The Best Snowboards for Beginners 2022-2023

Comments

1. Kregg says

   March 16, 2023 at 3:53 pm

   Hi Nate, thank you for all the good info. I’m old man trying to get into this sport in my mid-40s. 5’11” 215lbs and a size 10 boot. The snowboard shop originally put me on a Burton Custom 158 a few years back and I never really progressed. This season I found your site and grabbed an Arbor Foundation 155 and step on bindings on my way up to go snowboarding and progressed more in a day than years of struggle. I’m also a slow physical learner so your advice to not buy a board to “grow into” made me feel better that I wasn’t failing because I do really enjoy snowboarding.

   Spent about 6-7 days this year on the Foundation and the instructor said I was a solid level 5 and ready for park/mogul training (not really interested in either). Was wondering if you think I should take advantage of the spring sales to upgrade and keep progressing or stay on the Foundation? I don’t love how loose the Foundation is (but turns are super easy) and a lot of the shops are suggesting to get a camber board. I want to be able to ride colorado resort groomers, lite side hits, learn to ride switch better and mellow carve.

   Loosely I was looking at the
   Yes Basic (because it’s on both your beginner and intermediate lists)
   Salomon Pulse (try camber in beginner package)
   GNU GWO (curious about skate banana tech)
   Burton Process Flying V (I really like the channel for playing with my stance every run)
   Capita DOA (most recommended to me but not sure it’s right. Also an easy rental to try)
   But I’ve hit about 10 snowboard shops in the past few weeks and have basically been recommended about 50 different boards.

   So in short, should i buy spring sale or finish of the year on Arbor Foundation and wait for next year? Any recommendations on buys for my goals? And should I be on 155-156cm range?

   Reply

   • Nate says

     March 17, 2023 at 2:03 pm

     Hi Kregg

     Thanks for your message.

     Going with something with some camber in it is a good idea at this stage for your level and riding style. I wouldn’t go full camber or too camber dominant, but something hybrid camber would be a good bet.

     The YES Basic could work. A bit of step up from the Foundation without being too big a leap – and if you size up a little, I think that would be a good step up – and you get a more stable feeling vs the looser feeling of something like the Foundation. So I’d keep that on your list. You could also look at the YES Typo, which I think would perhaps even be the slightly better bet, to just subtly step it up a little more, but still a very manageable board, particularly for level 5. It’s something that would stick with you for a little longer through your progression than the Basic. But Basic still certainly an option.

     The Salomon Pulse would be a slightly smaller step up, but it would introduce you to camber and again, if you size up a little (which I think you should – see below), then it should be a good step up and give you a more stable feel too.

     The GWO is a loose feeling board and whilst there is some subtle camber in the profile, it’s pretty much an all-rocker board. Whilst it wouldn’t be the same feel as the Foundation, you wouldn’t be going any more stable, so given everything, prob not on this one.

     Burton Process Flying V, again, is quite a loose feeling board and since you’re looking for something more stable feeling, I’d be leaning away from this one.

     Capita DOA is the other side. It’s more of a locked in feel – not fully locked in, but what I would call semi-locked it. It’s a much bigger step up, IMO, vs the others you’ve mentioned. Hard to say if you would have problems with it or not, but it’s the one that’s most likely to be one that you find a little more challenging than you’d like, if that makes sense.

     Size-wise, I’d be looking at going a little longer now, versus the Foundation. I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 162. You don’t need to go that long, as least not yet. But I would step it up into that 158-160 range.

     You could stay on the Foundation for the rest of the season too. I think at this point in your progression you’ve probably outgrown it and would benefit from stepping it up a bit to get to that next level but whether you do that now or next year, depends. If you want to get to that next level quicker, then doing it now is a good bet, but if you’re not in a hurry, then it won’t hurt doing more time on the Foundation.

     Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

     Reply

2. Christian says

   March 13, 2023 at 2:59 am

   Many thanks for your great work, Nate.
   Could you tell me what the differences are between the Gnu Gwo and the Lib Tech Skate Banana? Which one would you recommend more for a beginner?

   Reply

   • Nate says

     March 13, 2023 at 12:18 pm

     Hi Christian

     Thanks for your message. I replied to your message on the Skate Banana review with details there.

     Reply

3. Nelly says

   March 5, 2023 at 2:31 pm

   Hey Nate,

   Thanks for making this site, so much great content.

   I’m a middle beginner (definitely not intermediate), about to purchase my first setup. Wondering your thoughts about the following.

   For reference: mostly midwest fake snow/ice rider. 160lb. Size 9 boot. Free ride mostly. Would be cool to at least go off some ramps, but not much of a park person.

   Boards
   Leaning toward the Salomon Sight, unless I can find a better deal on the yes basic. I thought these two would be higher up on your list to be honest. Thought they seemed like better boards than the likes of Evader/District.

   Boots
   Heading in this week to try them on. Want double boa, so most likely going with the 32 STW, given beginner/flex. Maybe stretch for the Salomon SJ launch double boa if the fit is right.

   Bindings
   Where I’m most tied up, because there’s some great deals right now.
   Initially planned Union Flite Pro, but some of the higher end union’s are super cheap right now (Strata, STR, Force). Nitro ramblers as well. Just don’t how how beginner friendly these others are/how important it is to match up flex between board/boot/binding.

   Appreciate any insight!

   Reply

   • Nate says

     March 6, 2023 at 4:42 pm

     Hey Nelly

     Thanks for your message.

     Boards
     This list is based on how suitable/easy they are for a beginner to progress on, rather than a statement on how good the boards are full stop, so that’s how they’re ordered. But both the Sight and Basic could work. The Basic is a more freestyle oriented board, but it’s good in icy conditions and can certainly be used for beginner all-mountain.

     Boots
     Fit is the first most important thing, then flex, so if you find a really good fit, then I would go with that before flex, so long as the flex isn’t way off. But if it’s 5/10 flex vs 4/10 flex, with the 4/10 flex being the better option for you, but the 5/10 flex option fit better, then I’d go 5/10 flex option. Would be a different story if you were weighing up between a 9/10 flex and a 4/10 flex though, but fit before flex, so long as the flex isn’t too crazy.

     Bindings
     I would try to match close, but doesn’t have to be exact, board/binding/boot flex. For your level I wouldn’t go stiffer than 5/10 flex for your bindings. The Flite Pro would be the easiest to learn on but could potentially stretch it to the STR. The Strata/Force a bit of a stretch though, IMO. We haven’t tested the Nitro Ramblers, so couldn’t say for sure, but looks, on paper, to be a similar flex to the Strata/Force.

     Hope this helps

     Reply

4. Ryan says

   March 3, 2023 at 8:52 pm

   Hi Nate! Love this site. Such a great resource. Could you help a 49 year old beginner out? After 1 day in horrendous rental gear I was able to do wide S turns just fine, and no falling, but I’d still rate as a beginner/beginner of course. Just interested in enjoying the mountain in my later years (50’s) on blues. Mostly northeast with a possible trip out to Utah once in a while. Was considering the below…leaving current prices as well as I’m trying to keep it as low as possible just to see if I take to the sport. 6’2. 195. Size 12. Thanks!!!!

   Boards:

   Arbor Foundation – 159W or 162W – $240
   Salomon Pulse – 58W or 162W – $245
   Nitro Prime – 159W or 163W – $265
   Yes Basic – 159W or 163W – $365

   Bindings:

   Union flite pro – $128
   Flux TW – $195
   Burton Step on’s – $300

   Boots:

   DC Mutiny – $120
   32 Shifty – $140
   Ride Anthem – $200
   Burton Moto – $220
   DC step on control – $270
   Kendo step on – $370

   Reply

   • Nate says

     March 4, 2023 at 1:34 pm

     Hi Ryan

     Thanks for your message.

     As a beginner I think anyone of those boards would work. Because of your specs, I would be leaning towards a 4/10 flex over a 3/10 flex, so I’d be leaning Basic or Prime. And I would be leaning 159W size-wise. I would put your “standard all-mountain length” as an advanced rider at more like 162, but as a beginner sizing down a bit is a good idea, IMO.

     There aren’t really any Step Ons that are softer in flex and for that reason, I wouldn’t be using them as part of a beginner setup, so for bindings either the Flite Pro or TW would be your best bets, IMO.

     For boots, again, the Step Ons not going to be ideal for that beginner setup, IMO. The others on the list would all work. Again, like with the board, I would be leaning more towards a 4/10 flex, if you can, rather than a 3/10 flex, given your specs. So the Moto and Shifty maybe a little too soft. I would be leaning Anthem or Mutiny in that list. Keeping in mind that the fit of the boots is the number one concern, but after that matching flex is probably the next most important thing, IMO.

     Hope this helps

     Reply

     • Ryan says

       March 5, 2023 at 6:11 pm

       Awesome Nate. Great to know about the Step On’s. I was leaning towards the softer flex stuff anyways, as you said. Sounds good!

       Reply

       • Nate says

         March 6, 2023 at 4:43 pm

         You’re very welcome Ryan. Happy riding. If you think of it at the time, let me know what you go with in the end.

         Reply

5. Andy says

   February 26, 2023 at 10:43 am

   Hey there Nate, i need your help and comments. I am not new in the sport, but i have a slow progress due to limited time available. I have been on the slopes 6 times only, for the last decade. So i consider myself a begginer. I am 5’10” and around 230lbs. I was looking for 160-163 size. No park time at all and also due the area i will be doing, 80% on piste and 20% off/powder. I guess easy turning will be the no. 1 factor here, let me know what you think and what your proposals are. Thanx in advance.

   Reply

   • Nate says

     February 27, 2023 at 12:52 pm

     Hi Andy

     Thanks for your message.

     With your specs I wouldn’t go too soft as you could over flex it. But softer flexing boards are easier turning, so not too stiff either, but with your specs, I wouldn’t go softer than 4/10 flex. Something in that 4/10 to 5/10 flex range.

     Given your style of riding, I think something like the K2 Raygun, Nidecker Score, Salomon Sight, Nidecker Score or Play or Nitro Prime.

     You could also check out some of the options from our intermediate list

     But I think one of those mentioned above would work well.

     If you’re able to narrow it down to your 2-3 preferred choices, I would be happy to give my sizing suggestion for each option. I would just need your boot size, in addition to the info you’ve already given me.

     Hope this helps

     Reply

     • Andy says

       March 5, 2023 at 7:18 pm

       Thanx for the reply Nate!

       Well i am a US men’s 10 size.
       Considering those boards, i really liked Salomon Sight, Nidecker Score and Nitro Prime.

       Reply

       • Nate says

         March 6, 2023 at 4:48 pm

         Hi Andy

         Size-wise for those 3, I would be looking at:

         Sight: 159
         Score: 159L
         Prime: close call between the 158 and 162 – the 158 would be easier to get started on, but the 162 a more pure size for your specs.

         For reference, I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 162 but would typically go a little smaller than that as a beginner.

         Reply

         • Andy says

           March 6, 2023 at 7:38 pm

           Hey there Nate,

           Thanx for your reply.
           Considering my specs do you think i should “push” for size specific board or choose a specific board type?
           What i mean is should i choose an 162 board instead of a 159 or i should choose the preferable type over the size, like a hybrid rocker 159 instead of a flat 162?
           Salomon Sight 159 and Nidecker Score 159L would be my final selection. Score gains some additional points due to personal liking. Prob is their site says that recommended rider’s weight is 143-165 when i am 230. What do you think on that?

         • Nate says

           March 7, 2023 at 6:36 pm

           Hi Andy

           I think that weight range on their website is a typo. If you look at the 156L and 156W, their weight recommendation is 154-187. It’s never the case that a shorter size would have a lower weight recommendation. I wouldn’t worry too much about brands sizing recs. It’s helpful to an extent, but I don’t treat it as the be all and end all in picking sizes. I wouldn’t go to the 162W on that board, as I think it will feel a little too wide. You could push to a 162 regular width and I think you’d be fine. It would last you longer through your progression but would be a steeper learning curve. For easiest progression, I like the 159L for the Score, but if you wanted to go 162 in another board, I think it would work fine, all be it more of a challenge, but I wouldn’t go 162W.

6. Jason says

   February 20, 2023 at 9:12 pm

   Hey Nate,
   I’m hoping you’d be able to provide some advice. I’ve been snowboarding twice and still learning the basics. Not interested in doing park/trick stuff anytime soon if ever. Rather than renting in the future to ride with my girlfriend, I’ve decided to buy a board.
   I currently weight 81.5 kg(180b), am 186 cm (6’1″) tall and typically wear a Mens 10-10.5 shoe.
   My primary runs would be in the Vancouver, BC, Canada area, if that helps with determining for snow/terrain etc.
   I am fairly new beginner, but looking to get more into it with my own gear.
   Thanks for the input & great job keeping up with the advice here. 🤗

   Reply

   • Nate says

     February 21, 2023 at 1:23 pm

     Hi Jason

     Thanks for your message.

     I would go with something all-mountain, given that you’re not likely to be doing any tricks/park anytime soon.

     Size-wise, I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 161, but as a beginner I would err a little shorter than that. Something in the 157-159 range is a good bet, IMO. If you’re typically in a 10-10.5, I imagine you’ll end up in a 10 or 10.5 boot. If you were to end up in an 11 it might be that the brand isn’t the best fit for you. If you’re buying boots, remember that they fit differently to regular shoes – >>How to Size Snowboard Boots “>some more here.

     But assuming you end up in a 10 or 10.5, then in most cases you won’t need to go with a wide board – and if you can stick with a regular width, then I’d recommend it, particularly as a beginner.

     So something like the:

     – Nidecker Play 159L
     – Nitro Prime 158
     – Salomon Sight 159
     – Rossignol Evader 159
     – K2 Standard 158
     – Arbor Foundation 158

     Would all be good bets, IMO.

     Hope this helps

     Reply

7. Vic says

   February 19, 2023 at 4:05 pm

   Hi Nate,

   Thanks for your great post!

   Could you recommend a board, bindings and evtl. boots that are best for performing butter tricks?
   I am an advanced rider and would like to learn how to do butter tricks (although I haven’t done any jibbing yet :)).

   I am 6.5 feet tall (about 184cm), weigh 198 pounds (about 90kg), and wear a shoe size of around 11-12 (US size). I would appreciate your recommendations and thank you in advance.

   Thank you very much and best regards

   Vic

   Reply

   • Nate says

     February 20, 2023 at 5:49 pm

     Hi Vic

     Thanks for your message.

     With your specs I wouldn’t go too soft or you could overflex the board when buttering. But I think something around that 4/10 to 6/10 flex range would work well. I would first and foremost check out the following:

     >>Our Top 10 Men’s Freestyle Snowboards

     But you could also check some from >>Our Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

     Size-wise, I would size down from your typical all-mountain length (which I would put at around 161 – though you might be used to riding something different). In any case, since it will be your dedicated butter/freestyle board, I would be looking to take around 4-6cm off that length. So something around 155-157 would be a good bet, IMO, unless your typical size is significantly different from 161. With your boot size you’re likely to need to go wide, though in some cases it wouldn’t be necessary with an 11. With a 12 it will be necessary in a majority of cases – though some boards are quite wide in their regular sizes. Would be happy to give specific sizing advice, if you were able to narrow down to 2-4 boards. Note that the butter score in the score breakdown is predominantly describing how easy it is to butter – in some cases they will be too easy for you to butter – and you can over flex, and then not be able to hold the press in place, which is why I suggest not going too soft.

     Once we’ve settled on a board, then it will be easier to find the best bindings and boots to suit.

     Hope this helps

     Reply

8. Fed says

   February 17, 2023 at 7:23 am

   Hi Nate,

   which of the following boards would you recommend for a 210 lbs beginner with a size 12 foot currently working on connecting his turns. I’ve been looking to upgrade from rental equipment since I decided I very much enjoy snowboarding and would like to progress further. Looking for something that will carry me to intermediate (with about 8-12 days on the mountain per year).

   The boards that are available in my nearby area currently are:

   GNU GWO 159W
   Rome Mechanic 161W
   Rome Gang Plank 157W
   K2 Raygun 159 or 160W (if still available) or 164W
   Salomon Sight 159 or 162W

   Is there any of the boards listed that will not work with my ability level or my weight?

   Any other recommendation is of course welcome, also regarding sizing. As mentioned, I’m 210lbs, 6’2 and shoe size 12.

   Thanks in advance and keep up the great content!!!

   Cheers,

   Reply

   • Nate says

     February 17, 2023 at 3:50 pm

     Hi Fed

     Thanks for your message.

     I think the Gang Plank would be the least beginner friendly there – and the size is borderline too small, so that’s probably the one I’d cross off. I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 163. But as a beginner, I’d err a bit smaller than that.

     The Sight 159 will be too narrow for your 12s though, IMO – as would the Raygun 159.

     The GWO 159W would work, but I’d be leaning a touch stiffer for your specs, if possible.

     The Raygun 164W getting a little on the big side for your first board. Later on that size will be very doable.

     So I would be leaning Raygun 160W, Rome Mechanic 161W or Salomon Sight 162W. And if you can I think Raygun 160W would be your best bet.

     Hope this helps with your decision

     Reply

     • Fed says

       February 19, 2023 at 11:52 am

       Dear Nate,

       thank you very much for your advice. I went to my local shop to buy the Raygun 160W, however the owner suggested the 157W as I would find it easier to turn as a beginner (specs still fit for my weight). He also suggested the Sight at 158W, because even though it is for slightly lighter riders (up to 90kg instead of my 94), he feels that learning to ride a camber board is more beneficial on the long run.

       I would really appreciate your two cents here, otherwise I’ll go with the 160W as initially recommended.

       Thank you very much!

       Reply

       • Nate says

         February 20, 2023 at 5:29 pm

         Hi Fed

         The Sight is also a very recommendable beginner board, IMO – and if you want to get an early feel for camber but without having to go full camber (it’s hybrid camber) – then it’s a good bet. I prefer the 158W size for you than the 157W. With your advanced “all-mountain length” being more like 163W, IMO, going to 157W would be dropping 6cm. I would typically try to stick to a 3-5cm drop. But the Sight at 158W would work. I know it’s only 1cm, but you also get that camber in there. I would go 160W if you went Raygun. But the Sight 158W definitely works too. I though you only had the 159 available to you in the Sight, which would have been too narrow.

         Reply

9. Jok says

   February 14, 2023 at 8:34 am

   Hi Nate

   I’ve been snowboarding a couple of times and I’ve decided to buy a board. my weight is 88 kg (194lb) and I measure 185 cm (6,06). My foot size is 46 Eu(around 30-31 US). Which board would you recommend considering that I am a beginner beginner? thanks a lot Nate and you do a great job!!

   Reply

   • Nate says

     February 14, 2023 at 3:39 pm

     Hi Jok

     Thanks for your message.

     Firstly in terms of sizing, I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 161/162. However, as a beginner I’d err a little smaller than that. Width-wise, you’ll need to go for a wide board.

     As a beginner-beginner, all of the boards on this list would be appropriate and most would come in a suitable size, in that 158W/159W kind of size. However, I would probably be leaning towards something with a 4/10 flex because of your specs. 3/10 might feel a bit too soft for you. So something like the:

     – YES Basic 159W
     – Salomon Sight 158W
     – Nidecker Play 159W
     – Nitro Prime 159W

     Would all be good bets, IMO.

     Hope this helps with your decision

     Reply

     • Jok says

       February 15, 2023 at 1:57 am

       Thank you very much Nate!!! It will be very helpful!

       Reply

       • Nate says

         February 15, 2023 at 2:15 pm

         You’re very welcome Jok. Happy riding!

         Reply

10. Ryan says

    February 8, 2023 at 1:18 pm

    Hey Nate! Great list you’ve curated. I’m 6’2″ 195lbs, new rider. Just get the Yes basic, in a 159W sound about right?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 9, 2023 at 4:33 pm

      Hi Ryan

      Thanks for your message. I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 161/162 for your specs, but as a beginner, I think 159 is a really good length for you. Assuming you have big enough feet for the wide version, I think the size should work really well.

      Reply

11. Bo says

    February 5, 2023 at 1:43 pm

    Hi Nate,

    I currently have my old snowboard witch pure camber profile and 163cm being 6’04” and have difficulty riding it though I manage to make turns on it a good snow and not so steep terrain.
    But current conditions in Europe are icy and hard snow. I consider Yes Basic/GNU GWO/Nitro Prime. Based on rating (and price) should I go for Nitro? Or just bite through with my current board (very old Atomic board)

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 6, 2023 at 4:33 pm

      Hi Bo

      Thanks for your message.

      If you’re struggling on your board, then I would look to switch. If it’s a full camber board and you’re a beginner, then there’s a good chance you’ll be struggling with it. Any of the other boards you mentioned are likely better choices for you for right now, IMO. I would say the Basic is the best of the 3 for icy conditions, followed by the GWO, then the Prime, but I think they’d all be an improvement on what you have in terms of riding in general. I haven’t ridden anything Atomic, so I’m not sure what it’s like in icy conditions, in comparison.

      Size-wise, it might be that the 163 is too long as well, but that would depend on your weight as well. If you could let me know your weight and your boot size, I would be happy to suggest sizes for the Basic/GWO/Prime.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Bo says

        February 7, 2023 at 4:24 am

        Hi Nate,

        thanks for your feedback. My boot size is 12 US and weight is 177 pounds. I guess I will need wide board for sure.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 7, 2023 at 3:27 pm

          Hi Bo

          Yeah with 12s, I would go wide for sure. In terms of length, I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 161/162. However, if you’re more of a beginner rider, then taking some length off that can be a good idea. So whilst 163 isn’t way over that or anything, it is on the bigger side, particularly if you’re more of a beginner. So, I would look at something around 159-161, assuming you’re a higher end beginner. If more of a beginner beginner, you could even go a little shorter – like 157-159.

          Reply

12. Wei says

    January 24, 2023 at 1:11 am

    Hi Nate,
    Thank you for your summary. I am a beginner, but I am confusing the k2 raygun and k2 standard.
    The Raygun is harder(I’m a fat man, 78 KG). I also did some research on K2 website; it said the raygun is more suitable for people who wanna be Intermediate. What do you think? Thanks

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 24, 2023 at 3:34 pm

      Hi Wei

      Thanks for your message.

      The Raygun is a little stiffer than the Standard yeah. And it’s something that would take you a little further through your progression, so if you’re a higher end beginner and want something that will last a little longer through your progression, then the Raygun would be a good bet.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Wei says

        February 15, 2023 at 1:36 pm

        Thanks for your recommendation. I bought the Raygun and spent some time to use to it. Now, I love the board so much.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 16, 2023 at 4:19 pm

          You’re very welcome Wei. Glad you’re enjoying your new board. Happy riding!

          Reply

13. Joe Schmidt says

    December 25, 2022 at 11:28 pm

    Hey Nate – thanks for putting all of this info together – so useful . I actually ended up buying last years -#1 board – The Solomon sight wide.

    My question is actually around binding angles. I don’t really ride switch a lot- what angles do you best recommend I set the bindings up at? What’s most comfortable ? Gives you the most control down the mountain ? Thanks

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 26, 2022 at 4:24 am

      Hi Joe

      Thanks for your message.

      It tends to be different depending on the person – we all have some quirks in our mechanics as to whether we naturally stand/walk more duck footed or neutral or more pigeon toed – and things like that tend to influence what we find most comfortable in binding angles. So it’s always a good idea to experiment to see which feels the best for you.

      But it’s certainly helpful to have a starting point – and given you don’t ride switch much, I would start out with a more forward stance. Something like a +18 on the front foot and a -6 on the back foot or something like that – and see how that feels. If you’re currently in something like a +15/-15, then you can see if you like it better. And if you do, then I’d try an even more forward stance – like +21/+3 or something like that and narrow it down that way. If you prefer the +15/-15 to the +18/-6, then you could also try something like a +12/-9 to see if you prefer that.

      Reply

14. Nick says

    December 14, 2022 at 9:47 am

    Hey Nate,

    First, Thanks so much for compiling all this information for beginners. I’ve spent hours on here already, swear I could almost recite the top 10 lists at this point.

    Thought I would gauge your opinion as I try to narrow down on selections on my first setup.

    Rode 3-4 times in my life, but maybe only once in the last 10 years. I’m between 5’7-5’8 and 155-160 lb. Will be in midwest predominantly, so a lot of groomed/artificial, cold/ice

    Boards
    Looking at several on your beginner list and having difficulty narrowing it down. Interested more in all mountain/free ride. No big urges to hit the park starting out and break my leg, haha. Any thoughts on which might be best for my case?

    Nitro Prime Raw seems well reviewed everywhere for beginner/progressing
    District, Evader (good prices right now)
    Foundation/K2 standard
    Ride Agenda (saw angry put at top beginner recommendation this year too)

    Should I be looking something with a little bit of camber for progression and the icy conditions?
    I read your length post as well. Your chart has me at a 154-156 range. Should I be thinking 152 then as a beginner? or just stick with a 155 for free ride tendencies?

    Appreciate any help!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 14, 2022 at 1:08 pm

      Hi Nick

      Thanks for your message.

      All great questions.

      Firstly, in terms of sizing. With a “standard all-mountain size” around 155, then as a beginner, as a rule of thumb, I’d say look at 150-152. Given you’re leaning more freeride and don’t think you’ll be riding anything park/freestyle, then you could add a little – but I’d still look in the 152-154 kind of range.

      The likes of the District and Agenda are more freestyle leaning boards. Given you’re not looking to go in that direction at this point, you might want something that’s a little more directional.

      Some camber is a good idea if you’re going to be icy conditions and it does get you used to the feeling of camber. Not to say you can’t go from a flat-to-rocker to something more camber dominant and not adjust quickly though.

      My first thought was the YES Basic, as it’s one of the best, if not the best beginner board in icy conditions – and it’s hybrid camber. It is more freestyle leaning though. So, that’s the only thing. Still a possibility, but given you’re leaning freeride not perfect.

      The Rossi Evader is a very good option, IMO – in the 154.

      The Salomon Pulse 152 would also work.

      However, given your freeride leanings, I think the Salomon Sight 153 would be just about ideal. Not quite as good in icy conditions as the likes of the YES Basic, but should still be decent in those conditions.

      If you wanted that little bit more icy edge hold confidence, then you could step it up to the YES Typo (like a more advanced and very mildly directional version of the Basic). It would be a steeper learning curve as it’s a little stiffer and more camber dominant than the Basic. Something that’s a really good choice for a high-end beginner, leaning low intermediate, but more challenging if you’re just really starting out. But if you went with the 152 for that one, it would be doable. A little more freestyle leaning – but not as much as something like the Basic.

      Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision.

      Reply

      • Nick says

        December 16, 2022 at 12:34 pm

        Nate,

        Thanks for such a quick reply. Super helpful info that I’ve used to dive more into my research.

        Working on narrowing it down. Currently I’m at:
        Sight 153
        Rossi Evader 154
        Tough finding major differences between these two

        Followed by
        Nitro Prime Raw 152- any thoughts on this one? Seems to be loved by everyone
        Yes Basic 152- Love the ice control, but worry if this might be violating the ‘grow into’ rule you mention.
        K2 Standard 152- worry may not have enough camber for ice/progression?

        Riding previously, I was terrible at turns. Basically would end up going straight down, hard stop>switch stance> move the other direction. Definitely want to fix that right out of the gate to work on linking turns/ and S-shaping.

        So that’s one of the top things I’m hoping for help with in a new setup (just behind not breaking my limbs and being out of work)

        Size 9.5 boots so standard size should be good I think. Really want a double Boa, so planning on the 32 STW. Seems like they’re the only real med/soft beginner double boa out there.

        Thanks again for the help. Will definitely use your affiliate links when purchasing.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          December 17, 2022 at 6:43 am

          Hey Nick

          The Prime doesn’t have any camber in the profile and neither does the Standard. Doesn’t necessarily discount them, but I don’t think you’ll find them as good in icy conditions as the Sight and Evader – so I think either one of the Sight 153 and Evader 154 would be solid choices. Yeah with 9.5s you should be all good with those sizes in regular widths.

          The STW Double Boa is the only boot I know of in that flex range with a double boa, so a good bet, if you’re looking for double boa. Fit is the most important thing for boots, so assuming they fit well, then they’re a good flex match for the boards you’re looking at and for your level.

          Thanks for using the links, much appreciated

          Reply

15. Joe says

    November 29, 2022 at 10:33 pm

    Hey Nate, thanks for the the review I just read through it. I’m a fairly new snowboarder and my parents bought me a ride twinpig for my birthday. I am 5’9” and 170lb and the board is 154”. I don’t believe this is a beginner board and am having real trouble getting used to it as it feels so heavy and long, maybe due to the larger width of the board. I am thinking about selling it and getting a different board that is more beginner friendly. I want to do more park stuff and also want to ride switch so I was wondering what board you think would be right for me. I’m also worried about getting the wrong length as I think I should’ve gone shorter with the one I have now so what length would you recommend for me? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 30, 2022 at 1:03 pm

      Hi Joe

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly in terms of sizing. I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 157/158. But that assumes a couple of key things. a. it assumes that the board is a good width for your boots and b. it assumes that you’re a relatively advanced rider. As a beginner, I would be taking off anywhere from 2cm and up to 5cm. As it doesn’t sound like you’re a complete beginner, I’d say something in the range of 154-156. However, with the Twinpig, you want to size down because it’s a short wide. I rode the 151 Twin Pig (6’0″, 180lbs, size 10 boots) and it didn’t feel small. So you on the 154 (depending on boot size) is likely quite a bit too big.

      And couple that with the fact that it’s not really a beginner friendly board, IMO, and I think it’s definitely worth changing. I would say you want to be at least intermediate for that board.

      Some good options for what you’re describing:

      – GNU GWO
      – Bataleon Chaser
      – Ride Agenda (though sometimes a certain brand doesn’t agree with a rider, so if you were worried about that, this is the same brand as your Twinpig)
      – YES Basic
      – Rossignol District

      Some other options too, but I think those would all do a good job for you. If you’re able to let me know your boot size (or shoe size if you’re not sure of boot size) and narrow down your list to 2-3 boards, I would be happy to give you some specific sizing opinions for each board.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Joe says

        November 30, 2022 at 5:51 pm

        Hey Nate thanks for the response. My snowboard boots are RIDE Jacksons 10.5 US (not sure if the brand matters).

        If I were to narrow it down to the boards on the list they would probably be the Rossignol District or Bataleon Chaser.

        If you could let me know about specific sizing for those boards that would be awesome. Heres my height and weight again: 5’9”, 170lb

        Thank you!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          December 1, 2022 at 10:54 am

          Hi Joe

          I would go:

          – District: 155
          – Chaser: 155

          The only question mark on those is the width. They are borderline too narrow for 10.5s. However, as a beginner you shouldn’t run into any boot drag issues, IMO. If you were going to be laying down some really deep carves (e.g. eurocarving), then they’re probably too narrow. But if you do get into wanting to do bigger carves, you would want a different board to really develop that anyway and by that time, one of the District or Chaser could be kept as your park/freestyle board (or sold if you didn’t need a park/freestyle board). As a beginner and for the style of riding you’re looking to focus on, I don’t think you have any issues with the width, so I think those sizes should work well.

          Reply

16. Lionel says

    August 30, 2022 at 11:31 pm

    Hi Nate. Firstly, thanks for taking the time to put a review like this together. The information and expertise has been so helpful to complete beginners like myself. I hope you dont mind if i asked you a few questions.

    I had only been snowboarding for a few days in Japan in 2019, and was hooked. Last year i spent lots of time on your site, looking at your reviews and deciding on my first beginner board. I was lucky enough to find a good deal on a used Salomon Pulse board which I used for the first time last month. I am in Australia so we dont get very good snow, but for some reason, i found myself catching the edge alot on this board and stacking alot. Now, i know i am beginner, and it could very well come down to my lack of skill, but i was wondering if it could be due to the camber profile of this board?? what profile would be the most user friendly you recommend?

    Secondly, I am looking to sell the Pulse, and try a different beginner board. When i look at different brand sizing, they usually give you the choice to go larger or smaller. I am an older person, and not interested in tricks and jumps. I just want to cruise at the ski resorts and improve. Do you have any thoughts on going smaller or bigger for a person like me? Do you have any board recommendations? I am 183cm and weigh 75kg.

    Thank you

    Reply

    • Nate says

      August 31, 2022 at 10:41 am

      Hi Lionel

      Thanks for your message.

      If you’re having difficulties with the Pulse in terms of catching edges, then I would look at something that has rocker tip and tail. The Pulse does have its contact points turned up, but a bit more rocker in the profile might help. I find some have difficulty with flat-to-rocker profiles and others find them very catch-free. Whilst the pulse isn’t flat-to-rocker it’s a similar type of feel. So, given your experience with the Pulse, I wouldn’t go flat-to-rocker just to be safe. I would look at the Arbor Foundation or Formula Rocker, Rossignol District, Circuit (now called Evader) or Sawblade, Ride Agenda & GNU GWO. I am about to update this list and a couple of new boards are coming in. One in particular that you might want to look at is the Bataleon Chaser.

      Size-wise, shorter boards are better for tricks, but they’re also easier to ride, so as a beginner, it’s a good idea to go shorter. Since you’re not interested in tricks or jumps, you can temper how short you’d want to go, but I’d still err a little shorter as a beginner. I would put your “standard length” at around 159 but as a beginner, I would be leaning more around 156/157, generally speaking. But if you can let me know your boot size that would really help too. Also what size Pulse did you get?

      If you can narrow down the board choice to 2-4 boards, I would be happy to give my sizing opinion for those specific boards.

      Reply

      • Wade says

        November 9, 2022 at 1:43 pm

        Hey Nate, I’m a beginner snowboarder had a couple days on rental last year but looking forward to get into it more this year. My hill is a small resort in Indiana with mostly all man made snow and I will be going at night which will be Icy conditions. I was leaning towards the arbor foundation due to me fearing catching an edge but at the same time it being rocker I do want to have no traction at all. Any clue what board would be the best for me for not catching an edge as a beginner but still having some edgehold so I’m not slipping on ice. Stats are 6’2 170lbs size 11 boot. Thanks

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 10, 2022 at 1:40 pm

          Hi Wade

          Thanks for your message.

          First board that came to mind is the YES Basic. In my experience it’s always been good in icy conditions, but I’ve never felt it being catchy. Size-wise for the Basic, for your specs, as a beginner, I think the 156W would be your best bet.

          The GNU GWO would also be a good bet. Again, I’d say 156W is your best bet, size-wise.

          Hope this helps

          Reply

17. Liam says

    August 23, 2022 at 7:09 am

    Thanks Nate for the awesome reviews! Such a big help when buying my first set of gear last year and keep coming back to learn something new 🙂

    I wanted to ask what you’d look for as signs that it’s time to upgrade from a beginner board to something more advanced? I’d consider myself around a 5 (early intermediate) on your scale, pretty comfortable on blue-red runs at what feels like a decent speed, starting to explore small jumps and simple park features and learning some basic tricks. I think I’m a reasonably fast learner but sadly only get the chance to hit the snow a few weeks a year.

    I’m 5’10 and 140lb, been riding a 150 Rossignol Circuit since last year and noticed it can feel a bit unsteady when I start picking up speed. But not sure whether that’s the board, my cheap flexy bindings/boots, or just me. There’s also a definite noticeable difference between the nose/tail when riding switch, not enough to be a big concern but I’d like something that feels the same in both directions.

    I’m keen to get into more freestyle riding as I progress, especially learning to use natural terrain features while having something that can still carve down groomers. So probably an all mountain freestyle for my next board. Would you recommend now being a good time to upgrade from the Circuit, or should I stick it out a bit longer then upgrade to something more advanced once I’ve progressed more? If you’d suggest upgrading, any specific board recommendations?

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      August 23, 2022 at 12:18 pm

      Hi Liam

      Thanks for your message.

      I think you could upgrade now, based on what you’re saying. Since you’re noticing a need for more performance, it’s probably a good idea. But also wouldn’t hurt if you wanted to stick with the Circuit for a bit longer. The only thing I’d caution, if you do decide to upgrade, is not going to something too advanced. But yeah, based on what you’re describing an all-mountain freestyle board would be a good way. Something that’s around that 5/10 flex and not too aggressive a camber profile would be a good bet, IMO. Some good all-mountain freestyle options to consider here but with the likes of the TRS C3, RC C3, Crux being probably a step too far and the Proto Synthesis and Greats borderline but could be doable.

      Size-wise, you could stick to something around 150 or you could go a little longer, but I wouldn’t go longer than 152 at this stage, particularly given you’re looking to incorporate more freestyle into your riding. And depending on boot size, that range may differ depending on the board – but if you narrow down a few board options and let me know your boot size, I would be happy to give you my sizing opinion on specific boards.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Liam says

        August 24, 2022 at 4:25 am

        Thanks for such a detailed reply!

        Since I only go a few weeks a year and sometimes have to settle for less than ideal snow, I’d like something that’ll be good in all conditions. Based on that (and wanting a true twin) I’d probably be looking at the Rider’s Choice or Greats from your list. Although I’m a bit nervous that the Greats could be too stiff, especially coming off the Circuit which feels super soft. Maybe the Asymulator too but sounds like it might be less ideal in icy snow.

        Would you suggest a Hybrid Rocker or Hybrid Camber profile as being particluarly better for my skill level? Or is it really down to preference?

        Sizing recommendations would be much appreciated too! Boot size is US 10 (DC Scouts if it makes any difference)

        Cheers,
        Liam

        Reply

        • Nate says

          August 24, 2022 at 12:25 pm

          Hi Liam

          Between hybrid camber and hybrid rocker it mostly comes down to preference. But it does depend as well. Both profiles can be very different. Some hyrbid cambers (like the Circuit which is a hybrid camber) are pretty rocker dominant and others are highly camber dominant and only have subtle rocker. Same goes with hybrid rockers some have more rocker and some very subtle amounts of rocker. The Greats is more camber dominant than the Circuit for sure, but there are more camber dominant hybrid cambers out there too. The Rider’s Choice is GNU’s C2X which is their second most camber dominant profile, but it doesn’t feel super camber dominant or anything, so it’s something that should be fine for you. I just wouldn’t go to their C3 (at this stage).

          Note that the 2023 Rider’s Choice got a bit stiffer. The 2022 (and earlier) model is a slightly easier going ride. Rider’s Choice now a 6/10 flex from our feel. Which isn’t necessarily too stiff – like the Greats – but it’s more borderline – certainly going to notice a good difference compared to the Circuit. The Asymulator isn’t as good in icy conditions as the other 2, so that should be taken into account. Also note that Capita have discontinued the Asymulator for 2023 (disappointingly!) but you might still be able to find a 2022 model somewhere.

          Size-wise, I would look at:

          – Greats: 149 – you could go 151 too, but it’s on the wider side. It doesn’t look as wide as it is and whilst the 151 isn’t going to be way too wide for you or anything, it’s on the wider side for 10s, so sizing down a little makes sense. Since you could ride up to 152 or 153, it’s sizing down a little, but in this case I’d go down to the 149 – in part because it also has quite a lot of effective edge versus overall length, which also lends to sizing down a bit
          – Rider’s Choice: 151.5
          – Asymulator: 152

          I would also consider the Assassin (150 or 153 at a stretch) and the YES Typo (152). The Typo isn’t a true twin, but pretty close.

          Reply

          • Liam says

            August 28, 2022 at 4:04 am

            Awesome I’ll keep an eye out for good deals on some of those, maybe look for a chance to demo too. Thanks so much for all the help!

          • Nate says

            August 29, 2022 at 1:24 pm

            You’re very welcome Liam. Hope you can find a good deal.

18. Jon says

    July 9, 2022 at 11:36 pm

    Hi Nate,

    cheers for doing this, your site had been super helpful and awesome! I just had my first intro to snow, and am totally addicted to it~ rode 160 and 157 rental boards.

    been looking and thinking of getting my own setup to continue, and was wondering which burton (instigator or ripcord) you’d recommend? also, if my thinking of getting a 150/151 board would be a better experience? I am a tall skinny dude, 183cm and 55kg.

    thank you so much for your time!

    Cheers,
    Jon

    Reply

    • Nate says

      July 11, 2022 at 10:52 am

      Hi Jon

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly, in terms of sizing, I think sizing to 150/151 makes more sense based on your weight. If you felt comfortable on the 160 and 157 rentals, then you could potentially go a little longer, but I wouldn’t go longer than 155. But I would be leaning towards that 150-ish size because of your weight. Rentals typically size purely from height, because it’s fast and easy, which is why you were on those longer boards.

      Between the Instigator and Ripcord, it depends on how you think you’d like to ride in the future. If you think you’ll predominantly want to ride powder and groomers and just downhill in general and don’t see yourself riding switch at all or doing any tricks, then you could go Ripcord. If you want to keep things open or you simply have no idea how your riding will progress, then I’d go Instigator – it’s the more versatile option. I’d be leaning 150 for the instigator, but if you felt the 157/160 lengths were OK, then you could look at the 155, but I’d go no longer than that.

      If you could also let me know your boot size (or shoe size if you’re not sure of your snowboard boot size). It might be that the 150 is too narrow, but the Instigator (if that’s what you end up going with) does have a 150W and a 155W.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Jon says

        July 12, 2022 at 4:01 pm

        Aw, thank you so much for taking the time to explain and clarify~

        I reckon I’d like to keep it open for the moment and have a taste of the different styles.

        I’m a US9.5, tested and found US10 on 32s to work (it’s difficult to find .5 sizes locally). So will be riding a US10 thirtytwo stw double boa boot.

        Cheers,
        Jon

        Reply

        • Jon says

          July 12, 2022 at 4:35 pm

          I am also looking at an alternative like bataleon blow, since I like the aesthetics better. Do you think it’ll be a good choice? 151 bataleon blow with size M union flite pro/ bataleon blow bindings?

          Reply

          • Nate says

            July 13, 2022 at 3:40 pm

            Hi Jon

            Yeah, I think the Bataleon Blow could work in the 151. The only question mark would be the width. I haven’t measured the Blow, so I don’t know for sure how wide it would be at the inserts, but based on other Bataleon boards, I’ve measured, it should be all good width-wise. Looks by all accounts like it would be a good beginner board to me. Like all Bataleon boards, it’s technically a full camber board, but with that 3BT base it won’t feel full camber at all. My experience with Bataleon boards, even those with more pronounced camber and a lot stiffer don’t tend to be cathcy, so I imagine the Blow to be really catch-free.

        • Nate says

          July 13, 2022 at 3:35 pm

          Hi Jon

          With US10s, your best bet is to go 150W. If you were to go up to the 155 though, I would stick with the regular width in that length, it should be well wide enough. The 150 regular width is pushing it though and may end up being too narrow. And the 150W isn’t too wide either, so would be a good fit with your foot and boot size, IMO.

          Reply

          • Jon says

            July 13, 2022 at 11:05 pm

            Aight, thank you so much for your replies and comments! They are super helpful~

            Cheers,
            Jon

          • Nate says

            July 14, 2022 at 11:04 am

            You’re very welcome Jon. Thanks for visiting.

19. Chris says

    July 4, 2022 at 2:48 am

    Hi Nate,

    Beginner snowboarder on his second season, with about a 10 year gap between seasons. Been reading all your reviews and they’ve been really helpful!

    I’m 5’7” and 141-145 lbs and looking to buy my first snowboard.

    I’m tossing up between the 2023 Salomon sight 150 and the 2020 Rossignol Circuit.

    Between the 2022 circuit and the 2020 circuit, would the change in camber be significant to your rating system where the 22 sits at #2?

    The reason why I ask is that for an extra 100 AUD, a local store is selling a package for the 2020 circuit with Rossignol battle bindings and 5th element ST-1.

    Or would you recommend the Salomon and shop around for better bindings and boots?

    Thanks in advance!

    C

    Reply

    • Nate says

      July 4, 2022 at 10:33 am

      Hey Chris

      Thanks for your message.

      Both the Circuit and Sight are going to be suitable for you as a beginner, IMO, and if you can get a better deal on the Circuit and budget is a factor, then I’d go for that. The 2023 Sight is a little different than the 2022 model and previous models. It’s still beginner suitable, but just note that it’s changed a bit. Mildly stiffer (but still beginner suitable flex) and it’s got a bit of taper now (wider nose than tail). Some other differences too, but still a beginner suitable board.

      The 2022 Circuit did get marginally longer camber section in the middle of the board compared previous models – and the camber is a little more directionally set in the 2022 model. But not a massive difference. The Circuit has been on my beginner list for years – so if you can get the 2020 model for a good price, it’s a really good option, IMO.

      I’ve never has anything to do with Rossignol bindings, but on paper the 6/10 flex is a little stiffer than I’d typically recommend for a beginner. 5th Element is not a brand I’m familiar with in terms of boots, but quickly looking it up, the flex looks suitable. But couldn’t say anything else about them.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Chris says

        July 4, 2022 at 4:15 pm

        Thanks Nate!

        I don’t think I’ll be getting the boot+binding+board package. So out of the 2023 sight and the 2020 circuit which would you recommend?

        And is 150 ok at my height and weight?

        C

        Reply

        • Nate says

          July 5, 2022 at 11:40 am

          Hi Chris

          First of all, I think 150 is just right for you. Something in the 148-150 range is a good bet, IMO.

          Between the 2023 Sight and 2020 Circuit, I would say it depends.

          The Sight is a board that will likely take you further through your progression than the circuit. So you wouldn’t have to upgrade from it as soon. That said, you’ll still have to upgrade eventually. If you get the 2020 Circuit cheap, then it’s less of a financial commitment in the long run, when you eventually upgrade.

          Another factor to consider is whether or not you think you’ll want to learn riding switch (riding in your unnatural direction) early on in your snowboarding. If you do, then the 2020 Circuit is going to be easier for that than the 2023 Sight, which is now more directional than previous Sight models.

          Reply

20. Jared says

    June 28, 2022 at 11:52 pm

    Hey Nate,

    Firstly, thank you so much for putting this site together. I’d appreciate your advice before I spend $1k on gear.

    I’ve just got back into snowboarding and all the information was overwhelming until I started to read your guides. I’d rate myself at the top end of beginner or bottom of intermediate. I’m confident doing S turns on intermediate slopes, but I did a lot of braking so they aren’t as clean as I want them to be. And eventually, I’d like to get into Freestyle riding – mostly butters and jumps and some park.

    I’m 6’2, 200 pounds. Feet 29 Mondo. I will be snowboarding in parts of New Zealand that have a lot more man-made and hard snow than soft powder.

    I’m considering getting:
    Snowboard – Yes Basic 159W or 161 (as it’s in your beginner and intermediate lists, and you mention it is also suitable for freestyle and icy/hard snow). What’s concerning me is Yes’s website doesn’t rate it for park snowboarding.
    Bindings – Union Contact Pro size Large (as it’s in your beginner and freestyle lists)
    Boots – Burton Moto US11 or U12 (I need to try them in-store). I want some really soft boots as the rental boots I had were horrible for pressure points. I think they were Burton Ion.

    Do you think the Yes Basic is suitable for me? And do you think all of the sizes will work? 159W (or 161) + Large bindings + US11-12 boots + -15/+15 angle?

    Thanks heaps!
    Jared

    Reply

    • Nate says

      June 29, 2022 at 10:53 am

      Hi Jared

      Thanks for your message.

      YES don’t rate the Basic for park, which I find strange. The YES Dicey and Jackpot are better park boards (IMO), but the Basic is still well suited to park riding. I think the Basic would be a really good bet for what you’re describing. You could do the Dicey as well. The Jackpot might be pushing it though, in terms of being too advanced at this stage.

      Size-wise for the Basic – with your foot/boot size, I think going wide is the best bet. If you did end up in 11s, you’d be borderline regular width for some boards, but still wide for others. For the Basic, I’d go wide, even if you end up in 11s. And I think 159 is a good length for you. It’s on the small end of your range for sure, but given your current skill level and the fact you want to be doing freestyle stuff, erring smaller is a good idea. I would put your standard all-mountain size at around 162/163, but that assumes an advanced level and a less freestyle style of riding. Note that that board and in the size, it won’t be a bomber for speed – just to note in case you were looking to be riding fast and needed extra stability for that.

      The Contact Pros are, IMO, a great match for the Basic and the style of riding you want to be doing. The Large will be your best bet. You might get away with the Medium if you were to end up in 11s, but the 11s would also fit the large well – and the large will fit the board best, IMO. So I’d go large for sure.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Jared says

        June 30, 2022 at 5:56 am

        Thanks that’s really helpful. I’ll hopefully buy the boots tomorrow and wait for some end-of-season sales in New Zealand to buy the board and bindings.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          June 30, 2022 at 10:21 am

          You’re very welcome Jared. Hope you have an awesome season!

          Reply

21. Terrence says

    April 5, 2022 at 7:03 pm

    Hey Nate,

    Thanks for all you do here. This site is a great resource! I tried snowboarding for the first time last weekend and fell in love. I’m going again this weekend and was thinking I would shop end of year sales to have my own gear for next season (hoping to do 15+ days!).
    I’m still a super beginner (just got to linking turns) and also a pretty big guy at 6′ 2″ / 240lb and size 12 boot (Mondo 30). I’m a bit older (36) and mostly interested in a set up that will be great for cruising down the mountain and not really that interested in park/freestyle stuff. I was thinking about this set up:
    -Burton Photons – Snap On
    -Burton Snap On Bindings Genesis Reflex
    -Salomon Sight in 162W (or maybe 166W?)

    Some questions that have come up:

    1. Are the Photons going to be too stiff for a beginner like me? I’ve seen some people mention they aren’t beginner friendly due to stiffness BUT that bigger guys like me should go with a stiffer than usual boot because our weight break down the stiffness quickly. I could opt for the Burton Swath if the Photon stiffness will be a real problem. What do you think?

    2. Is the Sight going to be too narrow for my size 12 boot even with the wide size? I also saw they have a 166W which is a little wider and still in the recommended board length for my weight.

    3. Do you think its worth investing in a more intermediate board that I can grow into? Or is that going to hurt the learning process? I was looking at the Lib Tech Skunk Ape, Burton Custom Camber, and Burton Process Camber.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      April 6, 2022 at 6:49 pm

      Hi Terrence

      Thanks for your message.

      Photon’s a little stiffer than ideal, IMO. You are right that with more weight it will soften up quicker – and also you won’t feel them as stiff as someone lighter would. But they’re a little too stiff for the board, IMO. That said, you could also go a little stiffer board-wise. But as a beginner, I still wouldn’t go stiffer than 5/10 – so the Skunk Ape and Custom Camber (as well as being too camber dominant for a beginner, IMO) probably too stiff, but more on that in a second.

      Size-wise for the Sight, I think 162W could work. It’s potentially still borderline too narrow for 12s. As a beginner, I don’t think you’d have issues with it, as you’re not likely to be really railing your carves really deep yet, but might become a bit narrow later on. 166W doable, but it’s on the bigger end as a beginner. As a more advanced rider, you could certainly be riding 166, but for now, I’d err a little shorter than that.

      The Process Camber might be doable, but certainly not ideal as a beginner board. The camber profile is a little more forgiving than the likes of the Custom camber, but it’s still not super friendly. At 5/10 flex (by my feel) I think you’d get away with it stiffness-wise. Typically I’d say too stiff, but for your specs, I think that’d be OK. The Custom Camber and Skunk Ape, IMO are a step too far though.

      I would check out the following, which have been chosen specifically for high-end beginners/low intermediates looking to progress but want a board they won’t have to upgrade from too quickly.

      >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Terrence says

        April 11, 2022 at 2:39 pm

        Hey Nate,

        First of all thank you for such a thoughtful and detailed response.

        An update and some follow up questions:

        I spent another weekend snowboarding up in Tahoe (had a blast!) and took more lessons. The rental board was a Burton Progression (LTR board) in a 163W. At the end of the last lesson the instructor mentioned my level was a 4 moving into a 5. I read your guide on the skill levels and I think that’s an accurate assessment of my level. So based on that, I’m thinking that I should target a board in the high-beginner/low intermediate level like those on the Top 10 Intermediate boards page you mentioned.

        Here’s what I’m think so far:

        -Yes Typo 163W — Being #1 on the list, this seems like the ideal fit but I’m wondering if the 263mm waist width will work with my size 12s. What do you think?

        -Jones Mountain Twin – 165W. This wasn’t on your list but your full review mentioned it as good for a low-end intermediate and I’ve seen a number of other positive reviews for it. The 165W seems a bit long for my experience level but the Jones sizing guide for the 162W caps the recommended weight at 200lbs — Do you think I could get away with the 162W? Or should I avoid this board altogether?

        -I’ve also been thinking about the Burton Process boards (Camber + Flying V) mostly because both are available at my local Burton shop and if I got one I’d actually be able to take it out for a weekend before the season ends. I see a lot of reviews mentioning the Flying V is “loose” which is making me hesitant because I definitely want something stable as I’m progressing. As a bigger guy I’m noticing that I pick up speed much faster than smaller folks and I want to make sure I have something stable. For the Process Camber (Purepop) I’m a bit concerned about catching edges at high speed as I ramp up the steepness/speed and getting hurt. The waist width on their 162Ws (262mm) is actually a mm shorter than the Typo, so I’m also wondering if that would even work with my Size 12 boot.

        Finally, given my profile and that I’m moving out of beginner territory, I’m still thinking about doing the Photons for boots + Step-on bindings, would the relative stiffness of those work out with the boards I’m thinking about?

        Any other boards you’d recommend I look into or general advice around board profile?

        Thanks again!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          April 12, 2022 at 4:23 pm

          Hi Terrence

          I think you could get away with the likes of the Photon and Step Ons on the Typo and should work well with the Mountain Twin.

          Width-wise, the Typo 163W is a little wider than the Sight 163W – and with Photon’s I think you’d be good. No guarantees, but I think you’d be OK with that.

          The Mountain Twin is a little wider, so that does give you more leeway and I’d be confident the 162W would be wide enough. I think it’s a board that could work for you at a level 4, bordering 5. It’s a bit more of a step up from the Typo, but I think it’s doable. Size-wise, between the 162W and 165W, it’s a close call. I think the 162W would be the best bet for right now, but the 165W is doable, allbeit with a slightly steeper learning curve, and would be a board that you wouldn’t potentially ever have to upgrade from, depending on how your style progressed.

          Reply

          • Terrence says

            April 13, 2022 at 7:54 pm

            Thanks for all of your advice, Nate. It’s been incredibly useful to get help from someone knowledgeable and unbiased on this. Everyone else I’ve talked to has had a selling agenda like Burton store reps or Curated “experts”.

            I am torn between the Typo and MT. It seems like the Typo is the right board for where I’m at right now and will help me advance, but I am nervous about toe/heel drag (since you aren’t completely sure on that piece) if it ends up being a tad too narrow. Maybe I shouldn’t be concerned about this since even if there is a small amount of drag, I doubt I’ll be doing super deep carves right away. Upgrading after one season isn’t a big deal to me if that’s what ends up happening. At the end of the day I want a board that will help me progress but also keep me relatively safe by not being too far beyond my ability level. With the MT, on the other hand, I do like the idea of a board that will be able to take me a little further. I’m also hoping to slim down to around 220lb for next season to take some pressure off my knees so I’m thinking that might make the MT 162W a good long-term choice.

            Either way, since both boards seem to be sold out everywhere, I’ll have quite a bit of time to figure it out before next season’s boards come out. Maybe I’ll be able to find someone with the Typo 163W to measure the insert widths for me haha. It might just end up coming down to the graphics at this point.

            Anyway, thanks again for all your help! I’ll be sure to come back and use your affiliate links when it’s time to buy so that I can throw some $ your way for all the help.

            Cheers,
            Terrence

          • Nate says

            April 16, 2022 at 5:09 pm

            You’re very welcome Terrence. Let me know what you decide and if you think of it at the time, how you get on, once you’ve had a chance to get it out on snow.

          • Terrence says

            December 13, 2022 at 3:57 pm

            Hey Nate

            Following up on this thread from earlier in the year to share an update (in case it can be helpful to other folks) and also ask a question.

            Based on our convo, I ended up going with the 162W Mountain Twin with Step On Bindings and Burton Photons (US 12).

            Since then, I’ve spent five days riding up in Tahoe with all the early snow we’ve been getting. For reference my stats are 6’ 2” and 240lbs, so I’m a bit big for the board as we talked about earlier. Overall, I got on the board and gear pretty well! After a half day of remembering the basics, taking another lesson, and getting used to the board I found myself at about the same point I was at ending last season. I had no problems applying flex to the board for turns and started spending more time on blues over the last couple days. No issues with toe/heel drag so far as I could tell. I really enjoyed the Step Ons and how quickly I could get going after getting off the lift (not that it does that much good if you still have to wait for your fellow riders to strap in!). Of course, I’m in no position to speak to any performance trade offs with the Step-Ons.

            As I started to progress a bit more over the days, I did notice a couple issues and I was curious whether you think it’s related to the board being a bit undersized for me or perhaps more about my still relatively low skill level.

            Stability at speed — As I started getting more comfortable with the board and my skill level and picking up more speed, I found that whenever I pushed my speed to around 25mph it would feel harder to hold the edge and just generally didn’t feel as stable/locked in on the turn/traverse as it did at lower speeds. Once I hit around that speed, I was either slowing down quickly (since I wasn’t feeling confident in the stability) or catching an edge (thankfully only a couple times!).

            Handling rougher terrain — One of the days was after a big storm and none of the terrain was groomed. It was a lot of fun experiencing powder for the first time, but as the terrain got bumpier later in the day I noticed that I was getting bucked around quite a bit and taking some falls on the bumpier parts of the runs.

            I’m sure my still developing technique is playing a role here, but do you think either or both of these issues are related to the board being a bit on the small size for me? Perhaps a larger board should be in my future sooner than later if I want to get more consistently into the 25-30mph range and beyond?

            Thanks again for all your advice!

          • Nate says

            December 14, 2022 at 12:12 pm

            Hi Terrence

            Thanks for the update.

            I think it’s probably partly down to both. A longer board would give you more stability at speed for sure. But some it will likely be technique too. In terms of rough terrain, a little more board could help you fly over top a bit more and have you bucked around less, but again developing technique particularly for those conditions will also really help. You might want to look into “down unweighted turns”. It’s quite an advanced technique, but it makes riding rough terrain much easier and more enjoyable.

22. Simon says

    March 31, 2022 at 4:03 am

    Hi Nate

    I am a complete beginner, only being out on rentals a couple of times.
    Im 172cm and 190lbs. can you recommend a good beginner board and length. Also bindings?
    I wear size US10 Burton Moto boots.

    thanks

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 31, 2022 at 5:06 pm

      Hi Simon

      Thanks for your message.

      I would be looking at something around 155 in terms of size – and really anything on this list, given you’re a complete beginner. If you want to go with something versatile, then something all-mountain or all-mountain-freestyle.

      With US10 Moto’s you should be fine on most with regular width – the only one that might be a little narrow in the regular width would be the Salomon Sight.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Simon Scott says

        April 2, 2022 at 1:31 am

        Thanks very much for your help. I have been looking at the arbor foundation. But the store only had 156mw
        Do you think this size type board would be suitable.
        Had looked at the union flite pro bindings with it?

        Thanks again for your help

        Reply

        • Nate says

          April 4, 2022 at 6:16 pm

          Hi Simon

          With US10s, I wouldn’t go wide in the Arbor Foundation. The 156MW is too wide for 10s, IMO. Arbor boards tend to be wider at the inserts than their waist suggests as well – so it’s wider than the 260mm suggests as well. Not sure why they call some of their sizes mid-wide’s, when they tend to be wider at the inserts than some other wides. The 155 would work well size-wise for you, IMO.

          The Flite Pros would be a really good match though.

          Reply

23. Luis says

    March 10, 2022 at 8:12 am

    Hello Nate

    Thanks for your reviews they are super helpful, especially for someone starting in this world .

    I’m debating between two boards. I have read reviewed about both but I’m still debating which one would be better.

    Burton Process Flying V
    And
    2022 RIDE AGENDA

    I would really like to read your thoughts when you compared this two snowboards. Thanks again for all your help!

    Cheers

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 10, 2022 at 12:29 pm

      Hi Luis

      Thanks for your message.

      The Process Flying V is a little more advanced than the Ride Agenda. It’s still a really easy ride, but it’s a little stiffer and a little more technical. For a complete beginner, the Agenda would be the best option, IMO. But if you’re more high-end beginner, then the Process Flying V would be a really good choice, IMO.

      More specifically performance wise, the Process Flying V will be a little better at speed, a little better for carves, better in powder, better for jumps – pretty much most things. The Agenda easier to ride, a little better/easier for riding switch – and a little easier to butter.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

24. Franky says

    March 7, 2022 at 7:49 am

    Great site and reviews! Keep it up!!! 🙂

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 7, 2022 at 12:16 pm

      Thanks Franky. Appreciate it! Thanks for visiting and happy riding!

      Reply

25. Derek says

    March 1, 2022 at 12:43 pm

    Hey nate starting new thread from our previous chats. Thanks for all your input. Fantastic site you have going on.

    Haven’t been able to find any of your previous 5 intermediate boards recommended in my price range which is making me consider just going new, which makes me want to get all my questions out of the way.

    – YES Typo
    – Capita Outerspace Living
    – Slash Brainstorm
    – Rossignol Resurgence
    – Arbor Element Rocker

    I live in AZ so my most common riding spots are 2 mountains in-state, and big bear mountain in California. I’m thinking all 3 mountains in your edge-hold scale would be the top 3 (firm,hard,icy) . So i wanna make sure I get somethng with stronger edge hold.

    so which of the 5 above have better edge-hold , or do you have a different set of 5 youd recommend with more hold? I read the rossi resurgence has serrated edges. Does that put it as the top of the 5 or do all of those 5 have some sort of serrated edges?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 2, 2022 at 10:41 am

      Hi Derek

      In my experience, the order of those boards in terms of edge hold in icy conditions would be:

      – Rossignol Resurgence/YES Typo
      – Slash Brainstorm
      – Arbor Element Rocker/Capita Outerspace Living

      Reply

26. Ken says

    February 22, 2022 at 2:08 pm

    Hey Nate,

    Great post!
    I am a true beginner who only snowboarded twice and am thinking of getting my first snowboard and bindings. I am 5’5 135lbs boot size US7. May I ask you if you recommend the combo Rossignol Circuit 150cm + Burton Moto + Union Flite Pro Size Small?

    Thanks for any help in advance!
    Ken

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 24, 2022 at 12:18 pm

      Hi Ken

      Thanks for your message.

      I think that would be a very good beginner setup. Ideally size-wise, I’d put you on something a little smaller than 150 for your specs, but the 150 would work. I would put you on a 150 as your “standard all-mountain” size, but would recommend sizing down a little for your first board.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

27. David says

    February 19, 2022 at 2:52 pm

    Hi Nate,

    First of all, thanks for your great job!

    I’m a beginner that wants to buy full equipment to start rising snowboard.
    When I was young I used to skate, also ski few times and ride snowboard couple of them.

    Now I’m 35yo and want to enjoy a bit of time with this!

    5’95”, 170lbs and 10us size. Important note: I use Ortho insoles for running (it’s like 1+ size because of this fully insole”). I assume I’ll use them also in snowboard boots. Otherwise maybe size is reduced.

    Do you think Salomon sight 156 would be ok? Maybe better 155W?
    I was thinking on a burton moto boa boot to reduce a bit “boot size”. Not sure if would be enough.

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 20, 2022 at 1:21 pm

      Hi David

      Thanks for your message.

      I think probably 155W in this case, unless you end up in smaller boots than US10. You’d probably get away with the 156, unless you were going to be carving quite deep early on, but the 155W is the safer bet and it’s closer to a regular width size than a typical wide size. The Moto Boa is low profile, which does make the 156 more doable, so if you wanted to risk it, then I think you’d probably be OK. But if you wanted to play it safe the 155W is the safer option – and it’s not like it’s super wide for you or anything.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • David says

        March 18, 2022 at 12:33 pm

        Hi Nate,

        Finally I bought ThirtyTwo STW double boat boots (US11 size). Today was first day with them & renting board!
        They gave me again 151 size board as per beginner. It was easy to turn both directions but I felt so insecure when speed increases.

        I’m going to wait few weeks to find special offer on boards as the season is ending and I don’t really need last version.

        I will try to find 155W as per your recommendation.

        Thanks!!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 19, 2022 at 12:10 pm

          Hi David

          Thanks for the update.

          Yeah with US11 boots, you’ll definitely want to go wide with the Sight now.

          Even as a beginner 151 is too small for you. I would put your “standard all-mountain” size at around 158. As a complete beginner it’s a good idea to take 3-5cm off that – which would put you in a 153-155 range, with 156 certainly doable, particularly if you’re fairly athletic and/or coordinated. 151 is too small even as a beginner, IMO, which would account for some of that unstable feeling at speed. Longer will always be more stable at speeds, all else being equal and shorter typically easier and faster to turn, all else being equal. So, I think even just going to the size 155W will make a big difference. Hope you can find a good deal. Happy riding!

          Reply

          • David says

            March 21, 2022 at 8:16 am

            Thanks Nate!

            I’ve found stock of older version (19/20) at 250€.
            Till now no more deals on 155W seems a usual size all sold. It doesn’t matter what season we talk about.

            As per your above review I understand it’s virtually the same (you talk about 2020, not sure if it means 19/20 or 20/21).

            I’m trying to find now stock of bindings seems a bit complicated to find Union Flite PRO (L) on stock.
            I will continue searching them.

            Thanks again,
            David

          • Nate says

            March 22, 2022 at 2:22 pm

            Hi David

            Yeah if I say 2020, that translates to 19/20. 20/21 would translate to 2021. It can get confusing, for sure!

            But yeah, Sight hasn’t changed a lot over the last few years – though it does change quite a bit for the 2023 (22/23) model.

28. Yahya says

    February 17, 2022 at 4:36 pm

    Hi Nate,

    I’m looking for my first snowboard. I’m a beginner i’m 6’0 weight 180 lbs and i wear a Nidecker Ranger boot size 11 (EU44,5 and 29cm). I already have the bindings Head Nx One size large. I bought a Head Rush snowboard 156W. The width of the snowboard is 260 but i feel that i have too much overhang on the toe. On the heel edge i have underhang on the binding it doesn’t go to the limit of the board. The binding angles are +15/-15. I want to change for a Salomon Sight but i didn’t know which size take between 155W and 158W and if it will be good for me knowing that the width is smaller on both. I thought at the Nitro Prime but i want a true twin.

    What’s the best for me ? Do i have to change board or i stay on the one that i already have ? If i change do you have any other recommandations ?

    Thanks for your time Nate !

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 18, 2022 at 12:36 pm

      Hi Yahya

      Thanks for your message.

      It sounds like you’re boots aren’t very centered on the board – too much toe overhang and not enough heel overhang. I haven’t tested Head boards before, but with a 260mm waist, I imagine it should be good width for size 11s, if you can get your boot centering right. I also haven’t tested any Head bindings, but often with bindings you’ll have the option to run it either horizontal or vertical. If you can run it vertical, then you should be able to setup the bindings closer to the heel edge.

      If you did change to Sight, I would go 155W if you’re a complete beginner – but if you’re a higher end beginner, then 158W. The Sight’s wide sizes aren’t super wide for a wide board, but as a beginner with size 11s, I think you’ll be fine on them. Note though that the Sight isn’t a true twin – it’s a directional twin – but it’s really close to a true twin.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Yahya says

        February 18, 2022 at 1:07 pm

        Hi Nate,

        Ok thanks for your response ! So to have my boots centered i have to run my bindings at the vertical ?

        Thank you for your time !

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 19, 2022 at 11:51 am

          Hi Yahya

          Yeah, it sounds like you will need to with your setup. I don’t think Head bindings have a heel cup adjustment function. Running the disc vertically reduces the stance width options, but hopefully you can get into a stance width you are comfortable with with the disc vertical.

          Reply

29. John says

    February 7, 2022 at 5:22 pm

    Hi Nate
    Im a beginner in the world of snowboarding. Im leaning toward the Salomon sight. Im 5’11” 175 lbs. size 10 -10.5 shoe. Can you give me a few recommendations for boots and bindings?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 8, 2022 at 12:49 pm

      Hi John

      Thanks for your message.

      For the Sight, I would say the 156 is your best bet. Though if you end up in 10.5 boots, it could be a little narrow – you’d probably still get away with it as a beginner, but the 155W is also an option if you were worried about the 156 being too narrow. If you went with lower profile boots, then you should be good on the 156, so long as you didn’t end up in 11s. And with your foot/boot size, it’s never a bad idea to go low profile. Particularly if you end up in 10.5s, you’ll often be on the cuff between wide and regular widths.

      So for boots, I would look at something low profile of the following:

      >> Top 7 Beginner Boots

      Look at the reduced footprint part of the score breakdown to get an idea of how low profile (5 being the lowest profile, 1 being the builkiest).

      For bindings, check out:

      >>Top 5 Beginner Bindings

      Or if you wanted a step up:

      >>Top 5 All Freestyle Bindings

      But I wouldn’t go over 4/10 flex.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • John says

        February 15, 2022 at 10:57 am

        Thank you!!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 16, 2022 at 10:29 am

          You’re very welcome John. Happy riding!

          Reply

30. Gediminas says

    February 6, 2022 at 5:18 am

    Hey Nate. Is there a difference between starting learning with a wide board and the same length and model as the standard? I found the right length of snowboard for beginner but wide. My boots size US 8.5-9, EU 41-42. Is it worth buying wide or better to look for standard ones.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 7, 2022 at 3:24 pm

      Hi Gediminas

      Thanks for your message.

      I definitely wouldn’t go wide, unless you have the boot size for it. And with your boot size I wouldn’t go wide. With your foot size on a wide board, your feet will be quite far inside the edges, which makes it more difficult to get leverage to the edges. So it’s not only physically harder to initiate a turn, but the turn often has a feeling of being a little bit delayed. For an experienced ride who likes a bit of extra width and gets used to it, some can end up liking that extra width (though I never have unless I size down for length to compensate and even then it doesn’t always work) – but particularly as a beginner, I wouldn’t go wide.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

31. Nick Price says

    February 1, 2022 at 10:42 pm

    Hey Nate! I’ve recommended this website to all my boarding friends, keep up the great work and thank you!

    I’m a true beginner, learning on my own, went twice so far and used my friends K2 Standard 159W. I’m looking for my own board now, I’m 6’2, 185 Pounds, I use my Burton Ruler Boots. Size 13. The Board options i have right now are :

    Salomon Pulse
    Salomon Sight
    Rossignol District (Twin Tip)

    The K2 standard 159W did feel a little heavy (I have long skinny legs ) I prefer duck stance kind of aiming for more a true twin tip board but not super necessary, something really to help me progress to turn properly and occasionally go in the trees/side hits in the future. Is there a big difference between the Pulse and the Sight? Would a 156W be too short for me? Also what Burton Bindings would be the best match for my boots and one of these boards? If you can answer all these questions it would greatly appreciated, thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 2, 2022 at 4:48 pm

      Hi Nick

      Thanks for your message.

      Salomon boards tend to be light, so if you’re looking to go light, I think that’s a good way to go. Both the Sight and Pulse are Directional Twins but the only thing that makes them not true twins is a small setback in the stance, so they are very close to true twins, so I think you’re good there. The boards certainly aren’t the same, but they are similar – and both would be suitable for what you’re describing.

      Size-wise, for your specs, taking into account your a beginner and see yourself doing trees and sidehits in the future, I would be looking at something around 156-158. With 13s you’d need to go wide as you likely already know. The 156W District would be within range size-wise, if you wanted to go there. Likely heavier than the Pulse and Sight, though, even taking into account going 158W with the Pulse or Sight – which is what I would recommend for those 2. And between those 2, I would look at the Pulse – reason being that the Sight isn’t that wide even in the wide sizes – i.e. I think the 158W would still be too narrow for your boots. So, I’d go either Pulse 158W or District 156W, but would be leaning Pulse, given that it sounds like you’re after something light.

      In terms of bindings, I would be leaning either Genesis or Mission. Obviously with the latter being considerably more affordable. The Freestyle would certainly work too, but it’s something you’d definitely have to upgrade from if you were to upgrade boards. The rest in the Burton lineup would be too stiff, IMO.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Nick Price says

        February 2, 2022 at 9:04 pm

        This Definitely helped! Thank you for the quick reply, I’ll most likely pull the trigger on the Mission bindings along with the Pulse 158W although The Salomon Craft recently went on sale 156W, do you think that would be a big jump from the Pulse when it comes to learning?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 3, 2022 at 1:01 pm

          Hi Nick

          The Craft is a bit of a step up. It’s still nothing super advanced or anything. The camber profile is friendly enough, but it’s a bit stiffer than the likes of the Pulse and Sight, so would be a steeper learning curve or sure. The 157W would be a suitable size though, IMO.

          Reply

32. Derek says

    February 1, 2022 at 8:06 am

    Hey nate,

    I posted a lengthy message yesterday and now i’m not seeing it anywhere. Does that mean you’re working on it, or did it get removed for some reason?

    thank you

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 1, 2022 at 12:15 pm

      Hi Derek

      Thanks for your messages. Messages are always moderated, and I don’t typically do it until I reply to the message – but it should notify you, but I don’t think it’s working properly.

      I haven’t ridden the Burton Royale – was before my time testing, so I can’t give a score for it. Looking at the specs it doesn’t look super wide or anything – boards were a little narrower back then, so they considered it a mid-wide because of that, I guess. Looks like it was a mid-flex board, but I couldn’t find out the camber profile – because it was 2007, it was most likely traditional camber, because other profiles were really only coming in around then. Good chance that it’s heavy though, given the year and if it wasn’t a high end board at the time? Size is also really important. It could be that you got a size too big. If you could let me know the size you have, that would be great.

      I don’t know anything about brands like Camp Seven, but if you wanted to go cheap, I would look at past season gear or even used gear. If you could find one of the following in a past season option, it should work well for what you’re describing, IMO:

      – YES Typo
      – Capita Outerspace Living
      – Slash Brainstorm
      – Rossignol Resurgence
      – Arbor Element Rocker

      These are all what I would consider boards that are good for that lower intermediate level. But if you wanted to go more beginner and cheaper, then something like:

      Salomon Sight
      Rossignol Circuit
      Arbor Foundation
      Nitro Prime
      Salomon Pulse

      Would all be good options and are all under $350 – if you can find an appropriate size in a past season model, you should be able to get it for significantly cheaper as well.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Derek says

        February 1, 2022 at 12:36 pm

        Awesome reply thank you. My burton royale was a 158.
        And i’m 5’8 and my weight varies from 180-210, and my boot size is 10.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 2, 2022 at 3:59 pm

          Hi Derek

          I don’t think the Royale was necessarily too big. Assuming 5’8″ 180lbs it’s a little big for your level – and certainly would be big, IMO, for a beginner with your specs. At 210lbs, I think it’s a good size. Taking an average of around 195lbs, I think something around 156/157, particularly if you’re looking for the board to be easy going.

          Reply

          • Derek says

            February 15, 2022 at 4:46 pm

            Hey nate
            do you have your ratings in an excel/database anywhere? so like if i want to compare boards that have the same flex i can show all boards with a flex=4 for example?

          • Nate says

            February 16, 2022 at 10:59 am

            Hi Derek

            I do have a spreadsheet with all that info in it, but it’s not something I like to just give out (it’s the result of a lot of hard work – A LOT goes into it!) – but I can arrange a list with all the flex 4 boards if you would like – if you want to send a message via our contact form, I can reply via email with a list.

          • Derek says

            February 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm

            Hey nate,

            Thank you for your quick replies. I will be sending a message that way for some comparisons from your data.

            New question, My local board shop didn’t have any of your recommended boards for rent so i had to pick some other ones to try.

            I will be trying the following two boards this weekend:
            -Salomon villain 158
            -Arbor system rocker ( i was told this is arbor rental model, and is similar to the arbor foundation rocker)

            Can you tell me where these boards fit in comparison to the 10 boards you suggest to me previously which for easier reference are:

            lower intermediate:
            – YES Typo
            – Capita Outerspace Living
            – Slash Brainstorm
            – Rossignol Resurgence
            – Arbor Element Rocker

            beginner:
            Salomon Sight
            Rossignol Circuit
            Arbor Foundation
            Nitro Prime
            Salomon Pulse

          • Nate says

            February 18, 2022 at 12:22 pm

            Hi Derek

            I would say the Villain would work for lower intermediate – though it’s not something I’ve ridden, so I couldn’t say for sure – but based on specs, I think it would be lower intermediate suitable, but not beginner. So certainly in that first list. If the Arbor rental is similar to the Foundation, then certainly added to the beginner list there.

33. Derek says

    January 31, 2022 at 9:12 am

    Hey nate,

    I’m 5’8, weight 180-210, boot 10. I’m a level 5 all mountain snowboarder. I been riding for years on a 2007 burton royale snowboard.

    I’m not fluent in snowboard terms, but i just felt like this board was a little out of my league. Maybe a little too stiff, or little too heavy, or maybe cuz i read somewhere that burton royale was a wide board, and also a freestyle board instead of all mountain.

    Questions:

    1. What would your score breakdown be for a burton royale?

    2. What is the cheapest allmountain snowboard you’d recommend that would be like 1-2 levels easier to ride than the royale? I ride greens and blues all day, hit very beginner jumps like once every 10 trips. I avoid blacks and parks.

    by cheap, I’m also willing to look into amazon brands like camp seven and stuff like that.

    I don’t get to go often so just looking for a board that i can ride rest of my life and not spend a fortune.

    I’m also looking at getting step-in/on bindings like the burton step on (expensive) or the system/flow step in bindings (cheap), if you want to recommend a board that would fit with those.

    Thanks!

    Reply

34. Andrew says

    January 21, 2022 at 10:45 am

    Hi Nate,
    I really appreciate the work you do with these rankings and reviews. I was wondering if you would be able to give me a near complete setup recommendation. I read your interpretation of snowboard levels and I think that I am a level 4 but not quite a level 5, though I plan on continuing to snowboard far into the future. For reference, I am 6’1″ ~165 pounds. What would your recommendation ($10 wiggle room) be for a snowboard under $400, bindings under $200, and boots under $250 (10.5), jacket under $250, and pants under $200. The aim is to get some quality gear that I can move up to a higher skill level in.
    Thank you so much,
    Andrew

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 21, 2022 at 4:20 pm

      Hi Andrew

      For that price range I would look at:

      Board
      – YES Basic 155 or 158
      – Slash Happy Place 156 or 158
      – Salomon Craft 155 or 158
      – GNU Money 156

      To confirm sizing, if you could let me know your boot size. Also if you could let me know how/where you want to ride i.e. fast? hard carves? trees? park? butters? etc. Anything would be helpful for sizing and for going with the best option there. Also consider a past season board, as you could get that cheaper, and could get something that’s usually more than $400 for $400 or less. Some great options for what you’re describing, would be:

      – YES Typo
      – Capita OSL
      – Slash Brainstorm
      – Ride Wildlife

      Bindings
      This would depend on the board you go with. But some good options for roughly $200. Which one would depend on which board:

      – Arbor Hemlock
      – Burton Mission
      – Union STR

      Again, if you went past season, you could expand that search.

      Boots
      Like with bindings, it would partly depend on the board you went with, but some under $250 options:

      – Vans Hi-Standard Pro
      – Salomon Launch Lace Boa SJ
      – DC Mutiny
      – K2 Darko
      – Burton Ruler
      – Ride Triad
      – Adidas Samba

      Jackets

      >>Top 10 Jackets under $270

      Pants

      >>Top 10 Pants under $200

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Andrew says

        January 22, 2022 at 1:36 pm

        Hi Nate, I ended up buying the K2 standard 158 because I found a great deal on it. I know you say that this won’t take me as far through my progression but I would still like to hear your recommendations based on that board for what I’m trying to accomplish. I am size 10.5 US for boots.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 24, 2022 at 5:57 pm

          Hi Andrew

          For boots, anything in that list I gave in my previous reply would still work, but because you’re on a softer board, you could also go for a whole host of others, but if you want your boots to outlive the board, then that list is still good, but if you wanted to go for something cheaper/softer, you could also look at:

          >> Top 7 Beginner Boots

          For bindings, I think the:

          Arbor Hemlock would be your best bet from what we previously looked or you could look at some cheaper options like:

          >>Top 5 Beginner Bindings

          Reply

          • Andrew Krueger says

            January 25, 2022 at 4:46 pm

            I returned the board. Any new recommendations seeing as I would either go for the Slash Happy Place or Salomon Craft? Thank you!

          • Andrew Krueger says

            January 25, 2022 at 4:58 pm

            Whichever board and bindings you think are the absolute best then that is what I will go with, keep in mind I had to buy the Ride Triad because they were the only ones in stock.

          • Nate says

            January 27, 2022 at 3:05 pm

            Hi Andrew

            If you want to err on something more freestyle, then go with the Happy Place. If you want something a little more versatile, then go Craft.

            If you go with the Happy Place, then I would go with the Arbor Hemlock. If you go with the Craft then either the Burton Mission or Union STR are good choices.

35. William M says

    January 21, 2022 at 9:35 am

    Hi, is it ok to be a little heavier than what the board is weighted for ? I bought the Rossignol Circuit, 161W. Evo.com had that at 150lbs-210lbs and I weight around 215lbs and 6 feet tall. Will the 5lbs matter? ALso, when I got the board, the paper stuck to it by Rossignol said that the max board weight is 120lbs – 175lbs! That is a lot lower than what Evo.com suggested. Should I be worried? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 21, 2022 at 4:24 pm

      Hi William

      I wouldn’t be worried about the weight recommendation being up to 210lbs. For your specs, the 161W should be a good size for you, IMO.

      As for the sticker – either they slapped the wrong sticker on the board or they need to look at their weight recommendations more closely, IMO – a 161W only being rated up to 175lbs is not something I’ve come across I don’t think.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • William says

        January 22, 2022 at 8:44 am

        Awesome! Thank you very much. I’ve set my bindings at +18 (front left foot) and -6 for the back as well, with a 21.5 inch stance. It felt most comfortable. I’m bringing a screwdriver to the hill just in case !

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 23, 2022 at 7:12 pm

          Hi William

          Very good idea bringing the screwdriver, so you can tweak your setup if you need to. If you think of it at the time, let me know how you get on.

          Reply

36. Petros says

    January 16, 2022 at 2:50 am

    Hello Nate,

    Just found out about your site as I was doing my research on buying a board, congratulations on your dedication and knowledge.

    I am 6,4 and weight 210lbs and I have snowboarded some times (6-7) over the past years I would say a beginner- beginner + level. I own the Burton Ruler size 13 (US) boots. Not looking to hit the park or powder, just casual resort riding.

    I am looking to the K2 Standard which I can find fast here in Greece and other K2 models. I suppose I should be looking only Wide models in the range 158W-162W.

    Should I go for it or would you suggest a more intermediate board? Also is the length right? Thanks in advance 🙂

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 17, 2022 at 1:10 pm

      Hi Petros

      Thanks for your message.

      If you wanted the board to last longer through your progression you could look at something more intermediate, but for right now the Standard would probably be fine. The Raygun is still a very beginner friendly board, but would take you further through your progression than the Standard, IMO.

      Width-wise, you would need a wide for sure.

      In terms of length, I would be looking at something in the 160-162 range, given you’re a higher end beginner. For the Standard you could go to the 163W. Though the 159W would also work. For the Raygun, I’d go 160W.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

37. Dario says

    January 11, 2022 at 6:30 am

    Hi Nate,
    First of all, great site you have!
    Could you give me some advice on getting new board? Currently I own Burton Amplifier 154 cm (I`m 183 cm/80kg), and I`m OK with that board, but I think I have outgrown that board.
    What would you recommend? I would like board that is easy to handle (not to have will of its own). Preferably Burton (to keep same bindings, only for that), but suggest some other brand if you think there are better solution.
    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 11, 2022 at 3:41 pm

      Hi Dario

      Thanks for your message.

      To keep an easy going feel, but in something that can give you a little more than your amplifier and in a more appropriate size, I would look at the Burton Process Flying V in the 157. You could also ride the 159, for sure, but erring on the smaller size helps to keep things easy going. If you wanted to step up the flex a bit, but still have a nice easy going camber profile, then the Custom Flying V is also a possibility (158, but could even go 156 to keep things more chill).

      There are other nice easy going Burton boards, but you’d probably be taking a step back from the Amplifier to go with something like the Instigator or Ripcord. If you want to take that little step up, but still go for something really easy going, I’d be leaning Process Flying V 157.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Richard Heary says

        January 12, 2022 at 7:12 pm

        Hi Nate, thanks so much for the amazing reviews. First off I’m 177 lbs 6’0. I’ve recently purchased step ons as I am tired of bending over at my age. I used to be a size 13 in burton rulers but given that step ons fit smaller, I had to bump up to size 15 (which are honestly just a smidge bigger than my old 13 rulers) I just installed the xl step on bindings (15 degree – 15 degree) on my old k2 159w flat true twin original board when I first started. I’m not anything special of a rider, just go down a little quick, turn, avoid super steep hills. Still learning every day, would like to learn switch (would like catch free and true twin for that) and progress to maybe the odd jump but basically just enjoy going down long runs and carve. I went out yesterday for first time with size 15 photons and xl step ons and the k2 159w. I luckily didn’t get a toe edge drag because of the 1.5″ boot overhang but I don’t carve super deep to the point of touching snow with hand (maybe one day). I was thinking of getting salomon pulse 162w as it has a good width and seems like a great board to progess and learn the things I would like to learn. Thoughts on this board or should I go to something different? Thanks so much in advance

        Reply

      • Dario says

        March 12, 2022 at 11:56 pm

        Hi Nate,
        First of all, I want to thank you for your advice on what direction to go.
        In my local Burton shop, I have rented Custom Flyng V 158 cm, and I am thrilled!
        The board itself is easy going and (I think) quicker than my Burton Amplifier.
        I was little concerned on length (158 vs my Amp.154 cm), but it was easy to make turns with it. I guess if it was good for me, there is no need to try Burton Process Flying V, as you suggested?
        Anyway, thanks for your advice!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 14, 2022 at 11:42 am

          Hi Dario

          From how you’re describing your experience, it sounds like the Custom Flying V is the way to go and not necessary to try the Process Flying V. No harm if you wanted to, but I think you will be happy with the Custom Flying V, based on what I’m hearing.

          Reply

          • Dario says

            March 15, 2022 at 2:22 am

            Hi Nate,
            What I forgot to tell you is altough I was really happy with Custom Flying V, there is problem with hard (packed) snow and icy bits of piste. Here where I use board (Slovenia, Austria) there is lot of that, and I am going to rent Burton Custom Camber to try it (Custom Camber is supposed to be better on hard parts).
            If there is more powder where I board Custom Flyng V would definitely be my first choice.

          • Nate says

            March 15, 2022 at 12:21 pm

            Hi Dario

            Yes, the Flying V tends to not do as well in icy conditions. The camber version should feel better for that. And yeah the Flying V model is better in powder – but if you get more ice than powder, then the camber is probably the better option – if you don’t find it too aggressive or catchy. Interested to hear how you get on with the Custom Camber.

38. Dennis says

    January 3, 2022 at 10:59 am

    Hey Nate!

    Beginner snowboarder here looking for some advice.

    I’m 6’1” and weigh 205lbs. Size 12 Boot

    Looking for a suggestion on the ideal board, brand, size and width????

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 4, 2022 at 11:25 am

      Hi Dennis

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly, in terms of size, I would be looking at something in the range 158-160 as a beginner. You could ride more like 162/163 as your “all-mountain” size when you’re more advanced but for now that’s the range I would be looking at.

      With 12s, you’ll need to go wide.

      If you want to keep the board versatile, either because you think you’ll want to do a bit of everything, or because you’re unsure how your riding style will evolve and want to keep your options open, then going with an all-mountain board (or all-mountain-freestyle, if you’re not worried too much about powder performance) is a good idea. If you’re pretty sure you’re going to like riding freestyle, then a freestyle board can be a really good option, because it can teach you the fundamentals of riding fine to start with and then when you want to upgrade to a better all-mountain board, you can keep your beginner freestyle board as your park board, if you want – or sell it – it gives you options.

      Sizing can sometimes differ depending on the board. But I would be happy to offer specific sizing if you were able to narrow it down to 3-4 choices. Anything from this list will work well for a beginner, IMO. So it kind of depends on which way you’re leaning in terms of going freestyle, all-mtn or all-mtn-freestyle.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Dennis says

        January 5, 2022 at 3:41 pm

        What’s your opinion on the nidecker boards? Score and Merc?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 6, 2022 at 10:58 am

          Hi Dennis

          Both are a little stiffer than what I would consider ideal as beginner boards. However, I think you’d get away with the Score, which looks like the more beginner friendly of the two. And with your specs, I think you can get away with the more mid flex of the board. Still not what I’d call ideal, but could work. The 159W would be the size I’d go for.

          Reply

39. Mark Johnson says

    December 31, 2021 at 8:51 pm

    Hi Nate,

    This is a killer write up. Super helpful for a complete beginner. Recently went out on my first snowboarding trip and fell in love, now I’m looking to get my own gear as I can already tell I’ll want to ride as often as possible. Total beginner, but picked it up pretty fast. Was able to link turns from jump, and by the end of the day I was confident in my ability to weave between other riders – on the bunny hills. Still have loads to learn.

    I’m looking at the Arbor Foundation, Nitro Prime, Rossignol Circuit, and Salomon Sight. They’re all on this list, so I’m kind of assuming that they’ll all perform roughly the same for me as a beginner. What I’m most interested in is sizing. I’m 6 feet, roughly 180, with a size 10 shoe. I wore a size 11 boot when I rode as they were a little more comfortable, and they gave me a 155 board. I thought that was too small for me, but it seemed to work well. Should I stick to that 155 range or go a little longer? And with a size 11 boot (somewhat assuming here, I’ve done no boot research yet) do I need a wide board?

    Lastly, between those four boards, do you have a recommendation other than which ever one I think looks the most rad? I live in the midwest so mostly it’s just really big hills, but will also be taking trips out to Maine during the year for “real” mountains.

    Cheers, and thanks

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 1, 2022 at 4:09 pm

      Hi Mark

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly, in terms of sizing, I think something between 155 and 157 as a beginner is a good bet. When you get more advanced, you can ride longer than that for sure, but for now, that’s the range I’d stick too, particularly if you’re mostly riding at smaller resorts.

      In terms of boots, typically if you’re a size 10 in shoes, you would be anywhere from a 9.5 to 10.5 in snowboard boots – and it also depends on the brand. I’m a 10 in shoes and for some brands I’m a 9.5 in snowboard boots, and a 10 for most others. But some that are fine in a 10.5 as well. If you’re having to go into an 11 to make it comfortable, then it might be the case that the particular brand didn’t fit your feet well or that you have wide feet and were in a regular width boot. Some things to help you when it comes to choosing boots:

      >>How to Size Snowboard Boots

      Sizing Snowboard Boots: The Different Brands

      Wide Snowboard Boots for Wide Feet

      And as a beginner, you’ll want to look at something relatively soft. At least no more than a 5/10 flex. Some good beginner options include:

      >> Top 7 Beginner Boots

      I know you were mostly asking about boards, but establishing the boot first is often a good idea as board sizing depends, in a lot of cases on the boot.

      Assuming you can get into a 10.5 at biggest, I think the following sizes for the boards you’re looking at:

      – Foundation: 155
      – Prime: 155
      – Circuit: 155 – but it’s pushing it width-wise. If you were in 10s or 9.5s, this size would be all good. If 10.5s or 11s, you’d probably need to go up to the 156W. Which is then bordering on too wide.
      – Sight: 155W – this is quite narrow for a wide board, and would be a good size. The 156 would be too narrow for 10.5s. You might get away with it with 10s, but it’s still pushing it. Would be fine with 9.5s. But the safer bet is the 155W and like I say it’s not overly wide and actually a really good with for 10.5s.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Mark Johnson says

        January 2, 2022 at 5:18 pm

        This is very helpful, thanks so much. I’ll start with boots and go from there. Cheers!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 4, 2022 at 10:11 am

          You’re very welcome Mark. Good strategy starting with the boots, IMO.

          Reply

          • Mark Johnson says

            January 4, 2022 at 6:48 pm

            Quick follow up. Is there a case to be made for the Arbor Formula of the Foundation, as it appears to have a little bit of a longer tail on it in terms for progression? Or by the time I’m going to want to upgrade will the difference between the two become negligible?

          • Nate says

            January 5, 2022 at 6:15 pm

            Hi Mark

            The Formula Rocker will certainly last you a little longer through your progression, I would say, but is still beginner friendly. If you wanted something to last longer through your progression, it would be an option for sure. I wouldn’t say the difference would be negligible when it comes time to upgrade – just that it would that time to want to upgrade will likely be a little later. Not going to be years later, but it would hold you a little longer, I would say.

40. Ron says

    December 25, 2021 at 11:10 pm

    Hi Nate,

    Thank you for all the useful information.

    I have been snowboarding a few times over the past few years. I think I am still a beginner. My height is 5’9.5″, my weight is about 180 lbs and my shoe size is 9.5-10 depends on the brand. What size board do you think fit me?

    I am considering the yes basic. Which bindinig do you think will work with the board?

    Thank you.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 26, 2021 at 4:24 pm

      Hi Ron

      Thanks for your messages. And apologies for my slower than usual response – busy time of year with family and Christmas.

      If you’re looking for something versatile, then anything All-Mountain from this list is a good way to go or all-mountain-freestyle if you don’t think you’ll be seeing much deep powder. If you think riding the park is in your future, then getting a freestyle board is a good idea and you can keep it as your park board even if you upgrade to a more advanced all-mountain or freeride board.

      Size-wise, I’d be looking at something in the 155 to 157 range and in a regular width. Happy to give specific sizing, if you narrowed it down to 2-3 boards.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Ron Yu says

        December 28, 2021 at 6:26 pm

        Thank you for the reply and merry christmas.

        I am considering the Salomon Sight. Should I get the size 156? What is a good binding to match?

        Thank you.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          December 31, 2021 at 2:33 pm

          Hi Ron

          Yeah, I think the 156 would work well for you, for the Sight.

          I also missed that you mentioned the Basic in your previous message. For that I’d be leaning 155.

          In terms of bindings, I’d look at something at least 3/10 flex, but not more than 5/10 flex. Ideally 3/10 or 4/10 flex for the Sight. If Basic, then 4/10. Something from one of the following, in that flex range, would work well, IMO:

          >>Top 5 Beginner Bindings

          >>Top 5 All Freestyle Bindings

          Reply

41. Ron says

    December 24, 2021 at 2:30 am

    Hi Nate!
    Thanks for all the information.
    I have been snowboarding a few times over the past few years. I still consider myself as a beginner. I want to get my own board and really get into snowboarding.
    I am 5’9.5, my weight is between 175-185 lbs and my shoe sizes is 9.5-10 depends on the brand.
    Which board and size do you think that is best for me.
    Thank you.

    Reply

42. Chris says

    December 6, 2021 at 9:02 pm

    Hi Nate,
    I’ve only snowboarded twice and that was 26 years ago!
    Now at 46 I’m looking to give it another go!
    I’m 5’11.5″ and about 212lbs.
    I wear a size 10.5 US.
    As a true beginner at my age, what would you recommend?
    To be honest, I just want to get out on the snow and stay upright, and have a good time!
    Thanks in advance,
    Chris

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 7, 2021 at 11:51 am

      Hi Chris

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly, in terms of size, I would be looking at something around 158-160 taking into account your specs and skill level. With 10.5s, there will be some cases where a wide board is more appropriate and others where the regular width will work better. Will depend on the board. I’d be leaning towards something 4/10 flex. I think anything 2 or 3/10 in flex might feel a bit soft for you. So, the following and sizes would be your best bet, IMO:

      – Arbor Formula Rocker 158
      – YES Basic 158 (though bordering on too narrow – that said, assuming you weren’t going to be doing any deep carving anytime soon, it’s probably going to be fine, width-wise). 159W also a possibility. On the wider side, but still in a good range for 10.5s, IMO.
      – YES Typo 158 – bit of a step up from the the Basic, but doable. Would be a steeper learning curve though.
      – Nitro Prime 158
      – Slash Happy Place 158 or 159W – like the Basic, it’s borderline too narrow at 158, but would probably be OK. And 159W is on the wider side, but still in a good range, IMO
      – Salomon Sight 158W – the wide versions of this board aren’t that wide, so I think the 158W would be best.
      – Ride Manic 160
      – Never Summer Snowtrooper 159 – a little bit of a step up from the beginner boards, like the Typo, but could be doable

      The only reason I didn’t include the Raygun, is that I think the 159 is a little narrow and the 160W is a little wide.

      Hope this gives you some options

      Reply

43. Zack says

    November 28, 2021 at 8:05 am

    Hello, I am looking to purchase my first board. I’ve rented a few times now. I classify myself as a quick learner looking for a board to help me solidify my beginner status and get me into intermediate. Ideally I want to get a board that I won’t feel the need to upgrade for a few seasons. The I’m trying to decide mainly between the sight, foundation, nitro prime, yes basic and Burton instigator. From everything I’ve read the sight and foundation are great first choices but no one really describes them in terms of later down the road how fast you’ll likely want to upgrade. It seems the Yes basic gets referred to as a very good all around board that can be a beginner board and allow for a good amount of progression while being good at a lot of things but not great at anything. What would be your recommendation? Also on sizing I’m 5’5” tall and weigh about 170-175 with a size 9.5 shoe. What sizing would you recommend?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 29, 2021 at 11:49 am

      Hi Zack

      Thanks for your message.

      From those, I would say the Basic and Sight are the boards that would take you furthest through your progression. If you feel you are already a high-end beginner, bordering on low intermediate (you could use this to help determine), then you could also check out:

      >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

      But the Sight and Basic should work well for you, IMO.

      Size-wise, I’d say something in the 152-154 range for your specs, so for the Basic I’d be looking at the 152. The 155 doable, but as a beginner the 152 would offer an easier/faster progression, IMO. For the Sight, I’d go 153.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

44. Mike says

    November 21, 2021 at 2:16 pm

    Nate, really appreciate all the info and comments. I am a high end beginner (second season) riding in the northeast. 6’2” 185lbs, size 13 boots, fairly athletic but at 37 years old I’m not looking to do a lot of jumps or get in the park. I was ready to pull the trigger on the sight for my first board but comments concerned me that the wide would still be narrow. I think I have overanalyzed and now I’m stuck. I would love a recommendation for setup. Much appreciated!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 22, 2021 at 11:01 am

      Hi Mike

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah, the Sight isn’t overly wide, even in the wide sizes. I’d say 158W for you would be a good size, length-wise (as a beginner), but it’s pushing it and probably too narrow for 13s. I mean you might get away with it to start with, until you start really getting up on the edges for carving, but since you’ll probably be likely wanting to do that sooner or later, I think going with something wider is a better bet.

      Some options below. Given you’re a high-end beginner, I’ve included some options that are high/end beginner/low end intermediate suitable as well (i.e. from this –>>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards – all options are either all-mountain, all-mountain-freestyle or freeride, since you have no interest in the park. Sizing is based on putting on around 161 as an advanced rider – so taking off a little in terms of size, to be more appropriate for your level.

      – Capita Outerspace Living 159W
      – GNU Money 158W
      – Never Summer Snowtrooper 160X – bordering on a little big. The 157X is also a possibility, but the extra width of the 160X would be safer for 13s, IMO.
      – Ride Wildlife 158W

      Or if you wanted something more pure beginner, then:

      – K2 Standard 159W
      – K2 Raygun 157W
      – Salomon Pulse 158W
      – Burton Instigator Flat top 160W

      Hope this helps with some options

      Reply

      • Mike says

        November 22, 2021 at 5:29 pm

        Thanks! Some of those weren’t on my radar so its been super helpful. Leaning towards the Capita Outerspace Living, the other one I had on my list was the Yes Typo from your intermediate list, seemed to have a better edge hold rating on hard and icy snow – any big differences between the two?

        For the rest of the setup I was thinking the Vans Auro Pro boot for something low profile (and a little cheaper) and Burton Cartel bindings. Would be great to know if I am on the right track. Thanks again!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 23, 2021 at 12:49 pm

          Hi Mike

          Only reason I didn’t include the Typo was that it’s also not super wide for a wide board and with 13s, I think it’s a little too narrow.

          I think the Vans Aura Pro would be a great choice – a good flex match to the Outerspace Living (and would work with any of those options really) – and, like you say, low profile, which is never a bad thing, particularly if you’re in 13s.

          The Cartel would definitely work for the Outerspace Living and for you, IMO. For some of those options, probably getting a bit too stiff for them. But for the OSL it works and for a couple of the others too.

          Reply

45. Erik Bjarner says

    November 10, 2021 at 11:40 am

    Hi Nate,

    Amazing list! Thanks for putting it all together.

    I’m looking at the Rossignol Circuit the 2021 model (162 cm). I am 5’10” and around 175-180 lbs. I have a 10.5 size shoe. Also I’ve only snowboarded twice.

    My friend that snowboards says that board would be good for me, but he isn’t sure about the proper length for me . He recommended a waist width of 25cm-26 cm.

    Could you please tell me what do you think about that board, the length of the board, and what size boots would be good?

    Thanks for everything.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 11, 2021 at 2:01 pm

      Hi Erik

      Thanks for your message.

      In terms of length, 162 is too big for you, IMO. Even as advanced rider, I’d say around 159 for a “standard all-mountain size”. As a beginner. I’d say you’re better to look at around the 155-157 range. Actually looking at the sizes there isn’t a 162 – there’s a 160 and 161W. But I think the 156W would be your best bet for that board.

      In terms of width, if just looking strictly at waist width, I would go 254mm minimum and up to 261mm (assuming 10.5s). If you know your binding angles and know that you’ll have something like +15/-15, and if you get low profile boots, then you can get away with going narrower than that. Looking at specific boards it’s more useful to look at width at inserts (which is where you’re boots will actually be), but that’s not published, unfortunately, so we have to guess a little bit.

      In terms of size of boot, can’t say for sure (trying on is the best way to decipher size), but this might help:

      Sizing Snowboard Boots: The Different Brands

      I’m a 10 in shoes typically, and in boots I’m often a 10, but sometimes 9.5 and sometimes 10.5 depending on brand.

      If you do get a chance to try boots on, check out the following so you know what kind of fit you’re looking for:

      >>How to Size Snowboard Boots

      If you end up getting into 10s, then you can go a little narrower and would be on regular width boards most of the time. 10.5s is right in the middle and will sometimes be regular width and sometimes wide.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Erik says

        November 15, 2021 at 7:36 pm

        Hi Nate thanks for the response!

        I went for the 156W board. I got to try a 155W this past weekend and felt good.

        Being a 10.5 size shoe would you recommend medium or large bindings?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 16, 2021 at 1:43 pm

          Hi Erik

          It depends on the brand. In some cases you’ll have the option of medium or large. If you’re in between sizes like that, then I would err to the larger size for you. Being on a wider board, you’ll get that little bit of extra leverage on the edges with a longer baseplate on the bindings. For a list of sizings for several brands check out >>Snowboard Binding Sizing

          Reply

46. Ryan says

    November 6, 2021 at 10:21 pm

    Hey Nate,

    Thank you for putting this list together – super useful! I have snowboarded maybe 5-6 times before and was looking at getting the sight.

    I had 2 questions , I noticed on their website that there is also a sight X, wasn’t able to discern the difference between the sight and the sight X, which so you recommend?

    Also I am 5”9.5 and 175 lbs , what size do you recommend for the board? I usually wear size 11 US shoes.

    Thank you so much!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 8, 2021 at 10:53 am

      Hi Ryan

      Thanks for your message.

      Sight and Sight X are the same board – the Sight X is just a different graphic.

      Size-wise, I would go 155W. With 11 shoes, you’ll likely end up in 10.5, 11 or 11.5 boots. Even if you end up in 10.5s or 11.5s, the 155W would still be the most suitable, IMO.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Ryan says

        November 8, 2021 at 2:10 pm

        Hi Nate,

        Thank you for your response! I will go with the Sight 155W then. what is your recommendation on bindings and boots?

        I see that evo has a package for the Rhythm Bindings and Faction Boa boots. Any good or do you recommend something else?

        Thanks!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 9, 2021 at 11:20 am

          Hi Ryan

          The Rhythm and Faction Boa both match the board, IMO, and are both beginner suitable too. If you were being really fussy, then I’d say a fraction too soft for the Sight, but that would be really fussy, I think that setup should work well. Don’t expect anything amazing in terms of quality from the Faction or Rhythm, but in terms of being a flex match for both beginner and for the board, they should work fine, IMO.

          Reply

          • Ryan says

            November 9, 2021 at 2:58 pm

            Thanks Nate – would you say the the sight board plus the Union Flite Pro bindings and Ride Rook boots is a better combo than the pre-packaged deal? They are about the same price!

          • Nate says

            November 10, 2021 at 10:55 am

            Hi Ryan

            Yes. In my opinion, that’s a really good combo. Both setups would work, for sure, but I’d go Flite Pro/Rook over Rhythm/Faction Boa.

47. Akhil says

    November 1, 2021 at 6:56 pm

    Hey Nate, I really like the Salomon Sight 2022. I’m 5’ 9.5” and 135lbs. There’s a 150 and a 153cm. I’m brand new rider and I’m all for buying what suits me best now and upgrading later. That said which size would be best for me?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 2, 2021 at 11:02 am

      Hi Akhil

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah, I would be leaning 150 in terms of length. The biggest question is whether it’s wide enough for your boots. If you can let me know your boot size, that would be great. Or if you don’t know your boot size, your shoe size is fine.

      Reply

      • Akhil Pothana says

        November 2, 2021 at 12:30 pm

        Thanks for the quick reply Nate! Apologies for making two comments. I made a detailed one here but it wasn’t clear if it went through.

        My shoes size (running shoes, hiking boots etc.) are all typically US mens 8. I have not owned any snow gear before so I don’t know what boot size I’ll end up getting, but i’m sure it’ll be close to 8.

        I saw your comments about the Union Flite Pros, and they seem solid. Do you think they’re a good fit? And I’d be curious to hear what boots you’d recommend to go with the board and bindings. I definitely want BOA.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 3, 2021 at 10:49 am

          Hi Akhil. All good, I approved that comment as well – comments just need to be moderated before being posted, which is probably why you didn’t see it initially.

          With 8s, you should be all good on the 150. Even if you ended up in 8.5s, you’d be fine. If somehow you ended up in 9s, you should be OK in most scenarios, but would want to probably have a bit more of a think about it and what binding angles you might end up riding and looking at low profile boots. But chances are pretty good you’ll be in a range between 7.5 and 8.5 for your boots, so you should be all good on the 150 width-wise. I think that’ll be a really good size for your first board.

          The Flite Pros are great as beginner bindings and match the board well, IMO, so they’d be a great choice, IMO.

          In terms of boots that would be a good match to that board/binding combo and good for beginners, and BOA, I would look at:

          – Ride Anthem
          – Ride Rook
          – Thirty Two STW Double BOA (or STW Boa, if you wanted something cheaper and happy with single BOA)
          – Vans Aura OG
          – K2 Raider
          – Burton Moto Boa
          – DC Scout

          If you are able to try on in person, then that’s definitely preferred – the best way to know if the boots have a good fit. If you’re not sure of what a good fit is for snowboard boots, check out:

          >>How to Size Snowboard Boots

          And if you can’t try on in person, then this might help:

          Sizing Snowboard Boots: The Different Brands

          Reply

          • Akhil says

            November 7, 2021 at 11:09 am

            Hey Nate,

            Thanks for all this info, it’s super useful. I’m going to see if I can try on some of those boots in person.

            Another board that’s come up in my research is the Arbor Foundation and I am strongly considering it as well given it’s #3 on this list. If I went with this, would the 152 be ok? And would the flite pros still be a good pairing? Thanks!

          • Nate says

            November 8, 2021 at 11:19 am

            Hi Akhil

            Flite Pros definitely still a good pairing, IMO.

            Size-wise, I think the 152 would work but on the bigger side as a beginner – I think it’s good size for you as a more advanced rider. Doable for now, but will be a slightly steeper learning curve than the shorter length. The 148 would be an easier board to progress on. The 152 would be a little harder to progress on, but would also last you a little longer through your progression, if that makes sense. Ideally for fastest progression, I’d go 148, but 152 certainly doable.

48. Akhil says

    November 1, 2021 at 6:40 pm

    Hey Nate, first off thank you for putting out all this amazing content for free! I’m in the market for my first ever board after going on two rides with rentals. I’ve decided to commit to buying all my own gear, and i’m currently leaning towards the Salomon Sight 2022. I’m 5’ 9.5” and 140lbs, and I’m a brand new rider, and I’m all for buying what’s the right fit for me now and upgrading later if I need it.

    What size board would you recommend for me? Also, are there any considerations I should have regarding width? I imagine that’s less in our control and will be factored in based on the length of the board I buy. From what I’ve learned 150 or 153 seem to be the right range, and leaning towards 150 might be the move, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

    Reply

49. Nik S says

    October 29, 2021 at 9:58 am

    Hi Nate, I’m 5’8″ at 144 lbs, shoe size 8.5, boot size 9 (depending on the company). I’m also a beginner.

    22′ Salomon Sight 153 looks like the best option to me since I can’t find a 21′ on sale in my size (156 for $280 on evo), but I am not sure. I noticed you mentioned that its waist at 246mm is a little too narrow for a 10 boot size but doable. Do you think it would be do wide for 9s?

    I live in the midwest but am planning to ride in CO this winter, so the edge-hold would most likely matter.

    Are there any previous season boards I can consider?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 30, 2021 at 2:43 pm

      Hi Nik

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah, I wouldn’t go to 156 – too big, IMO. The 153 should work well though – and in terms of width, I think it’s in a really good range for 9s, so I think you’re good width-wise with that size.

      Everything in this list are suitable for beginners – so if you see something in a past season model from this list, then that will work – you don’t have to go with the Sight, if you’re looking for something cheaper.

      Given that you want something with good edge-hold, I’d probably be looking at the Arbor Formula, Rossi Sawblade, GNU GWO, Salomon Pulse, YES Basic, Rossi District, Nitro Prime, Arbor Foundation, Rossi Cicruit or Salomon Sight. But unless you think you’ll see icy conditions a lot, the rest should be fine too.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Nik S says

        October 31, 2021 at 12:58 pm

        Thank you, Nate! This is very helpful. Appreciate your help. Buying a snowboard can be very stressful and time consuming. Your website and comments help with the process!

        I think I’ll go for either the Rossi Circuit or the District in that case, since the 2021 model is available online.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 1, 2021 at 10:42 am

          You’re very welcome Nik. Hope you have a great season!

          Reply

50. Jae Lee says

    October 28, 2021 at 11:35 am

    Hi Nate,

    I’m 6’2, 220lbs, and US size 11. I’m would say I’m right at Beginner level 3-4. I wanted to get a board that will last me more than a couple of seasons as I progress as well. Could you recommend me a board from your list with the size? Reading from previous comments, sounds like I should go a bit smaller than the recommended size for my build?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 29, 2021 at 9:35 am

      Hi Jae

      Thanks for your message.

      Given that you want a board that will last more than a couple of season’s, and given that you’re more of a high-end beginner, by the sounds of it, I think you could also check out >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards.

      In terms of size, I would say something around 160/161 for your specs – it’s going a little shorter but not too much shorter, so that it doesn’t become too small after a couple of seasons.

      Width-wise, with 11s, you’ll need to go wide in most cases. There are some boards that you won’t have to go wide on. If there’s a particular board you’re not sure about in terms of width, let me know and I’ll be happy to give my opinion.

      And in terms of flex, I probably wouldn’t go as soft as 2/10 or 3/10 flex, as might be the case for some beginners. With your specs, I’d be looking at 4/10 or even 5/10. I wouldn’t go stiffer than 5/10 at this stage, but I think you should be fine with 5/10 and that’s something that won’t feel too soft for you in a couple of season’s when you’re likely riding faster.

      From that intermediate list, or if you go for something from this list, have a think about whether you think you want something versatile or if you’re happy to go with a more freestyle oriented board. Typically, if you’re looking to hold onto the board for a while, I would go freestyle only if you think you’ll want to ride park/freestyle in the future (in which case you can keep the board indefinitely and use it as your park board, and later pick up a more all-mountain or freeride oriented board).

      Hope that makes sense and helps you to narrow down some options. If you narrow it down and still can’t decide, let me know what your weighing up and I’d be happy to help you decide.

      Reply

      • Jae Lee says

        November 1, 2021 at 11:30 am

        Hi Nate,

        Thank you very much for your advice. Since I’m mostly going to be riding resorts and don’t really see my self riding park/freestyle, I decided to go with the Slash Brainstorm 163 W. 163 W is the biggest it seems to go, and it looks like its for 165 – 215lb. I’m currently at 220-225 range but it should be ok?

        I also got Ride Jackson snow boots and Burton Cartel Bindings to go with it. What do you think about these choices to go along with the Brainstorm?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 2, 2021 at 10:40 am

          Hi Jae

          I think the 163W is all good for you. I wouldn’t worry too much about being over that weight recommendation. In fact the weight recommendation on it used to be 160-220+, and the board hasn’t changed that much. Those weight recommendations can be a little arbitrary at times. 163W is well big enough for you, IMO, as a beginner. In fact that’s the biggest I would recommend you go at the moment.

          The Ride Jackson and Cartel bindings should be a good match for the Brainstorm, IMO and even thought they’re a little stiffer than ideal for beginner boots/bindings, I think they should work well for you – a. because it sounds like you’re a higher-end beginner and b. at 220lbs, you can go a little stiffer with boots/bindings and they won’t feel as stiff as they would to someone lighter.

          Reply

          • Jae Lee says

            November 2, 2021 at 1:49 pm

            Thank you very much for your help Nate!

          • Nate says

            November 3, 2021 at 11:09 am

            You’re very welcome Jae. Hope you have an awesome season!

          • Jae Lee says

            November 13, 2021 at 1:29 pm

            Hi Nate,

            I ordered the slash brainstorm but the order got delayed and won’t arrive in time for when I got snowboarding.

            I’m looking at the YES Standard but was wondering what size would work best. They don’t seem to have a W option but I don’t think it’s needed for this board? Would you recommend 162 or 167 for this board?

          • Nate says

            November 15, 2021 at 11:48 am

            Hi Jae

            Yeah, the Standard is a wider board, so you’d definitely have no issues with width on it, with 11s. The 167 will be too big for you, IMO.

            The 162 would be a good size, IMO. It’s a good bit wider than the Brainstorm (at the waist, the inserts and the contact points), so I think it’s on the slightly too wide for your boots/feet side of things. But it’s a little shorter than the 163W Brainstorm (both overall length and effective edge). So I think it works. It’s right on the edge of how big I’d go for you though. And just to note, that it’s a touch stiffer than the Brainstorm – and just a little more advanced. Still intermediate friendly, IMO, but just a little more advanced than the Brainstorm.

          • Jae Lee says

            November 15, 2021 at 2:26 pm

            Hi Nate,

            Thanks for the feedbacks!

          • Nate says

            November 16, 2021 at 12:45 pm

            No worries Jae. Let me know how you get on.

51. Evan says

    October 21, 2021 at 10:22 pm

    Hey Nate!

    I’m 5’8 155lbs, US size 8 shopping for a new board. I’m a beginner and would probably be riding it mostly down resorts. Looked around some local shops to see what’s available and found a 21′ Sight and 21′ Banana with pretty good discounts. Only issue is the sizes available (the Sight starts at 156+ and the Banana only has 154 available). Other options I’ve found were the Yes Basic, Nitro Prime Raw and the 22′ Sight that has all the sizes available.

    I was thinking to possibly learn on the Basic or Banana as a do it all board and keep it for a while. What are your thoughts on these options or what would work best?

    Cheers

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 22, 2021 at 11:58 am

      Hi Evan

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the 156 Sight is too big and the Skate Banana 154 is a bit too big as well. I think as a more advanced rider you could ride something up to 155 if it was narrow enough. If you were able to get the 150 or 152 Skate Banana I think that would work. The Basic would be a great option if you can get it in the 152. I think the 149 would work too, but if you wanted it as something to stay with you for longer, then the 152 will take you further through your progression.

      For the Prime Raw, the 152 would be best.

      For the Sight 22, probably the 153, given this is a narrower board, I think that size would work best, but the 150 also an option.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Evan says

        October 22, 2021 at 10:28 pm

        Hey Nate,

        Thanks for getting back. I think I’ll end up going with either the Prime Raw or Basic since the sizes are a better fit with me. Would the Union Contact Pros and Vans Hi Standard or Aura OGs be a good pairing with either boards?

        Cheers,
        Allan

        Reply

        • Nate says

          October 23, 2021 at 6:23 pm

          Hi Evan

          Contact Pros would be a great match for either board, IMO and work well as beginner bindings (but are still really good quality, and not strictly beginner bindings by any means). And the Hi-Standard OG and Aura OG are also a great match and also work great for beginners, IMO.

          Reply

52. Max says

    September 17, 2021 at 6:40 am

    Hi Nate!)
    I want to buy beginner snowboard, but I choose only from two companies, capita or libtech, can you tell me which models to pay attention to from these manufacturers? I plan to ride on prepared slopes)

    Reply

    • Nate says

      September 17, 2021 at 11:45 am

      Hi Max

      Thanks for your message.

      The best options for beginners from those brands, IMO, are:

      – Capita Pathfinder Rev (not to be confused with the Pathfinder camber – the Rev is a better beginner board. Though the Pathfinder camber is still good for low intermediate – or you could look at Outerspace Living for low intermediate as well.
      – Lib Tech Box Scratcher
      – Lib Tech Skate Banana

      Make sure to get the size right too – very important in choosing your snowboard. If you want a sizing opinion, I would be happy to give one. Would just need your height, weight and boot size. And if you could also let me know if you are a complete beginner or if you’ve been riding for a while?

      Reply

      • Max says

        September 17, 2021 at 11:06 pm

        Ty ,Nate)
        I have little experience in 2020-2021 season,about 5 days on rental deck, I’m
        5.10, 140-150 lbs,with boot size 8,5-9,0(26,5 cm)

        in fact, I have a new nitro prime 2021 board, still in film, I plan to put it up for sale, I just go crazy at the sight of capita and lib tech boards)

        Reply

        • Nate says

          September 18, 2021 at 4:05 pm

          Hi Max

          Thanks for the extra info.

          For the fastest/easiest progression, I would go either Capita Pathfinder Rev or Lib Tech Box Scratcher. But if you want a board that will last you longer through your progression (but with a steeper learning curve), then Skate Banana or Outerspace Living.

          In terms of sizing:

          Pathfinder Rev: 151
          Outerspace Living: 154 (152 is probably the better length, given you’re a beginner, but it’s borderline in terms of being too narrow)
          Box Scratcher: 151
          Skate Banana: 152

          Reply

          • Max says

            September 19, 2021 at 5:50 am

            Hi Nate)
            Thank you very much for your help, I constantly follow your website and instagram, I wish you success in the new season and even more interesting information and new products)

          • Nate says

            September 20, 2021 at 12:05 pm

            You’re very welcome Max. Thanks for visiting and following!

          • Max says

            November 4, 2021 at 6:51 am

            Hi,Nate
            I cant find in my country skate banana 152 size and capita pathfinder reverse 151.
            I find only gnu gwo 153 and capita reverse 153, and still have a nitro prime 155 which for some reason I bought that year, the season is coming soon and I can’t decide on the board.
            in all stores, sellers generally offer a size 155-158 for me (

          • Nate says

            November 4, 2021 at 10:59 am

            Hi Max

            A lot of stores still go off height, and it’s understandable why – it’s easier, because you can just look and see – and it avoids asking people their weight, which can be a sensitive topic. But for your weight, I wouldn’t go longer than 155 – and only that long if you are more advanced. 155 would be a good advanced level all-mountain size for your specs (if in a good width for your boots), IMO. But as a beginner, you’ll want to size down from there. Also boot-size is really important for sizing. Typically people only take into account boot size for whether you should go wide or regular width. But I like to be more accurate than that – and sometimes if a board is a little too wide, then sizing down is also a good idea. There’s quite a lot to consider when sizing.

            I didn’t mention the GWO previously because I was only looking at Capita and Lib Tech for you. Didn’t realize that you also had GNU as an option (I know they’re both Mervin but it’s surprising how many retailers have either GNU or Lib Tech and not both). The GWO is a very good beginner option, and I think 153 would work size-wise. The Capita Pathfinder Rev 153 would also work size-wise. I think 151 is more optimal, but 153 still works. I’d try not to go bigger than that though.

          • Max says

            November 4, 2021 at 7:54 pm

            Nate,thank you so much)
            gwo was actually offered to me in the store, they said that it was the same banana skate and it was in size 153, there were either no bananas at all, or it was 156+, with capita pathfinder reverse there is a similar story in size 153, but pathfinder camber is in almost all sizes)
            I have 3 more weeks before the first trip, maybe the assortment will increase in stores)

          • Nate says

            November 5, 2021 at 11:01 am

            You’re very welcome Max. Yeah the GWO is very similar to the Skate Banana. Hope you have an awesome time on your trip!

53. Melissa Muhly says

    June 14, 2021 at 7:48 am

    Hi Nate,
    My son has just started out snowboarding. Hoping to gift him a package for his 18th birthday. He is 6 feet tall and 230 lbs. What size board would you recommend and do you have a favorite for someone that size? He would be boarding on man made and natural snow.
    Thanks!
    Melissa

    Reply

    • Nate says

      June 14, 2021 at 11:15 am

      Hi Melissa

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly, in terms of sizing, I would be looking at something around 159-161. He could ride longer for sure, when he’s more advanced, but that’s the size range I would be looking at now. But I would also need his boot size (or shoe size) to determine whether he would need to go wide or not.

      Anything from this list that works size-wise, would work well, IMO, but I would be leaning towards something with a 4/10 flex. Anything less than that might be too soft flexing for your son’s specs. If he’s quite strong/athletic, then something 5/10 flex would also work – and for some at that flex level, but still OK for beginners, you could check out:

      >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

      But if you wanted to keep things as beginner/easy to ride as possible, then this list makes the most sense, but I would be leaning towards one that’s 4/10 flex, rather than one of the 2/10 or 3/10 flex boards.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

54. Sergiu says

    April 11, 2021 at 2:42 pm

    Hello Nate, first let me congratulate you for the awesome work you do with the web site and videos. Id like to ask you for advice regarding my situation. Ive never snowboarded, but all my friends are boarding or skiing and i decided to start on of them. Snowboarding was the choice because i find it to be more fun and also the learning curve i understood is more forgiving and easier. After spending some time on your site i came up with this setup:
    board – Salomon Sight regular 156-159
    bindings – U Contact Pro
    boots – Burton Moto
    My stats – age,42(ultra beginner as i said), 5.839 tall, 209lbs(overweight), my feet are 26.5-27cm so i dont think i need the board to be wide.
    Is there anything regarding this setup that you would change for my case?(if i would lose the weight i should be around 169 lbs.)
    thanks

    Reply

    • Nate says

      April 12, 2021 at 1:52 pm

      Hi Sergiu

      Thanks for your messages (I got the other ones too, but deleted them for tidiness. All messages need to be moderated before being published – I typically moderate them as I reply).

      That sounds like a really good beginner setup to me. I wouldn’t change anything in there. Size-wise, I would say go 156 for the Sight. It’s quite small for your current weight, but as a beginner it’s a good idea to go a little smaller. Makes it easier/faster to progress. If you were to loose weight as you progressed, then the 156 would then be a good size for your more advanced, but lighter self, if that makes sense.

      The Sight is quite a narrow board, but assuming you end up in 9s or 9.5s for the boots, which is most likely, then it should be a good width in the 156.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

55. Fernando says

    March 15, 2021 at 4:35 pm

    Hey Nate, I ‘ve read your articles and I find them so thoughtfully researched. It was a lot of information to chew though :). But thankfully you have provided a list of snowboards for beginners. Eventually I settled on getting the Salomon Sight. But the only available length at Evo right now is 153 and 159 cm. I am 5’11”, 165 lbs with a 11.5″ boot. I think the 153 is a good choice but the size chart in Evo says that 153 cm allows for a boot size of up to 9.5″. Should I wait until the 155W becomes available or could I take this 153?

    Thanks!

    Fernando

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 16, 2021 at 10:46 am

      Hi Fernando

      Thanks for your message.

      With 11.5 boots I wouldn’t get the 153. Too narrow, IMO. It’s probably good length-wise, given you’re a beginner but definitely too narrow. I think the 155W would be a great size for you, and if I was you I would wait for that. The 159 will be too narrow too, and IMO too long as well.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

56. Dominik says

    March 10, 2021 at 7:47 pm

    Hello Nate,

    First of all it is really amazing the depth information and the help you are proving here for snowboard enthusiasts.
    I am 35 Years old. I am currently living in Japan but originally from Germany. I am 5’9” around 210 lbs (quite heavy 🙂 but also muscular, soon going down min 200lbs). I already made experiences with wrong equipment and should have found your homepage earlier. I had three years ago my first boarding experience with rental equipment (1.5 days). Was kind of OK (initiating first turns). Now I got some equipment, partially from friends and everything used but in very good condition (Nitro Team 157, Burton Custom Binding, Burton Moto Boots). After now 3 years I felt like almost starting over. I had group lesson with a good teacher for 2 hours and I could learn quickly and by the end of the day, I was able to drive green courses and partially red courses with S turns. Biggest problems were my boots. I had a lot of pain. Even a part of my feet getting numb (the Burton Moto are 10,5 and I am 26,8 Mondopoint, so it should fit in length). I was struggling a lot and needed loosen the boots but then having less control. Second day was not really good due to the pain in my feet and the icy conditions. I definitely need first of all the correct sized boots for my feet. Sadly on the trip home the binding broke in the highback during transport. So I am considering buying completely new set up: 1. Boots 2. Binding 3. Board (Nitro is pure camber) since I am really motivated and I want to push hard for progress. I realized that the success on board is essential for motivation and progress .
    I am 35 so might not go crazy into park but who knows. Maybe some tricks and small jumps, also powder I could imagine but mainly piste driving, so All Mountain might be the best start. I do not mind to spend money for better equipment (especially speaking for the binding).

    My idea for set-up:

    Boots: Adidas Response MC3 in 9.5 (I have wide feet, MP27.8), but I will try different ones as well

    Binding: Burton Cartel, Union Strata, Union Contact Pro

    Boards: Favorites: Salmon Sight, Yes Basic; Maybe: Capita Horroscope, Gnu Money, Salomon Pulse, Ride Warpig, Jones Mountain Twin (recommended in other forums but imo not enough flex for beginner board, even I really like it)

    I would highly appreciate if you could give me some thoughts on a set-up. Also considering my weight for a size recommendation (once I have the boots I will cross check if I need a wide version). Please feel free to add your comments /ideas.

    Cheers,
    Dominik

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 11, 2021 at 2:17 pm

      Hi Dominik

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah boots are tough to figure out sometimes. But 10.5 in Burton boots sounds too long if you have 26.8cm feet. But sometimes the length of the foot doesn’t match the mondo of the boot. And often some brands fit certain feet better than others. So it could just be a case that you’re better off in a different brand. With Adidas, I would imagine, assuming they’re a good match for your feet, that they would fit in a 9.5 or possibly even 9. I find with 27.3cm feet that they fit the 9.5 Adidas well – so based on that I would say probably 9 for you (but feet are weird, like I say). The Adidas Response is a wider boot, so that should hopefully be good for your wider feet – and that may well be part of the problem in the Moto’s. I would say, just based on foot-length, that you should probably be a 9.5 in Burton boots or at most a 10, so if the 10.5 was feeling too tight, then they’re either just not a good match to your feet or not wide enough. It is also the case that if a boot is too big it can sometimes cause foot pain, because it’s working too hard because it’s moving around too much in there – but in this case it sounds like it’s pain from pressure (but correct me if I’m wrong).

      As a beginner, I would be leaning Contact Pro for the bindings. But if you wanted to stretch yourself, the Cartel and Strata are certainly doable. The Contact Pro are good quality bindings, they’re just softer flexing.

      For the board, the Mountain Twin isn’t ideal. It’s doable for a high-level beginner/low intermediate. Certainly an easier start, IMO, than the Nitro Team Camber. Whilst the Team Camber isn’t like the most technical/stiffest board going around, I would be more inclined to go on the Mountain Twin as a beginner than the Team.

      I think the Sight, Money and Pulse and possibly the Basic (or you could go Typo) would work well. The Horrosrcope is more of a freestyle board, which is fine if you think you’d want to keep it later as your park board when you upgrade (which is certainly not a bad strategy, if you see yourself riding the park a little later on). But going with something like the Sight, Money or Pulse, gives you something a little more versatile to learn a bit of everything on. Ride Warpig probably wouldn’t recommend for a beginner personally.

      Size-wise, I think around 156-158 is a good way to go for you as a beginner – to progress as quickly as possible. I don’t think you’ll need to go wide. If you can find the right fitting boots, with a 26.8cm foot, you definitely shouldn’t need anything longer than a 10.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Dominik says

        March 11, 2021 at 7:01 pm

        Hey Nate,

        Thank you so much for your detailed answer and all your advices!
        For the boots I will do as you say. I will check out the Adidas in 9 and 9.5 for my feet. I will also check other options but for what I read in most cases they are a really good option for wider feet. Yes you are right. It has been pressure problems. Therefore could almost not tighten the lower zone.
        For the boards I think I will focus on the Salomon Sight and the Yes Typo (nice recommendation). I addition I saw the Nidecker Score but I think I will decide between the Sight and Typo. For the Sight I might take the Contact Pro since the board has a lower flex and with the Typo maybe with the Strata/Cartel since it is a little stiffer. Regarding the size I think the Sight is a quite narrow board but since you say with 9 to max 10 sized boots (especially the Adidas with reduced footprint) it should be fine and I do not need to go wide. I am more concerned regarding the weight. I will be targeting around 200 lbs and also go lower for next season (190, previous weight).
        I read I should chose the board regarding the weight rating of the manufacturer and then size then down 3-5 cm. I have a few questions regarding the sizing:
        Is it better for the weight rating to take a wider but shorter board also into consideration compared to a longer non wide board?
        Is there a formula to calculate the minimum waist for the board in relation to the footprint size of the boot?
        Can give me a direct recommendation for the size of the Typo and the Sight and maybe also give me a final recommendation amongst these two boards?

        Kind regards,
        Dominik

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 12, 2021 at 4:18 pm

          Hi Dominik

          Good reasoning IMO re going with Contact Pro if you go Sight and Strata/Cartel if you go Typo.

          Size for size, a wider board will accommodate a heavier rider better, but for the likes of stability at speed it’s more the length, since you should be on an edge most of the time anyway, so a longer board should always be better for stability at speed, which is one factor to take into account for sizing. Wider will give you more stability for landings on jumps, so that’s something else to consider. Also going wider is less of a concern for a heavier, particularly if more athletic as well, because you can apply more pressure to the edges, even if your feet are inside the edges. For lighter riders it’s more important to have your feet reach the edges of the board, for better leverage, or a board can feel slow/an effort to turn. But that certainly doesn’t mean you have to go wide.

          For the Sight you could go wide, because it’s not an overly wide board, but assuming you end up in 9s or 9.5, then I would still go regular width. If it was right now with you current boots, I would say 158W for Sight, but with 9s or 9.5s, it would be between the 156 and 159. In the case of the sight I would be leaning 159.

          For the Typo, I would go 158.

          I think I would go Typo for you. Mostly because you have some experience riding and you are used to the Nitro Team. The Typo will feel forgiving versus that, and I think you’re likely at a point you can handle the Typo and it would last you longer through your progression than the Sight, IMO. It’s a board that could stay with you for a long time.

          Reply

          • Dominik says

            March 13, 2021 at 8:55 pm

            Hey Nate,

            awesome! Really, thank you so much!! I highly appreciate your support. This helps a lot.

            I am now focusing on a Yes Typo in 158. Sounds like a very promising solution! I just figured out it is kind of difficult to get in Japan. I will keep searching for deals for it but may I allow a last question?

            Many times I found here in shops the Nidecker Score. What do you think about it comparison? Just saw good deals on it and was interested in your opinion.

            Thanks and regards,
            Dominik

          • Nate says

            March 15, 2021 at 11:06 am

            Hi Dominik

            I don’t currently test Nidecker boards, but on paper, the Score looks like it would certainly be suitable. But don’t know how it rides in reality, having not had any experience with it. Probably 159 if you went with that one, but 156 would be doable too.

57. Hans Dieterle says

    March 9, 2021 at 12:03 pm

    Hi Nate,
    Thanks for all the work you do and support you give in the snowboarding community! I was wondering your opinion. I am 51 yo 5’10” weighing in around 195 – but determined to be 180lbs by next season! 🙂 I wear a size 12. I have boarded a decent amount over the years but never so much in a season to feel like I have taken the progression to the next level. Never hit the park, never gotten into tricks but I would like to. I can make it down most blues pretty well, but definitely have a lot of room to grow in the comfort/confidence department with them. I have relocated very close to some mountains in upstate NY and the opportunity to spend more time riding is here! I am leaning towards a “beginner’s” board (unless you think I might benefit more at this point with a intermediate board. I know I definitely need a wide board. From this list you’re so expertly curated, I’ve narrowed it down to either the K2 Standard (Love the graphics!) and The Sight. However in these comments you’ve mentioned that the Sight W is not that wide. Should I not bother with that one? And are the boards (in this list or not) that are more wide. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

    Thanks!

    Hans

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 10, 2021 at 12:03 pm

      Hi Hans

      Thanks for your message.

      From what you’re describing, I think you would benefit from a more intermediate board. That said, the Sight is still pretty good for intermediate. But I do think that the Sight is probably a little narrow for your boots, in the length that would be most appropriate, so that’s a potential issue if you were to go Sight.

      Length-wise, I would say around 156-158 would be a good bit, so the 158W for the Sight, but the 158W is going to be borderline too narrow for you. The K2 Standard 156W would work though – or even 159W if you wanted to go a little longer.

      If you wanted to look at something more intermediate, you could also check out:

      >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Hans Dieterle says

        March 10, 2021 at 2:52 pm

        Thanks so much Nate! Tempted to pull the trigger on The Standard 159W! However, I have now come across The K2 Broadcast and it’s really caught my eye (they make a 158W too) Any experience with this model? It is a step up price wise, but is it considered an intermediate or still in beginner classification? Is it the carbon that is the big difference between the two? Also, last question, as far as prices/sales, should I pull trigger now or wait until April/May? TIA!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 11, 2021 at 1:52 pm

          Hi Hans

          K2 Broadcast not a beginner friendly board, IMO. It’s too stiff and not very forgiving of skidded turns. I would say you’d want to be upper intermediate for that board. Sometimes, for some models/brands, things get cheaper again in April/May, but if it’s already on sale, it’s not going to get that much cheaper – and availability in specific sizes will become scarcer and scarcer. I’ve found that retailers are happy to hold older stock to sell off in the fall, pre-season and around Black Friday, so aren’t desperate to get rid of it in the April/May/Summer, so nothing drastic will change in pricing most likely. If you’re looking at something 2021 model and it’s still full price and hasn’t been discounted at all yet, then it will be discounted soon, so in those cases the price will go down.

          Reply

      • Hans Dieterle says

        March 11, 2021 at 11:12 am

        Hi Nate I have now narrowed it down to:
        Formula Rocker 156MW
        Formula Camber 157W

        How do I decide! lol Just got off phone with a shop near me and the guy said they don’t even sell Rocker boards, it’s like dumbing down a camber. I know it’s one person’s opinion but it made me take a step back. Any advice is appreciated!
        Thanks!

        Hans

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 11, 2021 at 1:58 pm

          Hi Hans

          There aren’t a lot of all-rocker boards these days. Arbor does them and Lib Tech/GNU have there Banana rocker, which still has some subtle camber in it. Arbor’s rocker boards aren’t really full rocker either, or at least don’t feel that way. Their camber boards also don’t feel full camber (they way their “system” camber works). So whilst their rocker boards are looser and easier to ride they’re not really full-rocker. They’re camber boards are doable for an intermediate rider for sure – as they’re not as unforgiving as full camber. And the Formula being a softer board, is pretty forgiving, even in the camber version. It’s not something I would recommend to a complete beginner at all, but if you’re technique is decent and your more of a low intermediate rider, then it’s definitely an option.

          Some people like to spurt sweeping statements because of personal biases. Like “everyone should only ride all-camber boards, because that’s what I prefer, so they must be the best!”. Not saying that’s the case here, but I hear it all the time. Everyone has difference tastes and preferences and there are boards out there that are more or less suitable depending on the rider. What’s amazing for one person could be completely wrong for someone else, so I tend to not listen to anyone who has a really polarized view about snowboards, as there’s an obvious personal bias/preference in there. That’s my take anyway.

          Reply

58. August says

    March 7, 2021 at 5:04 am

    Hi Nate,
    First of all I should thank you for your great and useful reviews. I really interested in Salomon sight for buying as my first Snowboard after a couple times of renting boards. I have checked the web and there is two variants of it, Sight and Sight X. Which I don’t understand the different between those boards And I am really appreciate if you can help about it?

    Regards, August

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 7, 2021 at 5:38 pm

      Hi August

      Thanks for your message.

      The Sight X is the same board – it just has different graphics.

      Reply

59. Mitch says

    March 6, 2021 at 9:28 pm

    Hello Nate,

    Thanks for the 2020-21 update. First and only board has been 2008 burton clash 155 bought used of course. Used for last 2 years and have progressed from green to easy blue. I’m 54 years old, 5’8”, 160lbs. Safe fun, and stable is better then fast and freestyle for me. Getting excited about Sight or Foundation. Thoughts on which might be better for my situation? Thanks, Mitch

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 7, 2021 at 5:35 pm

      Hi Mitch

      Thanks for your message.

      I think I would be leaning Sight, just because it’s got a bit of camber in it – and that will help with stability. But it’s still a really easy going board – nothing that will make you need to ride fast or anything. Both would certainly work, but I’d be leaning Sight. And most likely the 153. The 156 also doable. The 156 will be more stable, but the 153 easier to ride at slower speeds. If you didn’t want to go shorter than your current deck, then 156 is certainly in your range. But if you could also let me know your boot size, to make sure it’s going to work width-wise.

      Reply

      • Mitch says

        March 8, 2021 at 8:01 am

        Great feedback Nate…thank you. I wear size 9 boot so the standard width should fit well. I was looking at the Salomon website and it doesn’t list the 2021 sight as being available. Are they still making the sight for the 2021 season? If not are there still a lot of new 2020 versions available? Since we are getting towards the end of the season, my season is over, should I wait for online sellers to try to get rid of the 2020’s and maybe get a better deal or get one now if the prices won’t change much? Thank you for your thoughts, Mitch

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 8, 2021 at 4:40 pm

          Hi Mitch

          Yes there is a 2021 Sight. For some reason they aren’t showing it on their website, but they did bring one out. I think a lot of them are sold out, but you might still be able to find one in your size. They are bringing out a 2022 Sight as well (which should become available sometime between spring and fall) – so if you can’t find your size available now, then you should be able to get it in the 2022 model. If you can find the 2021 model, then you should be find it at a discount, either now, or in the next little while. A lot of 2021 stock is now being discounted and if it’s not already it should be within the next month or so.

          And yeah with 9s, you should be good for the regular widths.

          Reply

      • Mitch says

        March 8, 2021 at 8:05 am

        Nate,

        I was also looking at the Salomon rhythm bindings to go with the sight board. Do you agree or would you recommend a different binding? Thanks, Mitch

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 8, 2021 at 4:41 pm

          Hi Mitch

          The Salomon Rhythm should be a good match to the Sight, IMO.

          Reply

          • Mitch says

            March 8, 2021 at 7:54 pm

            Thanks Nate,

            One last question regarding binding. What is your opinion of the Union Contact Pro binding with the Sight board? Sight with Rhythm or Sight with Contact Pro? Thank You!!

          • Nate says

            March 10, 2021 at 11:10 am

            Hi Mitch

            I think the Contact Pro would be a very good match to the Sight. Maybe even slightly better than the Rhythm, partly because it’s a better quality binding, IMO – and partly because it’s a slightly better flex-match, IMO. The Contact Pro around that 4/10 flex, versus the Rhythm more like 3/10, but both would definitely work.

          • Mitch says

            March 9, 2021 at 11:07 am

            Hey Nate,

            I just noticed your beginning bindings review. You have the Union Flite Pro ranked #1. Which would be better for the Salomon Sight 153cm board we talked about above? The Union Flite Pro or the Salomon Rhythm? Thanks, Mitch

          • Nate says

            March 10, 2021 at 11:11 am

            Hi Mitch

            I think I would prefer the Flite Pro, but they are both a good match for the Sight and both would work really well. You might not notice that much difference, but if I had to choose, I would say Flite Pro (or Contact Pro as per other reply, if you wanted to step it up a bit).

          • Mitch says

            March 10, 2021 at 8:53 pm

            Nate,

            Thank you so much for your thoughts. Decision made, with your input of course. I have already purchased the 2021 Sight 153cm from The-House outlet and I am going to pair it with the 2021 Union Flite Pro, because it has a better ankle strap then the 2020 and previous versions. When I buy my first intermediate board in a couple years I may choose the Union Contact Pro at that point.

            I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge and thoughts with those of us who don’t have your level of experience. Thanks again and happy boarding. Mitch

          • Nate says

            March 11, 2021 at 2:25 pm

            You’re very welcome Mitch. Happy riding!

60. Tom says

    February 27, 2021 at 6:30 am

    Nate,

    No question here, just a comment. This site is awesome and your commitment to answering everyone is remarkable. I was scrolling through all of the comments and noticed you’ve been going strong with detailed answers for about 6 years on this page alone! I’ve only been snowboarding for a month and was overwhelmed with all of the factors to consider when buying boots/bindings/boards. Newbies really need to look no further than your site. I found the following comment that describes me to a T (age included), and echoes my sentiments exactly.

    “Paul Walsh says
    February 25, 2017 at 7:10 pm I’ve been coming back to this site over and over again. I’m a newbie. And at the tender age of 43 I’m really putting myself outside my comfort zone. This particular comment got me – I’m never going to another site again. This is it. Your reviews are second to none and your responses to comments are incredible.”

    Thanks for what you do.

    Tom

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 27, 2021 at 3:19 pm

      Hi Tom

      Thanks for your words. Very much appreciated. Happy riding!

      Reply

61. Scott knoght says

    February 21, 2021 at 5:47 pm

    Hi Nate, looking to get a board for my son. He is 14 (about to be 15 this would be for his birthday in March) he is about 5’8” and 118lbs and had only ever ridden just a couple of weeks ago. He went with a friend of mine and is a super beginner. However my friend said he did so well that he had forgotten it was his first time and took him down some intermediate hills. He rented boots and said the size 10 fit best. He is like an 11 sneaker, but he used a 10and a half the second time he went and said the 10’s were better. I’d like to get him a board he can use for a while but again he is a beginner.

    I was thinking the Salomon sight. My friend also recommended the capita horror scope at 155cm. What board (not just the two I listed) would you think is the best for him and in what size. Also, I was thinking of getting him the clip in bindings as opposed to the strap in’s is there one you like better than the other. The thought process there is that he could always take the bindings off and put them on any new more advanced board. So, again, looking for board, binding, boot recommendation as I have no idea what features are coveted. Thanks, Scott. Email would probably be best as I no longer have any social media and what not.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 22, 2021 at 4:04 pm

      Hi Scott

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the Sight would be a good choice for what you’re describing, but size-wise, don’t think it will work.

      I would say your son’s size is around a 148 currently. I would typically take off 3-5cms as a beginner, but given that he’ll be growing, I presume, he will outgrow something like a 143-145 very quickly. So I would probably go around 148, 149, as I think it strikes a good balance between something that he should be OK riding now, but something that he’ll still be able to ride for a good while as he puts on weight. So for the Sight that would be 147, or maybe 150. Both of which are probably too narrow for 10s.

      The Horrorscope on the other hand is a wider board in the smaller sizes, so size-wise that should work really well. The 149 is what I would be leaning towards. The Horroscope is a more freestyle focused board, but still good to learn general riding on – and then can be a good option if he gets into riding park/freestyle. If you wanted a more all-round board, then looking at something all-mountain or all-mountain-freestyle is a good way to go. But the Horrorscope would, IMO, last him a good while just for general riding anyway. But if you want some other options, I can look deeper at more options that will be good as a beginner board, with a wide enough width at around that 148/149 length (often they’re a bit too narrow for 10s at that length, but there are some options that would certainly work).

      For bindings, I don’t currently test clip-in bindings, just strap bindings. But from what I’ve hear the new Burton Step-ons are the better option for clip-ins. K2 is the other one I can think of off hand, but I’ve had no experience and heard very little about them. If you did go with Step-On, then you’d need to also get Step-On boots – so most likely Burton, though a couple of other brands have now made step-on compatible boots. From Burton, I would go with the Swath or the Ruler. The Ion and Photon are too stiff for a beginner. The only other suitable option I can think of would be the DC Control Step On (and make sure you get the step on model), which would be about the equivalent flex of the Ruler and the Swath. They’re still probably just a touch stiffer than ideal for a beginner, but doable and those would be the best options available that I know of.

      If you did decide to go strap-in, then you might want to check out these options:

      >>Top 5 Beginner Bindings

      >> Top 7 Beginner Boots

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Scott Knight says

        February 22, 2021 at 4:59 pm

        Thanks that helps a bunch. As for looking deeper at other options that would be great. I never snowboarded or even skied so I’m really winging it here. The funny thing is, all 4 of those boots (step on) are ones I have looked at. I liked the swath and the ruler but when I tried to select his size it made me pick the teal color over any other options so those were out. The only two that allowed me to choose black or grey or even white were the ion and the photon with the photon being the cheaper option. So that’s good to know not to get them (they were kinda pricey anyhow in the package) they were like $800 for the boots and bindings. Not sure if other places have them available but all day today I struck out on available boards and boots.
        So, I guess I’m open to either type as long as they are good. I don’t want to buy something that’s not very good simply because it’s cheap. That’s kinda what led me to look at the step on’s in the first place. The strap on’s were like $230-250 for the bindings and the step on bindings were $269, so not that much different. I must kind of be on the right track because the DC boot is the other one I looked at since it was the only one that let me pick a color I would be ok with ( or better yet he would be) I will take a look at those links you sent now and hope I can figure something out. The previous combination I wasn’t really able to find anyone that had all the pieces in stock that I could get now. Even from house or EVO. I guess that makes me more open to any combination that will work for him and he would be happy with. He isn’t really interested in park riding even when he gets better. He said he is more into just mountain riding maybe a little jump here or there but no rail riding and such. He said even if he was better that’s not what he likes to do. Hope that helps narrow it down a bit. That was kind of why I was leaning towards the sight over the horror scope. But if shoe size is an issue I’ll have to be open to it. Thanks again.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 23, 2021 at 1:22 pm

          Hi Scott

          Some options that would be wide enough in a good length, good for a beginner, and good for all-mountain riding:

          – YES Typo 149 (248mm waist – just wide enough probably but borderline – but a little wider than Sight)
          – Burton Instigator Flat Top 150W – easily wide enough, without being too wide – and would leave a little room to grow into it, if his foot size goes up at any point
          – Never Summer Peacemaker – it’s costlier but one that I think would work well
          – Arbor Formula Rocker 148 (247.5cm waist). Borderline width wise, but it is wider at the inserts (where the bindings go) than the waist suggests, so a little wider than the Typo above

          Reply

      • Scott knight says

        February 22, 2021 at 7:15 pm

        Just an update to my earlier reply after going through your binding and boot list. I actually had my sim go through them as well to get his opinion on look and style. For the bindings I think the union flight pro would work. Looks like medium? Decent price as well. And his number one boot was the thirty two STW double boa in white/black. But he also liked the burton Moto in camo (he said if I could find that with the boa he would like that as well. I know they make it but seams all sold out in his size and color choices) the third one he mentioned was I believe the Salomon launch accept he didn’t care for the yellow in it lol. Kids. Anyhow I hope that helps.

        As for the boards on your top list I did have him go through those and he also liked the Solomon pulse and the nitro prime and the arbor. But those were just the ones from the list and as far as he knows just the look not the performance. A few others I’ve seen are maybe the capita paradise or the 2018 camp seven drifter. I don’t know anything about those boards though. Not sure if any of them would be wide enough. So, I will wait to see what you have found and what you recommend.

        Probably will go with the Union bi dings and thirty two boots though if that helps.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 23, 2021 at 1:30 pm

          Hi Scott

          Capita Paradise is a women’s board, and is definitely be too narrow for 10s. The men’s equivalent of the Paradise is the Capita Outerspace Living, but unfortunately that’s also quite narrow in the 150, so too narrow as well, IMO.

          I don’t test Camp Seven gear, so I’m not sure about that one.

          The Pulse also too narrow in the right lengths unfortunately.

          As per my other comment the Arbor Formula Rocker 148 could definitely work. You could also go Arbor Foundation. But the Formula Rocker would last him a little longer through his progression.

          The smallest Nitro Prime is 152, which would be wide enough, but pushing it being too long, IMO.

          The Union Flite Pro and ThirtyTwo STW Double Boa would make a really good beginner setup – and if he likes the looks, then that’s a bonus! The Launch would be a small step up in quality, IMO, and still good for a beginner, but if he doesn’t like the color….

          Reply

          • Scott Knight says

            February 23, 2021 at 5:52 pm

            Thanks a bunch. I showed him all of those options and he really seamed to like the peacemaker. So, I will probably go with that.

            Only problem is, now he may have to wait till Christmas or next birthday because no matter what option I tried to pick (from the sight, horrorscope, burton, peacemaker, and even the yes) every single one on every sight I could find says sold out. Sigh!! I can never seam to win. I don’t really understand the shortage. I even tried changing sizes a little bit but no luck. Thanks again, I at least have a direction and a set up for when they are available.

          • Nate says

            February 24, 2021 at 4:26 pm

            You’re very welcome Scott. Yeah, I think production this year was affected by Covid. Everything was slower coming out and seemed to go out of stock faster. Hopefully back to normal for next winter. But yeah, getting around them when they first come out is more reliable for getting particular sizes. Typically new season boards start coming out between July and September. So 2022 boards should start hitting the shelves (at least online) around then.

62. Alexander Dickerman says

    February 19, 2021 at 9:07 am

    Hi Nate,

    Im a beginner snowboarder, looking to buy my first board to have a full season with and have been looking at the capita outerspace or burrton flying v. Im 6’2, 175lbs and wear a 12 or 11.5 at best for my shoe size. Ive already purchased a low profile pair of boots but will I need to go with a wide board as well, and what size would you recommend? 159, 159w?

    Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 19, 2021 at 4:11 pm

      Hi Alexander

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah I would still go wide for most boards, with a 12 or 11.5. You might get away with regular width now, for some boards, but as you progress and start to lean a little deeper into your carves, it could cause boot drag.

      For the Outerspace Living I would go 157W and for the Process Flying V the same – 157W. If you didn’t have low profile boots the 157W Process Flying V might even be too narrow, but with low profile, I think you’ll be fine there.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

63. Erlend says

    February 17, 2021 at 1:40 pm

    Hi Nate!

    Looking into buying my first snowboard, and like a lot of people here I am struggling a bit to figure out what size to go for.

    I am 33, about 186cm tall and use size EU 46. I consider myself a beginner, but I have good control of my riding down the mountain. What I want now is to progress my riding, start to play around with Ollies, just having fun down the hill. I like that feeling of freedom it gives me! Not looking into hitting the park really.

    I think I have decided to go for the Salomon Sight, seems like a board that suits my needs, unless you have a better recommendation?

    What size should I go for? I was thinking about 158W or the 162W. Do I need wide? I’ve tried both with the boards I’ve been renting/borrowing. Must say I liked the stability wide gives me, but I don’t want it to hurt my fun in riding down the line if it makes sense? Don’t even know if I will notice the difference either.

    Anyway, thanks for the help and very informative articles!

    Best regards from Norway!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 18, 2021 at 3:14 pm

      Hi Erlend

      Thanks for you message.

      With EU46 boots I would go wide. You might get away with a regular width board now, but once you start getting up more on your edges with carves, you’ll likely experience boot drag on the regular versions of this board.

      In terms of length, if you can let me know your weight as well. I like to take height into account, but weight, boot size, riding style, and ability level are all more important for board sizing than height, IMO.

      Reply

      • Erlend says

        February 19, 2021 at 5:22 am

        Thanks for your reply Nate!

        I meant to include my weight also, but seems like I forgot.
        My weight is around 95kg, so about 209 pounds.

        When it comes to my riding style, as mentioned I like to cruise down the hill, catch some speed, and eventually start doing some ollies and play around.
        Don’t think I will hit the park, it’s not really my thing and i’m just too scared to injure myself.

        Everytime I’ve been up at the resort, I’ve always rented the same boots which is a pair of Salomons, but I don’t know which model, just that they are size 46EU.

        Thanks again!
        Erlend

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 19, 2021 at 3:56 pm

          Hi Erlend

          I would go 162W for that board for your specs and how you’re describing your riding. The Sight isn’t super wide even in the wide boards and with your boots and particularly for this board, I’d go wide for sure. The 158W would be doable but I think you would grow out of it quite quickly, particularly if you’re going to be picking up more speed and aren’t interested in the park.

          Reply

          • Erlend says

            February 20, 2021 at 2:47 am

            Thanks a lot for your help Nate!
            Just need to save up now!

          • Nate says

            February 20, 2021 at 2:03 pm

            You’re very welcome Erlend. Thanks for visiting the site and happy riding!

64. Mike says

    February 15, 2021 at 5:01 pm

    Hi Nate,
    As a total beginner I am looking to buy my first board + Bindings + boots for all mountain rides.
    I am 5’8″ about 185lb usually wearing size 10 US shoes. Leaning to buy Salomon Sight board . should i go for 156 or 156W will better suit me?
    What bindings and shoes would be the best choice for me in your opinion?
    Thanks
    Mike

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 17, 2021 at 12:53 pm

      Hi Mike

      Thanks for your message.

      I think 156 is the way to go length-wise for the Sight for you. Width-wise, with 10s, assuming you end up in size 10 boots, in most cases I would say go regular width (depending on a few things), but in this case, I would go 156W. The Sight is a narrower board and even the wide size isn’t that wide and would work well for 10s, IMO. You might get on the 156 fine, but the 156W is the safer bet in this case, IMO. If you end up in 9.5 boots (which there’s a chance you will), then I would go 156. If you can get boots first, then I would try to do that.

      In terms of bindings and boots, I would look for something around 4/10 flex, to be a good match for the board and also a good match for a beginner. Some options to check out:

      >>Top 5 Beginner Bindings

      >>Top 5 All Freestyle Bindings

      >> Top 7 Beginner Boots

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Mike says

        February 25, 2021 at 6:51 am

        Hi Nate,

        Just got Burton Moto BOA 10 .It seems too small and i will probably end up with 10.5. If so will 156 Salomon Sight be still ok for me or i should go for 155W?
        Thanks

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 25, 2021 at 4:40 pm

          Hi Mike

          I would go 155W for this particular board with 10.5 Motos.

          Reply

          • Mike says

            March 3, 2021 at 6:45 pm

            Hi Nate,

            For a person who is new in this area and don’t know where to get right information to start your advises are priceless and really appreciated.

            Now, looking for bindings I came across Flow Nexus Snowboard Bindings. Considering I am going to get Salomon Sight 155W board and Burton Moto 10.5 boots. Would you recommend these bindings or you think they don’t suite my needs as a beginner?

            Sincerely,
            Mike

          • Nate says

            March 4, 2021 at 1:00 pm

            Hi Mike

            I don’t currently test Flow bindings, so I couldn’t say based on experience, but on paper the Nexus look like they could work for a beginner and for that setup. On flows website they seem to have a flex rating of around 4/10.

          • Mike says

            March 5, 2021 at 9:19 am

            Hi Nate,

            Burton Freestyle bindings are in your list but i am a little confused by the sizing . The chart says that Bindings size M fits buts sizes 8-11.
            Do you think they really will fit Burton Moto 10.5

            Mike

          • Nate says

            March 5, 2021 at 1:56 pm

            Hi Mike

            Yeah you should have no issues with a 10.5 Burton boot in Burton Medium bindings. In fact I’ve had the 10.5 Moto in a Medium Burton Malavita and it works well.

65. Rubin Ciellza says

    February 15, 2021 at 10:07 am

    Hey Nate in a beginner snowboarder looking to buy my first board I’m 5’9.5″ and weigh about
    165-170 pounds and am shoes size 9-10. Was wondering what the best setup for me would be?
    Thank you !

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 17, 2021 at 11:45 am

      Hi Rubin

      Thanks for your message.

      Size-wise, I would be looking at something around 154/155, as a beginner. And boards in that range should be good in terms of width for your shoe size. But it’s a good idea to get boots first, if possible, to more accurately size for width for the board. If that’s not possible, I think you will likely be fine width-wise, particularly if you end up in a 9 or 9.5.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

66. Ruturaj says

    February 7, 2021 at 1:29 am

    Hey, thank you for creating this informative site. I recently started learning snowboarding and decided to buy my own board. I looked at sight, 156 has weight range of 60-80kg and 159 has weight range of 65-90kg. I am currently at 83kg but my general weight has been below 80kg. I am not sure which board to buy. My snowboarding boot size is 9.5 and I am 5’10.5″ tall. Would really appreciate your input on this.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 8, 2021 at 11:22 am

      Hi Ruturaj

      Thanks for your message.

      I think at an advanced level, the 159 would be a better size for you for an all-mountain board, but as a beginner, I think the 156 is better. This is based on 83kg. So, I would go 156 if I was you.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

67. Reza says

    February 6, 2021 at 2:46 am

    Hey Nate
    Great post, I’m searching for a beginner snowboard I ended up with 3 choices
    1- Burton Ripcord 150 cm
    2 – k2 standard 147 cm
    3- k2 Raygun 150 cm
    I really don’t know which one gonna be the best for me as a beginner who doesn’t know what’s gonna be the riding style
    Btw I’m 171 cm and 55 kg
    Thanks for your great and detailed post

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 6, 2021 at 11:38 am

      Hi Reza

      I would go K2 Standard 147 for a couple of reasons:

      a. it’s the best size for you out of those options. 150 is just a little on the big side for you, IMO.
      b. If you’re not sure of your riding style, the Standard is a good option. A “do-it-all” kind of board. As is the Raygun, but the size of the Standard is better. The Ripcord is more of a freeride board, and if you get into trying more freestyle stuff, it’s not as suitable for that.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Reza says

        February 6, 2021 at 3:05 pm

        Thank you for your help, I bought the K2 standard today, 😊
        I live in West Vancouver, Whistler is a little bit far for me, among cypress, Grouse Mountain and Seymour which one is the best ski resort in your opinion?
        Thank you

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 8, 2021 at 11:05 am

          Hi Reza

          Awesome that you have decided on your board!

          My personal favorite of those 3 would be Seymour, just because I like the chilled feel of the resort as a whole, but Cypress in terms of the amount of terrain. I like the terrain at Seymour, but there’s more at Cypress. I’ve only been up Grouse a handful of times. It’s fine, but I do find the Gondola a bit of a pain – i.e. not being able to have your car parked up there. If you’re not driving, then it’s not as big a deal, but I find that a pain. The terrain itself is fine, good terrain parks from what I remember (though that was a couple of years back and might have changed). But I would prefer Seymour or Cypress personally.

          Reply

68. PAT says

    February 3, 2021 at 1:28 pm

    Hello Nate, thanks so much for your helpful articles. Please, can you help me? I’m total beginnger, 5’10” and big weight – 225 lbs (46 years old). My shoe size is US 10-10.5 (rather 10.5, my mondo is 280 cm, but US size 10 RIDE Rook BOA boots felt to small). I am looking for all-mountain (verstaile, do it all) snowboard. Something what last me longer through my progression would be fine, but I’m really total beginner…:)

    K2 Standard 158W? Or some better option?

    (As for binding I’m thinking about UNION STR, size L…(??) Hoping that the base plate wouldn’t be too long to board)

    Thanks!!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 4, 2021 at 12:49 pm

      Hi Pat

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah I seldom see someone fit into their mondo size, so I’m not surprised that the 10.5 is a better fit for you.

      In terms of width, there’s a chance you fit on a regular width 158 Standard. It’s borderline, but if you ride with +15/-15 binding angles or similar and given Ride boots are relatively low profile, you might get away with it, but the safer money would be to go wide. And I think at your weight going a little wider shouldn’t affect leverage too much. So I would be leaning 159W over the 158 for you. I think you would get away with the 158 now, as a beginner, but as you started to get into some proper carving, might end up being too narrow.

      Anything all-mountain on this list would be suitable, IMO. If you wanted something that would last you a little longer through your progression, then the K2 Raygun (160W) or Salomon Sight (158W) are both good options.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • PAT says

        February 4, 2021 at 3:33 pm

        Hi Nate, thank you so much for your response!

        If I would go for K2 Standard 159W, what binding would be better choice – UNION STR or UNINON Contact Pro (or something else)?

        One more idea. What about boards like Gnu CARBON CREDIT (159?) for me? Or would be K2 Standard 159W more suitable for my beginnings?

        Thank you!

        Reply

        • PAT says

          February 4, 2021 at 4:00 pm

          … possibly LIB TECH Skate Banana…

          Reply

          • Nate says

            February 5, 2021 at 2:13 pm

            Hi Pat

            The Skate Banana is similar to the Carbon Credit, and more of a freestyle option. It’s a little stiffer (but still soft enough to be beginner friendly for sure) and slightly different specs, but quite similar. Again, you certainly don’t have to ride it freestyle, and if you were wanting to ride switch it’s a suitable option. Just not what I would call an “all-mountain” board.

        • Nate says

          February 5, 2021 at 2:11 pm

          Hi Pat

          The Carbon Credit is more of a freestyle board, IMO. It doesn’t mean you have to ride it freestyle, but it’s designed that way, so less versatile than something like an all-mountain board. If you wanted it as your first board and wanted to learn riding switch from early on and then keep it as your playful fun board or sell it later, then it’s doable, but it’s certainly more freestyle oriented. I think you’d get away with the 159 width-wise. Lib Tech boards tend to not be as wide at the inserts as they look at the waist, so it’s not quite as wide as the 255mm waist would suggest, so it’s also borderline width-wise, but might be doable.

          Reply

          • PAT says

            February 5, 2021 at 3:25 pm

            Hi Nate,
            thak you very much!!! I think K2 Standard 159W would definitely be better choice for me…
            What binding would be then better choice? UNION STR, UNINON Contact Pro or Burton Mission?
            And what do you think about boots Burton Moto Boa? I tried on many boots today, and I found that the Burton Moto size 10,5 US fit me the best. But they are really soft. Would that be a problem?

          • Nate says

            February 6, 2021 at 11:23 am

            Hi Pat

            Typically I would say Contact Pro and Moto would be a good combo for the Standard. And I think it would still work in this case. But I think the better choice would probably be STR or Mission (both good options) as they are a little stiffer and a little better suited to your weight, IMO. For the boots, going with something slightly stiffer would make sense for your weight too. I still wouldn’t go more than 5/10 flex, as a beginner setup, but I’d try to go at least 4/10. I’d say the Moto is more of a 3/10. Not saying it wouldn’t work, but I would go a little stiffer ideally.

      • Chuck says

        February 5, 2021 at 10:09 am

        Hi Nate,

        I am a beginner-Intermediate all mountain rider. I haven’t been on a board for 5 years bc of back surgery but want to get back into it. I am about 6’3 210lbs with a shoe size 13. I am looking at buying the Salomon Sight 162W, but wasn’t sure if it was the right size. What size would you recommend? Thanks for your response.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 6, 2021 at 11:12 am

          Hi Chuck

          Thanks for your message.

          I think the 162W is the best size for your in the Sight. Length-wise I think it’s just right. The only concern would be in terms of width. Even though it’s a wide it’s potentially not wide enough for size 13s. If you end up in 12s for your snowboard boots, then you’ll be fine. If you end up in 13s, then it might be OK if

          a. you get low profile boots
          b. you ride with angles similar to +15/-15 – just so that there’s a bit of angle on each foot, which reduces the amount of boot overhang
          c. you don’t ride super aggressively – i.e. don’t get really deep in your carves.

          If those things are all in place, then I think you’d be fine width-wise even in 13s. But if you think you want to get into deep carves, then you might want to go a bit wider. If you’re concerned about width, let me know and I can look at some wider options in a similar length that are still beginner/intermediate friendly.

          Hope this helps

          Reply

69. Caleb says

    February 2, 2021 at 9:36 pm

    Hello Nate, I am 16 years old and I am 160 lbs, I am around 5’10/5’11 and I am about an 11 or 11.5 with normal shoe size. I am inquiring about boot sizes I should look into as well as a good beginner snowboard that would last me several years even when I’ve become more advanced. I would really appreciate this! By the way, thanks for the list.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 3, 2021 at 11:12 am

      Hi Caleb

      Thanks for your message.

      I would say for snowboard boots, that you’d probably be around 11, if your typical shoe size is 11 or 11.5, but it’s hard to say for sure without trying them on. And fit differs between brands. If you have no way to try on, then this might be helpful:

      Sizing Snowboard Boots: The Different Brands

      And here’s more on sizing and fit:

      >>How to Size Snowboard Boots

      In terms of board size, I would be looking at around 153-155 as a beginner with your specs. However, given that you’re likely to still get bigger in the next couple of years?, then I would probably look at the higher end of that to strike a balance between the perfect size for now and a size that you won’t grow out of too soon. So probably 155-157 is a good bet.

      In terms of the board, from this list, the best bets would be K2 Raygun, or Salomon Sight for an all-mountain board, if you wanted it to last a little longer through your progression versus the others. Or, if you think you will get into freestyle riding, then one of the of the freestyle options.

      If you’re wanting something to last even longer through your progression, but with a bit of a steeper learning curve, you could also check out:

      >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

      Hope this helps

      Reply

70. Jay says

    January 26, 2021 at 12:37 pm

    Hi Nate. I appreciate your help for all these folks here. From your advice, I’m looking for a Salomon Sight. Does the year make a big difference? Also, for the size. I’m 5’10” and 172lbs. My shoe size is US 9. I’m a beginner.
    Thank you so much.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 27, 2021 at 1:24 pm

      Hi Jay

      Thanks for your message.

      The Sight hasn’t changed much over the past few years. At least going back to 2017, maybe some minor tweaks here and there, but very similar. Going much older than that, I don’t know though. But if you go 2017 or more recent, I think you’re good, in terms of not being much different to the 2021 model.

      Size-wise, 156 would be the way to go, IMO.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

71. Alex says

    January 18, 2021 at 9:20 pm

    Hi Nate, thanks for this list. I’m a beginner (went about 5 times last year) still on greens and looking to get my first board. I am 6ft and 145-150lb, so fairly weak compared to other people my height. I was wondering what length board/flex you would recommend for me? When I rented last year I was given a 160cm but found it fairly difficult to turn and seemed to be heavy. I’m planning on getting soft flex bindings and soft/medium boots since this seems to be the recommendation for beginners. I have also done some research and have a few boards in mind:

    Salomon Sight
    Salomon Pulse
    Salomon Sleepwalker
    Bataleon Disaster
    Bataleon Blow

    Do you have any recommendations based on this list? These were in stock online and had a soft flex so thats why I have chosen them. Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 19, 2021 at 10:38 am

      Hi Alex

      Thanks for your message.

      From those I would be leaning Salomon Sight or Pulse, but the Sleepwalker is also doable, but it’s a more freestyle oriented board. If you were looking for something freestyle (which can be a good idea if you think you want to get into freestyle later, as it’s something you can keep as a park board and is still fine for learning basic technique on to begin with), then the Sleepwalker is an option. With the Bataleon options, I couldn’t say for sure, as I have yet to ride any Bataleon gear (hoping to this season, if I can get my hands on some). They look like they’re probably suitable. The 3BT is supposed to make them less catchy than a full camber board would otherwise be – and from what I’ve heard that holds true, but don’t have any first hand experience with them.

      Note that soft is definitely good for learning but not the only thing. Camber profile is also something you’ve got to look out for and also there are some other things, like sidecut etc. But I think you should be fine with that list.

      In terms of size, I think 160 is definitely too big for you. A lot of rental places still, unfortunately, just size based just on height (and often they also take ability into account, but nothing else), which is a really old school and not very accurate way to size. I think it’s largely because it’s the quickest and easiest way for them to do it. Whilst I like to take height into account the more important factors for sizing are weight, boot size, ability and riding style, IMO.

      For you I would be looking at something in the range 152-154 ideally. But it would also depend on boot size. You may have to compromise a little on length to get something wide enough depending on boot size. But I’d go no where near 160. Some boards won’t come in wide sizes in that 152-154 range (though some do as well). But yeah, if you could let me know your boot size, then I can give a more accurate opinion on which sizes in those boards would suit best.

      Hope this helps

      PS: I removed the links in your comment, just for tidiness sake.

      Reply

      • Alex says

        January 19, 2021 at 11:25 am

        Thanks for your response! I’m still unsure if I will go into freestyle riding as I’m still doing groomers and becoming more confident in my riding. I may go with the sight or pulse based on that. My boot size is a 10-11 based on company. I’m still trying some boots out so not sure yet. I’m assuming its on the cusp of needing a wide board. I will definitely try looking for a board around the length you recommended. Would you recommend a hybrid style instead of straight camber like the bataleon boards?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 20, 2021 at 12:41 pm

          Hi Alex

          I would certainly recommend a Hyrbid style versus a full camber board as a beginner. Bataleon boards are a little different with their 3BT bases. It’s supposed to make them less catchy than full camber otherwise can be. But as I haven’t ridden them before, I don’t know from experience how they feel to ride.

          Yeah, with 10-11 you’re on the cusp of needing wide and with something like the site, the likes of the 153 is probably too narrow even for 10s. So the 155W is probably your best bet there. And given that it’s not super wide for a wide board, it’s actually a good width for someone on the cusp between wide and regular. A little longer than ideal, but pretty close.

          If possible, it would be a good idea to choose the boots first, so you know what size your dealing with and then can size the board accordingly.

          Reply

72. Ricky says

    January 10, 2021 at 7:42 am

    Hey, complete beginner here. As in never even been on a board. I’m 34, 220 pounds but losing weight with a goal of 190 to 200 pounds. 6 ft even and likely a size 11 boot as most my shoes are that size. Idk what kind of riding I’ll want to do. Likely a little bit of everything. I don’t expect to desire to hit crazy massive jumps ever but maybe small kickers to 180 and 360
    Off of as well as boxes, rails, etc. sorry idk terminology well. I live in NC and have app ski resort, beech mtn and sugar mtn within 90
    Min of me so I’ll be going there exclusively starting out. What board do I get based on what I told you as well as size and width. Idk if it matters but I’d like to use Burton step on bindings and there boot to match. Thanks for any help.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 11, 2021 at 4:29 pm

      Hi Ricky

      Thanks for your message.

      Size-wise, based on around 200lbs, I would be looking at something in the range 157-159 for length. For width, assuming you end up in 11s, you’ll likely want to go wide. Not for every board, and it does depend on the board, but for most boards the regular width will likely be too narrow. But if you get a shortlist of boards, then I would be happy to give my opinion on sizing for individual boards.

      I’ve never ridden out those ways, but from what I know it can be quite icy a lot of the time, so going with something good in icy conditions is highly recommended. So I would be looking at something like YES Basic, Rossi Sawblade or GNU Carbon Credit. That said, the Arbor, Salomon & Nitro boards on this list are also pretty good in those conditions too. And the Basic, Sawblade and Carbon Credit are all quite freestyle focused. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, if you were to go with something freestyle oriented to start (because they’re still all good for learning general technique) and when you progressed upgrading to a more all-mountain or freeride option and having your beginner board as your dedicated freestyle/park board down the line.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

73. Austin says

    January 8, 2021 at 10:04 pm

    Hey Nate,

    I am 6’1 and 205lbs. Top end beginner to intermediate. Shoe size is US 11-12. What would be your recommendation for board size?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 10, 2021 at 3:02 pm

      Hi Austin

      Thanks for your message.

      I would look at something around 160-161.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

74. Angus says

    January 6, 2021 at 9:42 pm

    Hi Nate! Great job with the snowboarding profile! really enjoying reading it!

    I myself is a beginner 4 turning to intermediate 5 snowboarder. I only ride on the piste. I don’t snowboard often, so I like a forgiving board that helps me to get in it every season after long break.

    I set my eyes on Solomon Sight. I am 173cm and 62kg. Can u advise me what size of the board is suitable for me 😘?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 7, 2021 at 2:53 pm

      Hi Angus

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the 150 is probably the best bet, with the 153 being doable. But if you could let me know your boot size as well, then I can give you a more accurate opinion.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Angus says

        January 7, 2021 at 4:21 pm

        Oh yeah, forgot that. my boot size is US 10, thank you!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 8, 2021 at 1:39 pm

          Hi Angus

          It’s tight on the 150 or 153 Sight, with 10s. I think in some situations you get away with it, but it will depend on a few things.

          1. How aggressively you ride. If you ride quite casually, then you’ll probably be OK, but if you like to really lean into your carves, then it’s probably too narrow.
          2. If you ride +15/-15 angles, that gives you some leeway, but if you do carve aggressively, still not enough to make it wide enough, IMO
          3. If you have low profile boots that also helps. What is the brand/model of your boots?

          If you feel like you will get away with the width, depending on the things above, then I would go 150, as I think it’s a better length for you – and the very small bit of extra width on the 153 probably not going to be a huge difference.

          If you don’t feel like you’ll get away with that width, there are certainly other options around that 150, 151 length that will be a little wider. From this list the Burton Instigator has a 150W – which is quite rare to get a wide board in that length – but it’s not super wide either, certainly suitable for 10s, IMO.

          Reply

          • Angus says

            January 8, 2021 at 6:34 pm

            Thank you Nate.

            I am pretty casual snowboarder at the moment, as I am still not confident with caving on steep slope. My SB boot is Burton Swath Step on, is that a low profile one?

            So for a SB that I can practice and improve caving and other skill, a shorter one (150) would be the choice?

          • Nate says

            January 9, 2021 at 2:47 pm

            Hi Angus

            Yeah for your specs and how you describe your riding, I would go 150.

75. axel martinez says

    January 5, 2021 at 1:54 pm

    hey nate hope you’re doin good and thanks for the snowboard profiles man, 🙏 good work

    recently saw people snowboarding and i’m just in awe at how epic it is, im 16 yrs old and i was just wondering if i can still snowboard even if i’m on the heavier side?

    im 5’6” and a pretty heavy dude, at 230lbs.

    i was just wondering what would be a good board for me

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 6, 2021 at 1:12 pm

      Hi Axel

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah man you can definitely still snowboard with those specs.

      In terms of size of board, I would be looking at something around 156-158, taking into account your specs and the fact you’re a beginner.

      In terms of the board, it kind of depends how you want to progress. If you don’t ever see yourself riding freestyle (e.g. going in the park for jumps, boxes, rails etc) then an all-mountain or all-mountain-freestyle board is your best bet to get started. But if you think you’ll want to do freestyle stuff, or ride a lot of switch (riding with your non natural foot forward), then going for something freestyle or all-mountain-freestyle would be a good idea.

      If you narrow it down to a few boards, I would be happy to give my opinion on the sizing for the specific boards.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • axel martinez says

        January 7, 2021 at 5:13 pm

        Thank you so much for the reply man 🙏

        i want to learn a bit of everything, but right now i feel like i’d prefer freestyle (tricks and stuff) later on after i gain experience on the mountain… so maybe i’ll go for an all-mountain-freestyle board.

        i like the K2 standard, YES basic, Arbor Foundation, and the Arbor Formula Rocker… they seem lime good fits, yet again i’m pretty new to this so i’m not 100% sure.

        my hope is to have a board that lasts me a bit more into the intermediate and maybe even advanced phase since new snowboards are a bit pricey for my budget, but i’m willing to invest for something that’ll last me.

        thanks a bunch for the reply 🙏

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 8, 2021 at 1:46 pm

          Hi Axel

          Given that you’re looking for something to last you a little further through your progression, and looking to get into freestyle, I think the YES Basic and Formula Rocker are your best bets out of those 2 options. Size-wise, I would be looking at the 158 for both of those boards for you. The 161s would be more of your advanced level length, but better to stay a little shorter if you’re just starting out. Also, just to make sure the width will be appropriate, can you let me know your boot size?

          Some other options, if you wanted to step up a little:

          >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

          Just note that the learning curve on some of those options will be steeper, but they will last you a little longer, in terms of progression.