The snowboards featured below represent what we consider to be the best mellow freeride snowboards for the 2024-2025 season.
This list has had a bit of an overhaul this year, with 5 new entries. This was partly necessitated with some models not returning with a 2025 model, but was also result of testing more boards in this category than any other for 2025 models.
The top 3 remain intact, but the rest of the list has a very fresh feel about it, with some exciting new entries.
NOTE: "new" in this context refers to "new to this list" and not necessarily new models for 2025. A board new to this list could come about in a number of different ways, e.g.:
- new model for 2025
- model that was around in previous years but this was the first time we've tested it
- a model that we've tested before, but upon re-test it scored better
Category Stats
As is tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com each board is given a score out of 100.
Of the 30 current model mellow freeride snowboards that we tested:
OK, let's check out the top 10 for 2025!
#10=: Jones Mind Expander
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
Feel: Stable
Rating score: 87.1/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Starting the list off at #10, we have the Jones Mind Expander.
The Mind Expander is a really easy going, yet stable feeling ride that just felt so natural to ride almost anywhere.
Sure it's not great for jumps or switch or anything, but not designed for that kind of thing. It's at its best in powder and for slashing, exploring the woods, and that kind of thing. But it can hold down a decent carve and remain stable up to pretty reasonable speeds too.
Score Breakdown for the Mind Expander
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Turns | 4 | 12/15 |
| Carving | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Trees | 4 | 12/15 |
| Crud | 4 | 8/10 |
| Speed | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Jumps | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
| Switch | 2 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 87.1/100 |
#10=: Salomon Dancehaul
Flex: Medium (6/10)
Feel: Stable
Rating score: 87.1/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
The Dancehaul is a short/wide snowboard that loves powder and trees - combine the two and this board is in its zone.
But when there's no powder around, this board is still fun in hard pack. It's no speed demon, but it can lay down some good lower speed carves and get slashy around the groomers, when you're not ducking into the trees.
Score Breakdown for the Dancehaul
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Turns | 4 | 12/15 |
| Carving | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Trees | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Crud | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Speed | 3 | 6/10 |
| Jumps | 3 | 3/5 |
| Switch | 2 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 87.1/100 |
#9: Burton Short Stop | NEW
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Feel: Semi Loose (surfy)
Rating score: 88.8/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Our #9 entry, Burton's Short Stop is a seriously fun little whipper.
It's the softest flexing board on this list and while its ultra directional shape does leave it with certain limitations, it is just an absolute joy to ride in tight conditions.
It's a super fun, agile, snappy, easy quick turner. If there was something I could think of right now that's smaller than a dime, I'd try to come up with something clever to say about how it... turns on... something-smaller-than-a-dime, but I'm too dizzy from recollecting my time on the Short Stop that my brain can't function!
It's definitely a quiver board, but if you're looking to add a tree/powder specialist to your quiver, this should definitely be considered.
Score Breakdown for the Short Stop
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 5 | 30/30 |
| Turns | 5 | 15/15 |
| Carving | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Trees | 5 | 15/15 |
| Crud | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Speed | 2 | 4/10 |
| Jumps | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
| Switch | 0.5 | 0.5/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 88.8/100 |
#8: Jones Storm Chaser | NEW
Flex: Medium, bordering on medium-stiff (6.5/10)
Feel: Stable (bordering on semi-locked in)
Rating score: 88.8/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Like #8 above, the Storm Chaser is a super directional short wide snowboard.
But the similarities, sort of, end there. Where the Short Stop is the softest on this list the Storm Chaser is the stiffest and is much burlier (still not stiff/burly enough to make the non-mellow freeride list, but burly for this list. And certainly not as stiff/burly as its close relative the Storm Wolf).
The Short Stop is more adept at carving than it is at short/sharp slower speed turns and can handle speed and crud really well. Even riding switch, because of how stiff the tail is, it holds its own. It's also quite a bit wider than the Short Stop.
What they do have in common is being very much quiver boards and being highly tuned for powder performance.
Score Breakdown for the Storm Chaser
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 5 | 30/30 |
| Turns | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Carving | 4 | 8/10 |
| Trees | 4 | 12/15 |
| Crud | 4 | 8/10 |
| Speed | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Jumps | 2 | 2/5 |
| Switch | 1.5 | 1.5/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 88.8/100 |
#7: GNU Hyper
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
Feel: Semi-Loose (surfy)
Rating score: 88.8/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Next up we have GNU's Hyper.
The Hyper is a great snowboard for those looking for a surfy option that floats well in powder but is also really fun on the groomers, if you like a really easy turning board that feels like it's surfing powder even on hard pack! OK maybe not quite, but it has that looser more easy going feel even on groomers.
It's really good in tight spaces too, so can maneuver between trees with ease.
But in spite of all of that, it can still carve and handles a bit of speed well too - and not bad for jumping. So overall quite versatile.
Score Breakdown for the Hyper
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4 | 24/30 |
| Turns | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Carving | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Trees | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Crud | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Speed | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Jumps | 4 | 4/5 |
| Switch | 3 | 3/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 88.8/100 |
#6: Lib Tech T Rice Orca | NEW
Flex: Medium (6/10)
Feel: Stable (bordering on semi-loose/surfy)
Rating score: 89.9/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Previously riding Lib Tech's Orca, I failed to see the hype. I mean, I found it a decent board and didn't hate it or anything, but I wasn't overly excited by it either. But, I rode it again last winter, and I have to eat my words and have a good serving of humble pie, because boy did this time change my mind!
It was so much fun - super nimble, great floaty feel and everything to back it up for being great in deeper powder, and a combination of being a nice easy ride but still with some decent stability to it.
I'm not too proud/stuck in my ways to admit that I've changed my tune with this board. It won me over this time around.
Score Breakdown for the Orca
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Turns | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Carving | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Trees | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Crud | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Speed | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Jumps | 3 | 3/5 |
| Switch | 2 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 89.9/100 |
#5: Burton Gril Master | NEW
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
Feel: Stable
Rating score: 89.9/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Our #5 entry, Burton's Gril Master is promoted as being the Rad Dad board. And I can see why.
It's easy going enough to take with you when you're riding slower with the family (until they get bigger and start to leave you for dust!) but is super fun and capable when it comes to exploring trees and taking advantage of powder days.
And it's got enough going on that it can hold its own on groomers, handling a certain amount of speed and laying some decent carves too.
Score Breakdown for the Gril Master
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Turns | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Carving | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Trees | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Crud | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Speed | 3 | 6/10 |
| Jumps | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Switch | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 89.9/100 |
#4: Never Summer Nokhu | NEW
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
Feel: Stable (bordering on semi-loose/surfy)
Rating score: 90.4/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
The last of the new entries for this list, Never Summer's Nokhu, had all the elements I love in this type of board.
It was easy riding, fast turning and highly suited to taking advantage of powder days, particularly when in the trees. But it was also a lot of fun on groomers when carving and stable enough to push it to moderately high speeds without it feeling wobbly.
It does excel in trees and powder at its core, but it's complimentary factors make it a pretty versatile ride too.
Score Breakdown for the Nokhu
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Turns | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Carving | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Trees | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Crud | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Speed | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Jumps | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Switch | 2 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 90.4/100 |
#3: Capita Navigator
Flex: Medium (6/10)
Feel: Stable
Rating score: 90.4/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Our #3 pick again this year, and a longstanding fixture in this list, is Capita's Navigator.
The Navigator is a nice, easy riding, forgiving freeride snowboard that is at it's best in powder and in the trees, but it's also surprisingly good on groomers.
You can whip this thing around easily in tight spaces, but it can lay down fairly decent carves on groomers and isn't bad for jumps either.
Score Breakdown for the Navigator
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Turns | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Carving | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Trees | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Crud | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Speed | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Jumps | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Switch | 2 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 90.4/100 |
#2: Burton Deep Thinker
Flex: Medium (6/10)
Feel: Stable
Rating score: 92.1/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
In the penultimate #2 spot, Burton's Deep Thinker returns.
There would have been no way I would have had this in as a mellow freeride board previously (prior to the 2023 model) . But the Deep Thinker is now a quick turning, snappy, lightweight board that has somehow not lost much of its carving and speed prowess but gained so much in terms of its tree and jump performance.
One that could definitely be a one-board-quiver, such is it's versatility, but even if all you wanted to do was cruise groomers, this board would be a great choice just for how fun it is to turn with.
Score Breakdown for the Deep Thinker
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4 | 24/30 |
| Turns | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Carving | 4 | 8/10 |
| Trees | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Crud | 4 | 8/10 |
| Speed | 4 | 8/10 |
| Jumps | 4 | 4/5 |
| Switch | 3 | 3/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 92.1/100 |
#1: Never Summer Swift
Flex: Medium (6/10)
Feel: Stable
Rating score: 93.8/100
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
And finally, in at #1, we have Never Summer's Swift.
When you've been doing this (testing snowboards) for as long as I have (Snowboarding Profiles is coming up to its 10 year anniversary) there's not much that surprises you anymore. Still plenty of things that get me excited, but not much that surprises me.
But when I got tested the Swift... the edge-to-edge quickness of it left me with my jaw around my ankles!
With that quickness of turns, coupled with its powder ability, the Swift becomes the ultimate tree weapon, with or without powder in there.
And given that description you might be forgiven for thinking that it's a powder/tree specialist. But far from it. This thing was decent at speed and could actually lay down a nice deep carve. Wasn't bad for jumps either. No surprise then that it scored so well.
Score Breakdown for the Swift
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Turns | 5 | 15/15 |
| Carving | 4 | 8/10 |
| Trees | 5 | 15/15 |
| Crud | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Speed | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Jumps | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Switch | 1 | 1/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 93.8/100 |
Over To You
This is quite a diverse category, so even though this list is in order, what suits you best will depend on what you're looking for.
Everything thing here is at least above average in powder, but some are more powder specialists, some have a surfy feel, whilst some have a more precise, more stable bordering on locked-in feel (for those just looking for a softer freeride board, but still want a more carvy/precise feel).
Thanks for reading and I hope this post has helped you find your perfect mellow freeride board.
If you want to learn more about any of these boards or check out current prices/availability, check out the links in each of the boards descriptions.
This List versus the Top 10 Freeride Snowboards list
Compared to the other freeride list, the ratings for this list give a higher importance to powder, trees/bumps & maneuverability and less importance to carving and speed.
Note that the "mellow freeride" category represents freeride boards that are in that softer flex range - 6.5/10 or less.
To be eligible for this list the board had to:
- Be 6.5/10 or less for flex; and
- Have a freeride shape
Some boards might be more powder specialized, some might have a more surfy feel and some a more precise feel.
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