and there is a but, I wouldn’t buy it. Not for $579. If you can get it for around $500, then I’d say it’s worth getting.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re interested in the Machete GT and want to learn more, research prices, research availability or are ready to buy, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other aggressive all-mountain-freestyle decks or want to see how the Machete GT compared to others, check out the next link.
>>My Top 5 Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards
Hi Nate,
I would say i’m more on the advanced riding side, doing most freestyle-jumps type of riding. I appreciate the help, i just wanted to make sure i’m using the optimum board size for my body build and was a little thrown off when I saw the sizing chart.
Thanks!
Hi, I just bought the Machete GT from my local shop. I got the 157, I am 5’10-190 pounds. This is the size they recommended for me but when i got home i saw the sizing chart. will this be alright?
Thanks
Hi Jordan
Assuming you’re at a relatively advanced level, I would say something around a 160cm would be a good length for you. However, the Machete GT is what I would call an all-mountain-freestyle board, and I like to size down a little for this type of board – particularly if you’re going to be using it for doing a bit of freestyle riding (whether in the park or outside the park). Also, if you more of an beginner/intermediate level, then sizing down is also a good idea.
So, depending on the details, the 157 might be fine for you. I know you are slightly over the weight recommendations for it, but those are, IMO, guidelines and not hard and fast rules. It might feel a little softer flexing (compared to someone riding it within the weight guidelines) because you’re over those weight guidelines but not by not by that much, given that you’re just above.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
I would consider myself more of an intermediate/advance level- my style is park-jumps mostly. I just wanted to make sure this board size was optimum for my body build. but it sounds like it should do the trick. or do you think i would feel that big of a difference going to the 161?
Thanks!
Hi Jordan
I think the 157 is probably fine then. Personally I would ride the 157 for the Machete GT (6″0, 185lbs) rather than the 161. If you were wanting to ride in powder and bomb steeps, that kind of thing then there would be more advantages to going longer but for mostly park jumps, I would stick with the 157, if I was in your shoes.
hmm i need help. i have ride boots jackson but what bidings i should buy? ride rodeo is 4 flex ride and revolt 4. also i saw Rome D.O.D Snowboard Bindings flex 6-7 but i dont know if it s perfect with that boots. hmm i need help!!
Hi Dennis
If you want to stick with Ride bindings, then I think the Ride LTD is your best option (flex feel rating of 5) to match with the Machete GT. If you want to look outside of Ride, then there are plenty of options with a flex rating around 5 or 6. You can check out the link below to see some of those options.
>>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings
The D.O.D is an option too – with a rating around 7 – or the Katanas if you wanted something else Rome – they’re flex rating is probably closer to 6.
what was the boot size when you were using this board?us 45 or 44. also last question prefer 157 cm 255 width for ride boots us 11 or pick 161 cm 260 width for that boots??
Hi Dennis
I rode this board with Vans US10s. Not sure exactly how Vans US sizes translate to European sizes – this is one brand I haven’t been able to find out that info for – but it would likely be either 43 or 43.5 I would say (every brand translates differently into european sizes for some reason!).
But for Ride US11s, you should be fine with the 255mm waist width. I think the 157cm is the better length for you and that the 255mm width would be fine, so I think that’s the better size, not the 161 – IMO.
Hey. i want to buy the machete gt 157cm but i am 73 kg 161 lbs height 1.80 m. but the boots which i bought size is us 11 euro 44.5 and the snowboards width is 255mm . it is good for me? Which bindings size i should buy large or xlarge. I want boots and bindings created from ride. I like the capo bindings and i think size large woulld be perfect for me . Thanks
also boots are 29 cm!
Hi Dennis
I think the 157 would be a good length for you.
In terms of width, I think the 255mm waist width should be fine with US11s – especially since you have Ride boots, which have a lower profile outersole.
In terms of bindings – it depends on the brand (they all size a little bit differently) but if you are going with Ride bindings, like you say, then Large would be the best size for you. You could go for X-Large because US11s are in between both sizes, but I think the Large will be the better option.
By 29cm – I assume you mean that the Mondo-Print size of the boots is 29cm.
Hope this helps
also the boots are fell is 6 and machete is 5 .Will i have with capo bindings problem? which are 6-8 fell.
Hi Dennis
It is a good idea to match the flex/feel of the boots bindings and board – but it doesn’t have to be exact. The Capo’s are quite stiff and are probably stiffer than ideal for the Machete. But if you are going to have any part of your setup softer than the rest, then the board should be that one. i.e. a board with a flex of 5/10 will go better with bindings that are 7/10, than it would with bindings that are 3/10 – generally speaking. If that makes sense.
Boots with a feel of 6 will pair fine with the Machete (5/10). But maybe bindings that have more of a 6/10 feel would be a better match but the Capo (8/10) wouldn’t be completely wrong, just not ideal, IMO.
Hope this helps