Hello and welcome to my GNU Space case review – the latest in my series of Freestyle snowboard reviews.
As per tradition at Snowboarding Profiles, The Space Case will be given a rating out of 100, based on a number of different performance factors to see how well it performs as a freestyle snowboard.
NOTE: The 2019 model was the last model of the Space Case. The GUN Finest is a close but not exact replacement for it.
Overall Rating
Board: GNU Space Case ASYM C2X
Price: $579 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium (6-7/10 depending on length)
Flex Feel: Medium (5/10)
Rating Score: 90.7/100
Compared to other Men’s Freestyle Boards
Out of the 36 Men’s Freestyle snowboards that I rated:
- The average score was 80.6/100
- The highest score was 90.7/100
- The lowest score was 68.1/100
- The average price was $435
- The Space Case ranked 1st out of 36!
Overview of the Space Case’s Specs
Check out the Space Case’s specs and available sizes in the tables below.
Specs
| Style | Freestyle | Flex | Medium (5/10) |
| Ability Level | Intermediate to Expert | Feel | Semi-Stable |
| Weight | Normal | Turn Initiation | Easy/Medium-Fast |
| Camber Profile | Hybrid Rocker (C2X) | Shape | True Twin (asymmetrical) |
| Stance Setback | Centered | Edge-hold | Hard Snow |
| Price | $579 (USD) | Base | Sintered |
Sizing
2018 & 2019
The flex stiffened for the 2018 model.
| Size (Length) | 147 | 150 | 153 | 156 | 159 |
| Waist Width (mm) | 247 | 250 | 251 | 255 | 255 |
| Weight Range (kgs) | 36 – 68 | 45 – 82 | 54 – 91 | 60 – 95 | 64 – 113 |
| Weight Range (lbs) | 80 – 150 | 100 – 180 | 120 – 200 | 130 – 210 | 140 – 250 |
| Flex Ratings | 6 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7 |
GNUs flex ratings tend to change as the size increases.
2017
| Size (Length) | 147 | 150 | 153 | 156 | 159 |
| Waist Width (mm) | 247 | 250 | 251 | 255 | 255 |
| Weight Range (kgs) | 36 – 68 | 45 – 82 | 54 – 91 | 60 – 95 | 64 – 113 |
| Weight Range (lbs) | 80 – 150 | 100 – 180 | 120 – 200 | 130 – 210 | 140 – 250 |
| Flex Ratings | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6 |
Who is the Space Case Most Suited to?
The Space Case is for anyone who loves to ride freestyle – whether that be laps of the park or performing tricks, jumps etc off natural hits.
It’s also great for anyone who likes to ride the pipe and doesn’t want to have to change boards to do so – often park boards aren’t that suited to the pipe. The Space Case nails it for both the park and the pipe.
Generally speaking the case is for:
- Anyone who loves to do laps in the park but would also like to perform freestyle in other areas of terrain
- Anyone looking for a freestyle deck that also has great edge-hold
- Anyone with a budget around $550
The Space Case in More Detail
Demo Info
Board: GNU Space Case 2017, 156cm (255mm waist width)
Date: February 27th, 2016
Conditions: Slushy and choppy on the groomers. Some rare pockets of powder off. Some rain later in the afternoon briefly but mostly dry with high cloud outside of that. Visibility good all day.
Bindings angles: +18/-6
The biggest surprise with the Space Case was how well it handled itself as an all-mountain ride too. That said, it’s in the jumps and switch that it really excels.
Switch
The Space Case has a true twin shape which is of course the shape you want for riding switch. But the Space Case is a little bit different from your average true twin. It has an asymmetrical aspect about it that helps to make it feel more symmetrical! What the!?
The asymmetry in this board has been described as “weird tech” but that weirdness actually makes it feel more natural.
The heelside has a shorter contact edge than the toe side, a softer flex than the toe side and a deeper side cut radius. What all this does is makes the heel-side turn more intuitive. In addition to this there is also a difference in the shape of the tail and the nose – which serves to make it feel more natural riding switch.
Asymmetry is becoming more and more popular but the Space Case was one of the pioneers.
Check out more details and see the Space Case in action below
Jumps
I loved this board on jumps. It was pretty near perfection – great on the approach, really stable on landings and really pop off the lip. Also a board that’s great to spin.
Suitable for all types of jumps from small to x-large.
Jibbing
The Space Case has a medium flex (differs per length but ranges from 4.5 to 6 out of 10). That medium flex has other benefits but does mean that it sacrifices a little bit in the jibbing stakes, compared to if it was a little softer.
That said it’s still pretty darn good for hitting the jibs.
Pipe
This board seems to do it all! If you are a pipe rider and have access to one then the Space Case won’t disappoint.
Outside the Park
The Space Case performs surprisingly well outside the park as mentioned.
It’s pretty good in powder – never going to be amazing given the true twin shape and centered stance – but still ok despite that. It’s not quite as good in powder as the 2016 model and prior – this is because of the new XC2BTX (renamed C2X for the 2019 model but essentially the same thing) – which is more camber dominant than the old EX2 BTX was.
But that extra camber has improved this board’s carving abilities – so you get that trade off.
Changes from Past Models
The 2019 model is virtually the same as the 2018 model, as far as I can tell, except for the graphic and the change in name from XC2 BTX to C2X. Gotta say, I like how GNU has simplified their camber profile naming.
2018 Model
The 2018 model has been stiffened up from the 2017 model. Not by heaps but where the Space Case was 4.5-6 for the flex it now ranges from 6 to 7 (see sizing tables above).
2017 Model
The 2016 model was called the GNU Forest Bailey Space Case ASS EC2 BTX. For the 2017 model it changed to the GNU Space Case XC2 BTX.
What does that mean?
Basically it means that the Camber profile has changed it was GNUs EC2 profile – not it’s the XC2 profile. This new profile makes the new model slightly more aggressive. It’s still a Hyrbrid Rocker profile (rocker between the feet and camber to tip and tail) but the camber is more pronounced on the XC2 than on the EC2 (it’s radial camber as opposed to elliptical camber). The camber section is also a bit longer and the rocker between the feet a bit shorter.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Switch: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Jumps: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Jibbing: | 3.5 | 14/20 |
| Uneven Terrain: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Powder: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| Carving/Turns: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Speed: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| Pipe: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 90.7/100 |
The Space Scores an impressive 90.7 points! That is the highest I have seen for any freestyle snowboard. It’s not the cheapest board around but you get what you pay for that’s for sure.
No wonder that it topped my list of the Top 10 Freestyle Snowboards
If you are looking for a board that feels intuitive, rides switch naturally and comfortably, has plenty of pop for ollies and jumps and will stomp landings with authority, whilst at the same time can perform on the rest of the mountain with distinction, for those times you want to ride the trails with mates or use the mountain as a park, plus perform with jibs and in the pipe, then this is definitely a board worth considering, if it’s within your budget.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you are interested in the Space Case and want to learn more, are ready to buy or want check out current prices or availability, check out the links below.
Thanks for reading and I hope this has helped in your snowboard search. For more info on the Space Case check out the links above. If you’re looking for more freestyle snowboard options check out my top 10 freestyle snowboards list at the link below.
>>Top 10 Freestyle Snowboards
This review is for the GNU Space Case 2017 model.
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