Top All Mountain Snowboards 2024-2025

Comments

1. Tiago says

   April 10, 2025 at 7:50 pm

   Hi Nate,

   First of all, congrats for your content! It was extremely helpful.

   I consider myself a good/solid intermediate snowboard. As I live in Brazil, usually ride in Argentina, Chile and European Alps – my girlfriend is crazy about France. So most of time I ride groomers and controlled resort slopes (blue, red and blacks). Pow and trees are not usual. Regarding speed, 45/+50mph are high but not uncomfortable at all. As Im 37yrs, only started to hit park and side jumps on my last season. Willing to progress on jumps, but it is not my main go to be a snowparker.

   After lot of rentals, I decided to buy my first board and Jones Mountain Twin is the one. Im 5’10 (177cm), 180lb and 9US boot size. Jones website size finder suggested both 160 and 163. Isn’t it too big? I see most riders with same stats riding 155-158cm boards.

   In case of JMT gets run out of inventory in every dealers, what else do you suggest? Yes Standard, Capita Mercury (maybe to aggressive) and Goliath are on my list (156cm).

   Many thanks in advance.

   Cheers.

   Reply

   • Nate says

     April 16, 2025 at 1:09 pm

     Hi Tiago, thanks for your message.

     I find Jones tends to recommend quite long in general. I would be leaning 157 for you. I think that would be a good all round size for you. The 160 wouldn’t be wrong or anything and I think you’d be fine with it, but 157 just a little more optimal. The 160 will feel a little more stable at speed and float a little better in powder, but the 157 should do well enough for you in powder, and should handle 45-50mph fine. If you were riding big mountain and powder a lot, then maybe I’d be leaning 160, but in this case I would go 157. But as I say, you wouldn’t be wrong going 160. I wouldn’t go 163 though – I think that would be too big for you, IMO.

     The Standard, Mercury and Goliath would all be good alternatives. A couple of things to note.

     1. The Standard is the best all-rounder of the alternatives, IMO – for that I would go 156

     2. The Mercury isn’t overly aggressive or anything, but it does require a little more of an aggressive approach to get the best out of it compared to the Mountain Twin and Standard. For that I would put you on the 157.

     3. The Goliath is a little more playful than the other 3, but certainly doable. Not going to feel quite as stable at speed as the other 3, is the only thing. It’ll be fine doing 45-50mph, but will just feel a little shakier at those speeds and if the snow is a bit bumpy and rutted, you may not feel as confident going that fast on it as the other 3. The 156 would work for sure. The 159 would also be an option, especially if you wanted to make it a bit more stable at speed.

     Hope this helps with your decision

     Reply

2. Owen says

   March 2, 2025 at 7:33 pm

   Thanks for all the effort you put in.

   I am just curious, you don’t seem to have a lot of love for Ride boards. Is there something about them for you that you don’t find appealing?

   Reply

   • Nate says

     March 7, 2025 at 10:05 am

     Hi Owen, thanks for your message.

     I find a lot of Ride boards to feel heavy and a little catchy and in my experience a lot that seem to take a bit more effort than I’d like to boost, compared to the return I get from that effort. I like some things about them, but not enough for them to score well enough to make a list like this. I rode the 2025 Algorhythm and Shadowban last winter, which are in this category, but they didn’t do enough to make this list, for me. It was a pretty slushy day and not the best for testing (best days are with a good variety of conditions) but I rode other boards in those conditions that I like a lot more. I certainly wouldn’t get either personally if I was going to be riding in slush often (which I have to do a fair bit).

     Hope this explains it

     Reply

3. Adam says

   January 19, 2025 at 3:00 pm

   Hi Nate,
   Great tests, they really will clarify a lot before choosing new equipment.

   I consider myself an intermediate rider. I have been riding a board for 5 seasons, from the beginning only on one model RAD-AIR JEWEL 159.5cm. It is an old construction board with classic camber and very stiff.
   95% of it is riding on prepared slopes, sometimes short trips off-piste into the trees.

   I am getting ready to change and I have my eye on Goliath plus. I already have Nidecker supermatic bindings. Flex 6 boots, size 9

   Do you think this is a good choice? I am 5’10” and 165 lb.

   If so, will size 156 be suitable (according to the weight in the table)?

   Reply

   • Nate says

     January 24, 2025 at 1:55 pm

     Hi Adam, thanks for your message.

     I think the Goliath Plus should match your level and your current boots/bindings really well. Note that it will be a noticeably different feeling to your current board, so will take a little to get used to, but once you’re used to how the Goliath+ likes to be ridden, I think you should really enjoy it.

     Size-wise, I would put your “typical all-mountain” length at around 157, so I think the 156 would be just right.

     Hope this helps with your decision

     Reply

4. Pete says

   January 12, 2025 at 1:40 pm

   Nate has absolutley nailed the Yes Standard review. And it is the best All Mountain deck I’ve been on. I need to first throw props to the guys in Telluride that first introduced me to this board. I was at a shop, and I guy by the name of Amerigo told me that the best deck out there this year was the Yes Standard. They were sold out, but said if you can find one, buy it. I did.

   Fast forward to the years I’ve been on the deck now. Easily the best all mountain board I’ve had, and I’ve ridden over 30 all mountain twinish boards in my lifetime. What makes it great is it rides switch just as well as it rides regular. The mid width board (like a T Rice by Lib) really allows you to carve, float, etc. The slamback inserts are a plus, and the nose shape really floats, so if you are a quiver of 1, you got it. But most importantly, it splits that difference of dampness while still being lively with pop. Such a hard balance to find, but they found. Libs, Neversummers, etc just lack pop. Capitas, etc seem to get bucked everywhere at the end of the day after it’s rutted out. This Yes Standard is perfect in my opinion. Nate isn’t wrong here….

   Reply

   • Nate says

     January 17, 2025 at 1:42 pm

     Hi Pete, thanks for your input. Much appreciated.

     Reply

5. Davi says

   January 6, 2025 at 12:56 pm

   Hi Nate.

   First off, thanks for all your work. I am a relative beginner time wise but looking at the charts I feel l am described as a level 5 intermediate rider. I enjoy staying on the beaten path, no park or trees yet. I recently demoed a DOA and enjoyed the experience, in particular I felt locked in as though the board saved me numerous times when I made a lazy move, but when looking at purchasing I was deterred by durability issues and the board’s park focus. I found your site and looked for all mountain boards and both the MT and Standard sounded good to me. I was leaning toward the MT because people described it as softer and I thought that might be better for my skill level and because I tend to spend most of my time practicing turns. Do you think that’s a safe bet? What might be a factor that would lead me towards the Standard instead? Also I’m 6’4″ 170 lbs with a 13 boot, so was looking at the 62W for the MT and the 59 for the Standard.

   Reply

   • Nate says

     January 14, 2025 at 9:06 am

     Hi Davi, thanks for your message (and apologies for the slow reply – way behind atm!)

     Both should work well for you. I actually found the Standard a touch softer flexing than the Mountain Twin. It’s probably a touch stiffer through the middle of the board, but it’s softer towards the tip and tail. Overall I found it just marginally softer than the MT. But either way they are both really similar in terms of flex. That is comparing 156 Standard vs 157 Mountain Twin. If you were going 162W MT vs 159 Standard, there would be a little more difference most likely. Even if the MT was slightly softer size for size, the longer board will typically feel stiffer, so the 162W MT is still probably going to feel stiffer than the 159 Standard.

     Size-wise, I would put your “typical all-mountain” length at around 160/161. With 13’s you rightly want to go wide. For the Standard the 159 is your best bet, IMO, but I would probably go 159W for the MT. The 162W wouldn’t be wrong, but the 159W would be more optimal for your level and weight, IMO.

     Hope this helps (if it’s not too late!)

     Reply

6. Kelsey says

   December 13, 2024 at 2:11 pm

   Hi Nate, I’m getting my husband a board since he doesn’t have the time or preferences yet to go out and demo a bunch. A lot of these seem like good matches but maybe you can make a more targeted suggestion.

   He is 5’10” 190lb size 11 shoe. Intermediate rider and we ski Mt. Bachelor or Utah mountains most. Typically off trail powdery trees and rip groomers when we’re tired. He does not do park, switch or jumps really. I imagine he wants something responsive and stable in trees but also reliable on trail if it’s hard pack or cruddy. Any recommendations for board and size? I am leaning towards Yes Standard or Slash Brainstorm (though I worry about this one being sketchy at speed). I welcome any recs!

   Reply

   • Nate says

     December 17, 2024 at 12:04 pm

     Hi Kelsey, thanks for your message.

     Based on what you’re describing, the Standard or Mountain Twin would both work well. The Brainstorm too. I wouldn’t go as far to say it’s sketchy at speed, but it has it’s speed limits. I would say the Standard and MT are marginally more stable at speed, but not a whole lot in it.

     Given he doesn’t really ride switch, I would also consider something a bit more directional. If you’re wanting to keep things mellow enough, then I would check this list – but make sure to look at the score breakdowns, because there’s a good variety in there and some are more powder specialized and want be stable enough at speed for what it sounds like you want, but I think some in there would be good bets and without any real switch/freestyle in his riding, they might be the better options in this case. If you wanted to look at stiffer options that are more directional, then you could look at this list. But from what you’re describing, I think the first list is probably the way to go.

     Size-wise, I would put his “typical all-mountain” length at around 159/160. But if he’s used to riding boards significantly longer or shorter, then personal preference and past experience can come into sizing as well. With an 11 shoe, a wide board is usually the way to go in, I’d say around 70% of cases, but it does depend on the board, in addition to other factors, like the brand/model of boots, his binding angles and how deep he likes to carve.

     Hope this helps

     Reply

     • Anitsa says

       December 29, 2024 at 6:50 pm

       Hi Nate!

       I’m looking for advice on upgrading my
       Female 5’6”, 185lbs intermediate to advance riding
       Mostly riding groomed but that’s only because I live in Ontario, I am planning trips outside of groomed runs but that will likely be only once a season. I love hitting small jumps and what ever pow is available but I don’t do actual park.

       I’m for sure going to get Nidecker supermatics, possibly step ons but leaning super

       That being said I have been riding a super small board from my younger days when I was lighter. I love how it handles ice and it seems to carve and handle speed well but hitting jumps sucks. Please help

       Reply

       • Nate says

         January 3, 2025 at 3:01 pm

         Hi Anitsa, thanks for your message.

         Could you please let me know your boot size. Will help to narrow down the right board/size.

         Reply

7. Fernando says

   December 11, 2024 at 2:10 pm

   Hi Nate! Im looking for a new board. Im not a pro, but also not a noob. I have been looking for an all mountain board, direccional twin with a medium flex (about 6). Could you recommend me any? My rider friend talks me about Drake Battle Rusty. What do you think? Also, I have checked some Capita boards, but my friend told me that are very fragile. It is true? THANK YOU MAN

   Reply

   • Nate says

     December 17, 2024 at 11:05 am

     Hi Fernando, thanks for your message.

     I haven’t personally had any issues with Capita boards in terms of durability. That said, I haven’t owned one. But I have demoed Capita boards that have had a fair few days under them and were in perfectly good condition. And I can’t recall anyone writing in to say they’ve snapped one or that they think they’re fragile (though I get a lot of messages, so my memory could be failing me – but if I have had any, they haven’t been a frequent thing to make me think they are fragile). What they are is light. And people may associate that with fragile, because maybe their lightness makes them feel fragile? I’m not sure, but it’s not something that I would associate with Capita boards, but again, I haven’t owned one and put it through 100+ days or anything like that.

     I got on the Battle Rusty a few years back – and I wasn’t a huge fan, but I only had a wide to ride and I don’t tend to like wide boards, so it wasn’t really a fair test, so I didn’t post a review on it. I felt it at around a 6/10 flex, but in my notes, I see I’ve mentioned that I felt I would likely find the torsional flex softer than that in a regular width size. But I would say fairly close to 6/10 flex.

     If you’re wanting something that’s at least decent for powder and something that’s not aggressive but also stable enough to handle reasonable speed etc, then something like the YES Standard, Jones Mountain Twin, Bataleon Goliath Plus, Capita Mercury (6.5/10 flex). If not too worried about powder performance and wanted something that was a little better for carving/speed, the likes of the Slash ATV, GNU 4×4, Burton Custom, Nitro Team, Rome Stale Crewzer are all worth looking at. All around a 6.5/10 flex by my feel.

     Hope this helps

     Reply

8. Sébastien says

   December 6, 2024 at 1:38 pm

   Hi Nate, I ride a Bataleon Goliath 2011 and I plan to switch for the Yes. Standard. As I’m really used to the 3BT technology, do you think the transition won’t be too disruptive? thanks

   Reply

   • Nate says

     December 9, 2024 at 4:19 pm

     He Sébastien, thanks for your message.

     I’d say there’ll be a little bit of a transitional period, getting used to it. But I don’t think it would take long. The Standard is a fairly easy going ride and it’s not catchy. I think the hardest transition from 3BT would be to something that felt quite catchy.

     Reply

9. Jeolnn says

   July 11, 2024 at 4:57 pm

   Hey Nate, thanks for the lists that helped me go down from 18 boards to 2 to choose from. Still, I’m not sure since I’ve been either using the team’s boards or renting if I’m out of town. But I know what I want so I wish you’d help me out.
   First of all I’d say I’m between intermediate-advanced, I wear wms 9 boots and my weight changes between 125-135 lbs. My main requirements from the board would be to shred trees and jumps as good as possible on powder but also have a decent carve for groomer days. Since there’re almost no parks in my country I’m not looking for something that jibs all that well etc and also I’d like the board to be not too heavy since I’d be having my backpack too.
   The boards I’ve been using were between 146-152 cms so far and I’m thinking of going simillar lengts in either Jones Mind Expander or Bataleon Thunderstorm. Which would you choose or I’d really appreciate If you have any other recommendations.

   Reply

   • Nate says

     July 13, 2024 at 9:30 am

     Hi Joelnn, thanks for your message.

     One of those two boards would work well for what you’re describing, IMO. I’d be leaning Thunderstorm if you were wanting to ride switch a bit, otherwise both should suit your riding well. That said, I do prefer the Thunderstorm for jumps. Some other options, if you weren’t concerned about switch include:

     – Never Summer Swift
     – Capita Navigator

     Or if you still wanted some switch performance

     – Burton Deep Thinker
     – GNU Hyper

     In terms of lightness, from what I’ve weighed, they are, in order of lightest to heaviest:

     Deep Thinker (17.71g/cm) | felt light
     Navigator (17.97g/cm) | felt light
     Hyper (18.09g/cm) | felt normal
     Thunderstorm (18.72g/cm) | felt light
     Mind Expander (19.87g/cm) | felt normal
     Swift (19.87g/cm) | felt normal

     Note average board (from hundreds I’ve weighed) is around 18.71g/cm. Also note that wider boards are disadvantaged in the grams per cm calculation, because this doesn’t take into account width. So shorter/wider type boards (e.g. Mind Expander, Swift) are naturally going to be heavier per length. None of the above felt heavy on snow.

     Size-wise, if you could also let me know your height, that would be great. While weight and foot size (and riding style and ability level) are more important than height, IMO, I still like to take height into account, for the leverage factor.

     Hope this helps

     Reply

10. JD says

    June 22, 2024 at 2:14 pm

    Hello! Can you tell me how well the Burton Step-On bindings would pair with the Yes Standard?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      June 24, 2024 at 5:16 pm

      Hi JD, thanks for your message.

      Burton’s Step On Binding would be good match to the Standard, IMO. The Genesis Step On would be the best match, IMO, but the regular Step On should be fine as well. I just wouldn’t go with the Step On X, which would be too stiff for the Standard. In terms of Step On boots, the Photon would be the best match to the Standard, IMO.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

11. Benny JK says

    March 27, 2024 at 5:17 pm

    Hey mate, I’m an intermediate trending towards advanced rider. No park, but increasingly hitting exploring side hits and looking at adding more air to my groomer and side country riding. When I can, I spend time in the trees. Love it.

    I live in AU, so hard/icy in the morning. Hit Japan for Pow. I’ve ordered a 2025 Jones Storm Chaser (now with mild camber) for Japan trips and pow. I also have a 2024 Yes Hybrid for more playful, mellow riding.

    I’m about 245lbs, 6’1, size 13 hoof. I was looking for a stiffer, camber-focused daily driver for improving carving, switch riding, and cruising with my 10 year old. I’ve actually ordered a 2025 Yes Standard Uninc 162. HOWEVER, I’ve reading about the aggressive/catchy, less agile (i.e. in trees) nature of the Uninc, so have been considering changing to the Yes Standard for the daily driver as it’s a bit more forgiving. I also want to be able to chill a bit with my 10 year old on this daily driver.

    HERE IS MY REAL QUESTION: Do you think my weight and size 13 boot size could make the 162 Uninc become softer and more agile for me than a smaller rider with smaller boots? So considering my existing quiver, between the standard, standard uninc, (and maybe another board you can think of??) what do you think for the daily?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 28, 2024 at 9:38 am

      Hey Benny, thanks for your message.

      No guarantees, but I think the 162 Standard Uninc could feel a little softer/more agile with your specs. Size-wise, I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 165. While you’d typically size down with the Standard Uninc because of width, in your case, that wouldn’t be necessary with 13s. So going down to 162 should make it a little more agile/easy going than it otherwise would be.

      Depending on the size of your Hybrid, you’re not likely to find the regular Standard to feel stiffer or more cambered. It’s less camber focused than the Hybrid is. You would get better switch performance, naturally, but I don’t think you’d see better carving performance vs the Hybrid, but you would with the Standard Uninc, IMO. The regular Standard would be easier for cruising with your 10 year old for sure (and in trees), so that’s the trade off. But I think the Uninc could still work in that scenario in the 162, given your specs. But it would be more optimized towards the carving, speed side of things than the cruising/trees side of things vs if you were to go with the regular Standard.

      Hope this gives you more to go off

      Reply

      • Benny JK says

        April 1, 2024 at 4:48 pm

        Thanks Nate the Great.

        I guess a follow up question: I’ve been reading a lot about big guys, sizing for board length, stiffness/flex and a balance of all of these. Can’t just go short based on width alone. Need to consider flex/stiffness as well.

        Can you suggest any boards that have that freeride/all-mountain balance of camber underfoot and rocker in the nose (and maybe tail) that have the stiffness to handle my weight at a slightly shorter length? My mission is to have one board that i size down as far as I can, whilst still supporting my weight and boot size.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          April 3, 2024 at 11:02 am

          Hi Benny

          First board to come to mind is the Rome Ravine Select, but I think the 162 would be pushing it being too narrow for 13s, and the 166 wouldn’t be sizing down. Some other options:

          – Jones Flagship 162W – not as stiff as the Ravine Select, but still quite stiff – certainly stiffer than the Standard Uninc, in my experience. Still a little borderline width-wise for 13s, IMO, but a little wider than the Ravine Select 162. There’s the Ultra Flagship, which is supposed to be super stiff, but we haven’t tested it, so not sure.

          – Rome Freaker 162W

          – Jones Stratos 161W

          – Capita Mega Death 161W – rode the 2025 model but no review up yet. Certainly stiff though.

          – K2 Alchemist – haven’t tested it, so don’t know for sure, but it’s supposed to be stiff. There’s a 159W, but not sure if it would be wide enough.

          Reply

12. Ryan says

    March 24, 2024 at 7:50 am

    Hey Nate, thanks for the thorough review as always! Based on this one, I just picked up a Thunderstorm. What bindings do you think would pair best for a guy who’s is his early 40s. I love powder, trees, groomers, off piste, mostly blues, but occasional blacks. I don’t hit the park but wouldn’t mind pushing myself to learn to make a lap through every now and again without completely embarrassing myself.

    Also, by the time I pulled the trigger on the board, the only size left in my range was the 158. I’m 5’11” and just under 200 lbs. do you think this will be too small?

    Thanks again!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 26, 2024 at 10:58 am

      Hey Ryan, thanks for your message.

      Size-wise, I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 160/161, so I don’t think you’ve gone too small. A little on the smaller side, but should be fine. If you like to ride really fast you may find that it feels a little small, but otherwise, I think you’ll be fine. But if you could also let me know your boot size, that would help.

      In terms of bindings, I would look at something in the 6/10 to 7/10 flex range to match that board and your riding style/specs. You can check out some good options on this list and this list. Let me know if you have any questions about those.

      Reply

      • Ryan says

        March 26, 2024 at 1:41 pm

        Thanks for the quick reply Nate! My boot size is 10.5. I’m looking at the Bataleon Blasters, Jones Mercury, Union Atlas, or Rome Katanas at the moment. Any guidance based on those options?
        I do like to ride somewhat fast but I rode my son’s Gnu Mullair 161 this year and it felt long, at least compared to the Ride Machete I’ve been on for 10 years. I was planning to pick up the 161 Thunderstorm but they sold out too quick. Hopefully I’ll be happy on the 158.
        Thanks again for the help!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 27, 2024 at 11:41 am

          Hey Ryan

          I think you’ll be fine width-wise on the 158.

          All really good choice, in terms of bindings. I just rode the Bataleon Blaster (asymwrap version) recently and they were nice. And I’d say they are a 6/10 flex. The Fullwrap version is supposed to be a little stiffer, so that’s probably more like 7/10 flex, but hard to say for sure, having not tested them yet. If you’re wanting a bit more board feel/freedom of movement, then I would be leaning either Blasters or Katanas. If you’re not too worried about that and response/support is your main thing, then I’d look at the Atlas or Mercury. If you want the best shock absorption, then go Mercury, IMO. For shock absorption the Katana/Blaster are the next best, followed by the Atlas.

          Reply

          • Ryan says

            March 27, 2024 at 4:45 pm

            That’s good information! Thanks again Nate, I really appreciate your help!

          • Nate says

            March 28, 2024 at 9:25 am

            You’re very welcome Ryan. If you think of it at the time, would be curious to hear how you get on, once you get a chance to get your new setup out on snow. Happy riding!

13. Mo says

    March 11, 2024 at 5:09 pm

    Hi Nate, the search for the perfect board continues. I’m tired of my old gear from the early 2000s and I’m deciding to finally pull the trigger on a refresh. Your reviews have been immensely helpful but I’m still a bit unsure of what makes the most sense for me. I was hoping I could list some of my preferences and you could recommend a few boards to check out.

    – 5’10”, 170 lbs, athletic build
    – Will be using 10.5 Burton Photon step on boots and medium re:flex step on bindings
    – Snowboarding since the late 90s
    – These days I’d say I’m a strong intermediate rider. I typically spend my time at resorts on blue runs and will do the occasional black
    – I’m typically only getting out to Tahoe for 1 long weekend per season in March and the last few seasons the snow has been hard packed with a bit of ice mixed in
    – I spend most of my time riding groomers doing my best to carve and occasionally go off piste to dip through some trees
    – On the steepest sections of blues and blacks I find myself doing close to 180 degree turns to keep my speed in check at a medium pace but on less steep sections I really enjoy doing sweeping wide angle flowy carves at a medium fast pace
    – I really appreciate having strong edge hold to increase confidence on steeper runs and hard packed + slightly icy snow
    – I never find myself in the park and will only do the occasional side hit on runs
    – I don’t ride switch or do any ground tricks
    – I never find myself in powder

    Happy to provide more info here if needed. Thanks in advance for any advice here and thanks again for this awesome site!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 14, 2024 at 7:40 pm

      Hi Mo

      Thanks for your message. Some options you could check out below:

      – YES Standard 156
      – Arbor Shiloh Camber 159
      – Jones Mountain Twin 157

      With the Standard being the best option for icy conditions from those, IMO, but all of them being good in those conditions. Or if you wanted to go a little stiffer:

      – Slash ATV – just rode the new model of this and it’s a great board for carving and turning and really good edge hold. Haven’t updated our review yet, but think this would work well.
      – Burton Custom
      – GNU 4×4
      – Nitro Team

      You could look at something more all-mountain freestyle, like those on this list. Even though you don’t need switch capabilities or anything, you’re also not looking for powder, so some of those could work too. Thinking particularly the YES Greats, GNU RC C3, Lib Tech TRS, as they’re all really good in hard/icy conditions.

      Or you could go more directional if you wanted as well – something like the GNU Hyper, Jones Mind Expander, YES Hybrid. Given what you’re looking for there are lots of options. But hopefully that helps you narrow it down at least somewhat.

      Reply

14. JLPoppy says

    February 29, 2024 at 6:29 am

    Hi Nate

    I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your content. I think I have bought at least five boards for my family using your info. I’m a compulsive analyzer and your content is so detailed and well organized, it’s the best!

    I bought a board for my husband for Christmas a few years ago. A Bataleon Omni 163. I bought it on a whim knowing it was outside his comfort zone, he typically likes hard charging boards, super stiff. He’s not a park rat. But as our son spent more time in the park he wanted something a bit more playful to spend time with him and the Omni fit the bill. He even loved it for all mountain. He used that board far more than I anticipated.

    The board is toast now and it’s time to find a replacement. Omni is no longer made it looks like. I have some Bataleons myself and they are such fun boards! I do find the rating on them in terms of flex is usually far off, they are soft boards to me.

    My husband said the Omni was extremely soft flex compared to anything he’s ridden before. He currently has Jones boards for daily driver and big mountain but wants another playful board.

    It has to be directional. No twin.

    i really want to be the hero again and find him another board to love but it’s a lot of pressure considering how much he adores his Omni

    Any suggestions ?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 3, 2024 at 10:10 am

      Hi JLPoppy

      Thanks for your message. Given how much he likes the OMNI, I think it makes sense to go with something Bataleon again. Or at least something with a 3D shaped base.

      First board that comes to mind is the Thunderstorm. It’s directional and is rated a 6/10 flex from Bataleon (which is what they rated the OMNI for flex). It doesn’t have any taper (narrower tail than nose) which the OMNI does and there are some other differences. Certainly not going to feel like exactly the same board, but a pretty good chance he’ll like it.

      Another option could be the Party Wave Plus – also rated a 6/10 flex by Bataleon, but tapered directional. It is more of a short/wide board though, so you’d want to size it differently. I can help with that, if it’s something you’re interested in, but I would say the Thunderstorm is more similar.

      The Cruiser would also be a good bet – again it’s tapered directional, 6/10 flex from Bataleon, but it’s also more of a short/wide (aka volume shifted) board, so sizing would be something to think about with that one as well.

      I think the best bet would be Thunderstorm though and that’s what I’d be leaning towards. I could look at other brands for something as well, but I don’t think there’ll be anything more similar to the Omni.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • JLPoppy says

        March 14, 2024 at 11:54 am

        That’s awesome and so detailed thank you so much.

        I think I have him sold on the Thunderstorm! I think it sounds perfect too actually.

        He has a Jones stratos, do you think there is too much overlap/redundant? I know I have the Bataleon Storm and didn’t go for the Stratos myself because I felt like it was too similar.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 18, 2024 at 2:12 pm

          Hi JLPoppy

          In some ways it’s similar – like in terms of the type of board it is – though the Stratos is tapered and overall a bit more directional. But I found the Stratos much heavier/damper/stiffer than the Thunderstorm. The Thunderstorm much more playful, buttery and easy going.

          Reply

15. Julien says

    January 15, 2024 at 10:31 am

    Hi Nate, thank you for this review. It’s very complicated to find the snowboard that fits best and your reviews help a lot. I’m still hesitating and I was hoping you could give me your opinion.

    My description : I’d describe myself as hi-intermediate progressing towards expert level.
    I’m 27 with a good condition and I ride in the French Alps.
    I don’t like riding in the park.
    I spend most of my time on the slopes (cruising side hits / carving). I occasionally ride switch.
    As soon as conditions allow, I also like to go off-piste in the powder.

    I have selected a few boards thanks to my research and your reviews : Yes Standard or Standard Uninc / jones mountain twin or ultra / ride deep fake / ride shadowban / rome ravine select

    Which board do you think would suit me best? Don’t hesitate to suggest others if you have any in mind.

    Thank you in advance

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 17, 2024 at 5:54 pm

      Hi Julien

      Thanks for your message.

      The YES Standard is a very good all-round board with no major weaknesses, so you can’t go wrong there, IMO.

      The Standard Uninc is a more aggressive board, which rides better at speed than the Standard and better at high speed carves but not as well at slower speeds and isn’t as good in powder.

      The Mountain Twin is another very good all-rounder, without any noticeable weaknesses, so another that wouldn’t be a bad choice.

      The Ultra Mountain Twin is a better carver and more stable at speed vs the Mountain Twin, but again, like most stiffer boards, isn’t as good at slower speeds and feels more aggressive.

      I prefer the Mountain Twin/Standard for sidehits, slower to moderate speeds, riding switch and riding in trees. The Standard over the Standard Uninc for powder, but the MT and UMT pretty similar in powder – and more like the Standard than the Standard Uninc. The Standard Uninc/UMT better for speed and carving, in my experience.

      We haven’t tested the Deep Fake, so can’t say there. Haven’t tested the Shadowban either, but hear it’s a pretty mellow board all-mountain, bordering on freeride. We did test its predecessor (the Wild Life) which is supposed to be very similar, but not exactly the same.

      The Rome Ravine Select is quite a stiff/aggressive freeride board. Not going to be as fun for side-hits, riding switch or cruising, IMO. But very good at speed, for high speed carves and for powder. But it’s something that’s quite hard work at slow to moderate speeds. Unless you’re quite a big guy and strong, it may not suit your riding style.

      The Rome Ravine (non-select) might be the better bet. It’s easier going, but still good in powder and still good for carving/speed. It’s not as good for riding switch as some of the others, but doable.

      Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

      Reply

16. Andrew says

    January 4, 2024 at 2:21 pm

    Hi Nate – thanks for all the amazing info. I’ve been doing a ton of digging and was hoping you could weigh in on some final choices for a board for me.

    About me: I would classify myself as a once advanced rider, now an intermediate rider working on becoming advanced again. Boarded a lot in HS & college, but just getting back into it after a 10ish year break. I am 33 in pretty decent shape. Went twice last winter, felt comfortable on all the blues, and by the end of the day was comfortable on easier blacks. For reference, I have only ever boarded east coast, to the extent that matters for ratings. Taking a trip out west this winter though, and plan on doing so regularly in the future, so I would like a board that works for both coasts, and will be decent in powder/trees.

    I am not a park rider at all, and don’t really plan on getting into it. I prefer cruising, carving, some side hits, and occasionally bombing groomers. Looking for a good all mountain board. Rode the NS Snowtrooper twice last winter and loved it…unfortunately it was stolen, so I am looking to replace. Considering replacing it same for same, but also thinking I may want something a little stiffer that will give me more confidence at speed.

    Looking at the Capita Mercury, Mega Merc, Riders Choice C2X, RCC3, T.Rice Pro, and Cold Brew. Leaning Cold Brew or RCC2X, but welcome your thoughts! Also interested in the Bataleon boards, Thunder, Thunder Bolt, Goliath, but worried the 3BT will throw me off. Or, perhaps due to my long break from boarding, there won’t be as much of an adjustment period, as I am going to be adjusting to whatever board I get.

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 7, 2024 at 1:13 am

      Hi Andrew

      Thanks for your message.

      From how you describe your riding, I would be leaning either Mercury or RC C2X. The Mercury a little better in powder, but the C2 C2X decent in powder for a twin.

      The Cold Brew could work too, based on specs, but it’s not a board we’ve tested, so can’t say much based on experience.

      I think Bataleon could work for you. I don’t think you’d have too much trouble adjusting, given your 10 year Hiatus. The Goliath would work, if you wanted something a little more at the freestyle end of all-mountain and good, but not great in powder. The Thunder Bolt and Thunder are now discontinued, but would be good bets, IMO, for what you’re describing, if you could find an older model – or you could look at the new Thunderstorm, which replaced them.

      Given how you liked the Snowtrooper, you could look at something else Never Summer – something like the Swift, if you weren’t too worried about going more directional.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

17. Bill says

    January 1, 2024 at 8:07 am

    Hi Nate,

    You provide great information here.
    Hoping to get your opinion…

    I’m upgrading from a Burton Motion 156 that I’ve been riding for 25 years.
    I ride 1-3 weeks a year, mostly northeast but occasionally out west.
    I’m Intermediate-Advanced rider, mostly riding groomers and trees.
    Not a speed junkie but don’t want to be left in the dust by my kids either (ha!).
    Age 51, 5′-7″, 160 lb, 10.5 burton moto boot, large burton cartel bindings.

    Have been doing some research.
    Yes Standard 153 seems like a good fit for me.
    Would you suggest another board and/or size?

    Many thanks for your help,
    Bill

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 1, 2024 at 5:46 pm

      Hi Bill

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the Standard would suit how you describe your riding well. And I agree that the 153 would be the best size for you. I can give you other suggestions, if you’d like, but the 153 Standard would be a good bet for you, IMO.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

18. Miguel MG says

    December 19, 2023 at 11:52 am

    Hi Nate
    First of all, this is just a great website that you have here, I recommend it to friends as the go-to site if they want to get a new board…
    I’ve checked it myself a million times. Already know it a couple of years…
    Had a question and hoping you have some time for answering!
    Age:44.
    Length 174 cm (5.74 ft)
    Weight: 76 kg (167.5 pound)
    Shoe size: 43
    Been boarding for the last 8 years now, I would say at a good intermediate to advanced level. Days in the mountain, probably between 15 and 25 per season in the past years.
    Originally from Belgium but moved to Suisse 3 years ago, hence allowing for more days in the mountains.
    I started with a Forum board which was second hand and was very playful. I bought a Nidecker Mellow (size 154) 2-3 years and it works well in the powder, but as my son is turning 3 and will start skiing, so I will be spending more time on the slopes in the years to come so looking for a board that feels good on the slopes. Not too aggressive/stiff, I do find the Mellow already pretty stiff… Also plan on doing a bit more tree runs, hence looking for the less stiffer option.
    I also have a splitboard (K2 Madauer – size 159) which I have taken out a few times, and hoping for a long and sunny winter to have more of it…
    I’m considering from your all mountain list the Bataleon Thunderstorm (size 154 or 156, leaning towards 154), the Yes standard (153 or 156?)… Any thoughts? Or anything else like the Mountain twin perhaps?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 20, 2023 at 2:17 pm

      Hi Miguel

      Thanks for your message.

      The Mellow is a stiffer board and the 155W (I don’t see a 154 model for that board, unless there was one prior to the 2020 model?) is quite big for your specs, given how wide it is. So that would make it feel stiffer again. Good for powder, having that extra surface area, but for your daily driver, particularly if you’re going to be riding slow at least sometimes, then it would be harder to manage on groomed slopes.

      I would put your “typical all-mountain size” at around 156/157. But with something like the Mellow, as wide as it is, I’d want to size down from that and more than just 1-2cm. That said, it’s a good size as a powder board, so a good option to keep for that.

      For your new board, I think the Thunderstorm would be a great choice. It’s nice and easy to maneuver and good in trees. And certainly less stiff and aggressive.

      The Standard would work too. Not quite as good in trees as the Thunderstorm, but for everything else it would work. Same for the Mountain Twin.

      The Goliath+ could work too, if you didn’t need it to be amazing in powder – or even the regular Goliath (which is a little softer than the Goliath+ and is super easy to maneuver). The Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker, Slash Brainstorm and YES Typo could all also work for what you’re describing.

      Size-wise for the 3 you mentioned, I would look at:

      Thunderstorm: 156 (but you could go 154 if you wanted it to be a bit more playful/maneuverable. I was on the 156, but the 158 would probably have been the more accurate size for me. So the 154 for you would likely feel like the 156 did for me).

      Standard: 153 – this is a wider board and I would size down on this to the 153 for you.

      Mountain Twin: 154 or 157. This is a little on the wider side (wider than the Thunderstorm but not as wide as the Standard). You could go 157, but I think I’d be leaning 154 for this one.

      If you’re interested in any of the other ones mentioned, I can give my sizing opinion on those too, if you wanted it.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Miguel Muinos-Gutierrez says

        December 22, 2023 at 12:49 am

        Great input, thank you Nate! I just went for the Thunderstorm 156, should receive it around Christmass and will have the first days of January to test it out! I will let you know how it goes 🙂

        Thank you again and wishing you and your loved ones a snowwy Christmas and all the best for 2024!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          December 22, 2023 at 6:13 pm

          Thanks Miguel. And you’re very welcome. Hope it treats you well and I look forward to hearing how you go with it. Wishing you a snowy Christmas too!

          Reply

19. Jeppe says

    December 16, 2023 at 3:47 pm

    Hi Nate!
    I think it’s incredible that you are taking the time to answer everyone here, thanks a lot for that.

    I’m looking to buy a new board.
    I’ve been riding the first board I’ve ever owned (A 2016 nitro chuck https://www.evo.com/outlet/snowboards/nitro-chuck-snowboard-2016) for the past 4-5 years and I feel that I have progressed a lot since then. I bought that board because it was recommended to me in a shop at a resort when I didn’t know much about snowboarding. I recently learned that it is a park board. That made me wonder if I would be better off with a new board.

    I rarely ride in parks – I’m mostly on the prepared slopes, and I am confident on most red slopes. I am mostly carving or doing larger lazier turns and getting into doing a bit of switch riding and simple freestyle stuff like ollies. I enjoy the occasional foray in the powder you can find near the prepared slopes, and powder riding is something I would like to explore more in the future. I would guess that I am somewhere in the intermediate-level range.

    I’m usually getting about 2 weeks of snowboarding per season.

    I’m looking for a board that will be fun for me to ride while allowing me room to improve my skills.

    I’m 172cm tall, weigh 65kg/143,3lbs and wear Euro shoe size 42/US 8 or 8.5.

    Do you have any board recommendations, and do you know how might I experience riding a more specialised board than the Nitro Chuck board?

    Thanks a lot.
    – Jeppe

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 18, 2023 at 9:04 pm

      Hi Jeppe

      Thanks for your message.

      I think you’re looking in the right place. An all-mountain board like the ones here often strike a balance between being good in powder, but still good for riding switch and doing more freestyle stuff. And good for carving/turning.

      Given all this and since you’re looking for room to improve as well, I would be looking at one of the Bataleon Goliath Plus, the Jones Mountain Twin or the YES Standard.

      Size-wise, I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 153. It sounds like you’ve been riding a 157 (as I can only see that size for the 2016 Nitro Chuck), so given you’re used to riding something longer, you could go up to like 154/155, but I would come down a bit from the 157.

      With your boot size, however, I would err a little smaller again, particularly with something like the YES Standard. For that I would go 151. For the Mountain Twin I’d probably be looking 151 too. If you really felt that was going to be too small you could go 154 as well. The smallest Goliath Plus is 156, so it would be a little too big even in the smallest, IMO. The Goliath (regular non-plus version) could work though – in the 153.

      Hope this helps with your decision.

      Reply

      • Jeppe says

        December 23, 2023 at 5:26 am

        Hi Nate,

        Thanks a lot for getting back to me with your advice, it was very helpful, also getting your take on board sizes.
        I found a Jones Twin (151) board on sale, so I’ve ordered one of those. Looking forward to trying it out in Italy in January.

        I wish you a wonderful holiday and a happy new year.

        Best regards
        Jeppe

        Reply

        • Nate says

          December 23, 2023 at 6:22 pm

          You’re very welcome Jeppe. Hope the Mountain Twin treats you well and hope you also have a great holiday and happy new year and a great trip to Italy in January.

          Reply

20. Lorenz Heininger says

    December 1, 2023 at 8:37 am

    Hi, did you erver have a HEAD Snowboard under your feet?
    If you can, maybe the gamechanger would be a nice all-mountain board, what do you think?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 1, 2023 at 11:21 am

      Hi Lorenz

      Thanks for your message. I haven’t ridden a Head board, that I can remember, maybe a rental a very long time ago, but otherwise I haven’t. Always interested to try new brands and its a brand that I will try to get my hands on again this season. The Gamechanger looks interesting. I would probably classify it as a freeride board though, by the looks of it. Looks to be quite directional and while I didn’t see any taper specs, in the picture it appears to have quite a bit of taper.

      Reply

      • Lorenz Heininger says

        December 3, 2023 at 1:22 am

        Thanks for your opinion and answer.

        Reply

21. Will F says

    November 29, 2023 at 12:47 pm

    Hi Nate,

    I need some help on buying my first board and hoping you can be a huge help! Basically I am going on a bachelor trip in early March to steamboat springs and want to get some gear. I’ve been snowboarding since I was 14, my grandmother had a house in big sky Montana until recently and we used to go every winter and snowboard for a week or two. We always rented gear because we figured we were growing young high schoolers and there was no point in investing in that stuff for me to grow out of it. Fast forward to now and I have graduated college and started my job and want to go ahead and get some gear so I don’t have to rent and can invest in some solid gear. Sadly I’m on the Ice Coast (Nashville right now) so most my boarding will be in North Carolina so I need a board that will be great in icier conditions too. I’d love a board that was a kind of quiver killer and all terrain role. I can do some tricks and enjoy the park but also love carving downhill and doing runs through trees so I would love an all around board. Sorry if this is a lot of info just wanted to give a backdrop on everything!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 30, 2023 at 2:06 pm

      Hi Will

      Thanks for your message.

      If you’re not too worried about how it will go in powder, then something like the Arbor Shiloh camber would work well. If you do want some powder performance, for when you see it, then I would take a good look at the YES Standard, which is really good in icy conditions. But I’d also take a look at the Mountain Twin as well. If you wanted something a little more aggressive, without going too aggressive, then you could look at something like:

      – Jones Ultra Mountain Twin

      – Nitro Team Camber

      – Burton Custom

      – YES Standard Uninc

      – GNU 4 x 4 (limited sizing, but if you fit one of the sizes it could be a really good option.

      And if you weren’t really too bothered about how it goes in deeper powder, then you could also check out our top all-mountain-freestyle snowboards list.

      Also, let me know if you want any sizing opinions. I would just need your weight, height and boot size (or shoe size if you’re not sure of your boot size).

      Hope this helps

      Reply

22. Sean Fraser says

    November 24, 2023 at 4:22 pm

    Hi Nate,
    Thank you for all that you do.

    I am an advanced snowboarder who has primarily ridden park boards in the past. I am looking to transition slightly away from a pure park board to something a bit more all mountain freestyle. I love park jumps & side hits, buttering, riding switch and aggressive carving. Can you recommend any boards that are still fun and loose but can handle a bit of off piste kinda terrain a bit better than a park board?

    Any help is greatly appreciated!! You are the man.
    Sean

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 25, 2023 at 10:41 am

      Hey Sean

      Thanks for your message.

      Depending on how aggressive your want to ride in general, you could look either here (all-mountain-freestyle) or here (aggressive all-mountain-freestyle) – from what you’re describing, I think all-mountain-freestyle is probably the way to go, given you still want to give things a little playful by the sounds of it.

      Note that there probably has to be some kind of middle ground/compromise, given that you want to be able to both carve aggressively and keep it fun and loose. Which is why I would go all-mountain-freestyle. The aggressive all-mountain freestyle will typically allow for more aggressive carving, but tend to be more aggressive overall and tend to be harder to butter etc.

      When you talk about going off piste, are you likely to be in fresh powder often or not? If so, then this list (all-mountain) does offer more powder performance, but if you don’t really see deep powder, then something all-mountain-freestyle will be enough for shallower powder.

      If only really shallower powder, I would be leaning something like:

      – Lib Tech TRS
      – Never Summer Easy Rider or Proto Synthesis
      – Salomon Assassin
      – GNU RC C3 or Rider’s Choice C2X
      – YES Greats

      If you think you’ll see deeper powder relatively often, then you could look at something like:

      – Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
      – Bataleon Goliath+
      – Jones Mountain Twin
      – YES Standard

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

23. Natalia says

    November 22, 2023 at 3:22 pm

    Hi,
    Coud you receommend me snowboards for me? I’m 162 cm higjt and my weight is about 55kg. My size of feet is 39 EU. I looking something which allows me speed riding.
    I feel comfortable in wholl surfrance during fast riding. I actually rode on veeery old Burton FeelGood (2006) 144cm. What would you recommend me? Which one model and size of board? I don’t ofen vist a snowpark. I prefer riding on stock.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 23, 2023 at 10:24 am

      Hi Natalia

      Thanks for your message.

      Since you’re riding predominantly on groomers, I would look at something like:

      – Jones Airheart 2.0
      – Burton Feelgood Camber (will feel different to the 2006 model. But if you feel you didn’t like the 2006 model when you rode it, might be best to consider one of the other options here)
      – Arbor Swoon Camber
      – Rome Muse

      These would all be great options for what you’re describing, IMO. This is assuming you’re not really riding in powder. But if I have that wrong and you need powder performance, please let me know.

      In terms of sizing, I would look at the following for you:

      – Jones Airheart 2.0: 143
      – Burton Feelgood (camber): 142
      – Arbor Swoon Camber: 143
      – Rome Muse: 143

      Hope this helps

      Reply

24. Charlie Wiss says

    November 21, 2023 at 11:34 am

    Hi Nate, Thank you for running this excellent site. I’m looking to get a new snowboard and am a little lost. I probably fall somewhere in between the all-mountain and mellow free ride categories. My ability level is probably advanced intermediate-to-advanced (I can ride most anywhere, but not particularly well or confidently on double blacks unless it’s a powder day). I don’t go into the parks at all. I live on the east coast and almost exclusively ride in the Rockies (mostly Colorado), thus only ride about 2 weeks a year and need a quiver of one. I’ve been riding a Rossignol Krypto Magtek circa 2016 ? I really like its grip in hard/icy conditions and it’s stability at speed, and it was better in powder than what I had before. I found it challenging to maneuver in bumps and trees. I’m 6’1″, 205 lbs and had the 163. What would you suggest in terms of a board that I can confidently bomb down the groomers, enjoy playing in the powder when the opportunity strikes, and is nimble/manuverable enough to handle moguls and trees ? Thanks in advance, I hope I hear from you

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 22, 2023 at 11:20 am

      Hi Charlie

      Thanks for your message.

      From what you’re describing, I would look at the following:

      – Bataleon Thunderstorm
      – Jones Mountain Twin
      – GNU Hyper
      – Bataleon Cruiser
      – Jones Mind Expander
      – Capita Navigator
      – Burton Skeleton Key
      – Burton Free Thinker
      – Never Summer Swift

      These are all either in list or the Mellow Freeride list. That doesn’t narrow it down a whole lot, but gives you plenty of options that I think would work well for you. Pay close attention to their score breakdowns to help you narrow down what you want to prioritize the most, but I’d say all of those should work well for what you’re describing. Note that I would say that the Mountain Twin, Hyper, Skeleton Key and Free Thinker are the better boards for icy conditions vs the others, in case that helps with narrowing it down.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

25. Sherri Baughman says

    November 14, 2023 at 3:03 pm

    Please help with board recommendation: female 5’3″, 130lb. Currently have Nidecker (Flow) Venus riding several years in Michigan & blues @ snowmass keeping up with adult kids in powder/trees and groomers. Now in Cali so need a board for Tahoe & want to improve & will be riding much more often with very experienced friends.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 16, 2023 at 10:43 am

      Hi Sherri

      Thanks for your message. From what you’re describing, I take it that freestyle performance isn’t important for you and you mainly need something that can carve and turn well on groomers, has good powder performance and turns easy and quickly for trees. That’s what I’m basing this on, but if I have left anything out, then let me know.

      Some options to look at (and the size I would go for in brackets – but if you could also let me know your boot size, to confirm those sizes are the most appropriate):

      – Bataleon Thunderstorm 144
      – Jones Dream Weaver 145
      – Jones Hovercraft 2.0 144 (note this is a wider board, so depending on your boot size, may not be as appropriate.
      – GNU Barrett 146
      – Capita Equalizer 146

      Or if you were happy to have slightly less powder performance, but still decent, you could also look at:

      – YES Hel Yes 146
      – YES Hello 146
      – Jones Twin Sister 146
      – Capita Paradise 145

      Check out more details on those, to make sure they have what you want. The score breakdowns on our reviews and top picks will show their relative abilities in different areas, how we felt them.

      Note that the women’s board version of this list is here. And also to look at this one for freeride boards, assuming you’re not needing park/switch performance.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

26. Brigham says

    October 23, 2023 at 8:40 pm

    Great List Nate. Man it seem like there must be a mistake with the Thunderstorm. Either with their spec list or their price, because I can’t figure out how that thing can come in at $100 less than the previous Thunder! Unless it’s all about just trying to get more people on it now that it’s genderless and covers all sizes. Anyway, deal of the season if you ask me. Love the Thunder. Keep it up!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 24, 2023 at 8:38 am

      Hey Brigham

      Thanks for your message.

      I agree! I didn’t know what price-point they were going to put it out at when I rode it. When I saw it I had to triple check it was correct.

      Reply

27. Steven says

    October 1, 2023 at 12:23 pm

    Hey Nate,

    Thanks for the very informative article. I fairly new to snowboarding (about 2 years), but I also live in Texas so I only go on maybe 3-4 trips a year anywhere from 2-4 days per trip. Would say I am far passed the beginner stage.
    Last year I got the GNU Antigravity and I was pretty underwhelmed with it. So I sold it and looking for a new board. I want a nice all mountain board that can do just about anything. But doesn’t need to excel in every category. I’ll mostly be on groomers, but maybe the occasional tress and park (no rails just jumps). Not sure where I will be going (POW or Ice) so I nice mixture would be good. I’m about 6ft, weigh around 190lb and size 11.5 shoe size.

    I’m looking at the Capita Mercury, DOA, Jones MT, and Yes Standard uninc

    I’m wondering if any of these would be good for me or if you had any recommendations.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 2, 2023 at 12:05 pm

      Hey Steven

      Thanks for your message.

      The only one of those I would hesitate with is the DOA, just because it’s not great in powder, IMO (and not as good in icy conditions as the others), so if you want something that’s going to be at least OK in powder for when you get, I would go with one of the other 3. The Standard, IMO, is the best in icy conditions, but the MT and Mercury are still good there. The Mercury is what I would call the most aggressive. And by that I mean, it rides better when you ride it a little more aggressive – so with a bit of speed under it and leaning deeper into the edge. It’s still nothing that you have to be ultra aggressive on or anything but just a little more so than the other 2.

      Size-wise, I’d be looking at:

      Mercury: 158W
      MT: 159W
      Standard: 159

      Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

      Reply

      • Steven says

        October 7, 2023 at 8:02 pm

        Thank you for the reply! With this information I think I will be going with the jones MT. I wanted to ask if you had and recommendations on boots and bindings and how you felt abou step-ons. I currently have the Union contact pro, which I do like, but I take forever to strap in haha.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          October 9, 2023 at 2:27 pm

          Hi Steven

          I would be looking to match the MT with something around a 6/10 to 7/10 flex in terms of both boots and bindings.

          If you were to go Step-On, I think the Step-On Genesis with the Photon BOA Step On boots would be a good bet. I haven’t tested the regular Step On bindings, but from what I gather they’re roughly a 7/10 flex, so they would work too. I like Step Ons. Not quite enough to convert to them myself, but I don’t mind the ritual of strapping in. You can see more on my Step On Genesis review here. I definitely liked them more the 2nd time around than the first time.

          If you were looking at strap in bindings, I would look at the following for some good options:

          >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

          >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

          And for boots, I’d look here:

          >>Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

          Reply

28. Andrew says

    September 17, 2023 at 5:56 pm

    Hi Nate
    I was wondering if you had anymore detail on the Bataleon Thunderstorm? You have it as a great all mountain board, but on paper it looks more powder-freeride suited. While I love that style I am in Australia so most of my riding is groomer, park, side hits and the off trail is not deep powder more soft pack snow. The board looks like it will be good for visits to Japan and northern hemisphere resorts but not sure about throwing it around my local hills?
    I’m 100kg (95 on a good day) and size 12 boot and I’m getting on in age.
    Any more advise would be appreciated.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Nate says

      September 18, 2023 at 1:51 pm

      Hi Andrew

      Thanks for your message.

      It’s more directional than what I would deem as a typical all-mountain board. But it’s not as directional as what I would deem a freeride board. It’s kind of in the middle. The reason I erred towards putting in the all-mountain category, is because of how versatile it feels when riding it. It doesn’t feel super directional and while it’s not as good for switch as some others here, it’s otherwise very good at riding groomers, in my experience. If it has a weakness it’s that it’s not amazing for icy conditions. It’s not terrible there either, but it’s average rather than good in that area.

      Our full review for the Thunderstorm will be published November 6th.

      Hope this gives you more to go off

      Reply

29. Berkay says

    September 16, 2023 at 3:41 am

    Hi Nate,

    Thank you for the great content! Really helpful! I’ve read many of your reviews and narrowed down my options into a few. I would be really happy to get an advice from you.

    I am looking for a do-it-all type of snowboard which will help me become an advanced rider. I currently ride a DC PLY 156, but i want to upgrade it to a higher quality material. Due to its limitations on powder, extruded base and park oriented nature, i think it’s not a great match for me and it’s time to replace it with a board that meets my current expectations more.

    I think i am a progressing intermediate rider, trying to reach advanced level. I ride 15-20 days each season at 4-5 different resorts . Some resorts with hard/icy snow conditions, some with trees, some with steeps and some with powder(rarely). I want to be able to ride in all conditions with a single board, so i need a really versatile one. I think i see hard/icy snow conditions more often than the others, but i still have occasional powder days as well, or some days in the trees.

    About my riding style and my needs:
    *General riding style: I dont have a specific riding style. It depends on the resort and my mood. Sometimes i like aggressive riding and carving the groomers, sometimes fooling around outside the groomers, sometimes playful with butters and 180s, and sometimes powder/trees whenever possible. So i need a really versatile board.
    *Turns: I am comfortable with many types of turns. Sometimes i ride with quick/aggressive turns with a solid technique but sometimes i have fun cruising and slashing around, especially with friends. So i need some forgiveness on turns without sacrificing the aggresive capabilities of the board too much. Considering that i also enjoy outside of groomers, responsiveness and quickness at turn initiation are important for me.
    *Carving: I am good at overall carving, but i am not a deep carver. I am not able to really lay it out yet. Carving is one the areas i still want to improve. I am not carving on groomers all the time, but i want to be able to carve harder when i do it. So, edge hold and stability are important for me, considering that i ride on hard/icy conditions in a significant amount of my time.
    *Speed: I usually like to ride fast, but not a speed demon. I dont need something super fast to bomb with, but i want to feel stable and comfortable when i reach high speeds.
    *Powder: Since i dont see it too often and my DC PLY is not good at it, i have poor performance in powder. I really want to get the joy out of it with a board that helps me float. I dont need a freeride board, but i believe some directional features and a little rocker at nose and tail would be great.
    *Uneven terrain/crud/chunder: I like to ride outside of groomers as well, so a little bit of stability in that kind of terrain would be great. It doesnt need to be a monster, but i need a decent one to feel stable and comfortable as much as possible outside of groomers.
    *Switch: Even though i had a twin board, i am not great at switch riding yet, because i haven’t invested in it enough. So this is one of my improvement areas. The board doesn’t have to be a twin. A directional board suits me better in my opinion, but it should keep the door open for switch riding and still enable my improvement.
    *Tricks/jumps: I not a park guy and not going to be. I enjoy side hits and small jumps in the terrain. I am not great at ground tricks like butters and 180s yet, but i am improving. This is also one of my improvement areas. The new board doesnt need to be super buttery, but i want to be able to butter without too much effort.

    My size:
    I am 175cm(around 5feet 9inches) and weigh between 85-90kg(around 185 to 200lbs). My shoe size is 43 (size 10 in US). I used to ride 156cm DC PLY, because the guy at shop recommended me that size. I dont know how to calculate the true board size for me, so a little help from you would be great. What would be my true all mountain board size in your opinion?

    The snowboards in my list:
    After reviewing many snowboards mostly based on your reviews, i narrowed down my options into four and i am considering one of the following boards to buy. I would appreciate any comment or recommendation from you. They are all great on many aspects, but they are different in some specific areas in my opinion.
    *CAPITA MERCURY: The most aggressive one on my list i think. Great for carving and aggressive riding, but lacks a little bit of playfulness and forgiveness.
    *JONES MOUNTAIN TWIN: I couldnt find any weak points of this board, but it’s not the expert at any specific area either. Really versatile one. Maybe a little weaker at carving and speed comparing to the others on my list.
    *YES STANDARD: I couldnt find an actual weak point, seems it can do everything. Maybe a little weaker at carving and speed comparing to the others on my list. It’s one of the best in edge hold and grib i think. I read some reviews claiming that it does not have enough camber between the inserts and it lacks that pop feeling. They say it’s not good for carving and speed. Based on your review, i think it’s an awesome board but the comments on other websites made me think twice about it. I also heard some people saying that the overall material quality of YES boards are not as good as Capita boards. So, i wonder your opinion about all those.
    * SALOMON DANCEHAUL: I don’t know anything about short and wide volume shifted boards, but based on the comments i’ve read so far, it seems like a good option for me. It seems like it can do everything just as the other all mountain boards on my list. The only weak point i found is switch riding. It doesn’t have any twinish features, so it must be hard to ride switch but people say it’s do-able. (im not sure if i can ride switch on it). It leans towards the freeride end of all mountain spectrum i think, but except for poor switch capabilities, it seems like a pretty fun, stable and versatile board. I would like to hear your opinion about this one as well.

    So, can you recommend me a snowboard that suits me well and the best sizing for it? I would also be happy to hear if you suggest other alternatives.

    Thanks,
    Berkay

    Reply

    • Nate says

      September 18, 2023 at 1:08 pm

      Hi Berkay

      Thanks for your message. As I was reading through your comment the first boards that came to mind for me were the Standard, Mountain Twin and Mercury, so I wasn’t surprised to see those there. The other one I would add is the Rossignol One – as it’s very good in icy conditions. It’s more along the lines of the Mercury in terms of aggressiveness (at least in more recent models – previously it was more mellow). Being not quite aggressive enough to be considered in our aggressive all mountain category, but on the more aggressive side of this list.

      Mercury: It will be harder work for when you’re looking to slash around and be more playful/freestyle, but it’s still not something that you can’t slow down and ride. But will be trickier than the MT and Standard. The trade off, is that it does give better carving, IMO. Not as good in terms of icy edge-hold as the Standard, IMO, but not bad either. One of the better Capita boards in hard/icy. Similar in hard/icy vs MT, though if I had to pick I’d say MT just a touch better in hard/icy but it’s really close.

      MT: Yeah, really is the definition of do-it-all. All conditions, all styles of riding. For the kind of riding you’re describing, this is never a bad choice.

      Standard: I can’t say in terms of durability how it will hold up, because I haven’t owned one. I’ve heard a lot about durability issues with YES boards too. But I do own the YES Greats, and it’s held up well for me. I don’t ride it every day or anything, but I have put at least 40 days on it and hasn’t shown any major signs of wear on it yet (had it since 2019). It does carve as well as the Mercury but it does as well as the Mountain Twin, in my experience. The Standard Uninc carves better, but isn’t as good in powder, so it’s not as versatile. Though in saying that, on an icy day I think I’d still rather be carving with the Standard than the Mercury. In any other conditions (soft to hard), I’d prefer the Mercury for carving, but you can still definitely lay a carve with the Standard, in my experience.

      Dancehaul: You can ride any board switch. I test even the most directional boards switch and I’ve never not being able to do it. Just sometimes it’s really not fun! I got on the 2024 Dancehaul over the winter and I will have my review out for it later in the year, but it is going to make our top mellow freeride list too – which will be updated this week, probably towards the end of the week. It’s not easy to ride switch but doable. It’s also not the worst out there, but it’s not great. I’ve given it a 2/5 for switch. It’s going to be better than the others for powder and loves trees. And whilst it’s on par for carving with the MT and Standard, in my experience, it’s a little down in terms of stability at speed. Part of that is because of it’s width you have to size down. This also restricts it’s effective edge, which affects how good it is in hard/icy conditions. It’s not bad, but not as good as the other 3 listed, in my experience.

      Size-wise, I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 161-162, but depending on the board you could size down a little from that. The Dancehaul for sure would size down, but the Standard is wider too. If you were able to narrow down your choice to 1 or 2 boards, I would be happy to give you a more specific sizing opinion for specific boards.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Berkay says

        September 21, 2023 at 8:43 am

        Hi Nate,

        Thank you for your time and for the detailed explanation. You are extremely helpful!
        I think i am able to narrow down my options into two: YES Standard or Jones Mountain Twin. But I still need your advice on choosing one of them.

        After your reply, I am convinced that the Dancehaul is not exactly what i am looking for. Mercury is a great board for sure, which is better for carving and aggressive riding, but at the same time it is the least forgiving board in my list. It is also harder to perform butters, trees and side hits, but definetely doable if you put the effort in. It still keeps the door open for those things, but it is not as enjoyable as Standard or MT. So I am a little confused about the Mercury… I think I will make my decision based on how much i sacrifice on playfulness with Mercury vs. how much i sacrifice on agressiveness with MT or Standard.

        As i understood from reviews, it’s not too much sacrifice on aggressive riding with MT or Standard, because they still offer stability at high speed and a decent carving capability. On the other hand, it seems like i need to sacrifice more on playfulness, ease of turns and forgiveness with the Mercury, along with the edge hold. The Mercury looks like a more demanding board to me. Considering that i can ride max 15-20 days in a season, i am more likely to choose MT or Standard over the Mercury, because i want to enjoy my limited days as much as possible instead of fighting with the board when i want to cruise around.

        I came up with the following list to compare the capabilities of the 3 boards to help me decide. I ordered the board functions based on how important they are to me and then compared the 3 boards under each function. Would you agree with my comparison below?

        1)TURNS/MANUEVERIBILITY/SLASHING:
        MT>Standard>Mercury
        2)CARVING:
        Mercury>Standard>MT
        3)EDGE HOLD ON HARD SNOW/ICE:
        Standard>MT>Mercury
        4)FORGIVENESS:
        Standard=MT>Mercury
        5)STABILITY AY HIGH SPEEDS:
        Mercury>Standard>MT
        6)EDGE TO EDGE QUICKNESS/TREES:
        MT>Standard>Mercury
        7)UNEVEN TERRAIN:
        MT>Standard>Mercury
        8)POWDER:
        Standard>MT>Mercury
        9)SIDE HITS/SMALL JUMPS:
        MT>Standard>Mercury
        10)SWITCH:
        Standard=MT>Mercury
        11)BUTTERS/GROUND TRICKS:
        MT=Standard>Mercury
        12)BIG JUMPS:
        Not required
        13)JIBBING:
        Not required

        So, it looks like the only area where Mercury shines is carving and speed. Based on your reviews, i understood that there is not a huge difference in terms of carving and speed capabilities of Mercury vs MT/Standard. I mean, Mercury is better for sure but without a huge difference. In that case, i think i can keep the Mercury out of the game and focus on choosing between the Standard and MT. Which one suits me better between the two in your opinion?

        It would also be great if you help me to choose the correct board size.
        Height:175cm
        Weight: I cant keep my weight stable. It changes between 80-90kg usually. I am usually at the higher end of that interval but planning to lose some weight. (hopefully)
        Boot size: 43 (US 10)
        Age:35
        Physical condition: Athletic/can ride the whole day with short breaks

        Lastly, i want to ask about my bindings and boots. I have Burton Ruler boots and Burton Mission bindings. I want to keep them unless they are totally incompatible with the Standard or MT. Your opinion on this would be really helpful as well.

        Thanks,
        Berkay

        Reply

        • Nate says

          September 21, 2023 at 12:26 pm

          Hi Berkay

          That all looks right to me, the only ones I would change would be:

          8)POWDER:
          Standard=MT=Mercury
          9)SIDE HITS/SMALL JUMPS:
          MT=Standard>Mercury
          10)SWITCH:
          Standard>MT=Mercury

          For both the MT and Standard you boot and binding setup should work fine.

          Size-wise, I would go 156 for the Standard and 157 for the MT.

          Reply

        • Piotr says

          October 5, 2023 at 3:51 am

          Why you don’t consider Bataleon Thunderstorm? Seems to be similar to Standard based on Nate’s review.

          And yeah I need to pull the trigger before the coming season and I am torn between Standard / MT / Thunderstorm

          Reply

          • Berkay says

            October 22, 2023 at 3:25 am

            Hi Nate,
            I’ve decided on the Standard 156. Thanks for all the help. I will share my experience with the Standard after the season starts.

            @Piotr,
            Thunderstorm would meet my expectations as well, but Standard and MT seemed stronger to me.

          • Nate says

            October 23, 2023 at 1:52 pm

            Hi Berkay

            You’re very welcome. Hope it treats you well. Looking forward to hear how you get on, once you get a chance to get it out on snow.

        • John says

          February 18, 2024 at 4:30 am

          wait your review about standart bacause its really difficult choice

          Reply

30. Andrew says

    September 16, 2023 at 2:18 am

    Hi Nate,

    Great post – really appreciate the useful content!

    Would be grateful for some advice.. intermediate level rider, looking for an all mountain board, mostly resort riding, occasionally powder, trees, off piste. Currently riding a Capita Outerspace Living 154cm and have narrowed the list down to the Capita Mercury and the Jones Mountain Twin – leaning more towards the Mountain Twin. My stats -height 174cm, weight 65kg, boot size US9.

    Jones website size finder recommends the Mountain Twin in 151cm or 149cm which seems a bit short, would you go with that or the 154cm?

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      September 18, 2023 at 10:56 am

      Hi Andrew

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the 149 is too short for sure. But I think the 151 would be a good bet for you. The 154 is also doable, will depend on what you want to optimize with your riding.

      For your specs, I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 152/153. Which is why I think you could go either way. The main reason I would be leaning 151 is because of the width of the board. With US9 boots the 154 is on the wider side for you and add that to being on the longer end of your range, and it’s on the bigger side. Still certainly doable, but I think the 151 is more optimal. Some widths below for reference:

      MT 154: 251mm waist, 264mm back insert, 263mm front insert
      OSL 154: 248mm waist, 259mm back insert, 258mm front insert
      MT 151: 248mm waist, 261mm back insert, 260mm front insert

      Not that these all assume a 560mm (22″) stance width. If you ride with a narrower stance width, these numbers will be smaller, and if you ride with a wider stance width, these numbers will be higher.

      Given you’re used to a 154 as well, makes the 154 more doable, but just note that being wider and with more effective edge (118.6cm vs 117cm on the 154 OSL), it’s likely to feel a bit bigger than the 154 OSL. Depending on how you’re looking to ride, that might be fine. i.e. if you’re looking to optimize stability at speed, float in powder and optimize for higher speed carving. But if you’re more concerned with agility, butterability, trees, spins, ollies etc, then erring smaller will help. If you’re looking for a balance of them, I would be leaning 151, but if you feel like you don’t want to go smaller than what you’ve been riding the 154 is in range.

      Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

      Reply

      • Andrew says

        September 18, 2023 at 9:49 pm

        Thanks Nate for the reply! A lot of really useful info in there and i hadn’t looked at it from the perspective of width and effective edge. So this is very helpful. Thanks again for all the effort put in replying and creating great content!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          September 19, 2023 at 1:48 pm

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

          Reply

31. Nicola says

    September 10, 2023 at 9:53 am

    Hi Nate,

    I appreciate your informative reviews – they’ve been really helpful!

    I’m an intermediate rider from London (UK) who spends time both in the Alps during winters and at an indoor centre for freestyle lessons during the rest of the year. I plan to keep my current board for the UK and get a new one for the Alps.

    Stats: 5’6″ (168cm), 150 pounds (68kg), US 9.5 boots (used US 8.5 before). Currently on a 2019-2020 Yes Basic (152) that I bought particularly for its performance on icy conditions.

    My riding style: I spend most of my time on groomers where I like making quick, medium, and long edge-to-edge turns and carving. Steep terrains are not my strong suit, but I can do black runs alright. I like venturing off-piste to the sides of the groomers and through trees, and enjoy natural-bumpy terrain. I’m working on improving my switch riding skills. I enjoy buttering, and lately I’ve been getting into park riding, where I can do 180s and 360s (still working on them) on small to medium jumps, tackle easy boxes and rails, and perform some basic flatland tricks.

    In other words, I like doing a bit of everything. I’m eyeing two boards: Yes Standard and Yes Greats Uninc. The former feels like a step up from Basic, and the latter is an asym board, and my UK coach has spoken highly of this type of boards.

    Can you recommend a board between those two and the best sizing, or suggest alternatives?

    Thanks,

    Nicola

    Reply

    • Nate says

      September 11, 2023 at 12:48 pm

      Hi Nicola

      Thanks for your message.

      I would be leaning Standard, particularly if you’re likely to get some powder when going into the trees. The Greats is a little better for freestyle stuff, but the Standard is still good there and it gives you the added powder performance when you need it. I find the Greats a slightly better carver too, but in terms of “do-it-all” the Standard is one of the best going around for that all-rounder capability.

      In terms of sizing, I think the 151 would work. But this is assuming that you’re boot size is men’s US9.5. If it’s women’s US9.5 (equivalent of men’s us8.5), then I would be leaning towards sizing down to the 149. Even though the waist width doesn’t make it look it, it’s wider than it looks, at the inserts, because of that mid-bite. In the 151, you’ll be looking at a wider width at inserts, though the waist width, tip/tail width are a touch narrower. The overall surface area, is pretty much the same. So, I think the 151 is your best bet, but I would consider the 149, if you’re boots are US Women’s 9.5.

      If you were to go Greats, I would go 149. It’s the kind of board you want to size down for, more so than the Standard. This is partly because it has more effective length per overall length and it’s wider again, both at the waist, the inserts and tip/tail and in terms of overall surface area. I think the 151 would feel a bit big, particularly when you’re in the trees.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Nicola says

        September 16, 2023 at 8:10 am

        Hi Nate,

        I really appreciate your message, it’s been quite helpful!

        I just wanted to clarify that I’m a man. In the UK, my name is a female name, but in Italy, where I’m originally from, it’s a male name 🙂

        To get a comprehensive view, what are your thoughts on the Basic Uninc and Standard Uninc boards as all-around options compared to the other two boards? Considering that I typically spend less than 10% of my time in powder during a season, it might be wise to opt for a board with a slightly lower powder performance if it offers advantages in other aspects.

        One more question, I hope I’m not bothering you! I currently have a pair of Union Strata (M) bindings. Would these work well with the new board I’m considering? Do you think I should consider upgrading my bindings as well?

        Once again, thanks a lot for your assistance! 🙂

        Nicola

        Reply

        • Nate says

          September 18, 2023 at 1:19 pm

          Hi Nicola

          My apologies, I try not to make assumptions based on names, but unfortunately I did this time. In that case, certainly the 151 for the Standard.

          Without much powder, I would be leaning either Greats or Standard Uninc. The Greats if you want more freestyle performance and to keep the flex a little more mellow. I think you would appreciate the Greats more when you’re indoors vs the Standard Uninc, which is at it’s best when it has more speed under it. The Standard Uninc would give you just a little more powder performance than the Greats, which is a bonus, but given how much of your riding is indoors, I would be leaning Greats or Standard over the Standard Uninc, which is harder work to control at slower speeds than the other 2. And also, the smallest size is 153. Whilst this isn’t so big that it’s out of range for you, it’s bigger than optimal, IMO. Doable in that size, but given everything else, in conjunction with the size, I would be leaning the other 2.

          The YES Basic Uninc would work too. A bit easier to manage for slower speed riding and probably a better balance between indoors and outdoors vs the Standard Uninc. It’s more manageable at slower speeds. But it’s not going to give you any more powder performance vs the Greats and I would personally take the Greats over it for what you’re describing.

          Reply

          • Nicola Gallo says

            September 26, 2023 at 12:44 pm

            Thanks a lot Nate for your reply, I should now have all the necessary info to make my final decision. Taking all into consideration, I am still undecided between the Greats and Standard, although I may end up buying the latter since the Greats 149cm is hard to come by in the UK, it’s already out of stock on the official Yes website!

            Thanks for the great content, I look forward to reading your next reviews 🙂

          • Nate says

            September 27, 2023 at 11:03 am

            You’re very welcome Nicola and thanks for visiting. I hope whichever you end up getting treats you well. If you think of it at the time, let me know how you get on, once you’ve had a chance to get out on snow again.

32. Joshua Donderewicz says

    May 2, 2023 at 7:26 am

    Hi Nate,

    I’m 6’2 about 210lbs and size 13 boot. I have been riding an Option Kevin Sansalone 162,5 wide for the past 26 or so years. I was looking at getting the Yes Standard or the K2 Instrument. Mostly ride groomers but, want something that can handle the occasional powder and free ride, not a park guy. What would be your advice?

    Thank you

    Reply

    • Nate says

      May 2, 2023 at 10:54 am

      Hi Joshua

      Thanks for your message.

      I haven’t ridden the Instrument, so can’t say much about that one – though is likely to be a little better in powder vs the Standard, based on specs.

      But the Standard would work for what you’re describing. It’s still decent enough in powder (particularly if you set up in the slamback stance on a pow day) and an all-round really good board. If you’re looking for something super playful or super aggressive it’s not either of those things, but sits right in the middle, so you can get a little playful on it and a little aggressive with it too – it sits right in that middle ground.

      Size-wise for the Standard, I would say 162 would be spot on for your specs.

      Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

      Reply

      • Joshua Donderewicz says

        May 3, 2023 at 6:09 am

        Thank you!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          May 3, 2023 at 5:59 pm

          You’re very welcome Joshua

          Reply

33. Stefan says

    March 22, 2023 at 2:24 am

    Hello! This is my forth year of snowboarding. My level is a 6 intermediate. I started with a Directional Flat Rocker Volkl Dimension 159 ExtraWide Flex 6 (yeah, i know, it’s too big for me) with K2 Indy bindings, flex 4. I have 1,84 height 65 KG(but my target is to have 70kg till next season) and Mondo 29CM, US 11, EU 44,5 (Boots Nidecker Triton, Flex 6). Almost all the season days (~20 days) I ride groomers, because our weather doesn’t want to help us, but whenever we get some powder days I venture off piste and through the trees. I like to ride with speed and I like carving. Sometimes I do ollies and I’m learning to do 180 smoothly. In other words, I need an All mountain snowboard good at speed, powder, carving, between trees and sometimes switch. So, i want to buy a good snowboard and I’m not decided at which one. I made a top 3 for me: Yes Standard, Jones Mountain Twin and Capita Mercury. I don t know what size it’s better for me because of my weight, so I want to hear your opinion.
    What board do you reccomend from the ones above and what sizes? Also, let me know if you suggest other boards.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 22, 2023 at 3:56 pm

      Hi Stefan

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the 3 boards you’ve listed would all work well for what you’re describing. The Standard and MT better in trees and easier for 180s, ollies, etc, IMO, with the Mercury being a little better in terms of speed/carving. So I think it depends on which of those things you want to value more.

      Size-wise, yes I think the 159 Extrawide board was a bit too big. I would be leaning 156 for the Standard, 156W for the MT and Mercury.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

34. Ilya says

    March 14, 2023 at 11:59 am

    Hi Nate!

    What do you think about Borealis Tundra? Will you review it someday?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 15, 2023 at 12:39 pm

      Hi Ilya

      Thanks for your message. Borealis is not a brand we’ve tested yet and hasn’t been on our radar to this point. Will look more into them though and see if we can get hold of something to test.

      Reply

35. Vicki Ledergerber says

    March 10, 2023 at 7:25 pm

    Hi Nate,
    Hoping you can help with some suggestions for a board upgrade.
    I’m female, 165cm tall, 73kg, boot size US8, intermediate, and been boarding on and off for about 12 years.
    I’m in New Zealand so here you mostly have firm packed groomers, though I’ve just come back from a couple of weeks in Japan where we had every condition from metre deep powder, to icy packed groomers to ungroomed moguly runs with spring slushy snow. We will probably do more of these trips in the future. My dream is to become good enough to do some back country but I need to improve my technique first.
    I don’t like going to fast, so I try to wash off speed a bit with my turns, but I’m working on picking up speed and progressing to a bit of carving. If I can I prefer to do a little bit of trees to the side of the groomers and seek out natural roller coaster type terrain. I lose a lot of confidence on icy cat tracks and icy flatter conditions where you can easily catch an edge or steep black runs with bumps, so I want something that can help to improve my confidence here, whilst holding an edge well and also responsive when I want to make a turn.
    I tried a few boards while in Japan and they were so different from each other. I probably liked the Jones dreamcatcher the best but that was in deep powdery conditions. The jones twinsister was OK on the firmer pack but think I could do better. I had one board, can’t remember the brand now that seemed to do really well holding an edge on turns when I picked up speed but a bit slower was impossible to control and was slipping everywhere in the icy conditions. So it would be nice to have the control it gave in faster speeds but needs to be way more responsive when initiating turns and stable going slower. I had a private lesson and the instructor thought I would do well on a slightly directional board with camber.
    I’m currently on a very old burton feather 149cm. I haven’t narrowed down any board options at the moment. In google searches the YES and GNU boards seem to come up as highly rated.
    Any suggestions would be much appreciated. (Also thoughts on nidecker supermatic bindings?)

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 11, 2023 at 10:24 am

      Hi Vicki

      Thanks for your message.

      Given your style of riding, I agree with going with something directional. If you’re not doing any tricks or riding switch, then best to optimize your riding in one direction. Having a board with camber is often a good idea for a number of reasons, depending on your style, but I agree for how you describe your riding it’s a good idea. a. because it tends to hold in ice, all else being equal and b. it’s better for carving and you want to work towards carving. However, I wouldn’t go full camber for a couple of reasons a. it’s not as good in powder as boards with some rocker and b. it tends to be more catchy when there’s only camber. So a directional hybrid camber, hybrid camber, hybrid rocker, something like that will work well for what you’re describing, IMO.

      Often a board that’s really stable at speed is going to be less maneuverable at slower speeds. It’s often a trade off you have to make. But there are a lot of boards that can give you enough stability at speed but still be decently maneuverable at slower speeds. Finding a good balance. It’s likely the board you rode that was stable at speed was quite stiff flexing (which tend to be good at speed but not when riding slow) and likely that it didn’t need to be as stable as it was for the speeds you want to go, so can dial back that a bit, so that it’s enough stable at speed, but still with good slow speed maneuverability.

      Yes, GNU and Lib Tech (and Niche and Rossignol) tend to be the boards I find best in icy conditions. I find Jones boards to be pretty good there too, but in a tier just below those mentioned. Given that you’re looking for better than the twin sister for those conditions, I’m going to limit my search to those that I consider the best in icy conditions.

      Based on all that, I think the following would work well:

      – Yes Hel Yes 152 or 149
      – Niche Sonnet 151
      – GNU Barrett 152 or 149

      Size-wise, I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 152, but you could size down a little from that as an intermediate – and as you want to spend time in trees/bumps. But I’d also take into account what you’re used to. If you’re used to riding a 145 for example, then I’d err shorter than 152. If you’re used to riding a 155, then I’d stick to something around 152. If you remember the sizes of the other boards you’ve been riding (and the board you currently own), that would be really helpful to narrow it down to the best sizes. Particularly after riding for 12 years, don’t want to err too far from what you’re used to.

      I would be leaning YES Hel Yes as it’s a little more intermediate friendly than the other 2, but without taking anything away in performance.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

36. Michal says

    March 3, 2023 at 6:57 am

    Hi Nate,

    Great reviews here from you!

    I’m looking to get a new all mountain board.
    I’ve been riding since 2008 on Ride Decade 160 and want to upgrade. I’m 180cm/80kg intermediate to advanced.
    I’d ride mainly on the slopes, sometimes a little fun when riding slower.
    My preferences are carving, carving in icy conditions (in this is Decade bad), a lot of short and long edge to edge turns,
    sometimes little speed, sometimes small jumps on bumps.
    I don´t ride in the parks. Powder only rare.

    I´m looking at Nitro Team Camber 159 or Burton Custom Camber 158. Is it good choice or would you recommend something else?

    Thank you very much!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 3, 2023 at 2:06 pm

      Hi Michal

      Thanks for your message.

      I think both Team Camber and Custom Camber could work for what you’re describing. Neither are great in powder, but also not terrible in powder, so should be fine in that respect if you don’t see powder that much. And they’re not so stiff/aggressive that you can’t ride slower on them when you need to. But they are what I would call a little more aggressive than anything on this list. But for your level, what you’re used to riding and how you want to ride, I think they would both work well (and both quite similar boards to each other). Size-wise, I think you’re spot on with the 159 and 158 – but if you could let me know your boot size, just to confirm they’re appropriate in terms of width.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Michal says

        March 7, 2023 at 2:39 pm

        Yes it really helps. Thanks.

        My boots size is US 10.

        Would you recommend any other type for my level and specs or this two are best choice for me?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 8, 2023 at 5:44 pm

          Hi Michal

          With your boot size, I think those sizes are just right for you.

          There are a lot of options that would work for what you’re describing, so don’t want to coogest the waters by putting too many options out there. I think those two are solid choices for what you’re describing, given you don’t see a lot of powder. You could also check out something like the YES Standard Uninc. Again, a lot of options, but don’t want to confuse things too much when those would be solid choices, IMO.

          Reply

          • Michal says

            March 8, 2023 at 11:31 pm

            OK I understand.

            Thanks a lot.

          • Nate says

            March 9, 2023 at 4:36 pm

            You’re very welcome Michal. Happy riding!

          • Michal says

            March 15, 2023 at 1:08 am

            Hi Nate,

            What size of Yes Standard Uninc would you recommend for me? 156 or 159.

            Thanks

          • Nate says

            March 15, 2023 at 1:08 pm

            Hi Michal

            With your height/weight specs and with 10s, I would go 156. It’s the size I prefer and we’re very similar specs. This board is wider than it looks, so sizing down is a good idea, IMO. The 159 wouldn’t be wrong, but combination of length and width would make it on the big side for you, IMO.

37. Gordon says

    March 1, 2023 at 2:22 pm

    Hi Nate,

    Great content in this article. I’m considering the YES Standard, but am getting conflicting advice on the sizing. I’m 6’1″, 155 pounds, size US 9.5 boots. I ride a lot of deep powder and steep stuff but also like to hit small/medium park jumps and the occasional groomers. YES customer service says, “The Standard is volume shifted so it’s pretty typical to size down a few cm’s so the 156 could potentially feel a little slow edge-to-edge.” – indicating I would be on a 153. Initially I was set on the 156 (all my previous boards have been 154-156). Any suggestions? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 2, 2023 at 3:52 pm

      Hi Gordon

      Thanks for your message.

      The Standard is something that’s worth sizing down on, because of the width. If you had bigger boots, then maybe not, but with 9.5s (which is what I also ride), this is a board I would size down for.

      I would put your “typical all-mountain length” at around 157/158, which would make the 156 doable. However, given you’re used to a range of 154-156, I would be leaning 153. The 156 will feel bigger than a typical 156, so unless you feel like that 154-156 range has felt small to you, then I would go 153. It will likely feel right in the middle of the typical 154-156 range. If you do feel like you wanted to go bigger than what you’re used to, the 156 wouldn’t be ginormous for you or anything, but I would be leaning 153 in this case.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Gordon says

        March 6, 2023 at 12:55 pm

        This is really helpful – thanks!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 7, 2023 at 6:19 pm

          You’re very welcome Gordon. Happy riding!

          Reply

38. Rad says

    March 1, 2023 at 5:27 am

    ps I like going fast down slopes 🙂

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 1, 2023 at 11:21 am

      Hi Rad

      Thanks for your message.

      I would be leaning Standard or Mercury, as their better at speed over the Assassin, in my experience. The Standard Uninc would also be a good option. Size-wise, I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 159. With the Standard/Standard Uninc being wider, you can often size-down for them, but with 11s and given you like to ride Fast, I would be leaning more towards the 159. I think the 162 would be a little big, especially when taking into account the length and width. But could be doable if your used to riding something around a 162W. Same with the 156, it could be doable, if you’re used to riding more around that length, but I’d be leaning 159.

      The Mercury I think would work well in the 158W ideally.

      If you weren’t getting really deep in your carves and depending on the profile of your boots and your binding angles, you could possibly even get away with the regular width 159, but you’d want all those things to be in your favor to make the width work.

      Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

      Reply

      • Rad says

        March 1, 2023 at 1:20 pm

        Thanks for this Nate, I think it’s great that you take the time to answer all these queries; it’s of great value to a lot of people <3

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 2, 2023 at 3:45 pm

          You’re very welcome Rad. Happy riding!

          Reply

39. Rad says

    March 1, 2023 at 5:10 am

    Hi Nate, thanks for your very informative tests, they are of great help.

    I have done 38 years of riding (!), I’m an occasional rider now, have given up on freestyle and big jumps and I’m looking for a new all mountain board that I’d use mainly on the slopes but want to be open to have fun all over. Have got a good offers between 3 2023 boards: Salomon Assassin, Yes Standard and Capita Mercury. Which one would you go for?
    I’m 5’11 with 11 US boots, 76kg, there’s also a Standard UNINC but only in size 162 or 156…
    Help? 🙂

    Reply

40. Matt says

    February 27, 2023 at 11:19 am

    Hey Nate,
    You gave me some awesome first board advice when I was getting into boarding. I’m looking to possibly upgrade my board, and was hoping you could offer some suggestions that would fit my riding style. I would rate myself as a strong intermediate that’s starting to peek into the advanced category. I ride average 3x a week at my local hill (Perfect North in Indiana, so not the greatest conditions, frequently icey), and try to make at least two trips a year out west or north to bigger resorts. 5’10, 165. Currently riding a 2018 Snowtrooper (155) with 2021 Nitro Phantoms (with most of the forward lean dialed in) and 32 boots on the stiffer end. This year I have been working to improve switch riding, spins, navigating moguls, and modest jumping off of natural features (I’m not a park guy). I would describe my riding style as: deep stance, enjoy power turning, like to make lots of quick, medium, and long edge to edge turns and carves and really savor each run and enjoy the flow. I’m not a bomber, and rarely do I just make a speed run down the hill. I like control and being able to turn and go where I want to go when I want to go, if that makes sense. I’d really be interested to hear any board recommendations you have that would fit that style, offer a technological improvement over my current board, and be something that I can continue to grow into. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 28, 2023 at 10:54 am

      Hi Matt

      Thanks for your message.

      Given that it sounds like you still want switch performance and are doing spins and natural jumps but also want decent powder performance, then I think you’re in the right place here.

      Because you’re regularly in icy conditions, I think something like the YES Standard & Rossignol One would both be really good bets. But a number of others here could still work well – like the Mountain Twin, Team Gullwing or Mercury. The Bataleon Goliath+ could work too, though it’s a little down in terms of icy conditions, IMO, vs those others mentioned.

      Or if you wanted to step up the aggressiveness a little bit could even look over at >>Our top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards, though if you’re not really bombing, might be a little on the stiff side – but something like the GNU 4 x 4 could work.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Matt says

        February 28, 2023 at 11:06 am

        Thanks Nate. Yes very helpful. I had been looking at the Mountain Twin really hard. I’ll read up on your other suggestions as well. Thanks very much!

        Reply

      • Matt says

        February 28, 2023 at 12:32 pm

        And real quick, looks like the Mountain Twin size options are 154, 156 wide, and 157. Riding 155 currently with size 9.5 boot. Any suggestions on best size out of those options?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 1, 2023 at 9:42 am

          Hi Matt

          With 9.5s I wouldn’t go wide, so I would cross off the 156W. The 154 and 157 are both options for sure. I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 157, so I would be leaning 157. But the 154 wouldn’t be wrong by any means. From what I have the Snowtrooper 2018 came in a 154 and 156 but not a 155. If it’s a 156, then the 157 MT will feel more similar to it length-wise, but if it’s the 154, then the 154 will feel more similar to it – both in terms of overall length and effective edge. And do you feel like the Snowtrooper, size-wise is a good fit? Or do you feel like you could go longer or shorter?

          Reply

          • Matt says

            March 1, 2023 at 5:35 pm

            Nate you’re absolutely right. My Snowtrooper was a limited artist edition so info on it was scarce. When researching, I found one for sale listed at 155 and assumed the measurement was correct. I looked mine over carefully tonight, and in VERY small letters is “OEM156SNT,” so I’m guessing the length is 156. So here’s the rub. I ordered the 154 Mountain Twin, so now I’m concerned that I ordered too small (5’10, 165-170) and may be getting something that I’m a little too big for., as I’ll be with the board for a couple years minimum I’m sure. Thoughts? Should I send it back and exchange for 157 or keep the 154? How much difference is that 1.2 inches going to matter?

          • Nate says

            March 2, 2023 at 4:00 pm

            Hi Matt

            You’d be surprised how much difference that 1.2″ can make. But it’s not so much the 3cm of total length difference – it’s more the 2.4cm (1″) of effective edge difference that makes the difference. Still wouldn’t say the 154 is wrong by any means and you wouldn’t have a bad time on it, but I would be leaning 157 (unless you’ve felt you could go shorter than your current board), particularly if you’re going to have it long term.

41. Eric G says

    February 27, 2023 at 8:13 am

    Hey Nate,

    I’m 6′, 185 pounds and a higher end intermediate snowboarder that is looking to get my second board.

    I learned how to snowboard on the west coast with a 158W Salomon Sight. The board has treated me well, but I now live in the east coast and mostly go to NH and VT to snowboard. The Salomon doesn’t handle ice very well. So this is my main reason for swapping boards.

    I borrowed a friends Arbor Element Camber 155, and liked it a lot. I think being smaller made the board a lot more enjoyable for me. I don’t really need a wide as I am a 10.5 and my newer boots are a lot smaller. I want something that won’t slip on ice and hard packed snow, but also be able to go through the moguls and glades.

    The board should:
    Turn quick (compared to my Salomon the Element turned way quicker)
    Preform well in the glades/moguls
    Be good on hard packed ice and snow
    Be able to hang in the powder if possible, when I visit my friends on the west coast, or the rare pow day here.

    I’ve been looking at these:
    YES PYL
    YES Greats
    GNU Gremlin
    T Rice Orca or Pro

    Do you have thoughts, or a board you’d recommend over these? Also, I think Asym boards are cool but don’t know how that preforms in icy conditions.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 28, 2023 at 10:43 am

      Hi Eric

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly, yeah, I think if you can, try to get on a regular width board – the size difference of the Element Camber is likely a big factor in what made it turn quicker than the Sight).

      I own the Greats and it’s my go to board for icy conditions. I don’t think asym affects performance in icy conditions – at least not negatively. The only downside with going Greats is that it’s not that good in powder. Otherwise it would have you covered for everything else, IMO.

      The T Rice Orca and T Rice Pro aren’t quick turners, in my experience with them, so that would be my biggest question mark over them.

      The PYL would work well, IMO. It’s a little stiffer than something like the Greats (and Element Camber) – which can often affect quick turns at slower speeds, but for its flex it’s a pretty quick turner.

      Another option would be the YES Standard. Same flex as the Greats (in my experience) but a little better in powder. Sacrifice a little in terms of carving vs Greats, IMO, but good in icy conditions and generally would tick all your boxes, IMO.

      The Gremlin could work too. It’s a volume shifted board, so you’d want to make sure to go small enough to make sure it will turn quick enough for you.

      The GNU Rider’s Choice could also be an option, it’s an asym like the Greats, but a little better in powder, IMO. Not as good on a carve again – and not as good in powder as the likes of the PYL or Gremlin, but could work for you.

      If you narrow it down to your top 2-3 choices, I would be happy to give you specific sizing suggestions for each.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Eric G says

        March 1, 2023 at 2:06 pm

        Nate, thanks for taking the time to reply to me.

        You mention the Yes Standard, is there a reason you’d recommend that over the YES Standard Uninc?

        But after reading your recommendations I am partial to YES, particularly:

        Standard/Uninc (depending on comments above)
        PYL
        Greats

        Thanks.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          March 2, 2023 at 3:48 pm

          Hi Eric

          Mostly because it’s not as good as the Standard in powder and you were looking for some decent powder performance. But it’s probably still better than the Greats in powder, so it could be an option, if you didn’t need it to be too good in powder.

          Reply

          • Eric G says

            March 3, 2023 at 5:51 pm

            What size would you recommend for the greats and the standard?

            I’m 6′ 183lbs

          • Eric G says

            March 3, 2023 at 5:52 pm

            There is a 151 greats in stock right now for $509. Near me.

          • Nate says

            March 4, 2023 at 10:43 am

            Hi Eric

            I would go 156 for the Standard with your specs and how you describe your riding. At

            It would be between the 156 and 154 for the Greats, IMO. Given that you liked the Element Camber in the 155 and given the Greats is something you can size down for and is noticeably wider than the 155 Element Camber I would be leaning 154 for you. Also given that you ride moguls and trees a fair bit by the sounds of it. But he 151 is a bit of a stretch. It’s doable if you really want that extra maneuverability but it’s not going to feel very stable at speed and not likely to float very well in powder – with a board that’s already pretty average in powder. If it was going to be your dedicated park board or something like that, I could see the 151 working, but as your do-it-all, I think it’s getting too small.

42. Will Rain says

    February 23, 2023 at 11:28 am

    I am curious to know what makes switch on Jones Mountain Twin only score 3.5 of 5. It is a true twin so should be 5 of 5 unless there is something else affecting the ability of its switch riding ability.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 24, 2023 at 9:04 am

      Hi Will

      Thanks for your message.

      It’s not a true twin. It’s directional twin. It’s maybe a little hard on it to give it 3.5/5 and could certainly stretch it to 4/5. But there’s a misconception about this board being a true twin. In it’s reference stance (and yes it has a centered stance and a freeride stance as well) it is setback 20mm and the nose is 1cm longer than the tail. Since they added the 3D contour to the base it has been easier to transition to switch, so I could get it to 4/5 now. That’s fair. But it’s not a centered true twin board, so not what I would consider 5/5. Also, I typically only reserve 5/5 for asym twin boards (which I feel ride even better switch than true twins) and only if they also actually feel good riding switch.

      Hope this explains it.

      Reply

43. Chris says

    February 9, 2023 at 8:09 am

    Hi Nate,

    I am currently looking for a snowboard for myself. I have been riding for 7 years and always been renting all seasons. Now as I beelive I am experienced enough, I wish to get a good board that suits me.

    I enjoy speedy rides, mixed with ground tricks and thinking about trying out the park when I get the board.

    I am 173cm in heights and 70kg

    Currently deciding between”
    Capita DOA
    Burton instigator pure pop
    Team Nitro

    For binding:
    Union strata
    Burton genesis
    Burton malavita
    K2 lien AT

    I haven’t thought about boots but I am thinking about Burton photon.

    It would be great if you could recommend me your preference for the snowboard and please help me which boots and binding would work well together with the snowboard.

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 9, 2023 at 6:14 pm

      Hi Chris

      Thanks for your message.

      The Instigator is pretty soft and likely to get wobbly at speed and given you like speed, I don’t think that would be the best option. The DOA and Team would both work well. Neither great for powder, but if you don’t tend to see powder much or if it’s never that deep, that shouldn’t be an issue. The DOA isn’t great in icy conditions either, in my experience, so if you were to get hard/icy conditions regularly, then I’d be leaning Nitro Team.

      Whether you were to go Team or DOA, the Photon would be a good match, IMO. But there are plenty of options in a good flex range, and I would go with the boots that fit with your feet the best. Some things to consider:

      >>How to Size Snowboard Boots

      Sizing Snowboard Boots: The Different Brands

      But anything in around that 6/10 to 7/10 flex in the boots would be a good bet. Some more options:

      >>My Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

      Assuming the Photon were to be a good match for your feet, they would be a good option.

      In terms of bindings, any one of those options would work for sure. You probably already know this, but I like to be sure, if you’re going Burton, make sure to get the Re:Flex model (the EST models only work on channel system boards).

      You could also go up to like a 7/10 flex for the bindings, if you wanted to go stiffer, but those options will work with either board, IMO. If you wanted some 7/10 flex options, I’d look at:

      >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

44. Nav says

    February 7, 2023 at 6:49 pm

    Hey Nate, I was just curious on what sizing I should get for the MTN Twin. I’m 6’2 175lbs with Size 12 boots. I’m really hoping I can fit on the 156W because I do like having a smaller size for park. Would that be wide enough at the inserts? Also is the Assassin comparable to the MTN Twin? That’s also another option, thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 8, 2023 at 12:43 pm

      Hi Nav

      Thanks for your message.

      I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 160, so the 159W is the first size I’d go to. However, the 156W isn’t out of range and given you like to ride smaller, I think it’s certainly a doable length. Width-wise, I think you’d be alright, depending on your binding angles, your boots and how deep you like to carve. If you’ve got bulkier boots, quite a straight back binding angle and like to carve deep (like eurocarving kind of thing), then you’re probably going to want something wider. But with the right factors it could be wide enough for you. If you could let me know your boot brand/model, binding angles and how deep you like to carve, that would help to get a better idea.

      The Assassin is similar-ish. Not the same, but it’s the kind of board you’d get for doing similar things. Size-wise, though, you’d have to go to the 158W – it’s the smallest size that would be wide enough. Note as well, that the Assassin 158W, despite having a wider waist width, than the MT, isn’t really any wider at the inserts. Assuming a 22″ stance width, you’d be looking at around 272mm at the inserts. With the same stance width around 272mm at back insert and 271mm front insert on the 156W MT.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Nav says

        February 8, 2023 at 4:36 pm

        Thanks for the quick reply Nate! I wear Thirtytwo Men’s Lashed Double Boa Boots with my binding angles at 18/15 with a 22.5 inch stance. These boots were surprisingly low profile compared to my photons (in length). I do enjoy carving but don’t really go into the deep carves. Is the mountain twin a little stiffer than the assassin? Would it be just as playful as it? Thanks for all the input, awesome website btw!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 9, 2023 at 4:59 pm

          Hi Nav

          Based on that I think you would be OK on the 156W. No guarantees, but I would be confident personally if I had the same specs/setup.

          I would say the MT is a touch stiffer, but not much in it. But I would still say just as playful. Even though it’s stiffer that 3D spooning in the base mellows it out, allowing you to get more playful with it, in my experience.

          Reply

45. Peter says

    February 3, 2023 at 12:25 pm

    I am torn between YES Standard and Jones Mountain Twin. Advanced rider doing curving most of the time on. What size would you advise? I am 179cm height weight 70 . boot size 45.5EU (US 12) . Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 4, 2023 at 1:55 pm

      Hi Peter

      Not much between them, IMO. Are you riding powder very often and if so, is it very deep. If you’re advanced and carving a lot and don’t really see deep powder, then the Standard Uninc might be a better bet. But if you did need that powder performance, then Standard or MT are better bets. Between them, I would lean Standard, if I had to choose, but not a wrong choice between them, IMO.

      Size-wise, I would be looking at the 156 for either the Standard or Standard Uninc, for your specs. For the MT, I would be leaning 156W. Unless you are used to riding something 159+, in which case, the 159/159W options come into play as well. But purely based on specs and how you describe your riding, I’d be leaning 156/156W.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Peter says

        February 12, 2023 at 3:23 am

        Hi Nate, thanks for advise! I will take a look closer at Standard Uninc. Size-wise I am only concerned if 156 will be wide enough for US 12 boots

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 13, 2023 at 1:38 pm

          Hi Peter

          Valid concern for sure. It would depend on a few things. Note that the 156 Standard Uninc is as wide as most wide boards. E.g. assuming a 22″ stance width the Mountain Twin 156W is around 271mm at the front insert and 272mm at the back insert. The Standard Uninc 156 is 273mm at the inserts.

          If you were to ride them with a zero degree back binding angle, and assuming your boots have an average profile, then you’d be looking at around a 5.7cm total overhang – or around 2.9cm overhang per edge (assuming a 33cm outer boot length). That would be more than I’d be comfortable with. But if you’re riding with lower profile boots and they’re 32.5cm on the outer, then you could reduce that to 2.6cm per edge. Still borderline. But if you’re binding angles are +15/-15 or similar, then you’d be able to take another roughly 1cm off. At 2.1cm of overhang per edge, I would personally be very comfortable. Maybe if you’re eurocarving you’d want more than that, but in most scenarios that would be comfortable.

          So, it will depend on your boot’s profile, your binding angles and how deep you like to carve.

          Reply

          • Peter says

            March 3, 2023 at 7:48 am

            Thanks Nate. Very valuable comment! I will measure my current Burton Royal board and measure width on front, rear to have some reference point. My current stance is 21″ for sure . As for the bindings I am used to +18 front / -6 rear so yeah… have to measure and check if 156 standard uninc will be wide enough for me.

            As for the low profile boots – already bought Thirty Two TM-2 (2023) . Will measure them once i get them but hope they are rather on the low profile side. I still consider Burton ION but not sure if they will have lower profile… What do you think?

          • Nate says

            March 3, 2023 at 2:12 pm

            Hi Peter

            Burton Ion are low profile. But I also found the TM-Two, last I measured them, to be quite low profile also. Not quite as low profile as the Ion, but lower profile than the average boot.

46. Mark says

    January 21, 2023 at 10:27 am

    Hi Nate,
    Great reviews!
    I’m looking to get a new board. I’ve been riding since 1998 and ride all over the mountain. I Live in CO. I’m 5’10, 180 lbs, boot size 10.

    I want a twin or directional twin. I try riding switch and want to get better at it. Don’t do parks too often. If I do it is the kiddy park rails. I like jumping on the runs. Love the power on wide open Vail runs and like the trees on powder days. I also like riding the bumps. So I like a board around 158 to 160. The board I have now is a Solomon Drift 159 (2010 ?)

    I like to go fast, so a board that can carve and hold an edge on hard pack and ice is good to.

    So importance,
    1 Powder,
    1 Trees,
    1 Carve, Hold an edge on hard pack/icy conditions,
    2 Jumps
    2 Bumps
    2 Speed
    3 Switch

    I’m looking at

    Yes-Standard
    Jones-Mt Twin
    Capita-Mercury/Mega Merc
    Capita DOA/Super DOA

    Any of these stand out more than others? And any other boards I should be looking at?

    Thanks

    Mark

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 21, 2023 at 5:25 pm

      Hi Mark

      Thanks for your message.

      Standard/MT/Merc/Mega Merc all pretty similar for powder – all above average in powder without being powder dominant or anything, in my experience. DOA/Super DOA not great in powder, in my experience/IMO.

      For hard pack/icy conditions, I found the Standard the best of the list and the DOA/Super DOA the worst of the list. The MT/Merc/Mega Merc all pretty decent in those conditions, just not quite as good as standard, in my experience.

      For carving, Mega Merc, then Merc then the rest.

      For trees, I find the Standard and MT a little better in terms of short/sharp turns over the Merc and particularly the Mega Merc. DOA/Super DOA decent in terms of trees, but not great in powder in trees.

      For jumps, the Super DOA/DOA are great, but the Standard/MT and Mercury are all good for jumps too. The Mega Merc just a step down for me – I don’t like a board too stiff for jumps. Not too soft either, but Mega Merc was too stiff for me to really enjoy on jumps. Not terrible but not as good as the others.

      For Speed, it’s Mega Merc topping the list, IMO, then Merc/Standard/Super DOA then DOA/MT.

      For switch Super DOA/DOA, then Standard, then MT/Merc/Mega Merc.

      I think the Standard and MT probably strike the best balance between everything, but hopefully that gives you more to go off for your decision.

      Reply

47. Bryan Blacklidge says

    January 17, 2023 at 3:12 pm

    Hi Nate, you ranked the Yes Standard #1. The Angry Snowboarder on YouTube ranked the Ride Shadowban #1 in All-Mountain Freestyle. Are these boards in different categories? What do you think of the Shadowban? How about the Rome Freaker?

    I’m a solid intermediate rider. I can kinda let er rip and hit kickers and side hits, but not good with jibs or pipes—but I want to practice a little too. I just want a board that kinda does it all, is fast enough for a solid rider but not psycho, can still explore the mountain, but I do have my Backseat Driver Pow Surfer for the deep stuff. So I just need one more board for a 2 board quiver. Also, if you have time, could you give me your best guess and a size suggestion? I’m 6’2” and 165 lbs. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 18, 2023 at 2:50 pm

      Hi Bryan

      Thanks for your message.

      I haven’t ridden the Shadowban, so I couldn’t say for sure. I did ride the old Wild Life, which is what the Shadowban is replacing and they are very similar. The Wild Life was a fun board and I enjoyed riding it – but not something that I would have topping this list. The Shadowban isn’t identical on paper, just very similar, but in practice it might be something that I would rate higher, but can’t say until I’ve ridden it. Hoping to get on it this winter. I would put the shadowban in this category (all-mountain) because it’s directional twin. But something from here could definitely work and something like the Standard is more on the all-mountain freestyle end of the spectrum and you could certainly make an argument it as being all-mountain freestyle.

      You could also check out our all-mountain freestyle list.

      Haven’t tested the Rome Freaker.

      In terms of sizing for the Standard, if you could also let me know your boot size.

      Reply

48. Karl says

    January 17, 2023 at 1:23 pm

    Hi Nate, Thank you for the great reviews!
    I am looking to upgrade my snowboard for this season. Have over 14 seasons under my belt. I take about a week per year to ride either East or West coast (ability intermediate with experience). This year I am going back to Whistler-Blackcomb for a week. I have an older Atomic all mountain board that I damaged on a rock last year in Whister (off trail), I am looking to get into something a little more quality moving forward. Still leaning towards all mountain as I ride both East and West coast. Any recommendations?
    My weight ranges between 185 to 200 lbs. 5ft10.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 18, 2023 at 11:12 am

      Hi Karl

      Thanks for your message.

      Since it sounds like you’re looking for something that will be good in icy conditions but also decent in powder, I would look at:

      – YES Standard
      – Jones Mountain Twin
      – Nitro Team Gullwing
      – Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
      – Slash Brainstorm
      – Rossignol One

      With the Brainstorm and Terrain Wrecker being the most playful, the Rossi One the slightly more damp/aggressive option and everything else in between.

      If you can narrow it down to 2-3 of those I would be happy to give a specific sizing opinion on each. Generally speaking, I would say you want to look at something in the 158-160 range.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

49. David says

    January 11, 2023 at 9:47 am

    Hi Nate,

    Thank you for all of your reviews on different boards, as always. I am looking for my first board, been getting rentals before. This is my first season and I think I would classify myself as a beginner transitioning to intermediate (linking turns on all greens and some blues, starting to picking up some speeds). I am looking for that ONE board that can help me improve until I reach high-level intermediate/lower-end of advanced, even though it might be a little too far away for me right now. I am looking for an all-mountain board that’s stable at high speed but not too stiff, too many choices here and I hope you can help me narrow down the picks. I am interested in the Capita DOA & Mercury, and Burton Process Camber.

    For reference, I remembered the board I rented to start my first day was a 158 Capita Outerspace living. I learned almost everything basics till linking turns on that board, but I don’t really appreciate its design.

    I am 5’11, around 175-180 lbs, with US10 shoe size. Could you please recommend some boards (with binding & boots will be even better!) that fits my level of experience and my interest in progressing?

    Thank you for your time!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 12, 2023 at 11:35 am

      Hi David

      Thanks for your message.

      As a high-end beginner/low intermediate the DOA/Mercury wouldn’t be the first I’d recommend. The Process Camber doable, but I think you’d be better off going with something that will help you to progress better now – but still be good as you approach an advanced level, and I think there are boards that will do that better. I would check out this list and look for the all-mountain options there.

      If there’s nothing there that really stands out to you, then I would sooner look at the likes of the Jones Mountain Twin, YES Standard, Nitro Team Gullwing or the Bataleon Goliath. IMO those would all be boards that will make it a little easier to progress on but still very much be good until an advanced level – and even at an advanced level, depending on how you’re wanting to ride.

      From the options you suggested, I would go Process Camber over the others. From Capita the OSL would be the best bet, IMO, but sounds like you’re not so keen on that.

      Size-wise, I would be looking at around that 157/158 range. For the Standard I’d go 156 (it’s wider), the MT 157, the Team Gullwing 157 and the Goliath either the 156 or 159. If you like the look of any from that intermediate list, let me know if you want any specific sizing opinion for any of those.

      For bindings and boots, it would partly depend on the board you went with. But pretty much all of those options will be a 5/10 to 6/10 flex, so I would try to match there. If you go with a 5/10 flex board, then I’d be looking at 5/10 to 6/10 bindings. For a 6/10 flex board, you could still look at 5/10 to 6/10 flex. 7/10 flex would work too, but I would err to slightly softer than that. Same goes for boots. Some good options in those flex ranges:

      >>Top 5 Freestyle Bindings

      >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

      >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

      >>My Top Freestyle (medium flex) Snowboard Boots

      >>My Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

      Hope this helps

      Reply

50. John says

    January 3, 2023 at 3:17 pm

    Hi Nate,

    Great site, love all the info. With so many options I am trying to narrow down my search for a new board this season. Im 41 years old and have been riding for 20+ years. With a good 5-7 year break. I would consider myself a high intermediate to advanced rider. I am looking for that one board quiver killer that will suit my needs.

    I am 6′ 175lbs with a size 9.5 Adidas Boot. Bindings TBD (trying the Med size Nidecker Supermatic)

    I would like a board for bombing down the mountain, rarely ride switch and rarely if ever do jumps or ride in the park. Something that holds a good edge and has effortless turn initiation. Also stable at speed on uneven terrain. I would like to do some tree runs with it as well.

    I live on the West Coast in SoCal so mostly riding CA mts and some CO spots some ability to float in powder would be nice too.

    I have been looking at boards from Arbor, Lib Tech/Gnu, Jones, Burton, and Capita

    Any help on suggestions would be greatly appreciated

    -J

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 4, 2023 at 11:25 am

      Hi John

      Thanks for your message.

      For what you’re describing, I think you’re in the right place.

      I think something like the Typo, Terrain Wrecker and Brainstorm are probably going to be too playful for what you’re after and the Shiloh perhaps not ideal either, because of powder performance, but everything else on this list is a potential, IMO.

      You could also look at something like the GNU 4 x 4, which is in the aggressive all-mountain category, but it’s on the less aggressive end of that category.

      Not to try to give you too many options, but if you’re not really riding switch or doing any park or jump stuff, you could also check out the following:

      >> My Top 10 Freeride Snowboards

      >>Top 10 Mellow Freeride Snowboards

      There’s a pretty big variety there, so check the score breakdowns and specs of the boards carefully (particularly if you’re not looking to go too directional/tapered), particularly in that second list. Some there might be a little too aggressive, in terms of your desire for effortless turn initiation, so probably those in the second list are more appropriate – the first list are stiffer, more aggressive rides.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • John says

        January 14, 2023 at 11:33 pm

        Hi Nate,

        Thanks so much for your reply! I’m having a real tough time narrowing it down based on the boards on those lists. Here are the boards on my list, any help crossing some of those off would be appreciated:
        Jones MT 157
        Capita Mercury 157
        Burton Skeleton Key 158
        Yes PYL – 159
        Capita Kazu 157
        Lib Tech BRD 159
        Rome Ravine Select 158

        Thanks,

        John

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 16, 2023 at 4:07 pm

          Hi John

          Will try to help give you some things that might help to knock some off.

          The Ravine Select is a rather stiff board and not something that I would call an effortless turner. Since that was part of what you were wanting, I think you could cross this off the list. The Mercury is something that I haven’t found to be super quick edge-to-edge, so wasn’t my favorite in trees.

          The rest hard to go wrong for what you’re describing, IMO. But here’s some other things to consider.

          Of the remaining boards, in terms of icy edge hold, I would say this order:

          PYL/BRD
          MT
          SK/Kazu

          In terms of powder, I’d say:

          PYL/BRD/SK/Kazu
          MT

          Ease of turn initiation

          MT
          SK
          PYL/BRD/Kazu

          Stability at speed

          PYL
          BRD/Kazu
          SK/MT

          Reply

51. Darren says

    November 27, 2022 at 11:00 am

    hey nate, good morning/afternoon/evening

    as like a lot of folk here, just after a bit of a recommendation for a new board
    stats:
    5’8 / 173cm
    72kg
    boot size 9.5uk (thirtytwo double BOA)
    current board – Bataleon ET 154cm
    bindings – Burton Cartel
    Riding style – all mountain
    level / experience – between beginner/intermediate – 31 days = 5 trips

    aims for a new board – i love my Evil Twin but in icy/sunny conditions it is not much fun on the groomers. its a board i feel is better in powder or a fresh dump. i would like something i could learn to carve with too as well as a bit of speed.
    But mainly a board that is great on ice but is still somehow forgiving with edges (if that is even possible. im still a bit scarred from a bad fall when i first started out but i do believe i have way more control obviously that has come with experience so maybe i dont need to think about a catch free board as much)
    Brands i have researched before the article for ideas – LibTech Terrain Wrecker, Jones Mountain Twin. there are other boards i have seen like Gnu and Yes! but not had much time to check these out further

    finally, thanks for the article. the info is great and does help for ideas of where to start

    cheers

    Darren

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 28, 2022 at 2:22 pm

      Hi Darren

      Thanks for your message.

      The first board that came to mind is the YES Typo. It’s pretty catch free and pretty mellow but good in hard/icy conditions and what I consider a very good option for a high end beginner/low intermediate rider. The Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker-, as you’ve mentioned is also a really good choice. The Jones Mountain Twin too, though, IMO, it’s not quite as good in hard/icy conditions, but not far off. It’s also a little bit of a step up in terms of level from the other 2, but again not by much – so it’s still an option.

      Size-wise, I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 156. Taking off a little bit of size for your level is a good idea, IMO, so the 155 Typo and the 154 TW and the 154 Mountain Twin would be what I’d be looking at.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • darren says

        November 29, 2022 at 1:54 am

        Hi Nate

        as ever, thanks for the reply

        i will check out the YES Typo and see what comparisons i can make with the TW.

        just a question on a board from one of your other articles, would you think the LibTech Ejack Knife is a bit too advanced for me? or would it still be fine to progress on? i found a site with my size and the price seems reasonable too so was just curious if i should consider this also

        cheers and best regards

        darren

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 29, 2022 at 1:39 pm

          Hi Darren

          The Ejack Knife is a more challenging/aggressive board and easier to catch an edge on. IMO, for your level it’s a bit of a step too far.

          Reply

52. Jorn says

    November 18, 2022 at 7:34 am

    Hello Nate,

    We are going snowboarding again for the first time in 3 years! I currently own a Salomon sabotage 159 from 2013. I like the board but it pisses me off beyond belief when I skid out due to toe/heel drag. The dude who sold me the board said “its fine u don’t need a wide board”. I am 192cm 105kg and got size 46 feet (6″2, 230lbs, between us 12 and 13). The salomon waist width is 251mm. Another downside of it is I literally sink in anything which isn’t groomed. Which leads me to thinking I need something wider (270+) and longer (165+)!

    Some background the last years I have been mainly spending my free time kitesurfing. I got a custom made kiteboard which is very very stiff and longer then “normal’. I like the locked in feel and that I can load it up without the board giving way due to to much flex.

    While snowboarding I do mainly ride one direction (10% switch). I like to butter a bit, hit the park once a while, do some 180s on and of the tracks(3s when I manage to land one). Go trough the trees next to the tracks. So a bit of everything. I guess an (aggresive) all mountain would be a good fit. And maybe a freeride board? Apparently these are stiffer and more directionally focus compared to the all mountain ones.

    I have been googling for shops and browsing boards from the all mountain and freeride lists. Snowboard waist width should be around 272mm according to the width sizing charts.

    What I have looked into:
    Donek, I love Ryan Knaptons style but will never be at his level + too expensive too long waiting etc.
    I found a cheap Never Summer West Bound 166DF which is 285mm!! at the waist, 400 euro.
    Lib tech skunk/stump ape similar but stump outline is a bit wider so could go shorter I guess.

    Jones Ultra All Mountain
    Bataleon goliath+ I like the graphics of the regular one. But its on the softer end already apparently.
    Everything from Weston also seems to be on the wide side. However the list just keeps growing….

    I have the feeling I might be overcomplicating things. The Never Summer board is about E300 cheaper then the rest on the list. Is there such a thing as too wide? Or do you think this will be a good fit?

    Hope u can help me clarify matter a bit!

    With kind regards,

    Jorn

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 18, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      Hi Jorn

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah, you’re board is way too narrow (and also too short), so I’m not surprised you get boot drag and find you aren’t floating well in powder.

      There is such a thing as too wide though. I personally really dislike boards when they’re too wide for my feet, unless they’re quite a bit shorter than my typical size. So yeah, you can go too wide, IMO.

      Length-wise, I would be looking in that 164-166 range. It’ll take a bit of getting used to compared to your 159, but will be worth it in the end. Given that you like your kite board longer, then you could potentially look at something a little longer than that range too.

      Width-wise, something in that 272-280 range for waist width is a roughly about right, but you may be able to go narrower depending on a few things.

      a. binding angles. If you have binding angles you know you like, then if you could let me know them. If you’re riding with quite a bit of angle on your back binding, then you can get away with going narrower.
      b. Boot profile. Some boots have a lower profile outersole. When this is the case, you can get away with going narrower if you want to – which opens up the possibilities. Can you let me know the make/model of your boots?
      c. Some boards have more or less width at the inserts compared to the waist width, so waist width isn’t always the most accurate way to judge. Some boards are as little as only 5mm wider at the inserts vs the waist – and some as much as 15-20mm – so this can be a big difference. Most are around 8-12mm wider than the waist, but sometimes there are options might look too narrow that could work and sometimes there are options that look wider than they actually are.
      d. How deep you like to carve. If you’re not really carving that deep, then you can afford to go narrower. If you like to get really low in your carves, then you need to account for that and go a bit wider. If you’re eurocarving, for example, then you’ll want to go wider

      With the 166DF West Bound, I feel like it’s borderline too wide for you. However, if you are eurocarving, then I think it could work. Otherwise, I would try to err a little narrower.

      But yeah, if you could let me know those things – binding angles, boot brand/model, how deep you like to carve, and I can do a deeper dive into what I think would be the best options to look at.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Jorn says

        November 19, 2022 at 6:45 am

        Hi Nate,

        Thanks for the reply!

        Angles: -12,+15
        Boots: Salomon dialogues size 12 us from 2015 I think.
        How deep I like to carve? Deeper than where I boot out currently…. an eurocarve looks fun but it’s not on my bucket list per se.

        Width wise yeah the West bound is pretty chunky. The widest boards for some brand seems to be around 270mm.

        Too wide will be harder to get edge to edge? Needs more rider input/effort as I understand things.

        With kind regards,
        Jorn

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 20, 2022 at 11:34 am

          Hi Jorn

          Yeah if a board is too wide for your feet, then it’s slower to get edge-to-edge and requires more effort to do so, so it can get quite fatiguing and for me just not as much fun overall, if you’re having to really put your weight into every turn. I like the option to be able to throw my weight into it and lay a deep carve but I don’t want to have to for every turn – like to be able to do some relatively lazy turns during the course of the day as well.

          With a 12 degree angle on your back foot, I think you could go as low as around 267mm waist width – but it would depend on the particular board in terms of width at inserts. The Dialogues aren’t super low profile, but I think something around that, depending on how wide it is at the insert could work. Some options include:

          – Arbor A Frame 165MW (266mm waist) – don’t be put off by the mid-wide label, or the waist width. This thing is pretty wide at the inserts vs the waist. Assuming a stance width of around 540mm it’s around 280mm at the back insert and 282mm at the front insert, which is as wide as most with a 270-272mm waist width. And you’ll likely ride with a wider stance than that, which will make those width at inserts numbers higher.

          – Jones Ultra Mountain Twin 165W (267mm waist). Around 282mm at the back insert and 281mm at the front insert. It’s a little wider at the back because it’s not tapered but has a small setback. This is assuming roughly a 22″ (560mm) stance width. This is more what I would call an aggressive all-mountain board as opposed to a freeride board.

          – Jones Flagship 165W (266mm waist) around 278mm at back insert and 283mm at front insert. A little narrower at back insert than the other 2 above. The 169W if you wanted to err longer, would give you an extra 4mm everywhere in terms of width. And by the sounds of it you liked your longer kite boarding board, so you might like the extra length here.

          – Nitro Pantera 166W or 169W. Not a board I’ve ridden but it’s supposed to be pretty stiff and has a 271mm waist width on the 166 and 272mm waist on the 169. Not sure of width at inserts unfortunately, but if it’s similar to other Nitro boards I’ve ridden, which it likely is, then it’s likely around 10-11mm at the inserts vs the waist

          – Nitro Team Pro – again haven’t ridden but I rode the regular Team and liked it. It’s more aggressive all-mountain than freeride, but the 165W has a 272mm waist width

          – Nitro Magnum 167W – again not ridden but 272mm waist width

          Reply

          • Jorn says

            November 20, 2022 at 4:44 pm

            Hey Nate!

            Thanks for the reply.
            Of that list no to the Arbor A frame for some reasons its 800 bucks here… (mainland Europe).

            Still looking at the Jones UMT or MT. Theres a regular 165W for sale for 450 right now. The UMT is 650.

            Nitro team Pro overlooked this one. I think a friend of mine actually has one. Ill ask him about it. Not as pretty as the rest but also a bit cheaper at 500.

            Pantera/flagship/magnum currently leaning more to the more twin shapes even though I do not ride switch that much. The magnum looks very cool though.

            New runner up: Yes Standard, friend B owns one and loves it. I disregarded them since they seem small width wise but they go out pretty wide at the feet. Another plus is they put board width at inserts at the website. So a 167 has a 266 waist but 281 underfoot width!

            The still not so shortlist:
            Jones MT 165W
            Jones UMT 165W
            Nitro team pro 165W
            Yes standard 167

            Jones flagship 165/169W
            Nitro magnum 167

            Guessing I can not go wrong with the above? Want to charge more UMT / flagship / magnum / team pro. Want to chill more MT / standard.

            I’ll check out the black friday sales and see if I can pick something up then. Thanks a lot for your replies.

            Off topic I also like all the data and table stuff on board width length etc.

          • Nate says

            November 21, 2022 at 11:15 am

            Hi Jorn

            Yeah, I didn’t mention the Standard and regular Mountain Twin only because you mentioned that you liked your kite board stiff. So I was looking at options in that 7/10 or stiffer range. But if you were happy to go a little softer, they could certainly work. They are what I felt as a 6/10 flex.

            The Standard is wider than it looks – and yeah nice to see them publishing underfoot widths now – them and Jones and Nidecker are all doing it now – hopefully more follow.

            There’s also the Standard Uninc – not as good for powder, but a little stiffer, better for speed/carving, versus the regular Standard. Though, it doesn’t come in the 167. Longest is 162. It would be wide enough, at around 283mm at inserts, but might not be long enough.

53. Paul G. says

    October 22, 2022 at 11:12 am

    Nate,

    Great article. Like everyone else, I’m looking for a recommendation. I’m 6’5″, 200 lbs, and I’m looking for an All-Mountain/Freeride type board. I’m relatively new, but would want a board that I could not “outgrow”. Not going to be at the terrain park much (if at all), but want something that will carve groomers pretty well and not be too out of place in the trees, powder and backcountry (snowshoeing to snowboard…don’t want a splitboard). I have an IKON Pass, so will be doing mostly central Colorado slopes (Copper Mtn., Winter Park, Eldora and A-basin/Aspen a few days out of the year). Some sites have ratings for All-Mountain Freeride boards, which pretty much describes what I’d probably want.

    What’s your recommendation for all of this?

    Thanks,
    Paul

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 24, 2022 at 10:19 am

      Hi Paul

      Thanks for your message.

      I would be looking at something from either this list or this list. Check out the score breakdowns to see which might be the best bet for you – and full reviews for more details as well. There are some from the mellow freeride list that won’t be as appropriate, for example, as they might be more powder specialist.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Ferdinand says

        November 12, 2022 at 9:04 am

        Hey Nate, thank you for putting this list together! Has definitely been helpful!

        I am currently looking to upgrade my board this year. Currently rocking a Salomon Pulse that I picked up when I first started about two seasons ago. Looking to upgrade to a more intermediate to advance board to progress my riding.

        I am currently eyeing the Capita Mercury 2023. I am 5’7”, 145lbs. My Salomon is size 152. Do you think a 150 would be okay for me with this type of board?

        Thank you!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 12, 2022 at 3:55 pm

          Hi Ferdinand

          Thanks for your message.

          If you could also let me know your boot size, and I can give a more accurate opinion. Also if you could tell me a little bit more about how you like to ride. e.g. trees? park? powder? faster, more aggressiver or more cruisey? anything about what you like to do on a snowboard is helpful.

          Reply

          • Ferdinand says

            November 12, 2022 at 5:07 pm

            My current boot size is a 9.

            So far I’ve been doing mostly cruise runs on groomers. I am looking to do more aggressive and fast riding and carving, something that would be stable with speed. I will also be looking to start learning some tricks on the board, as I am near several resorts now and will probably be going more often to hit up the slopes.

            I consider myself to be an intermediate rider at this point, and really hoping to progress more this season. Not sure if the mercury would be too difficult for my current level.

            Thank you Nate!

          • Nate says

            November 14, 2022 at 3:03 pm

            Hi Ferdinand

            Thanks for the extra info.

            I think the 150 would be your best bet for the Mercury for your specs and based on what you’re describing. 153 would be doable, but as an intermediate rider and particularly as you’re looking to also incorporate some tricks, I think 150 is your best bet. I think you should be OK with the Mercury. It will definitely be a good step up from the Pulse and will likely be challenging, particularly at first, but certainly better for riding faster and more aggressively.

          • Ferdinand says

            November 14, 2022 at 3:48 pm

            Thank you Nate!

            Definitely appreciate you providing me with feedback! I am looking at some of the snowboard packages and was wondering which binding set you think would be best with the Mercury and the type of riding I am looking to do. So far, I am looking between the Union Force vs Ultra vs Strata. All the bindings seem to have good reviews and their sets of pros and cons.

          • Nate says

            November 15, 2022 at 6:32 pm

            Hi Ferdinand

            For the Mercury I would be leaning either Force or Strata, with the Ultra being doable, but a little on the soft side for the Mercury, IMO. Between the Force and Strata, the Force has a more smooth, even, consistent response with the Strata a more dynamic, springy response. The Strata has better board feel, so better for tricks, IMO.

54. adam says

    October 17, 2022 at 1:18 pm

    Hi Mate, just got rid of my beloved Forum Destroyer Double Dog 156 now looking to purchase a new All mountain board

    I am 5ft 10, 82kg 8.5 Boots

    I want a fun all mountain board that i can charge groomers, handle Ice, hit a few jumps, and get into the of piest/ powder and any opportunity but its not always guaranteed!! I get to the Alps probably two weeks a year

    I am currently thinking Capita Merc or Jones MT in 157 (ish). Read your reviews and others and still struggling

    Would probably pair with Step on Genesis and Photon

    Any advice is greatly appreciated

    Thanks

    Adam

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 18, 2022 at 9:27 am

      Hi Adam

      Thanks for your message.

      Based on what you’re describing, I think the Jones MT and Mercury would be good bets. They’re not what I would call the top dogs when it comes to icy conditions, but they’re what I would call 4/5 icy conditions boards.

      I haven’t ridden the Forum Destroyer Double Dog, so can’t say from experience the differences, but based on the specs for it, the MT and Mercury will almost certainly be better for powder, carving and speed. It looks to be more of a freestyle/park board.

      That boot/binding combo would match well with either board, IMO.

      Size-wise, I would put your “standard all-mountain length” at around 159, but with 8.5 boots, I would be erring on sizing down a little – so 157 for the MT and Mercury would be a good bet. Less need to size down if it’s UK8.5 – but I’d still be looking at 157 for either of those boards for you – particularly given you’re coming from a 156. But if UK8.5 is the case, then the 159/160 do become possibilities, but I’d still be leaning 157.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • adam says

        October 19, 2022 at 4:59 am

        Thank you, really appreciate your help

        What abot the Mega and Ultra version of both? are they significantly more aggressive?

        I want something i wont progress out of quickly but don’t want something that’s excessively hard work to get it singing

        In your opinion which is the better Powder/ Ice Edge hold/ All round good fun

        Again thanks for your help, its amazing the platform you have created!!

        Adam

        Reply

        • adam says

          October 19, 2022 at 5:13 am

          Also i am probably closer to a UK 8 tbh

          Seem to UK 8.5 in street shoes but 8 maybe even 7.5 in boarding boots but have not bought my photons yet so cant say exactly

          Also whats your view on the DC Judge step on? not seen too many reviews on it

          Reply

          • Nate says

            October 19, 2022 at 11:25 am

            Hi Adam

            For the width of board (in terms of it being potentially a bit wide for you) it’s more feet than boots that really matter (as that’s ultimately when most of your leverage is coming from). When it’s the other way round and you’re boots are borderline too wide for a board, then it’s boots that come more into play. But if you’re feet are more UK8 or even 7.5, then I’d be even more so leaning to the 157s.

            I am yet to test the DC Judge Step On but based on the non-step on Judge, I think it would work well with that setup. I feel they are a 7/10 flex, which IMO would be a good match for the board setup and the way you describe your riding.

        • Nate says

          October 19, 2022 at 11:21 am

          Hi Adam

          They are both quite a bit more aggressive, particularly the Mega Merc, which is quite an aggressive board. It’s the kind of board that you do have to work quite hard with, in my experience. It’s fun when you put the work in, but doesn’t really let you ride casual or get too lazy. The Ultra Mountain Twin isn’t quite as aggressive and does let you get a little more lazy when you feel for it, but it’s still one that prefers to be ridden more aggressively. Also note that the regular Mercury is also a little more aggressive than the regular Mountain Twin, in my experience. I don’t think the regular versions are something that you’d progress out of too quickly. I mean if your style is going to be quite aggressive a majority of the time, then you might feel they’re not quite up to it speed-wise, but for all-round boards that you can ride at least moderately fast – and are also fun ridden slow, they are good bets. But do note that the Mountain Twin moreso than the Mercury, which isn’t quite as fun riding slow and a little better when you want to really bomb.

          For powder, they are hard to separate.

          For icy edge-hold, if I had to say, I’d go with the MT. But pretty close.

          For all round good fun, I’d be leaning mountain twin personally, mainly because I err a little more playful than aggressive for the most part.

          Reply

55. Kyle says

    August 30, 2022 at 9:56 am

    Hi Nate,

    Two years ago I’ve started my journey in Snowboarding and I love it so much, and it became my hobby and favorite sport. Now I’ve reached to mid-level with my efforts and want to improve my skills.

    For 2 years I was renting boots and snowboards from Ski resorts. Now I want my own equipment for this sport.

    I saw that you’ve helped a lot of people and that’s amazing support from your side.
    And I really hope that you will help me to choose boots and snowboard for All mountain, as I want to learn carving and enjoy freeriding in a powder.

    My physical stats:

    Height: 6’4”
    Weight: 176 lbs
    Shoesize: 10.5 (44 EU)

    Which boots/snowboard size and models will fit perfectly for my case?

    Thanks,
    Kyle

    Reply

    • Nate says

      August 30, 2022 at 10:27 am

      Hi Kyle

      Thanks for your message.

      Since it sounds like your main focus is on carving and powder, I think something directional makes the most sense. Because you are a mid-level rider, which I take to mean intermediate, I wouldn’t go too stiff, so something from the following list would be a good bet, IMO:

      >>Top 10 Surfy (mellow) Freeride Snowboards

      Some in there are more powder specialized and won’t give you as much for carving, so be sure to pay attention to the score breakdowns, to make sure the board is good enough in the factors that you’re looking for. I’d be leaning towards the Hybrid, Navigator, Skeleton Key, Hyper or Scout for you.

      Sizing would depend on which you went with but in general something in the range 159-161 would be a good bet, IMO. In terms of width, with 10.5s you’re on the cusp between regular width and wide, so it will depend on the board. If you can narrow it down to 2-3 boards, I would be happy to give my specific sizing opinion for each one.

      For boots, I would be looking at something around 6/10 to 7/10 flex. With the style you’re looking at I wouldn’t go too soft, but also as an intermediate rider I wouldn’t go too stiff. I think that range should work well for you. For some good options to look into check out:

      >>My Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

      Hope this helps

      Reply

56. Brian Levine says

    August 1, 2022 at 3:37 pm

    Yo Nate,

    I need your help. I am in the market for a new snowboard. My current board is from 2013 and I’m waaaay overdue. All the new snowboard tech is a bit overwhelming. Here’s my stats:
    I ride Taos Ski Valley, I’m 5’9″ 154Lbs. I do not ride in the park (no tricks) I prefer the steeps, technical trees, freeride, big fast carved turns,… I’m avid in the backcountry on my splitty. I’m used to riding something in the 160cm range, but I understand how tech has been improving and changing. I would consider myself an expert rider and have 28 years on snowboards, and a total of 42 years on the snow skiing/snowboarding.
    I would love some help in finding my new ride…..

    Reply

    • Nate says

      August 2, 2022 at 12:05 pm

      Hi Brian

      Thanks for your message.

      I think you could size down a little bit, you can ride boards a little shorter these days. That said, you don’t have to size down too much, given your riding style. I would put you on roughly a 156 as your “standard” length. Given you’re used to 160 and given your style, I think something around that 157 to 159 range would work well. But if you could also let me know your boot size, that would be helpful too.

      Given your style, I would probably be looking at something freeride. You could either look at something more mellow or more aggressive given your style, the more aggressive option is probably your best bet. The 2 lists below, I think would be your best bet.

      >>Top 10 Surfy (mellow) Freeride Snowboards

      >> My Top 10 Freeride Snowboards

      The only reason you may not want to go too stiff, is because of your weight. So something on the more precise side from that first list could work – like the Lib Tech BRD, Burton Skeleton Key or Burton Show Stopper (if you can find one – they’re not bringing back a 2023 model, unfortunately). Otherwise, lots of options on that second list that I think would be suitable. If you can narrow it down a bit further from there, happy to look at sizing for a few options to help narrow it down further.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Brian Levine says

        August 6, 2022 at 4:23 pm

        Nate,

        Thanks for the reply, so helpful. I wear size 10 street shoes. I’ll look at your lists and see what fits my profile.

        Beers,

        Brian

        Reply

        • Nate says

          August 6, 2022 at 4:58 pm

          Hey Brian

          With your shoe size I’d stick with that 157-159 range. And you should be good with regular width for most boards in that length range (assuming you your snowboard boots are also 10 or 9.5)

          Reply

57. Luke says

    July 13, 2022 at 10:25 am

    Hi Nate,
    I am a level 5, low intermediate rider (210 lbs, 6’3″, size 13 boot).
    I hit mostly groomers, back bowls, and some trees here and there, but would like to start trying out some tricks like buttering and small jumps (I ride primarily in Colorado). I currently have the Custom Flying V, but find it unstable at speed. I’d like something that will allow me to progress without being too unforgiving.
    I’m really struggling between the following:
    *Jones Mountain Twin w/ Union Strata bindings
    *Yes Typo w/ Burton Genesis bindings

    My main concern with the MT is that it is a bit stiffer than the Typo, so I didn’t know if it would be a little to demanding/exhausting for a low end intermediate rider who still wants a somewhat playful and forgiving ride.
    I was originally considering the Yes Standard as well, but with a size 13 boot, I don’t think I would fit on that board since it doesn’t offer a dedicated wide version.

    Can you help me decide between the two setups above given my riding style and goals?
    Please feel free to add additional suggestions for boards/bindings.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      July 13, 2022 at 3:25 pm

      Hi Luke

      Thanks for your message.

      The Mountain Twin would give you a little more stability at speed than the Typo, but would be more difficult to learn tricks on, with the Typo being the more playful board (as you’ve mentioned). The MT isn’t overly stiff though and is something that you can still do tricks on, but if that’s a main focus then the Typo would be easier. The Typo doesn’t offer a huge amount more stability than the Custom Flying V. It’s a little softer flexing than the Custom Flying V, but it does provide a little better stability through the hybrid camber profile versus the Flying V profile.

      So I think it depends on which one you want to prioritize more, stability at speed or playfulness for tricks.

      Those binding combinations would work well, IMO.

      The Standard is wider than it looks. In fact, the 162 would is wider a the inserts than the Typo 163W. Even if you go to the 159 in the Standard it’s still wider than the 163W Typo. For reference below are the estimated width at inserts of a few sizes of each board:

      – Typo 159W: 270mm at inserts
      – Typo 163W: 272mm at inserts
      – Standard 159: 276mm
      – Standard 162: 281mm
      – Mountain Twin 159W: 273mm at front insert and 274mm at back insert
      – Mountain Twin 162W: 275mm at front insert and 276mm at back insert

      So you can see that the Standard is actually wider than the others at the inserts (due the mid-bite it has), even though it’s similar at the waist (in the 159. The 162 Standard is wider at the waist than any of the other options).

      For your specs, I’d recommend 163W for Typo, 162 for Standard and 162W for MT. However, you could get away with the 159 in the Standard, if you wanted to err short, which would also make it more playful. Could almost get away with the 159W in the Mountain Twin as well. It would be small for you, but doable. But depending on the size of the Custom Flying V you currently have, if you go too short it will also negate some of the stability at speed advantages, so that’s something to keep in mind. I wouldn’t go as small as 159W in the Typo.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Luke says

        July 13, 2022 at 7:38 pm

        Thank you so much for the information and suggestions! Now that I see that the Standard would actually fit me, I’m starting to lean towards that over the Typo. Now I am down to the MT and Standard. Between the two, do you think one would work better for me than the other? The Standard having a slightly lower flex rating should allow for easier trick implementation while being a little more playful and forgiving, right? If it can still carve, remain pretty stable at speed, hit jumps, and float fine in powder, I don’t see a reason to decline that option (Standard) vs the MT. Let me know what you’d lean towards in my situation.
        Also, what binding would you pair with your choice?
        Finally, if I went with the 159 Standard instead of the 162, I’m assuming I would just be trading stability at speed for playfullness for tricks. Thanks again for letting me pick your brain!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          July 14, 2022 at 11:03 am

          Hi Luke

          Standard and MT are a really similar flex and really similar in terms of aggressiveness vs playfulness – both are that in between – they’re not ultra aggressive, but not super playful either. They’re right in the middle. You can get a little aggressive on them, but you can also get a little playful on them, when you want. Both are rated 7/10 flex by YES/Jones, but I felt both more at 6/10 flex.

          In terms of bindings, I would be looking at a binding that’s around that 6/10 to 7/10 flex. This should match your specs and the boards well. If you want to err more playful, then you could err more to 6/10. Given that you want to be doing tricks, I would make sure to get bindings with good board feel. On the lists below you can look at the score breakdowns to find those with the better board feel.

          >>Top 5 All-Mountain Bindings

          >>Top 5 All-Mountain Freeride Bindings

          Reply

          • Luke says

            July 14, 2022 at 6:59 pm

            I think either option I choose, I will go with the Union Strata bindings and Tactical ADV boots (size 13). For the board, my current length is 163W for the Custom Flying V, so I think I will go with the 162/162W option for the MT or Standard. They both seem so so similar and I am pulling my hair out trying to pick one. MT graphic is sick though!
            I’d be thankful if you just picked for me 🙂
            Thanks again for all of your insight. It is truly appreciated.

          • Nate says

            July 15, 2022 at 12:09 pm

            Hi Luke

            You’re very welcome. Honestly can’t go wrong with either. If I had to choose, I would go YES Standard, but really can’t make a bad choice. That boot/binding combo would go really well with either board, IMO.

          • Luke says

            July 15, 2022 at 1:45 pm

            Where did you get the width specs for these boards? I went to their respective websites and saw for a 162W MT, the waist width is 307mm and 268mm for the 162 Standard. This seems like a large difference. I couldn’t find any info/specs on the width at the inserts. I reached out to Yes customer service, and they said a 162 would be pushing it with a size 13 boot!

          • Nate says

            July 15, 2022 at 4:01 pm

            Hi Luke

            Yes the YES Standard’s waist width on the 162 is 268. I was stating the width at inserts, which is around 281mm. I actually have a specs sheet for 2023 YES boards which states it at 282mm at the inserts – a little wider than I have it at. Most brands don’t publish the width at inserts (although some are starting to), I get mine from measuring the boards myself, when I’m testing them.

            I can assure you the waist width of the 162W Mountain Twin is not 307mm. I’ve never seen a board with a a waist width that wide, like ever. The waist width on the 162W MT is 263mm. It is 307mm at the widest point of the tip and tail, which is where I think you got that figure from.

            282mm (which is what YES have measured the 162 Standard at the inserts as) is wider than a majority of wide boards. The only boards in the YES lineup with wider width (at inserts) than that are the 420 (front foot width of 304mm and a back foot width of 296mm), 20/20 (283mm at inserts) and 420 powderhull (284mm at inserts) – which are all quite specialized short wide boards. Some others are slightly wider at the front insert but not the back insert (which is usually the one that has the straighter binding angle, so is the one that’s most likely to cause boot drag).

            But yeah, I can guarantee you that the 162 Standard is wider than the 162W MT, so if you’re concerned about your board being too narrow, I’d be more concerned with the MT.

            If you’re really worried you could also look at some of Never Summer’s drag free sizes. Or more short/wide boards – but they tend to be more powder oriented and less suitable for tricks. But I don’t think you need to. I mean if you have a really flat back binding angle and really bulky boots, then you could have issues on the 162 Standard, but if not, I think you’ll be fine.

            I’m curious what YES customer service recommended, if they thought the 162 Standard would be too narrow?

          • Luke says

            July 18, 2022 at 7:41 am

            Hi Nate,

            Unfortunately YES didn’t make a recommendation. They just said it would be close. I do plan on using reduced footprint boots (thinking Tactical ADV size 13), so that should mitigate things a bit. I actually think I’m going to go with the 159 Standard to get a little more playfulness and mobility out of the board. Fingers crossed I don’t run into any toe drag or anything. I’m glad you had custom measurements for each board. That definitely gave me some peace of mind. The setup I have chosen is listed below.
            *Yes Standard 159
            *Union Strata Bindings (L)
            *Tactical ADV Boots (13)
            Cheers!

          • Nate says

            July 18, 2022 at 10:29 am

            Hey Luke

            Using low profile boots will certainly help. I think that’s a really good combo there. If you think of it at the time let me know how get on, once you’ve had a chance to get out on snow with your new setup.

          • Luke says

            July 18, 2022 at 8:03 am

            One last thing… when do you typically do your annual reviews on boards, bindings, boots, etc.? I may wait for 2022/2023 reviews, but I’m also aware that there will be limited availability with the manufacturing industry as a whole still being unable to keep up with demand (don’t want to get into a situation where things are out of stock!).

          • Nate says

            July 18, 2022 at 10:29 am

            I typically have all the snowboard stuff updated by mid to late September.

58. Bruce says

    May 4, 2022 at 11:38 pm

    Hi Nate,

    I messaged on the female boards for my wife. Was hoping to pick your brain for myself. I’m a surfer who started snowboarding with my wife when we started dating 8 years ago. I’ve been riding one of my brothers 2006 Palmer Prodigy 157 all this time. Not really knowing board differences I didn’t think much of it until I started researching. Realize I probably don’t have the best board for myself. He is also smaller than me, esp feet.

    I feel I’m higher intermediate. As I said in the other post, we stay in trees if it’s not all ice. We fly down anything groomed. Jumps are pretty much just obstacles that turn into ramps. I’m a surfer though so I have a “unique” look to how I snowboard as my wife says. Best way I could describe it, I crank carves like I’m going to go vertical on the wave or about to do a snap/cutback. I have noticed hitting my toes sometimes, never thought anything of it. I am 6’1″ 200-220 lbs (depends on how much junk is eaten at work haha) have 11.5 thirty two tm 2 boots that I just got. Use union force bindings.

    Anyways, I have been going over all your reviews best I can. Have picked out a few that might be up my alley. Wanted to see on sizes as well. Really just looking for one board to cover everything best as I can. Was thinking the Rossi One might be a good balance. Also the Yes Hybrid caught my eye as something that might go with my surfing background ( there is an UnInc model, not sure all the differences). The Capita Mercury and Yes Standard might work as well. I’m open to other suggestions to check out.

    I never minded the 157 length too much but would definitely have to go wider. Was able to get through the powder ok on my current board and have a blast. The one board is all I know though. I’m thinking I would have to go up a size 159-161 or so. But with trees we do, probably would want to go on the shorter side of the spectrum for my weight?

    Thanks for taking to time and answering my questions. Appreciate it.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      May 5, 2022 at 3:59 pm

      Hi Bruce

      Firstly, in terms of size, I’d say that you’re “standard all-mountain” length is around 162/163, but as you like to be in the trees a lot and haven’t felt any issues with a 157, you could certainly look at more around 159/160. Particularly if you’re going wide (which you should, IMO), I would err shorter, given your tree preference.

      For the Rossi One and Hybrid, size-wise, it’s between the 157/157W and 161/161W, respectively as they don’t have a wide size in between those sizes. The 161/161W would certainly work, but I think you’d get away with the 157/157W, given that you’ve been riding a narrower 157 and it’s felt fine to you. If you wanted to keep things nice and maneuverable for the trees, then the smaller size is appealing. The bigger sizes would give you better float in powder and more stability at speed, so there’s a tradeoff. For the Standard the 159 should work really well size-wise, IMO. For the Mercury, it’s between the 158W and 160W – again depending on whether you wanted to err for more speed/float or more maneuverability. My experience with these boards, the One and the Standard have been the more maneuverable boards compared to the Hybrid and then the Mercury. But note that that’s based on the 156 Standard, 159 Rossi One, the 157 Hybrid and the 157 Mercury – not wide versions (apart from the Hybrid of course).

      Reply

      • Bruce says

        May 7, 2022 at 1:42 pm

        Thanks for the information really appreciate it. Definitely have to think about the 2 sizes. If trees are a no go and have to do groomed, the longer will probably work best.

        Hybrid I feel would be the gamble, but could be the most fun if it works. The Standard and One will probably be safe bets. Decisions decisions haha.

        I’ll keep an eye on your site for hel yes links for next season boards. Would like to support the site. I’ve learned alot from it.

        Thanks again!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          May 9, 2022 at 4:57 pm

          You’re very welcome Bruce. And much appreciated re using our links.

          Reply

59. Aditya says

    March 23, 2022 at 11:22 am

    Hi Nate

    Great Reviews and knowing what gear to choose helps my confidence and riding a lot. I wanted some gear advice.

    My background: Based on your skill level chart, I am a 5 (intermediate). Have 15+ days of riding under my belt and am able to go fast on blues and attempt groomed blacks. Still trying to learn bumps on blacks.

    Weight & Height: 143 lbs, 5’5”

    My style & Goals: Eventually, I would like to freeride more but occasionally would like to show off some tricks to friends. But I think based on your comments, a stiff free-ride style board might not be ideal for me at this stage. I could always buy a freeride board later on when I reach skill level 6-7. So I am looking for all mountain or all mountain-freestyle board with a flex not more than 6/10. Next year, I plan to learn a few tricks like switches, jumps etc. I also enjoy speed a lot and hit top speed of 43 mph this year. Would like to improve that next year. Would also like to navigate bump/moguls on blacks with ease and finally would like to learn how to carve on blues. I can carve on greens but skid sometimes on blues especially when I am going fast.

    Boards I have demoed: I have demoed Burton Process Flying V and Burton Custom Flying V and I was comfortable on both boards. I think i enjoyed both a lot and I was able to handle stiffness of Custom Flying V well. In terms of size, I tried Process 155 and was really comfortable with it on high speeds but struggled a bit with bumps where I had to do sharp turns. With Custom, I tried 150 and 154, I felt it was difficult to build speed on 150 and the board would start turning rather than straightlining. 154 was great to go fast but I didn’t try bumps with it so not sure how well it would do.

    Gear I have : I have Burton Ruler BOA boots (US Size 7).

    I would like to buy a board and binding that would serve me for 3-4 seasons atleast without outgrowing it.

    Q1. Could you help me rank these boards for me:
    * Burton Process Flying V
    * Burton Custom Flying V
    * Yes Typo
    * Yes Standard
    * Jones Mountain Twin
    * Neversummer Protosynthesis
    * Neversummer Snowtrooper
    * GNU Rider’s Choice
    * Libtech Terrain Wrecker

    Q2. I have also not demoed any camber boards. Do you think at this stage I should try softer camber boards before buying my first board. If yes, for Level 5 intermediate, which camber boards would you recommend ?

    Q3. How useful is magnetraction ? Which boards would you recommend I try to get a feel for that ?

    Q4. I am a little biased towards burton since I get 20% discount, could you help me find boards in burton other than process and custom that would suit my skills and style.

    Q5. For bindings, could you help me decide between these 3 ?
    * Burton Cartel
    * Burton Cartel X
    * Burton Genesis
    Based on your advice, I think if i get a burton board, i will get EST otherwise will get Re:FLEX.

    Basically, you could say that with so much out there I am very confused, If you could narrow down the options to 3 options for me for board and bindings, I would just accept your word and stop researching and get something that I can ride. I think I have spent far too much on rentals and would like to get a board now specially since I already got a Ikon Pass next year 😀

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 24, 2022 at 3:57 pm

      Hi Aditya

      Thanks for your message.

      Size-wise, I would say something around 149-151 for your specs is a good way to go. Given that you found the 150 Custom Flying V not to your liking at speed, it might be that it’s a little looser than what would suit you best. Not surprised you found the 155 more difficult for sharp turns – IMO it’s in the too big category for your specs.

      Q1

      * Burton Process Flying V – may be too loose for what you’re after
      * Burton Custom Flying V – may also be too loose for what you’re after
      * Yes Typo – would be a great option for everything you’re describing, IMO
      * Yes Standard – potentially a little on the advanced side, but I think it would work and I think you’d get away with it
      * Jones Mountain Twin – would work well for what you’re describing, IMO
      * Neversummer Protosynthesis – potentially a little advanced, but doable
      * Neversummer Snowtrooper – on the softer and looser side, but would certainly be an option and not as loose as the Flying V profile, IMO – just might not be ideal, given that you like speed
      * GNU Rider’s Choice – on the looser side as well, but still not as loose as Flying V – but again, given how you mention speed, it might be a little off for what you want
      * Libtech Terrain Wrecker – ditto Rider’s Choice

      My instinct for you, would put them in this order:

      * Yes Typo
      * Jones Mountain Twin
      * Yes Standard
      * Neversummer Protosynthesis
      * GNU Rider’s Choice
      * Libtech Terrain Wrecker
      * Burton Custom Flying V
      * Burton Process Flying V
      * Neversummer Snowtrooper

      Q2

      You could to get a feel for it and see if you like it. On what I think would be a suitable size for you, something like the Arbor Westmark Camber or Burton Kilroy Twin could work, but I suspect they wouldn’t have the speed that you’re after.

      Q3

      Magnetraction is pretty useful if you’re in icy conditions. But it’s not the only edge tech going around. In my experience YES’ underbite and mid-bite are very good in icy conditions and other brands have good edge tech as well. Note also that camber (all else being equal) helps with edge hold more so than rocker. So camber dominant boards do tend to be better in icy conditions, all else being equal. But edge tech, like magnetraction, certainly makes a difference. Trying the Rider’s Choice or Terrain Wrecker would give you a good feel for how magnetraction feels.

      Q4

      You could look into the Skeleton Key – it’s a softer flexing, mostly camber board. It’s camber back to the tail with some rocker before the contact point at the nose. It’s probably more solid intermediate, but you might find it works for you. I would go with the 150.

      Q5

      I think the Cartel or Genesis for most of those board options. The Cartel X is stiffer. You could put the Cartel X on some of those options – like anything 6/10 flex – but I wouldn’t put it on anything much softer than that – and not as suitable for your level. The Genesis and Cartel would go well on pretty much all of those options, IMO.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Aditya Siddhant says

        April 1, 2022 at 6:18 pm

        Thanks a lot for your feedback Nate. Based on your comments and some additional research I did, I think Jones Mountain Twin / Typo would be the way to go. Now, both of them are not available. But Twin Sister is available. Considering that I am short, lightweight and have boot size US 7, would you recommend, I just go for twin sister 149 or 152 ? Based on the width sizing recommended on this blog, I think 149 would be more suitable but 152 would probably give me a little bit more ability to use it in powder and perhaps a bit more stable at speed.

        So my first setup would be this:

        Burton US Men’s 7 Boot
        Jones Twin Sister 149 or 152 (please help me decide)
        Burton Genesis S bindings

        Everything on this list is medium / medium-soft flex. Let me know if this looks good and something that I should go ahead with. I searched for differences between men’s and women’s boards and it seems like it mainly just boils down to width and I think going for the women’s board is actually advantageous for me because by boot size is on the smaller side.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          April 4, 2022 at 6:07 pm

          Hi Aditya

          Apologies for the slower than usual response – have quite a back log I’m working through right now.

          I think the Twin Sister would be a good option. Both sizes would work. I think 149 is probably the better size for you for for right now and fits your boot size better, but 152 is doable, and would give you more stability at speed and better float in powder, as you say. And it should be easier for tighter turns than something like the Process 155, being shorter and narrower than that. And given that you had trouble with stability on the 150 Custom, I would be leaning 152 in this case. But 149 certainly still suitable.

          Overall setup looks good to me.

          Reply

60. Cory Watson says

    March 21, 2022 at 6:01 pm

    Hey awesome article. Your responses are great.

    Male, 6.2, 230

    Been riding 2012 burton joystick 159W since 2012 haha.

    I’d love a board great for all mountain with less designed for park & butters and more for low chatter w speed on groomers and powdery tree runs. What would you recommend for size wise and board?

    I thought I’d ask before getting the never summer proto sythesis 162DX

    Thanks

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 22, 2022 at 2:30 pm

      Hi Cory

      Thanks for your message.

      If you could also let me know your boot size, that would be awesome. Also really important for sizing.

      The Proto Synthesis would suit a lot of what you’re describing, but not that great in powder. And also might be that you can go with something more directional, if you’re not planning on doing much in terms of freestyle with the board. Be happy to look at some options if you can let me know your boot size – and also whether or not you still want something twin (as in if you still want to do some freestyle/switch riding) or open to going more directional.

      Reply

61. Brian says

    March 15, 2022 at 11:01 am

    Hi Nate,

    I am an advanced rider who loves to do double black moguls/backcountry/woods/bowls at mountains all across the West, and I like to go reasonably fast down them. I can enjoy the occasional groomer but pretty much never go into the park or butter. Also, I live in an area with no snow, so I have to fly and book my trips well in advance and be able to handle whatever conditions are out there with a single board.

    My length should be in the 154cm to 156cm range. I previously had a 156cm 2015 Burton Custom, which I think is on the more aggressive end of boards suitable for this type of riding. It definitely took a bit of getting used to but I ended up really liking the power and stability until the foot channel broke recently, so I am now looking for a new board. I was able to turn on it pretty well on it as long as I kept my knees bent low.

    I was thinking of getting the 155cm Capita Mercury board as it seems similar to the Custom and is better reviewed, plus I would avoid potentially having the channel break again. What are your thoughts? Do you think there is a better board out there for me, something that is as fast/good at carving but maybe slightly less stiff?

    PS I am also tempted by the Slash ATV board, but fear that it would just be too stiff to handle moguls and really tight tree runs well. Do you agree?

    Thanks so much and keep up the good work,
    Brian

    Reply

    • Nate says

      March 16, 2022 at 5:36 pm

      Hi Brian

      Thanks for your message.

      The Mercury could work – and it’s going to perform better in powder versus the Custom, IMO. It is similar-ish, but with enough differences. My only hesitation with the Mercury for you is how you want something good for tight tree runs and moguls as well. The Mercury isn’t bad when doing those, but it’s also not amazing.

      I would look into the Nitro Team. It’s very similar to the Custom, but just a touch softer (6/10 flex by my feel, versus 6.5/10 on the Custom). That’s what I would consider the closest board to the Custom. If you wanted something similar, but without the channel, that would be what I’d go to. You could also look at the YES Standard (or the YES Standard UNINC, if you can wait for 23 models – it’s a full camber version of the Standard) – depending on boot size, sizing down to 153 might be the way to go on that one.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

62. Angus says

    February 21, 2022 at 2:28 am

    Hi Nate, thanks for the great article this has been really useful in honing down on what to look for in my next board. I’m a fairly advanced rider mostly spending time in Europe (so pretty mixed conditions), am 6ft 3 inch and weigh around 80kg. To give some background, I’m currently riding a 158 Nitro Suprateam, which is pretty stiff and real fast. I’m looking for something a little more forgiving that screams fun, something easier to jib/butter on but that can also hold some pace and have fun on in powder. Maybe even looking at going down to a 156. Top of my list atm are there yes standard and lib tech terrain wrecker, I’m keen for your thoughts though.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 22, 2022 at 11:30 am

      Hi Angus

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the Standard or TW could work as a compliment to your Suprateam. I haven’t ridden the Suprateam, but based on other Nitro boards and it’s specs. If you wanted to really focus on jibbing, buttering etc, then there’s definitely softer boards for it, but since you want to keep some speed and powder performance, I think these would work. The TW is the more playful for the 2, if you wanted to give yourself a bigger difference between your boards, but the Standard would still work. For the Standard it might be the case that the 156 is the best size for you. For the TW, the 157 might work well, given that your looking for a more playful ride out of this board. But if you could let me know your boot size as well, that would help to better predict the best size.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

63. Tom H. says

    February 7, 2022 at 12:38 pm

    Nate – Thanks for this awesome website that you run and all the reviews that are clear and easy to understand. It has been invaluable in helping narrow down the options. I am looking to upgrade my current set up which belongs in a museum now. No joke, we are talking late 1990’s gen 1 K2 clicker system on a Nitro Storm 162 with traditional camber (that’s all we had back then….and we liked it!). As old as it is, it rides well but the boots and bindings need to go so I might as well look at a board too while I am at it.

    I am in the market for an all-mountain board that is well suited for the east coast (New England) resorts where the conditions can be variable. Ideally, the board is stable when running groomers at a good clip early in the day, is forgiving enough to handle the conditions as they deteriorate throughout the day, where it be chop or ice, and is fun to tool around on when cruising slower when I am riding with my kids. Manmade snow degrades to ice here and a board that can perform in that is a factor, although not the most important factor. I never hit the parks nor do I aspire so it’s not a concern nor am I in the backcountry seeking powder. 99% in bounds on manicured trails.

    I would say that I am a solid intermediate, level 6 using your ratings. I am 6’1″/165lbs and will be using a size 10 Burton Photon Step-On boots with the new board. Because I do like to ride the runs a little faster, I was leaning towards the 160 range. I am not bombing top to bottom at 50mph mind you, more like 25mph or so. After running a 162 for more than 20 years though, much shorter may feel a little too short. I tend to feel that is the right length but maybe I can afford to drop down as far to a 158 with the right board. The boards I am narrowing it down to are:

    Jones Mountain Twin – 160
    Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker – 160
    Rossi One LF – 159? (the 161W might be too wide)
    Ride Smokescreen – 162, although the 158 is a consideration. I don’t think you have reviewed this one but my local shop recommended this board as a versatile board that is fun to ride. You may not be able to comment on this one though.

    Any insight would be extremely appreciated!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 8, 2022 at 11:50 am

      Hi Tom

      Thanks for your message.

      Size-wise, I think around that 159/160 could definitely work. IMO you could ride in that 157-160 range with your specs, for how you’re describing your riding, but given that you’ve ridden a 162 for as long as you have, I’d be leaning the higher end of that range.

      Of the options you’ve mentioned I would be leaning Mountain Twin 160 and One 159 (I think the 161W would be too wide). They’re a little better at speed than the Terrain Wrecker – which is a little softer and a little bit on the looser side. That said, it can handle 25mph just fine. But for what you’re describing, especially given no park/freestyle and you’ve been riding a traditional camber for so long, I think the MT and One would be more suitable.

      You’re correct I haven’t ridden the Smokescreen so I can’t say much there, unfortunately.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

    • Jon says

      March 2, 2022 at 7:06 pm

      Hey so I own both the Rossi One and the Jones Mountain Twin, extremely similar boards, same caber profile, but just enough differences. The Jones board is faster, stiffer, it’s great going trough variable snow conditions, I typically take it out on pow days (I live in NH), and packed powder, also when I go out west. The Rossi is a softer flex, I think it’s much more forgiving. I ride it most of the season especially on icy days/frozen granular it has the best edge hold better than LibTech. If you live on the NE you will not regret getting the Rossi One.

      Reply

      • Nate says

        March 4, 2022 at 12:48 pm

        Hi Jon

        Thanks for sharing. Super helpful.

        Reply

64. Tony B says

    February 4, 2022 at 8:38 pm

    Hey Nate,

    Thanks for doing an awesome job on the website. It’s been a go-to for me doing all kinds of comparrisons on my next setup. It’s crazy that you can see a long line of comments and pretty immediate replies as recent as just a few days man, keep up the great work, the riding community appreciates it!

    Like most that come here I could use a little guidance on my next board.

    A bit about me as a rider, I am just getting back into boarding after about 12 years. I would say I’m probably an early to mid intermediate rider – I am comfortable hitting most blues @ Kestyone, Breck..etc and haven’t worked my way up to steeper longer runs of blues or blacks yet. I’m 32 y.o. , 5’8″ and weigh about 250 lbs with a size 9 boot, ex-football player build walking around on tree trunks basically. As far as the terrain I usually hit – its mostly groomers with a desire to start hitting trees at the resorts as my skills progress, practically no desire to hit the parks maybe some rollers and side hits and that’s the extent of my “freestyle” riding.

    I have been looking at several boards that I’ll list in a bit, but wouldn’t mind you confirming some of my thoughts on my board choice criteria. I don’t have a ton of experience riding different boards, bought a used board 20 years ago and rode it for about 8 years a couple days a year. Unfortunately I live in the midwest so demoing boards really isn’t an option – the only place within 2 hours of here to board has a whopping 5 runs.

    Because of my weight I am looking in the 158 – 162 cm range. For hitting trees I like the notion of a bit of a smaller board (158 – 159) and I figured because of my size if I go shorter I basically have 2 options – go with a stiffer board or go with a wider board. Not a big fan of going wider just because of my smaller boot and transitioning from heel-to-toe but could be convinced otherwise. I am thinking I could go with a flex of 7-8 to counteract my weight @ 158 – 159cm. If I go longer 160 – 162 I would probably go with a 5-7 flex. Does that sound reasonable?

    The other thing that has been hanging me up a bit is choosing a board profile. Because of the type of riding I want to do and not really wanting to trade up later I have been looking at a couple pure camber boards (Burton Custom and Custom X (if I go shorter) and a ton of hybrid camber boards staying away from hybrid rockers mostly because of my size and the type riding I want to do. My only concern with all the camber and hybrid camber profiles in these boards with me being at the early-mid intermediate “edge-catching” stage. Because of this – I have been toying with the Burton Flying V (or similar) if I go the “safe” route but don’t want the board washing out from under me either.

    Here is the list of boards I’m looking at, you mind providing feedback on my assumptions and board choices? I opted to stay away from some other common board like the Jones Mountain Twin and some Arbor boards because their weight charts have me @ a 163+cm minimum which leads me to believe the board materials aren’t quote as robust as some of these others.

    Burton Custom – 162cm (256 mm waist)
    Burton Custom X – 158cm (254 mm waist)
    Capita Mercury – 159 cm (259 mm waist)
    Lib Tech Coldbrew – 158W or 161cm (268 mm waist) / (265 mm waist)
    Lib Tech T. Rice Pro – 159cm (259 mm waist)
    Never Summer Protosynthesis – 158 or 161 cm (255 mm waist) / (256 mm waist)

    Thanks for all the help Nate!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 6, 2022 at 2:48 pm

      Hey Tony

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly, in terms of size. I think your reasoning sounds reasonable. In terms of going a bit stiffer if you go shorter. And yeah, I think those size ranges will work given your looking to ride trees and given your level. I would go a little stiffer before I went a little wider.

      I think some Hybrid Rockers could still work for sure, depending on how much camber and how much rocker. Some Hybrid rockers are more camber than rocker and can feel quite stable. E.g. something like the Protosynthesis – it’s Hybrid rocker, but it’s more camber than rocker dominant. As far as full camber goes – it might be alright. Some lower intermediate riders are OK with it. For others it can feel catchy, so it can hit or miss. In terms of the Custom X, I feel like it’s probably too stiff, especially when taking into account the full camber as well. Even if you size to the likes of the 158.

      The Cold Brew and T Rice Pro are hybrid rockers that are, I wouldn’t say rocker dominant, but more rocker than something like the Proto Synthesis. Also as far as the T Rice Pro goes, it’s not something I liked in trees – felt quite slow in terms of transitioning between edges.

      As far as the weight recommendations go – I wouldn’t say it’s reflective of the robustness of the materials. Brands set those recommendations – and as far as I can see it’s more about their opinion on what sizing is best depending on weight and also I’d say it’s also partly about marketing. In any case, I wouldn’t worry too much about it in terms of robustness – e.g. Jones isn’t a brand that is known for breaking, cracking etc more than any other. They’re weight recommendations are always pushing going longer in board size compared to a lot of other brands, but it’s more about their views on riding your board longer, than the materials used. Well that’s my take on it anyway. Some brands – like Never Summer – don’t even publish weight range recommendations.

      But yeah, I think the Mercury could work as well as the Proto Synthesis (I’d be leaning 161) and the Custom, if you think you’ll be alright with the full camber. Definitely other options, but given you’ve already narrowed down to those. IMO, I would say that the Custom and Protosynthesis are a little better at slower speeds versus the Merucry – so a little easier for slower more technical runs in trees etc.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

65. David says

    February 1, 2022 at 7:27 am

    Hi Nate! I already wrote you on instagram but I’m not sure if you got the message? So I try it again on your website. 🙂
    I need some help… Yesterday was such a bad day on the groomers. In the morning there was a little bit of soft snow but beneath that it was literally just ice. And after an hour or so all the soft snow was pushed into a lot of small bumps and moguls. And between them there was ice. Ice – snow bumps – ice – snow bumps. All the time. With my Capita Asymulator, fresh sharpend edges, I had no chance. I really had to dig hard into the edges/lay the board on a high angle to get some grip on the ice but as soon as I got some there was the next snow bump in front of me and I lost the grip again. I also wasn’t able to move around those bumps because as soon as I tried to manipulate the sidecut and the direction the board is moving, I lost the grip and sliped away. So it was “black or white”, hard carving or slipping, no “grey tones”. But even when following the sidecut, the next snow bump wasn’t far away.
    So I’m looking for a board with a very good edge hold on ice, that can either blast through those bumps without losing grip or is able to do these small slalom things. It would be nice if this board is able to do more than those black-white stuff on ice. Is something like that (grip on ice with a low angle) even possible? And if so, what do you think would be a good option? For these kind of board I neither need good switch ability nor want to butter it.

    I was thinking about the GNU Gremlin but I really hate the blue graphic… The green one of the last years model was okay (I have a green jacket and a brown pant) but the blue one … If this would be the best of the best options for me in terms of the board itself, maybe I can life with it… But maybe there are other options. 🙂

    I’m also thinking about sellig the Asymulator and build a 3 board quiver. The Salomon Dancehaul as my main groomer board for those good days, nice grip, some pow, because the Asym is too stiff for me buttering it and it’s really hard even on gentle pow. The Yes Dicey or the NS Proto Slinger as a soft beginner park board (because I would say I’m quit good at carving, but I suck in the park…). And the 3th one for those shitty days, that will give some fun and not let me want to go home after a few runs. What do you think about this?

    Thank you very much for your time!

    My specs: 172cm, 72kg, US8/8.5

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 2, 2022 at 3:53 pm

      Hi David

      Thanks for your message – I typically answer faster here than on social media. I will get to social media messages, but this is the fastest way to get a response at the moment.

      I think the idea of a 3 board quiver like that is a good idea – so you’ve always got a suitable board regardless of conditions.

      In terms of your icy board, the Gremlin would certainly work for what you’re describing, but there are other options too, if you can’t get past the graphic. Something like the Rossi One or YES Standard from this list could work in the right size, but since you’re not worried about it performing well for switch or butters or anything, then you could look at something like the Lib Tech BRD or YES Hybrid, which I think would work well for what you’re describing.

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

      – BRD: 153 – you could go 156 as well, but for what you’re describing, I would be erring shorter – and I think 153 is overall a better match for your overall specs, particularly when taking into account how you describe wanting to use this board
      – One: 153 – same as above, you could do 156 as well, but in this case, I’d be leaning more to the 153
      – Standard: 151 – this board is wider, so sizing down a little more than for something like the BRD is a good idea, IMO.
      – Hybrid: 153 – might be on the big side still even in the 153, given how wide it is, but it’s the smallest size.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

66. Jeronimo Diaz says

    February 1, 2022 at 12:51 am

    Hi Nate,

    Congrats for your reviews! It is really helpful.
    I was wondering if you could give me some advise. I just turned 49 and somehow realized that most people I go down the slopes with are skiers. My friends seem to leave aside the snowboard as they approach the half-century age. I have no interest in following that path whatsoever but having a board that helps me following these folks skiing down the groomers would be quite handy.
    Therefore I seek speed and stability. Obviously, safety is welcome given that, especially at my age, any fall at high speed could be the last one.
    I am 49 yrs, 5’7″ (170 cm), 154 lbs (70Kg), boot 10US.
    I had the chance to try the Bataleon Jam 156, and after a few minutes getting used to it, it showed to be fast and stable.
    I was also thinking about the Burton Custom X.
    Any other ideas?

    Thanks a lot!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      February 1, 2022 at 1:26 pm

      Hi Jeronimo

      Thanks for your message.

      The Custom X would certainly give you speed and stability. They are traits that definitely describe the Custom X. Just to be aware that the Custom X is likely more aggressive than the Jam (I haven’t ridden the Jam so can’t say for sure but based on specs) – the Custom X is stiffer (assuming the flex rating on the Jam is fairly accurate) and whilst the Jam technically has traditional camber, like the Custom X, with that 3BT, it really takes the edge off (from experience with another Bataleon board) – so you’d be more likely to find the Custom X catchy. Not necessarily, if you’re accustomed to stiff and full camber, but just so you’re aware, the two boards (on paper) aren’t really like for like. The Custom X is one of the more aggressive boards going around, IMO.

      Given that you liked the feel and felt that it was fast and stable, the Jam sounds like a good option to me. And 156 is spot on size-wise, IMO, for it. Around 156/157 would be a good way to go size-wise, IMO, for your specs and how you want to ride.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Jeronimo says

        February 1, 2022 at 2:28 pm

        Thank you very much for your prompt and helpful reply.
        I will go for the Jam then, I am sure it works nicely for my needs. The Custom might work too, but being very aggressive I think I’ll go for the safe bet here.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          February 2, 2022 at 4:17 pm

          You’re very welcome Jeronimo. I agree I think it’s the safe bet. If you think of it at the time let me know how you get on, once you’ve had a chance to get it out on snow. Happy riding!

          Reply

67. Jared Cutting says

    January 26, 2022 at 8:31 am

    Hi Nate,

    Great site…thanks for all the info and reviews. The more research I do, the more confused I seem to get, so here it goes. I am 43, 5’10.5″, 165lbs, size 10.5 boot. Looking to do a complete board, boots and bindings upgrade. Have been riding for about 20 years approximately 4-6 days per season (live in Texas) so has taken me that long to get to a solid Intermediate 5 moving slowly into a 6…would love to get to a 7! I do not do any jumps or park riding. Mostly resort groomers. Been watching a lot of Ryan Knapton videos lately and trying to practice/improve my carving. I have two young daughters aged 7 and 9 who are picking up the sport quickly and I mainly will be riding and keeping up with them as they progress.

    I have been on the same equipment for this entire time. I purchased a used K2 board from my college’s rental facility when they were doing an equipment upgrade about 17 years ago. I do not know what model it is (cannot find it on board or anything that looks like it online) but it is at least 18 years old. Has a camber profile. 155. I put Burton Mission bindings on it and wear Burton Moto boots (10.5). Bindings are about shot and laces going out in the boots so it’s time to replace everything.

    For some reason I have always wanted an Arbor board, I think mainly because I just love the look of a wood grained board (kinda lame I know). Had really been looking at the Shiloh Camber but a little disappointed to read it is not the best in powder. That isn’t a deal breaker as I don’t ride a ton of powder. (Do they have another model that fits my abilities and handles well in powder?) My most frequented spot is Wolf Creek in southern CO. They do get a lot of powder there but it’s rarely deeper than a foot or so and most of the time fairly groomed. I see you recommending the Jones Mountain Twin pretty frequently so have been looking at that…and assuming that the Jones wood grained flagship would be far too advanced for me?

    So again, mostly carving down groomers, occasional trees and shallow powder, keeping up with youngsters. May try to learn a little buttering or riding switch but that will be the extent of any of my freestyle riding. Looking to see what you would recommend to someone like me, board boots binding combo. Not looking for budget items…I am willing to spend what I need to spend to get me into the right setup as this next purchase will probably be with me for the next 10+ years! Have you reviewed the Burton step in bindings?

    Jared

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 27, 2022 at 3:58 pm

      Hi Jared

      Thanks for your message.

      Yeah the only real downside of going Shiloh Camber for what you’re describing is the powder. It is fine in shallow powder though, so if it’s never too deep, then it should be fine. Kind of the downside of only have either rocker or camber boards (and no hybrids), is that you have to go either rocker or camber. The Shiloh Rocker a good bit better for powder, but if you’re looking to improve your carving in the Ryan Knapton mold, then you’d want to go camber rather than rocker for an Arbor board for sure. Because of the uprise fenders and the way Arbor does their camber, the Shiloh camber isn’t bad as a typical directional twin, full camber board is in powder, so that at least helps a little.

      To get a little more powder performance, you could look at something like the Arbor Crosscut Camber. It’s the same camber, but it’s more directional. You’d sacrifice a little in terms of butters and switch, but would gain in powder versus the Shiloh. It is a little stiffer though – so not quite as suitable for that level 5 level though, IMO.

      The Mountain Twin I think would work well for your situation, IMO. The Flagship, unfortunately, I think would be a little too advanced for right now.

      Size-wise, I would go 156 for the Shiloh camber and 157 for the Mountain Twin. With 10.5s, you’re on the cuff for some boards in terms of width, but both these boards are wide enough for 10.5s in those sizes, IMO, so no worries there.

      In terms of bindings and boots to match, I would look for something with a 6/10 flex. For both boards something in the 6/10 to 7/10 range is ideal, but I would be leaning 6/10 because it’s a better match to your level as well. For some options to consider, check out:

      >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

      >>My Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Jared says

        January 27, 2022 at 6:52 pm

        Thanks so much Nate! I had been looking at the Union Strata bindings and after your reply think I will go that route. If I were to pair those with the Adidas Tactical ADV boots in 10.5, would you go medium or large on the Strata’s? I will be getting either the Shiloh Camber or Jones MT, FYI.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 28, 2022 at 4:22 pm

          Hi Jared

          With Tactical ADV 10.5s, I would be leaning Medium for Union bindings, but you could go Large as well, in terms of boot fit. But with the Strata having quite a long base plate, I’d be leaning medium, in case they’re a little big for the board in the Large.

          Reply

          • Jared says

            March 18, 2022 at 2:49 pm

            Hey Nate. Just wanted to report back that I got the Shiloh Camber, Union Strata’s and Adidas Tactical ADV’s. Took them up to Wolf Creek a couple of weeks ago and man what a great setup. Board is a lot more stable at higher speeds than my old one, carves great too! Thanks for the recommendations, spot on. Was a little concerned with the stiffness of the Adidas out of the box, but they took about an hour to break in and are super comfortable. Thanks again…will be recommending your site to anyone I know looking for new gear!

          • Nate says

            March 19, 2022 at 12:25 pm

            You’re very welcome Jared. And thanks for the update – always good to hear back. Thanks for using the site and the recommendations. Much appreciated. Happy riding!

68. Jordan H says

    January 25, 2022 at 5:34 pm

    Hi Nate,

    Just wanted to say thank you so much for what you do in the snowboarding community. I was hoping to get your opinion on some gear, as I’ve always been using rentals/borrowing gear, and now I’m looking to get my own. I’ve been snowboarding for around 5 seasons now, a few days every season, and would say I’m about level 7 using your skill levels (based on my ability in the parks). I have a budget of around 1200-1500, but I’m not sure if that’s a good amount, as I have never purchased equipment for myself before.

    Specs:
    Sex: Male
    Height: 5’8
    Weight: 155 lb
    Level: 7
    Barefoot Measurement – 269mm

    I’m looking for a board, boots, and bindings that can handle most resort terrain and cruising, as well as a board that can do well in the parks (mostly medium and large jumps). From my research, an all-mountain board is what I’m looking for, and the Yes Standard looked good, but then again I really don’t know enough about sizing to make a decision on the board length and width. What would your recommendations be?

    Again, thank you so much for your help, and if there’s anything else I can provide let me know.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 27, 2022 at 3:28 pm

      Hi Jordan

      Thanks for your message.

      For what you’re describing, I think an all-mountain board is the way to go. Unless you weren’t really going to be riding powder – or the only powder you were likely to see wasn’t that deep – in which case you could certainly look at an all-mountain-freestyle board like these ones.

      But assuming you want something that’s still going to be decent in powder, something like the Standard would work well – as well as others from this list.

      Size-wise for the Standard, I’d say go 153. I’d say your “standard all-mountain” length is around 155. But I would err smaller than bigger in the case of the Standard with your foot size as it’s a little wider than the average regular width board. But the 153 isn’t super wide or anything, so I don’t think you’d need to go shorter than that.

      For bindings to match the Standard, I would look at something around 6/10 to 7/10 in terms of flex. Anything from one of the following, in that flex range, would be a good bet, IMO:

      >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

      >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

      For boots, again, something in that 6/10 to 7/10 flex range would be a good bet, IMO, to match the Standard and how you describe your riding.

      >>My Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

      And I think that budget should be fine for everything. If you go Standard, that’s only 500, then you should be able to get good quality boots and bindings in that flex range for around 700.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

69. Sean Breslin says

    January 21, 2022 at 10:33 am

    Hey Nate,

    I was hoping to get your feedback on my current snowboard setup. I would consider myself a high level beginner/low level intermediate rider. I weigh roughly 180-185 lbs and about 5′ 11″ tall and I ride primarily the regular position. I purchased the 157cm Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker with the Burton Step On bindings (Size M) and the Burton Photons (Size 10.5). I have the bindings set at -15/+15. I’m not sure if it’s the new feel of the Step On bindings but something feels off to me. I’m finding it hard to control my rear foot which makes it hard to maneuver the board. I don’t recall having these struggles when I would rent boards with traditional strap bindings. Do you think it’s just a matter of getting used to? Possibly my binding settings? Thanks in advance for all your help!!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 22, 2022 at 4:01 pm

      Hi Sean

      Thanks for your message.

      Step ons are certainly something that takes a bit of getting used to – they’re a different feeling from traditional strap in bindings, so that could be part of it. But it might not be just that. Coming from rental boards, it’s hard to say what you were riding, but getting used to the board will likely be quite different to the rental boards. E.g. if the rental boards were heavier, different camber profile, different sidecut, etc, there’s always a bit to get used to.

      Another thing worth trying is experimenting with your stance. Try wider and narrower stances and experiment with binding angles. This can you help you find your sweet spot. It’s likely the new setup is something you need time to get used to – but it never hurts to try different stance setups to see if that helps – just remember to change one thing at a time, so you know what it is that you liked and didn’t like.

      Reply

70. Sean says

    January 19, 2022 at 6:35 am

    Hi Nate,

    Thank you for all that you do!! Such a tremendous help. Your precise write ups take the common uncertainty out of online purchases. Really gives us the “feel” of the product through your words that we read. So awesome!!

    I was hoping to get some of your feedback if I could? I am looking to purchase my 16 y/o son his first snowboard setup. Im a little hung up as to which gear to go with. He is in the beginner stages of snowboarding but has taken a strong liking to it and is progressing fast. We ride mostly at the resorts here in the East Coast (PA,NJ,NH,NY). Alot of icy conditions here locally but I am looking to eventually get him up further North for some powder runs in Vermont or Miane. I was looking to get him a reasonably priced setup.
    An All Mountain board he can progress on for a little bit as he learns and grows. Based off your reviews I’ve found interest in the Salomon Sight & Yes Standard. He is rather tall at 6′ 3″ and about 145 lbs. He wears a size 11 snowboard boot (11.5 in sneakers) so I believe he needs a wide board. He rides switch at the moment but tells me he feels he likes to ride regular predominantly. With his sizing and style do you have any additional input as to board suggestions and size? It would be greatly appreciated.

    We were also looking at the Union Flite Pros & the Burton Mission bindings.
    Kinda stuck as to which pair of boots as I don’t want to get him ones too costly just for him to outgrow.

    Thank you again Nate for your time and input throughout the past few years. All the best!!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 19, 2022 at 12:19 pm

      Hi Sean

      See my reply to your other message.

      But realized I didn’t mention anything about the bindings.

      I think the Flite Pro would likely be too soft for the likes of the Standard and Rider’s Choice mentioned in the other reply. They would be fine with the Sight and doable on the Money too, IMO. The Mission would be the better bet for the Standard and Rider’s choice – or the Union STR, which is stiffer than the Flite Pro, but still nothing crazy stiff and quite affordable.

      Reply

      • Sean Breslin says

        January 19, 2022 at 3:56 pm

        Thank you for the swift replies!! I wasn’t certain my other comment went through so I went and rewrote it. I see now that it did. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to both.

        Reply

71. Tonton Fab says

    January 19, 2022 at 2:48 am

    Hi,

    Thank you for these usefull tests!
    Cheers from EU,

    Tonton Fab

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 19, 2022 at 12:03 pm

      Thanks Tonton and you’re very welcome. Thanks for using the site!

      Reply

72. Sean says

    January 18, 2022 at 4:45 pm

    Hey Nate,

    I’d like to first thank you for all the great work you do. You’re reviews have been a tremendous help. So very detailed & informative. A HUGE help. So again, Thank you!!

    I am interested in getting my 16 y/o son a snowboard setup. We board here on the East coast at the parks & resorts. Mostly all Mountain terrain. He has rented a few times now and has really taking up an interest in getting his own gear. He is approximately 6′ 3″ tall and about 145 lbs. He wears a size 11 snowboard boot.

    I have read many of your beginner & intermediate snowboard gear reviews and it seems there are so many great options. I am a little stuck as to which gear to start him off with.

    Based off his specifications do you have any recommendations for a reasonable beginner/intermediate snowboard? Size?

    The Salomon Sight & Yes Standard are 2 that we have likened from your reviews. I also liked the Gnu GWO but I read that it’s more of a Freestyle board than an All Mountain.

    As for bindings we have taken some interest in the Union Force Pros & the Burton Missions.

    As for boots we were looking at the Burton Rulers or Motos.

    Your input is very much appreciated. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks Nate!!

    Reply

    • Sean says

      January 18, 2022 at 5:10 pm

      Correction*
      As for the Bindings. It was the Union Flite Pros & Burton Missions that we were looking at.

      Reply

      • Nate says

        January 19, 2022 at 10:40 am

        Hi Sean

        Thanks for your message.

        Firstly, in terms of size, I think something in the 153-155 range is a good bet for his specs and what you’re describing. With 11s, he’ll most likely have to go wide for most boards.

        Some good options, taking into account East coast conditions:

        – GNU Money 154W
        – GNU Rider’s Choice 155W – a little more of a step up versus the Sight and Money – bit of a steeper learning curve, but not quite as much as the Standard
        – Salomon Sight Wide 155W
        – YES Standard 153 – this one would be a steeper learning curve – what I would consider more solid intermediate than low intermediate

        Hope this gives you some good options to check out

        Reply

        • Sean Breslin says

          January 19, 2022 at 4:11 pm

          Thanks again Nate!!

          I didnt have much luck finding the wide sizes in the Gnu boards. I did find the Sight in both 155W & 158W. With him showing no signs in slowing down in growth. Would I be doing him any disservice by getting him the Sight in 158W?

          Reply

          • Nate says

            January 20, 2022 at 2:39 pm

            Hi Sean

            He’s not far off going with something longer like the 158W. The biggest concern there is weight. Weight, IMO, is a lot more important than height. The 158W is going to feel quite big for his weight. But it’s close. Add 15-20lbs and I think he’d be good on the 158W. At his weight now, it’s going to feel stiffer and harder to control in the 158W. Would be a more challenging size to begin with for sure. If you think he’ll put on that weight quickly, it could be an option. But if you think it’s the height that will be added faster than weight, then I’d stick with 155W and it should last him a while, if he doesn’t add weight too quickly.

73. CeKay says

    January 18, 2022 at 11:06 am

    Your site is so helpful man! I’m looking for my first board and want to go with all mountain. I already bought burton step-on boots & bindings. I’m between level 3-4 (about 10 days total spread over 20 years :). I’m looking to start going about 10 days per year.

    I’ll likely stay out of the park but I have a lot of skateboarding/surfing experience. I’d like to do stylish turns/carves, frontside surf-style slashes on banks, stuff like that. No butters, jibbing, rails, etc. Probably won’t ride switch much.

    Level 3-4
    40 year old male
    5’8″
    185 lbs (athletic weight)
    size 10 burton photon stepon boots/bindings.

    I was looking at Burton Instigator flat top (might outgrow quickly ?), Jones Mountain twin (maybe too aggressive?), and some others. Any recommendations for my specific level/goals/stats?

    Thanks!!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 19, 2022 at 11:48 am

      Hi CeKay

      Thanks for your message.

      Given your level, that you sound like your athletic and have the skateboarding and surfing experience, I think you’d likely outgrow the instigator too quickly. I think the Mountain Twin is doable – it’s a little bit of a stretch for your stated level, but you might be able to stretch to it. Otherwise, I would look at something like:

      – Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
      – Never Summer Snowtrooper
      – Ride Wildlife
      – Rossignol Resurgence
      – Slash Brainstorm
      – YES Typo

      Hope this helps

      Reply

74. Ryan L. says

    January 11, 2022 at 9:04 am

    Hi Nate,
    Thanks for putting all the time and effort into these writeups and listings. It’s incredibly informative!
    I’m a fairly casual boarder. When I was younger I learned to board in New Jersey at Mountain Creek (open at night, almost always a sheet of ice). Once I got a bit older I made a few trips west and saw what snow actually looks like on a mountain (Tahoe, Mammoth, Park City, Crested Butte, Breckenridge, Keystone, Whistler). I’m 33, and I’ve been riding on the same board for as long as I can remember. No significant thought went into it when I bought it, guy at store handed it to me and said here’s what you want. It’s been great, but the boots ripped wide open last week at Loon (New Hampshire). So I started thinking it might be time for some new gear.
    I’ve been on a K2 Raygun All Terrain Rocker circa ~2009, K2 Bndq.Collective bindings that came with the board, and K2 Haymaker Lace boots. All got the job done, can’t really say much more since they’re really the only set I can remember riding on.
    My board style is basically no park. Definitely no halfpipe, never ride switch. I’ll hit a rail or a jump on the side of a run on occasion but that’s about all. The rest is top to bottom. Sometimes fast, sometimes on a nice bowl, sometimes on a sheet of ice (still live in the North East), and most of my Mountain friends are skiers so I often need to go into mogul fields just to prove i can keep up.
    I board 5-15 days a year – hoping to increase that once my kids get a bit older.

    So I’m looking to regear entirely and the reading I’ve been doing as well as my love for the Arbor Board look had me thinking about a Arbor Element Camber, but I don’t love the look of this year’s model (I like the Whiskey a lot more asthetically) and it’s almost sold out everywhere. I also was looking at the Jones Mountain Twin. But I don’t know much about picking a board – It’s the kind of thing I’d like to do once a decade. I was also drawn to the ThirtyTwo Lashed Double BOA Boot, and really don’t have much preference on bindings so just looking for something that completes the package in the binding department.

    What would you suggest?

    Thanks! Ryan

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 12, 2022 at 11:11 am

      Hi Ryan

      Thanks for your message.

      Can’t really go wrong with the Mountain Twin, IMO. It’s something that will be a step up in performance from the Raygun for sure – and a little step up in terms of ability, but nothing crazy – and a rider with your experience will have no issues with it whatsoever. But it will allow you a bit more stability at speed, better for carves and it’s a little better for icy conditions too, IMO. At the same time, it’s not too much board either. It’s not something that’s going to be fatiguing your legs at the end of the day or anything like that.

      If you did want to look at Arbor you could also look at the Shiloh Camber. I think it would suit what you’re describing well – and I liked it more than the Element. But still nothing that’s too crazy advanced or anything, but still that step up in performance from something like the Raygun. That’s another option. It’s not as good in powder as the Mountain Twin, IMO, but a little better for carves.

      In terms of bindings to match, I’d be looking at something around 6/10 flex or up to 7/10 flex for those boards. Something from the following would be a good place to start:

      >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

      >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

      For boots, same thing, something in that 6/10 to 7/10 flex range. The Lashed Double Boa fits that range, so that’s certainly an option. If you have the chance to try on first, I definitely recommend it, even if you can just try on the brand and not necessarily the model itself – to get an idea of fit. If you can’t try on, then here’s some things to consider from different brands, depending on your foot:

      Sizing Snowboard Boots: The Different Brands

      And some general sizing/fit stuff;

      >>How to Size Snowboard Boots

      And some other options if you didn’t end up going Lashed:

      >>My Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

      Finally, in terms of board sizing, I’m happy to give sizing suggestions, if you’re not sure. Would just need your height, weight and boot size.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

75. Khalid says

    January 8, 2022 at 12:09 pm

    Hi Nate,

    Thanks so much for your super helpful and informative site, and all the time you take to answer comments (learned a bunch from reading your responses to comments in addition to your reviews).

    I’m 40 years old, 5’10”, 160 lbs, and a size 8 boot, and am looking to get a new all-mountain board. I’m currently riding a 156 cm 2013 Burton Custom Flying V Twin Limited, with 2013 Cartel EST bindings and 2008 Burton Ruler boots. So, it’s definitely also time for new boots and maybe new bindings (my bindings are in great shape, but I’m not sure if I’m going to go with a Burton channel board).

    I ride mostly in Ontario, Canada (typically hard packed, groomers, and somewhat icy, with the odd lucky day of a bunch of fresh snow), though I try to get out to Whistler or at least Mount Tremblant whenever I can. I’ve been snowboarding for about 12 years (switched from skiing), and I ride about 4-7 days per season, though I’m hoping to ride more this year and years to come. I’d say I’m intermediate to advanced for mountain riding, mostly riding blacks, getting into the trees, and getting on powder whenever I get the chance. I’m a low intermediate on freestyle aspects of riding (while on the mountain, no park or pipe for me), though I’ve been trying to focus more in the last couple of years on developing my switch riding, buttering, and some tricks (nothing all that fancy, just more 180s and getting more air on side hits and ollies).

    Before reading your top 10 for all-mountain boards, I was considering a Lib Tech Dynamo or a Burton Custom Flying V, both in the 156 cm size (though I saw your response in some comments that the Custom Flying V can ride quite loose, and I think I’ve been finding that with my current Custom Twin, so maybe it’s time to move to something else). Now I’m wondering if a Jones Mountain Twin could be a better choice for me.

    Would be great to get your thoughts on the right board (and size) for me, as well as boots and bindings to combine with (I took a look at your top lists for all-mountain boots and bindings, so got some ideas from those lists).

    Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 10, 2022 at 10:50 am

      Hi Khalid

      Thanks for your message.

      I think I’d be leaning more towards something like the Mountain Twin over the Dynamo, just because I think it’s better suited to freestyle stuff, which your looking to incorporate. And the Mountain Twin is a really good option for doing a bit of everything. Certainly not the only option, but if you’ve got your eye on that one, I think it would work as well as anything for what you’re describing. The Custom Flying V can feel a bit loose and not great in icy conditions. It’s a great board in good conditions – really fun and just really good at everything, but the biggest downside is the feel in icy conditions.

      Size-wise for the Mountain Twin, I would be leaning towards the 154. Length-wise, I’d say something around 156/157 is your best length, but most boards at that length will be wide for your boots, IMO, so sizing down is worth considering. The 157 wouldn’t be completely wrong but I would be leaning 154.

      If you think you’re set on the Mountain Twin, let me know and I’d be happy to suggest some boot/binding options. If you want other suggestions I’m happy to provide them, but if you want to keep the decision easy and fast, the Mountain Twin would certainly certainly be on the list of recommendations and is a good bet, IMO.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Khalid says

        January 19, 2022 at 9:02 pm

        Hi Nate,

        Thanks for this – super helpful!

        And really interesting to hear your thoughts about sizing down to a 154. That had never occurred to me, but it makes sense.

        I’d be curious to know a couple of other board suggestions that come to your mind, since I’d find it helpful to look at a couple of other options before deciding on the Mountain Twin.

        Thanks again!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 20, 2022 at 2:49 pm

          Hi Khalid

          Given that you still want something that’ll be good in powder, when available, and trees etc, but also something you can progress your freestyle riding on, something all-mountain is the way to go. Along with the Mountain Twin, some other options that I think would work well for you (taking into account everything you mentioned, including icy conditions):

          – YES Standard 153 (wide for it’s size, so again, I’d size down)
          – Slash Brainstorm 154 – could also go 157 if you wanted to go longer, but I’d be leaning 154
          – Rossignol One – 156
          – Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker 154 (if you were happy to switch to a hybrid rocker – rocker between the feet, camber underfoot and towards tip/tail. the others above are hybrid camber – camber between the feet and rocker towards tip and tail – note that hybrid rocker typical feels a little looser than hybrid camber – the TW isn’t super loose or anything, but looser feeling than the other options above).
          – Nitro Team Gullwing 155 (also hybrid rocker)

          Reply

          • Khalid says

            January 20, 2022 at 8:09 pm

            Sweet – thanks for this, Nate! Will take a look at and read up on each of these, and will probably come back to you for binding/boot suggestions once I’ve made a choice, if that’s okay.

          • Nate says

            January 21, 2022 at 3:33 pm

            Hi Khalid

            Yeah, absolutely. More than happy to help you with boots/bindings, once you’ve decided on the board.

76. Michael Sharf says

    January 6, 2022 at 3:28 am

    Hi Nate,

    You seem so freakin awesome man. I love your reviews, super helpful! Its so amazing that you respond to all these people, you should get an award for being so helpful to others.

    Alright so my question of which board to get- I’ve been riding for 15 years, love snowboarding but only get to go about 10 days/season. I’ve had the same Arbor board the entire time. I board west coast/rockies- Mammoth, Tahoe, Vail, Park City, etc. so great conditions most of the time- not much ice or issues like that.

    I’m looking for a board that that does well carving at medium-high speeds. I’ll cruise or bomb down blues, go fast down blacks but holding light carves most of the time, and for double blacks I’m either switching toe-heel every second or kicking out my heel or toe hard before bringing it back in to switch to the other side.

    I’m mostly on groomed runs but also love tree runs and want a board that won’t screw me when I’m going through tight trees. So, fun, fast, carves well since I’m mostly on groomers but doesn’t need to be the fastest- and can still turn at slower speeds when I am going through trees.

    I love powder days and want a board that can handle powder well for those amazing days. Real powder days are only about 20% of the boarding I get to do since I have to get lucky with trip timing. I barely do park, only small-medium jumps and some small boxes and rails. I only ride switch for fun sometimes and going into 180s. I board kinda duck-footed, I don’t think that really matters for picking a board but not sure lol.

    It’s really hard to figure out which board to get.
    – Capita Mercury seems like a great option
    – Lib Tech orca looks almost perfect except I don’t think it will turn as easy around trees
    – Burton custom camber but have read some complaints
    – Jones flagship, but maybe not enough flex? Not sure how much flex I want/need
    Any help would be amazing!
    Thank you so much,
    Michael

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 6, 2022 at 2:54 pm

      Hi Michael

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly with the Flagship, it’s certainly quite stiff, but surprisingly agile at slower speeds for how stiff it is. Awesome for powder days. Not going to be great for the park stuff, when you do it, would be the biggest downside, I’d say.

      The Mercury definitely fits most of what you’re describing. I think the biggest question mark would be tight turns at slow speeds. I didn’t find it super agile. It is a board that somehow becomes more agile in powder. So if you’re in trees and there’s a good amount of powder in there, it’s actually pretty fun in trees. But in trees with little to no powder, it’s not that great, in my experience. Some boards I find get easier to turn in powder – and others actually get a little less nimble in powder. The Mercury gets more nimble in powder, in my experience.

      The Orca is a killer in powder. But I didn’t find it super agile for those tighter spots. Also not going to be great for switch, freestyle stuff.

      Burton Custom Camber would serve you well on the groomers, IMO, but it’s not great in powder.

      I can suggest some other boards too, if you’d like, if you can give me a little more info:

      1. Which Arbor board is you current one – and what size?
      2. Do you think you’d want to go stiffer, softer or about the same in terms of flex versus your current board?
      3. Sizing is also really important – happy to give my sizing opinion – would just need your height, weight and boot size.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

    • Dave says

      January 8, 2022 at 2:05 pm

      Congratulations for the different tests you do.

      I would like more specific advice on my next snowboard.

      I am currently a Korua Tranny Finder which is perfect for its program (aggressive track, carving and powder).

      I would like to complete my quiver with an All Mountain, the goal is to do basically the track but initiating the freestyle (shred track, small/medium jumps, switch, press). No park.

      I am an aggressive runner, I’m 1m80, size 45, 90kg, advanced level for the track / powder and starting freestyle.

      Thank you in advance for your advice.

      Reply

      • Nate says

        January 10, 2022 at 11:07 am

        Hi Dave

        I’d probably be looking at an all-mountain-freestyle board, since you already have your Tranny Finder for powder days. Typically an all-mountain freestyle board’s biggest weakness is powder, but given you have a board for powder, I think that would be the way to go for what you’re describing. Something from one the following:

        >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

        >>Top 5 Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

        The second list if you want something stiffer/more aggressive and the first list for something more mid-flex. From the first list, if you want to keep things aggressive, then the more aggressive options in that list (but not as aggressive as those in the second list) are the Niche Crux, GNU RC C3, Lib Tech TRS. After that the next most aggressive are the Never Summer Proto Synthesis and YES Greats.

        Hope this helps

        Reply

        • Dave says

          January 30, 2022 at 9:20 am

          thank you for your advice, I have a friend who made me try the jones all mountain, very good board which is very stable, manageable, a little less rigid than my tranny finder but I am looking for an even more playful board which has much of pop, which deforms more easily but remains at least stable on groomers. can yes greats be an option? I’m looking for an average flex of around 5/10

          Reply

          • Nate says

            January 31, 2022 at 11:48 am

            Hi Dave

            The Greats is more 6/10, IMO. But I would look at something like the Salomon Assassin or Capita Asymulator if you still want that stability of hybrid camber but something more like 5/10 flex with good pop.

          • Dave says

            January 31, 2022 at 12:46 pm

            My boots size is 11, the capital asymmetric stops at 156 for 25.4 which will be too small, damage. The Greats deformed more than the MOUTAIN TWIN for Press? I will look for Solomon too.

          • Nate says

            February 1, 2022 at 12:36 pm

            Hi Dave

            Yeah, unfortunately a bit narrow. I found the Greats and Mountain Twin about the same to press. Maybe the Greats marginally easy to press but pretty close.

        • Dave says

          February 3, 2022 at 1:21 am

          I have the opportunity to buy a 154, is what about my boots of 11 it can go?

          Reply

          • Nate says

            February 3, 2022 at 1:06 pm

            Hi Dave

            You’d be all good boot-wise on the 154 Greats, IMO. It’s getting on the small side for your specs though. That said, in the smaller size it would feel softer and more playful, which is something you were after right?

          • Dave says

            February 4, 2022 at 2:40 pm

            thank you for your valuable advice, I bought the model 154

          • Nate says

            February 4, 2022 at 4:49 pm

            You’re very welcome Dave. Hope it treats you well. If you think of it at the time let me know how you get on, once you’ve had a chance to get it out on snow. Happy riding!

77. David says

    January 4, 2022 at 9:26 am

    Hi, Nate.
    Thanks, is a great review.

    I´m male, I´m 6’2″ and weight 178 lbs, boot 10 and with an expert level (25 years old).
    I lean more to the groomers than to the park, and I do not forgive powder days, but I like all mountain boards with which I can do everything (I feel closer to freeride than freestail)

    I had thought about the Yes Standard in measure 161, what do you think?
    According to the weight range of Yes, I would be better with a 159 …

    I have another problem, I bought a Union Falcor bindings with a minidisk, I use a 23.5-24 “stance and I don’t know if I can use it on this board as I can’t use the powder inserts.
    Max. stance (161 cm) is 24.6 “, but I don’t know if it includes the powder inserts.

    Thanks a lot.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 5, 2022 at 3:58 pm

      Hi David

      Thanks for your message.

      For the Standard I would go 159 for your specs and what you’re describing. You could even look at 156 for that particular board, if you were more freestyle inclined. But given how you describe your riding and your expert level, I think the 159 should work best. 162 would be too big for your specs though, IMO.

      Max stance on the 159 is 24.1″. Great question about whether that Max stance includes the powder inserts. I would have assumed not, but I don’t know for sure. I don’t usually measure max stance widths as it’s typically published. However, I think that 24.1″ doesn’t include the powder inserts. When you look at the standard it does only have 5 sets of holes per insert (not including the slam backs), but reference will be on the middle holes. Which means you can move one out from those holes. With reference at 22.5″ – if you move one hole outwards from that on each binding, then you would be adding roughly 1.57″ for a stance of 24.07″ – or looking at it in CM. 57.1cm reference add 4cm and get 61.1cm (24.05″).

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • David says

        January 6, 2022 at 8:23 am

        Hi Nate.
        Once again, thank you very much for your help.

        It seems that the maximum stance of itself, does not include the powder inserts, I had not fallen into calculating it as you indicate, thanks.

        The more I try to find my perfect board, the more doubts I get
        :or).

        – I live in Spain, here you have to be very lucky to find powder snow, but whenever I can I go to the slopes after a storm, so my perfect board should go well in powder.
        – I am also 47 years old, I practically do not step on the park, but I do like to play and take small jumps on the irregularities and edges of the track.
        – On the track I like to drive the turns, carving is another preference, I am not afraid of speed and of stepping on the board and pushing it to the limit.

        But I like the “All Mountain” boards because they are softer and therefore less demanding, they do not require going all the time to the limit, they work well at lower speeds and they forgive mistakes better.

        My current board is a 2013 Lib tech Travis Rice Pro measuring 1,615 m and with a Waist Width 260 mm, in which I go with a 2 cm rear position.
        I am happy with her, it is somewhat demanding to take her on the right track, but she forgives mistakes well. At low speed it works very well. In not very steep areas, even at high speed you can carve well with it, but when things get more vertical it reaches the limit quite quickly. Powder gives the type and is quite funny.

        So right now I want something more aggressive and I doubt between:
        – Yes Standard 159
        – Capita Mercury 161
        – Capita Mega Mercury 161
        – Jones Ultra Mountain Twin 162W

        I would very much like to try the Capita Mega Merc, I think it could be one of the ones that comes closest to what I need, but I can’t find anything available for sale right now …

        I think that with any of these boards it would go well, and it would fulfill my expectations, but I would like to get as close as possible to my perfect board.
        I promise not to ask again, and once again a thousand thanks in advance for your advice.

        All the best.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 7, 2022 at 12:42 pm

          Hi David

          Thanks for the extra info. IMO the Standard is less aggressive than the T Rice Pro, so I would be leaning towards the others. Even the Mercury might not satisfy you for the more aggressive feel you seek. So I would be leaning towards the Mega Merc and Ultra Mountain Twin in your case.

          Because you don’t have to size down for width – and given that you’re used to a 161.5 T Rice Pro, I think the 161 Mega Merc would be good size-wise. It’s on the bigger side for your specs, IMO, given it’s a little wider than average but given everything your describing, it could work – the 159 is also a possibility. You’ll likely feel the 161 Mega Merc bigger than the 161.5 T Rice Pro.

          For the Ultra Mountain Twin, I would be leaning more to 160 than 162W, mostly because of the width of the 162W. Even though 263mm at the waist sounds like it’s not that much more than the 162W is wider at the inserts overall. I would even go 163 for you, before I went 162W. For reference for width at inserts estimations:

          T Rice Pro 161.5: ~267mm (there’s not a big difference between waist and width at inserts, which is typical of GNU/Lib Tech boards)
          Mega Merc 161: ~271mm at back insert and 269mm at front insert
          UMT 162W: 276mm at back insert, 275mm front insert
          UMT 160: 270mm back insert, 269mm front insert
          UMT 163: 273mm back insert, 272mm front insert

          These are all assuming a 560mm (22″) stance width. With a larger stance width, they’ll be even wider. The 260mm waist on the T Rice Pro can be deceiving.

          Reply

          • David says

            January 8, 2022 at 8:37 am

            Hi Nate.
            Once again, thank you very much for your help.

            In the end, try to find a Mega Merc in 159, being more rigid and less permissive, try to make it a little more manageable, and according to the weight range of the rider of the two sizes, also go to the less rigid area. But I managed to find none for sale.

            So in the end, after much thought, I have decided on Capita Mercury in 161, to go to the most rigid zone according to the weights of the riders and gain in effective edge, stability and powder behavior. I think that with all this, together with my Union Falcor bindings, I will also be able to get a great use out of this board.

            Now the only thing left is to be able to extract it and enjoy it.

            Thank you very much for your advice, it has been a great help!

            If it weren’t too much to ask, I have another question, but I’ll leave it to you in the corresponding Union bindings installation article …

            All the best.

          • Nate says

            January 8, 2022 at 4:42 pm

            You’re very welcome David. Hope your new setup treats you well. I’ll go over and check out your other question in the other post now.

78. Simon says

    January 4, 2022 at 8:33 am

    Hey Nate,

    I’m planning on buying my first board and hav some questions/need some help.
    I a looking for a do it all board for and stumbled upon the Yes standard or Jones Mountain twin. Also the typo and team gullwing look interesting.
    I would consider myself an advanced rider (been snowboarding for about 13 years now) although I think I still can improve all over the mountain (especially park and powder).

    Since I always rented the boards and don’t really remember them I am also unsure about the sizing. I’m a size 12 boots and about 6.1 tall. My weight is somewhere between 185-195 lbs. I’d appreciate your help a lot 🙂

    Have a nice day

    Reply

    • Nate says

      January 4, 2022 at 1:48 pm

      Hi Simon

      Thanks for your message.

      I think as an advanced rider, unless you like to ride pretty casually/playfully, you could probably cross off the Typo, but the other 3, I think would work well. And if you do like things more playful, then the Typo would certainly work too.

      In terms of sizing, I would be looking at:

      Standard: 159
      Mountain Twin: 159W (you could also do 162W if you think you were going to be riding fast and riding powder more than anything else – but wouldn’t as good for the park (IMO))
      Team Gullwing: 159W (again could also go up to the 162W)
      Typo: 159W might be a bit small for this board. 163W is doable.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Simon says

        January 16, 2022 at 6:07 am

        Hey Nate,

        thanks for your help. I’m currently stuck and just can’t decide between the standard and mountain twin. Or am I thinking too much about it since they both seem very similar on paper?

        Best Simon

        Reply

        • Nate says

          January 17, 2022 at 1:17 pm

          Hi Simon

          They’re quite similar boards. Certainly not the same, they have a different feel to them. But they’re more similar than they are different. There isn’t a bad choice between them, IMO. Some differences that might help.

          – Standard a little better in icy conditions (though MT still good there)
          – Mountain Twin a little better in powder, if you look at them both in their reference stance. Standard equals MT when you go into Slam Back inserts
          – Standard a little better for switch, assuming reference stances again – but it’s a very subtle difference

          Reply

79. Saoud says

    December 30, 2021 at 2:30 am

    Hi Nate,

    Thank for the great help!

    I love your review. I learned snowboarding two years ago and learned well to be honest. I am getting back into snowboarding after the two years off. I would consider myself an intermediate rider. I am 5’5″ and weight between 165-175lbs with a size 10 US shoe.

    I am looking for an all mountain board, that I can ride mostly for everything, little jumps, off trail powder, want to learn 180s and 360s but mostly just carving my way down the slope.

    I have an interest in purchasing an all mountain board. I was wondering what your recommendation is to fit my style. I am hoping without too long to be back up to an intermediate rider.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 31, 2021 at 6:05 pm

      Hi Saoud

      Thanks for your message.

      Everything on this list would be worth considering, but a few things to help you decide.

      The Shiloh Camber would be least good in powder. Given you like powder, that might be one you can cross off.

      The Typo, Terrain Wrecker and Brainstorm would be the easiest for getting back into it. You will get back up to speed the fastest with those 3, IMO.

      The Story and the Mercury will be the most difficult to start out with – they would be the steepest re-learning curve, IMO.

      Size-wise, I would put you around 155/156 for your “all-mountain” size. But sizing may differ depending on the board. E.g. for the YES Standard, you might want to size a little smaller as it’s wider. And as an intermediate rider you might want to size a little smaller too. So you could certainly look at 153 for the Standard and 154-156, depending on the others. If you narrow it down to 2-3 boards, I would be happy to give my sizing opinion on those particular boards.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

80. Sergey says

    December 24, 2021 at 4:45 am

    Hi Nate, could you please tell from your experience what snowboard brands has the fastest bases on the market for theie all-mountain/freeride boards? Could you rate like top-5? Mervin, Burton, Capita, Ride, Jones, etc.. Any significant difference?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 26, 2021 at 6:09 pm

      Hi Sergey

      In my experience Jones tends to be a step above the rest. They would be my clear leader.

      After that there’s not much difference, but the next 3, not in any particular order would probably be (based on boards with sintered bases of course) Burton, Capita, Mervin.

      Within Jones there are bases that are better too – the 9900 tends be faster than the 7000 for example. But even the 7000 from Jones has always been fast for me.

      Reply

81. Neil says

    December 23, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    Hey Nate,

    Came across your website, and just love your approach in ranking boards. I’ve been reading reviews for a week now and haven’t really made progress… so I’m asking (begging?) for some expert advice. I ride around 6-7 days a year East Coast and 4-5 days a year west coast, consider myself intermediate who is comfortable on blue/black trails generally. I’m age 40 / 5″10 / 190-200 lbs / size 10 boot. I’m looking to increase my speed and control on firmer snow, and navigate a bit of powder but nothing too deep. Would love to get better at bumps/trees as well. Don’t really spend any time in the park, and will do the occasional small jump or flat spin. Does the Yes Typo sound like the board for me? What else should I consider? And what size? Really appreciate the help!!!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 25, 2021 at 12:02 pm

      Hi Neil

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the Typo ticks a lot of boxes. It’s really nimble for trees and good edge hold in hard/icy conditions. It’s decent enough in powder – and if you’re not doing anything too deep, then it will be all good for powder. I guess the only real question mark would be stability at speed. It’s certainly not terrible at speed, but it’s not a real bomber either. If it’s really important to have that extra stability at speed, then that would be the biggest question mark.

      Size-wise, if you Typo, I would say 158. The 161 isn’t out of range either, but I would be leaning 158. The 161 would give you more stability at speed – but at the sacrifice of maneuverability at slower speeds. Going 161 wouldn’t mean you’d end up with a tank or anything, but relatively speaking to the 158, less maneuvearble. And the 158 isn’t going to be ultra wobbly at speed or anything, just less stable versus the 161.

      If you wanted just that little bump in speed, but not quite as good in hard/icy conditions (but still good – just more like 4/5, rather than 5/5), and a little better for powder, the Mountain Twin, Rossi One, Nitro Team Gullwing and YES Standard would all be worth looking at. Not quite as intermediate friendly as the Typo, but still intermediate suitable – particularly if you’re a solid intermediate rider. If any of those interest you, let me know and I can suggest the best sizes (could differ depending on the board).

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Neil says

        December 25, 2021 at 3:35 pm

        Wow! Thanks for the Christmas reply!!

        While I’m really trying to narrow my choices down to 2 or 3 boards, I saw the GNU Banked Country under your Freeride boards. How would that one compare to the ones above? I definitely consider myself a solid intermediate and won’t shy away from too much terrain. I care mostly about more control at speed, then comes bumps/trees, and lastly small jumps/riding switch/spins.

        Thanks again!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          December 27, 2021 at 6:20 pm

          Hi Neil

          No worries – on a family vacation and taking quiet opportunities (of which there are few) to reply to comments. I got time on Christmas day and took advantage of it!

          The Banked Country is a step up from the others, IMO. I would say more advanced to expert. But probably solid intermediate is fine. I recently had someone get on the Banked Country and loved it and described himself as solid intermediate. And the one thing that he disagreed with my review on is the advanced to expert rating on it. So, it might be OK. It is certainly stiffer than the others, but will provide more control at speed for sure. Maybe not quite as good for bumps/trees though and certainly (IMO) not as good for jumps, switch and spins.

          Reply

          • Neil says

            December 29, 2021 at 2:07 pm

            Thanks Nate, hope you are having / had a great time! I looked at the four boards you mentioned – the Mountain Twin, Rossi One, Nitro Team Gullwing and YES Standard – and am having a hard time narrowing it down. If you had to pick two-three to really focus on / demo, which would they be and what sizing? I don’t need massive speed, just faster than my current board which is slowww. I enjoy Blue/Black terrain, steeper is ok and want to get better at the bumps. Good grip on the mountain when turning, and I also want more stability when flat on my board (hate the catwalks!). Again, not a powder hound at all and love those soft steep wide groomers. Switch/flatspins for fun, and maybe a small jump here or there. Thanks again! Will be in Park City week of Jan 23rd!!!

          • Nate says

            December 31, 2021 at 5:29 pm

            Hi Neil

            Can you let me know what your current board is and which size – so I can’t make sure you get that bump in speed your looking for. I know you don’t need it to be super fast, but just want to make sure you actually get a noticeable increase.

            Narrowing it down to 3 to demo, I think I would look at the Standard, Mountain Twin and Gullwing. The One would certainly be worth considering too, but narrowing it down, that’s what I’d do. If you get the chance to demo, then I would include the Team Gullwing, because it will give you a feel for whether you prefer that Hybrid Rocker profile over the Hybrid camber of the other 3. Then the other 2 I’d go Mountain Twin and Standard, just because I rate them slightly over the One and they’re all fairly similar, though certainly not the same, boards.

            Size-wise, I’d say:

            – Standard 156
            – Mountain Twin 157 or 160 – tough call between them, but probably leaning 160.
            – Team Gullwing 159

            But if you could let me know the board and size you’re currently riding, that could potentially sway those sizings.

          • Neil says

            January 2, 2022 at 11:25 am

            Hey Nate – replying to an earlier comment in our thread because i didn’t see a Reply option on the last. To answer your question – I’m currently riding a 158, but it’s an old Ride board… at least 10 – 15 years old. Would you still stick to your recommended sizes of:

            – Standard 156
            – Mountain Twin 157 or 160 – tough call between them, but probably leaning 160.
            – Team Gullwing 159

            I’m certainly not trying to be the fastest on the mountain at age 40… just want to keep up with some of the other guys. Also, what good value bindings would you recommend with these boards? I currently have some Rome SDS S90, also a number of years old (but still seem fine). My boots are newer – Ride Lasso Snowboard Boots Mens Sz 9.5

            Thanks again!!!

          • Nate says

            January 3, 2022 at 9:53 pm

            Hi Neil

            Hard to say without knowing the model of Ride board it is, but yeah, I’d say those sizes are good. The Standard is wider, so sizing down a little makes sense. The Mountain Twin, I think you could go either, but still leaning 160. Team Gullwing 159.

            The Rome S90 is probably a little soft (based off looking at specs) for those boards, so I would go a little stiffer to match the boards better – and will also help with stability too. The Union Force and Burton Cartel are good value bindings that are still good quality and should match those boards well. Anything with a 6/10 to 7/10 flex would be a good bet, IMO. For other options check out:

            >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

            >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

          • Neil says

            January 4, 2022 at 3:03 pm

            Thanks for everything Nate. After all that, I saw 2021 Rossi One LF on sale for $280 which seemed like a great deal. I bought a 159 with the Burton Cartel bindings you recommended (full retail!).

            I’ll let you know how it rides!!!!

          • Nate says

            January 5, 2022 at 5:54 pm

            You’re very welcome Neil and thanks for the update – that’s a great price for the One! Look forward to hearing how you get on.

82. Chadd says

    December 20, 2021 at 1:01 pm

    Nate,

    I love your reviews. I am hoping to pick your brain. I am getting back into snowboarding after taking some time off. When I rode consistently, I would consider myself intermediate rider. I am 5’7″ and weight between 175-180lbs with a size 9 shoe.

    I am looking for an all mountain, quiver of 1 that I can ride groomers mostly, little jumps, maybe some off trail powder/trees, but mostly just carving my way down the slope.

    I have an interest in the Yes Typo and the Yes Standard. I was wondering what your recommendation is btw these two options and if you have another board in mind that would better fit my style. I am hoping without too long to be back up to an intermediate rider.

    Thanks you for your expertise,

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 21, 2021 at 1:58 pm

      Hi Chadd

      Thanks for your message.

      Between the Typo and the Standard, the Typo would be the easier transition. It’s something that’s really good for that high-end beginner/low intermediate stage, but remains a good board to have even until your at an advanced level. The Standard is still very much intermediate suitable, IMO, but it’s more like mid-level intermediate and up – so it would be the more challenging transition to start with. Both would work well for the style you’re describing, IMO. I would be leaning Typo, mostly because it will help you get back up to speed faster and easier, IMO.

      Size-wise, for the Typo, it’s between the 155 and 158, but I’d probably be leaning 155 for you, unless you think you’ll want to be really bombing in the next little while, in which case I’d go 158. But I think the 155 will a. give you the easiest transition, b. will give you the maneuverability in trees and c. make things like jumps easier to manage. The 158 would give you better float in powder and more stability at speed.

      The Standard is a little trickier to size, because it’s quite wide. In this case it would be between the 153 and 156. Same kind of thing applies – the 153 would be the easier transition, easier in trees and for jumps, but the 156 would give you more float in powder and better stability at speed. But in this case the 153 is more like a 156, given the width versus your boot size, and the 156 more like a 159.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Chadd says

        December 22, 2021 at 12:06 pm

        Thank you Nate!

        I was dead set on the standard, but after more research, and your recommendation, I am leaning more towards the Typo.

        With that said, What bindings would you pair with the Typo. It looks like the Burton Genesis, Malavita, and the Union Strata look like reasonable options based on flex. Which one do you think would pair the best? Any other bindings come to mind other then the ones previously mentioned that you think would be a better fit for my described type of riding etc?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          December 24, 2021 at 4:51 pm

          Hi Chadd

          All of those 3 certainly match the Typo well, so not a bad choice between them. The Genesis is probably the best flex match of the 3, IMO.

          The likes of the Flux DS, Burton Cartel and Union Force would all work too, if you had a smaller budget. But if you’re not worried too much about cost, I think the Genesis would be the best match.

          Reply

83. Tyler says

    December 14, 2021 at 2:39 pm

    Hi Nate,

    This site is awesome. Appreciate your work here. I’m looking to buy my first board and could use some help. I’m kind of picky so I’ve had trouble matching designs to a spec that fits my riding conditions/style. Figured maybe I’ll tell you what I’ve liked and you could help narrow down what makes sense and what doesn’t? That’d be sweet comin’ from an expert like yourself. Also I’m not very strong with the lingo around here but I’ll try my best.

    I’m 5’10, 160lbs, and wear a size 10.5. I live in Indiana so you might be able to imagine my snow… it sucks. Mainly icy conditions. Really I’m buying this for my trips to Colorado though and maybe Jackson Hole. I mainly enjoy carving and little tricks (butters) here and there. Not too much of a jumper or rails guy but have done them at my park at Perfect North. Also like trees. Basically I’m looking for an all-rounder, I think you’d agree. I’d give myself a skill rating of 7.5/10 in Indiana and maybe 5/10 in Colorado lol. But I’m not afraid of any run, except crazy moguls.

    Now I’ll share my list. They probably won’t have any correlation or make much sense but that’s why I’m here…

    Burton Hometown Hero, Burton Skeleton Key, Endeavor B.O.D, Salomon Assassin

    Maybe if you have a filter or criteria I should search buy or any other boards to check that’d be awesome. Any wisdom is greatly appreciated. This might be the most difficult thing I’ve done in my life.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 15, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      Hi Tyler

      Thanks for your message.

      I will try to help you narrow it down. Sometimes it can take a bit of back and fourth, but that’s fine with me.

      If design is important to you, then we can come back to that, if there’s nothing that interests you amongst the boards I recommend and I’ll recommend a couple based on designs I think you may like based on your list.

      Given that you ride icy conditions a fair bit, by the sounds of it, I’ll break it down a bit based on that as well. I don’t think you necessarily need to go for the board that’s the absolute best in icy conditions, particularly given that you also ride elsewhere, but I think something that’s at least decent is a good idea.

      Because you like butters, I would look at the following, IF you don’t really ride that much powder – or if it’s never really more than a foot or so deep.

      – YES Greats (icy 5/5, IMO)
      – Lib Tech TRS C3 (icy 5/5)
      – Never Summer Proto Synthesis (icy 4/5)
      – Arbor Shiloh Camber
      – Salomon Assassin (icy 4/5) – of course also on your list, so this is a definite possibility. Also to note, it’s a little better in powder (IMO), than the others here (but not quite as good as those in the next list)

      These all (apart from the Shiloh camber, which is in this list) feature in my top 10 all-mountain freestyle list – you could check that out too. I didn’t include the RC C3 or Niche Crux here, only because they’re a little harder to butter with, but they’re certainly also possibilities, if you weren’t too concerned about their butterability).

      If you do see deeper powder and want a bit more performance there (but still want something that’s easy enough to butter/do tricks, then I’d look at:

      – YES Standard (icy 5/5, or maybe 4.5/5)
      – Jones Mountain Twin (icy 4/5)
      – Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker (icy 4/5)
      – Slash Brainstorm (icy 4/5)
      – Rossignol One (icy 5/5)

      The Hometown Hero and Skeleton Key are a little more directional – which can become a little weird for buttering, because pressing off the nose and tail feel quite different. Less so with the Hometown Hero, which is a little less directional, but it’s quite hard to butter – not a lot of pressability in the tip and tail – stiffer in the tip and tail, it felt like to me, than the overall flex of the board. The Skeleton Key is easier to press the tip and tail, for sure, but the tip and tail feel quite different, so it’s a little weird to butter on. Also I would rate both as 3.5/5 for icy conditions. Not something that’s going to stop you from riding in Indiana or anything, IMO – they would do the job, but just to note.

      The BOD could work, if you’re not too worried about powder – it would belong in the first list above.

      Hopefully this helps to start to narrow it down. Once we’re down to 2-3 boards, I would be happy to give you my sizing opinion (and sizing can sometimes be a good tie breaker). Also if we need to go on a different tangent we can. E.g. if I’m overstating the importance of buttering to you, and you wanted to look more directional, we can reassess.

      Reply

84. Christian says

    December 6, 2021 at 4:54 am

    Nate please, there are too many options, I need you to make the decision for me. Ive been riding for over 10 years and am finally looking to upgrade from my 10 year old v rocker board. I ride all mountain in the Northeast and enjoy the park as well as riding some black diamonds. Im 6foot 180 pounds with a size 10 boot. Please end my suffering with the paradox of choice.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      December 6, 2021 at 1:39 pm

      Hi Christian

      Thanks for your message.

      I get your dilemma. There are a ton of boards that would suit what you’re describing. But let’s try to narrow it down.

      I would look at this list, if you think you’ll sometimes be riding powder. From this list, it would depend if you’re looking to ride more playful/casually or more aggressively (but not super aggressive, there’s a separate list for that).

      On the more playful side and good in hard/icy conditions, I’d look at:

      – YES Typo
      – Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker

      I think these two would be your best bets in the park, but not as good for riding faster on black diamonds

      In between playful/aggressive

      – Arbor Shiloh Camber (though this could be in the less good in powder options too)
      – Slash Brainstorm
      – Rossignol One
      – Nitro Team Gullwing
      – Jones Mountain Twin
      – YES Standard

      More Aggressive

      – Niche Story
      – Capita Mercury

      But if you don’t think you’ll see much powder, or never really deep powder, then I’d head over to the following:

      >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

      From there:

      More playful:

      Never Summer Peacemaker
      GNU Rider’s Choice

      In between:

      Never Summer Proto Synthesis
      Salomon Assassin
      YES Greats

      More aggressive (but again there’s a separate list for the most aggressive options):

      Niche Crux
      GNU RC C3
      Lib Tech TRS

      I know that’s a lot of options but a lot fit what you’re describing. But if you can figure out your need for powder performance, that should narrow things down – and then think how playful or aggressive you want things and that should narrow things down further.

      Happy to give my opinion on sizing too for each specific board, if you can narrow it down to like 2-4 options. Sizing can sometimes be a tie breaker as well.

      Reply

85. Hans says

    November 29, 2021 at 9:00 am

    Hey Nate,
    im currently looking for an all-mountain snowboard for my brother. He`s 14 years old, 145 lbs and his boot size is big for his weight (Size 10.5 Salomon boots). He`s intermediate level and likes doing a bit of everything (180s, wants to learn 360s this year, tries to get low on carves, wants to get more comfortable on side hits, butter). My problem mainly lies in finding a board that fits his weight range, still has a wide enough width to not limit him on lower carves and also fits his ability level well. My obvious choice was the warpig, but he doesnt like the graphics on it. The Terrain wrecker also came to mind, but he really doesnt like snakes haha (on this years graphic). Any suggestions youd make?
    since hes 14 he`ll probably still grow a bit in the coming years, so that might be another thing to keep in mind.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 30, 2021 at 1:05 pm

      Hi Hans

      Thanks for your message.

      If you could also let me know roughly your brothers height, that would be great. Whilst sizing is predominantly down to weight, foot-size, boot-size, ability and how you like to ride, I still like to take everything into account, including height. More than happy to find something that would be suitable, if you can include that last piece of info.

      Reply

      • Hans says

        December 1, 2021 at 12:20 pm

        Hey Nate

        Thanks for the reply. He is about 5’9.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          December 2, 2021 at 5:14 pm

          Hi Hans

          Size-wise, I think something around 154 would be a good bet. It’s on the slightly longer side for his specs as an intermediate rider but given he’s still growing, it will be a size that he can ride for longer than if he went shorter.

          Some options that I think would work well.

          – Never Summer Proto Slinger 154X – not overly wide for a wide board, but wide enough to give him plenty of room for deeper carves. Great for all things freestyle. In that size for his weight, it will work well for all-mountain too, IMO. Not going to be a bomber, but will do the job for all-mountain for him, IMO.
          – Capita Ultrafear 153W – again more freestyle focused. This one a little less suitable for all-mountain, but a great option if he really wants to focus on those freestyle aspects.
          – Arbor Relapse 153 – another that’s more freestyle focused, but is actually pretty good for the rest of the mountain as well. It’s not a wider version, but it should still be wide enough for 10.5s, unless he does plan on eurocarving, then it’s a little more borderline. Also doesn’t offer any room for his boot size to go up.
          – YES Dicey 154 – wider than it looks, should be plenty wide enough.
          – YES Jackpot 154 – A slightly stiffer, more advanced version of the Dicey

          Reply

          • Hans says

            December 4, 2021 at 1:52 am

            Thanks a lot for your suggestions! Will definitely look into these.
            Do you think the arbor shiloh camber 153 or the jones mt 154 could also work? (Both should be around 265 width at inserts i think)

            Adding another question: I myself (6’1, 195 lbs, size 10 boots) also considered the yes dicey. Do you think the 154 could work as an out and out park Board for me? (Looking to do 180s, 360s, butter, small to medium jumps) or would it be too small?
            Really appreciate your help:)

          • Nate says

            December 4, 2021 at 11:33 am

            Hi Hans

            I think the Shiloh Camber could work for sure – if you’re looking for something a little more all-mountain. I’d say the Shiloh Camber is around 266mm at inserts in the 153 (assuming roughly a 540mm (21.3″) stance width). Mountain Twin 154 around 263mm at front insert and 264mm at the back insert (assuming a 560mm (22″) stance width). It could be pushing it, if he’s looking to get those really deep carves going.

            154 in the Dicey might be getting a bit small for you, even as a dedicated park board. Though doable, since it’s wider. I’d say with your specs an all-mountain size of around 161/162. For a decicated park board, you could go as short as 156. Given the Dicey is wider (154 around 269mm at the inserts), that would help with a bit more of a landing platform on those medium jumps. But I’d probably still be leaning 156. But if you want it to be ultra playful, super easy to butter and spin, and don’t really expect too much speed or stability out of it, it could work.

86. Dan Pape says

    November 25, 2021 at 6:43 pm

    Hi Nate!

    I read a bunch of your comments in response to some questions that members had on your site and was really impressed with your insight and knowledge. If I may, could I ask your advice on something?

    I’ve been snowboarding for about 30 years and used to be able to keep up to the best of them. My old stomping grounds was Whistler BC, Black Comb, and Mount Seymour (Vancouver). Over the past 15-20 years I’ve been given demo boards and bartered for free gear which has worked out nice! However, the boards that I’ve used weren’t exactly idea for my type of riding. This is my year to buy my perfect board.

    I’m gunning for a pseudo “come back” and really want to get into it this year. I’m 44 years old, 6 foot four and just shy of 200 pounds. The type of riding that I love usually ends up having me going very fast. But I come from the Central Canada were jibbing and building kickers was a huge part of the culture. I sure miss busting big airs (Not like they do now, but decent air time) 360s, and 540s both switch and regular. Mainly front facing now so a true twin tip might not be necessary. I also compete in Banked Slalom courses here Japan and the board that I’ve been using was a huge disappointment. I’m hoping this year I can buy a board that will help me get back into some spinning and maybe being competitive in the races. Nothing too crazy, you know just some decent tricks! I don’t spend much time in the park but I do want a board that I can use to hit the table tops. I probably won’t ever had a rail but who knows.

    I live in Yokohama Japan and the mountains that I usually go to our a few hours away in both Niigata & Gunma prefecture. We get big dumps sometimes but it’s been my experience that is hit or miss. I really need a board that I can go to these hills that can handle japow powder if the opportunity presents itself but also deal well on the jumps, and carving on groomed runs. I actually really enjoy carving the most at this point. Occasionally ice conditions are inevitable but it’s an exception to the rule.

    The board that I’ve been looking at is the T.Rice Pro Model from Libtech. I have some Industry contacts here so I could potentially get a deal, but this is the year where the deal takes a backseat to purchase a board that really Fits my riding style. Mainly I have access to Gnu, Libtech & maybe Yes. Based on the comments I’ve read, I think you might have some good advice for me.

    Keep up the good work on the new reader and I really like what you’re doing!

    Dan Pape

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 26, 2021 at 12:32 pm

      Hi Dan

      Thanks for your message.

      From what you’re describing, you’re looking for a jack of all trades for sure!

      My biggest issue with the T Rice Pro is that I found it really didn’t like maneuvering at slower speeds in tight spaces, like in trees. That’s something I like to do a lot, so I’ve never been the biggest fan of that board. I’ve had quite a few people get the same feeling from the T Rice Pro as well, but others love it, so it’s a tough one. If you’re not really riding it slow or wanting quick tight turns with it, then it might work for you, but not one that I’ve ever fallen for. It is pretty versatile though. Not amazing for powder, but also not too bad either. I didn’t like it in the park either – I like a board that’s easy to maneuver to set up for boxes/rails etc and didn’t feel like it game me that.

      If you’re happy to sacrifice a little in terms of powder and want something that’s a little aggressive but not too aggressive, then I’d look at:

      – YES Greats
      – Lib Tech TRS
      – GNU RC C3 (I don’t think the Rider’s Choice (C2X) would do enough for you carving-wise or in terms of stability at speed, so I’d go C3 version)

      more closely.

      If you want something that’s a bit better in powder, but still nothing overly directional or anything, then:

      – YES Standard
      – GNU Essential Service (2022 model, which is quite different to the 2021 model. 2021 model could be an option but it’s more freeride)

      My feeling is that the Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker might be a little on the soft side for what you’re wanting and not give you enough in terms of carving.

      If there was a GNU Billy Goat 2021 you could find, that would be worth looking at too, if you wanted something a little stiffer, more aggressive. Unfortunately they didn’t make a 2022 model.

      Some Freeride options, that I think would serve you well for the Banked Slalom. Not as good for park/freestyle stuff though:

      – YES PYL
      – GNU Banked Country
      – Lib Tech Ejack Knife (this is the most freestyle leaning of these 3 – and could be a more happy medium, but still leaning more to the freeride side of things).

      I’ve only looked at YES, GNU and Lib Tech options there, but hopefully that gives you some good options to look into.

      There will some compromise with all of them, given how eclectic your style is – trying to get something good for the banked slalom but at the same time to hit boxes with, spins etc, is tricky, but some here will definitely give you a good balance of being decent at everything.

      If you could let me know some the board you’ve been using as well, that would really help to get a feel for what I think would work best to accommodate everything you’re looking to do. Just would give me some insight into your feel for boards and a better idea in which direction to go.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

87. Scott says

    November 23, 2021 at 12:31 am

    Debating between the Jones Mountain Twin and the Yes Typo. I’m an intermediate/advanced rider that pretty exclusively boards in Tahoe. I want a board for riding groomers, going through trees, etc., and will perform in powder. I don’t spend time in the park but I don’t want something too directional. Basically looking for a single quiver board that can do it all and won’t chatter at higher speeds. I’m 6’2, 190, size 11.5 boot, so would really like your take on sizing too. I have heard great things about both boards I am trying to understand the difference and how best to choose.

    Thank you in advance, your page is extremely helpful.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 23, 2021 at 1:10 pm

      Hi Scott

      Thanks for your message.

      Based on what you’re describing, I would be leaning Mountain Twin (MT). Mostly because it’s a little more stable at speed and a little better for powder and those are two things that sound important to you. The Typo is a great board, but it’s a little more playful, IMO. I would give the edge to the Typo in powder-less trees, just because that thing is so nimble at slow speeds, from my experience. But the MT is still good in trees, and if there’s powder in there it floats a little easier.

      Size-wise, I’d be debating between the 159W and 162W for the MT. If I had your specs, I would personally go 159W, because I like to err a little smaller, as I like trees a lot, and like to ride freestyle over the mountain (sidehits etc). But if you wanted to optimize it more for speed and powder, then the 162W is within your range as well.

      If you went Typo, I’d be leaning 163W. Even though it’s on the big side for you, I think if you went with this board, you’d get more out of it for speed and powder, if you went bigger. The 159W is certainly within range for your specs and would certainly work, but I’m not sure it would be stable enough at speed for what you’re wanting. Would be really nice in the trees at that size though. I would typically say that 163W is outside a good range for you for an all-mountain board, so overall it’s getting pretty big, IMO.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

88. Clm says

    November 21, 2021 at 11:16 am

    Hi, im looking at getting a new all mountain board, and I was looking at the Jones frontier. I was just wondering why it scored so low compared to the Jones mountain twin when it seems like a lot of people say they are pretty similar boards, and I have heard some people say that the frontier is better as an all round board than the mountain twin. Is it still worth getting the frontier which scored fairly low, or should I get something like the mountain twin or yes standard? I’m an intermediate rider, ride lots of powder, a bit of park, and get a fair bit of icy days as well. Performance in powder is important. Do you think it’s partially that you reviewed a slightly older model, or does that not make a huge difference? I had kinda decided on the frontier, but now I’m wondering. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 22, 2021 at 10:42 am

      Hi Clm

      Thanks for your message.

      The Frontier is a board that I’ve struggled to categorize, and I always um and ah about whether to put it in all-mountain, aggressive all-mountain or freeride. I was back and forth so much this year with it, that I decided to leave it where I had it previously. But if I’m being fair, it doesn’t get the score it deserves being in the aggressive all-mountain category – and it’s not overly aggressive either, which is why I keep questioning it. It’s a little more aggressive than the MT, but not quite enough to be really considered aggressive, so right now, it suffers from being misplaced a little bit, in that I struggle to put it in the right category. It’s one of the few that I just can’t decide on.

      But since they’re in 2 different scoring systems, you can’t really compare them side by side based on those scores. To give you perspective versus the Mountain Twin, since they’re currently within 2 different scoring systems, if the Frontier was within the same scoring system, it would score 86.4. It’s a little better than the Mountain Twin in powder and for carving, IMO. It’s more directional as well and a little stiffer (even though Jones rate the MT stiffer, I felt the Frontier as stiffer). But I wouldn’t say it’s better all-round than the MT. MT better in the park, better for switch, jumps, spins, butters. Better pop. And not that far off in terms of carving and powder. So, I’d say the MT is the better “do-it-all” board. But the Frontier does have it for carving and powder – so if those are your predominant things, then the Frontier might be better for you.

      The Frontier hasn’t really changed since the 2020 model. I only tend to re-test something if it has noticeable changes made to it. Though I’m tempted to get back on the Frontier, simply just to see if I can get something from it that helps me to categorize it better!!

      Hope this helps

      Reply

89. Mike says

    November 19, 2021 at 8:31 am

    Hey Nate, I’ve been looking at your articles for awhile, and two years ago it helped me pick the GNU Carbon Credit Asym 156 as my first board. I am 5’10”, 150lbs, and wear a size 8.5M US. I like the Credit, but it feels loose on flats which bothers the hell out of me, super skatey nose in those conditions and really makes me work to keep it feeling stable. My skill level is probably somewhere intermediate, ride out East (hard snow), but out west I love the glades.

    I’ve been thinking about switching to a new board that feels more stable and was considering the YES TYPO. Is there others I should be considering? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 19, 2021 at 12:12 pm

      Hi Mike

      Thanks for your message.

      I think the Typo would work well for you. It’s a good little step up from the Carbon Credit, without being a massive leap, so at your level, you should definitely have no issues with it. And will certainly feel more stable than the Carbon Credit, which is a looser board.

      Did I recommend the 156 for you? Were you the same specs? Because I would’ve put you on a 153 for the Carbon Credit with those specs. In any case, for the Typo, I think the 155 is your best bet. If you were going to go Typo as a beginner, I would have said 152 for your specs, but as you’re more advanced now, I think you could step it up to the 155, particularly as you’re used to a 156 now.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Mike says

        November 19, 2021 at 12:24 pm

        Cheers Nate,

        I appreciate your reply.

        When I bought the credit I was purely referencing your post on beginner boards and the ice edge hold, since we get a bunch of hard snow ice here in Ontario.

        I think it solidifies it, I’ll pick up a typo. I was considering other boards like the MT and mercury but I think those are a bit aggressive for where I am at.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 20, 2021 at 2:32 pm

          You’re very welcome Mike.

          And thanks for the confirmation. Didn’t think I would’ve recommended the 156, but sounds like you were fine with the size in the end, so it’s all good.

          If you think of it at the time let me know how you get on, once you’ve had a chance to get it out on snow. Happy riding!

          Reply

          • Mike says

            January 28, 2022 at 10:48 am

            I ended up riding the typo with stratas and k2 enders for a few days in Banff and Revelstoke through mostly soft snow/hard pack. Coming from a carbon credit it felt noticeably different in a few ways:

            + Its more comfortable at higher speeds
            + It feels more open to carving
            + Uneven terrain is pretty easy
            + its more stable through the flats
            ~ It is equally as comfortable in hard snow as it is soft snow, ice patches can lose edge hold if going pretty fast
            – Lower speed directional changes felt slightly slower, for example through moguls

          • Nate says

            January 29, 2022 at 8:55 pm

            Hey Mike

            Thanks for the update. Appreciate you sharing your experience.

90. Brian says

    November 12, 2021 at 6:04 am

    Nate,
    Thanks so much for all of your insight over the years. I bought the Slash Brainstorm 163W back in 2016 in part because of the review you did on it & loved the board from my first run on it. I cracked a large portion of the top layer off last year so due for a replacement. I’m 6’3, 190lbs, & wear a size 13 boot (Ion). I love how the Brainstorm floats in powder, feels quick & stable on groomers, has good edge hold, & quick easy turn initiation. I love riding powder, some mild-moderate steeps, but also like the performance on groomers. No park whatsoever. Can you recommend a good all mountain type board that would be a nice progression from the Brainstorm or do I just buy another Brainstorm? Thanks in advance for any ideas you may have!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 12, 2021 at 11:18 am

      Hi Brian

      Thanks for your message.

      Going Brainstorm again would be a safe bet for sure.

      If you wanted to step it up to something more aggressive, you could look at something more freeride, given that you like powder and don’t do park. If you didn’t really want to go stiffer than the Brainstorm, then you could look at something from:

      >>Top 10 Surfy (mellow) Freeride Snowboards

      Noting that some in there are more powder specialized and I wouldn’t go with them, if it’s going to be your daily driver, but others in there could work for sure. If you wanted to go a bit stiffer, then you could look at:

      >>Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards

      >> My Top 10 Freeride Snowboards

      Pay attention to score breakdowns too, to make sure it’s something that will the performance where you need it. Also, I would probably stick to something Hybrid Camber since you know it so well and like it. Switching to Hybrid Rocker or Full camber or something like that, you might like it, but safer bet to stick with that hybrid camber profile, IMO.

      But going with another Brainstorm is certainly a legit option too – and comes with the least risk.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • Brian says

        November 12, 2021 at 8:28 pm

        Thanks Nate, do you think the yes hybrid 161 would work with a 13 boot?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          November 13, 2021 at 1:57 pm

          Hi Brian

          If you had no issues with the width on the Brainstorm, which it doesn’t sound like you did, then you should be all good on the 161 Hybrid. 163W, I would predict to have roughly 276/277mm at back insert and YES Hybrid 161 will be around 277mm at back insert (front insert a good bit wider, so no issues there). That’s based on roughly a 585mm (23″) stance on the Hybrid and 600mm (23.6″) stance on the Brainstorm.

          Reply

          • Brian says

            November 14, 2021 at 11:39 am

            I ended up pulling the trigger on the Burton Show Stopper 162. The initial reviews on it sound like it could be a damn near perfect board for me. Thanks for pointing me to that list.

          • Nate says

            November 15, 2021 at 1:25 pm

            You’re very welcome Brian. Hope it treats you well and you like it as much as I did. If you think of it at the time let me know how you get on, once you’ve had a chance to get it out on snow. Happy riding!

91. M says

    November 11, 2021 at 6:30 am

    Hi Nate,

    Have been reading several of your reviews, so first off thanks for all the great info you provide. I am buying a new board this season, and have the Jones Mountain Twin, Slash Brainstorm, and T. Rice Pro as top contenders. I would currently rank myself as an intermediate rider, and plan to increase my overall number of days per season. Presently my riding style is more enjoying the ride down the mountain picking up speed and carving, hitting the occasional tree run, but I like getting playful and also riding switch. I do want to break into freestyle a bit more; I don’t see myself becoming too much of a park rat but I think an all mountain board strives a good balance amongst all factors for me.

    1) Do you have any thoughts on the 3 boards I listed above.

    2) With respect to sizing, any particular recommendations? I’m 5’10”, 165-170lb, and US size 11 boots. I’ve been thinking length around 156-160cm with a waist width in the area of 258-263mm.

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 11, 2021 at 3:03 pm

      Hi M

      Thanks for your message.

      I would be leaning Mountain Twin or Brainstorm from the 3 options – mostly because I didn’t feel like the T Rice Pro was really that intermediate friendly – and also didn’t like it in the trees and given you mention playful – I didn’t find it very playful at all. Maybe if you’re super strong/athletic you could get it to play. But I think the Mountain Twin and Brainstorm strike a better balance between playfulness, but still something that can handle some speed – and just with my experience with the boards, I think they match what you’re describing better.

      Size-wise, for your specs and how you describe your riding, I’d say 156-158 is a good range. And yeah with most boards, you’ll need to go wide. However for the Mountain Twin you could almost get away with the regular width 157, IF you were to ride it at the reference stance of 600mm (23.6″). But that’s a really wide reference, and chances are pretty good you’ll want to ride it narrower. In which case, I’d say the 156W is a great size for you.

      The Brainstorm is too narrow in the regular sizes, IMO, unfortunately, so the only really appropriate size would be the 159W. It’s doable, particularly because it’s not that wide for a wide board, so should be spot on for 11s, IMO. But it’s just on the end of your range size-wise, IMO.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

92. Oleg says

    November 7, 2021 at 9:41 am

    Hey Nate, have been reading your recs and reviews for weeks now, supper helpfully.
    Was wondering if you could point me in the right direction.
    I am looking for a All-Mtn board that is more on the free-ride side, but can still have some pep/fun when it needs to.
    However I am 161cm, 135lb, and boot size 6.
    I am between the Jones Mtn twin, Yes Standard (149 vs 151 – not sure here), GNU essential (always lowered the magnatraction) or the Capita Kazo.
    Also open to recommendations.

    Best,
    Oleg

    Reply

    • Nate says

      November 8, 2021 at 11:12 am

      Hi Oleg

      Thanks for your message.

      Firstly in terms of sizing, I probably wouldn’t go longer than 151 for your specs, even as a free-ride board and if the boards a bit wide for your boots, then I’d even size down from there. E.g. for the Standard, I’d go 149 for sure.

      Mountain Twin and Kazu 151 if you went with one of them, but on the bigger side, IMO, just because the width is going to be wide for your boots – and there’s no real sizing down, IMO. Doable, but just on the bigger side.

      GNU Essential Service, unfortunately I don’t think there’s a size that would work.

      If you could find a Burton Sensei 151 – they didn’t make a 2022 model – it was only around in 2021 – but that comes in a nice narrow width.

      The Capita Navigator is also definitely worth looking at – it comes in a 147 (241mm waist) – or if you really wanted bigger a 151 (245mm waist).

      The Lib Tech Dymamo is another option – it’s freeride bordering on all-mountain, IMO, and comes in a 150 (243mm waist).

      Maybe not freeride enough, but worth looking at because I think the size would work well is the Capita Outerspace Living 150 (242mm waist).

      If you were open to looking at certain women’s boards as well, there’d be more options there. But all good if not, because I think one of these options will work.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

93. Jrainey says

    October 26, 2021 at 4:38 pm

    Hello, ive been readong all your reviews and think ive settled on the yes standard. Im 5ft10 size 10 and 180 lbs. Would the 156 or 159 be better. Im planning on just a really good all mountain board. I live in Colorado so will probably have some powder days. Thanks in advance!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 27, 2021 at 11:05 am

      Hi Jrainey

      Thanks for your message.

      For your specs, the 156 would be just right, IMO. Very similar specs to me and I’ve always loved the 156. Typically for your height/weight, I’d say longer – more like 158/159, but with the Standard being on the wide side for 10s, I find sizing to the 156 (I also ride 10s) works really well. 159 length-wise is not too long for you, for sure, but when you combine that width and length it’s borderline too big. I think you’d get away with it – and it would float better in powder, of course, but I would be leaning 156 for a better balance between powder float/speed and agility.

      Hope this helps with your decision

      Reply

      • Jamea says

        October 27, 2021 at 5:57 pm

        Awesome. I was also inbetween the standard and the jones mountain twin. But it seems like the standard has more of wider area covered in the mountain.

        I think ill do the 156 standard

        Thanks for the help!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          October 28, 2021 at 10:09 am

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

          Reply

    • Bert says

      November 8, 2021 at 3:38 pm

      Hi Nate

      First your reviews are really helpful and so the discussions with your followers are. It is quite impressive how you come to the point. Now to my issue I ride 10 daysva year and would say I am a good intermediate on groomers with unfortunately poor skills in pow (also due too online view good pow days). I have a Burton Custom 2013 am 46y old from Germany 174cm, 67kg but 10.5 🙂 deeluxe boots. I want to improve my pow skills and have it al little bit easier as right now. However lets fac it most of time I have to stick on groomers due to lack of snow. Saying that and going through your reviews I have 2 Boards in mind the Yes Standard and Yes Hybrid. I think 153 should fit with these Boards. Now I am curious what would you recommend me comparing both Boards. Do they fit to your opinion with my ideas and are sizes ok for my sizes or am I probably wrong? I would really appreciate to get some advice from you. Looking forward!

      Bert

      Reply

      • Nate says

        November 9, 2021 at 11:30 am

        Hi Bert

        Thanks for your message.

        I think both boards would work for sure – with the Hybrid giving you the most boost in powder performance versus the Custom. But the Standard will still be better than the Custom in powder – so you will get more powder performance going Standard – and, IMO, I think the Standard will work just a little better for you on groomers, mainly because of sizing.

        The 153 Standard is pretty much the perfect size for you, IMO. Both length and width are spot on.

        The 153 Hybrid is the size I would choose for you, but it’s not quite as perfect as with the Standard. It’s still a good size for you, IMO – and I think you would still really enjoy the board. But it’s a little wider and overall just at the bigger end of a good range for you. Still within a good range – so still a good choice, IMO. But the Standard just sounds like the perfect size for you, IMO.

        But yeah, Hybrid would give you better powder performance and a little better for big higher speed carves too. Similar for speed. Standard better for switch and in general freestyle stuff – but even if you’re not doing any switch or freestyle, I think you’d really like it on the groomers (and in trees if you went in there) and because of that sizing, I’d be leaning Standard, but not a wrong choice between them.

        Hope this helps with your decision

        Reply

94. Nelson says

    October 26, 2021 at 12:06 pm

    Hey Nate,
    thanks for all the reviews and the answers to comments – its super helpful!

    So, after nearly 30 years of riding, I am having to accept the fact that I am not going to be doing that much freestyle any more and am looking for a more all mountain board to charge around on (95% on pistes). I try to find powder whenever i can so looking for an all mountain charger that can do powder well and the occasional jump (mainly side hits etc) but also not be super aggressive for the days of poor conditions etc. (was looking at the BSOD but i think it might be too aggressive). I usually ride in Europe, so it can get hard/icy.

    I’d class myself as good advanced (was a lot better but age catches up!) and I ride a TRS 157 at the moment, which is great (especially in ice!), but tends to wash out when really going for it (had to pull up a few times as I felt it was going to go!)

    I am pretty much sold on the capita mercury, so a few of questions if possible?

    1. I am 5’11, 190lbs, US11 foot – what size would you recommend – looking at either 159 / 161 / 160W

    2. Would you recommend the mega mercury over the mercury in my case?

    3. Is there much difference between 2020 and 2021 Mercury’s (I can get last years one for 40% off!)

    3. Would there be something better suited? Should i just get a longer TRS??

    Thanks for your help!
    Nelson

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 27, 2021 at 10:42 am

      Hi Nelson

      Thanks for your message.

      1. Very close between those sizes and those would certainly be the ones I would be debating between if you hadn’t already suggested them (adding in the 158W). The 159 might be borderline too narrow – around 268mm at the back insert. If you ride really low profile boots and have binding angles that give you quite a bit of angle on your back foot, then you probably get away with it, but it’s pushing it. The 161 is more like 270mm at the back insert, which is really what I would recommend as a minimum for 11s, particularly if you don’t have low profile boots. However, even that could be too narrow if you ride with quite a straight back binding angle, have bulkier boots and like to carve quite hard. In which case the 160W would be your best bet. So, I think if you have low profile boots and ride with a good bit of angle on your back foot, then 161. If not, then 160W. Or even 158W is a possibility. Between the 158W and 160W it would depend if you wanted to prioritize stability at speed and float in powder (in which case 160W) or agility (in which case 158W). If you’re currently riding a 157 TRS and don’t have any boot drag issues, then you won’t have any on the 161 Mercury (and even the 159 Mercury is wider than the 157 TRS).

      2. Given that you say you’re not looking for something super aggressive, I don’t think the Mega Merc would suit. It’s a pretty aggressive board. More aggressive than the BSOD even, IMO.

      3. The 2022 model (Capita I think is trying to buck industry trend and call their new boards 2021 – which I get why, since they’re released in 2021, but it’s confusing when it’s different to how everyone else labels the model date), as far as I can tell is identical to the 2021 model. However, the 158W and 160W (and 156W and 150) sizes are new for the 2022 model – so you would have to get the latest model to get that sizing. If you go for the 161, then it makes sense to go for the 2021 model (or even 2020 model, which is also the same).

      4. Don’t know if I would go a longer TRS for what you’re describing. I don’t find it that great in powder. And the new TRS is C3 camber – which I think you’d prefer over the old TRS for carving, but for powder it’s a step down from the old TRS, IMO. If you weren’t worried about powder, then the new TRS in the 159W could work. Otherwise, the only thing I would say is that the Mercury isn’t as good in icy conditions as the TRS, in my experience. It’s not bad, but it’s not as good as the TRS. But there are other options, if you wanted to keep the same icy conditions performance as the TRS, but with better powder.

      Hope this gives you more to go off

      Reply

95. James says

    October 14, 2021 at 10:16 am

    Hey Nate, was hoping to get a few board recommendations from you. Love reading your reviews but find myself sifting through so many as I’m preparing to get a new board this season. I wanna demo some but there’s only so many options to demo.

    I’m a 5′-11″ 190lb size 11 boot intermediate-advanced rider in colorado. My main riding style is skiing in and out of the trees, finding tight technical turns in the trees in the leftover powder and freestyling side hits and butters on the groomers out of them. I don’t do too many heavy powder days anymore, just what I can find leftover in the trees but don’t need a deep powder freeride board. Don’t do too much park rails either so don’t need a jib board

    I currently ride a 158W slash brainstorm from around 2016ish with malavitas and its an awesome board for freeride days but not my favorite for in and out of trees. I find it has a lot of difficulty making quick maneuverable turns in the technical trees and has almost cost me some close calls. Also its a little too stiff to butter well.

    Appreciate your thoughts!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      October 15, 2021 at 10:39 am

      Hi James

      Thanks for your message.

      Given that trees and quick maneuverable turns are a big part of your riding, I think we’ll try to get you on a regular width board, if we can. With 11s you’ve probably always ridden wide boards and whilst typically I would say to go wide with 11s, if you’re not carving deep that often and are really looking for those faster turns, then going narrower will certainly help. Obviously don’t want to go so narrow that you get boot drag, but just trying to find that regular width board that’s a little wider than average or a not very wide wide board. That said, the 158W Brainstorm 2016 is a not very wide wide board, so I think the width of that is good, but it sounds like you would benefit from going a little softer flexing (not only easier to butter, but softer flexing boards are often better at tight technical turns). Also, I have found the Brainstorm to be relatively agile when I have ridden it, so I think we need to adjust sizing and flex as well as the board.

      Length-wise, I think going a little shorter will help, both because it helps with making tighter turns easier and also makes buttering easier. Typically I’d say around a 159/160 for your specs for an all-mountain board, but bringing that back to a 156-158 range, I think should help. Given that you’re finding your 158W Brainstorm doesn’t perform to your liking in the trees, I think erring towards the bottom end of that range is probably a good idea.

      With all that in mind, and keeping in mind you want to be able to butter, side hit and aren’t typically in deep powder, I would look at the following (note that I’m adding the width at inserts or expected width at inserts to give you an idea of width and also the flex and the size I think would work best:

      – Brainstorm 2016, 158W (for reference) – roughly 272mm at the back insert, 270mm at the front insert, 5.5/10 flex by my feel, rated 6/10 flex.
      – YES Typo 156W – I found this board super quick edge to edge (riding the 155) and really easy to maneuver in the trees. It’s certainly softer than the Brainstorm and it’s easy to butter and sizing down a little will help too. I would be very surprised if you didn’t find this super quick edge to edge. The 155 is going too narrow for 11s, IMO, but the 156W isn’t overly wide for a wide board. I would expect the width at inserts to be around 267mm.
      – Jones Mountain Twin 157 – this board is quite wide for a regular width board – maybe still borderline too narrow – 265mm at back insert and 264mm at front insert, but if you’re not doing any aggressive carves, it’s doable. This is assuming a 560mm (22″) stance width. If you were to ride it at it’s reference stance it would be a little wider, but given you want maneuverability, I wouldn’t ride it that wide (reference stance 600mm (23.6″). Probably not gaining anything in terms of buttering though versus Brainstorm.
      – YES Standard 156 – 270mm at inserts. 6/10 flex. Again, probably not gaining anything in terms of buttering.
      – GNU Rider’s Choice 155W – not as wide as it sounds by it’s waist width – around 272mm at inserts. 5/10 flex. I found the 157.5 nice and maneuverable. Not sure how that would translate to the 155W, but with 11s, I think it would be fine.

      Or a little bit more out of left field, but a board that I found to be lightning edge to edge, but also really buttery, but you’d be going a lot softer:

      – Never Summer Peacemaker 158 (258mm waist, 265mm at inserts, 3/10 flex) – they don’t have a 158 for the 2022 model, but if you could find a 2021 or earlier model that had the 158. Could be borderline narrow, but if you want to push it for narrowness and aren’t doing any aggressive carves, it’s doable. Not amazing in powder typically, but does have “blower stance” inserts, which allow you set it back quite far.

      Hope this gives you some options and helps with your decision

      Reply

      • James says

        October 23, 2021 at 6:21 pm

        Nate,

        Thank you so much for the detailed response! It definitely helped steer me in a better direction, especially looking for a slightly shorter board.

        I went to evo to look at some boards and get more info and they recommended the capita doa or the never summer proto slinger. Do you have any follow up thoughts on these and if they fit the same boards you were describing? I did notice reading your review on the doa that you didn’t seem as impressed by it as some other critics.

        Reply

        • Nate says

          October 25, 2021 at 10:19 am

          Hi James

          Thanks for your message.

          I do like the DOA and for certain purposes it’s definitely a board I could recommend, but in your case I didn’t think it was as good as the other options. Firstly, because it’s really not great in powder – and even though you’re not really in deep powder, I wanted to recommend boards that were at least average in powder. Secondly, whilst it’s certainly not a boat for tight turns, it’s not as quick turning at slow speeds as the others mentioned above. I don’t think you would hate it in trees by any means, I still certainly had fun with it in trees, but I think you’d prefer the others.

          The Proto Slinger is a great board (I own the 2021 model as my park board and it’s my #1 rated freestyle board), but it’s something that’s more freestyle focused. I don’t think you’d have buyers regret, if you wanted a softer flexing board – it’s what I use as my go to park board, but I also love it for side hits, butters AND it’s super easy to maneuver through tight spots – it’s got an effortless turn on it, in my experience. But it’s also not great in powder. Given that you’re not really ever in deep powder, I think you get away with it powder-wise, but given that you’re still in some powder – and in case of some deeper powder days, the Peacemaker was the more recommendable in your specific case. Also sizing isn’t ideal – the 156 is probably too narrow (263mm at inserts). The 157X is around that 272mm at inserts. Which definitely isn’t overly wide for your feet/boots, but I was looking to find that real edge with narrowness, to maximize that maneuverability. That said, whilst it’s a similar size to your 158W Brainstorm, it’s still going to be more agile in tight spaces, IMO. It’s doable and if you went Proto Slinger, I would go 157X. I think the 154X would be getting too small.

          If you went DOA, then the 157W – it’s not overly wide for a wide size either – around 268mm at the waist on the 157W DOA, I would predict.

          Reply

96. Colton says

    September 14, 2021 at 8:31 am

    Hey Nate,

    Have you ridden any Wired boards yet?

    Reply

    • Nate says

      September 14, 2021 at 10:19 am

      Hi Colton

      No Wired boards yet unfortunately. Will try to get my hands on some this winter.

      Reply

97. dd says

    April 29, 2021 at 1:51 pm

    Hi Nate – back to bug you again! Seriously, thank you for all you do, it’s really informative. So I’m finally going to pull the trigger on a twin style board to complement my directional board (Jones Explorer) and I’ve narrowed my choices to either the Rossi One LF or the Jones MT. I can get either at decent sale for 2020 models. Not sure how much either changed for this seasons 2021 models but as info, my decision point will be based off of prior year model. My stats are similar to yours and I’m thinking 159/One LF or 157 MT. The two seem pretty close, although I believe the above ratings are updated for 2021 so I’m not sure if they were similarly close last year? My guess is either would work great so not a bad decision between them but I’m hoping you can enlighten me on two points – which is quicker edge to edge in tight space, and which is more damp? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      April 30, 2021 at 10:43 am

      Hi dd

      Thanks for your message.

      The 2021 Rossi One LF is basically the same as the 2020 model, but the 2021 Mountain Twin changed quite a bit from the 2020 model. See my Mountain Twin review for details of the changes. 2020 MT was a little better in terms of stability at speed, but not as quick edge to edge. The 2021 model became better in uneven terrain and more maneuverable at slower speeds. The 2021 MT I would say is just as quick edge to edge as the Rossi One or maybe even slightly quicker edge to edge, but the 2020 model MT isn’t as quick edge to edge as 2020 Rossi One, IMO. In terms of dampness between 2020 Rossi One and MT, I would say it’s pretty similar. The 2021 MT is slightly less damp.

      One other thing to consider is that the MT is very easy to get into a centered stance. The Rossi One LF, because it has a setback of 12.5mm isn’t something you can really go fully centered on. Just in case you were looking for something where you could center up the stance.

      Size-wise, I would go 159 for One LF and 157 for MT, so if you’re similar specs, then I think those sizes are good bets.

      Hope this helps

      Reply

      • dd says

        April 30, 2021 at 12:02 pm

        Excellent Nate, thank you very much!

        Reply

        • Nate says

          May 1, 2021 at 2:28 pm

          You’re very welcome dd

          Reply

98. Eran Zylinski says

    April 9, 2021 at 8:24 pm

    Hello Nate,

    Thank you for what you do here, your info on the site is incredible, and your responses to your readers puts you over the top – big props to you!!

    I am just another rider choosing what stick to get next, and would appreciate your input.

    I’ve been riding for 22 years, dunno if I can call myself expert, but I have only ever ridden full camber profile, and I absolutely love the feel of it, the aggressiveness of it, am OK with how unforgiving it is, and would not be afraid of trying a newer, modern example (like a Slash ATV, for example). My current ride is a 2008/9 Palmer Burn, but I would like to move to an all mtn type, just undecided how aggressive I’d like to go. I love riding fast and hard charging, but nowadays most of my time riding is with my young, learning kids, so I don’t want something that is overly laborious for slow, casual, groomer riding. I want to be stable when I do get to open it up though (the Palmer Burn is WAY too sketchy at 35+mph!!). I also ride park – straight jumps small to medium primarily – no rails, ride switch as much as I can just to keep my skills up, love to hit the side hits (don’t want something that takes too much effort to be stable when a side hit catches my eye at the last second), and navigating the off-groomer trees is my favorite. Oh, and the more pop the better.

    I am 5’8″ ~200lbs (trying to get back down to 180’ish), boot size 9.5, just got a new set of Burton Step On X bindings, planning to get the ION boots for next season. I wanted stiff binding + boot. Current set up has way too much flex for me, riding old Burton P2 bindings with Ruler boots.

    I’d give you the list of boards that I’m looking at, but I would rather see your suggestions!!! 🙂

    Thanks in advance!!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      April 11, 2021 at 3:21 pm

      Hi Eran

      Thanks for your message.

      Taking all that into account, looking at traditional camber, or predominantly camber options. Nothing here is going to be amazing for powder, but otherwise would work well for what you’re describing.

      – Arbor Shiloh/Coda/Wasteland Camber – fairly similar boards, but depending on how stiff you wanted to go. I’d say Shiloh 6/10 flex, Coda closer to 7, and Wasteland a little stiffer again, probably around 7.5

      – Arbor Brain Iguchi Camber – similar flex to the Coda, but a little more directional

      – Burton Custom Camber 158 – around a 6.5/10 flex, traditional camber

      – Burton Freethinker 157 – a little more on the freestyle side for the spectrum – relatively stiff – around 7/10

      – GNU Billy Goat 159 – stiffer around 7.5/10 by my feel – technically a Hybrid Rocker board but predominantly camber. But you do feel a little rocker between the feet, which may or may not be something you liked the feel of. There would be risk there, that you didn’t like that feel if you’ve always ridden full camber.

      – Jones Aviator 2.0 (coming in 2022) – the previous Aviator’s weren’t full camber, but still mostly camber – I haven’t ridden the new edition yet, so not 100% sure how it rides.

      – Nitro Team (camber) – very similar to the Burton Custom Camber

      – Ride Burnout – more on the freestyle side of the spectrum, but stiffer – around 7/10 flex, IMO

      – Salomon Ultimate Ride – not full camber, but pretty close – the new (2021 model and on) are more freeride oriented, with the 2020 and older models more freestyle oriented

      – Slash ATV 158 – this is easier to maneuver at slower speeds than you would expect and easier pop than you would expect for the flex – I would say around 7.5/10 flex-wise. Not like super agile at slow speeds, like a softer board would be, but not bad at all. And not as easy to extract the pop as you’d typically get with a softer board, but also pretty easy to access for a board of it’s flex

      Or you could go a little softer and look at something like the YES Ghost, Niche Crux, Burton Paramount, GNU RC C3 – and I’m sure there are others I’m not thinking of, but I thought I’d put a limit of at least 6/10 flex, based on what you were describing.

      Hope this gives you some options to look into. Curious to know what the options you were looking at were too?

      Reply

      • Eran says

        April 11, 2021 at 8:41 pm

        Thank you for the response, Nate!!

        I was considering some that you mentioned, and just discovered the Arbor Shiloh today. I agree, that one sparked my interest! I also looked at some of the stiffer freestyle/freeride options like you mention, but am a little put off by the idea of riding switch on them, being that most have the directional shape and/or taper.

        I’ve seen some out there, like the Billy Goat, that are hybrid rocker and claim to have strong edge hold, etc., but I’m just not game to consider them for my only board. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to try them out, but until one could convince me that it suits my riding style, I can’t commit to going that route.

        At the top of my list were a few from your all mountain list – Yes Standard, Capita Mercury, and Jones MT. Then from your Aggr All Mtn list I had the ATV, Custom X, Ultra Mountain Twin, Capita Supernova, and Nitro Team.

        A few I added were the new Globe Traditionalist, Deep Thinker, and Kazu Kokubo Pro, with the understanding that those last two options have the directional design.

        However, since posting the question to you, I have done more research and am leaning quite heavily toward the Yes Standard. I’ve convinced myself that perhaps a little less flex, and a little less aggressiveness could still be fun for me, assuming that it can hold an edge at speed reasonably well. I am thinking the hybrid camber might lend itself to making the slow, casual runs a bit more carefree in what I could do on it. I also am giving it the edge over the Custom, the Jones MT, the Mercury, the Globe, and the Nitro Team based on the additional versatility it seems this board would have (mainly the additional powder capabilities). Although I gotta say that new Globe sounds very very intriguing to me as well. I still give the edge to the Standard due to the little bit of extra width for stomping landings with a little more stability, and it doesn’t sound to me like I would be giving up a ton of agility given the extra width.

        If I had the freedom to go out and ride like I used to before kids and family, I think I would go for a two-board quiver: the ATV for the aggressive days, and then something like a Deep Thinker, or something even more powder specific for the pow fun. But being that I am planning on a single-board quiver, I guess I need to sacrifice somewhere, and I am feeling that the Standard minimizes the overall sacrifices.

        What do you think, am I on the right track? My next question becomes how would my new, super stiff boot/binding combo match up with the Standard?

        Reply

        • Nate says

          April 12, 2021 at 4:26 pm

          Hi Eran

          Yeah the Standard is definitely versatile and more easy going than the others listed, but it is still nothing super soft/playful, you can still charge on it a little. Won’t hold up to really opening it out like something like the ATV, but it does pretty well at speed and is fun to ride slow too.

          There is some risk of the board getting a bit twitchy with bindings/boots that are too stiff, but it’s hard to say for sure. I’ve only ridden the Standard with Burton Malavita’s and mid-flexing boots. I haven’t tested the Step On X bindings, so I don’t know first hand how stiff they are, but I hear they are very stiff. The Ion, to me, aren’t the stiffest going around – I would say around 7.5/10 flex, bordering on 8/10. So I think you could get away with that setup on the Standard, but probably not ideal and some risk of making the board a little twitchy.

          Reply

          • Eran says

            April 13, 2021 at 1:16 pm

            Hi Nate,

            I am betting that just updating to the Standard (or really any of these boards!) from my current board will render any potential twitchiness acceptable because I am expecting it to be a major improvement. At least at higher speeds. Current board is both too short (154) for me, and has too much flex. I am assuming I’ll go with a 159 Standard. As mentioned before also, I understand I am sacrificing somewhere just due to having a single board to do everything, and I get that the Standard is not designed to be the hardest charging board.

            Now to find the board, I have not seen the 159 available anywhere online.

          • Nate says

            April 14, 2021 at 12:06 pm

            Hi Eran

            Yeah I think 159 would work but 156 would also work – just because it’s a wider board and quite wide for 9.5s. The 159 is even wider, so you would be getting quite a big board overall in the 159 – but that would of course add to it’s stability at speed and float in powder. Going 156 would sacrifice a little in terms of speed and powder for some gain in maneuverability, butterability, ease of pop, ease of spins etc. I think 159 is a more pure length for your height/weight specs, but with that extra width the 156 is also an option for this board, with 9.5s, IMO. For reference, I’m 6’0″, 175lbs, size 10 (sometimes 9.5) boots, and I really like the 156.

99. Mark Hansen says

    April 8, 2021 at 11:56 am

    Hey Nate, thank you for your post!

    I’ve been boarding for the last 5 years on a Burton Royale ’07 board passed down from my dad (I’m not even know what the specs are, but we’re the same size and height now) and am finally in the market to get a new one.

    I’m 6’1, 177lbs, and a size 10.5 boot, and my riding style is advanced all-mountaineer kinda riding. I’ve been looking to get a true twin board between the 157cm – 159cm range that’s a little bit more on the medium flex with a sturdy, playful feel to it that can stand up to the icy packed snow. So I’ve been checking out the Yes Standard 18/19/20/21 boards, but can’t find any that are in stock in those sizes.

    In the event that I can’t get one of the Yes Standard boards, what other boards would you recommend that are similar?

    I know that there’s a full list, but I would love to hear what you would personally suggest. 🙂
    (If this has already been answered, my b, but I appreciate your time and insights!)

    Thanks!!!

    Reply

    • Nate says

      April 10, 2021 at 2:44 pm

      Hi Mark

      Thanks for your message.

      Because of the width of the Standard, I think the 156 would be a really good size for you. You could go 159 if you wanted something more stable at speed and for better float in powder (sacrificing some maneuverability, butterability etc). But I think 156 would work for you, if you could find that size.

      Some other boards that fit your criteria (twin, all-mountain, good in icy conditions, medium flex – and I’ve also ):

      – Jones Mountain Twin 157 (directional twin)
      – Rossi One LF 159 (directional twin)
      – YES Greats 156 (or 159)
      – Salomon Assassin 159

      Id you also wanted to look at Hybrid Rocker options (rocker between the feet and camber towards tip and tail, as opposed to camber between the feet and rocker towards tip and tail as with a Hybrid Rocker – they YES Standard is a Hybrid Camber)

      Hope this helps

      Reply

100. Mike says

     March 26, 2021 at 7:21 pm

     Hi Nate, with so many boards to choose from, I’m wondering if you could recommend me one for my needs. I’m scratching the surface as an intermediate rider, I feel like I’ve got the foundations and carving down well. I’d like to stick to an all-mountain board mostly for resort riding and was looking at the 2021 Nitro Team Camber 155 (5’8″, 165lb) or the YES Typo 155 as the next step up. Do you have any particular boards you’d recommend over that one?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 27, 2021 at 1:55 pm

       Hi Mike

       Thanks for your message.

       Size-wise, I think you’re good at those sizes.

       The Team Camber is a little more advanced than something like the Typo. It’s a little stiffer and it’s full camber. Still intermediate doable, but I’d say more solid intermediate than low intermediate. The Typo is a great option for that low intermediate level looking to progress, IMO. So I’d be leaning towards that, depending on how far through your intermediate progression you consider your self. Some other options:

       >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

       And something like the Mountain Twin, Rossi One LF, Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker, Team Gullwing would also work for lower end intermediate. But yeah, the Typo a really good option. If you’re more solid intermediate, then the Team Camber would be fine.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

101. Garrett J Belmont says

     March 16, 2021 at 11:53 am

     Hi Nate. I am looking into the 156 Yes Standard, the 156 Custom Flying V, or other. I am 5′-10″, 165 pounds, boot size 9.5. I previously rode a 2009 161 K2 Zeppelin. It was great for years until I lost some weight and the board started to feel too big. So wanting to get a shorter board, and also relive my youth, I got a 2020 154.5 Riders Choice. It’s good. But I haven’t ridden switch, buttered or jumped in a very long time, like 20-30 years ago when I could ride weekly.

     I can’t help but feel I should have gotten board more specific to all mountain riding. After 30 years of riding, I can say I am an intermediate rider. Now, I just like going fast on blue trails with a friend, having lunch, and riding some more…

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 17, 2021 at 11:09 am

       Hi Garrett

       Thanks for your message.

       I think something around 156/157 is a good length for your specs and what you’re describing.

       With the Standard though, it’s a wider board and with 9.5s, I would size down, so more like 153 for that board. That probably sounds really short for your specs, so totally get if you didn’t want to go that short. And it would represent a huge drop in effective edge versus your old Zeppelin.

       Size-wise, I think the Custom Flying V would work, but the only thing I would consider is that it’s quite a loose feeling board, and I’m not sure that’s what you’re after. If you like the idea of a looser feeling deck, then it’s a great option, but just wanted to mention it, given that you’re coming from an all-camber board (prior to your Rider’s Choice). The Rider’s Choice is also on the looser side of things, but the Custom Flying V would be just that little bit looser again. If you liked that aspect of your Rider’s Choice, then I think it should work well.

       If you did want something more stable – with more camber in it, and didn’t want to go as short as the 153 Standard (you could go 156 in the Standard, but just probably going to feel quite wide), you could look at the Burton Custom (camber version), which might be more suitable for you, if you weren’t that interested in/didn’t get the chance very often, to ride in powder. The Nitro Team Camber would also fit that bill.

       If you did want something that would perform well in powder as well, then I would look at the Mountain Twin 157. Or you could even go a little more directional, if you’re not going to be riding switch and look at something like the Jones Frontier, Capita Navigator, GNU Hyperkyarve (if you like the looser feel of your Rider’s Choice), Lib Tech Dynamo or Burton SKeleton Key.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Garrett J Belmont says

         March 17, 2021 at 2:06 pm

         Thank you, Nate! I really appreciate it and all the info on this site.

         Now that you have me I am thinking about the loose feel of the RC, I am not sure it’s for me, at least not all over the mountain. The Mountain Twin 157 seems to be the most versatile, especially if I expect to see some powder.

         Then maybe:
         -Burton Custom Camber 156
         -Nitro Team Camber 157

         And if I really want to favor directional over switch:
         -Jones Frontier 159 (?)
         -Capita Navigator 158
         -Lib Tech Dynamo 156
         -Burton Skeleton Key 158

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 18, 2021 at 11:08 am

           Hi Garrett

           Yeah, I think that’s a good list. And yeah if you did go Frontier, I would go 159. It’s a board you can ride a little longer. All those sizes look about right to me. The only one I would be debating is the Skeleton Key. It’s a wider board, and quite wide for 9.5s, so I would be debating between the 154 and 158. The 158 isn’t quite as wide as the 156 Standard, but it’s close, so I’d probably be leaning 154 in the Skeleton Key. Everything else there looks good size-wise to me.

           Reply

           • Garrett J Belmont says

             March 18, 2021 at 11:26 am

             Thanks again, Nate! I posted another response, though I think I have a plenty of good info to work with here. Now to decide if I buy now for one more ride of the season, or wait for the 2022 boards.

           • Nate says

             March 19, 2021 at 11:45 am

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

       • Garrett J Belmont says

         March 18, 2021 at 11:24 am

         After sleeping on it, and reading all the reviews here, I’ve narrowed down my options to something like this:

         -Nitro Team Camber 157
         -Jones MT 157
         -YES Standard 153 (I am not opposed to 153, just a little nervous… )
         -Capita Navigator 158
         -Lib Tech Dynamo 156
         -Jones Frontier 159 (?)

         The idea for being prepared for deep powder is appealing, but realistically I don’t see it that often in Southern California. Maybe on the occasional trip away from the area. In that case, the Nitro is a safe bet. But I don’t want to miss out on what the other boards can offer.

         Reply

102. Bogdan says

     March 9, 2021 at 12:54 pm

     Hi Nate!

     This is my first season.
     You have helped me a lot to choose my first stuff.

     I have spent 15 days on the mountain at all since start of season. I can link s turns on the green, blue and red slopes. I have tried freeride a little. Also I have tried riding in the park.
     I understood that I’m interested in all-mountain riding. I want to learn carving, increase speed and learn freeride. (Powder makes me excited!!)

     My current stuff is K2 Raygun (156) + Union Contact Pro + Salomon Launch boots

     I returned my boots to the shop yesterday by garantee case, so I want to buy new boots and new other stuff.

     My height – 183 cm
     My weight – 73-76 kg
     My foot size – 26 cm

     I plan to choose boots and binding from your tops for all-mountain.

     Chosing snowboard is more complicated: Jones Mountain Twin or YES standard. What size is fit for me?

     Do I have correct idea?
     May be you can give some advices?

     Thanks in advance!!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 10, 2021 at 12:14 pm

       Hi Bogdan

       Thanks for your message.

       The Mountain Twin (MT) and YES Standard are certainly a step up from the Raygun, but it sounds like you’ve progressed pretty quickly. I would say you’d want to be at least mid-level intermediate to ride the MT and Standard, but if you feel you’re there, then they are certainly doable and a good upgrade from the Raygun, IMO.

       Size-wise, for the MT I would probably go 154 for your specs. 157 would certainly be doable length-wise, but with 26cm feet the 157 might feel too big overall when looking at length and width combined. The 157 Mountain Twin is a good 10mm wider at the inserts versus the Raygun, so it’s significantly wider. The 154 MT is going to be wider than the 156 Raygun as well, but sizing down in length makes it a good overall size for you, IMO. Also note that the 154 MT is a similar effective edge to the 156 Raygun, so you’re not really going much smaller in terms of effective edge.

       The YES Standard is an even wider board, so I would definitely size down for that one. I would say 153. But you would be going down in terms of effective edge on that versus the Raygun. That, and also given how wide it is for 26cm feet, I think the MT 154 would be the better choice, size-wise.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Bogdan says

         March 10, 2021 at 11:00 pm

         Thanks Nate!

         I have made a mistake, my boot size is 26.5 cm.
         Does 157 cm MT fit me now? Or 154 cm MT is better anyway?

         My experienced friend give me an advice to buy salomon sick stick 157. What do you think about this snowboard?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 11, 2021 at 2:43 pm

           Hi Bogdan

           I would still look at the 154 with 26.5. Like I said the 157 is doable and that makes it marginally more doable, but I’d still be leaning 154.

           The Sick Stick is a bit of a bigger step up. It’s not like crazy stiff or technical or anything, but it’s a little stiffer, a little more advanced than something like the Mountain Twin. Also note that it’s a much more directional board and geared mostly towards freeride. So, not great for park or riding switch. Size-wise, it’s also a wider board for your boot size, IMO, so I would be leaning 153 if you were to go sick stick. If you wanted to go longer, I would be more inclined to go Mountain Twin 157, than Sick Stick 157, for what you’re describing.

           Reply

103. Vahid Safar says

     March 1, 2021 at 6:39 pm

     Hi Nate I am having a really hard time deciding what size to get. I am 6’0 185lb, shoe size 9.5.
     I was really interested in the Salomon Assassin, but the only one available where I’m from is size 159. Also my current board is a 157 Rossignol Jibsaw Magtek (2013): Is this too small for me, or can I get away with riding a couple more seasons?

     Thank you So much
     Vahid Safar

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 2, 2021 at 12:46 pm

       Hi Vahid

       Thanks for your message.

       I wouldn’t say the Jibsaw 157 is too small, depending on how you like to ride. I think the Assassin 159 would be a good size for you though, if you did decide to go with the Assassin. The 156 could also work, depending on how you like to ride. i.e. do you like to ride any park? Trees? Prefer bombing or riding more casually? Did you see a lot of powder? Also, how would you describe your ability? Intermediate? Advanced? These things come into sizing as well.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

104. Christian says

     February 18, 2021 at 8:30 pm

     Hey nate, I’ve outgrown my old Burton Jeremy Jones 156 that I’ve had since 06/07. It’s still a great board, but I was about 5’10” 170lbs back then, and now I’m 6’1” and 215 with an 11.5 boot. I like to ride all kinds of terrain and I tend to lean towards high speed and carving around. I’ll pepper in some small jumps here and there, and rarely, but occasionally, hit rails. I do like switching stance for fun as well and just goofing around. Also, I’ve been riding since the late 90s. Any suggestions?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 19, 2021 at 3:36 pm

       Hi Christian

       Thanks for your message.

       I think because you like to ride switch and goof around and hit the occasional rail, that you’re in the right place with this list. You could go with something more aggressive, to maximize speed/carving, like something from:

       >>Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards

       But that would sacrifice the playfulness you might want for other things.

       However, since you probably want something on the verge of being more aggressive, I would lean towards something like the Niche Story, Capita Mercury or even, from that other list, something like the Nitro Team Camber, which is less aggressive than others on that other list. I would say the same about the Burton Custom Camber which is quite similar to the Team.

       If you wanted something a little more playful than those, but still not that playful, then moving more into the YES Standard, Jones Mountain Twin. But I think one of those other 4, for what you’re describing would work well.

       Size-wise I would be looking at around that 163W size give or take. If you feel that’s going to be too big a shock versus your 156, you could go a little smaller than that, but I’d go at very least to 160W.

       Hope this gives you more to go off.

       Reply

105. Craig says

     February 18, 2021 at 1:06 pm

     Hi Nate,

     I am getting back into snowboarding after several years off. I would say that I am an intermediate rider and I am looking for a board to do it all. Based on your site and other reviews I am looking at the following boards:
     – YES Standard
     – Jones Mountain Twin or Ultra
     – Salomon Assassin or Pro
     – Capita Mercury

     I am looking for a board that will be easy to get feet back underneath me, gain the confidence and then grow into (IE not have to make another investment down the road). I used to ride an old Solomon that is directional and really stiff compared to what I have seen with the newer boards. I’ll be riding mainly groomers, pow and some park, so I am looking for a board that can be ridden switch and directionally in the powder. I am not looking to go charging hard but not looking to hold back on greens either. This is why I am leaning towards the Standard or Mountain Twin.

     I am 5’11, 180 lbs with a 12 US show size. Thank you for your thoughts on this in advance.

     Craig

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 19, 2021 at 2:43 pm

       Hi Craig

       Thanks for your message.

       I think from what you’re describing, I would be leaning Standard or Mountain Twin too. Assassin would work, but you get a bit more for pow, IMO, from the Standard and MT. But Assassin not bad in pow, so definitely doable. The Ultra Mountain Twin, Assassin Pro and Mercury potentially as well – main reason I’m leaning towards the others is that you want something that will still be easy enough to get the confidence going again and those will be more difficult in that respect.

       Size-wise, I would be leaning 159W Mountain Twin and 159 for Standard. If you were to go Assassin, I’d go 158W.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

106. Jonny says

     February 7, 2021 at 2:00 pm

     Hi Nate,

     thank you for all the detailed reviews and incredible amount of information, really helps when trying to figure out which gear to buy!

     About me: 21 years old, 181 cm, 70kg, have been riding for around 9 years or so (mostly Austria) and would consider myself to be relatively advanced, currently riding a 2015 Arbor Whiskey 158 which is fine but it’s time for a new one. I would say I am riding a fair mix of groomers (pretty aggressive/high speed at that) and powder/trees (more mellow at that, but like to get into steeper, faster terrain as well) – on fresh snow days as much of the latter as possible. Also planning to get into touring and more advanced freeriding at some point in the next few years.
     So far I am mostly avoiding the park but figured I probably have to spend some days there in order to get more comfortable hitting bigger features (and translate that into the backcountry) and a little more playful in general (buttering, riding switch, side hits etc.).
     So I probably am looking for a nice all-around board, that works well in powder but also on occasional park laps. From what I’ve read so far (only a couple of hours of research) those are my early favorites:
     – Capita Mercury / BSOD / Outerspace Living (really like the company, philosophy-wise)
     – Bataleon Thunder
     – Yes Standard
     Out of those, what would be your favorite for my use-case or do you have any other recommendations?

     Thanks in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 8, 2021 at 11:51 am

       Hi Jonny

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the Standard is probably the best balance, given the you also want to work on buttering, switch etc. If you were just bombing/carving groomers and powder/trees, then I’d probably be leaning BSOD. Mercury would also certainly work for what you’re describing, but I would be leaning Standard, depending on sizing.

       I don’t test Bataleon boards, so I’m unsure about the Thunder.

       Size-wise, if you could also let me know your boot size. It’s an important factor for sizing, IMO.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Jonny says

         February 12, 2021 at 7:10 am

         Hi Nate,

         thanks for you response and sorry for taking a few days before answering myself.
         My Boot size is US 10. Probably looking for some new ones too, so let me know if you have any recommendations here 🙂 bindings as well, especially since I read that the Slamback on the Standard doesn’t support Minidisc.

         On a side note: Read a few more reviews of the Thunder and it seems to be a little to free ride-centered for me anyway. So it’s between Mercury and Standard.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 12, 2021 at 2:05 pm

           Hi Jonny

           Yeah can’t use the slam back inserts with the mini-disc. Mini-disc will still work fine on the Standard in the regular insert pack, but just wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the slam back holes.

           Size-wise, if you went Standard I would go 153 and if you went Mercury I would go 155, for your specs. Both boards are a little wider than normal, so sizing down a little makes sense and those sizes work well for your weight too.

           For boots, I would be looking at something around the 6/10 to 7/10 range in terms of flex. Some good options in that range:

           >>My Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

           Same idea for bindings. Check out:

           >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

           >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

           Some of those will have mini-discs, so just be aware of that.

           Reply

107. Steve G says

     January 27, 2021 at 11:12 am

     Hi Nate. I salute you for all this amazing advice and the time you spend getting back to peoples questions. Top stuff!!
     Please help me make my mid up on a new board. I’m 43, 5’10, 185 pounds (84kg) US 10 boot (UK9.5) ThirtyTwo Binary BOAs. Decent intermediate level.
     Currently I have a 2015/16 NITRO Team Exposure 155 which has been great but time for a refresh (plus not ideal for my weight and a worthy hand me down to my son).
     I want another All Mountain board. Not fussed about the park really (2% of my resort time). I just like riding on and off piste looking for powder wherever I can, looking for little kickers to try and get air (even though I’m probably not!), trying to butter for more than 2 seconds, trying to 180 and not fall over and prove to my 12 year old son I can still hang with the kids!! (Doesn’t really sound like decent intermediate when I read this back). I need something that can also go fairly fast to keep up with the fearless little brats too!!

     I’m in a quandary as to go for a Jones MT, Yes Standard or Never Summer SnowTrooper. They all look great spec wise, good reviews here and decent graphics too.
     Also, I’m a bit confused with the length of board to go for. I read some advice about going shorter, but I wasn’t sure if that was right taking into account boot size and weight? I like going off piste and through trees whenever I can so a short board like my 155 does suit me for this. Should I stick to a similar length?
     I may well go the whole hog and get some new bindings (currently I have NITRO Zero’s). So please feel free to advise on some good pairings for these boards,
     I’m sure the boards I’ve shortlisted are appropriate but happy to be corrected and be recommended something else!
     Thanks very much
     Steve from the UK

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 28, 2021 at 4:41 pm

       Hi Steve

       Thanks for your message.

       Firstly in terms of size, you could go longer, if you wanted to, but around 155 isn’t crazy small for you either. I would put you on around a 159 as a standard “all-mountain” length, at a relatively advanced level. So, I think you could ride anything up to that 159 length. But if you like to ride trees a lot, then sizing down can make sense. But not so much so that you sacrifice too much in terms of stability at speed. For the boards you’ve listed there, I would go:

       Mountain Twin: 157
       Standard: 156
       Snowtrooper: tight call between 156 and 159. Probably leaning 159, but if you really wanted to optimize for trees, you could go 156.

       Those boards are certainly all good options for what you’re describing: Some things to consider:

       – The Standard is the most aggressive of those ones, but still not quite as aggressive as the Team, IMO, but fairly close (that’s assuming you mean the Team Camber rather than the Gullwing). The Mountain Twin not far off there, but just a little more playful, but very close on the scale to the Standard. The Snowtrooper is a little softer flexing and less camber in there and overall a more playful feel. For the boards on this list, I would say most playful to most aggressive would be:

       – Yes Typo
       – DWD Wizard Stick
       – Burton Custom Flying V
       – Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
       – Slash Brainstorm
       – Rossignol One
       – Jones Mountain Twin
       – Nitro Team Gullwing
       – YES Standard
       – Capita Mercury
       – Niche Story

       With the Snowtrooper coming in around the Typo. So if you were wanted to go considerably more playful than the Team (again, assuming Team camber, but you can see where the Gullwing sits there), then the Snowtrooper would be an option, but if you wanted to keep that aspect of things more of a subtle change, then the Standard or MT more suitable. Also in terms of flex, I’d say the Standard and MT around 6/10, with the Snowtrooper more of a 4/10. The Team a 6/10 too, but just with a bit more camber than the Standard/MT.

       Standard and MT more stable at speed too. For more details, here are links to the individual reviews.

       >>Jones Mountain Twin

       >>YES Standard Review

       >>NS Snowtrooper Review

       For binding matches, I would look at something 6/10 or 7/10 in terms of flex for the MT and Standard and 4/10 to 6/10 for the Snowtrooper. Some good options:

       >>Top 5 All Freestyle Bindings

       >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

       >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Steve G says

         January 29, 2021 at 5:31 am

         Thanks so much for the detailed feedback. I didn’t realise that my Nitro (Camber) was classed as aggressive. I’d like my next board to be a little less stiff, but not super flexible (I don’t want something flapping about under my feet when i pick up a bit of speed). I therefore think I’ll discount the Snow Trooper. And from your reply the MT and Standard are similar to what I have right now, but a little less aggressive, bit more playful and slightly more flex.
         I emailed the guys at the place I’m buying from and they recommended 3 different boards entirely, so now my mind is getting well and truly blown. They suggested a Capita DO which I don’t quite like the look of, Salomon Assassin 156, or a NS Proto Synthesis 157 wide. I like both of these and actually the reviews of the Assassin are really good and perhaps suits me the best. I have to admit I’m still swayed on the Jones I think, because I saw a video of a guy in Canada riding it and it just looks the nuts (visually and riding wise) and the flex on this on the snow is about a 6. One thing I have to be honest about is the majority of my time is spent on groomed pistes, though if there’s fun to be had on the sides – I’m there! Most of my boarding is in Austria, so no major powder like you guys get in the US and a lot of the time the pistes can be pretty hard and icy especially on those first runs of the day! Would this make much more of a difference in your recommendations? Thanks again Nate – I really appreciate the help.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 29, 2021 at 12:43 pm

           Hi Steve

           Thanks for the extra info.

           I wouldn’t go DOA. Mainly because I didn’t find it great in icy conditions, but also because not great in powder. Even if you’re not seeing it that much, you could go for a little more powder performance, IMO. The Synthesis also not great in powder, but a little better in those icy conditions. I wouldn’t go with the wide version though, if it was me (I ride US10s too). The Assassin definitely an option though. A little better in powder than the DOA and Synthesis. Not quite as good as MT or Standard, IMO, but not far off, and if you’re not seeing it that much, then I think it’s doable for powder days. And decent in icy conditions too.

           The best of all these options in icy conditions, IMO, is the Standard, but the MT and Assassin aren’t far behind.

           So yeah, I would be debating between the MT, Standard and Assassin. The Assassin a little softer, IMO, than the MT and Standard, but very subtly. Certainly can’t go wrong with the MT, IMO, if that’s the one that’s speaking to you the most.

           Reply

108. Derek Vail says

     January 23, 2021 at 3:52 pm

     would love your feedback.
     Rented a Huck Knife the other day. Loved it. considering buying .
     I’m 5’10 and 175lbs. What size do you recommend. Every scale I see online seems to suggest 160cm+ but I could have sworn the one I rented was 155. felt great so not sure what to do.

     Also what are your thoughts on the Huck Knife.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 25, 2021 at 1:04 pm

       Hi Derek

       Thanks for your message.

       For your specs, for the Huck Knife I wouldn’t go as long as 160 – in fact for most boards, I wouldn’t go that long for your specs.

       For the Huck Knife I think it’s a weigh up between 155, 155W and 158 or 158W, depending on boot size and some other things. If you can let me know your boot size, I can give my opinion as to whether I think you’ll need to go wide or not.

       Between 155 & 158, it would depend how you predominantly wanted to use it.

       If you ride trees a lot, and do a lot of freestyle stuff, and want something more maneuverable, easier to throw around, easier to butter etc, then 155 is a good bet.

       If you prefer to bomb a bit more and want a bit more stability at speed, and better float in powder (though it’s not a great board for powder in general, going longer would still give it more float), then the 158 is the better choice. If you’re fairly even between everything, then it’s a case of choosing what you want to optimize the most.

       I liked the Huck Knife. Not great for powder, that’s it’s biggest weakness, but really good for jumps and good for just riding around the mountain too. Nice and poppy. Since you rode it and loved it, I think it’s a good choice, unless you really want something that’s good in powder.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

109. Berger says

     January 7, 2021 at 9:46 pm

     Hi Nate!

     I really appreciate all your content and insights. Awesome.

     I think it’s really time to replace my ooold Burton Seven 158 board with something new to see if there is a difference after all the years.

     I weigh 156lbs (71kg) and am 5’9″ (175cm) tall and I live near and ride at Snowbird, Utah. Last year I already replaced my old Flow with a Flow NX2 GT and this should of course also fit on the new board.

     I like to ride groomers and powder depending on conditions (still waiting for a bit more snow). Riding switch here and there and experimenting with the board. Not so much a park rider, rather prefer jumps with soft powder landings. 🙂 Looking for a flexible board for an advanced (but not a pro) rider.

     If you have some boot tips, I will take those, too. I have been using some very old Salomon Dialogue boots in 29cm and I think they are bit too broken in now so that I lose control as I miss stiffness sometimes.

     Thanks! 🙂

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 8, 2021 at 2:28 pm

       Hi Berger

       Thanks for your message.

       I think you’re in the right place on this list for what you’re describing. Size-wise, I would size down a bit from the 158 you’re currently riding. Nothing too drastic, but I think something around 156 would be a good bet. But if you could also let me know your boot size, that would help with sizing too.

       When you say “flexible” do you mean versatile, or are you looking for something with a softer flex? Sorry, that word can mean a couple of things.

       If you are looking for a little softer flexing, or more forgiving feel, then I think the Custom Flying V, Wizard Stick, Typo and Brainstorm would be good bets. If you’re looking for slightly stiffer, then the Mercury or Story (or if you want to go more aggressive you could also check out >>Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards). The rest in between. For reference, this is what I would consider the most playful to most aggressive on this list:

       – Yes Typo
       – DWD Wizard Stick
       – Burton Custom Flying V
       – Slash Brainstorm
       – Rossignol One
       – Jones Mountain Twin
       – Nitro Team Gullwing
       – YES Standard
       – Capita Mercury
       – Niche Story

       I also just tested the Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker yesterday, and that is going to make it’s way on this list. It’s a softer (not like ultra soft, but like 5/10) more playful option too. I would put it in between the Custom Flying V and Brainstorm, in terms of playful/aggressive.

       In terms of boots, I would check out the following for a good match with these boards:

       >>My Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Berger says

         January 9, 2021 at 10:07 am

         Hi Nathan,
         Thanks for the reply. Really appreciate your insights. With “flexible” I mean regarding terrain. Using it on groomed runs with the family, but also in our dry powder on a pow day and some jumps here and there. I hope this makes sense.

         I was eyeballing the Yes Standard if that is still available and was also thinking about trying a smaller size. Would this make sense or too stiff? I would have to find a 156 as those seem to go out of stock quicker than the 153 variant.

         I mentioned my current boot size which is 29cm or US 11.5. In running shoes I normally have a 10 or 10.5 but snowboard boots seem to size up.

         Thanks again!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 10, 2021 at 3:11 pm

           Hey Berger

           Yeah that makes sense for sure, with regards to “flexible”.

           I think the Standard would work for what you’re describing. Size-wise, I would go for 153 for you. You could go 156, but I think for that particular board a 153 would work well for you. Other boards more like 155, 156, but for that one I think 153 would be a good bet. Again, 156 not a wrong size for you, but I would be leaning 153, if you did go with the Standard.

           Reply

           • Berger says

             January 11, 2021 at 12:12 pm

             Thanks Nate. Size 153 is great as this is still more widely available. I will give it a try and report back when I had a chance to get some hands on experience. 🙂

           • Nate says

             January 12, 2021 at 2:48 pm

             You’re very welcome Berger. Look forward to hearing how you get on.

           • Berger says

             January 24, 2021 at 9:31 pm

             Ok, we got about 20″ of snow over the weekend and I was able to take my new Yes Standard for a few rides. I like it so far. It’s very playful while chasing down the groomers, riding regular and switch or also in powder. I think the smaller size but a little bit wider board is great. Next weekends will show whether it continues to be good. Thanks again for your advice!

           • Nate says

             January 25, 2021 at 2:14 pm

             Hi Berger

             Thanks for the update. Much appreciated. 20″ of snow sounds amazing!

110. Max says

     January 7, 2021 at 8:54 pm

     Phenomenal info and I’m sorry if this already been asked. Hoping for some advice on a new board. I’ve been out of the loop for so long that I can’t decide on what’s best for me.

     I’ve been riding for like 15 years but don’t get out much anymore (couple times a year if I’m lucky.) I’ve ridden a Ride Agenda for the past 10 years and I’ve loved it. I had no idea it was a “beginner” board until I started looking into an upgrade. It’s old and beat up so it’s time for a change. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole online and I feel more lost than when I started.

     I’m just looking for a solo all mountain board that is more geared towards cruising, carving, groomers, etc. I’m too old for the park now and just want to ride the whole mountain. I suppose I would consider myself an intermediate/slightly advanced rider. Looking for something that’s more advanced than the Agenda, can hold an edge better, more suited towards bombing and hard carving, etc. But also not anything that’s too advanced or will be a massive leap in terms of forgiveness and catchiness from what I’m already used to. This has been what’s been so tough to nail down.

     I’ve narrowed down my picks to a Capita Mercury, Yes Typo, Ride Algorythm, K2 Broadcast, or Never Summer Proto Synthesis. The Proto is a long shot because I would like to stick to a camber dominant profile (I think – rockers didn’t even exist the last time I looked at boards.) I was about to pull the trigger on the Mercury but Evo.com rated this an “advanced” board which kind of scared me off. One reviewer said that it’s also extremely fast so that’s something to keep in mind. Anyhow — been going back and forth for days now and can’t figure out what’s best. Bottom line is I want a step up from my Agenda in terms of speed, edge hold, turn initiation, and overall quality but that’s still forgiving enough because I don’t ride much anymore. Any thoughts would be great. If there’s a board I didn’t mention please let me know. I’m mostly going off what The Good Ride is recommending from his Favorites. From the article it sounds like I should really consider the Yes Basic or Mountain Twin. I know I’m overthinking all this but I only get one shot at it. The Mercury just sounds like it’s the most advanced in terms of tech and innovation but I’m worried it might be a bit too much of a leap from what I’m used to. Thanks so much for any feedback!

     Lastly -I ride Burton Custom bindings with Moto Boots. Will probably upgrade to the newest version of the Custom for this new set up. Sorry for the long winded post. I’m just out of the loop completely and was hoping for some feedback. Much appreciated!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 8, 2021 at 1:59 pm

       Hi Max

       Thanks for your message.

       Definitely get how it can all get confusing, particularly if you haven’t been in the market for a new board for a while.

       In terms of the options you mentioned, the Mercury is a slightly more advanced board. It might be alright, but there is a risk that you won’t find it forgiving enough for what you’re looking for. I haven’t ridden the Algorythm yet, so I’m not sure about that one. I haven’t ridden the K2 Broadcast either, but based on other similar K2 boards, I don’t think it would be that forgiving either, but I couldn’t say for sure there. The Typo is certainly nice and forgiving, but still with good edge-hold and certainly a step up from the Agenda, in terms of speed, carving etc. This would be the easiest transition of the boards you’ve mentioned, IMO. It doesn’t take too much to getting used to Hybrid Rocker, and the Proto Synthesis is camber dominant, but definitely get if you didn’t want to take the chance on it, being the foreign option.

       The Mountain Twin would definitely be suitable for what you’re describing, IMO, and is a good all round board for any situation and any conditions. One that you can’t really go wrong with, IMO. Forgiving enough too. A little bit of a step up from the Typo in that sense, but not by that much. My prediction would be that it’s more forgiving than the Broadcast and Algorythm and certainly more forgiving than the Mercury. The Brainstorm, Nitro Team Gullwing and Rossi One Lf and YES Standard would all fit that description too, IMO. Though the Team Gullwing is a hybrid rocker.

       So yeah, I think any of those or the Typo, in the right size, would be a good bet for what you’re describing, IMO. If you need any sizing opinions, I would be happy to help. Would just need your height, weight and boot size.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Max S. says

         January 8, 2021 at 4:23 pm

         Nate—thanks a ton for responding. BTW I think I just posted a duplicate post since I didn’t see my initial comment after posting — so disregard please.

         Anyhow—thanks so much, this really helps. I’m glad you confirmed my suspicion of the Mercury, I think it may just be a bit outside my comfort zone. I keep going back to the Typo. Although I saw that in another response you ranked the Typo way ahead of the Standard in terms of playfulness. So I think the Standard might be more up my alley given what I’m looking for (minimal park and most stability). I’ll look more into the Brainstorm, Gullwing, and One LF. But at this rate it’s realistically down to the Typo, Standard, Jones MT, or the Rossi since you recommended it so highly overall.

         As far as sizing — I’m 5’9″ and hover around 180 lbs. I wear a size 10.5 Burton Moto boot but I think I should move down to a 10 realistically because I still get a bit of heel lift. My current Ride Agenda is a 156 which “seems” just fine to me. But again — I don’t really know since I never really got fitted. I just bought things here and there and made it work.

         That being said — any quick thoughts on new boots/bindings? I’ve honestly loved my current set up but again they are beginner/entry level. The Custom bindings are great and have a full toe cap which I absolutely love. From what I’ve been seeing on other high end bindings, the toe strap seems really sleek and minimalist without a toe cap? The toe cap is a must in my opinion since it keeps my boots so snug without that pressure point. Anyhow — thanks again!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 9, 2021 at 2:43 pm

           Hi Max

           Size-wise, I would look at the following sizes:

           – Typo 158
           – Standard 156
           – MT 157
           – One LF 159
           – Brainstorm 157
           – Team Gullwing 157 (or you could ride it in 159 as well)

           In terms of boots and bindings, I would go a little stiffer in bindings than the Custom to match those boards and your riding style. In terms of toe straps, most toe caps I test tend to be just fine for wrapping around the toes really well without pressure point. Some can only go around the toes and can’t go over the top of the boot. Some people still just like to go over top of the boot. I personally prefer to have the toe strap hugging the toe of the boot (which I think is the case for most these days). Are you referring to going over the top of the boot with the toe strap? Or wrapping it around the toe of the boot?

           If you wanted to stick with Burton for bindings, I would check out the Malavita and Cartel. The Cartel would be a good match to any of those boards, IMO, and doesn’t cost as much as the Malavita. The Genesis would work too – but costs even more.

           For boots, I would also go to something a little stiffer. Preferably around 6/10, 7/10 flex, but 5/10 flex would be fine, if you wanted to keep things a little softer. I felt the Moto at a 3/10 in terms of flex. Some options:

           >>My Top Freestyle (medium flex) Snowboard Boots

           >>My Top All Mountain (medium to medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

           Reply

111. Chess says

     January 7, 2021 at 1:25 pm

     Nate,

     Awesome post, it was a huge help. I’m a relative newbie. Been boarding for about 6 years up in Mt. Hood. I’m 6’1 and have been riding a 158 Bataleon Boss someone gave me when I first started. I enjoyed it and would consider getting a newer one. I’m 34 years old and although I have ambitions to make my way into the park, I rarely do without disastrous consequences. I do want to get better in that area though especially when it comes to launching natural features. Besides that, I’m most at home charging and carving. I’ve been considering the Slash ATV, Bataleon Goliath, and the Capita Mercury but I’m having a hard time figuring out if I need a wide board (I wear a size 11). I figured the 158-162 range should work fine. Which of the boards I listed do you think would work the best? Totally open to suggestions as well. Thanks.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 8, 2021 at 1:26 pm

       Hi Chess

       Thanks for your message.

       I don’t test Bataleon gear, so I can’t say anything from experience, but from what I know of the Goliath, it looks like it probably a little softer flexing than the Mercury and particularly the ATV. If you think you like that flex level, then the Goliath looks to be about that – but like I say, I don’t know from experience. The ATV is a sick board, and if you’re looking for something stiffer and more charging/carvy, then it’s a great option, IMO. Still good for jumps, sidehits, ollies etc, but just takes a little more to load up. But for it’s flex and how hard it charges, it actually pops fairly effortlessly. For more check out:

       >>Slash ATV Review

       The Mercury isn’t as stiff as the ATV and would certainly work for what you’re describing as well, if you didn’t want to go as stiff as the ATV.

       Size-wise, in terms of going wide, it depends on the board. With 11s for most boards wide is usually a good idea, particularly if you like to really lean into your carves. But for some boards you don’t need to go wide.

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

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Chess says

         January 21, 2021 at 8:40 am

         Nate,

         Thanks for the response. Everything you said was extremely helpful. I’ve narrowed it down to the ATV or the Merc, might be leaning Merc since it’s a bit softer. Figure that’ll help me figure out jumps. I’m around 185 pounds. Deep carves are my thing so wide it will be.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 21, 2021 at 11:23 am

           Hi Chess

           I think I would be leaning 159 for the Mercury for you. The only concern would be the width. It’s borderline for 11s, given that you like to carve deep. The 161 is within your range and would give you a little more leeway in terms of width, but not that much. What binding angles do you ride? And what brand/model are your boots (lower profile boots would make it more doable)?

           For the ATV, I think the 159W would be a really good size for you.

           Reply

           • Chess says

             February 4, 2021 at 12:03 pm

             Nate,

             My angles are on the back and +18 on the front and -8 in the back. I’m in a super old pair of Nike LunarEndors that are huge. I’ll probably get a new pair of boots when I get the new board.

             Thanks,

           • Nate says

             February 5, 2021 at 1:38 pm

             Hi Chess

             With those angles and low profile boots, you could be OK on the 159 Mercury, but it’s still on that edge, given you like to carve deep. If you ended up getting into low profile 10.5s, I would be more confident size-wise.

112. Jack says

     January 3, 2021 at 3:50 am

     Hey Nate,

     I just wanted you opinion on something. I just bought the Slash Brainstorm 160cm today; however, I was having trouble with whether I should have gone with the Salomon Assassin(162cm).
     Stats:
     -I am 6’1 (or maybe 6’2?)
     -weight fluctuates from about 175-185lb
     -I’m 21 and have been skiing since I was like 5 and boarding since I was like 12, so id say that I am at an advanced skill level.

     would the Salomon Assassin be better suited for me since its a 162 compared to the brainstorm which is 160cm, or is the 2cm difference not enough to be significant? will there be much of a difference in how these boards ride? I usually do blue runs and hit all the side kickers, and a few black runs, and I’ve been trying to get better in the park (pretty much a rookie in the park). do you have a preference between these two boards or a recommendation or are these boards essentially on the same level? I just want to make sure I choose the best board (especially since I’m a broke college student so this is a big purchase for me)

     Thank you

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 4, 2021 at 11:17 am

       Hi Jack

       Thanks for your message.

       I think both sizes are in your range, but based on how you describe your riding, I think the 162 is probably too long in the Assassin. If you have a personal preference for longer boards, it would be fine, but purely based on specs and how you describe your riding and ability, I would say 159 for Assassin (assuming you don’t need a wide board, in which case I’d say 158W).

       For the Brainstorm, I think the 160 is the right size for you (again assuming you don’t need a wide board).

       In terms of which would be best for what you’re describing, both are well suited to that style of riding. They’re certainly not the same board though.

       The Brainstorm is a little better in powder, if that’s something you get sometimes. And it’s overall a little more freeride oriented than the Assassin (not super freeride oriented, but more of a do-it-all versus the Assassin which I would call an all-mountain-freestyle board – a little more freestyle oriented).

       The Assassin is a little better for switch, jumps, spins, that kind of thing. But both pretty equal at speed, for carving and for boxes, rails etc.

       The Assassin has a little more camber going on, with the camber in the Brainstorm being pretty subtle. The Brainstorm is marginally stiffer, in my experience, but not by much.

       If it was between the 160 Brainstorm and the 162 Assassin, I would be leaning towards the 160 Brainstorm, because I think it’s a better size and will work well for how you describe your riding. If it was between the 159 Assassin and the 160 Brainstorm, might be leaning slightly Assassin, but it depends on whether or not you like to or get to ride powder. If so, then I’d still stick with Brainstorm. If not, then I would be leaning Assassin for what you’re describing, but the Brainstorm still certainly a good option for you, IMO, so if you didn’t want to go to the hassle of changing it, then the Brainstorm definitely isn’t a wrong choice.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

113. Nboarder7 says

     December 23, 2020 at 7:07 pm

     I can’t seem to choose a board. I’m an intermediate/advanced level rider. For the most part i’m an all-mountain rider. I want something that can carve well and be stable at higher speeds but also playful to a point where I can hot sidehits and take it into the park. I don’t do park much and I want to get better (I suck right now) but it won’t be my main focus by any mean’s I also want something that’s stable bot not so aggressive that I have to be on my A game if I just want to cruise. There’s a few boards a had in mind (Gnu riders choice, Capita Doa) Do you have any recommendations? I’m fine with other options besides the two boards i mentioned. Thanks in advance.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 24, 2020 at 1:34 pm

       Hi Nboarder7

       Thanks for your message.

       The Riders Choice and DOA could certainly work for what you’re describing, if you’re not too concerned with powder performance (the RC better there than the DOA, but the RC not as stable at speed, IMO). But if you wanted more for powder, then this is the list to look at. Giving you something in between aggressive and playful that can do a bit of everything, the likes of the YES Standard, Jones MT, Nitro Team Gullwing or Rossignol One LF. If you were looking for something a little more aggressive, but still not ultra aggressive, then the Story and Mercury fit that bill.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Nboarder7 says

         December 24, 2020 at 3:49 pm

         This help’s a lot, thanks a ton!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 26, 2020 at 2:15 pm

           You’re very welcome. Happy riding!

           Reply

114. M.L. says

     December 19, 2020 at 2:54 am

     Hi Nate,

     Great website, I love all the information you give!

     I am currently looking to buy my first board and find it very difficult to choose, I’d hope you could maybe help me out. I would say I’m at least end beginner/begin intermediate, with specs; 6.1 ft (186cm), 150 lbs (65 kgs) and boot size US 9.5 (43). Right now I’m just looking to board on the piste and increase my all-round snowboarding skills, as I have not yet found my preferred style of boarding.

     At this moment I’m undecided between:
     – Salomon craft
     – K2 Raygun
     – Capita Outerspace Living
     – Burton Process Flying V
     – Yes Basic

     Most of these boards come in the range of 155, 156 or 158. As for my specs, I do not know whether a 155 or 158 board will make a big difference. I would love to hear from you which board you would advise and which length would fit me best. If you have any other recommendations I would love to hear those too!

     Thanks in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 19, 2020 at 2:23 pm

       Hi M.L.

       Thanks for your message.

       I think something all-mountain or all-mountain-freestyle is the way to go at this point and something that’s high-end beginner/low intermediate friendly but that can progress with you. So I think you’ve got a pretty good list there of options. I would probably go Typo over Basic for you, just because it’s a little more versatile and since you haven’t really decided on style yet, I think it would be the slightly better choice there. But all those options there will work.

       I would throw the Ride Wildlife, Rossignol Templar and Never Summer Snowtrooper onto that list too and also check out:

       >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

       Size-wise, I would be looking at around 154, 155 in terms of size. Somewhat depends on the board too. If you can narrow it down to your top few choices, I would be happy to give you my specific sizing opinion for each board.

       Hope this helps
       Size-wise,

       Reply

115. Robert says

     December 14, 2020 at 4:55 am

     Hello,

     I want to buy my first snowboard, currently I am intermediate and I bought already the burton slx boots from 2020 and Burton Malavita strings.

     I am not sure about the board, I was aiming to Burton Process Camber, but from what I saw in your review is not the most enjoyable one. I also have boot size 11 and I am not sure if I should get a wide one or not.

     Preferably I would like to buy an All Mountain Freestyle board. The thing is that I also like to ride faster from time to time and I don’t think flying v or rocker in general will suit me.

     Looking forward for your opinion. You are doing a great job helping a lot of intermediate riders, usually they have the problem picking the board(just like me), thanks a lot for doing that.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 14, 2020 at 4:47 pm

       Hi Robert

       Thanks for your message.

       If you are looking predominantly at Burton I think the Process could work. Was still a fun board to ride. It’s not great for powder, IMO, but otherwise pretty fun. You could take a step up to the Custom, though it is a more challenging ride. If you’re a solid intermediate rider, like a high-end intermediate with good technique, then I think it’s a good option. That or the Burton Paramount (again high-end intermediate only though). The Kilroy Twin is an easier going ride than the Paramount, but it’s also not as stable at speed. If you want some options outside of Burton let me know. But those would be what I’d be looking at in terms of all-mountain-freestyle from Burton.

       With 11s, most of the time I would recommend wide, but sometimes you can get away with regular width, depending on a few things, like the particular board, but also how low profile your boots are and your binding angles. I already know your boots, but if you can let me know your typical binding angles. Then once you decide on the board, we can have a look at that particular board and see if you’ll need to go wide or not.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

116. Kristjan Medja says

     December 10, 2020 at 2:00 pm

     Hello Nate,

     I’m a fairly new snowboarder, currently sitting at about an intermediate skill level. After trying out all the styles a mountain has to offer, I recognized that I loved powder and speed. I also want to get into carving and having the option of doing some freestyle along the way. (I just fell in love with Ryan Knapton’s style)

     As the new season is coming up, hopefully, I wanted to get myself a new main board that I could take anywhere and do all of the things above. Having done a little research myself and having some history with Capita, I decided to put the 2021 Mercury as my number one choice.

     Nevertheless, I really wanted to get a second opinion on this as I plan to use this type of board for the foreseeable future. I’d love to hear any other board suggestions or tips.

     P.S.
     I love all the reviews and the work you’ve put into them. They really helped out and were a lot of fun to read.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 11, 2020 at 2:38 pm

       Hi Kristjan

       Thanks for your message.

       For what you’re describing, if you’re a solid intermediate level, I think the Mercury will work well. It’s a better carver than a lot of boards typically at this level. You can definitely get better carvers, but they would be at too high a level and wouldn’t be as good for developing your carving, IMO. The Mercury is something I would say you want to be at a solid or high-end intermediate level for. Some boards on this list are certainly suitable for low-end intermediate, but the Mercury is higher-end intermediate, IMO. So if you feel like you’re solid to high-end intermediate, then I think it will work well – but if you’re more low intermediate it might be a bit challenging.

       Also, make sure you get the size right, that’s really important. If you want my opinion on sizing, I would be happy to help – would just need your height, weight and boot size.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

117. Daniel says

     December 5, 2020 at 10:58 pm

     Where would the Burton Custom Camber rank? Is it not considered all mountain? I’ve been told the Jones MT and the Custom Camber are very similar and can’t go wrong with either. Leaning towards the Burton but I don’t see it on many top 5/10 lists around the web, while almost everyone recommends the Jones MT. Am I missing something?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 7, 2020 at 4:20 pm

       Hi Daniel

       Thanks for your message.

       The Custom Camber is a little more aggressive than the MT – which is why I categorize it as an “aggressive all-mountain” board. It would make my top 10 aggressive all-mountain list, except that that only goes to a top 6.

       Whilst it’s not worlds apart from the Mountain Twin, I wouldn’t go as far as to call them very similar. The Custom, like I said is a little more aggressive. It’s subtly stiffer and has a good bit more camber. The MT is also better in powder, which is one of the reasons it scores higher than the Custom a lot of the time. MT just a little more versatile. But depending on how you prefer to ride, the Custom may be better suited to you. I would say the most similar board to the Custom Camber is the Nitro Team (camber version). The MT and Custom have some similarities and they are a similar category of board, but I wouldn’t go as far as to call them very similar.

       If you want to check out more detail about how I found specific factors between the MT and Custom, you can check out my review of the Custom here. Compare the score breakdowns for both boards to see which you think you’d prefer for your riding.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

118. Sam Lopate says

     December 1, 2020 at 7:10 am

     Hi Nate,

     Thanks for the great articles and snowboard reviews. I’m looking to get a new board and wanted to hear your recommendation.

     I’m an intermediate rider, looking for a board that can do all mountain and also be good in the park. I live on the East Coast, so I’m mostly skiing in Vermont and New Hampshire. So first and foremost I need a board that does really well in icy conditions and hard snow. At the same time, I try to make it out west when I can, so I want something that can at least do decently well in powder as well. I often ride with really good skiiers, so I need something that does well in moguls and trees, can go anywhere on the mountain, and has a lot of speed to keep up on groomers.

     I’m looking for a board that will push me to improve as a rider, primarily with my turning on steep and uneven runs, carving ability, riding switch, and jumps.

     I’m 5’10” and wear a size 11 Burton boot. My previous board I got cheap used, it was 165 and way too big. If you have recommendations on size I’m curious about that as well.

     Some boards I was considering were the YES Typo, YES Globe NSB (Looks fairly similar to the typo), Niche Story, Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker, Jones Mountain Twin, Slash Brainstorm, Rossignol One LF, YES Standard, and the Ride Algorhythm. Would love to hear what you think about these or if you have other recommendations. Thanks!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 1, 2020 at 11:53 am

       Hi Sam

       Thanks for your message.

       In terms of sizing, if you could also let me know your weight. Weight plays a big role in sizing.

       From those boards:

       The Globe NSB isn’t a board I’ve ridden, but YES rates it a good bit stiffer than the Typo (9/10 versus 6/10 for the Typo by YES’s ratings). Not sure how accurate that is, but it seems it would be quite stiff.

       Given what you’re describing, the Typo may not quite have the speed you want.

       Ride boards that I’ve tested haven’t been particularly good in hard/icy conditions. I’m yet to ride the Algorhtym, so I couldn’t say for sure there, but that would be my biggest concern there for you.

       The Niche Story is a bit more board than the others. A little stiffer and a little more challenging to maneuver – at an intermediate level and riding trees/moguls, not sure it would be the best option.

       I haven’t ridden the Terrain Wrecker yet (about to soon, finally!) but on paper it looks like it would suit what you’re describing well.

       The Mountain Twin, Brainstorm, One LF and Standard would all be good choices, IMO.

       Hope this helps – and yeah let me know your weight and I can give you my sizing opinion.

       Reply

       • Sam Lopate says

         December 1, 2020 at 7:16 pm

         Thanks for the input. I weigh 166 pounds. Debating between a 155 and 158.

         Regarding the Globe NSB, I read that it’s not really a 9 and probably more like a 7. I’m actually leaning towards this board as it seems to tick a lot of the boxes regarding speed, all-mountain, also good at switch.

         The Terrain Wrecker was my second choice, the main thing I read preventing it from being my #1 though was that it doesn’t power through uneven terrain as well and you really feel it in your knees. This is something I noticed with my old board and I was hoping for something a little more damp.

         I think after that I would go with the One LF. Or maybe the Niche Aether, which seems more maneuverable than the Story. But I’m kind of liking the Globe NSB more than either of those, assuming that it’s more of a 7 flex than a 9.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 2, 2020 at 2:41 pm

           Hi Sam

           Yeah, 165 definitely too long, IMO, for your other board.

           For the Globe NSB, I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if it felt more like a 7/10 – YES, IMO, tends to overstate their boards flex from my experience with their other boards.

           Size-wise, I think you could certainly go either 155 or 158. Because you’re used to a 165, that makes am argument to look at 158 – that and the fact that you’re looking for speed. However, on the flip side, the shorter 155 is probably the better size, based on specs/ability, IMO, and would be better for trees/moguls too. If you weren’t riding a 165 currently, I would likely more strongly recommend 155, particularly with the stiffer Globe NSB as opposed to the Typo, but there’s certainly an argument towards the 158.

           However, perhaps the bigger concern is the width, with size 11 boots. The 158 would give you a little more leeway, but still quite narrow for 11s.

           Reply

       • Danny says

         December 4, 2020 at 8:16 pm

         What’s up man ! Came across your review on Google and I am very impressed!
         I am looking for an all mountain board that I can ride switch a lot , jumps , spins, speed , carves , and just a bit of over all freestyle on slopes and park here and there . Definitely a twin board of your recommendation
         I am 5’11
         220 pounds
         Size 12 boot

         Thank you so much !!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 5, 2020 at 2:47 pm

           Hey Danny

           Thanks for your message.

           I would check out the following lists, which I think would fit your riding style better than this list.

           >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

           >>Top 5 Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

           Size-wise, probably around 161, 162-ish in a wide, to get a good balance between spins, freestyle etc and speed/carves. If you wanted more freestyle focused you could certainly go a little shorter too. Depends on particular board and if you have any personal preferences too. If you narrow down a list to a couple of boards, I would be happy to give my sizing opinion on those particular boards – if you didn’t already have a size in mind.

           Hope this helps

           Reply

119. Kieran Dugdale says

     November 29, 2020 at 10:14 am

     Hi Nate,

     I currently have a yes basic. This was my first snowboard, I’m from the UK and we go away every year for a week in the Alps, got about 5 weeks experience and a lot of time spend on a indoor ski slope . I would like to get another snowboard what a great resort and all mountain snowboard. I don’t really do much park riding just normally go around the resort. I would like one what preforms better in the soft snow compared to the yes basic. I like the thought of the yes typo but I’m unsure if this is too similar to the yes basic. As when I go away I would like to take both board and decide on the day what to ride. I have also looked at the capita mercury but I’m unsure if this would be too stiff. If you can advice some board that would be great.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 30, 2020 at 12:47 pm

       Hi Kieran

       Thanks for your message.

       The Typo is certainly different to the Basic, but not so different that I would have them in the same quiver. They are too similar for that, IMO. Given you’re looking for a step up in powder, then I would go with something else a little more different.

       The Mercury is certainly on the more aggressive side for this list, but it’s not super aggressive. I have another list for aggressive all-mountain snowboards and it wasn’t aggressive enough to make it there, but it is one of the more challenging boards on this particular list. If you’re a solid intermediate rider and like your ride a little more aggressive, then the Mercury would work and would be different enough to have in the same quiver as the Basic for sure.

       But if you didn’t want to go quite as stiff/aggressive, then anything else on this list (bar the Niche Story, which is also more aggressive) would be a good bet, IMO.

       If you wanted to go even more directional, there are more mellow freeride boards that could be options too, like the following:

       >>Top 10 Surfy (mellow) Freeride Snowboards\

       But if you wanted to stick to a more “do-it-all” kind of board, then something off this list is a good bet.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

120. Adam says

     November 24, 2020 at 10:39 pm

     Hi Nate,

     First off, thanks so much for the reviews and advice that you give to everyone. Your knowledge is invaluable.

     I currently would consider myself an intermediate 5 rider as last season was really my first full season being able to ride and learn. I was learning and riding on my Artec Novus wide 158 and I believe that now I am able to move on to a newer, more modern board that I can grow into and will provide me seasons of excellent riding. I ride mainly in the Tahoe area, so some good power days as well as days with the typical Sierra cement groomers. I’d consider myself an all mountain rider with mainly sticking to runs, exploring trees and a little bit of off piste exploring. As of right now, I want to become better at tying turns together, carving and continuing to become a better rider.

     I am ~205-210lbs without gear, size 11 boot
     Main board has been the Artec Novus W158 with Burton Mission Bindings
     I’m in the market for a new board and new boots with keeping my bindings.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 25, 2020 at 1:47 pm

       Hi Adam

       Thanks for your message.

       Firstly, I think you’re in the right place, given everything you’re describing. An all-mountain board is the way to go, IMO. Pretty much anything on this list would do the trick, IMO. But to note that the Niche Story and Capita Mercury are slightly more aggressive options, which might be a bit much for you at this stage. And something like the Typo isn’t quite as good in powder as others in the list, and since you’re going to be encountering that a fair bit, that’s another one that could be crossed off. But everything else, I think would work well for what you’re describing.

       Length-wise, if you could also let me know your height. Weight, boot size, ability and how you like to ride are all more important than height, IMO, but I still like to take height into account.

       Width-wise, with 11s, in most cases you’ll probably want to go wide, but depending on the board you may not have to. Really depends on the board. If you narrow down to a few options that are standing out for you, I would be happy to give you my opinion on sizing for each board.

       For boots, I would check out the following:

       >>My Top All Mountain (6/10 to 7/10 flex) Snowboard Boots

       >>My Top Freestyle (5/10 flex) Snowboard Boots

       The second list is called “freestyle” but it’s just the label I gave the list. They’re also good for riding all-mountain – just a little softer flexing, so for more casual/playful all-mountain riding.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Adam says

         November 25, 2020 at 3:38 pm

         Thanks for the great advice Nate! I completely forgot to throw in my height (5’11”). The Burton Custom Flying V probably stands out the most. I’ve also shown some interest in Arbor boards, however, none of them made your list. I’m honestly open to anything that will suit the terrain that I ride and will give me room to grow into.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 26, 2020 at 12:42 pm

           Hi Adam

           I think the Custom Flying V would work for your conditions and how you describe your riding.

           Size-wise, I would be looking, generally at something 158-161 for you. So for the Custom Flying V that probably means 158W or 158. Most likely the 158W. The 162/162W are certainly within reach too, if you wanted to go longer, but would be on the bigger side, if you were to go 162W. The 162 would be very doable for you though, IMO.

           In terms of width, the 158 or 162 could be doable depending on some things. If you get low profile boots and ride with binding angles like +15/-15 and don’t carve super aggressively (e.g. eurocarving), then I think you could get away with the regular width. Otherwise I would go with the wide version. If going wide, then I would lean 158W over 162W. If you do think you can get on the regular width, then it’s a closer call between 158 and 162 – some things to consider:

           – 162 would give you more stability at speed, more float in powder and better of big carves
           – 158 more agile, particularly at slow speeds (better for trees) and better for spins/butters/jibs etc

           Reply

121. Valentine says

     November 23, 2020 at 5:54 am

     Hello Nate!
     Thank you for the great job and your reviews.

     Could I ask you for advice?

     I’m 6’0 (183 cm) weight 162 lbs (74 kg)without equipment, Boots – 10.5 US B Photon .
     My main board is Yes PYL FW 2017 162. But last 2 years I haven’t ridden off-piste. I like my board but I want something more playful and slightly softer, an all-mountain board mid to mid-stiff flex but with good powder performance. I don’t like flying v profile.
      
     I am choosing between the next options:
     1. Downsized PYL to 159 (160w) or FA 159 (159w).
     The problems are:
     – no local dealer of Yes snowboards;
     – The current version is stiffer than mine. Does my version in 162 have the same flex as the current version in 159?

     I haven’t ridden PYL 159 but like FA 159. I would like to test FA 159 wide version. The additional area should have better for flotation but the board will be slower edge to edge.
     I find PYL is more playful of these 2 boards.  

     2. Burton Hometown Hero 156. I haven’t tried it yet. It is a freeride board but very versatile.

     3. ENDEAVOR MAVERICK. I know nothing about the brand and the board and won’t be able to try before buy. But I like the specs. Have you ever tried this board?

     4. All-mountain board with good off-piste performance:
     4.1. Jones Frontier 159? This board is a more off-piste oriented all-mountain board due to its profile. I tested the last version of the Explorer – I like FA 159 much more. Should I give second chance to the Frontier?
     4.2. Jones MT 21 159w (160) for more freestyle ride.
     4.3. Capita Mercury 159 for a little more aggressive ride.
     4. Any other board that you will recommend.

     Which one has a better floatation? Is a difference significant?

     I have heard that the new version is softer than the previous one. Is it true? are the Frontier and Mercury stiffer?

      I will very pleased if you will find time to answer me. 

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 24, 2020 at 10:22 am

       Hi Valentine

       Thanks for your message. Will try to answer everything there:

       1. The 2017 PYL isn’t that much different in flex versus the 2017 model. The 2018 model (and subsequently the 2019, 2020 and 2021 models) were supposed to be slightly stiffer than the 2017 model, but there really isn’t that much difference. I would say that the 159 PYL in the current version would feel moderately softer than your 2017 162 PYL. For your specs and given that you want something more playful, I think the 159 would be the better size than the 162, if you were to get another PYL. You could also consider the 160W. Not going to be as nimble as the 159, but for harder carves, if you really like to carve, like eurocarve, it would give you more leeway there. And since the 160W isn’t that wide for a wide board, I don’t think it would be too wide for your boots. For the FA, the 159 might be pushing it being too narrow. 159W FA is also not that wide for a wide board, so that might be the better size if you decided to go with that. However, if you find the PYL is the more playful of the 2 and you’re looking for something more playful, then the PYL might be the better of those 2 options.

       2. The Hometown Hero is subtly softer/more playful than the FA, IMO, but only by a little bit. You can check out more on my Hometown Hero Review

       3. I haven’t ridden the Endeavor Maverick specifically, but I have ridden a few Endeavor boards, and I liked them. The Maverick is kind of similar to the Archetype, by the looks of it, but less tapered/directional. Not sure if it would be more playful than the PYL or not, hard to say. You can check out more on the Archetype here

       4.1: The Frontier is basically the same board as the Explorer, so if you liked the FA more than the Explorer you will like it more than the Frontier too.
       4.2: The MT is a very versatile board. I would call it a do-it-all board, rather than a freestyle board, but certainly more freestyle focused than the likes of the other boards you’re looking at. But also certainly more playful/easy going than the others
       4.3: Mercury is also what I would call a “do-it-all” board, but, as you mention, more aggressive than the MT. If you’re looking to go more playful, then that would be the only thing to consider.

       The MT and Mercury are very similar in terms of powder float, IMO. The Frontier is half a step better. But versus the likes of the FA and PYL you would loose a little in terms of powder float with something like the MT or Mercury.

       The new MT is more easy going. It turns a little quicker and easier. But I wouldn’t say it’s significantly softer flexing overall. Maybe subtly. But more so that it’s just taken on a more easy going personality. Easier to ride, easier to turn versus the previous models. The Mercury and Frontier are slightly stiffer than the MT, IMO. Not by heaps, but just half a step stiffer. MT 6/10, Mercury 6.5/10, Frontier 6.5/10.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Valentine says

         November 26, 2020 at 1:15 pm

         Nate thank you so much for your time and advice!
         I hope you don’t mind if I will ask a few questions.

         Hope that in a month I will test FA in 159w size and Hometown Hero.

         There are no Capita Mercury in my country. Only Jones and Burton models.

         You have tested MT in 157. Your weight is close to the recommended maximum rider weight. Would you like to try a bigger size (159w or 160)? 159w and 160 specs are very similar. The difference in the effective edge is only 4 mm (1230 vs 1234), the first has a wider waist width (261 vs 157). Or is 157 definitely your size? Should I consider MT in 157?
         I am not sure that I can test both sizes before buy.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 27, 2020 at 12:59 pm

           Hi Valentine

           If I bought it I would probably go 157, for a couple of reasons. I like to err slightly short in my boards for my specs. And that’s for a couple of reason’s. Firstly, my local mountain’s are quite small, so just bombing straight down the hill isn’t that much fun – it’s over pretty quick. So I like to make the most of my time on the slope and secondly my style of riding is such that on the Mountain Twin I would be riding a lot of trees, hitting the park, doing flatland tricks, butters etc a lot of the time. I do ride bigger mountains too – but if this was my do-it-all board, that would be the size I would go for. If I was to get this as and do quite a bit more open terrain powder, bowls etc and a lot more bombing, but still wanted to something to sometimes slow down and play around with, in the trees, in the park, etc, then I would probably go 160. But for me 157 is the sweet spot with this board.

           For you, if you want more that style of riding, then I would say 157 too. But if you’re looking to go just a little more playful than your 162 PYL, then the 160 or 159W would be the better options – and I would go 160 as I think it would be plenty wide enough for your boots. Even in a similar size the MT should be a little more playful than the PYL. But if you wanted to use it as a compliment to your PYL – as in keep both boards, depending on how you want to ride that day, then I think the 157 would be a good choice.

           Reply

           • Valentine says

             November 27, 2020 at 3:34 pm

             Thank you, Nate!

             I already have Capita DOA 158 for that style of riding. For big days I have PYL.
             I am looking for a board that similar to DOA (do-it-all board) that will be better in powder than DOA, especially in trees. If MT 257 is that board I will change DOA:)

           • Nate says

             November 29, 2020 at 2:09 pm

             Hi Valentine

             Yeah, the MT will be better in powder than the DOA for sure, IMO. And if you go 157, then you get that slightly shorter length for those tighter spots in the trees versus something like the 160. The MT in 157 is, IMO, going to be noticeably better in powder than 158 DOA.

           • Valentine says

             February 10, 2021 at 6:01 am

             Hello, Nate.

             I can buy Yes Standart 156 with a good discount.
             Could you explain the main differences between Yes and Jones MT?

             Is it a good option for city spots (short pistes around 400-500 meters), buttering, not big park jumps?
             Is it good for trees riding in mountains or MT will better?

           • Nate says

             February 10, 2021 at 1:52 pm

             Hi Valentine

             I would say that the MT is a little more forgiving than the Standard. Not miles apart. Both are fine for buttering, IMO. They’re not super buttery, but they’re more buttery than average, IMO. Standard good for small jumps, IMO (as well as bigger ones).

             The MT (2021 model at least, the 2020 model wasn’t as easy to maneuver) is a little easier to maneuver at slower speeds, IMO, so a little better in trees.

           • Valentine says

             February 11, 2021 at 12:33 pm

             Thank you!

             I’ve just checked the size of my boots. It is US 10:) I was sure that size is bigger.

             Standard is available in 153 and 156.
             I read the comments and your answers.

             Standard is a replacement for Capita DOA158. I think I would be leaning 153. It is a more freestyle-oriented size, which is good for shredding spots around the city and park jumps, trees.

             On the other hand, 156 seems more versatile size, and a little bit of extra volume won’t slow me down in the park and is going to make the powder better in the mountains.

             Please correct me if I wrong.
             Have you tested 153? Could you compare them?

             If you choose the second snowboard what size would you prefer?

           • Nate says

             February 12, 2021 at 1:37 pm

             Hi Valentine

             I haven’t ridden the 153, but based on testing other boards in different sizes, I would say:

             The 153 will be more nimble at slower speeds, easier to butter, easier to pop and spin etc.

             The 156 in comparison will be more stable at high speeds and float better in powder.

             For the biggest contrast to your PYL 162 and for a more playful, more freestyle oriented ride and for those city spots, I think the 153 would definitely work. The 156 will be better in powder for sure, but less maneuverable in trees. I think on a powder day, you could take out your 162 PYL and that would allow you to go for the more playful 153. The 156 would be the better size if it was your only board and you wanted something for do-it-all.

           • Valentin says

             February 24, 2021 at 9:02 am

             Hello Nate!
             Thank you for your help and all your replies to my questions, spent time. It was so helpful!
             As a result, I bought Jones MT 157. Standard has a narrower max reference stance (153 max stance – 22, 156 max stance – 23.1) than another Yes board in similar size. I don’t understand why if they recommend going one size down. My stance width 22-23 inches (22,5 is most comfortable).
             I have tried it yet, but I am ready shredding. I will give you short feedback.

             Will MT work well with Union Atlas or Salomon Highlander. Or you would not recommend anything stiffer than Union Strata or Force? I would like to buy bindingd to my PYL or its direct replacement.

           • Nate says

             February 25, 2021 at 3:48 pm

             Hi Valentin

             Atlas or Highlander would definitely work on the Mountain Twin, IMO. Those are the stiffest I would probably put on it, but they’re definitely a match, IMO. And they would also work on your PYL, if you were looking to share bindings between the boards. Look forward to hearing how you get on, once you’ve got it on snow.

122. Joseph says

     November 2, 2020 at 8:15 am

     Hey Nate,
     Love the website it’s great. I’m having a lot of decision fatigue trying to buy a new board. It’s been about 10 years since I’ve upgraded the tech has gotten crazy. I predominantly ride on the East coast and I’m looking for something to hold well on ice and hard pack. I also generally avoid the park, love bombing runs, carving, quick turns, playing in the glades, and when there’s some pow using it. I usually travel about once a year to find better snow out west or in Canada. Don’t ride switch so much but I would like to improve my switch riding. I’m also teaching my wife to snowboard this year so something that nimble lower speeds would be great. I’m 5’4 weigh 165 lb and have size 8 and 1/2 boots. I’m currently riding a 2010 ride machete 158 cm my bindings during that time were a pair of flow the fives which I don’t really like. I like how damn the board is and how it can handle speed, but it feels a little long for my use. I demoed the board at 148 when I was out west a couple years ago and really liked how nimble it was. I also learned to ride on a cambered board so I’m not afraid of that either.

     I honestly don’t know whether I need an all mountain or more of a free ride inspired board. The ones I’m thinking about are the yes typo, the yes standard, and I’ve always wanted a burton custom but they don’t seem to be as good as what else is out there right now. I’m totally open to something directionally shaped as opposed to just twin. I’m also thinking of running it a little bit smaller in the 150 to 154 range.

     I managed to snag a pretty good deal on a pair of cartels and a pair of TM-2 32 boots. Any advice you give me on this subject would be awesome, I appreciate it.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 2, 2020 at 12:15 pm

       Hi Joseph

       Thanks for your messages.

       I agree that sizing down from 158, given your specs, is a good idea. And I think that range is a good one to look at.

       The 3 boards you’ve mentioned would definitely work for what you’re describing, but I would be leaning either Typo or Standard for you. I like the Custom too, but given that you ride East Coast predominantly and the Typo and Standard are better in hard/icy conditions, IMO, I would lean that way.

       For the Standard I would be debating size-wise, between the 149 and 151, because it’s a wider board, going to the shorter end of your range makes sense, with 8.5 boots. I would be leaning towards the 151 still, but the 149 is an option.

       For the Typo, it would be between the 152 and 155. I think both would work, but leaning towards the 152 based on your specs and what you’re describing.

       For some perspective between the longer and shorter options there. The shorter options will be subtly more agile (particularly at slower speeds0, easier to butter/press etc and feel a little softer flexing overall. The longer options will be subtly more stable at higher speeds, give better float in powder, and better for big carves.

       You could look at a freeride option, for sure. Wouldn’t be as easy for riding switch or buttering though. If you wanted to check out some slightly softer than typical freeride boards, you could check out the following (which includes the Skeleton Key there):

       >>Top 10 Surfy (mellow) Freeride Snowboards

       But yeah, you’ll get more for riding powder, and in some case better for carving/bombing, but not as good, for buttering/switch.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

123. Joseph Lynch says

     November 2, 2020 at 4:15 am

     Hey Nate, love the website. I’m definitely having decision fatigue about a new board. I’m riding almost exclusively east coast with occasional holidays to better stuff out West. I almost never go into the park and don’t have a lot of interest in doing so. I like to bomb runs, carve, play in the glades, and buttering around. I would say I’m between a 7 and 8 on your ability scale. I grew up rising camber and have been on a ride Machete 158 from 2010 for the last decade. It’s a good board, damp, stable, fast but feels a little big especially for really quick turning. I rode a 148 in Tahoe a few years ago and loved it so I’m thinking of siInf 150 to 154. I found a good deal on some Cartels so I’ll be rocking those and some TM-2 boots. I’m 5’4 165 lbss and 8.5 boot.

     Boards I’ve been thinking about:
     – Yes Typo
     – Yes Standard
     – Custom camber (the cool factor from back in the early 2000s is something I can’t shake)

     Also not opposed to a more freeride shaped board like the skeleton key. I’m just overwhelmed man. Would appreciate your insights.

     Reply

124. stefan says

     October 28, 2020 at 4:00 am

     Hi,

     Love the website and bought Strata ones on your opinion and was spot on.

     My question is this, have you been able to test the K2 party platter? I’m undecided to either go with MT Jones or the k2 party platter.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 28, 2020 at 10:38 am

       Hi Stefan

       Thanks for your message.

       I haven’t ridden the Party Platter, so I can’t say anything about it from experience. But the Party Platter and Mountain Twin are very different boards. The Party Platter is a lot more directional and it’s a short wide board. If you can let me know your style of riding (i.e. how you like to ride – do you ride switch?, powder?, jumps?, other freestyle stuff?, trees? aggressive or more moderate?, etc), I can give you my opinion on which board I think would be more suited to your riding.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

125. ArsN says

     October 25, 2020 at 5:41 am

     I cannot really decide between Nitro Team Standard and a Bataleon Whatever for a good playful all mountain Board. What do you guys think?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 26, 2020 at 10:51 am

       Hi ArsN

       Thanks for your message.

       I haven’t ridden the Bataleon Whatever, but it looks pretty playful based on the specs.

       The Team is a little more aggressive than playful, if you’re looking at the Team Camber. The Team Gullwing is a little more playful. Not super playful, but in the middle of playful and aggressive, maybe just on the playful side of the scale.

       The YES Standard is in the middle of playful and aggressive.

       I wasn’t sure if you meant “Nitro Team, YES Standard and a Bataleon Whatever” or if you meant Team Camber by “Nitro Team Standard”. So I covered both bases.

       For reference, this is what I would consider to be the most playful to least playful from this list:

       – Yes Typo
       – DWD Wizard Stick
       – Burton Custom Flying V
       – Slash Brainstorm
       – Rossignol One
       – Jones Mountain Twin
       – Nitro Team Gullwing
       – YES Standard
       – Capita Mercury
       – Niche Story

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

126. daniel says

     September 29, 2020 at 7:46 am

     Hi Nate,

     First off, thank you for such usefull information on your website. It’s been really helpfull.

     I’m brazilian and been snowboarding for some time (high intermediate level). Despite logistics and flight costs, been looking to buy my first snowboard because I think it’ll be good for my progression on the sport. The most suitable for me, would be an all-mountain board since I can travel from south america to japan for snowboarding (all possible snow conditions), depending on my availability per year. I’m not that into park riding, I’d rather go off-piste and find some powder and/or go down the resort pistes being playfull, some buttering, jumps, etc. The thing is, I’ll need to buy the board online and get it delivered to my next trip’s hotel. Won’t be able to check it on a store, and, most of the boards I’m looking at, are not available for renting.

     I’m 1,81M tall, weighting 79 kg, sizing 11 burton swath. Recommended WW: 25.6

     For what you’ve written, I’ve been looking forward on two of the best and play-safe options:
     1- Capita Mercury: Uses premium material, such as carbon. The tips are more flexible and will increase playfulness. The board seems to have a great float and perform good in powder. It’s also good at high speeds and turns more towards the aggressive all mountain freeride side. Despite that, I’ve been reading that the death grip sidecut makes the board narrower than the stated width (???). They don’t have wide boards. I’m really worried with potential toe/heels drag issues. Capita recommends the 157 (WW 25.7) while the 159 has a (WW 25.9) and seems safer IMO.
     2- Jones Mountain Twin: One of the best reviews around. A little bit on the flexier side turning more towards the all mountain park side. Still, it will perform great on powder and is consistent at high speeds. Despite that, it’s a little bit flexier (than mercury) and the board has made it’s changes for 2021, including sizes. What size should I be looking at on this board, 156W (WW 25.9) 159W (WW 26.1)?

     That said, what’s your opinion on what I should pull the trigger? What board sizes should I aim? What binding best fit theses boards (i’m guessing large sizes here is the safest choice)?

     Thank you very much. I’ts been really hard to make a decision “in the dark” (online) miles away from the boards. Best regards,
     Daniel.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 29, 2020 at 11:01 am

       Hi Daniel

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the safest bet is the Mountain Twin, just because you mention “being playfull, some buttering” which the Mountain Twin will be better at. It’s not as good for out and out speed and hard carves as the Mercury, but it’s still not bad there, and if you need a safe option, it’s the safest option, IMO. Good in all conditions and for doing a bit of everything.

       Size-wise, both the 156W and 159W would work. Both would be a good width for your boots, IMO, and both would definitely work length-wise. Some things to note – the 156W will feel a little softer flexing, more playful and be more agile and more buttery. The 159W will give you a little more stability at speed, feel a bit stiffer and give you a little more float in powder. So it kind of depends on what you want to maximize in that sense.

       If you went Mercury, I think the 157 would be the better length for that board. But it is a little narrower – 266mm at the back insert and 264 at the front insert. Compared with the Mountain Twin 156W more like 274mm at inserts and 169W more like 276mm at inserts. So it might be borderline too narrow, if you’re concerned with drag. The 159 would give you a little more leeway, but not a whole lot more – 2-3mm more. And then with that board already being more aggressive, more stable at speed etc, going longer will make those things better, but might not give you the right balance between being stable and being agile/playful.

       Not sure if you got my reply from your previous message you sent on the bindings sizings post, but if you didn’t you can see it at the following link:

       >>How to Choose the Right Size Snowboard Bindings (scroll to the bottom)

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • daniel says

         September 29, 2020 at 2:06 pm

         Nate,

         Thank you very much for all the heads-up. All your website and info has been really helpfull all the way back to Brazil!!!

         I hadn’t seen your reply there, yet. But as you can see it’s been a long way. A couple of weeks ago it was assassin/custom and now seems better to go Mountain twin/mercury kkkkk.

         Sure was a lot of help. Thanks

         Reply

         • Nate says

           September 30, 2020 at 9:41 am

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

           Reply

127. Dylan says

     September 18, 2020 at 11:08 am

     Hey Nate, sorry I am posting again as I’m not sure my last post went through. I am 6’0, 170-175lbs, and size 9.5 boot. I am torn between Yes Standard 153, Ride Algorythm 157, and Capita Mercury 155 or 157 for the 2021 season in Vancouver. I ride everything on the mountain from pow to park jumps to groomers, but I am not really into jibbing although I may hit a rail here and there. I love to treat the whole mountain as a park, rip through trees, ride switch, butter, throw some spins and grabs, and pop into the sky. I wouldn’t consider myself a hard charger, although everyone once in awhile I like to get some speed going. The reason I’m looking at these 3 boards is because while I am a little more all-mountain freestyle oriented, I value riding in the powder as well. One thing I will say is I doubt I will use the slambacks on the Standard, so I would like to know how the centred stance does in powder vs the other two boards. Is there anything you can say to push me in the right direction?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 18, 2020 at 12:07 pm

       Hi Dylan

       Thanks for your message.

       I think you basically just described exactly how I like to ride!

       I haven’t ridden the Algoryhtm yet, so anything I say in comparison with that is based on the Algorythm’s specs and my experience with other Ride boards.

       The YES Standard in the centered stance is still pretty good for a center stance in powder, but obviously going into the slam back inserts helps it to float better. I would say the Standard goes down to a 3/5 in the centered stance, in terms of powder vs 3.5/5 for the Mercury and I would say probably 3.5/5 for the Algoryhtm also. Though if you went 156 in the Standard that would improve it’s float in powder. More on sizing that in a sec.

       I don’t know what the Algorythm is like in terms of maneuverability in tight spaces, but I personally found the Standard a little better in that area vs the Mercury – particularly if you were to go 153 for the Standard. The Standard is a wider board, but for its width maintains really good agility, in my experience. The Mercury isn’t bad in that area, but I would say the Standard a little better.

       The Standard is more buttery than the Mercury, and at a guess, I’d say more buttery than the Algorythm. Better all round for that more freestyle stuff, IMO.

       The Mercury takes it for hard carves and bombing and that little bit better in powder – and it’s one board I noticed, more so than other boards, that seems to become quite surfy and fun in powder, even though it’s got a more aggressive personality on groomers/harder snow.

       My instinct says Standard – mainly because that’s the board I would take for the type of riding that you’re doing. The Mercury would certainly do the job and the Algorhym probably too, but I would be leaning standard.

       In terms of sizing, I think the 153 would work for you in the Standard, but I would also be debating the 156. You have similar specs to me – a little lighter maybe, but pretty close. I really like the 156, but it’s a tough call between the 2 sizes. The 153 would give you more agility for tree riding, be more buttery and just generally be more freestyle geared, but the 156 would give you a bit more float in powder and more stability at speed, for when you do like to open it out. So, it’s a tough call.

       A similar debate between the Mercury 155 and 157. I’ve ridden the Mercury in the 155, 157 & 159. I found the 159 too big. The 155 was doable, but the 157 is what I would ride the Merucry in. Again, being slightly lighter, you might prefer the 155, but same goes as above in terms of where you gain and lose going longer or shorter.

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

       Reply

       • Dylan says

         September 19, 2020 at 11:11 am

         Thanks so much for your help! I ended up buying the Standard 156. I saw in your review it looked like you were riding it with Malavitas. Im trying to decide between Malavitas, the new Cartel X, Union Force and Union Atlas. Can you push me in the right direction here?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           September 20, 2020 at 1:57 pm

           Hi Dylan

           Usually I recommend to match the flex of the board fairly closely, or if anything a little stiffer than the board, and in some cases that depends on how you ride too. So I would say 6/10 – 7/10 in terms of flex, with the Standard. But I rode it with the Malavitas, which I would consider around 5.5/10 and they work really well. Based on how you like to ride, I’d say you would appreciate board feel too – the Malavitas have very good board feel. The Force (6/10 flex) and Atlas (6.5/10 flex) would definitely work on the Standard too. They have decent board feel too. Not quite to the same degree as the Malavita, IMO, but still decent.

           I haven’t tested the Cartel X yet, unfortunately (tried to get my hands on a pair in the winter, but unfortunately couldn’t), so I can’t really say there. If they’re similar in terms of flex as the Genesis X was, then I would say they’d work too. Then they’d be around that 7/10 flex. It would depend if you wanted to go that stiff, but I would certainly ride that level of flex on the Standard, but not much stiffer, personally. But it’s really hard to say how stiff the Cartel X actually are – Burton rate their bindings either Stiff or Medium – and don’t have a scale showing anything in between, unfortunately. They have the Cartel (non-x model) listed as stiff and the Cartel X listed as stiff, but it’s very unlikely they are the same (and the Cartel feels like a 6/10 to me). So at a guess I’d say they’re similar in flex to what the Genesis X were, but can’t be sure.

           Reply

128. Jeremy Van Leeuwen says

     September 16, 2020 at 7:21 pm

     Hey Nate ! Love the site ! Best profiling and comment response on the internet! I am finally ready to make a new purchase. Been 10 years riding a 163 NS Heritage with Rome 390 Boss bindings and DC double Boa boots. . Loved the set up but it is time. I am a 6/7 on your scale. Don’t venture into park anymore and ride a lot off on and off piste groomers and trees. Love to ride hard, fast and hit natural rollers and hips. I am always chasing the powder and get 1/2 days a year where I make the midnight run to get some fresh snow in Mammoth. I don’t ride switch often. I also have 3 little kids so spend a lot of time with them on mountain now. Looking for some advice on a whole new set up. Not too concerned on price since I will make it last. Thanks again!
     5’’11- 195

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 17, 2020 at 9:56 am

       Hi Jeremy

       Thanks for your message.

       The first half of your post made me think maybe a freeride board, but then you mentioned your kids, so you’ll want something that you can ride slow as well I assume. So an all-mountain board is a good way to go, I think, so you get that balance between being able to bomb and being able to ride slow with your kids. Could also look at a more easy going freeride option, if you wanted something more directional. More on that later.

       I think all of the One LF, Team Gullwing, Mountain Twin and Standard would suit your purposes well. In terms of sizing, if you wanted my sizing opinion, if you could just let me know your boot size as well. If you already have a size in mind all good too.

       If you wanted to go a little more directional, but still have something you can still ride slow (without it feeling like a bit of a tank), you could also look at the likes of:

       – YES Hybrid
       – Burton Skeleton Key
       – Capita Navigator
       – Lib Tech Dynamo
       – GNU Hyperkyarve
       – Burton Family Tree Hometown Hero

       For some of those it will depend on sizing, but those are some other options, if you wanted to look at something more directional but without going too stiff/aggressive.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Jeremy Van Leeuwen says

         September 22, 2020 at 9:14 am

         Thanks Nate! I couldn’t find this reply until now. Appreciate all the feedback. I wear a 10.5. Where would you put the Heritage board related to type of board ?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           September 22, 2020 at 11:04 am

           Hi Jeremy

           In terms of the Heritage, I would consider it all-mountain. It’s a little stiffer than most here (I would consider it a 7/10 flex), but a more easy going camber profile. So it’s kind of the stiffness that I would typically put in the aggressive all-mountain category, but the camber profile isn’t aggressive enough for that. Everything I’ve mentioned is around a 6/10 flex. So that’s something to consider. I was thinking a touch softer flexing, taking riding with the kids into account, but if you didn’t want to go softer, could look at some options more around that 7/10 flex range.

           Thanks for the boot size.

           I would be looking at something around 160-162 for your specs. Pretty similar to what you have now. Given that it sounds like you like to bomb, I wouldn’t go too much shorter than what you’re riding, for your specs, but you could go a little shorter if you wanted to, particularly if you’re looking for something a little easier to manage when at slower speeds with the kids. But because you still want to bomb, I wouldn’t go too much shorter.

           With a 10.5 boot size, it will depend on the particular board. But in most cases I would say a regular width, in that 160-162 length range would be fine. But if you’re looking for sizing on a particular board, I would be happy to give my opinion.

           Reply

           • Jeremy Van Leeuwen says

             September 22, 2020 at 6:05 pm

             Thanks Nate
             As I looked at the boards you recommended I did feel like they were a less flex then the Heritage. I really appreciate the info on the heritage. Gives me a better idea of what I was riding. I would like to see what other recommendations you would have at the 7 flex. Counting on kids only getting better !

           • Nate says

             September 23, 2020 at 10:49 am

             Hi Jeremy

             I would check out the following:

             >> My Top 10 Freeride Snowboards

             Some good options in there around that 7/10 flex range, and that would suit everything you’re describing. I just updated that list for 2021. I would particularly look at the Capita Kazu Kokubo Pro, Burton Flight Attendant, Jones Flagship, Never Summer Westbound and YES PYL. Because they are all decent with jumps and good in trees as well. Looking at your original post, those are things that you’re looking for, in addition to being able to charge and carve. Check out the details and score breakdowns on those, to see which might sound more appealing to you. You can find “see full review links” for each of them on that post, if you want more details.

     • Jeremy Van Leeuwen says

       September 23, 2020 at 10:02 pm

       The YEs PYL And Captita boards sound fun and I like to try something different then NS but I really loved the Heritage. Say some of the 2019/20 for sale around 400$ What would you recommend on size with 10.5 boot. Also any recommendations on bindings/boots ? Thanks again.

       Reply

       • Nate says

         September 24, 2020 at 12:25 pm

         Hi Jeremy

         For those boards I would go with the following sizes:

         – PYL – 162 or 160W – the 160W isn’t that wide for a wide board, so if you wanted to go a little shorter, but a little wider. But the 162 would work too – but if you wanted more leeway width-wise, for big carves but didn’t want to go too wide, the 160W works
         – West Bound – 160 – should be wide enough for 10.5s. The 161X is probably getting a bit too wide. The 163 also an option, particularly given that’s what you currently ride, but I would be leaning towards the 160
         – Flagship – 161 – this board is wider at the inserts than it sounds by the waist width, I think the 161 would be fine width-wise
         – FA – 162 or 159W – again. Like the PYL, the 162 should be wide enough, and a good length for you, but if you were wanting to go shorter/wider, the 159W would work – and it’s not ultra wide either for a wide board (just a little wider than the 160W PYL at the inserts).
         – Kazu – 160 – again should be wide enough. It’s on the narrower side overall for your boots, but should be good.

         Reply

129. Chris says

     September 3, 2020 at 8:22 am

     Hey Nate. Just moved out to Utah from east coast this past February. Currently riding a Rossignol AmpTek. Was mainly an east coast rider. I am in my 40’s 6′ 210 with a size 12 boot. I’m probably close to a 6 on your skill level guide. I don’t really park, as that is for my kids.
     Mainly ride at Brighton and Snowbird. Looking for something that is going to fit the Utah snow better. Have been researching the MTN twin, Custom/Process, and more. The Terrain Wrecker and K2 Broadcast come up on my search within your site.
     What are your thoughts? I’m not worried about cost really.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 3, 2020 at 11:36 am

       Hi Chris

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the Mountain Twin is a always a pretty safe bet. Good in a variety of conditions and for a variety of styles. Just good across the board. The Custom Flying V would be a good option, so long as you’re not looking at riding in too many icy conditions. Like if you go back East for a trip or something. The Process Flying V you might find a bit soft flexing if you’re not going to be using it in the park and for your size. My instinct for your riding style that you’ll likely find it too soft. There’s the Custom camber as well, which I think would work for most things, but if you’re looking to ride powder, that’s probably the biggest weakness of the Custom camber.

       I haven’t ridden the Terrain Wrecker yet (been trying to since it came out – just one of those boards that somehow keeps alluding me!) but on paper, I think it would work.

       I also haven’t ridden the Broadcast, but on paper it could work, if you’re looking for something a little more freeride oriented.

       But yeah, can’t go wrong with something like the Mountain Twin, IMO. But you could also check out some freeride options (see link below). If you wanted to go a little softer but still quite directional, I am also in the process of creating a “surfy freeride” list, which will basically be softer flexing freeride boards.

       >> My Top 10 Freeride Snowboards

       Just to get a bit better of an idea – how would you describe your style. Would say you like to really bomb? Carve aggressively (like elbows deep)? Search for powder? Ride trees? Ride switch at all? Side hits at all? Anything to describe how you typically ride would help in choosing the most appropriate board.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Chris says

         September 3, 2020 at 2:00 pm

         Thanks for the reply Nate. I would say I’m more of a goof off / have fun rider, especially as I get older. I enjoy the trees, just cruising around, and the occasional race down the slope with my son. I’m mainly directional, but ride switch a little mainly when I’m navigating trees and other riders. Side hits are always fun.
         I haven’t hunted for powder much as I just moved out here in Feb and sadly our season was cut short, but I hope to find a little this coming season.
         If I go back east, I’ll just take my Rossi. I also have my step-ons arriving soon for the new ride.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           September 4, 2020 at 11:50 am

           Hi Chris

           Thanks for the extra details. Sounds like an all-mountain board with something around a mid-flex would be a good fit for you. Versatile enough to ride a little switch when you need and for side-hits, but predominantly for riding in one direction – and not too soft, but not too stiff, so that you’ve got something that won’t be so soft that it’s unstable when you do ride at speed, but not so stiff that you can’t just cruise and take it easy on it. So, definitely in the right place on this list, IMO, and most here would suit what you’re describing. I would be leaning towards the Mountain Twin, Custom Flying V or Terrain Wrecker rather than the Broadcast from what you’re describing.

           Reply

       • Chris says

         September 3, 2020 at 2:20 pm

         Nate, I also thought I’d ask if you think I’d feel a difference (or if its even a good idea at my size) of dropping to a 158W vs. the 162W I have been riding.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           September 4, 2020 at 11:58 am

           Hi Chris

           You’d certainly notice a difference. A 158W vs a 162W (all else being equal) will:

           – Feel less stable at speed
           – Not float as well in powder
           – Feel more playful
           – Be more buttery
           – Be more maneuverable at slower speeds (and usually better in trees)
           – Not be as suitable for big carves, but better for shorter sharper turns

           For your specs and how you describe you’re riding, I think something around 160W, 161W would be your best bet. If you were a more aggressive rider then more like 163W, 164W. 158W might be getting a little small. Would depend somewhat on the board, but it’s on the smaller side for you for sure. If you were happy to sacrifice a little stability at speed and want something that felt really playful, then it’s doable, but I would be looking more like 160W, 161W for you as a good size. Note that if you’re on a size significantly shorter, the flex will feel softer (and visa versa if you go significantly longer, it will feel stiffer). So, for example, if you were to ride the 158W Mountain Twin, you would be probably feel the flex a bit softer than the 6/10 I felt riding the 157. Something to keep in mind.

           Reply

130. Craige says

     August 21, 2020 at 11:49 pm

     Hey Nate
     Currently in the market for a new a board.
     Bit of deets
     -Riding a 2014 156 Ride agenda (flat rocker tip)
     -180cm tall, 86 kg
     -about a 6 on your skill level guide

     I don’t ride park, mainly stick to the groomers but started venturing off piste for more technical/steeper/maneuvarable riding (not on the hunt for knee deep powder though, just a bit of a slower paced challenge when not sending it down the groomers).

     I want a bit of a jack of all trades- all mountain, directional, capable of holding a carve/bomb but still fairly nimble as the snow in aus can get moguly real quick, but never had anything other than the flat rocker agenda. So not too familiar with camber and rocker. I figure from copious amounts of information download that Camber in the middle and rocker underfoot-camroc- is a pretty good catch free experience.

     Because i’m not a park rat, I avoid hectic jumps, but wouldn’t mind still being able to perfect a butter and pop a 180 off the side of a groomed trail every now and then.

     At the moment im looking for some advice on what you think would be a good fit (in order of current appeal) …
     -Jones mountain twin
     -Salomon assassin
     -Ride Wildlife
     -Something YES

     If you got any other major recommendations, hit me with them, I am open minded!

     After a full kit upgrade, so if you have any bindings to tie in with your recommendation let me know! Cheers mate!

     Reply

     • Craige says

       August 22, 2020 at 12:07 am

       Should note that my typical riding consists of carving, fast riding, and 3/4 of the time on piste! Happy to look at medium-medium stiff boards in order to feel a bit more stable and hold an edge!

       Reply

       • Nate says

         August 23, 2020 at 10:15 am

         Hi Craige

         Thanks for your messages.

         I think you’re definitely on the right track with that list, from what you’re describing. The Assassin is a little more freestyle focused. Would still certainly do the job, but if you’re mainly going to be bombing on piste, you could probably go a little more directional.

         But the likes of the YES Standard, Mountain Twin and Wild Life would all work. Probably from what you’re describing, the Mountain Twin and Standard would be what I’d go with over the Wild Life. Even though the Wild Life is a little more directional, I get the feeling you want something a little more aggressive. The Wild Life is quite easy going. The Mountain Twin and Standard definitely aren’t super aggressive either, but just a little more so, IMO.

         If you wanted to go even more aggressive, then you could look at something like one of the following:

         >>Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards

         But if you wanted to keep things a little more easy going, stick to around that medium flex, then Standard/Mountain Twin are a good way to go or you could look at the Capita Mercury.

         The other way to go is if you wanted to go a little more directional again, you could look at:

         >> My Top 10 Freeride Snowboards

         Less versatile for the likes of riding switch, more freestyle stuff, but good for bombing, carving, powder.

         Hope this helps

         Reply

         • craige says

           August 23, 2020 at 11:09 pm

           Thanks Nate! Love the effort you put into your work mate.
           Been looking alot at the mountain twin, so good to hear its on your list for my style. Binding wise was thinking burton malavita or union force? you reckon thatd make a pretty good combination fit for purpose or something else?

           Reply

           • Nate says

             August 24, 2020 at 10:33 am

             Hi Craige

             Malavita and Force would certainly do the job. I would be leaning towards the Force, just because it’s got a tad more drive to it and since you’re 3/4 time carving/bombing, I think that would be just a little more suitable, but Malavita would certainly work. I think ideally you want to look at something around 6/10 flex or even 7/10 flex, as a good match with the Mountain Twin and how you describe your riding. So yeah, I would go Force out of those 2, but both would work. For other potentials also check out:

             >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

             >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

131. Paul C says

     July 27, 2020 at 9:15 am

     Hi Nate

     Not sure if you’re still hitting the comments on this page but your responses to people’s queries are great so here I am.

     I have snowboarded a little over the past 10 years. I’d say I’m at an intermediate 5.

     I just rented a Burton Custom Camber for a long weekend and I felt pretty good on this board. I’m starting to try small jumps and I’m catching edges a bit.

     I was planning on buying this board but they didn’t have my size and I talked myself into grabbing the 162w Custom Flying V instead. I’m 6’3, 200 pounds with an 11.5 boot.

     I’m keen to progress my skill level with some more jumps, carving and butters etc. Yet to unwrap the new board so I’m still wondering if I should switch it for something else. I don’t ride much powder at the moment but would be good to have the option if we can ever travel again! What do you think?

     I’m also going to pick up some boots and bindings so any recommendations on those would be great as well.

     Thanks heaps mate!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       July 29, 2020 at 1:42 pm

       Hi Paul

       Thanks for your message.

       Firstly, size-wise, I think you’re bang on there for your specs/level, for that board.

       In terms of whether it’s a suitable board for you, I couldn’t say for sure, but here are some things that might help you to decide.

       – The Flying V is, versus the camber version, a looser feel. Some prefer this some don’t.
       – The Flying V is better in powder than the camber version for sure
       – The Flying V is a little more buttery
       – You’re a good bit less likely to catch edges on the Flying V version
       – The camber version is a good bit better for carving
       – The camber version is a good bit more stable when riding fast
       – The camber version has a bit more pop but the flying v version’s pop is a little easier to extract. The camber is more of a stomper on landings, but a little less forgiving of errors on landings. The Flying v is a little more maneuverable overall and that can be nice for side hits. Overall they’re both good for jumps, IMO, but a different feel for jumps.

       So yeah, they’re both quite different feeling boards, despite sharing a name and the same core, dimensions and everything. That camber profile does make a pretty big difference.

       If you were looking for something a little more camber dominant than the Flying V but not necessarily full camber like the Custom Camber, there are definitely options there. A lot that will be in a lot of ways between those two boards. This list has plenty. If you were wanting that camber between the feet kind of feel, then the Standard, Mountain Twin and Rossi One LF all represent boards, I would say are in between those two in a lot of ways – i.e. better at carving and speed vs the Custom Flying V but better in terms of powder vs the Custom Camber.

       For more details on the relative strengths and weaknesses in the boards on this list, check out the score breakdowns and for further detail the full reviews, if you were going to change the Custom Flying V. Definitely not to say it’s not for you, but hopefully the things above help to make your decision.

       Reply

       • Paul C says

         July 30, 2020 at 1:09 am

         Thanks Nate! Love your reviews and appreciate the advice!

         I’m just going to have to ride the Flying V and make a call. Maybe save the camber for when I’ve progressed a bit. Standard looks like a good choice.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           July 31, 2020 at 1:46 pm

           You’re very welcome Paul. If you think of it at the time, let me know how you get on with the Flying V.

           Reply

132. John Snow says

     June 11, 2020 at 3:22 am

     Hi Nate!
     Love your stuff, and always appreciate your infomrative answers to all of us asking for guidance! 🙂
     Been looking for a new board, first one, an all-mountain board leaning more towards the freeride side so it’ll be able to carve hard, charge, feel nimble edge to edge and pop (my top 4 properties) but still somewhat butterable with good maneuverablity at slower speeds as well..
     Looking for a quiver of one of course, i do have big feet, 11.5 so have to take this into consideration unfortunately.. would really appreciate your feedback and insights on my future purchase.
     Thanks for providing us such detailed and amazing reviews!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       June 11, 2020 at 10:12 am

       Hi John

       Thanks for your message.

       I think you’re in the right place, if you’re looking for all those things. If it was just the first 4, without the need for butterability and maneuverability at slow speeds, I would have said look at aggressive all-mountain boards or freeride boards, but given you want that, then I think you’re in the right place. Though there are some alternatives you could look at, which I’ll get to.

       From this list, I would say the Mercury, but not quite wide enough for your boot size. After that I think the Standard, Mountain Twin, Team Gullwing and One LF all fit the bill.

       But if you wanted something that gave you just a bit more in terms of carving, like the Mercury, but isn’t too bad at slower speeds either, and you weren’t too worried about performance in powder, then you could also consider something like:

       – Nitro Team Camber
       – Burton Custom Camber

       They’re what I consider aggressive all-mountain boards, but are a little softer/more nimble than most in that category.

       Or if you’re looking for something with a bit more powder performance, then the

       – Jones Frontier
       – Burton Skeleton Key
       – Burton Hometown Hero
       – YES Hybrid

       Are also good options.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

133. Kon says

     April 28, 2020 at 1:30 pm

     Hi Nate,

     Thank you for all the amazing information you provide!

     I hoping you could help me decide on a new setup. It would actually be the first board I own. I’ve been using loaners up until now but I think getting my own board will help me progress.

     Some background info on me.
     Height: 6′
     Weight: 160-165 lbs
     Boot size: US 9.5 (could vary depending on the brand from 9 – 10)
     Skill: Intermediate 5 based on your chart and hoping to progress further next season.
     Style: All Mountain for now but would like to get into more Freeriding as I get better.

     I spend most of my time on groomers and really enjoy carving down blues/reds. I can handle blacks but it still needs more work. I live in the east coast with lots of hard/icy snow days but will venture out west when I can to get some time in powder.

     I’m looking for an one board quiver that can handle the hard/icy conditions and powder whenever it presents itself. I don’t see myself going to the park much but being able to do some butters and spins would be cool. After reading through your reviews, I’ve narrow down my search to the Yes Standard and Rossignol One LF. I’m torn between the Standard 153 or 156 and the One LF 156 or 159. Which would you recommend?

     As far as the bindings, I was thinking about going with either the Burton Cartel M or Burton Genisis X M. Would either of those go well with the two boards I mentioned?

     I look forward to your response!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 28, 2020 at 2:23 pm

       Hi Kon

       Thanks for your message.

       Firstly, yeah definitely good for progress to have the same board under your feet for that consistency.

       From what you’re describing the Standard and One LF are definitely good options. There are others too, but those would definitely suit your description very well, IMO.

       Size-wise, it’s close between those sizes, but for your specs, I would be leaning towards the 156 for the One LF. You could ride the 159, but I think 156 would be the slightly better choice for your specs.

       For the Standard it’s a tougher choice. I would probably be just leaning towards the 153, but the 156 is certainly doable.

       Both the Cartel and Genesis X would match well with both these boards. The Cartel is probably a more pure match, in terms of flex. But if you wanted something to drive the board a little harder the Genesis X would do that. They’re stiffer but not so stiff that they would cause the board to feel too twitchy or anything.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Kon says

         April 28, 2020 at 5:28 pm

         Thank you very much Nate! You are the man!

         I will go with the One LF 156cm with the Genesis X bindings. It seems like the Standard is sold out in my sizes for this season.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           April 29, 2020 at 12:42 pm

           You’re very welcome Kon. Hope the setup treats you well!

           Reply

134. Juan says

     March 3, 2020 at 7:47 pm

     Hi Nate,

     Thanks a lot for all the advice… I’m definitely sold on the Yes Standard… Intermediate-advanced level and I’m 6′-2″, 185 lbs, 10.5 boots… I want an all-mountain but more on the aggressive side (charging, powder and occasionally trees), not interested in park. What length would you recommend?.

     Thanks in advance and please keep going this fantastic site!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 4, 2020 at 2:09 pm

       Hi Juan

       Thanks for your message.

       It’s a weigh up between the 156 and 159 for you. But I would be leaning towards the 159, just because you’re not really doing anything freestyle and you ride on the more aggressive side. The fact you ride trees too, leans it back a little towards 156, but if that’s only occasionally and for the most part you want to optimize carving, charging and powder, then I think I would be leaning towards 159 for you.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

135. Aaron says

     March 2, 2020 at 11:28 am

     Hey Nate, thanks for the insightful writeup

     I’ve been snowboarding about 6 times within 4 seasons, and the most recent trip I was able to link turns.

     I’m currently using my friend’s 2011 K2 Dark Star, which was the board I used in my most recent trip. I was spraying snow more than catching an edge during my turns however, so that leads me to wanting to buy a board for me to progress on consistently.

     Using your length and width guide, my true all mountain length is 154cm. subtracting 3 to 5 cm as a beginner leaves me with a range of 149 – 151 cm, with a width of normal at 240-250 (my boot size is 8.0, maybe a 7.5 depending on how much my boot packs out)

     I’m not so sure I want a very soft board however, as I believe I’m on the brink of entering intermediate land, so a 4 to 5 flex seems attractive to me (correct me if I’m wrong).

     From what I’m reading, I’m looking for an all-mountain/hybrid camber/ true twin board.

     You mentioned that true twins are easier to learn on due to a centered stance, so I’m hesitant to even touch directional boards.

     I don’t see myself doing any tricks until I’m a true intermediate, learning to possibly butter, so I’m not really looking into any free style boards.

     From some interweb digging I have heard of the YES Typo, Never Summer Proto Type Two, Capita DOA, K2 Raygun.

     How do you feel about the constraints/conclusions I’ve reached, and what boards do you recommend from that? (Length as well)

     Thanks for reading this comment Nate and I appreciate your content 🙂

     Reply

     • Aaron says

       March 2, 2020 at 11:33 am

       5’7 150 – 155 lbs, forgot to provide that detail.

       Reply

     • Nate says

       March 3, 2020 at 10:57 am

       Hi Aaron

       Thanks for your message.

       Firstly, I wouldn’t be too worried about going directional, especially if it’s just a little directional. It’s a factor, but a much lesser factor to flex and camber profile, when it comes to learning and progressing. So I wouldn’t be completely tied to true twins, necessarily. Probably don’t want to go on a highly directional tapered board or anything like that, but a little setback or a nose that’s slightly longer than the tail is absolutely fine, unless you’re really keen to get your switch riding dialed from the beginning (which is a legit reason to want to go true twin, so if that’s you’re thinking then all good, but just don’t want you to avoid directional twins or the likes fullstop).

       From your list, the Typo is the best option, IMO, as a high-end beginner. The DOA isn’t that beginner friendly, IMO and the PT2 isn’t really either – maybe a little more so than the DOA, but still not ideal in that sense. The Raygun would certainly work though. It’s a flat-to-rocker profile, rather than a hybrid camber (like the Typo and DOA) or hybrid rocker (like the PT2), which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in itself, but just because you mentioned you were wanting a hybrid camber.

       For more high-end beginner going on intermediate options check out:

       >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

       That list was created specifically for those looking for a board that’s still good to learn on, but can take them further into their progression than a beginner, beginner board can. It’s made for those who are high-end beginner, going on intermediate. You’ll see the Typo in there as well as other really good options. Since you don’t want to look at freestyle boards, I think the following would work well form that list, in addition to the Typo:

       – Never Summer Snowtrooper
       – Capita Outerspace Living
       – YES Libre
       – Burton Process Flying V
       – Arbor Element Black Rocker
       – Rossignol Templar
       – Ride Wildlife

       So plenty of good options in there, IMO.

       Size-wise, I think you’ve worked it out well from your specs. I think something 149-152 is a good bet, depending on the board. If you narrow down your options to 2-3 boards, I would be happy to give size recommendations for each board.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

136. Kyle says

     February 24, 2020 at 10:16 am

     Hi Nate,

     I’m still pretty new to snowboarding but ive definitely developed a love for the sport and plan on doing it as long as I can. I have been renting boards everytime I go but I would really like to own a board so I’m trying to learn and adapt to a new board every time. I was looking for an all mountain board that leaned a little more towards park. I’ve ridden a couple Never Summer boards but one of them stood out to me and was just a really fun ride. I felt like I could really control the board when going down blues and blacks but it also had a great pop to it while hitting park which I loved. I know I’m being pretty vague as to what board it was but I havent been able to find the exact board. All I know is that it was a blue and white 149cm Never Summer. I was hoping to be able to describe it enough for a recommendation on what board I should look into trying/getting.

     Height: 5’8″
     Weight: 160lbs
     Shoe: 11

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 25, 2020 at 11:20 am

       Hi Kyle

       Thanks for your message.

       The most likely board it would have been from what I can tell is the Never Summer Funslinger. It comes in a 149 and the 2017, 2018 & 2019 models all had blue and white. And it fits the description that you’re talking about. Couldn’t say for sure, but that’s the most likely I think. Do you know what year the board was?

       The Funslinger is a freestyle focused board for sure, but can handle the rest of the mountain fine too. Not amazing for deep powder, but can handle moderate powder OK.

       Size-wise, unless you’re really keen to emulate that exact board, I would go a little longer than 149 for your specs. Especially when you’re riding faster and carving lower, I think you’ll notice the lack of length in a 149 – and it’s probably going to be too narrow for 11s, if you are carving higher on the edge. I would say go 154X. If you really wanted it shorter, the 153 or 151 could be doable, but they’re likely too narrow for your shoe/boot size. So I think the 154X for the Funslinger is your best bet.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

137. Gustavo says

     February 20, 2020 at 4:58 pm

     Hey Nate! You were definitely right when you said to buy Rossignol One LF… I bought the “custom flying V” and I didn’t like it! It is not a good deck for speed and bad for ice! How about app “ski tracks”, do you use it? Mine has a difference of 15/20% less than my friends who do the same ride.

     Gustavo

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 21, 2020 at 3:20 pm

       Hi Gustavo

       I used to use the Ski Tracks app, but haven’t in a while. I found it quite unreliable. Every now and then it would throw out an unrealistic speed, so I kind of lost trust in it.

       Reply

138. Mike says

     February 18, 2020 at 7:56 am

     Hey Nate,

     Recently stumbled onto your site and love the level off detail you put into your reviews! Hoping to get your input on a board purchase, please?

     • 37 years old, 5 foot 8, about 180 to 190 lbs with a boot size of 11.5.
     • Intermediate rider, good on greens and blues, but still a little sketchy on blacks and steeper descents (I can make it down but don’t feel all that stable).
     • I ride groomers with the wife and kids every weekend and do an annual trip to Mont-Tremblant in Qc Canada. I live in the east coast, so no real powder to speak of.
     • I’ve been riding consistently (weekly) since 2017. Rode before 2017 as well but very, very rarely (once or twice a season sometimes none)…
     • I currently own a 2018 skate banana 159W (my previous board was an old Lamar I bought off a friend in college and never changed the setup or anything)

     I’d like to get a board that would suit an intermediate rider wanting to improve. I think the rocker profile of my skate banana is making me feel unstable.

     Ideally I would want an all mountain board that’s stable at decent speeds (50ish KPH), but also able to slow down and enjoy an easy ride down mellow runs with the family without feeling like the board just wants to bomb…

     Aside from riding groomers, wold like to be able to hit some smaller jumps on the side of groomed runs but no interest in riding park. I don’t / can’t ride switch and am fine with simply riding regular.

     With the research I’ve done online the Jones frontier looks to be a good fit. I tested a Capita Mercury last weekend and found it to be too aggressive. The stance was set up too wide for me, so that definitely played into my lack of control with that board (ride at 21 inches, but the mercury was set up at 22.5). Never the less the mercury was too aggressive. I tried the DOA after that and it felt much better. Where would you put the frontier between these 2? Any other options I should be looking at that would be a better choice than the frontier?

     Thank you for any input you may have.
     Mike

     Reply

     • Mike says

       February 18, 2020 at 8:32 am

       Based on the your skill level chart, I’d be an intermediate 5.

       Reply

       • Nate says

         February 19, 2020 at 4:28 pm

         Hi Mike

         Thanks for your message.

         Yeah certainly not surprised with the lack of stability at speed you’re getting on the Skate Banana. It’s a rather loose feeling board that’s more suited to freestyle riding, IMO, and not that stable at speed.

         I think you’re in the right place with this list, and the Frontier is certainly also an option. Although, I would say that it’s fairly similar in terms of aggressiveness to the Mercury, in my experience. The Mercury is probably the most aggressive on this particular list, along with the Niche Story. I think you wouldn’t find the Frontier that much less aggressive. In terms of most playful to most aggressive from this list, I would say the following:

         – Yes Typo
         – Slash Brainstorm
         – Burton Custom Flying V
         – Arbor Bryan Iguchi Pro Rocker
         – Rossignol One
         – Nitro Team Gullwing
         – YES Standard
         – Jones Mountain Twin
         – Capita Mercury
         – Niche Story

         And I’d say that the Frontier would fit somewhere between the Mountain Twin and Mercury.

         Also note that everything on this list is, IMO, less playful/not as loose as the Skate Banana, so even going for something like the Typo or Brainstorm is going to feel more stable vs the Skate Banana.

         So, based on your experience with the Mercury, I would be looking at Standard through to Typo on the above list, in order to get something that won’t find too aggressive.

         Size-wise, I think something around that 156W to 159W range would work well for you. Note for the YES Standard that it doesn’t come in wide sizes, but it’s already wide enough for 11.5s, IMO, in both the 156 and 159.

         Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

         Reply

         • Mike says

           February 20, 2020 at 7:48 am

           Hey Nate,

           Thank you for the insight. I’m a little worried now that you mentioned the frontier being similar to the the mercury in regards to aggressiveness. I did find the mercury pretty stiff, but it’s hard to know as my stance was set up to wide, but i did find that board to be ridiculously fast.

           After reading your input i think the yes standard would fit my style much better. I don’t bomb down runs and am looking for stability at speed, but also want to be able to slow down and ride smooth with the wife and kids.

           Thank you again for the input, it definitely helps

           Reply

           • Nate says

             February 21, 2020 at 2:38 pm

             You’re very welcome Mike. If you think of it at the time, let me know how you get on, once you’ve made the final call and had a chance to get it out on snow.

           • Mike says

             March 9, 2020 at 11:20 am

             Hey Nate,

             You were right on about the standard. I ended up buying the Yes standard in 159 and used it all last week in mont tremblant. Was a fantastic ride and I love the shape of it as well.

             Enjoyed it so much decided to upgrade my 2018 k2 formula bindings to union strata’s as well! Will be putting them on the board tonight.

             Thanks again for the insight!

           • Nate says

             March 10, 2020 at 12:13 pm

             Hey Mike

             Thanks for the update, really appreciate it – and awesome that you’re loving your Standard! Would be great to hear how you get on with the Strata/Standard combo.

139. Matt says

     February 6, 2020 at 6:26 pm

     Hey Nate,

     I greatly appreciate the extensive insight you’re throwing out there for everyone! I tried to comb through the reviews to see if anyone asked about a similar situation, but unfortunately, no dice.

     I’m a long time skier who has occasionally dabbled in snowboarding throughout the years, but also wakeboard on a semi-regular basis. I’d like to get an all-mountain board so that I can bring both my skis & a board to swap back and forth on future trips out west.

     After doing a good amount of research, I’m thinking the YES Standard sounds like a good fit. I will mostly be looking for fresh powder & cruising groomers. I regularly dip into the trees with my skis, but not sure I’ll be up for that right off the bat with a new board. I’ll probably hit the occasional jump, but will mostly be riding regular footing.

     I’m 35 years old, 6″3″, 200 lbs, with a size 13 shoe. Thoughts?

     If you think the Standard is a good fit, any suggestions on the 162 vs 167? Care to give me your .02 on the ideal set-up in terms of boot & binding combo. Don’t mind spending the money on quality stuff it it will last me a long time.

     Thanks again for your insight!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 7, 2020 at 3:37 pm

       Hi Matt

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the Standard could work well for what you’re describing. It’s good enough in powder – but also something you can cruise the groomers on and not overly aggressive/technical.

       Size-wise, I think the 162 would be a good bet for you. You could ride 167, but I think that’s going to feel like a lot of board, especially if you’re not at an advanced/expert level. I think 162 for your specs/what you’re describing would work best – and once you do start getting into the trees, you’ll appreciate that size more too.

       In terms of pairing with bindings and boots. I would be looking at something around a 6/10 or 7/10 in terms of flex. As an intermediate rider (correct me if that’s inaccurate, but that’s the impression I get from your comments), I would be leaning towards 6/10 flex – and that’s about what the board feels like too. For some great options in that flex range, check out:

       >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

       >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

       >>My Top All Mountain (medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Matt says

         February 8, 2020 at 8:36 am

         Hey Nate,

         I greatly appreciate the insight and timely response. Keep up the great work!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 8, 2020 at 1:29 pm

           You’re very welcome Matt. Happy riding!

           Reply

140. Jo says

     January 31, 2020 at 4:35 am

     Hi Nate,

     First off, love the site and the detailed reviews.

     I am looking for some advice for buying my first snowboard but couldn’t decide from all the options. I want an all mountain board that doesn’t fall down in any one type of riding. Being able to ride some switch would also be a bonus. I considered the Yes Standard 156 but I feel like it might be a bit too wide for my foot size. Could you suggest something more appropriate?

     Height: 5′ 11″ (180 cm)
     Weight: 180-185 lb (81-84 kg)
     Build: athletic
     Shoe size: Mens 9 US (~26.5 mm)
     Skill: intermediate level 5-6 on your scale (but learning fast!)

     Up to now I was mostly riding a Burton Process 2018 with Cartel bindings and felt comfortable with the traditional camber but I’m happy to try something more well rounded.

     Cheers!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 31, 2020 at 1:51 pm

       Hi Jo

       Thanks for your message.

       Yeah, I would be a little concerned with the width of the Standard 156 with 9s too. And for your specs, I wouldn’t want to size down any more than that.

       Since you’ve gotten on well with camber, I would be looking at a hybrid camber – it feels more like camber than hybrid rocker, but it has less consequence and has some other advantages, like being better in powder, and typically easier to butter.

       With that in mind, I think the Capita Mercury, Rossignol One LF, Slash Brainstorm or YES Typo would work.

       The Mercury isn’t as wide as it looks, but still a little wider, so you could size down a little on that. Given that you’re athletic and progressing quickly, I think the following would be appropriate sizes for each.

       – Mercury: 157
       – Rossi One: 159
       – Slash Brainstorm: 160
       – YES Typo: 161 – though if you didn’t want to go that long you could go 158 too

       All these boards are quite different, but check out the score breakdown’s under each to see which might suit your riding the most.

       In terms of feel of the boards, I would say most aggressive to least aggressive would be:

       – Mercury
       – Rossignol One
       – YES Typo/Slash Brainstorm

       If you weren’t really riding powder, you could also look at some all-mountain-freestyle options. But if you do ride powder, then these would be really good options for what you’re describing, IMO.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Jo says

         January 31, 2020 at 5:42 pm

         Thanks Nate I really appreciate your advice!

         Out of those suggestions I’m leaning towards the Capita Mercury 157 but it’s difficult to find locally. How does this compare to the Jones Mountain Twin 157?

         Some of the more freestyle boards I can get a hold of are the Yes Jackpot 156 and Endeavour Pioneer 158. What do you think about those?

         I don’t get much powder at my local resort but I’ll definitely do some powder riding when I go elsewhere.

         Thanks again for all your help!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 3, 2020 at 12:43 pm

           Hi Jo

           Completely missed the Mountain Twin off that list – but definitely a good hybrid camber option too. I would say from my list before of most to least aggressive that the Mountain Twin would fall:

           – Mercury
           – Mountain Twin
           – Rossignol One
           – YES Typo/Slash Brainstorm

           Certainly not the same board as the Mercury, but definitely an option for what you’re describing. You could go 157, or you could go 160.

           I rate both the Jackpot and Pioneer. They both made my top 10 freestyle boards:

           >>My Top 10 Men’s Freestyle Snowboards

           Whilst both are good over the whole mountain, as well as being freestyle oriented, their biggest downside is powder, IMO – and not quite up there in terms of carving/speed as the likes of the Mercury or MT. Doable, if you wanted something more freestyle oriented and were willing to sacrifice a little in terms of those things.

           Reply

141. Matt Snare says

     January 23, 2020 at 2:33 pm

     Hi Nate,

     Amazing tips mate – very informative and quick turns on answers! Super sharp.

     I am 5’10 and around 160 pounds. Size 10 boots. Always hard to rate yourself but I think I would be a 6 on your skill chart I have been riding every winter in Ontario, Canada for around 15+ years. Looking for a new All Mountain board ideal predominately for groomed blue and black runs but also one that can perform during the annual trip out West in whatever powder presents itself. I am starting to push myself a little more off the beaten path. Ontario can be icy of course and so I definitely want stability and edge control and performance on uneven terrain (especially with speed). I very rarely hit the park (the odd box to two) but no need to worry about that given I am 46 and need to stay in good shape for my three kids 🙂

     My existing board is super old – a RIDE Control board – 158. I was still learning when I got it but I definitely like the stability and length – especially when doing aggressive carving. I have tried shorter boards and understand their specific purpose etc but I feel less comfortable. Anything around 157, 158 and maybe 159 seems to suit me.

     After reading a few reviews I feel some of the boards I should consider (in no specific order) include: Burton Custom Flying V, Capita Mercury, Yes TYPO or YES Standard.

     Any advice / thoughts which one I should lean to? Other better options?

     Thanks mate

     Matt

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 24, 2020 at 1:43 pm

       Hi Matt

       Thanks for your message.

       I would be leaning towards the Standard and Mercury of those 4, for what you’re describing. The Custom Flying V, and the flying V shape in general, I haven’t found to be that good in hard/icy conditions – so that’s the biggest reason I wouldn’t go there for you. The Typo is doable, but I think based on what you’re describing, something with a bit more in terms of speed and carving might suit you better.

       The Standard is very good in hard/icy conditions, in my experience – and it’s decent in powder. Better in powder when you use the slam back inserts, which you could do on your trips out west, if you get powder days. All round a good option.

       Not as good in hard/icy conditions, but still OK, the Mercury is another one that will give you more for speed & carving vs the likes of the Typo. And you’re talking a good step up in terms of stiffness. The Typo I would rate around 4.5/10 for stiffness and the Mercury 6.5/10 (the Standard 6/10). I think for how you want to ride a little bit more stiffness is a good idea. That said I wouldn’t go too stiff at 160lbs. But around 6/10, 7/10 flex I think would suit.

       The Rossi One, Niche Story (if you wanted to go another step stiffer), Nitro Team Gullwing and Jones Mountain Twin would all also work well for what you’re describing.

       If you were to go Standard, I would go 156. It’s a wider board and sizing down a little is a good idea for it, IMO, depending on boot size. But with 10s and your specs, I would go 156.

       For the Mercury, I think the 157 would be your best bet.

       For the Typo, if you did think you wanted a more easy going option, I would go 158.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Matt says

         January 24, 2020 at 1:58 pm

         Thanks Nate. I will keep you posted on where I land.

         Cheers

         Matt

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 24, 2020 at 2:58 pm

           You’re very welcome Matt. Look forward to hearing which way you go.

           Reply

           • Matt says

             January 25, 2020 at 3:44 pm

             Nate,

             I am moving quickly on the YES standard….any bindings you particularly recommend as a good match? I like the sound of Burton Cartel but am open to any ideas.

             Also I now see my old boots are 10.5 not 10 but figure you still recommend the Standard 156 given my height and weight (closer to 165 pounds right now).

             Cheers

             Matt

           • Nate says

             January 27, 2020 at 1:24 pm

             Hi Matt

             Yeah the Burton Cartel would work well with the Standard, IMO. There are others that work too, but Cartel would be one of my top recommendations for the Standard, so a solid choice there, IMO.

             I would still go 156 for you, even with 10.5s.

           • Matt says

             February 3, 2020 at 8:30 am

             Update. New set-up: YES Standard 156. Burton Cartel bindings. Thirty-Two TM 2 Boots (10.5). Two days of riding complete (Ontario). Day 1: Icy / Hard pack. Day 2: Hard pack with a little fresh powder. Initial observations from an intermediate rider on an old Ride Control 158 (should of upgraded years ago). Day 1: Very smooth ride overall. The 156 is the right size for me. Immediate difference re: buttering. Wow. Ollies and tail presses way easier. Fun. Good over uneven terrain. Felt less comfortable straight lining with top speed down steep sections. Not sure if that was me getting use to a shorter board generally or the new Standard. Bindings gold. Step up from Mission..you can feel the quality difference in the hardware. Boots great in the morning but the heel lock feature made my ankles quite sore in the afternoon. More on the back foot. New boot factor I think. Wore them around the house that night trying to soften them up a bit. Day 2: Felt even better overall. Got more familiar with the board and so quick carves on steep sections felt better. Much better in the small pockets of powder I could find vs the old Ride board. Can’t wait for the West. Boots felt better vs Day 1 but will still need a week or so to break in I guess. No issues on any part of the boot except the heel lock / hold section. Could be me getting use to that specific liner feature as my old Thirty-twos didn’t have it. Not sure if the heat mold able process will help for that specific bit. Love the boot overall – especially the storm shield / outer coating.

             Overall a very happy camper – thanks again Nate. Over and out.

             P.S My advice to other riders. Don’t fall into the trap of riding an old board for too long (ie close to 15 years) just to save money or if it feels comfortable. You could be accidentally missing out on some new adventures.

           • Nate says

             February 4, 2020 at 11:33 am

             Hi Matt

             Thanks for the update/insight. Greatly appreciated. And awesome that you’re loving your new gear!

             32 boots I find really benefit from heat molding, so if you haven’t already, I would heat mold them. Stiffer boots – not that the TM-2 are ultra-stiff, but they’re on the stiffer side of medium, tend to take a little longer to break in too, so they should hopefully come right around the ankle – but I would say that heat molding will help too.

             Happy riding!

142. Mihai says

     January 21, 2020 at 8:03 am

     Hello Nate, you are doing a wonderful job here! kudoz!

     I am looking for a piece of advice: I am 40 yo 220 lbs, size 14,5 (nitro team boots), am currently riding a Ride Wildlife 163W (2016). I am looking for change of gear, intermediate level, I am doing bunny hops on the slope, started carving both sides, can speed up to 75-80 km/h.
     My current conditions of riding are usually groomed and ice runs, seldomly pow-wow (love it, but the conditions here in Romania don’t usually make it dump massive amounts of snow)

     Ideally i would look for something wide, xtra-wide, short and fat, for carving, all mountain and powder (if any). I would ideally go down towards 159-ish boards, if I can eliminate toe/heel drag.

     any input is much appreciated

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 21, 2020 at 4:23 pm

       Hi Mihai

       Thanks for your message.

       Given your boot size, and given that you want to size down a little but get that extra width, I think you would be a good candidate for a Never Summer Westbound 160DF – the DF stands for Drag Free, and it’s nice and wide. It’s perhaps a little stiffer than what I would usually recommend for an intermediate level, but sizing down to that 160 length should counter some of that extra stiffness.

       I could hunt for some short/fat options too but that DF West Bound would work really well, IMO.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Mihai says

         January 21, 2020 at 11:23 pm

         it helps a lot, thank you!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 22, 2020 at 12:11 pm

           You’re very welcome Mihai. Hope you’re having a great season!

           Reply

143. Joel says

     January 20, 2020 at 10:52 pm

     Hi Nate,

     Appreciate you putting all the information out there. I’m a 5 on your skill level chart, 5’10” 174lbs, size 9.5 boot. I’m also long past my prime (46) and have not snowboarded for about 15 years. My equipment predates Y2k! I am looking to ease back into it with a new all-around board that’ll help build confidence back, pop with less effort, while not taxing my aging knees and ankles too much. I don’t see deep powder, I don’t try to go as fast as I can, and I avoid trees at all cost (one bad memory will do), but I am happy to do small park jumps and would like to get better at it. Would it be out of my league to be looking at Burton Custom Flying V, or should I be looking at Process Flying V or Name Dropper? Can you recommend a non-Burton alternative? Much appreciated.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 21, 2020 at 3:48 pm

       Hi Joel

       Thanks for your message.

       I don’t think the Custom Flying V would be out of your league. It’s quite an easy going board – easy to turn and forgiving. The pop is easy to extract too, so I think it sounds like it would suit you well. The biggest downsides are when you try to ride it really fast in harder conditions, then it can feel a bit washy, but if you’re not really charging in those conditions, then I don’t think you’ll find that an issue. At your level and how you describe your riding, I think the Custom Flying V over the Process Flying V and certainly over the Name Dropper – which is a more park specialized board, IMO.

       If easy going, all-round, confidence building and easy pop is what you’re after, you could also look at the Slash Brainstorm, YES Typo, Never Summer Snowtrooper or something more all-mountain-freestyle like the GNU Rider’s Choice or Capita Asymulator. Those are the first that come to mind for what you’re describing.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

144. Chadd says

     January 15, 2020 at 2:36 am

     Hey Nate,

     I am looking for advice on a board. I am getting back into snowboarding after having taken 6 or so years off. I am 5’7” weighing about 185lbs. I am looking for something all mountain that I can still do entry level tricks, carve, and handles good in powder. Most of my time will be spent on trail. I would consider myself an advanced beginner/intermediate rider. Looking for a nice board that I can grow and advance my skills.

     My early research has pointed me towards the Rossignol Templar, yes Libre, yes typo, K2’s raygun, or the Jones frontier. I am open to any and all recs.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 15, 2020 at 12:51 pm

       Hi Chadd

       Thanks for your message.

       For what you’re describing, I would say the Typo, Libre & Templar would be your best options. The Jones Frontier doable, but it’s a little more aggressive, a little more advanced than the others. It would be a steeper learning curve. The Raygun isn’t something that I’ve ridden, so I’m not sure there. On specs, it would be doable – though there isn’t any camber in the profile, which means you might find it lacking in terms of carving and pop, particularly once you advance.

       Size-wise, I would be looking at something around 155-157 for your specs and how you describe your riding.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Chadd says

         January 17, 2020 at 4:05 pm

         Nate, thank you for the insight. Your reviews and recommendations are awesome and I greatly appreciate you helping me.

         Do you think their is significant difference between the typo and the Libre to justify the price? Are their any other boards that I didn’t mention that you think I should look into?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 20, 2020 at 1:14 pm

           Hi Chadd

           I think you’ve got some good options there. Could add the Never Summer Snowtrooper or Slash Brainstorm into that mix if you wanted, but one of those would be a good bet.

           Between the Typo and Libre, there’s not a massive difference, if you were looking to save cash on the Libre. I would say the Libre is a little better than the Typo in powder, with the Typo being a slightly better carver. Maybe the Typo over Libre in terms of jumps too, but otherwise, not a giant difference. You do get the Sintered Spec base (which is kind of in between a sintered and extruded base) on the Typo vs the Extruded base on the Libre. So the Typo has a better base. That’s probably a big part of the extra cost for the Typo vs the Libre.

           Reply

145. Herrick says

     January 11, 2020 at 11:55 pm

     I am currently using 2017 burton process flying v + mission bindings. I am looking for an upgrade because I think the board loses stability as it goes fast. Is Yes Standard good for me?
     What size should I choose? I am 5ft8 and bit shy of 130 pounds.

     I ride mostly in Japan, I can carve blues completely with switch and do all 180s when there is enough snow I go into the trees and under the chairlift. I think I am somewhere in between intermediate 6 and advanced 7.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 13, 2020 at 11:35 am

       Hi Herrick

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the Standard would be a good upgrade in terms of something that feels more stable, but without being like super aggressive or stiff or anything like that. I think it would be a good transition up from the Process Flying V. Size-wise, I think the 149 is likely your best bet, but if you could also let me know your boot size, that would be great.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Herrick Mak says

         January 14, 2020 at 5:00 am

         my boot size is 8.5 (I am wearing the Hi-standard from vans). I recently picked up M size union atlas at a discount because I felt the missions are too soft for me and I always had to strap in too much which affects my blood flow of my feet. Why 149 but not 151? Am I going to see any difference in carving and riding switch?

         Reply

         • Herrick Mak says

           January 14, 2020 at 5:13 am

           Thanks again.
           for additional information, I am riding a 152 process flying v and somehow you might be right it feels too long sometimes. I think once I get 149 my turn would become even easier but I lose a bit of stability?

           Reply

           • Nate says

             January 14, 2020 at 12:38 pm

             Hi Herrick

             Typically going shorter, all else being equal, will lead to a more maneuverable board that’s better for freestyle & trees, but will sacrifice in terms of stability at speed and float in powder. However, the Standard vs the Process Flying V will still give you more in terms of stability at speed, carving etc, even in a smaller size.

             I would usually say around that 150-152 range for your specs, but the Standard is wider than the average board and going a little shorter because of that extra width is a good idea, IMO. With 8.5 boots and your specs, I think 149 is your best bet. But you could ride the 151 too. It’s definitely an option if you want to get more stability at speed and float in powder, but I would be leaning towards the 149, as I think it would be the best length/width combo for your specs.

146. Ben Sturtevant says

     January 6, 2020 at 1:04 pm

     Hello, I’m looking into a new board. I’m an all-mountain rider. Currently have an old K2 Ambush 159, which I like quite bit, but it’s about 18 years old now! I’ve slowed down a little at age 54 with creaky knees. I ride mostly in Maine where it can get icy with variable conditions, but we do get some good powder dumps a few times a year when we’re lucky. I’m looking at switching to Burton’s step in bindings to save my knees so the board would need to match up well with those type of bindings. I found good deals on a Burton Flying V 159 and a Rome Reverb Rocker 161 midwide, but I’m not sure if either board will be good for my style and work with the step ins.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 8, 2020 at 12:46 pm

       Hi Ben

       Thanks for your message.

       Burton Step Ons are designed to work on any snowboard, so no issues there. They’re not exclusive to Burton’s Channel System – they work for 2 x 4, 4 x 4 and the Channel.

       The Burton Custom Flying V (assuming that’s what you’re referring to – or is the Process Flying V?) is quite an easy going board, so I think in that sense it would suit what you’re describing for the most part. The only thing is that it’s not the best in hard/icy conditions and since you ride those a lot, that’s the biggest issue there.

       I don’t test Rome gear currently, but from what I know of the Reverb Rocker it is pretty good in hard/icy conditions. But it’s also a more aggressive board by the looks. Even though it has rocker in the name, it’s predominantly camber. Though in saying that, it looks to be not too stiff flexing – and if you’re board is 18 years old, I’m guessing it’s all camber, so you will be used to that. As for the size, being a mid-wide could be a bad thing, depending on your boot size. And can’t comment on the length without knowing your specs. If you could let me know your height, weight and boot size, I can give you my opinion on size, if you’re looking for a sizing opinion.

       Some other good options that are good in hard/icy conditions and are easy going to ride would be:

       – Rossignol One LF
       – YES Typo
       – Slash Brainstorm
       – Nitro Team Gullwing
       – Never Summer Snowtrooper

       With the One LF and Typo being the best in icy conditions of those options, IMO.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Ben Sturtevant says

         January 8, 2020 at 1:32 pm

         Hi Nate,

         Thanks for the info. To clarify, it is the Process Flying V I’m considering. I’m about 5-10, 185 lbs. Size 9 boot. The Burton step in system is interesting to me, although a little pricey, but it may be worth it on my knees. I had K2 Clickers on another board, but I didn’t like that system very well. The Burton system seems like it would be more comfortable with the heel support.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 8, 2020 at 1:56 pm

           Hi Ben

           Yeah Process Flying V very similar in terms of icy conditions as the Custom Flying V. That Flying V just doesn’t hold very well in ice, in my experience.

           I haven’t tested Burton Step On yet, but from everywhere I’ve heard they are the best “quick/easy entry” bindings around. I can’t say for sure myself, but that’s what I’ve heard.

           Reply

           • Ben Sturtevant says

             January 8, 2020 at 4:24 pm

             Great. Appreciate your help Nate. I’ll keep my eyes out for a Typo or the Rossi. Found a good Brainstorm but at 154 I think it’s too small.

           • Nate says

             January 9, 2020 at 12:28 pm

             Hi Ben

             Yeah I think 154 is a bit on the small side for you, for sure. Sorry, I was going to give some sizing opinions and forgot. I would say generally speaking for an all-mountain board, for your specs and given your riding style, I thin k something around 157-159 would be your best bet.

147. Andy says

     January 2, 2020 at 8:27 pm

     Hello-
     Thanks for all your work; I am in the market for a new board and have spent waaaay to much time on this site! I’m A 5’10” 150lbs Rad-Dad type who snowboards ~10-12 times per year and likes to carve groomers, search for powder in and around trees, hit some natural jumps and small park jumps, and basically never ride switch. I have been debating between the YES PYL, Jones flagship, Bryan Iguchi camber, and even the Deep Thinker. The Capita boards don’t seem to match up with me but maybe I’m missing one. Anything I’m missing? Do one of these stand out to you? Thanks again!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 3, 2020 at 12:22 pm

       Hi Andy

       Thanks for your message.

       Assuming you’re at a relatively advanced level, the likes of the PYL, Flagship etc would certainly work, given that you don’t ride switch. I’d say the biggest thing for these types of boards, is that they’re not ideal for small jumps in the park, but if that’s not a big part of your riding, then they’re certainly doable.

       In terms of Capita boards, the Black Snowboard of Death is the most similar to the likes of the PYL, Flagship etc – and I think that would work well for you.

       To me, because of the jumps, I think the PYL & Black Snowboard of Death are probably your best bets. The other board you could look at is the Yes Hybrid, which is a slightly softer, shorter, wider PYL in a lot of ways. Great for trees, powder, and nice for jumps too. Though depending on your boot size, there may not be an appropriate size for that one.

       Size-wise, I would be looking at around 155,156, assuming an advanced level and depending on boot size. If you could let me know that, I can give you a more accurate sizing recommendation (if you’re looking for one).

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Andy says

         January 3, 2020 at 3:29 pm

         Wow, thanks for the detailed response. I am a size 9 with boots so pretty narrow. I’m very interested in the PYL or similar but have a hard time buying a board I haven’t touched with my own hands… tough times make that mental plunge. Thanks again for your thoughts!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 7, 2020 at 12:54 pm

           Hi Andy

           Yeah totally get it. Hard to buy before you try, for sure.

           But yeah, with 9s, I would say the PYL in 156 is best. For the Flagship, I would be leaning towards 154 over the 158. Bryan Iguchi I’d say 156. Deep thinker probably 154. But of course in terms of sizing, past experiences and preferences should be considered too. Like if you’re used to riding considerably longer or shorter, then I would take that into account too.

           Reply

148. Julien says

     January 1, 2020 at 1:55 am

     Hi Nate,

     First things first : happy new year, I wish you a lot of happiness and a lot of powder days for 2020.

     I really like your website and your reviews are well written and instructive.

     I presently ride a 155 Burton Process FV paired with Burton Genesis as an all-moutain Fresstyle board. I like it a lot, it’s fun, easy to press and rotate, and can carve and go fast surprisingly good.
     However, I can see its limits when riding with my skier friends in hard/icy conditions (that are pretty frequent where I ride in France) so I’m looking for a better All-Moutain board with a better edge hold to keep up with them.

     My selection is…your top 3 : Yes standard, Capita Mercury or the Jones Mountain Twin. All paired with Union Force or Falcor bindings (depending on the offer I will have). I had the chance to ride the capita 159 just for one piste and the difference with my board was mindblowing. Felt like a train on rails. Even on icy conditions.

     Which board and which size would you recommend for a 175cm, 80kg rider, level 6 according to your chart, riding Adidas Tactical ADV size 10 ?
     The board should be able to put up with all type of snow (powder, icy) and type of snowboarding (carving, shredding, bad switch) and exceptionnally park for I will keep my Process in my quiver for jibbing and other shenanigans.

     Thanks in advance for your input and again happy new year !

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 3, 2020 at 10:54 am

       Happy new year Julien!

       Thanks for your message.

       Any of those 3 will certainly help for edge-hold in icy conditions vs the Process FV for sure – as you’ve already experienced with the Mercury. I would say that the Mountain Twin and Standard are even a step better in terms of edge-hold in icy conditions. But the Mercury is pretty good too, so they’re all good options. And for everything else you’re describing they’re all good options, so it’s tough to say which one for sure. There’s not a bad choice there.

       Size-wise, I would say something around 157, 158 is a good bet for your specs/how you describe you’re riding/ability. So for the Mercury, I would almost say the 157 is just that little bit better than the 159. The 159 is certainly doable – and if you wanted to stick with what you’ve tried and know, then 159 Mercury is certainly an option. The other advantage to going longer in that sense, is that it gives you a bigger difference size-wise for your quiver. However, I think the 157 would be right on for you and is certainly different enough to have in your quiver, even in that size.

       For the Standard, I would go 156. It’s a bit wider, so going a little shorter is a good idea, IMO.

       For the Mountain Twin, the 157 is your best bet, IMO. But again, if you really wanted something longer for a bigger contrast vs the Process Flying V 155, then you could go 160. But otherwise, the 157 would be the best size for you, IMO.

       I would be leaning towards the 157 Mercury for you, just because you’ve had a chance to try the Mercury and already know you like it. But the other 2 are perfectly good options too, and there’s some room for sizing. But yeah, I would be leaning towards the Mercury 157.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Julien says

         January 4, 2020 at 3:13 am

         Hi Nate,

         Thanks for your well argued reply and for the time it took you to make it.

         As I said I only tried the Capita for one piste and the settings were off (was set goofy although I’m regular) so I rode one half of the blue run in bad switch and the other half with weird angles.
         I wouldn’t say I “know” the Capita. All that I can say is that I felt the improvement in edge hold and carving compared with my board even with the bad settings.

         I’m looking closely to the Jones MT as you said it has a better edge hold and as it really matters to me but wouldn’t it be a little too grabby (I know it’s hard to tell since you cannot know my snowboarding skills) ? Has it the same stability at high speed as the Mercury and does the hyperdrive base give a speed advantage to the Mercury?
         I saw on your reviews that the mercury has a better score in carving than the MT. Is it really sensible for an intermediate/intermediate+ rider?

         I can get a good offer on each of these boards but it all boils down to this :
         – Jones MT 157 + Union Falcor / Now drive black (wich bindings would you recommend with my Adidas Tactical size 10?)
         – Mercury 159 + Union Force / Salomon Hologram (wich bindings would you recommend with my Adidas Tactical size 10?)

         Maybe should’ve started here but I really wanted to know your opinion on theses matters.

         Thanks again !

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 7, 2020 at 1:28 pm

           Hi Julien

           I definitely wouldn’t call the Mountain Twin grabby, so no issues there, IMO.

           The Mercury is something that I would call “solid intermediate” and up. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who was just entering intermediate territory, but someone with solid technique already and have been intermediate and progressing for a little while, if that makes sense.

           Very similar in terms of stability at speed, IMO. If I had to choose I’d say probably Mercury just a hair more stable, but there’s really very little in it, that I felt. I found both bases give a really good glide. Jones boards tend to be very good and the Jones is no exception. Probably not as much as something like on the Flagship, but in terms of speed from the base/glide on flats etc, the Flagship and some of the other Jones 9900 bases are the best in that area that I’ve ridden. The Mountain Twin is a step down there, but it’s as good as the Mercury, IMO. Both very good in that respect.

           I would go Falcor over NOW Drive personally and I would go Force over Hologram. But the Holograms are solid too, so both are good options there. The Drive also solid, but I’m just not the biggest fan of their board feel.

           I would be leaning 157 MT, mostly because I think it’s probably just a slightly better size for you.

           Reply

           • Julien says

             January 8, 2020 at 11:30 pm

             Hi Nate,

             Thanks for your input. I decided to follow your advice and bought a JMT 157 but with Atlas Union bindings. I know they were out of the equation at first but I thought they would suit me better than the Falcor. Hope I didn’t make a mistake.

             Now I just have to wait and test it out.

           • Nate says

             January 9, 2020 at 1:50 pm

             Hi Julien

             Union Atlas very good bindings, IMO and a good match to the MT, so a good choice there, IMO. If you think of it at the time, let me know how you get on, once you’ve had a chance to test

           • Julien says

             January 21, 2020 at 3:11 am

             Hi Nate,

             As requested, here are my firsts impressions about my JMT paired with the Atlas Union.
             I tried it out this WE for a few hours. The weather was pretty good and the snow was hard packed with some “wind affected” zones (read icy) and some crusted powder on the sides of the pistes.

             My first impression was “I can’t make that thing turn” and then “damn, it’s fast”. After 2 runs I started to get it right. Once on edge it doesn’t budge or wash of. I was able to lay nice carves even on icy terrain which was my main complaint about the Process FV. As you said, it’s not to grabby and I could skid some turns when I was out of my game.

             I did not go to the park but I did try some small rotations on side hits. I felt it was less playful than the process but surprisingly lighter too (I believe it was my mind tricking me because I can’t see how a 157 board with Atlas could be lighter than a 155 with Genesis EST).
             I didn’t find too much pop neither but it could be I am more confortable with the process ATM. However the JMT is confortable and gave me confidence on some heavy landings.

             On the week old powder (with some fresh cm sprinkled on top) it was pretty good. It goes where you want it. I can’t talk about floatability as the snow was pretty heavy.

             Just a word about the Atlas : I think I love them. They are super comfy with good adjustability and a nice match with my Adidas Tactical ADV (unlike my Genesis and their weird toe strap). On one or two pistes I think I heard a clicking sound but it was temporary. Will pay more attention to that next time.

             In conclusion, the JMT is more demanding than my Process FV but also more rewarding. It’s nice as they are not too much overlapping.
             I still need to use it more to handle it better but I feel it’s more of an All Mountain board than the process will ever be.

             I’m glad I followed your advices. Thank you again.

             Julien

           • Nate says

             January 21, 2020 at 3:59 pm

             Hi Julien

             Thanks for the update and detailed notes on your impressions of the MT & Atlas. Always great to hear. And your comments are pretty much what I would expect from transitioning from the Process Flying V to the MT.

149. Magnus says

     December 26, 2019 at 6:59 am

     Hi Nate!

     I really apreciate your reviews and advices and as it seems i’ve progressed faster than i thought and are developing a love of speed and carving. I’ve loved my Capita Outerspace Living this far and i’m guessing that some of my progress is down to riding the right board for me.

     Just back from a week of carving away at speed in Cervinias almost empty pistes i’m feeling however that i might need a board with a bit more edge hold and stability at speed. It’s hard to rate your own skills but i would say that i’m a 6 on your scale. I’ve read your top 10 lists and a lot of other reviews and are a bit interested in the Capita Mercury and Niche Story.

     As mentioned i feel i might need a board with better edge hold but i’m a bit concerned that it’s gonna be to “grabby”. Do you think the boards mentioned earlier is a good next step for me coming from the Outerspace Living? I’m still quite new to snowboarding having only started in february 18 and with perhaps 30-35 days riding so even though i prefer carving at speed and perhaps a bit of pow i want a board that is capable of doing a bit of everything.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 30, 2019 at 12:40 pm

       Hi Magnus

       Thanks for your message. Apologies for the slow response – a bit behind after vacation.

       I think both the Mercury and Story would be a good next step up from the OSL, particularly if you’re looking for more stability at speed. The Mercury is a step up in terms of edge hold but not as much as the Story, which is a very good board for hard/icy conditions. If you’re in icy conditions a lot then the Story is a good option, but if you’re worried about it being grabby and don’t get icy conditions that much, then going up to something like the Mercury would probably be the call I’d make.

       Hope this helps with you’re decision

       Reply

150. Julie says

     December 11, 2019 at 1:37 am

     An informative post..The review and line up of All mountain snowboards is awesome.Kudos to the team.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 11, 2019 at 9:05 am

       Thanks Julie. Appreciate it!

       Reply

       • JW says

         December 18, 2019 at 5:55 pm

         Hi Nate,
         First a big thanks for sharing your boarding knowledge on this site. Your passion for riding really comes through and you are helping tons of riders, so keep up the good work!

         I am in the market for a new all-mountain board. Currently I ride a Rossi One Magtek about 5 years old and it has served me well. But I’d like upgrade to a board with a Sintered base (my Rossi has slower Extruded base).

         My current Rossi is a 161cm mid-wide but I’ve added a few pounds over last 5 years so at 6’2/205 lbs. intermed./advanced rider, your length chart is suggesting a 164cm. I am foot size 11. Here are some questions for you:

         –are all of the companies making high-quality boards these days or are there big differences in quality. If so, a future article on best quality board-makers and best board features (like Magnetraction) would be helpful.
         –are companies still making mid-wides? I don’t see as many offerings and that makes it harder to find the right board for boarders like me with a bigger foot. For most all-mountain boards do you think the regular edition works best for size 11 or should I be using their wide versions?
         –I ride in the Northeast on groomers all day, places like Stratton, VT that are usually great conditions in the morning and get icy when it gets cold after lunchtime. I want to go faster with a Sintered base but should I be avoiding your aggressive all-mountain recs since I am not an expert rider, and sticking with all-mountain boards? [Usually once a season I’ll head out west and ride in some powder if we’re lucky but that is only once a season and I don’t venture ever in the backcountry].
         –Curious if you’ve ever gone riding with some Flow bindings or reviewed any of them. I’ve used their NX2 GT model (regular version not the Hybrid) for the past 10 years and they are awesome! I put my rear foot down into the binding, reach down push up the highback and in about 3 seconds I’m heading down the mountain. No messing with sitting down and ratcheting straps against the boots (that’s lost riding time!). Your beginners and older readers like me might benefit from learning about Flow’s highback bindings.

         I’d appreciate any thoughts on the above!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 19, 2019 at 12:29 pm

           Hi JW

           Thanks for your message.

           Firstly, as far as I know the Rossi One has always had a sintered base – at least looking back as far as the 2011 model. Are you sure it’s extruded on yours? How often do you wax it? That might be something to do with it being slow?

           However if you are looking for a faster base, I have found that Jones bases tend to glide a little better than most – so going with something like the Jones Frontier or Mountain Twin might be a good option for you.

           Quality: Just quickly – most of the brands that I cover have a similar level of quality. I think competition drives brands to need to be at a certain level or they fall out of the market. But I don’t cover budget brands, so I think if you go down to the budget brands then there’ll be a bigger gap in quality. Certainly each brand has a different feel to their boards – and there is a difference in quality between models within a company’s line of boards for sure. But a post on quality and board features sounds like a great idea. I will look into adding that as a future post.

           Mid-Wides: You can still find some mid-wides, but it’s a less common term now. Some “mid-wides” aren’t labelled as such. Some are just considered regular width and some are called wide but in reality are more like what you might see as a “mid-wide”. So, I would say that the term is disappearing to an extent, but there are still boards that are a little wider than regular but not as wide as wide – there’s a spectrum for sure. So, for 11s, it really depends on the board. Some boards will be wide enough in the regular widths – and for others it would be better to go wide.

           All-Mountain and Aggressive All-Mountain: I would say, based on what you’re describing that going all-mountain would be the way to go. You can still certainly ride them at speed (some better than others in that respect). If you were someone who rides aggressively – like fast in addition to getting some really deep carves in, then I would be leaning towards aggressive all-mountain. So, if you’re someone who likes to carve quite aggressively, then I would look at aggressive all-mountain, but if not, I would stick with all-mountain. You want to be quite strong/athletic for most aggressive all-mountain boards too, as they tend to be quite stiff.

           Flow Bindings: I rode some Flow bindings a while back – 2013 model I think. I liked the speed that you could get into them, but I felt there was a performance drop. But I didn’t ride one of the higher end models, so I’m not really sure how they ride – or how the more recent ones ride. It’s not a brand I have easy access too, which is the main reason I don’t test them currently, but if I can get hold of some this winter spring, I’ll definitely looking into testing them. I haven’t sat down to strap in for years – I find it easier to strap in standing up anyway. Still certainly not as fast as Flow (or something like Burton Step Ons) but faster/easier than strapping in sitting down.

           In terms of size for you, I think something around 164 is a good bet, as an advanced rider. But if you identify more as intermediate, then you could ride something a little under that – more like 161-162, if you wanted to stick around that size. Generally speaking something a little shorter will be easier to maneuver (and better for trees and more freestyle type things), but longer will give you more stability at speed and float in powder.

           If you went something like the Frontier, then I’d say go 165 – just because it has a shorter effective edge vs overall length than the average board, so you can go a little longer. And at that length, it’s basically a mid-wide and should be just right for 11s, IMO. If you went Mountain Twin, then I like the 161W for you. You could go 164W or even possibly get on the 162, but I would be leaning towards the 161W.

           If you have any other boards that you’ve narrowed down to, or want other suggestions, just let me know and I can give you my opinion on suitability.

           Hope this helps

           Reply

           • JW says

             December 20, 2019 at 8:11 pm

             Nate, you are a gentleman and a scholar! Thanks for the detailed replies, they will really help with my search. I will check back if I come up with any additional questions. All the best for a great riding season!

             p.s. I just watched Travis Rice’s movie, “The Fourth Phase” as I had not seen before…definitely fun to watch to get fired up for the season.

           • Nate says

             December 22, 2019 at 8:55 am

             You’re very welcome JW. Hope you have a great season too.

             I’ve seen bits of the Fourth Phase but not all of it yet – but yeah definitely TR always good for getting fired up for riding!

151. Isaac says

     December 10, 2019 at 9:13 pm

     Thanks so much for the amazing reviews! They’ve been very helpful in helping me choose a board. I’m 35, 6’2” and 175lbs with a size 11/11.5 boot. I’ll be getting my first board for Christmas this year. Every time I’ve snowboarded before its been on rental equipment. That said, according to you level calculator I’d say I’m about a Intermediate 6. I don’t ever really ride park but hit the occasional jump. My main interest is carving and hitting the powder when I can find it. So I think I want an all mountain board. I’d love a recommendation for a board. Should I be paying attention to my height as much as my weight as I’m choosing? I’ve more or less been looking at 162 for length, but that doesn’t always line up with the weight recommendations for specific boards. The boards I’ve been most interested in are: Yes. Standard, Capita Murcury, Capita, DOA Jones Frontier (although I sort of want a twin) and Yes. Libre. I’m concerned the Standard and Murcury would be too “advanced” of boards for me, but I don’t really know the difference and I’m learning a lot of the terms as I’ve been doing my research. Any direction would be very much appreciated!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 11, 2019 at 9:20 am

       Hi Isaac

       Thanks for your message.

       First, in terms of size. I like to take height into account, but weight and boot size are more important. I would say something around 159-161, taking into account your level, how you describe your riding and your specs.

       Given that you prefer carving, powder for the most part, then I would encourage going at least somewhat directional. If you think you want to get into more freestyle or are/want to ride switch a fair bit, then going more directional twin than directional is a good way to go. But I wouldn’t go true twin, based on what you’re describing. So, the DOA, in my opinion isn’t that suitable as it’s true twin and also not great in powder, IMO.

       So, if you don’t want to go as directional as the Frontier, then I think the Standard and Mercury are your best bets. At an Intermediate 6 level, neither of those boards would be an issue for you to ride.

       For the Standard I think the 159 would be your best size.

       For the Mercury, probably the 159 too. But if you end up in 11.5 boots, it might be pushing it being too narrow for your boots. Even in an 11 it’s on the narrower side. The 161 would be fine for 11s, but pushing it for 11.5s. Depending on the boots you get (some boots are more low profile than others), binding angles, how aggressively you carve (like how high up on the edges you get) will factor in to whether it’s wide enough for you. And of course, which size you end up in.

       The Standard won’t have any issues width-wise.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Isaac says

         December 11, 2019 at 11:15 am

         Nate, thanks so much for the reply! This helps a lot. I’ve been hemming and hawing over weather the stiffness of the Standard or Mercury would be too much. The Standard is the board I’m finding myself most interested in. Do you suggest the 159 because it’s a wider board overall? I read somewhere that the length should be somewhere between your chin and nose and my chin is right at 164. It’s hard to know what to go off of because there is so much contrary information out there. Also are there bindings you’d recommend to match with either of these board? I’ve been looking as some of the ones on your top 5 list, but also wondering if there are some cheaper options that could work. Thanks!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 11, 2019 at 12:17 pm

           Hi Isaac

           The length between your nose and chin thing is pretty old school. Definitely how length used to be determined, but weight has become a more important factor. Boards around that 164 length are going to typically be too long for your weight. You could ride up to 162, depending on the board, but that would be at a more advanced level. Given your level, that’s why I adjusted the range down just a bit. For the Standard, it is a wider board and even though your on 11s or 11.5s, it will still be on the slightly wider side – so going up to the 162 is going to be quite big in terms of the combination of length and width, so I think the 159 would work best for you.

           At that length/width, for your specs, and at an intermediate 6 level, I don’t think you would find it too stiff. It might take some adjustment to begin with, but otherwise I think you’d be fine. The Mercury is a touch stiffer, but still not super-stiff, so I think you’d be OK there too, particularly in the 159, remembering to think about potential width issues on that one.

           In terms of bindings, some good options to go with the Standard or similar board, but a little cheaper are:

           – Union Force
           – Burton Mission

           Or if you wanted to go even less than that, the Union STR is a pretty solid binding for the price. Also, see if you can find something that’s past season (like a 2019 model) and you should be able to get it a good bit cheaper than the latest model.

           Reply

           • Isaac says

             December 11, 2019 at 1:30 pm

             Thank you so much, this is great! For the bindings do I need to about certain types when making the choice? I read something about mini discs not being a good match for the Standard. Are there other things I should look out for?

           • Nate says

             December 12, 2019 at 3:56 pm

             Hi Isaac

             Yeah a mini-disc is fine on the Standard, until you go use the Slam Back inserts. They won’t go on them. So, if you were planning on using the slam back inserts, like for powder days, then I would skip the mini-disc. Otherwise, the only other thing is just make sure you don’t get Burton “EST” bindings – as they only mount to the channel. But Burton “Re:Flex” are fine.

152. Carl Stanley says

     November 29, 2019 at 6:39 am

     Hi Nate. Awesome post – so helpful when trying to figure out what you want, when you can’t get demo’s of boards. I love how helpful you are in your comments too – amazing and super helpful.
     My question was whether you had tested the new Yes Globe NSB in this group and if so, how it compared. I have been deliberating massively over the Yes NSB and Yes Standard, as well as the Jones MT and Capita Mecury (probably in that order). I am 6.0ft, 190lbs with 10.5 US boots and an Intermediate 6 pushing 7. Mainly piste rider, but will ride the pow option if its there, and I enjoy a bit of freestyle and park (but needs work!). I’m generally a charger on piste, but after a full day, the legs don’t want something that will punish me for being a bit lazy. I currently have a 2011 (i think) Lib Tech TRS C2 Power Banana (161.5cm), and it is a great board, but its so grabby/catchy in chop. Brilliant edge but too punishing.
     Would love to hear if you have tried the Yes Globe NSB, and what you would recommend? You seem like the man to know! Thanks hugely

     Reply

     • Carl Stanley says

       November 29, 2019 at 6:41 am

       Oh, and i would be using Malavita Bindings (prob from about 2011 too)

       Reply

       • Nate says

         November 29, 2019 at 3:13 pm

         I would say the Standard would be a better match to the Malavita vs the Globe NSB, but like I said in my other response, I haven’t ridden the Globe, so I couldn’t say for sure

         Reply

     • Nate says

       November 29, 2019 at 3:11 pm

       Hi Carl

       Thanks for your message.

       The Globe NSB is one of the only YES boards I haven’t ridden (I tried to get on one last winter, but my rep didn’t have any).

       Based on specs, I would probably put it in the all-mountain-freestyle category, mostly because it’s a true twin with a centered stance. It does have those slam back inserts, like the Standard, which is great for powder days (assuming you’re inclined to re mount your bindings for powder days – well worth it, IMO!). But the Standard also has the Directional Volume Twin shape, which is why it’s in this category, though very close to being all-mountain freestyle too.

       The Globe NSB sounds like it’s essentially a YES Basic but with a sintered based, and a different core – and significantly stiffer. Yes rate it 9/10 for stiffness – though it’s unlikely to be that stiff. Most YES boards don’t feel as stiff as their ratings. I couldn’t say for sure, but I would say that it would still be stiffer than the Standard (which is rated 7/10, but feels more like 6/10). For reference the Basic is rated 5/10 but feels more like 4/10 and the Typo is rated 6/10, but feels more like 4.5/10 – to me. The Globe NSB at a guess, based on what I’ve read and the specs will be more like 7/10 I would say.

       So, I think it comes down to whether you want that directional volume twin to give you a little more in terms of powder, and whether you’d prefer a more medium (6/10) flex or a more medium-stiff flex. But like I say I haven’t ridden it, so I couldn’t say for sure what the Globe is like, in reality.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

153. Osman says

     November 29, 2019 at 2:31 am

     Hi Nate,

     first of all, thanks for the really helpful lists! But i have preferd two boards ´:

     – Capita Mercury
     – Capita Super DOA

     I’m 1.72m, about 89 kg and I have size EU 43 feet. I love carving, speed runs, powder and also jumps ;).
     Can you do a recommendation which of these two boards would be a good choice? I’m all ears if you have a better suggestion 🙂

     Thanks in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 29, 2019 at 2:56 pm

       Hi Osman

       Thanks for your message.

       I think I would be leaning towards the Mercury for you, mostly because it’s more of an all rounder. The Mercury is better in powder than the SuperDOA but equal to it for speed, carving and jumps, IMO. Since you ride powder, I would go Mercury.

       Size-wise for the Mercury, I think the 159 would be the best size for you. If you’re used to riding shorter or longer than that, then you could consider the 157 & 161, but based on specs and how you describe your riding, I think the 159 would be the best fit.

       From what you’re describing, I think the Mercury is a very good choice. Other’s on this list would do the job too, for sure, but the Mercury is a solid option for you, IMO.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Osman says

         December 1, 2019 at 11:20 pm

         Thanks for your advice Nate.

         Reply

         • Osman says

           December 1, 2019 at 11:30 pm

           Hi Nate, sorry but I wrote down the wrong body size. My size ist 176-178 cm. Which size would you prefer?

           Thank you.

           Reply

           • Nate says

             December 2, 2019 at 3:12 pm

             Hi Osman

             Based on the new info, I think the 161 is probably a better length for you, but it’s just whether it’s getting on the wide side for your boots to be ideal. That would be my only concern with the 161 for you. If you think you’ll be OK width-wise, then the 161, assuming an advanced level, might be better.

             That said, the 159 would still work, if you wanted a more maneuverable option. Would sacrifice a little in terms of speed, carving and float though.

         • Nate says

           December 2, 2019 at 3:09 pm

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

           Reply

           • Osman says

             December 3, 2019 at 7:12 am

             Hi Nate one last question you say the boots can be maybe a problem is this right. How can i check this? I will also buy new boots.
             I think i buy the 161 version of the board.

           • Nate says

             December 3, 2019 at 4:12 pm

             Hi Osman

             Yeah, I just mean boots in terms of width of the board. And what I really mean is foot-size. If the board is too wide for your feet, it can feel slower edge-to-edge or make it feel like you have to make too much effort to turn the board.

             The Mercury 161 is roughly 268mm at the inserts. With US10 boots, I typically don’t like anything too much wider than 265mm at the inserts. With UK8.5 (US9.5 equivalent) it might be the case that you find it too wide, but it’s hard to say. Some people don’t mind wider boards so much.

           • Osman says

             December 4, 2019 at 4:30 am

             Hello Nate,

             the Capita Mercury is everywhere sold out or very expensive. Can you prefer a other board which is also a hybrid camber, maybe not the newest one.

             Thank you.

           • Nate says

             December 4, 2019 at 2:59 pm

             Hi Osman

             If you can find a suitable size of the following in a past season’s model, they are also hybrid camber all-mountain boards from this list, which would be most similar to the Mercury:

             – Rossignol One
             – Jones Mountain Twin
             – YES Standard

             The Typo and Brainstorm are also hybrid camber, but are more playful vs the 3 above. Since you were looking at the Mercury, I think the 3 above would be the best alternatives.

           • Osman says

             December 10, 2019 at 4:50 am

             Hey Nate,

             can you say something about the academy team hybrid board?

             Thank you

           • Nate says

             December 10, 2019 at 4:38 pm

             Hi Osman

             I don’t test Academy boards, so I don’t really know anything about the Acadamy Team. Looks like a centered directional twin, mostly camber, but a little rocker tip and tail. But yeah, not sure how it rides.

       • Chad says

         January 12, 2020 at 8:46 am

         Hi Nate, I’m kinda caught in a quandary. I’m an older rider (55) and learned to ride 5 years ago. I consider myself intermediate but still struggle achieving that fine pencil line carve. My goal is to achieve this and I’m looking for a board to help my progression in this area. I mostly like to ride fast but living in Minnesota we are vertically challenged with plenty of hard snow conditions, rarely pow anymore.

         I’m 6”2 210, 12 boots with shrunk tech to 11 (Burton Photons). I’ve had a lot of boards in the last five years and I can’t keep trying to find that perfect one, too costly. Right now I have a Jones UME 58 & Aviator 60W. Both great boards but really for big mountain riding, not Midwest.

         I’m looking at Burton Custom 158W. Narrower side cut. Do you think this would help me achieve my goal? My concern with the custom is that it’s full camber and it can punish you if your not on or skidding turns. At my age I have no desire to be constantly thrown to the ground or injured trying to learn techniques. Maybe there is a better board? Also considering ROME National 157W. BTW, I like shorter boards. Longest board I owned was 162, hated it. 155-158 is my sweet spot. Sorry for throwing so much out there. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 13, 2020 at 12:02 pm

           Hi Chad

           Thanks for your message – and for throwing so much in there – the more info the easier it is to find the best option.

           Given that you mostly like to ride fast and carve, I think you will want a good bit of camber, but I think some rocker in the profile, just to take away that need to be always “on” and lessen the chances of catching an edge, is probably a good idea. Also since you’re not on big vertical drops, probably don’t want to go too stiff. That said, given your preferred range of length, going smaller like that helps to make a board more maneuverable and feel softer than it otherwise would, so I would also be weary of going too soft, given that you want to carve and ride fast.

           The Custom is a good option – all but the potential catchiness you might feel from it, like you say.

           The Burton Skeleton Key might be a good alternative. The biggest thing would be if the 158 is too narrow for your boots.

           Some other options include:

           – Endeavor Clout
           – Salomon Super 8
           – Capita Supernova

           All relative aggressive rides, good for carving and speed, but with a little bit of forgiveness.

           I don’t currently test Rome gear, so can’t say much about the National.

           And certainly something from this list could work well too. A little less aggressive in terms of carving vs the likes of the Custom, and others mentioned here. But still some good carvers among them. The likes of the Story and Mercury, in particular, but also the Standard, Mountain Twin, One LF would be good options too (given an appropriate size). The Jones Frontier is also an option.

           The UME is a rather stiff, aggressive ride, from my experience. And the Aviator a little more easy going, but still quite camber dominant. So, potentially if the Aviator isn’t to your liking on the mountains you ride, then I think potentially something from this list (Mercury, Story, Standard, MT, One) might be more to your liking on the smaller mountains.

           Hope this helps with your decision

           Reply

154. Daan says

     November 21, 2019 at 3:59 pm

     Hi Nate,

     Thank you for this great review. I’m looking for a all mountain freestyle board. I’m 5’10” and 190lbs. I ride switch, 180’s is no prblem. Some jibbing, cruising and powder. I have a Yes pick your line 161 and a Bataleon Global Warmer 154 which i will sell (don’t like it. Base is slow, cruises quite boring, the pop is a bit nuclear and i can’t get used to the 3bt). I did ride the Salomon Assassin 156 2020 and really liked it. Also had a Nidecker legacy 155 2013 which i loved (with the flexible nose and tail). Now I’m hesitating Salomon Assassin 159 or Yes Standard 158….. what would you recommend?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 22, 2019 at 3:22 pm

       Hi Daan

       Thanks for your message.

       Both those are certainly great options for what you’re describing, but I would even look at the YES Greats vs the Standard – just because it’s more freestyle focused and just that little bit more different to the PYL. Standard is still quite different, but the YES just that bit more different, for a more complimentary addition to your quiver.

       I would actually consider the 156 if you were to go Assassin. Partly because you have ridden it and know you like it as well as being a bigger difference to your 161 PYL. If you were to go Standard or Greats, I’d go 156 as well, for the same reason.

       Also check out:

       >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

155. Solomon says

     November 19, 2019 at 10:29 pm

     Hi Nate.
     So I’ve ridden nothing but burton since I started snowboarding. I just picked up the burton step on’s, and I was looking at getting a new board. I was looking at the burton custom camber or the burton paramount. I’m hesitant to branch out away from burton because it’s all I know. There are a lot of boards out there it can be a little overwhelming and they are not cheap. So I really don’t want to pick the “wrong” one. I love on the east coast of the US so it’s resort riding and pretty often a lot of ice. I like hitting jumps and racing my friends down the hill and spending a little time in the park. I hope to make it back out west but those trips are going to be few and far between. HELP!! This decision has been keeping me up at night.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 20, 2019 at 1:12 pm

       Hi Salomon

       Thanks for your message.

       Neither are great in powder, but if you’re not going to be seeing much of it, then that’s probably not a big things for you. The Custom Camber is just that little bit better for powder, but still not great. But doable for riding in powder, if you’re just going to be in it rarely, or if it’s not that deep.

       I am a big fan of the Paramount and prefer it for jumps, spins, riding and taking off/landing switch. But for everything else, but for everything else about the same with the Custom – maybe the Custom that little better at speed though. So Custom a little better in powder and at speed. The Paramount a little better for riding switch, jumps and spins. All else fairly equal. I would say that the Custom Camber is the slightly more versatile board vs the Paramount, which is more freestyle oriented.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

156. Frederik says

     November 13, 2019 at 12:14 pm

     Hi Nate,

     first of all, thanks for the really helpful lists! I used it to narrow my board search down to 4:

     – Jones Mountain Twin
     – K2 Manifest
     – Nitro Team camber
     – Salomon Ultimate Ride

     I’m 1.80m, about 75 kg and I have size EU 45 / US 10.5 feet. I ride mostly casual (on groomers) but I do love some speed runs. Can you do a recommendation which of these boards would be a good choice? I’m all ears if you have a better suggestion 🙂

     Thanks in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 14, 2019 at 12:02 pm

       Hi Frederik

       Thanks for your message.

       I would be leaning towards the Mountain Twin from that list. Mostly because you mention that you mostly like to ride casually on groomers, but with speed sometimes. The Mountain will be the best from that list, IMO, for riding casual on groomers, but can also handle some speed. The other 3 are more aggressive. In order from least to most aggressive I would have it in the order you have them, so I think the Mountain Twin would be best.

       There are a number of boards from this list that would also fit your description well (better than the Manifest, Team Camber and Ultimate Ride in terms of casual runs), like the Standard, Team Gullwing, One LF & Brainstorm.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Frederik says

         November 14, 2019 at 9:02 pm

         Thanks for your reply and advice Nate. I’ll look into those other boards aswell. I currently have Burton Custom bindings (6yrs old), would you recommend replacing those with these type of boards?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 15, 2019 at 1:10 pm

           Hi Frederik

           Yeah, I would go for stiffer bindings than the Custom on these boards. I find sometimes that softer bindings don’t have enough power to drive a stiffer board. The Custom I would give a flex feel of around a 3/10. Those boards are more like 6/10 for flex. I would go for something at least 5/10 flex-wise, and up to 7/10. You can check out some of these, if you do decide to upgrade your bindings:

           >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

           Reply

           • Frederik says

             November 15, 2019 at 10:03 pm

             Guess I’ll need to upgrade my budget aswell then 😉 Thanks for your advice!

           • Nate says

             November 16, 2019 at 10:40 am

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

157. george says

     November 6, 2019 at 7:52 am

     Hey Nate, wondering if you’ve ridden the Salomon Ultimate Ride and how you would compare it to these boards/which of these is most similar? Also curious what you think of the board in general. Thanks!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 6, 2019 at 2:47 pm

       Hi George

       Thanks for your message.

       I got on the Ultimate Ride (2020 model) last winter for the first time – and I loved it. It’s not something that I put in this category though. You can see it in the following list:

       >>Top 5 Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       I haven’t completed my full review for it yet, but it will come out some time before the end of the year.

       Compared to the boards on this list, it’s more aggressive and stiffer than most here (7/10 flex). But yeah more aggressive camber-wise. And it’s a true twin and just all round more freestyle oriented. But also great for carving and riding fast – just not very good in powder vs the boards on this list.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • george says

         November 7, 2019 at 10:48 am

         Thanks for the reply! Couple more questions I hope you can clarify for me! I’m 5’11” 165lb and size 10.5-11 boots.

         How much of a difference would I notice between a 155 and 158 board?

         How would you compare the Capita Mercury and the Ultimate Ride?

         I ride pretty aggressively and do a fair amount of glades, but not too much powder or park riding. I’m kinda stuck between these two boards!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 8, 2019 at 12:33 pm

           Hi George

           Between the Mercury and the Ultimate Ride, the Ultimate is a more aggressive ride. You can get relatively aggressive on the Mercury too, but overall the Ultimate Ride is more of a hard charger. The Mercury certainly better for powder. The Mercury is more directional – it’s not hugely directional but it has a nose that’s a little longer than tail, a 1/2″ setback stance and a directional side cut. The Ultimate Ride is a directional twin (sorry I said true twin in my last reply. But it’s mostly twin – just a slightly longer nose than tail. But it’s centered on effective edge. The camber on Ultimate Ride is more pronounced than it is on the Mercury – and the camber sections extend closer to the contact points. There’s just a very slight rocker before the contact points. The Mercury has longer rocker sections, and the camber is a little less pronounced.

           I’d say the Mercury is more of an all-rounder in terms of tackling powder, and something that can be ridden slower and less aggressively when you want to. But for out and out charging with heaps of pop, the Ultimate Ride has it, IMO.

           Between 155 and 158 you would definitely notice that difference, all else being equal IMO. I usually notice a difference even of 2cm. Between boards, depending on the two boards you’re comparing, that 2-3cm could either mean a bigger difference or less of a difference. But yeah, if you’re comparing 155 Ultimate Ride vs 158 Ultimate Ride, for example then yes, definitely noticeable difference.

           For your specs, I would recommend 155 for the Ultimate Ride and 157 for the Mercury. The Ultimate Ride will feel longer than it’s total length vs the Mercury because it has more effective edge.

           In terms of width, if you’re on 10.5s, you’ll probably be fine width-wise for both. The Mercury 157 is roughly 264mm at the inserts and the Ultimate Ride 155 is roughly 262mm at the inserts. Those widths would be pushing it with 11s though, especially as you like to ride aggressively. Though if you’re used to regular width boards in 11s and haven’t had any issues, then personal experience is also something to consider.

           Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

           Reply

           • george says

             November 12, 2019 at 6:36 pm

             Thanks for the awesome reply! I think I’ll end up going for the Mercury.

           • Nate says

             November 13, 2019 at 12:01 pm

             You’re very welcome George. Hope you have an awesome season and enjoy your new deck!

158. Michael says

     November 6, 2019 at 3:34 am

     Hi Nate
     can you help me choose 1-3 boards because there are too many options and i really dont know what to pick.
     i am 183cm high
     i have 82kg
     and foot 43-44 9-10 US
     I will say that i spent 75% time on resort, 15% on some jumps but mainly in the
     Backcountry/outside the resort(forest). and 10% in snowparks.
     And maybe which you will pick if you were me, and do you think that M-size binding will work for 10 us?

     thanks in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 6, 2019 at 2:40 pm

       Hi Michael

       For starters, you’re looking in the right place, IMO. Based on what you’re describing, I think an all-mountain board is the way to go, assuming you just want a one board quiver.

       Can you just let me know a couple of other things about your riding.

       When on the resort, do you consider yourself an aggressive rider or more casual or in between. By aggressive I mean, do you like to ride super fast, really get deep and low on your carves etc.

       Do you typically see a lot hard/icy conditions? Do you see much powder? Basically an idea of type of terrain you typically ride in.

       These will help to narrow it down

       Reply

       • Michael says

         November 7, 2019 at 11:59 am

         thanks for reply Nate!

         I can say that i am between agressive and casual rider.
         I think that moguls and bumps are the bigest issue, but icy conditions happened too and previous rented board was loosing the traction very often.but mostly i ride on the well prepared resorts.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 8, 2019 at 12:44 pm

           Hi Michael

           I would look at the following:

           – Rossignol One LF (really good in icy conditions, good in uneven terrain and is a good balance of not being too aggressive and not too playful)
           – Nitro Team Gullwing (not quite as good in icy conditions as One LF, but still good, but a little better in uneven terrain – again a good balance of not being too playful or too aggressive)
           – Jones Mountain Twin (about the same as Team Gullwing in icy conditions, about One LF in uneven terrain, and in between aggressive and playful)
           – YES Standard (as good as One LF in icy conditions and uneven terrain – and also a good balance between aggressive and playful)

           Size-wise, I would look at something around 158-160 – and regular width.

           In terms of getting into an M binding – it will depend on the brand of bindings and your brand of boots (but mostly binding brand). Check out the following for bindings sizings of most binding brands:

           >>Snowboard Binding Sizing

           Hope this helps with your decision

           Reply

           • Michael says

             November 8, 2019 at 11:22 pm

             Thanks for your time and help Nate!
             Du you think that Union Force M will work with Jones Mountain twin?
             and i have a question, can you compere this 4 that you chose for me with Capita Outerspace Living and LIbtech Terrain Wrecker because there is discount in my country for this 2 boards.

           • Nate says

             November 9, 2019 at 1:43 pm

             Hi Michael

             Yeah the Union Force is a good match for the Mountain Twin – or any of these options, IMO. And the Medium Size is good for your boots and the boards in your size range.

             The Capita OSL is a more freestyle oriented board – centered and true twin. It does have a slightly longer nose and tail vs most all-mountain-freestyle boards, but overall still more freestyle focused. Not as good in hard/icy conditions as the others either, IMO. Not far off, but not quite there. You can read more in my Capita Outerspace Living Review

             I haven’t ridden the Terrain Wrecker, but it’s something that I’ve looked into a lot, and been asked about a lot. I would say that it’s in the all-mountain category. It’s a centered stance, but it’s got a directional twin shape. It’s probably about the same flex as the boards here and is likely good in hard/icy conditions as most Lib Tech boards are. I can’t say much more about it having not ridden it, but I suspect it’s something that would also work for you.

159. Ivan says

     October 29, 2019 at 2:10 am

     Good Day Nate,

     especially helpful post and one of the best review sites I’ve been following out there! I’m looking for an all mountain board and have shortlisted the Capita Mercury vs the Yes Standard. I have the option of the 157 Capita Mecury and the 156 Yes Standard.

     My height is 174cm and my weight is about 68-73kg. My boot size is about US8.5. So can be a US8-US9.

     All things equal, would you suggest I get the 157 Mercury or the 156 Standard and if I decide to go with the 156 standard would I be struggling due to the width being too wide for my weight and boot size?

     Thanks and Sincerely,
     Ivan

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 29, 2019 at 11:43 am

       Hi Ivan

       Thanks for your message.

       Length-wise, I think around that 155, 156 would work for you. But as you suggest, the width is the biggest concern there. I think ideally, for your specs, the 153 Standard would work better than the 156 (but it sounds like you don’t have availability on the 156). The 153 would still be on the wider side for your boots, but the slight sizing down would balance that out, so I think the 153 would work well, but the 156 might feel a bit big for you, I suspect.

       The Mercury 157, despite looking similar in terms of width, based on waist width, is a little narrower. It’s roughly 263mm at the inserts compared to the Standard 156 which is 270mm at the inserts, so quite a big difference there. Though, the Mercury 157 is still overall on the wide side for 8.5s, IMO, so sizing down to the 155 for that board, would be the size I would recommend for you. But again, it doesn’t sound like you have that option.

       So, yeah in short, if you had the option then the 153 Standard and 155 Mercury would be the better sizes, IMO. But if you have to choose between the 156 Standard and 157 Mercury, then I would go 157 Mercury for your specs.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Ivan says

         October 29, 2019 at 12:23 pm

         Hey Nate,

         thank you so much for the quick response. I realized i might have gotten my boot sizing wrong. I’m actually a US9-US9.5. Sorry for the confusion. Having said that, would that make a big difference? Between the 156 Standard and the 157 Mercury would you still pick the 157 Mercury? Also in this case, for a US9-US9.5, would the 155 Mercury still be a better pick than the 157?

         After reading your reviews I have a slight preference for the Standard actually as I see that you rated the Standard better for butters and switch and i like it being a twin but also having a slam back option. However if the 156 Standard is too big for my boot size, I would rather pick the Mercury as I dont wanna sacrifice too much on response (afterall it is a close second in your list!)

         Reply

         • Nate says

           October 30, 2019 at 11:51 am

           Hi Ivan

           Ultimately it comes down to foot size, more so than boot size. As it’s the feet that ultimately apply pressure to the edges. If you have a foot size of 27.5cm (which would be the mondo for a US9.5), then I think you’d probably be OK width-wise for the Standard. It would still be on the wide-side though. I have US10 boots, and that’s what I fit in best, but I have 27.5cm feet, but I’ve never been able to get into a 9.5. For me I like the 156, but also I’m 185lbs (84kg) (or at least I was the last time I demoed it) and 6’0″ (183cm). So for me, going 156 was sizing down more so than it would be for you. It’s a board that I would consider wide for me in the 156, but going down to the 156, when I would usually ride 159-160 for an all-mountain board, makes up for that little bit of extra width. For your specs, I would say more like 156-157 at a good width, so going 156 isn’t really sizing down at all. So, I’m still, even assuming 27.5cm feet, I’m concerned you would still find it on the big side.

           For the Mercury, I would still say that the 155 is a better size for you. But the 157 becomes a more appealing prospect with slightly bigger boots (or ultimately slightly longer feet)

           Hope this helps/makes sense

           Reply

160. Nikita says

     October 16, 2019 at 3:52 pm

     Nate, greeting from Belarus and thanks for your post. It’s the best that I found on the internet.
     I would like to have your advice.
     I do snowboarding for ~9 years. I have k2 lifelike. I want to buy a new snowboard this season.
     I ride switch all the time. I’m a fan of jumps (ollie, nollie, 180, 360). So, between soft and stiff, I vote Soft. 🙂 And 30% of the time I do freeride in deep snow OR a forest. No park at all.
     Your opinion? What snowboard can do freeride but stay soft for jumps and be comfortable for switch riding?
     I change snowboard once in 5+ years. So, it can be overpriced 🙂

     Reply

     • Nikita says

       October 16, 2019 at 3:54 pm

       P.s. 175 sm, 67-70 kg

       Reply

       • Nate says

         October 17, 2019 at 1:54 pm

         Hi Nikita

         Thanks for your message.

         I think it’s a case of finding a balance between switch/180s and riding in deep snow. For deep snow ideally you want something directional, even tapered and setback a lot – but that’s the opposite of what’s ideal for riding/taking off/landing switch. So, I think you’re in the right place – something with a bit of a setback/direction to it, but that’s still decent for riding/landing switch. Size-wise, there’s also a bit of compromise to be made. For deep snow, going bigger is a good idea, but for riding in the forest, going shorter is better – and for riding freestyle stuff, I usually like to go shorter too.

         I think something like the YES Standard could be a really good option – since it naturally has a centered stance, it’s going to be good for riding switch and all your freestyle stuff – but it has just a bit more in the nose to help it in powder. And it has “slam back” insert options, which you could move your bindings to on deeper days. Size-wise would depend on your boot size. If you can let me know that I can give you a size recommendation for that board.

         The YES Typo could also fit the bill if you want to go a little softer. Not quite as good for powder, but still good. And it’s softer flexing, so everything else you’re describing works well with it. And whilst it doesn’t have those slam back inserts, you can still choose to set it back on those powder days. I think the 155 (depending on boot size) would be a really good size for you for this board. It’s also a little quicker edge-to-edge vs the Standard, so that would help in the trees.

         The Slash Brainstorm (154 – but again depending on boot size) would also be a really good choice.

         Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

         Reply

         • Nikita says

           October 18, 2019 at 12:17 pm

           Thank you for your detailed answer. Your advice is very helpful. The size is US 7 / FR 40

           Reply

           • Nate says

             October 19, 2019 at 9:13 am

             Hi Nikita

             Thanks for the extra info.

             Size-wise, I would put you on around a 154-155, assuming you’re quite an advanced rider – as an all-mountain size. But since most boards around that size are likely not ideal in terms of width (being a bit too wide) for your boots. It might be a good idea to size down from there a little bit. Going a little shorter when a board is a bit wide for your boots, helps with maneuverability (a wide board can feel sluggish edge-to-edge). Sizing down will be good for when you’re in the trees and for your more freestyle stuff – it will impact negatively on your stability at speed and float in powder though, so there is some compromise there. But given all the facts, I think sizing down a little is a good idea.

             For the Standard, I think you’d want to size down to around 151, to make the width manageable for your boot size. The 151 is still going to be on the wider side for your feet, but sizing down should counteract the slower edge to edge effects of being wider.

             The YES Typo I would size down to the 152. The width is going to be a little narrower (at the inserts) than the Standard 151, but it’s just that little bit longer too. I think this would be a good size for you. Going with a Typo is going to be a setup that mostly favors riding switch and your freestyle stuff and not as good as the other two options for powder, but will be OK in powder. It is really fast edge-to-edge for playing in the forest.

             The Brainstorm on the other hand isn’t going to be as suited for riding switch/freestyle as the Typo but will give you a good bit more in powder. Still really quick edge to edge and you can certainly do all those freestyle things on it, and can definitely ride switch. I would go 151 for this board. This will be the narrowest of all 3, in the 151.

             Another option that just came into my head is the Capita Outerspace Living. It’s an all-mountain-freestyle board, but it’s something that’s a little better in powder vs a lot of all-mountain-freestyle boards. A good option if you like to ride switch even when in powder. And definitely suitable for your freestyle stuff. It’s a narrower board too, when you get into some of the smaller sizes. So I think the 152 would be a good size and would give you a width that should work well with size US7 boots.

             Hope that’s all clear and hope it helps with your decision

           • Nikita says

             October 20, 2019 at 3:12 am

             Awesome, Nate! I appreciate your help! Cheers!

           • Nate says

             October 21, 2019 at 12:04 pm

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

161. sticky says

     September 23, 2019 at 5:14 pm

     I love your reviews, they’re very measured and I find them unbiased. I rode the Jones Mountain Twin 157 and Yes Standard 156 last year at Whistler and got some decent varied conditions including some fresh pow.

     I liked both boards very much, they’re both extremely capable and playful yet stable, and confidence-inspiring. I found the main difference between those two boards was the Standard is a bit wide, noticeable enough that it was fatiguing by the end of the day. It just wasn’t as quick edge to edge as I’m used to, and certainly not as quick edge to edge as the Mountain Twin.

     The other noticeable difference was the base on the Standard is slow! Both had fresh coats of wax, the shop waxed them in front of me both days. I generally don’t have trouble keeping up with anyone, but when riding with my friends they would leave me in the dust if we really stepped on the gas. I had no such problems with the Mountain Twin.

     The Standard did have a bit more bite on icy snow. Overall they’re both great and I had a lot of fun but I’d choose the Mountain Twin over the Standard due to the slower turning and slow base.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 24, 2019 at 11:32 am

       Hi Sticky

       Thanks for your input, much appreciated. Great to hear others insights. I have found with Jones bases that they tend to be faster (and certainly glide more on flats) than most boards, so I’m not too surprised you noticed a difference there.

       Reply

162. HarryB says

     September 17, 2019 at 11:22 pm

     Hi Nate.

     Some awesome reviews. But I’m after some guidance.

     I’ve been Snowboarding for about 8 years. I now got on a yearly trip To Japan for a few weeks to ride powder and some Groomers, doing the odd little jump but nothing serious.

     I am 60 KG and about 157CM. What kind of length board would you recommend?

     I currently ride a 153CM board. But I find I have to heavily lean back in powder. Also any specific board recommendation would be great.

     Thanks 😁

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 18, 2019 at 2:08 pm

       Hi Harry

       Thanks for your message.

       Generally speaking, for your specs, I would say more around 147cm – maybe adding 2-3 cms if you’re riding a lot of powder. So I’m surprised that you have to lean back so much on a 153. That said, if you’re riding something that’s not suited to powder (e.g. if it has no setback, isn’t directional, has no rocker in the nose, no taper etc), then even in that length you will have to work hard to stay afloat.

       What board are you on at the moment? Can you also let me know your boot size, and also if you would be happy to go with a women’s boards or would rather stick to men’s. I can think of some options, but if you can let me know those 3 things, I can give you what I think are the best options for you.

       Reply

163. Jason D says

     September 12, 2019 at 12:34 pm

     Awesome job Nate! Love seeing the updated 2020 snowboards, can’t wait for the snow to fly! Cheers Jason!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 12, 2019 at 4:23 pm

       Thanks Jason! I’m definitely itching for the snow too!

       Reply

164. Charlie says

     September 6, 2019 at 1:21 pm

     Hey Nate,

     Well overdue to upgrade my begginer board and liked the look of the Yes. Standard, but really open to options within a respectable cost range. I’m 5’11” 205lbs 11.5 shoes (US) and do a yearly trip or two out west for more powder on the mountains and prefer a board more suited to that. I hop between primarily the black/blue routes as well as some fresher routes in the bowls/woods as available. If you could throw out a few recommendations it would be appreciated!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 9, 2019 at 10:36 am

       Hi Charlie

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the Standard is a good next step from a beginner board and could suit what you’re describing well. It’s not the kind of board that’s king in powder – but it does pretty well in there, and even better if you use the slam back inserts on a pow day (note that if you have bindings with a mini-disc then the slam backs aren’t accessible). Size-wise for you, I would go 162. You could also ride the 159 for this board, but I think based on your specs and how you like to ride, the 162 would be your best bet, IMO.

       Since it sounds like you’re out East, it’s also a good option, being good in hard/icy conditions (not that you can’t get those out West as well!). Quite a few on this list would also do the job quite nicely, including the Mountain Twin & Rossignol One.

       Based on your riding style, you could also check out something from here:

       >> My Top 5 Freeride Snowboards

       But just note that those are another step up – a bit stiffer and more technical. But also better for speed/powder/carving. If you feel like you’re an advanced rider, then those become options for sure. But if you feel like you’re more bordering intermediate/advanced, then something from this list is probably a better bet.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

165. Tom says

     July 9, 2019 at 5:10 pm

     Hi Nate
     This is a great site with loads of information.

     I’m a bit stuck. I’m 6ft, 88kg, UK size 10 boot and am a beginner/intermediate, I can happily link turns and get down the mountain fairly smoothly, not really been doing jumps but something I’d like an option to do, I like the boarder cross sections, I also like powder but usually just whats to the side of a mountain run. I like to carve and go fast as well. I’ve only been snowboarding for a few years and generally only go once a year for about a week or so. I’ve only snowboarded in Europe. I’ve usually hired a board or borrowed one from a friend. I try to get a size around 159cm, but to be honest I don’t really know whats best for me size wise. I am looking to get myself a board now as its summer and prices’ll be the best they are all year. Could you recommend something which will keep me improving with not too bad a learning curve since it’ll only be used once a year? I’d like an all rounder, mainly for slope riding but with options for the park and powder.
     Any ideas, so many boards I have no idea where to start and want to make sure I don’t buy something which I’m going to struggle with or alternatively be too slow or too much of a beginner board. In the past I’ve looked at the Jones Mountain Twin, the Yes Standard and saw Capitas Outer Space Living looked good, all based on some of the comments here and other things I’ve read on your site, but those comments look to be a few years old. Are those boards still relevant? However I don’t want this to influence your advice so whatever you think would be great thanks.
     Thank you
     Tom

     Reply

     • Tom says

       July 9, 2019 at 5:26 pm

       Hi Nate
       Apologies, I’ve just looked at some old photos of several boards I’ve hired and they all look to be 157cm if that makes a difference.
       Thanks Tom

       Reply

       • Nate says

         July 11, 2019 at 2:34 am

         Hi Tom

         Thanks for your messages.

         Size-wise, I would say to go with something in the range 158-160. To give you a size that suits your specs, but works for that beginner/intermediate level and something that won’t take long to get your legs back, given that you’re only be on it once a year. And 157 definitely doable too, if your comfortable with that.

         Width-wise, with UK10s, you’re kind of on the cuff between wide and normal width, so it’s best to look at it on a board by board basis, in terms of width.

         Those boards are certainly still relevant (this list is updated every year), and I think you’re in the right place for what you’re describing. Something all-mountain/do-it-all would work well, IMO – and most boards here are going to work well for a progressing intermediate rider. Pretty much anything on this list would work – except maybe the Arbor Coda Rocker and Niche Story (which I will be adjusting for flex when I update for 2020 models) which might be a little too stiff.

         The Outerspace Living is what I would term all-mountain-freestyle – but it’s a little better in powder than most all-mtn-freestyle boards, so that would be suitable too. Particularly if you weren’t going to be going in any deeper powder. Another that fits that bill would be the Salomon Assassin.

         The Mountain Twin and Standard certainly great options too. The 2020 model of the Mountain Twin looks like it has a twin tip and tail now (the tip used to be 1cm longer than the tail) – so if that’s accurate, then it’s a little more freestyle oriented now and not as good in powder, but would still be decent. I hadn’t heard that it was getting changed up but that’s what the specs in the catalog are showing (I didn’t re-ride the 2020 model but I rode the 2019 model). Jones still consider it directional twin, so I don’t think it’s really changed.

         I’d say anything like the Standard, West, Mountain Twin, Team Gullwing, One LF would all be great choices for what you’re describing. If you wanted something a little more easy going, you could also check out:

         >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

         Hope this helps with your decision

         Reply

166. ted rogers says

     June 3, 2019 at 7:04 am

     Adding to my previous post:

     Size 9 boot.

     and, how crazy of an idea is the twinpig, or a GNU headspace for me?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       June 3, 2019 at 12:38 pm

       Hi Ted

       I would be more inclined to stick more with the likes of an all-mountain board. The Twinpig and Headspace are more freestyle/park oriented. The Headspace in particular – which is also quite an aggressive camber profile, and is not going to be great in powder. I haven’t ridden it but based on specs and my experience of similar GNU boards.

       I haven’t ridden the Twinpig either, so just basing on specs and riding other ride boards. I would say it’s going to be better than the Headspace for powder, but still not as good as something like the One LF, Standard, West or Team Gullwing. Otherwise it could possibly work. The sizing is a little tricky. It’s a short/wide. I think the 151 is getting too big to be ideal, given the width, so I would say that the 148 would be your best bet size with the Twinpig (the 142 too short I would say). It’s just whether going to 148 is going short enough to compensate for the extra width or not. And also to consider is that you’re looking at less effective edge than the other options if you go for that. Which is fine in powder, and if you were going to be riding mostly freestyle, but might effect you for carving and stability at speed (even if you’re not going to riding super fast). The effective edge on the 148 is 108.5cm, which is 2.1cm shorter than the 110.6cm on the 149 Standard (which is the shortest effective edge of all the other options). And 2.1cm can definitely make a difference there. Finally, since you’re looking for that grip in hard/icy conditions, I would be a little concerned there too. My experience with other Ride boards suggests it wouldn’t be as good as some of the other options we’ve discussed. So an option, but in my opinion a more risky option.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

167. ted rogers says

     June 1, 2019 at 2:12 pm

     Wow, Nate, what incredible work you’re doing here. I’ve been reading and comparing boards for hours! My specs don’t seem to fit anyone specifically above, so I thought I’d get your assessment.

     5’9 135 pounds
     44 years old, fit but not super athletic
     Burton custom bindings
     Burton ruler wide boots
     Been using some wide K2 board from the 90s that is really stiff, long and camber, I think 26.5 width

     Been snowboarding for 4 years, probably lower intermediate. Getting better at carving and speed.

     I am NOT:

     jibbing, park, large jumps or bombing down going super fast

     I WOULD like to – (these are not in order of preference):

     – handle ice and chop in Crested Butte, CO – there was a decent amount of this last year and a problem for me
     – explore learining powder (CB has powder, I’ve stayed mostly on groomers)
     – ride switch, I enjoy doing that
     – carve,
     – have fun at slow speeds (learn to butter), but be plenty stable for CB rougher conditions
     – learn tree runs

     After reading, just to show that I’m paying attention, I think you might recommend:

     151 Yes standard or 153 Rossi One?

     But I’m open to anything!

     Ted

     Reply

     • Nate says

       June 3, 2019 at 12:28 pm

       Hi Ted

       You have been listening! 🙂 – those two I would certainly recommend for what you’re describing and those sizes are good options too.

       For the Standard I’d almost be looking at the 149 for your weight and considering the width is still going to be plenty for 9s, IMO, with the width of the Standard being a little wider at the inserts than the waist width would suggest. And also since you’re not looking to ride ultra-fast. But the 151 is also a good size for you, will be a little better for powder, and since you’re used to a bigger board by the sounds of it, it’s still going to feel smaller than what you’ve got. So, I’d probably still go 151 over 149 – but the 149 would certainly be an option. The One LF’s smallest size in 153, so no real room for debate there. Both are quite buttery and both are still fun at slow speeds. I would be leaning towards Standard, only just, just because I like the size options are a little better for you.

       The Nitro Team Gullwing (152) and NS West (152) would be great options too. Not quite as good in hard/icy conditions as the Standard and One LF, in my experience, but still good.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • ted rogers says

         June 3, 2019 at 2:07 pm

         Thank you so much for all the consideration of specs and recommendation!

         The Nitro Team Gullwing (152)

         is looking really good right now price-wise

         I may go for that!

         Reply

         • ted rogers says

           June 3, 2019 at 2:12 pm

           Is the Nitro Team Exposure Gullwing the same board as the Nitro Team Gullwing?

           Your review links to the Exposure version, and the exposure version is less expensive.

           Reply

           • Nate says

             June 4, 2019 at 11:23 am

             Hi Ted

             Yeah same board – the only difference is the graphics. The “Exposure” part of the name is in reference to how the graphic has been created.

           • ted rogers says

             June 4, 2019 at 12:18 pm

             Ordered, using your link. Thanks so much for your help!

             It’s going to be a while before I can report back on it though, we just hit summer here in CB…

           • Nate says

             June 5, 2019 at 2:38 pm

             Hey Ted

             Awesome! And thanks for going through the link. Much appreciated. If you do remember when winter rolls back around, let me know how you get on.

168. Gustavo says

     May 6, 2019 at 7:07 pm

     Hi Nate,

     When i had my last time on the slope, i got rossignol “one” and i liked it, but i think it was small for me (153), sometimes i had speed and didn´t have stability. I´m 1,77 m and 74 kg with 9,5 boots. I started looking Burton Process V, but when i knew your review i think the Burton Custom V is more appropriate. Sometimes i like speed and powder too, i´m search a real all mountain. My friend said that my size is 158. I don´t have much experience but i like challenges. What board do you recommend and size?

     Thanks,

     Gustavo

     Reply

     • Nate says

       May 7, 2019 at 9:48 am

       Hi Gustavo

       Thanks for your message.

       Yeah 153 is a bit small for you, IMO. I would say something around 157, 158 at an advanced level. But if you don’t have much experience, then I would go smaller than that. Assuming an intermediate level, I think something between 154 and 156 would be your best bet. The Rossignol One would be a good choice, but I would go for the 156 for you.

       For the Custom Flying V, if you went with that one, then the 156 is likely your best bet there too.

       Most of the boards on this list should be appropriate, assuming an intermediate level, at around that 155, 156 length. The Arbor Coda Rocker and Niche Story might be bordering on being a little too stiff, but otherwise, the rest are great options. You could also check out, if you wanted:

       >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Gustavo says

         May 7, 2019 at 5:26 pm

         Thanks Nate!

         What do you think about Burton Process (Camber) instead of these? I asked you because i would like to buy a board that i can use for a long time…

         Reply

         • Nate says

           May 8, 2019 at 10:46 am

           Hi Gustavo

           Firstly, just for your info. The latest versions of the Process camber are actually Burton’s “PurePop camber” which is slightly different to traditional camber, where there are flat sections before the contact points. So, a little more forgiving than traditional camber, but still a little on the catchy side. As an intermediate rider (assuming that’s a correct assumption) it would definitely be doable. Older versions of the Process camber are traditional camber (like the Custom camber is). Traditional camber can be very unforgiving if you’re not used to it, or if you’re still learning. But also has it’s advantages.

           The Process is quite soft though as well, so if you’re wanting more of an all-mountain option that will last you a long time, then it might be a bit soft for what you’re after. And performance in powder for traditional camber and purepop isn’t that great in my experience, so if you’re looking to getting into riding powder later or already are, then that’s a downside.

           My instinct tells me that, in your case, you would be better off looking at something with a more forgiving camber profile but a stiffer flex (a medium flex ideally). Something with a lot of versatility – which is what this list is all about. So I would go for the Rossignol One before the Process Camber – or other options like the Standard, West, Mountain Twin, Team Gullwing. These are all boards that are very versatile and that would stay with you for a long time, IMO.

           Reply

           • Gustavo says

             May 9, 2019 at 8:54 am

             Thanks Nate!

             It was great! I’m thinking about rossignol one now!

             Gustavo

           • Nate says

             May 9, 2019 at 10:04 am

             You’re very welcome Gustavo.

169. Jimmy says

     April 19, 2019 at 8:27 am

     Hi Nate,

     At 80kg/175lbs would 159-160cm be too long for all mountain, say for the Yes Std or Jones Mtn Twin?
     Cruising and carving mostly, popping off bumps here and there.
     Pretty limited board choices where I live :-/

     Cheers,
     Jimmy

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 20, 2019 at 6:33 pm

       Hi Jimmy

       Thanks for your message.

       To give an accurate recommendation, I would need your height and boot size too. I suspect with the Standard that 156 would be better, but it would depend on boot size for that board. For the Mountain Twin, depending on height, the 160 could work, but if you could let me know height and boot size, that would help to make a more accurate recommendation.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Jimmy says

         April 21, 2019 at 3:17 am

         Thanks Nate really appreciate it.

         That would be 178cm (5-8) & Mondo 26.
         Also found a place online with a Niche Story 159 and a Nitro team GW 157 so maybe a bit more choice there after all.

         Been great reading through all the reviews on your site, thanks for sharing the info.

         Cheers,
         Jimmy

         Reply

         • Nate says

           April 22, 2019 at 2:20 pm

           Hi Jimmy

           Thanks for the extra info.

           Yeah I would say definitely 156 for the Standard. For the Mountain Twin, I think 157 would actually be better – both 157 and 160 are a little wider than ideal for your foot size, but going a little shorter can compensate for that extra width. For that same reason, I would be leaning more towards the Team Gullwing 157, over the 159 Story. Also, if you only have Standard 159, Mountain Twin 160, Story 159 and Team Gullwing 157, then I think the Team GW 157 is your best bet.

           Reply

           • Jimmy says

             April 22, 2019 at 10:25 pm

             Thanks!!

           • Nate says

             April 23, 2019 at 1:38 pm

             You’re very welcome Jimmy!

170. Mario says

     April 15, 2019 at 10:58 am

     Hi Nate,
     I have read some reviews about Yes Stadard board and Union Flacor bindings, and i have one doubt…
     Can you set this bindings (mini discs) in the slam back inserts of my yes standard?????

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 15, 2019 at 2:21 pm

       Hi Mario

       Thanks for your message.

       Unfortunately with Union bindings with the mini-disc they won’t go on the slam back inserts of the YES Standard. Union bindings with their Universal Disc will, but not the mini-disc. Something like the Union Atlas or Union Force would be a great choice for the Standard, if you’re using the Slam Back inserts and wanting to go with Union.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

171. Dave says

     April 13, 2019 at 8:07 am

     Nate
     I have read a few of your posts and you provide straightforward info. I have a few questions, been riding since 90, last board I purchased and am still riding is a 1996 burton supermodel, 162, have been thinking about getting a new board. I have ridden everything(parks, pipes, back country) and everywhere(Tahoe, van b.c, alps, to big bear) looking for an all mountain board. It appears that so much has changed regarding board technology and needing some help. Looking for a board that it a litttle more forgiving than the supermodel especially later in the day when I begin to get tired at 48 years old, but still want to ride with my two boys. The burton still rides well and works great but have been hearing about the shift in technology and has me thinking of adding a new board to my quiver. I am an advanced rider.

     Reply

     • Dave says

       April 13, 2019 at 10:37 am

       Also was looking for a single board that can do anything I need it to do, more of a replacement for the burton. Also I am 5-7 and weigh 175. Was looking at the Lib Tech as well as the Yes board that you listed as the number 1 and the Never Summer West, thoughts?

       Reply

       • Dave says

         April 13, 2019 at 10:51 am

         Lib tech is the t.rice pro model. I know burton and libtech have been the standard of boards in the past but I am not married to that. I do like the idea of the mag-edges on the lib tech, but the rocker, camber, rocker on the yes seems like a more forgiving board, given that layout, thanks in advance. Dave.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           April 15, 2019 at 11:55 am

           Hi Dave

           Thanks for your messages.

           Yeah definitely tech has come a long way since 1996.

           In terms of rocker-camber-rocker (hybrid camber), I wouldn’t say that it’s necessarily more forgiving that camber-rocker-camber (hybrid rocker). In some ways hybrid rocker can feel more forgiving – having that pivot of rocker between the feet. But it also depends as not all hybrid cambers and hybrid rockers are the same. Some have more exaggerated camber sections, some have more exaggerated rocker sections – and some have longer sections of camber and longer sections of rocker – so it really depends (a lot more complicated than everything being traditional camber I know!).

           The T Rice Pro has quite a forgiving hybrid rocker profile, but overall it’s relatively aggressive (quite stiff). So, in this particular case, I would say that something like the YES Standard is a little more forgiving.

           Another thing I would say is that Hybrid Camber has a more similar feel to Traditional Camber vs Hybrid Rocker, IMO – in most cases. Some exceptions – some Lib Tech/GNU boards have a hybrid rocker called C3 Camber, which is very close to traditional camber, with a very subtle rocker section between the feet.

           But all that said, I think since you’re looking for something a little forgiving, and since you’ve been riding traditional camber since 1990, I think Hybrid camber would be the way to go.

           Burton and Lib Tech still make great boards, but there are a lot of other brands making really great boards now too. YES being one of those brands that’s got some great decks.

           So, in terms of the Never Summer West – that’s a hybrid rocker, so would be a bigger adjustment to what you’re used to. It’s a hybrid rocker that’s heavier on the camber, which certainly makes it doable, but would be a more different feel than what you’re used to, IMO.

           I think the YES Standard, Jones Mountain Twin or Rossignol One LF would be your best bets. These 3 are also good in hard/icy conditions, which I’m guessing is what you like the sound of the Mag-tech edges for. Certainly not writing others off, but I think these would be the best bets.

           Size-wise, typically you ride a little shorter these days than with older boards. So you could certainly size-down as well – and that would also make things more forgiving too. Normally I would recommend something around 157 for your specs, as an advanced rider, for an all-mountain board. Since you’re used to a 162, you might want to go for something in between, so that you’re not making too big an adjustment. For the boards mentioned, I would say:

           – YES Standard 156 (this is a wider board, so depending on boot size, I’d probably stick to the 156, but if you’ve got larger boots, the 159 could be a possibility too)

           – Jones Mountain Twin 157 or 160 – or 158W depending on boot size

           – Rossignol One LF – 156 or 159 – or 157W or 161W depending on boot size and how much you are willing to size down

           Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

           Reply

           • dave says

             April 16, 2019 at 6:10 pm

             nate
             thanks for all the info i think i am going to go with the yes board, decade basic seems to be a good fit, has the rocker/camber/rocker that you. suggested. i have opted for the 161 in size as i was looking for the 158 but have had no luck finding it so the couple inch diff should not be a big deal . hoping to get on it and have some spring time fun in the next month. will let you know my feedback, have you rode this board?
             dave

           • Nate says

             April 17, 2019 at 5:02 pm

             Hi Dave

             Thanks for the update. Look forward to hearing what you think. The Basic Decade is actually one of the only YES boards I haven’t had a chance to ride.

172. Mario says

     April 1, 2019 at 9:11 am

     Hi Nate,
     First of all thank you so much for your reviews!
     Following your recommendations I bought a Yes Standar (156) this season. My riding style is all-mointaneer and backcountry whenever I can (not very often), closer to freeride. I’m 178 cms and my weight is 76kgs, do you think the Stendard 156 is the right board and size????
     I want to buy new bindings for the next seasons too, according to my riding style and this board what ones would do you recomend me???
     My first option is Burton but I dont’t know what model. Anyway Burton is not the only option.
     Thanks so much!!!

     P.D.: sorry if the english level is not appropriate!!!

     Reply

     • Mario says

       April 1, 2019 at 12:20 pm

       I forgot to add that my boot size is 9.5.

       Reply

       • Nate says

         April 1, 2019 at 1:30 pm

         Hi Mario

         Thanks for your messages.

         I would say that the Standard is more on the freestyle end of the all-mountain scale, rather than freeride, but certainly can handle freeriding/backcountry – especially if you put it into the slam back inserts when you get out in the backcountry. Size-wise, I think the 156 is a good size for you. I think the 159 would be big overall (taking into account length and width) for your height, weight and boot size. In fact you could even consider the 153 for this board. But that’s getting a little short. If you were going to be riding a lot of freestyle I would be weighing up 153 and 156 – but given your style I think the 156 is the best size for you, for sure.

         From Burton, I would pair the Standard with either the Malavitas, Cartels or Genesis X. Given your style is more freeride oriented, then I would go more for the Cartels or Genesis X. For other options check out:

         >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

         >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

         Hope this helps

         Reply

         • Mario says

           April 1, 2019 at 3:06 pm

           Thank you so much for your advices Nate.

           Reply

           • Nate says

             April 2, 2019 at 1:58 pm

             You’re very welcome Mario. Happy riding!

         • Mario says

           April 2, 2019 at 7:56 am

           Union Falcor looks great too…and a bit cheaper.

           Reply

           • Nate says

             April 2, 2019 at 1:58 pm

             Falcor would definitely work, IMO, with the Standard, especially if you’re leaning towards the freeride end of all-mountain riding.

173. Sydnie says

     March 12, 2019 at 11:26 am

     Hi, Nate! I love your website! Thank you so much for helping me find my gear. I bought my set of board/binding/boots based on your recommendation last season and loving them!

     Now, I’m looking for a set of board and binding for my friend’s for his upcoming bday. Can you please help me out again? His riding skills: he has been going down black and double black diamonds at Heavenly and Toas Ski Valley this season. Most of his riding is just downhill and speed. He doesn’t do park much. He says he likes riding 172cm boards, but he had never owned one before.

     He’s 6’2. Currently, he weights 180lbs, but his weight fluctuates between 170-190lbs. He wears size 11 in the K2 Maysis boots.

     Thank you so much in advance for your advice and I look forward to hearing from you.

     Sydnie

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 13, 2019 at 4:58 pm

       Hi Syndie

       Thanks for your message.

       Since your friend is into speed and steeps, and doesn’t really do any freestyle, then he might want to look at a freeride board or an aggressive all-mountain board. Depending on if he rides powder/off-groomer a fair bit or mainly just likes to bomb the groomers. Check out the following for some good options (assuming, based on what you’re describing that he’s quite an advanced rider).

       >>Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards

       >> My Top 5 Freeride Snowboards

       Size-wise, I would usually say something around 162 for an all-mountain type board – but certainly can add some length for a freeride board if he’s just riding fast and not doing any freestyle or any technical trees or anything like that. 172cm sounds really long, but some prefer to go really long. There aren’t too many options in that kind of length, but there are certainly some. I think something around 165 might be a better bet, but if he knows he prefers that, then a couple of options in that kind of length:

       – Jones Flagship 172 (and should be a good width for 11s too)
       – Ride Timeless 167 (even though it’s not up to 172, this is the stiffest board I’ve ever ridden and is quite wide too)
       – Burton Flight Attendant 168 – also not quite 172, but still a lengthy board and should be wide enough for 11s.
       – Rossignol XV 174W – on the wider side for 11s though, and even longer than 172, even for him this might be getting a bit big
       – Salomon Speedway 170 – should be good for 11s

       Hope this gives you some options

       Reply

       • Sydnie says

         March 15, 2019 at 8:17 am

         Hi, Nate,
         Thank you so much for your detailed recommendations! I’ll look into these boards.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 15, 2019 at 10:31 am

           You’re very welcome Sydnie (and apologies for spelling your name wrong in my last message).

           Reply

174. Pete says

     March 4, 2019 at 1:09 pm

     Hi Nate,

     Absolutely fantastic to read all your reviews and detailed answers! But same time all this knowledge is giving me a hard time to seek out the right board. I’m spending 80% of my time in European resorst and occasionally in treelines or powder and 20% in bigger slopes. Don’t like the parks or pipes, just some basic small jumps and ollies for time to time. So mainly what i’m looking for is good board to handle in the carving with all speeds. I would say i’m intermeditiate and I have rided last years Burton Parkitect 2015 with SP Labtec bindings and and quite stiff Burton shoes. I like the current board easines in turns and ok grib in carvings, but it starts to flop in higher speed and its not stable in those Saturday evenings bumpy conditionings.

     So I have been looking more stiffer board, but still wan’t to handle quite easy in slower speed with children or nice day cruising. I wonder if the Slash ATV is too stiff this kind of use, so i was thinking the Brainstorm or Jones Mountain Twin. Any good recommendations?

     I’m 175cm tall, 85kg and shoesize 41.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 5, 2019 at 3:15 pm

       Hi Pete

       Thanks for your message.

       The Slash ATV is quite an aggressive board and not necessarily the best for slowing down and playing around with. It’s pretty good at that for it’s flex and camber profile, compared to other similar boards, but all round that’s not really what that board is intended for. The Brainstorm is definitely something you can slow down and play around – not as good for carving and not as good at speed as the ATV, but definitely more easy going. The Mountain Twin is a good in between of those 2. A little stiffer, and a little less playful than the Brainstorm, but something that you can still slow down and play around on a bit. I think that would be your best bet, from what you’re describing.

       Size-wise, I think the 157 would be the best size for you, for the Mountain Twin – and for the Brainstorm, if you decided to go for that.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Pete says

         March 6, 2019 at 1:15 am

         Thanks!

         I think I will leave the Slash models this time and try look the Mountain Twin, all thought I´m quite late in this, so there is not much appropriate sizes available. I also looked the review of Capita Mercury and interested about the stability with some forgiveness. For that I founded good bargain for 157 size, so might go for that as well.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 6, 2019 at 2:38 pm

           Hi Pete

           Yeah, the Mercury would suit what you’re describing as well, IMO – and is something that’s more forgiving than the ATV but less playful than the Brainstorm. It’s probably a little more aggressive than the Mountain Twin but not by that much. The 157 would be a good size too, IMO.

           Reply

175. Chris says

     March 3, 2019 at 11:18 pm

     Hi Nate,

     I’m wanting to upgrade from my 1st board that I lean’t to snowboard on – a 161W Rome Mechanic. Although it was a great board to learn on, I feel like I’ve outgrown that board (particularly as it doesn’t seem to want to carve and is pretty washy when not on an edge) and am looking at these 3 All-Mountain boards:

     • Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
     • Jones Mountain Twin
     • Never Summer West

     I’m wanting a general do-it-all board, which I can carve, ride switch on, hit kickers, bomb groomers and take through the trees. I don’t care much for the park and would prefer a more medium-flex feel than stiff – for the sake of my knees on those chopped up resort days! I also spend a fair bit of time under lights night boarding, which more often than not is on hard crusty snow/ice.

     I’m 6’2’’, pushing 220lbs with my gear on and have size 10 Thirty-Two Lashed boots. I guess my 1st question is what board from the above 3 do you recommend (or some other board) and then my 2nd question is what size do you recommend for me, especially in relation to whether you think I need a wide board? I tend to ride a 15/-9 binding set-up, however I’ve noticed on my Rome Mechanic that my bindings are on the bottom rung of the 3 set of screw holes (Burton Mission Re-Flex) and my boots are still not quite flush with the edge of the board yet – does this mean my board is too wide?

     Thanks for your website and all the help/tips that it gives to us newbies and veterans, it is very greatly appreciated!

     Chris

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 4, 2019 at 4:47 pm

       Hi Chris

       Thanks for your message.

       Firstly, with size 10s and +15/-9 binding angles (or pretty much any aangles really) I don’t think you need to be going wide. And if your boots aren’t overhanging the boards edges at all, then it sounds like your current board is too wide. Some boot overhang is a good thing. Obviously you don’t want so much that you get boot drag when carving, but it sounds like your feet (which are ultimately what is putting pressure on the edges) are quite far inside the edges of the board. Ideally you want to get your feet as close to the edges or even slightly over, to get good leverage on the edges. If your feet are too far inside the edges, then it’s hard to initiate turns (the exception is with short/wide boards – but they make up for that lack of maneuverability by being ridden at a shorter length).

       In terms of length, I would be looking at anything from 162 to 164 as a good all-mountain length for your specs.

       The 3 boards you’ve mentioned are all good options. I’ve yet to ride the Terrain Wrecker (I was meant to ride it on the weekend but it fell through, but hope to get on this month or in April) but I’ve heard good things. In terms of hard/icy conditions, I would say the Terrain Wrecker is likely to be just above the other 2, but the MT and West both have decent edgehold in hard/icy, so I think you’d get on with all 3 in that sense – just the Terrain Wrecker potentially a notch above.

       You can’t really go wrong with any of those 3.

       Size-wise, I would say:

       • Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker: 160
       • Jones Mountain Twin: 162
       • Never Summer West: 162

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Chris says

         March 5, 2019 at 10:20 am

         Hi Nate,

         Do you think the 160cm Terrain Wrecker will be slightly undersized for me or can it be ridden “shorter” due to the wider specs of the board?

         I was also looking at the Lib Tech TRS and Travis Rice Pro models which come in 161.5/162cm models – do you think either of these would be a better fit for me or close to that of the Terrain Wrecker? I’m pretty keen to try that MagnaTech edge technology from Lib Tech.

         Thanks heaps!

         Chris

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 5, 2019 at 4:35 pm

           Hi Chris

           Yeah sizing down when it’s a little wider is definitely something you can do. With the Terrain Wrecker, it’s wider at the waist, but Lib Tech boards tend to have a smaller difference between the width at inserts and waist width – based on measuring other sizes of the MT and West, and other Lib Tech boards, I would say the Width at inserts of each of those is likely to be:

           • Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker: 160 – 265mm
           • Jones Mountain Twin: 162 – 269mm
           • Never Summer West: 162 – 264mm

           In saying that though, the overall width is a little wider on the Terrain Wrecker, so prob a little more surface area overall there.

           The MT & West 162 are probably slightly better sizes, IMO. But the 160 Terrain Wrecker could work for you too.

           The TRS and T Rice Pro are slightly different boards. More freestyle oriented and less directional. The TRS is a true twin and centered. The T Rice Pro is also centered but directional twin, so a little more all-mountain-ish. But it’s also medium-stiff flex, IMO, and it sounds like you were more looking for medium. The TRS is more medium, but more freestyle oriented. Not necessarily something you wouldn’t suit you though. Biggest weakness would be in powder I would say. But you can check out more on what I thought of those two below:

           >>Lib Tech TRS Review

           >>Lib Tech T Rice Pro Review

           Hope this helps

           Reply

           • Chris says

             March 7, 2019 at 12:14 pm

             Thanks Nate,

             I also agree that 160cm is prob not ideal for me, as I demo’d a 160cm NS Chairman on the weekend and it felt too small (and far too-stiff) to me.

             Your reviews of the two Lib Tech boards pointed me towards checking out the top 5 Freestyle-All Mountain boards, where I found the GNU Riders Choice which is available in 161.5cm. From the specs, it seems to me that this is almost identical to the Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker, except being an Asym Twin vs True Twin shape. I would think GNU and Lib Tech boards would be very similar given both share the same tech and are made by Mervin.

             Anyway I’m going to check out them all this weekend at my local shops, as there’s some good deals getting around now.

           • Nate says

             March 8, 2019 at 9:54 am

             Hi Chris

             Yeah definitely very similar tech between Mervin boards.

             Terrain Wrecker and Rider’s Choice quite similar in a lot of ways. The Terrain Wrecker is a Directional Twin, rather than True Twin though – the nose is a little longer than the tail (past the contact points) I believe, so it should float a little better in powder vs the Rider’s Choice, especially when set back. But otherwise, they both have C2X, similar widths, similar sidecut, similar contact length etc. So yeah, quite similar, like you say.

             Let me know what you go with.

176. Ryan Farr says

     March 3, 2019 at 11:27 am

     Super great detail on all your posts…beyond amazing and the devotion and time you put in is above excellent. With a but of a time crunch i did settle on a Capita DOA due to convenience, price and it did have some good reviews. Its the first time i’ve ridden a a true twin, I’m 48, been riding since 1984 but so many years after college dropped of a bit but now picking it up. I do like big strong carves and jumps but now trying my hand at the park. The twin is taking a bit to get used. A couple questions: did you demo the DOA? Wondering your thoughts on it. Also why do a lot of sites leave out the Yes brand out of their top list for all mountain boards? I really want to get a Yes Standard in the off season hopefully on a good deal. So many boards and I truly got analysis paralysis…seems the only true test is to ride them. Unfortunately we can’t and have to just decide. I’m 6’0″ 195 got the DOA 160 with K2 Lein AT bindings. You would for sure recommend the Yes Standard? and in what size? I’m up for anything that would have a learning curve. Thanks in advance. Oh and my previous board was a Lamar Mission…yeah I know, I can’t believe what i’ve been missing. Quality boards are sooooo much worth it.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 4, 2019 at 3:38 pm

       Hi Ryan

       Thanks for your message.

       I have ridden the DOA, and I like it – you can see my review here. It’s something that i like to ride a little smaller and certainly ride mostly freestyle on it.

       No idea why anyone would leave YES boards off their lists. They make some of the better boards I’ve ridden. Perhaps, they see the Standard as more all-mountain-freestyle – and there is an argument that you could put it in that category – or maybe they just haven’t ridden YES boards? Who knows.

       I would say that the Standard is a little more snappy/lively than the DOA. No such thing as a perfect board, but it does most things very well – and I really like the feel of it. In terms of size, I would say probably the 159, but if you can also let me know your boot size, I can give a more accurate recommendation/opinion on size. The Lien ATs would be a good match for the Standard too – so you wouldn’t need to change bindings, IMO.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • ryan Farr says

         March 4, 2019 at 6:07 pm

         Size 9 1/2 boot. There is a review that put the DOA in the top freestyle list. So I”m assuming theres a fine line with some of these boards from freestyle to all mountain. I cant wait to try to Standard. Do you recommend waxing it over the factory wax?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 5, 2019 at 4:05 pm

           Hi Ryan

           Yeah definitely a fine line for some of the categories and depending on who you talk to, different boards will belong in different categories, for sure.

           It’s a close call between the 159 and 156 for the Standard for you, IMO. Usually I would say 159 for sure or even 162. But since the Standard is a little wider, it’s sometimes a good idea to go shorter, depending on boot size. For an all-mountain board, I would usually go around 159, but for the Standard I like the 156 – I find it’s the best balance of length and width (I’m 6’0″, 185lbs, size 10 boot). So you could definitely ride the 159, but it is going to be quite wide for 9.5s. The 156 is short for your specs, but it’s still on the wide side for 9.5s – so sizing down is certainly an option. 159 is already a bit of a size down for you, IMO. So it’s just whether to size down to 159 or 156.

           The advantages of 159 over 156 include more stability at speed, more float in powder, a larger landing platform.

           The advantages of 156 are more maneuverability, better for freestyle type things, better in trees.

           In terms of waxing, I usually ride the factory wax for a couple of days and then give it a wax. I don’t rewax that regularly but I tend to give it a first wax earlier, when it’s straight from the factory wax. No harm in giving it a wax straight away as well. But I personally don’t bother until I’ve had a couple of days on it.

           Hope this helps

           Reply

           • ryan says

             March 5, 2019 at 8:13 pm

             Great info. What about the Never Summer West size? Is that a size down type of board as well?

           • Nate says

             March 6, 2019 at 2:23 pm

             Hi Ryan

             I wouldn’t size down for the West. It’s a regular widthed board (in the non-wide sizes of course).

             For the West, I would be weighing up between the 159 & 162 for you – again which one you go for will depend on the qualities you want to augment – go longer for more stability at speed, more float in powder, a larger landing platform. And shorter for more maneuverability, better for freestyle type things, better in trees.

             Hope this helps

177. Jim says

     March 3, 2019 at 6:08 am

     Nate,

     Great site.
     Looking for a new board to work on riding switch and just playing around a bit more.’
     Stats: 6’2″ 175 lbs. 30 years of boarding. Freeride guy.

     Currently on a NS 25X. Great board, may need to try the PYL next year.

     So I could stay NS, and go with a West or a Type II.
     YES Standard possibly, or Brainstorm?

     Thoughts?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 4, 2019 at 3:19 pm

       Hi Jim

       Thanks for your message.

       Yeah the 25 was a great board – shame they took it out of the line (though the Chairman is a good replacement). If you were to stick with NS, I think the PT2 would be the best compliment to the 25. It’s the most different. It’s a freestyle oriented ride, and more suitable for switch than the West (though the West is pretty good for switch too). But yeah, just a better compliment I reckon. Not as good in powder, but if you’ve got the 25 for that, then you’ve got that covered. And you’re still not going like super soft or like going with a really loose ride with the PT2. It’s still aggressive enough and mid-flex. Certainly not a noodle or anything.

       The Brainstorm is quite a playful all-mountain ride. If you want something a lot more playful than the NS 25, but still want something that’s a little more directional, then the Brainstorm would be a good choice, but not going to be as good riding switch as something like the PT2 or Standard.

       The Standard would be a good option. Good for switch, particularly when on the centered stance – and something you can play around with a bit more. Not ultra-playful – can still get a little aggressive on it.

       You should also check out the Greats, if you’re looking for that more playful ride, without going too playful, but being great for riding switch. And also check out the following:

       >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       If you don’t need something for powder, then that list is a good place to start, IMO.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

178. adrian says

     March 3, 2019 at 1:29 am

     Hello Nate
     I just realized posting questions here instead of in emails is preferable to you. Please ignore my email and my apologies for any inconvenience!
     I’m 5’9, 135 pounds, boot size 9 and on the lower end of advanced rider. I currently ride a down sized box knife 148 which works well enough for an all mountain freestyle ride(with more effort to keep it stable at high speeds of course). But for my riding progress I’d like to see a more stable platform at speeds and bigger jumps/more pow riding, same carving ability, similar edge hold, quick edge to edge transition, lastly doable for ground tricks/jibbing. I live in asia so for my needs the available options are(based on my research) :
     longer box knife at 151
     typo 152
     standard 149
     Which one you think suit my needs better or if you have other recommendations?
     Sorry about duplicated/length message and I’d love to hear your thoughts
     Also big thanks to your effort on building such a wonderful site, can not thank you enough for educating us snowboarding lovers!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 4, 2019 at 2:42 pm

       Hi Adrian

       Thanks for your message.

       From everything you’re describing, I would say go for the Standard. But I would maybe even be looking to go up to the 151 Standard, if you have it available.

       The 151 Box Knife and 152 Typo are going to give you a little more in terms of carving, powder and speed vs the 148 Box Knife, but the difference will be greater with the Standard, IMO – even the 149.

       The 151 Standard is a little wider than what you’re riding now (at the inserts) but not a huge amount, and I think it would work fine with 9s (and not that much wider than the 151 Box Knife). And will give you even more in terms of stability at speed, stability on landings off big jumps, powder and carving. The 149 would be quicker edge to edge and easier for ground tricks/jibbing, so there is a compromise, but the 151 would still be doable for those things. So both are options depending on if you want a more pronounced difference in terms of stability at speed etc, or if you’re happy with a less pronounced difference there, and maintaining a quicker edge to edge transition/jib/ground trick ability.

       The 149 would still give you more in terms of speed/pow/stability on landings, IMO, vs the 148 Box Knife and I would go with that over the 151 Box Knife and 152 Typo for what you’re describing, but the 151 is also a good option, if you’re wanting even more in terms of stiffness/speed etc.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Adrian says

         March 5, 2019 at 8:43 pm

         Thanks so much for your time and patience! Your input is very helpful/insightful. Thanks again for your great effort replying so many questions and such a wonderful site. Good luck with everything Nate

         Reply

       • Adrian says

         March 6, 2019 at 3:49 am

         Hello again Nate
         Based on your helpful input now I’m definitely going for a standard. It’s somehow difficult for me to choose from 149 and 151 since trying one on is not an option. I had a west mark rocker in wrong size 153 which was a chore to turn or maneuver. Not sure if it was the profile or length tho. Also my boot size is 9 in Burton but actually 8.5 in vans aura (my current boots). You still think I’ll be able to drive the 151 with agility?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 6, 2019 at 2:35 pm

           Hi Adrian

           A couple of things to consider.

           1. The rocker profile on the Westmark rocker, if anything should have made it easier to maneuver, so I would say that it wasn’t the camber profile.

           2. But the Westmark does have a lot of effective edge vs overall length. I’m guessing the Westmark Rocker you had was around 2015 or prior (just because since then they haven’t had a 153). The effective edge (EE) on the 2015 and prior 153 Westmark rockers was 119.6cm – which is a lot for a 153. The EE in comparison on the 151 Standard is only 112.3 – so the 151 Standard, in that sense should feel significantly less than the 153 Westmark rocker.

           3. It’s more the length of your feet that drive the board, so a different sized boot won’t change your leverage, at least not significantly. But yeah, I think the 151 would still be fine in the 8.5 Auras.

           It’s a tough one, but i would be leaning towards 151 still, especially if you’re looking to keep the 148 Box Knife – then it also gives you a bigger contrast in your quiver.

           Hope this helps

           Reply

179. Martyn says

     March 2, 2019 at 7:57 am

     Hi Nate

     Sorry to ask another question here I’ve actually realized my boots are 11.5 Salomon dialogues (not 11) as per my earlier thread. I ride normally -15/+15 angles and so far have not had any issues with heel or toe drag on the Salomon 158w, this has a width of 258mm. Just checked and the 162 explorer has a width of 256 so it’s slightly narrower but not sure it would be an issue or not? The other alternative is a get the 161W explorer as this has a width of 264mm but it’s only up to 200lbs weight vs the 162 at 210lbs. I’m currently 194 without gear. What do you think? I’m not doing super deep euro carves (I’m 43 so just want to get down intact 😉 would appreciate any thoughts as I can get either size currently… cheers

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 4, 2019 at 1:48 pm

       Hi Martyn

       Typically I’d say go a little wider than the 162 Explorer with 11.5s. However, given that Jones boards are usually wider at the inserts vs waist width than Salomon boards are, I would suspect that the Explorer is actually as wide as your Salomon 158W at the inserts. Potentially even a little wider. So, since you haven’t had any issues on your Salomon and since you ride with +15/-15 angles and aren’t doing any massively deep carves I think you’ll be fine on the 162. I wouldn’t worry too much about the weight guidelines. Think weight wise you would be fine on either (and they typically go off weight without gear, anyway).

       Both would work, but if you’re used to the width of your Salomon and don’t have any issues on it width-wise, then I think you’ll be fine on the 162.

       Reply

180. Martyn says

     March 1, 2019 at 3:31 am

     Hi Nate

     I’m going to upgrade from a Salomon sight 158w to a Jones explorer but had a question on sizing. I’m 194lbs (without gear), 180cms tall and wear a size 11 boot.
     I think I’ll need the 162 rather than the 159 as it’s a similar width to my current board and I’m poss a little heavy for the 159. Wasn’t sure if I’d notice the extra length? I’m mainly cruising groomers, carving and a little powder when I can get it in the alps. Any help appreciated before I pull the trigger online….

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 1, 2019 at 11:48 am

       Hi Martyn

       Thanks for your message.

       For the Explorer, I agree that the 162 is likely the best size. The Explorer is something that can be ridden longer as it has a shorter effective edge vs overall length than most boards (actually has a very similar effective edge to the 158W Sight) – so I don’t think you’ll notice that length until you’re in powder, at which point that extra length is a good thing. And in any case sizing up a bit from 158W is probably a good idea for your specs, especially if you’re just carving, riding groomers and powder. And I’m guessing your 158W Sight was sized for you as a less advanced rider than what you are now – so with more experience sizing up can also be a good idea.

       So all round, I think the 162 is a better option. And should be fine for size 11 boots, assuming you don’t ride with too straight a back foot binding angle. But yeah, likely to be about the same width as the 158W Sight in any case, and if you didn’t have any issues there, then I’d say you’ll be fine width-wise.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Martyn says

         March 1, 2019 at 11:53 am

         Thanks Nate

         Appreciate the fast response. Your site is a really great resource and your hands on advice is amazing !

         Thanks again… off to do a bit of internet shopping now 🙂

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm

           You’re very welcome Martyn. Hope you have a great rest of your season and enjoy your new board!

           Reply

181. Peps says

     February 22, 2019 at 3:25 am

     Thank you for anwering Nate.
     I ordered 152. Tell me what wax you would use on her. And what bindings to it (I think about Burton Malavita) but it’s hard to get size S (25cm) but I think shoes would take 25 + 1cm (Adidas Reaponse ADV Boa). What do you think about this statement.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 22, 2019 at 12:37 pm

       Hi Peps

       The Malalvita would be a good match, IMO. With 8.5 boots, the Medium would actually be the best size for the Malavita, rather than the Small. You could also check out the following, which would all match well with the West.

       >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

       Reply

182. Peps says

     February 18, 2019 at 10:15 pm

     Hey! A great guide. I wonder about the purchase of Never Summer West, but its minimum length is 152. Only the Never Summer version of West Lady has a length of 149. What would you advise on the increase of 167cm, weight 68kg, foot US 8.5.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 19, 2019 at 4:00 pm

       Hi Peps

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the 152 would actually be a great size for your specs. Assuming you are a relatively advanced rider (at least solid intermediate), then it would be a good length – and the width should be fine too for 8.5s. Width at inserts is likely around 256mm (estimated, based on measuring different size), which is good for 8.5s, IMO. Unless you are a beginner (in which case the West probably isn’t the best option), I think the 152 is fine for you.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

183. Stephen says

     February 18, 2019 at 1:24 am

     Great site and incredible effort in responding to comments. Looking for a board primarily for groomers, occasional off trail hits, and some powder. Holding speed is important. Have been considering the NS West X. Does that seem like a good fit? If so, what would you recommend size wise? 6′ 3″, 170 lbs., 13 boot. I have been riding a 158W for the past several years, but think I probably need to move up the scale.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 18, 2019 at 12:07 pm

       Hi Stephen

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the West would certainly fit what you’re describing. Speed-wise if you’re an out and out bomber, then there are better options if you wanted to maximize that aspect. But for most levels of speed, I found the West to hold well.

       Size-wise, I think the 160X is the best bet for you.

       Width-wise, it’s potentially borderline for 13s, but if you’ve had no issues on the 158W (depending on the make and model), then you’ll probably be fine.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Stephen says

         February 18, 2019 at 5:22 pm

         Many thanks for the speedy response(s), Nate! My old board was a Ride Fleetwood, which sported a 265mm waist on the 158. Looks like I’d be giving up a couple mms of waist with the WestX, but I’m not certain how big of a difference that would be. Also interesting insight that the Story may actually be narrower though listed at 265. I may need to see if I can step on one of these in person, but it’s always a bit tough to find them locally.

         Another board that caught my eye is the Gnu Rider’s Choice Asym. The Wide appears to have a 268mm waist, and it seems to hit a lot of the all-mountain boxes though it may be more freestyle oriented than I need. Any thoughts?

         Last question, would the Union Strata pair well with these boards?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 19, 2019 at 11:03 am

           Hi Stephen

           Yeah the Rider’s Choice is certainly more freestyle oriented, but what I would consider all-mountain-freestyle rather than out and out freestyle. You would be giving away a little in terms of carving, speed and powder, when it comes to something like the West. GNU boards don’t typically have a lot of difference between waist and width at inserts. Based on measuring a different size, I would say that the Rider’s Choice 158W or 162W would be around 273mm at the inserts (vs the West 160X which I would predict to be around 271mm at the inserts). You could measure your Ride Fleetwood at the inserts (at reference point) and see what that is (measure it on the base of the baord, from metal edge to metal edge). And if it’s similar, then you’ll have a good idea that you’ll be OK with the widths.

           The Strata would work really well with the West, Story and the Rider’s Choice, IMO. A good flex match. I would say the Rider’s Choice is a little softer (5/10 flex) but not by heaps and would still pair with the Strata.

           Hope this helps

           Reply

           • Stephen says

             March 3, 2019 at 12:44 pm

             Thanks, Nate! On your recommendation, I just picked up a West 160X. Still a little bit torn about the Story, but I was a bit worried about the width and the magnetraction being overkill. I’m also picking up a new pair of boots to pair with the whole kit. Any thoughts on how the Ride Trident would work with the Strata and West? It seems like a bit more of an aggressive freeride boot, but I’m making the leap to Boa and that appears to be one of the best options in that market. Thanks again for all the input!

           • Nate says

             March 4, 2019 at 3:54 pm

             Hi Stephen

             I actually just rode the 2020 Niche Story on the weekend. I rode the 156 – it was 263mm at the inserts (and 258mm at the waist). So yeah, not a big difference there. The 162, likely to be around 270mm at the inserts – so not far off the West X. But both are great options. The Magnetraction has also been mellowed out a little for the 2020 model (but that doesn’t apply if you were looking to buy now). I would say that the Story 2020 also felt a little stiffer than what I’ve rated it here – and will be upping it to 6.5/10 or even 7/10, depending on what the rest of the boards I demo feel like. But will be upping it a little anyway.

             As for the Ride Trident, they are getting on the stiff/aggressive side for that setup. Good boots for sure, but there are a lot of good BOA options out there. I would say the Tridents are about an 8/10 flex.

             Some good options that are around that 6/10, 7/10 mark.

             – K2 Maysis (7/10 flex)
             – Adidas Response (6/10 flex)
             – Ride 92 (6/10 flex)
             – Ride Deadbolt (7/10 flex)
             – Thirty Lashed Double Boa (6/10 flex)

             To name a few. The Trident is a great boot though, IMO, just whether or not it’s just on the too stiff side for that setup or not.

             Hope this helps

184. Adrian says

     February 16, 2019 at 2:24 pm

     Hi Nate,
     Excellent site!

     I’m looking for a new board, I’ve never really found one that feels right. I’ve tried custom Flying V endeavour colour, custom camber, but not hit it off that well yet. I always go back to the Flying V as my default.

     I’m intermediate, ride 5-10 days a year, tend to stick to groomers, but like to find the pow when I can. Location wise, Mainly europe, but I’m heading to Whistler in April this year, so want to get the board right.

     I’m 6’1”, roughly 190lb without my gear, size 10 Uk books (ions)

     I’m interested in board size and type.

     Thanks
     Adrian

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 18, 2019 at 10:53 am

       Hi Adrian

       Thanks for your message.

       Since you haven’t clicked with either a full camber, a flying V or a hybrid camber (Endeavor, Color), then you’ve covered a few bases there. A hybrid rocker will feel a little different from the Flying V – but closer to Flying V than the others. So, if you feel that the Flying V is the closest to what you’re looking for that you’ve found so far, then I think going Hybrid Rocker is a good idea. If you preferred the Custom Camber or Endeavor Color to the Flying V, then I would suggest looking at a hybrid camber. Going with a different brand is probably a good idea too – as all brands tend to have different feels, even if they have some similar specs.

       If you feel like the Flying V is the closest so far, then I would look at hybrid rocker, like:

       Never Summer West
       Niche Story
       Nitro Team Gullwing

       If you feel like you would prefer a hybrid camber, then the following would be good options to look at:

       YES Standard
       Jones Mountain Twin
       Slash Brainstorm
       Rossignol One LF
       YES Typo

       Length-wise, I would be looking at something around 159 to 161 as an intermediate rider.

       Width-wise, with UK10 Ions, you could go as narrow as 254mm at the waist width, depending on the board, if you ride with something like +15-15 binding angles. With a very straight back binding angle, I would move that minimum to 260mm. Anything up to 264mm waist width would work as a maximum. It does depend on the board too, as some have much different width at inserts compared to waist width, so those numbers are only rough. If you narrow it down to 1 or 2 boards, I can give you my opinion on best sizes for those, for both length and width.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

185. Erik says

     February 11, 2019 at 2:43 pm

     Hey Nate,

     Thanks so much for the response. I always thought my Jamie Lynn was a 157 Wide, but I just measured the waist width and it’s approximately 25cm across. I’m not sure of my current binding angles, but I’d hate to leave myself limited. I currently wear a size 11 2015 Burton SLX boot which I believe might have a reduced footprint. Based on further research i’ve research I’ve narrowed my choices down to the Terrain wrecker 157 (25.7 waist width) and the Jones Mountain Twin 158W(25.8 waist width) I’ve already went ahead and ordered the Genesis bindings after you mentioned how comfortable they are. Just deliberating which board will check all the boxes for me and provide me with the diversity I am looking for. I’m a 45 yr old male and I’m not looking jump off cliffs or win any races down the mountain. I’m lucky to get 15-20 days on the mountain each year and I mostly ride in the northeast with a trip or two yearly it to Utah or Colorado. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and thanks again for the advice and helpful info.

     Regards,
     Erik

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 12, 2019 at 11:30 am

       Hi Erik

       Based on other Lib Tech boards I’ve measured, there isn’t typically a big difference (compared to average) between waist and width at inserts on Lib Tech boards, so I would imagine that the Terrain Wrecker would be around 263mm at the inserts, with the 257mm waist. The Mountain Twin on the other hand has a larger than normal difference. So even though the waist is similar, the Mountain Twin 158W is likely to have around a 271mm width at inserts (based on measuring a difference size Mountain Twin) – so the Mountain Twin 158W is likely to be a good amount wider at the inserts. But if you’ve been riding on a 250mm waisted Lib Tech, and you have Burton boots, then I think you would still be fine on the Terrain Wrecker.

       Also, to note, that width for the Mountain Twin is based on the reference stance, which is 600mm (23.6″) which is quite a wide stance width – if you were to ride it narrower, then it wouldn’t be as wide, where your bindings go.

       The Mountain Twin, for me, is about one of the most versatile boards out there. It feels consistent in any terrain, and can ride any style. I haven’t ridden the Terrain Wrecker but based on specs and what others are saying, also seems very versatile.

       Most Lib Tech boards I’ve ridden are very good in hard/icy conditions, so there’s that, given that your on the East Coast. But the Mountain Twin is pretty good too. At a guess I would say the Terrain Wrecker is likely a little better in that area, but not a huge difference.

       Reply

       • Erik says

         February 13, 2019 at 8:46 am

         Terrain wrecker it is. Thanks for all the helpful info and insight. Keep up the great work. I enjoy your site very much.
         Erik

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 13, 2019 at 4:14 pm

           You’re very welcome Erik. Thanks for visiting the site and glad I could help. Happy riding!

           P.S: If you think of it at the time, let me know what you think of the Terrain Wrecker, once you’ve had a chance to ride it. I’m hoping to ride it this spring, but good to get as many opinions as possible.

           Reply

186. Erik N. says

     February 10, 2019 at 2:23 pm

     Hey Nate,

     I’m starting to research new board and bindings option after about 10 years on my Lib tech Jamie Lynn Phoenix blond. I am 45 yrs old 165 lbs and 5 ft 9′ I wear a size 11 boot. I’m an advanced intermediate rider looking for that one board to do a bit of everything. I really don’t want any limitations and I’m hoping my next set up will last me as long as my Jamie Lynn. I’m not too knowledgeable on the latest technologies and board shapes, which leads me to looking to you for some advice. So far based on a few recommendations i’ve narrowed some of my choices down to the Lib Tech Terrain wrecker 157, Lib tech T Rice pro 157 Jones ultra and standard mountain twin 155W or 158W, and both Burton customs(standard and rocker) For bindings I’m deciding between Burton Genesis and Union Atlas both size Lg. I’d appreciate any helpful info and I’m open to any suggestions you might have. Also in regards to sizing, what do you suggest in terms of board length and whether I need a wide board.
     Thanks!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 11, 2019 at 1:40 pm

       Hi Erik

       Thanks for your message.

       Firstly, length-wise, I would say something around 157 is a good way to go, give or take.

       Width-wise, with 11s, I would say wide in more cases than not, but in some cases you can get on a regular width board. If you ride with angles like +15-15 (i.e. with a reasonable amount of angle on the back binding), then that helps to get on a narrower board – as does low profile boots. If you could let me know the size of your Jamie Lynn Phoenix too. The width of that, assuming you haven’t had any drag issues would also help to make a call. But generally speaking roughly minimum of 254mm waist width, with 15 degrees on the back binding – and min 261mm waist width if a completely straight back foot. This is only roughly speaking as the width at inserts can differ compared to waist width depending on the board.

       The Ultra Mountain Twin is quite a different beast to the Mountain Twin. They do have a lot of similarities, but the UMT is significantly stiffer. It would be the most different from the options you’ve got there, just because of that stiffness. It’s not something that I really enjoyed slowing down and playing around with. It’s a more the kind of board that wants to go fast all the time, from my experience. If that’s what you’re after, then it’s aweseome, but if you want to slow it down and play around sometimes, then the others you’ve mentioned are better options. The T Rice Pro the same to some extent. But if you were wanting something similar in flex to your Jamie Lynn Phoenix, then those 2 would be the closest in that sense. But if you’re looking to mellow it out a little, then the other options are likely better.

       The Burton Custom Flying V is likely going to be going too mellow – and with that Flying V profile will probably feel too loose compared to what you’re used to, IMO.

       The Custom Camber certainly an option, as are the Terrain Wrecker (not one I’ve ridden yet but heard good things) and Mountain Twin.

       If you were to go with something like the UMT or the T Rice Pro, then I would say to pair them with the Atlas for sure. Just going to give a bit more response and drive to those boards, than the Genesis, IMO (the Genesis X would be more suitable).

       For the Custom Camber, Terrain Wrecker and Mountain Twin, both the Genesis and Atlas would work – which one would depend on whether you were more looking for response or wanted something that had better board feel. The Genesis, IMO, are more comfortable and have considerably better board feel, but the Atlas are more responsive.

       Depending on boots and angles, I would say:

       Terrain Wrecker: 157
       T Rice Pro: 157 or 157W
       Mountain Twin: 158W
       Ultra Mountain Twin: 158W (or 155W to mellow it out a bit)
       Custom: 158W

       Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

       Reply

       • Erik says

         February 11, 2019 at 2:53 pm

         I also forgot to mention that I certainly would like to mellow it out a bit from the Jamie Lynn. If I did go with the the mountain twin should I consider the 155w as well as the 158w? Just trying to cover all my bases.
         Thanks again,
         Erik

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 12, 2019 at 11:38 am

           Hi Erik

           Yeah you would certainly fit into the range for the 155W. And width-wise I imagine it would be fine. Further to my last comment, re the 158W having a width at inserts of around 271mm. The 155W is likely to be a little narrower than that at the reference point, even though it has the same waist width as the 158W, as it has a narrower reference stance. But still plenty wide enough for you, I would say.

           Some pros of going 155W are that it would feel more mellow than the 158W (which is a good thing if that’s what you’re looking for) – better for trees, more agile at slower speeds, feel softer flexing/more playful. Better for freestyle in general. Downsides is that it will be a little less stable at higher speeds, and won’t float as well in powder. But that said, it’s likely to be similar in surface area to the 157 Jamie Lynn – as it will be a little wider. And overall, I would say that the Mountain Twin probably has slightly better float than the Jamie Lynn anyway.

           Hope this gives you more to go off

           Reply

187. John says

     February 5, 2019 at 3:05 am

     Hi Natee!
     I have a question about rossignol Onel LF 153 2018.
     I try to buy one on second hand and I’m 169 cm, 75kg and 42 EU Burton.
     You think 153cm is correct for me? I make all mountain, a little pow a little groomers.
     I have a burton cartels 18.

     Thanks

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 5, 2019 at 12:18 pm

       Hi John

       Thanks for your message.

       I think you could definitely ride the 153. I would be weighing up the 153 and 156. Both sizes would be a good width for your boots, IMO.

       For float in powder and stability at speed, the 156 would be better, but the 153 better in the trees and more maneuverable at slower speeds and better for freestyle. Also the 153 would be more suitable if you are more of an intermediate rider. If you’re more advanced, then the 156 is likely the better call, unless you also ride a fair bit of freestyle/trees. You could still ride the 153 as an advanced rider who does no freestyle, but I would be leaning towards the 156 in that case. In other cases, the 153 should be a good size for you, IMO.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

188. Brad Graham says

     January 27, 2019 at 11:28 am

     Hi Nate,

     Thanks for all the information on your site. I’m trying to decide between out what size the 159/162 on the Never Summer West.

     I’m 5’11”, 200 lbs, 10.5 boots. Currently ride an old NS T5 Premier 165, a remnant of my time living out west. I do a bit of everything except park, mostly in the Midwest now.

     Any thoughts would be appreciated.

     Thx
     Brad

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 28, 2019 at 1:17 pm

       Hi Brad

       Thanks for your message.

       You could certainly ride both, but I would be leaning towards the 162 for a few reasons.

       1. It’s better suited for your weight
       2. Both should be fine width-wise for your boots, but the 162 gives you a little more leeway
       3. You’re coming from a 165. The 162 will be less of an adjustment than the 159 – but you would still be sizing down a little both in terms of overall length and effective edge, which I think would be a good thing.
       4. You don’t ride park – that would have been one argument for the 159.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

189. Matt says

     January 23, 2019 at 8:54 am

     Good morning, Sir!

     I am 6-1, 180 pounds, size 12 boot.

     I ride an old High Society Empire (165w) – big mountain board, very stiff. Love bombing runs and hitting the trees.

     Knowing that, what are the major differences between the West and the Standard? Are both of those boards going to give me something a little different compared to what I am riding now? Very interested in both, but I would hate to snag something similar to my board now. Also, would you recommend the 159 in the standard? What about the west? Would i need to look at the wide boards? (west X)

     Thanks,
     Matt

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 24, 2019 at 10:30 am

       Hi Matt

       Thanks for your message.

       I don’t know the High Society Empire (and struggled to find detailed specs on it), but based on what you’re describing both the West and Standard are quite different from it.

       From what I can tell the Empire is a traditional camber profile. The Standard is a hybrid camber (camber between the feet and under the feet but rockered towards tip and tail) and the West is a hybrid rocker (rocker between the feet and camber under the feet and towards tip and tail).

       Both, I imagine would be softer. By my feel both a 6/10 flex. The Empire sounds like it’s quite stiff.

       The Standard is a directional volume twin – basically a twin, but with a bit more volume in the nose. The West is a directional twin – a little longer nose vs tail and a bit of a setback. The Empire sounds like it’s probably more directional, given that you describe it as a big mountain board. The Standard and West are both what I would describe as “do-it-all” kind of boards, that can take you anywhere and do a bit of everything.

       Size-wise, for the Standard, I think the 159 would be a good size for you. I actually like the 156 (6’0″, 185lbs) but for a few reasons I would go 159 for you, even though those specs are similar. 1. because you have 12 boots. I like to size down in length for this board because it’s wide for my boots, but it’s not wide for your boots, so going 159 makes more sense. 2. You are used to a 165W and going down to a 156 would be too much, IMO 3. I like to ride quite a bit of freestyle, so like a shorter board for those aspects. You could even look at the 162, given that even that is shorter and less effective edge than what you’re currently used to. The 162 would be better for you in terms of stability at speed and float in powder. The 159 on the other hand will be better in the trees, and better for slowing down and playing around with (if that’s something you ever do).

       Size-wise for the West, yeah definitely wide with a 12 boots. Usually I would say go for the 160X, but since you’re used to a 165, the 164X becomes an option. Again, the longer 164X will be less of an adjustment from your current board, offer more in terms of stability at speed and float in powder, whereas the 160 will be more agile, better in the trees, better at slower speeds, better for freestyle etc. I personally like the 159 for the West (with size 10 boots).

       Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

       Reply

190. Spencer says

     January 21, 2019 at 5:37 pm

     Hi there. I love your website. 2 questions for you. 1) I am 5-10 and 160 pounds with a 10.5-11 size boot. I think a 158-159 works best but would love your thoughts.

     2) Would also love your thoughts on what board you recommend. I mainly snowboard on groomers, powder, and resort chop. Not doing any tricks or jumps. Looking for a board that can handle high speed carving, even in heavy and choppy snow and float on powder. thanks!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 22, 2019 at 11:14 am

       Hi Spencer

       Thanks for your message.

       Given your style of riding and your specs, I think something around 157, 158 would be a great size for you. And you could even ride 159 for an all-mountain board, given that you don’t do any tricks/jumps. Width-wise, you’re kind of on the cuff when it comes to going regular width or wide, with 10.5s to 11s. If 10.5s and you ride with binding angles like +15/-15 or similar (i.e. with a reasonable angle on the back binding), then you should be fine with regular width. But for all other scenarios, especially given that you like to carve, I think going wide would be a good idea. If you really want to stick to regular width boards, then going with a low-profile boot and really trying to get into a 10.5 would be a good idea.

       Board-wise, you could possibly look at Freeride boards too, assuming you’re riding at a relatively advanced level. They are more focused on speed, carving and powder, and aren’t designed to also be able to do freestyle stuff like all-mountain boards are. So they’re more specialized to what you’re describing. You can check out some options at the following, to see if that’s something you’d prefer.

       >> My Top 5 Freeride Snowboards

       But if you’re looking for something a bit more forgiving (which can often mean better in chop), then this is a good list to look at.

       Or you could also look at the following:

       >>Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards

       Which don’t tend to be as good in powder as all-mountain or freeride – and can be hard work in chop, but I think the Mercury and Explorer would be great options for what you’re describing.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

191. Mats says

     January 8, 2019 at 6:28 am

     Hi Nate!

     I am going for the Yes Standard. Unsure if I should take the 156 or 159. I am 5,11 and 160 lbs, 8,5 in shoe size, intermediate and going for carving and freeride. What size would you redommend?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 9, 2019 at 1:40 pm

       Hi Mats

       Thanks for your message.

       For your specs, I would definitely go 156, even for a carving/freeride oriented style. The 159 would be too long and too wide to work well for you, IMO. If you were going to be doing more freestyle type stuff, I would even say go 153 for this board. But for what you’re describing, I think the 156 would be a good size. It’s still going to be quite wide for 8.5s, but that extra width will help with powder float.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

192. Tuomas says

     January 7, 2019 at 7:40 am

     Hi Nate,

     Thank you for this amazing site and all the information regarding this sport.

     I began riding 2 years ago with Burton Clash and at this moment the board starts to feel little bit sloppy in our Finnish conditions which are mostly hard snow/icy resorts, powder is pretty rare to us and something to keep dreaming about. Clash is very forgiving (and amazing for beginners) board but the edge hold is quite bad in our typical conditions. I’ll keep the Clash for the snowy days, for sure.

     Do you have a board in mind that would work for me? I don’t care too much riding in the park or doing any extreme backcountry, mostly on-trail. Just wishing more hold doing the harder snow/icy parts and picking up some speed. I would consider myself as an (almost) intermediate rider.

     Thank you in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 8, 2019 at 1:03 pm

       Hi Tuomas

       Thanks for your message.

       Not surprised that you’ve had edge-hold issues with the Clash. Like you say, a great forgiving, beginner board – but not one for those Icy conditions.

       At a beginner going on intermediate level, I would look at something like:

       YES Basic
       YES Typo
       Rossignol Templar

       Also, check out the following (all the boards that I consider the best in hard/icy on that list is listed above, but this will give you some more info on the boards.

       >>Top 10 Intermediate Snowboards

       If you want a little step up in quality – but at the same time probably a little bit of a steeper learning curve, you could also look at the likes of:

       Rossignol One LF
       YES Standard
       YES Greats
       GNU Rider’s Choice
       Lib Tech TRS

       If you can’t find any of those, let me know and I can give you some more options, that are still better than the Clash in hard/icy conditions, but maybe not quite as good as those.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Tuomas says

         January 9, 2019 at 2:06 am

         Hi Nate,

         and thank you for your answer. I was looking at the YES Standard few times, but it seems that it’s unavailable here in northern Europe and if I were to order it from States, the price goes too high with the taxes, importing and everything. I’m also going to ride on the Alps like once or twice a year so the next board needs to handle all of this. I don’t mind the bigger learning curve if it gives me a board that I can use for a longer time, I’m worrying that i’ll have to upgrade the next board after two to three seasons.

         I’m 5’7ft, 175lbs and 9/9.5 size boot. I also have the Burton Custom bindings and Burton Moto boots. Do you think these would work with the stiffer board or do they become the achilles heel when riding with something more challenging?

         Do you have any boards you would recommend from Burton with a size in mind? I like The Channel -system which I have on the Clash.

         Thank you!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 10, 2019 at 1:24 pm

           Hi Tuomas

           Having softer bindings and boots isn’t ideal for a stiffer flexing board. I find that softer boots and bindings make it harder to drive a stiffer board, so ideally, you would want to upgrade those too. If you did, you could still use them on days when you take out your Clash (which you can then just leave the bindings attached, which is convenient for days when you do take the Clash out). Of course, you don’t have to upgrade those, but it’s highly recommended with a stiffer board.

           Size-wise, I would look at something in the range between 154 and 156.

           From Burton, I would say that the Custom Flying V would be a good option. Though it’s not the best in hard/icy conditions. Can’t think of too many Burton boards that are, that don’t have camber dominant profiles, which might be a bit too advanced at this stage. Though you might get away with something like the Burton Process (non-flying V) which has Burton’s “purepop camber” which is still camber dominant but not full camber. Or The Family Tree Trick Pilot (though the shortest size there is 158).

           Hope this helps

           Reply

           • Tuomas says

             January 11, 2019 at 1:10 am

             Thank you again for you insights. It seems to me that in this range the Burton is ruled out considering my skill level and riding conditions here. I found the Yes Standard in UK for sale with correct price range so I’m ordering that and will be using the Custom bindings and Moto boots for now when searching for the correct bindings and boots to match this setup.

             Any advices on these would be also appriciated, thank you very much for all the info!

           • Nate says

             January 12, 2019 at 12:09 pm

             Hi Tuomas

             Awesome that you were able to find the Standard. When you change bindings, I would go for something with either a 6/10 or 7/10 flex. Same for boots. Some good options at the link below.

             >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

             >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

             >>My Top All Mountain (medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

             Hope this gives you some good options

193. DD says

     December 29, 2018 at 12:21 pm

     Thanks Nate!

     Reply

194. Jeff Young says

     December 29, 2018 at 8:55 am

     Nate, I just want to say THANK YOU for putting all this great info together in one place. I’ve read almost everything over the past week and have learned a ton, but am definitely overwhelmed at the number of options out there. I’d like your opinion on my unique situation. I’m 30 (5’8 155lbs), been snowboarding casually since I was 13, primarily in the Canadian Rockies. 4 years ago I hurt my back (not on the hill) and haven’t been out since, but I’d like to get back on the horse here now. I recently sold my snowboard I grew up on, no idea what type of board it was but I know it was too small for me now. Before I hurt myself I’d consider myself on the low end of advanced riding, loved bombing the mountain, cautious carving on the blacks, but I could tear up the blues as fast as I wanted. Loved powder as well, so I want a board that will have max fun factor in powder. I’m rarely in the park, not comfortable switch, and any jump would be off natural features.

     My caveat is I want a forgiving board, that’s not too easy to catch an edge on. I want to set myself up for success and give myself the best chance of not having a costly spill. So in your opinion, what would be a good performing beginner board for my style or a forgiving more advanced performing board. I’m not opposed to buying new to get exactly what I want, but there’s a couple good deals I’ve seen locally on a Jones Mountain Twin, Ride Wildlife, Niche Story, Capita Mercury, Rossignol One, and Burton Flying V boards. Could you recommend one of those for my situation I would I be better served with something else? Thanks for your time Nate, I really appreciate it.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 31, 2018 at 1:56 pm

       Hi Jeff

       Thanks for your message.

       From what you’re describing, I would be leaning towards something like the Mountain Twin, Wildlife, One and Custom Flying V. The Story from my experience is a little stiffer, and the Mercury a little more aggressive – and since you want something forgiving.

       The Wildlife, One and Custom Flying V would all suit what you’re describing really well, IMO.

       I think for your level I wouldn’t go for a strictly beginner board, as boards like this are still forgiving but offer more performance than beginner boards.

       The Slash Brainstorm, Never Summer West (or even Snowtrooper if you wanted even more forgiving), or Nitro Team Gullwing would all be good options too, IMO.

       Size-wise, I would be looking at around 155, 156 at an advanced level, but you could go a little shorter than that too, if wanted to get a slightly more forgiving feel. Not too short, so as to eat into powder performance, but certainly 153, 154 would work for you, IMO. So I’d say a range between 153 to 155 would be a good range to look at.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Jeff says

         January 3, 2019 at 11:14 am

         Thanks very much Nate, (sorry for the original double post as well) I hope you had a great holiday season. I’m super close to grabbing a last years model 156cm Wild Life (no bindings) for a good price, however there’s a lightly used 158cm Wild Life with Ride Revolt bindings for the same price. Do you think that’s too long? There’s also a 155cm Endeavor Board of Directors near me as well, do you have much experience with that one? Finally, what are the old Burton Customs like? There’s a good condition 2007 156cm Burton Custom (pre flying V I guess). Thanks for all your insight, will be grabbing something here shortly, and I’ll report back.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 4, 2019 at 3:44 pm

           Hi Jeff

           Thanks for your message.

           IMO, the 158 Ride Wildlife would be too long for you, based on your specs and what you’re describing. Sounds like a good deal, but I think you’d find it a bit long.

           I’m not familiar with Endeavor boards, so I can’t say much there. Based on specs, it looks like it could work for you, but I’m not sure there.

           The 2007 Custom would be all camber I would imagine. And not likely to be very forgiving, so I don’t think that would be suitable for you, from what you’re describing.

           I would go for the 156 Wild Life from all those options (without really know the Endeavor BOD well enough but that could also be an option).

           Reply

195. DD says

     December 27, 2018 at 3:29 pm

     Hi Nate, sorry to bug you again on this topic, but I had an additional question on the Rossi One. Recently had the opportunity to ride the Rossi XV, and while I managed it ok, it took some extra effort to muscle it around the slopes. Assuming you’ve ridden both, is the One a decent bit softer? I did find the XV super stable and hoping the One shares some of that stability but in a softer package. Thanks again and Happy New Year!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 29, 2018 at 11:02 am

       Hi DD

       Yes the One is noticeably softer flexing and also has more rocker and less camber, making it noticeably easier going than the XV. Certainly more suitable for an intermediate level than the XV. Whilst not the same level of stability at speed as the XV, the One is still a very stable feeling ride.

       Happy new year!

       Reply

196. dd says

     December 13, 2018 at 10:27 am

     Sorry Nate – meant to include my boot size is us10.5 on my prior question/post. Thanks

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 14, 2018 at 12:57 pm

       Hi DD

       Thanks for your message.

       From what you’re describing the One LF might be your best bet. It’s a very smooth turning board that’s quite damp feeling. The Standard is a little snappier in feel. Still not un-damp, but not as damp as the One LF – and the One LF is probably, just, an easier turner.

       If you did go Standard the 156 would be your best bet.

       For the Rossi One, I would usually say the 159 for your specs, but as an intermediate rider, and if you wanted to make it an even easier turner, then the 156 would definitely work too, IMO.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • DD says

         December 14, 2018 at 2:32 pm

         Thanks for the quick reply, I will look more at the one lf. on sizing, if I went to the 156, do you think my us10.5 would be ok? I think the waist on the 156 is 252 and on the 159 is 254. my angles are usually 18/9. I’m not a “lay it over” carver by any stretch, but still wanted to check. Thank you again.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 16, 2018 at 12:41 pm

           Hi DD

           Yeah, I think the 156 should be fine for 10.5 boots for you, with those angles. It’s probably the narrowest you would want to go, but should be fine.

           Reply

           • DD says

             December 16, 2018 at 5:21 pm

             Thanks Nate! Have a great season.

           • Nate says

             December 17, 2018 at 1:21 pm

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

197. dd says

     December 13, 2018 at 10:16 am

     Hi Nate – appreciate all your great information and patience answering questions! I posted prior and am still trying to decide between the rossi one lf and one of the yes boards. the new typo appears to have widened their ref stance too much, but I’m intrigued by the standard as you reviewed it quite well. I’m low intermediate, not a bomber, but cruiser looking to add some speed and ride steeper slopes, and no park. also have dodgy knee (old man) so looking for something stable/damp but with easy turn initiation and quiver of one type. am I on the right track with one lf or standard? if not, any other suggestions? I’m 5’10 about 185 and was looking at 156. thank you in advance!

     Reply

198. alden owens says

     December 12, 2018 at 12:02 am

     No mention of the Yes Basic Decade in any of these categories. Did you test that board for 2019? If so what is it about the deck that kept it off any of your top lists

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 12, 2018 at 2:40 pm

       Hi Alden

       Thanks for your message.

       I haven’t had the chance to test the Basic Decade yet. If they bring it out in a 2020 model, I hope to test that one. I’ve heard good things about it and it could potentially make it. Though I would likely consider it all-mountain-freestyle, given that it’s a true twin with a centered stance.

       Reply

199. Carlos Emanuele says

     November 27, 2018 at 7:14 am

     Hello Nate, I left a lengthy comment yesterday but I don’t think it went through. First of all, thank you very much for your reviews, they are very helpful! I followed your beginner board review, and I got a 157W Ride Agenda 2 years ago which I love but now outgrew. I am looking for an all mountain board in the intermediate level, that can be more stable at higher speed. I am 43 yo and do not plan on doing backflips or anything park related, just like to ride down blues and blacks in a cruisy/surfy way. I am 6’1″ and 215 lbs, so the size is also something we need to consider increasing. I was looking at the Burton Custom FV, NS West and Proto Type 2, and Jones Mountain Twin. Any thoughts on these or any other recommendation? Thanks for your help!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 27, 2018 at 11:04 am

       Hi Carlos

       Please see my response to your previous comment above. Comments just have to be moderated before being published. Though it should mention this once your comment is submitted, so I’ll have to look into that to make sure it’s working properly as I’ve had a couple of people mention this recently. Thanks for pointing it out.

       Reply

200. tomas says

     November 27, 2018 at 2:53 am

     i dont see my previos post … checking if it saved in the back end till you respond

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 27, 2018 at 11:02 am

       Hi

       I received your message and replied above. All comments just have to go through moderation before they’re published.

       Reply

201. Dalton 79 says

     November 27, 2018 at 1:09 am

     Hi Aaron,
     Am happy i found your site; Excelent reviews and detailed feedback. Well, please find below a brief of my case and appreciate your support
     I m around 185 Pounds ; 5.6 Ft and 5.95 feet and boots 10.5.
     My level is intermediate to advanced riding; I ride any kind of terrain pretty confident, but generally not good to cruise through quickly in bump areas. I usually think that the board i have is not the best to go throguh quick around turns but most prob is my level 🙂 is not good.
     In the past i had a Travis Rice Pro 157 (or 59 dont remember) for 2 seasons (3 weeks in total aprox/ 1.5 per season) but i find out that has to be charged to make it work well. So i wantes something a little more playfull and thought that the Lib Tech TRS Firepower 159 would work. I m happy with it but not on Powder; Its not super playfull either but overal is very good but for sure not in powder since it sinks the nose to the point of getting trapped; I have set it back as much as possible, but still not working performing well in powder. Also since i m 10.5 i m just in the limit so i think that sometimes i might be touching the snow iwth the boots and slashing on groomers. What i like most is powder, and i use to seek for powder …. but also love to carve on groomers and would like to have a board more playfull for no powder days. I like riding switch and playing with simple ground tricks and intermediate jumps (red – would love to kick bigger black kickers but getting old /40). Last but not least, to be on the safe side for big powder days (Japàn or Heli days / not often) i bought last year a sale of a Jone Storm Chaser 159 which is incredible for big powder days … but if its not that deep is a little too big and stiff .. though it carves very well on groomers. I might have had to buy the smaller version 154 but its done . (should i try to change / reduce size).
     Having said that and after reading your reviews of all Mountain i m now thinking between the following boards – Standard; Yes Greats;Slash Brainstron; Jones Mountain Twin or Never Summer West.

     What would you recommend my as my number one all mountain quiver ; Except for big Granted Powder days where I take the Jones Storm Chaser

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 27, 2018 at 11:01 am

       Hi Dalton

       Thanks for your message.

       I was a little confused about your height there. Just to confirm that it’s 5 foot 6 inches? I wasn’t sure what the 5.95 feet part meant?

       But going off 5’6″, I think the 157 TRS would have been a better option for you. And for the Storm Chaser, I would have gone down to the shorter 152. It’s the kind of board that’s designed to be ridden shorter – and the extra width helps with float in powder (as well as a few other things on that board). I’m guessing you have the 157 for the Storm Chaser? I can’t see it in a 159. I bet the 157 has awesome float in the powder for you though!

       From the boards you’re looking at, the only one I would cross off would be the Greats. Don’t get me wrong that’s one of my favorite boards, but it’s one weakness is powder. It’s a little better in powder now that it’s a little wider, but it still won’t offer any improvement in powder compared to your TRS, IMO. The Standard is an option, and if you were to ride it in the slam back stance, it would be a good option. The West would give you something just on the surfier side, so that’s also a good option. The Brainstorm and Mountain Twin would also work for what you’re describing too. Though I don’t think any of those boards would be more playful than the TRS, from what I’ve experienced, if you were to go for something around 159. But if you went for more around 156, 157, then they most likely would feel a bit more playful. Size-wise for those boards, I would say:

       Standard: 156 – and this is a wider option too, so you wouldn’t have any drag issues with this.
       West: 156 – but if you’re worried about width, then the 157X is also an option for sure (and would give better powder performance too)
       Mountain Twin: 157 or 158W
       Brainstorm: 157 – though this might be too narrow, so the 159W is the next option which could be getting a bit on the long side

       If i had to narrow it down further, I think I would be weighing up between the 156 Standard and 157X West.

       Of course this is based on 5 foot 6 inches. Please correct me if I have that wrong.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • tomas says

         November 28, 2018 at 9:33 am

         Thanks Nate ,
         sorry i not make it clear … but yes i mean 180 cm height (5´9″ if i m not wrong) and weight average is 82 to 85 Kg .
         Seems that Yes Standard is the way to go … now if i take the 156 you think it would be good on Powder ? or very similar to the TRS ? Setting it back would be a must right ? Does it has a good turn initiation for Tree lines ? I read that with a foot of 10.5 US is not that slow … right ?

         Which one would you take ? And you recomend the 2019 Model right ?

         thanks and sorry for so many questions …

         PD: a petty i dont bought the Storm Chaser in a smaller size to

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 29, 2018 at 10:23 am

           Hi Tomas

           Thanks for the clarification. 180cm is around 5’11”, so I would change some of the sizings from before. I would say that something around 159 for an advanced level

           I still think the 156 Standard would be the best option for that board. In the 156 I don’t think you would have any issues with edge-to-edge speed. I have size 10 boots, and I’m 183cm and 83kg – and I didn’t find it too slow edge-to-edge. It’s not lightning fast but it’s medium-fast, IMO. In the slam back stance, I think it would still float more than the 159 TRS. For a couple of reasons 1. Because it’s a wider board and 2. because it has a directional volume shape which helps the tail to sink and the nose to lift. I wouldn’t say it would be worlds better, but I think it would be an improvement. Yeah I would recommend the 2019 model, just because it’s a little lighter than the 2018 model (otherwise they are basically the same).

           For the other options, though, I would change it to look at:

           Standard: 156
           West: 159 (previously I was saying 156) – but the 157X is still an option for sure (and it actually has slightly more overall surface area than the 159 – not by heaps but by a little bit)
           Mountain Twin: 160 (previously I said 157. The 158W is also still an option, if you want to go wider. Though I prefer the 157 for this board, but I like it to be a bit more playful. So that’s still an option if you want more playful – but the 160 or 158W will be better in powder.
           Brainstorm: 159W

           Hope this gives you more to go off

           Reply

202. Carlos says

     November 26, 2018 at 1:10 pm

     Hello Nate, your reviews are awesome! Based on your recommendations for beginner boards, I bought a Ride Agenda 2 years ago. After 2 full seasons, I think I am ready to upgrade. I am 43 yo, and I don’t think I will ever do back flips or anything like that. I just love to ride the slopes on are more cruisy/surfy way. My 157W Agenda is an awesome board to learn, but now that I am picking up a little more speed coming down blues and blacks, I feel it is very unstable, and I understand it is due to the soft flex and perhaps the board being a little short for my size. I am 6’1″, 210lbs and size 12 boot, and I have Burton Step-On bindings & Ruler boots. I ride mostly in the Northeast, but we go west and/or Europe at least a couple of times during the season. I have been looking at these intermediate level boards: Burton Custom Flying-V, Never Summer Proto Type 2, Jones Mountain Twin. Would you recommend these and/or any other board for what I need? Also, what size would you recommend? Most size charts recommend 162W and up for my size and weight, but I am not sure if I should make the jump to +5cm larger from what I ride now? I still want something that is not difficult no initiate turns. I appreciate your advice and thank you very much in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 27, 2018 at 10:29 am

       Hi Carlos

       Thanks for your message.

       Sounds like your progression is coming along nicely.

       Size-wise, I think something around between a 160W to 162W would be a good way to go now. That extra length, in addition to a stiffer flex and a profile with some camber in it, will make a big difference when it comes to stability at speed. And having a bit of camber in the profile will help to give the board a bit of extra liveliness/spring too. But I wouldn’t go all camber as that can feel catchy and also you mention you want a cruisey/surfy feel, so having some rocker in there will definitely be a good way to go.

       Of course, since you want that cruisey ride and are looking at intermediate boards, we don’t want to go too stiff either. Something between a 4 and 6 out of 10, would be a good place to look, IMO.

       Because you’re out east I would go Mountain Twin over the Custom Flying V, just because it’s better in hard/icy conditions. Though the Custom Flying V is a little more of a surfy feel.

       I would be looking at the West over the Proto Type Two for you, just because it doesn’t sound like you’ll be getting into freestyle riding, I think the West would be a better fit. The West has a slightly more surfy feel compared to the Mountain Twin, with as good edge-hold, so I think that’s sounding like a good option. If you wanted to go even more surfy/easy going the Never Summer Snowtrooper would work too. It’s a little softer flexing (4/10) and has a more mellow, more surfy camber profile. It’s still a little stiffer than the Agenda and would give a bit more stability at speed – though the difference would be more subtle compared to going West. Though going longer would also improve stability too.

       Size-wise, I would go with the following:

       West: 160X
       Snowtrooper: 160X
       Mountain Twin: 161W

       The Nitro Team Gullwing would also suit your purposes well, IMO. The 162W probably the best size, though it is getting quite wide. The 159W is also an option if you didn’t want too much of a step up.

       You could also look at the Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker. It’s not a board I’ve ridden but have heard good things. And based on the specs and other Lib Tech boards I’ve ridden, I think that would suit what you’re describing also. The 161W would be a good size for you, IMO.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Carlos says

         November 27, 2018 at 5:16 pm

         Thank you very much, Nate!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 28, 2018 at 2:30 pm

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

           Reply

203. Aaron says

     November 23, 2018 at 12:10 pm

     That helps a lot, thank you!

     Have a great season on the slopes!!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 24, 2018 at 2:10 pm

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

       Reply

204. Chris says

     November 22, 2018 at 7:18 pm

     Hi Nate!

     I’m having a lot of trouble picking out a good board and bindings for me. I want one that I could ride for a long time, even as I progress. I’m 6’, 190lbs and where size 11.5 DC Judge’s. I consider myself to be high beginner. I really just stick to cruising the groomers. Blues and some diamonds with friends. Slower on greens when I’m with the kids. Could you please give me some board and binding recommendations? With sizes? Thank you for your help!! Much appreciated!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 23, 2018 at 3:57 pm

       Hi Chris

       Thanks for your message.

       Since you’re a high level beginner, and want something that’s good for just cruising, but still want it to progress with you, I would look at one of the following. This are what I would consider good all-mountain boards that are just that little bit softer and more cruisy and more highend beginner/low end intermediate appropriate. I’m looking at creating a list for this type of board when I get the chance but in the meantime, check out the following for some options.

       Length-wise, I would look at something around 158-160 for your specs/skill level.

       In terms of width, you’ll need to go for a wide board with 11.5s. I’ve included the sizes that I think would be best for you, in the list below.

       ~ YES Typo – 159W
       ~ Never Summer Snowtrooper – 160X – or even 157X to go even more cruisey
       ~ Burton Process Flying V – 159W
       ~ Capita Outerspace Living – 159W (or 157W)
       ~ GNU T2B – 158MW
       ~ YES Libre – 159W
       ~ Arbor Whiskey – 159MW
       ~ Rossignol Templar – 159W

       Hope this helps

       Reply

205. Aaron says

     November 18, 2018 at 11:41 pm

     Hey Nate!

     Wow! Found your reviews on this website today which are an excellent way to pare down the decision tree… there’s so many boards out there!!

     I’m 5’9″, 165 lbs, boots 9.5/10 US size and based on your skill levels write up I’d put myself at a 6/advanced though my switch game is weak, I’d like to improve it. I love the carves, occasional glading, small jumps, and when the powder is good it’s to the top to hit the bowls (and maybe out of bounds area depending on resort). I rarely go through the park but might do a few smaller jumps here and there. I’ve been riding a 2013 K2 raygun 157 since I started back in 2013.

     All that said I think I’ve settled on the Yes Standard though I’m also looking at the Rossi One, Never Summer West, and Slash Brainstorm. Think you can help me narrow it down? I’m also not sure if I should size up from the 157?

     Thank you,
     Aaron

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 19, 2018 at 12:47 pm

       Hi Aaron

       Thanks for your message.

       Size-wise, I think sticking with something around 156, 157 would be a good bet for specs and how you describe your riding.

       Since the Raygun 2013 has a flat-to-rocker profile and a softer flex, I would say that there isn’t really one board here that is more similar (which might be one factor to help decide between them), though the hyrbid rocker profiles of the Standard, One LF, and Brainstorm are probably just a little more similar in feel than the West, but not a big deal for your decision, IMO.

       Any one of those would serve you well, IMO (and will be a nice step up from the Raygun, IMO). Size-wise for the Standard, since it’s a wider board, it’s sometimes a good idea to size down a little, depending on your boot size. So for that board, it would be a toss up between the 153 and 156 for you.

       For the others I would say:

       Mountain Twin: 157
       West: 156
       One: 156
       Brainstorm: 157

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Aaron says

         November 19, 2018 at 6:20 pm

         Hi Nate,

         Any of these being a set-up from the Raygun is exactly my reasoning as well, there’s just so many choices!

         I learned to snowboard on the Raygun and have definitely put it through the wringer. Part of the reason I was looking at these is to try out a different rocker/camber profile as I’ve only ever ridden on the K2. Any reason you’d suggest sticking to the flat-to-rocker profile?

         Likewise I was thinking a slightly stiffer board would be a plus now that I’ve got more experience, let me know if my thinking is amiss there.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 20, 2018 at 9:58 am

           Hi Aaron

           You’re right on point in both cases. Going a little stiffer now is a really good idea. And going to a profile with camber is also a great idea. It will give you a more lively, dynamic ride. At your level, you should really appreciate that for sure. I wouldn’t recommend sticking with flat-to-rocker. IMO, flat-to-rocker is a good profile for jibbing, good in powder and a good profile for beginners. So, for a jib specialist board or a park board that’s mostly focused on jibs it’s good and for beginners it’s good. That’s my opinion anyway. It’s good in powder too, depending on other specs. But for carving, pop for jumps, general spring and liveliness out of turns, I really like to have camber in there.

           Reply

           • Aaron says

             November 21, 2018 at 8:42 am

             Thanks for the tips Nate, much appreciated!!

             I guess one last question, I noticed that West is Camber/Rocker/Camber whereas the other 3 were all Rocker/Camber/Rocker. I’m not sure what which would be preferred for my riding style (or if it matters at all?). Any advantages to either profile or is it just individual preference?

           • Nate says

             November 22, 2018 at 9:17 am

             Hi Aaron

             My stay just individual preference. Rocker between the feet typically means a slightly looser/more surfy feel. But in the case of the west it’s only very subtly so. Sometimes having rocker tip and tail can help with butters but not necessarily. And often rocker tip and tail is a little better for float in powder. Though rocker between the feet certainly does help with powder float. But yeah mostly personal preference, imo, but I like riding boards with both profiles, so you can certainly like both as well.

             Hope this gives you more to go off

206. Kirby says

     November 5, 2018 at 11:12 am

     Hi Nate,

     I am looking at getting a NS West X. I am 191 cm, 115 kg and size 12 US boots and looking for some help with sizing the board. I ride a lot of treelines, bowls and some groomers. I never go to the park but like to hit naturals frequently.

     Also, could you recommend a binding to pair with the board?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 6, 2018 at 10:43 am

       Hi Kirby

       Thanks for your message.

       It’s between the 164X and the 168X, and I would be leaning towards the 168X for you. But to help with your decision, these would be the advantages and disadvantages of each size:

       The 164X will be more agile at slower speeds, better in the trees and better for your natural hits, IMO. It will also likely feel a little softer flexing than the 6/10 that I rate the West at.

       The 168X will be more stable at speed, have better float in powder and be better for when you open out with wider/longer carves. The flex at this size should feel closer to around that 6/10 flex mark.

       In terms of bindings, I would look at the following list. I think something with around a 7/10 flex for you, for this board would be a good range to look at:

       >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

       Hope this helps

       Reply

207. Rob Matthews says

     October 26, 2018 at 7:15 am

     Hi Nate
     Wow thanks for the fantastic reply. I’ve just been down to my local shop, turns out my boots are 9.5, sorry didn’t realise.
     Anyway shop helper said the Mountain Twin was not good for powder, more for park and riding switch, also said the Standard wouldn’t be any good in the park or riding switch mainly for powder and groomers? I’m very confused 🙂 They said the Standard would be best in a 156 and for the Mountain Twin a 157 or 160 would be good length, up to me. Thing is I don’t know if I want longer at 160 or shorter? I currently have always ridden a 157 whenever I’ve borrowed or hired. Would I struggle on a longer board given my experience as an intermediate? would a longer board be something I spend a lot of time getting used to again before I have to come home? Sorry just want to make sure I make the right choice, just want something I can pick up and ride without too much re-learning but also I can enjoy all of the mountain whichever bit 🙂
     Thanks, I’ll leave you alone after this 🙂
     Cheers
     Rob

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 26, 2018 at 12:42 pm

       Hi Rob

       If you’re worried about the 160 being too long, then I would look at the 157. And it’s a size that you’re used to. The 160 would take a little bit of getting used to, since you’re used to a 157 and the 157 would be a crusier, more casual length for you. And for the Standard, the 156 is likely your best bet, based on the same reasoning.

       I’m going to take a guess that whoever you were talking to in the shop hasn’t actually ridden these boards (and possibly haven’t looked at the specs or have confused their specs with other boards). But even just looking at specs, the Mountain Twin has a 20mm setback (not ideal for switch and good for powder) and has a longer nose than tail (good for powder). Maybe because it’s Jones’ most freestyle oriented board (they are overall far more freeride oriented) and maybe because it has “Twin” in the name. It’s certainly something you can take in the park, and it’s not bad for riding switch, but it’s not predominantly a park board, in my books.

       The Standard is practically a twin and in it’s normal stance is centered (both good for riding switch). Yes it’s got a little more volume in the nose than the tail (which helps in powder) but you only notice that when in powder. And if you use the slam back inserts, then the ride is improved in powder too. And the Standard is awesome for jumps. It’s lively, poppy and has a nice wide platform for stability on landing jumps. And it butters really nicely, especially for a 6/10 flex. It’s even not bad on jibs (though not it’s specialty).

       Whilst I agree that the Standard is good on groomers and in powder (especially when in the slam back inserts), it’s also great for jumps, buttering and riding switch.

       Similarly, whilst the Mountain Twin is fine in the park and fine for riding switch, it’s also good in powder and on groomers.

       Both these boards are what I would call “do-it-all”, with a slightly freeride taste. That’s my definition of all-mountain.

       I would say that the Standard is actually more freestyle oriented than the Mountain Twin, but they both fit in the do-it-all category in my books.

       Everyone has their own take, but I hope this gives you another perspective to help make your decision.

       Reply

       • Rob Matthews says

         October 29, 2018 at 5:40 pm

         Thanks so much Nate, you’re a legend! 🙂
         I don’t know which board I’m going to get but will definitely be one of theses two, I’ll let you know when I finally decide!
         Thanks again
         Rob

         Reply

         • Nate says

           October 30, 2018 at 10:47 am

           You’re very welcome Rob. Look forward to hearing which you go with.

           Reply

208. Rob Matthews says

     October 22, 2018 at 2:55 pm

     Hi Nate
     Firstly this is a fantastic site, I’ve been having a good read through. The time and effort you put into this is awesome!
     I’m looking for a new board as I don’t currently have one. I generally borrow or hire.
     I’m a 6ft size 10 english burton boots and weight 88kgs. Reading your site I would class myself middle to maybe top end intermediate.
     I mainly enjoy groomers, a bit of powder and have done a very small bit of park and boarder-cross (not very good) also enjoy hitting small natural kickers etc.
     I would like a board which would be happy doing the above (basically an all rounder) and also be something I could pickup a couple of times a year (not too steep a learning curve) and will keep me improving my riding and that I hopefully won’t catch an edge too much on.
     I’d also like something which doesn’t chatter or get squirelly too much at speed. A board which won’t fizzle out on the flats. there are so many boards too choose from! 🙂
     I ride in Europe mainly the resorts in the Alps. What would you recommend?
     Thank you so much
     Rob

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 23, 2018 at 10:10 am

       Hi Rob

       Thanks for your message.

       Definitely sounds like an all-mountain board is the way to go for you.

       Since you’ve highlighted speed as a thing, I would cross off Typo – not terrible at speed but a little below the others on this list. And highlight the Standard, West, Mountain Twin and Rossi One. All of which would fulfill your other requirements, IMO.

       In terms of dampness, I would say that the Rossi One and Mountain Twin would be the dampest, but the others aren’t not damp either.

       From what I’ve heard about the Alps, it can get icy quite regularly? If that’s the case, then the Rossi One, Niche Story and YES Standard would be your best bets, but the Mountain Twin, West, Brainstorm & Team Gullwing not too far behind in that aspect.

       Size-wise, something around 159-161 would be a good bet for your specs, IMO.

       Hope that gives you more to go off for your decision

       Reply

       • Rob Matthews says

         October 24, 2018 at 3:20 pm

         Hi Nate
         Thanks for your reply. I think I’d like to go for either the Yes Standard at 159 or the Jones Mountain Twin at 157. Do you think these lengths would be OK? Is there much difference with these boards? Reading your description of a high end intermediate (here What Are the Snowboarding Skill Levels?) basically describes my exact level perfectly. I also generally ride with bindings set at 15 15 but I don’t really understand stance width, I just ride equal, I guess this is something I will hone with more experience?
         Thanks for all your advice and a great site
         Rob

         Reply

         • Nate says

           October 25, 2018 at 10:02 am

           Hi Rob

           I forgot to mention width in my last reply. Since you’re on a UK10 boot, I think you should be looking at 254mm at the waist as a bare minimum – and only that narrow as you are riding with +15/-15 angles. The Mountain Twin is quite wide at the inserts compared to the waist, so you’d probably get on the 157 fine, but I would say that the 160 would be a better size and a safer bet width-wise. But if you like your boards shorter, then if you wanted to play it safer width-wise, the 158W would also be a suitable size for you.

           With the Standard, it’s the kind of board that you would want to go smaller not longer on. That said, the 159 is still appropriate for you. But if you like shorter rides, and think that the 157 is the more appropriate length for you for the Mountain Twin, then I would consider the 156. The 156 Standard is 270mm at the inserts so even that’s getting quite wide (but a good width for your boot size). That’s compared to the Mountain Twin 157 which is 266mm at the rear insert and 265mm at the front insert. The 158W Mountain Twin is likely to be roughly 270mm at the inserts. The 160 Mountain Twin likely to be around 268mm at the inserts. The 159 Standard likely to be around 275mm at the inserts. Which is getting on the wider side for your boots, IMO.

           All that said, I think if you like your boards shorter, then the 157 or 158W Mountain Twin and the 156 Standard – but usually I would say 160 Mountain Twin for you. And for the Standard I would go shorter than what you would for the Mountain Twin, if that makes sense. So, if you like the look of 157 Mountain Twin, then the 156 Standard would be appropriate. I think the 159 Standard could work for you too, but not so much if you prefer something shorter.

           But yeah either one of these would be ideal for your ability level, and suit how you ride from what you’re describing. It’ just a matter of choosing the most appropriate size.

           Hope this helps/makes sense.

           Reply

209. bernhard says

     September 17, 2018 at 7:49 am

     Hi There,
     I would be interested to know if you could also drive the YES basic Decade. But it doesn’t look like it…

     Cheers
     Berne

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 17, 2018 at 11:24 am

       Hi Bernhard

       Thanks for your message. I’m not sure I understand your question but if you’re asking if I’ve ridden the Basic Decade, then no, I didn’t get a chance to ride that yet.

       I would consider the Basic Decade more of an all-mountain-freestyle board. I have ridden the Basic, and from what I can see from the Basic Decade it’s a more powerful version of that. I would say it would make a very good all-mountain-freestyle board but I wouldn’t put it in this category.

       Hope this answers your question but let me know if that’s not what you were asking

       Reply

210. Rasheed says

     September 10, 2018 at 12:23 pm

     Love the updated post. What would you recommend for board size for Yes Standard? I wear size 12, 6’ 0” and weigh 220 lbs. thanks

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 11, 2018 at 10:47 am

       Thanks Rasheed – glad you like the update!

       For you, for the Standard, I would say the 162 (a new size for the 2019 model) would be your best bet. You could also ride the 159 – and width wise would be fine for your boots, but I think the 162 would be the better length, overall. But if you like shorter boards, or if you were to be using a lot for more freestyle oriented stuff or a lot in the trees, the 159 would work well. But to get more float in powder, stability at speed and better carving, the 162 would be a better choice.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

211. Drew says

     September 7, 2018 at 10:49 am

     Im 5’8”, weigh 155, size 8 boot. Cant decide between the Never Summer west or the Never Summer prototype 2. I already own a 2012 Salomon drift rocker, which points me toward the west since I already have a park board. Thoughts on which board, and the sizing. Also totally open to other boards.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 10, 2018 at 10:48 am

       Hi Drew

       Thanks for your message.

       I agree that going West would be a better option since you already have a park board – it gives you a more all mountain option – but it’s still something you can take through the park, when you want to.

       Sizing-wise, I would be weighing up between the 154 and 156. Both would do the job with the 156 being more stale at speed, better float in powder and better for deep carves (IMO) – the 154 more maneuverable at slower speeds, better for trees and better for freestyle/park stuff. I would be leaning towards the longer 156, since you already have a park board.

       It also depends on the size of your Drift Rocker. If you’re riding the 152 or 154, then I would say go 156 but if you’re riding the 148, then the 156 might be too much of an adjustment and the 154 might be a better option.

       Also, one more consideration, is that the 154 would be a better width for your boot size – but there isn’t a huge difference in width between the 154 and 156, so I would consider the other factors first.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

212. Mark says

     August 27, 2018 at 10:44 pm

     Hello!
     I am looking to buy never summer proto type two 2019. I wonder between 154-157 height 180cm weight 71 kg. I mainly drive on designated straights and I like to go out of the road

     Reply

     • Nate says

       August 28, 2018 at 3:59 pm

       Hi Mark

       Thanks for your message.

       If you are mostly just riding groomers and a little bit off piste, then I think the 157 would be your best choice.

       But if you spend quite a bit of time in the park, doing little jumps, spins, etc and also a fair bit of time in the trees, then I think the 154 would work well. But it sounds like you’re mostly on the groomers, so I think the 157 would be the best size for you for the Proto Type Two.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

213. Nick says

     August 27, 2018 at 9:09 am

     Hi Nate
     Great site! This is a fantastic read with loadsd of information. I noticed you last updated this page last month, what changes have you made? Has your top 10 changed at all from an earlier posting?

     I have a question, I’m 6ft, 90kg, UK size 10 boot and am a beginner/intermediate, I can confidently link turns and get down the mountain fairly smoothly but not really been doing jumps or much powder. I’ve only been snowboarding for a couple of years but generally try and go twice a year but often 9 or 10 months a part. I generally hire a board or borrow one from a friend but am looking to get my own now as prices are looking fairly good. Could you recommend something which will keep me improving but I can jump straight on even after having a fair bit of time off?. I’d like an all rounder, mainly for slope riding but with options for the park and powder.
     Any ideas, so many boards I have no idea where to start and want to make sure I don’t buy something which I’m going to struggle with or be too much of a beginner board.
     Many thanks and keep up the great work on an awesome site.
     Thanks
     Nick

     Reply

     • Nate says

       August 27, 2018 at 10:47 am

       Hi Nick

       Thanks for your message.

       It was just a minor tweak. No changes to the boards in the list. It’s stayed the same since the start of the 2017-18 season. I will soon be updating it for 2019 boards, but I’ll keep this on the site, so people can refer to it, if they’re looking for 2018 boards.

       From what you’re describing, I think one of the following would work well for you (I’ve linked each board below to a review of that board):

       ~ Never Summer Snowtrooper – really easy going ride but still good for intermediate going on advanced, but also a board that a beginner can ride. And nice and versatile

       ~ YES Typo – again easy going but still not strictly a beginner board. More freestyle oriented but still good over the whole mountain

       ~ YES Libre – similar to the Typo but a little different (and really reasonably priced)

       ~ Ride Wildlife – more freeride oriented. Not as park suitable but doable in the park if that was going to be your least traveled area

       ~ Burton Process Flying V – playful and easy going but still beyond just a beginner board. Good for intermediate to advanced as well

       ~ Arbor Whiskey Rocker – more all-mountain-freestyle but still would be a good match for what you’re describing, IMO

       You could also go for something like the Mountain Twin, Brainstorm, West or Standard, but I think the above boards would be a good fit for that beginner going on intermediate level and someone who isn’t up the mountain that often.

       Length-wise, something around 159, 160 would be a good length for you, IMO. So whatever length is closest to that in the board that you choose.

       Width-wise, with UK10s, I would say you should be able to get on most of the regular widths, in that 159, 160 length range, unless you ride with a very straight back foot (e.g. binding angles +18/-3 or something like that, where your back foot isn’t on much of an angle). More specifically, with UK10s, I would say something as narrow as 254mm at the waist would be fine if you ride with something like a 12 or 15 degree angle on your back foot. But minimum 260mm if you ride with something like 0 or 3 degrees on your back foot. And take off a couple off mm if you have low profile boots (e.g. recent Adidas, Burton, Ride and Vans).

       Hope that helps

       Reply

       • Nick Robinson says

         October 15, 2018 at 7:01 am

         Hi Nate
         Thanks for the reply. I was hoping to get the Jones Mountain Twin but last years model has gone now and the new ones out which doesn’t look quite a good fit. I like the look of the Ride Wildlife. Given the fact there are now new boards out would you add anything to your recommendationabove? Also what should I be looking for in terms of flex and type of board bottom? I like going fast and would like to minimise chatter, so would I want something fairly stiff? I’m thinking mid stiffnes around a 5 or 6 out of 10?
         Thank Nick 🙂

         Reply

         • Nate says

           October 15, 2018 at 10:19 am

           Hi Nick

           Stiffer doesn’t necessarily mean damper/chatter. To an extent but not always. But certainly stiffer helps with a more stable feel at speed. As does a longer length (or more specifically more effective edge). But I wouldn’t go too stiff as you might not enjoy the ride/might find it difficult unless you’re a more advanced rider and are physically quite strong. Also, stiffer usually means being less maneuverable at slower speeds. But saying that, something around that 5/10, 6/10 flex isn’t overly stiff, so I think that would be a good balance between stability and still being a fun and agile ride.

           For speed you’ll certainly want a sintered base – but most all-mountain style boards, except for cheaper models, come with that.

           In terms of camber profile, you’ll want at least some camber in the profile for speed, preferably. Hyrbid profiles are the best way to go, IMO. Full camber is quite a technical ride and can feel quite catchy if you’re not used to it and aren’t at a certain level. Hybrid rocker or hybrid camber would be the way to go, IMO. Fortunately all the boards we are discussing have one of those profiles.

           However, given the new info about your need for speed, the likes of the Snowtrooper, Typo, Process Flying V may not be your best options. The Wildlife still an option though. Not a demon at speed but hold its own.

           But I think the Rossignol One would be a good option for you. It’s a quite smooth/damp ride and quite stable at speed. Again not a speed demon but a little better than the Wildlife and it’s quite damp.

           Hope this helps

           Reply

           • Nick Robinson says

             October 15, 2018 at 11:20 am

             Hi Nate
             Thanks for your reply, I’ve been doing some more research since I mailed earlier.
             I’ve decided against the Ride Wildlife as I’d prefere a board a board which I can go switch on if necessary and don’t have to worry about catching. I’m trying to decide between the Yes Libre (which you suggested) I read your review on the Jones Mountain twin and still really like that board and finally the Capita Outspace. Given what I’ve told you already about my style and what I’m looking for, which do you think would be the best board and then consequently the best size? I normally ride a 157.
             Thank you so much, I’ll stop bothering you after this 🙂
             Thanks Nick

           • Nate says

             October 16, 2018 at 11:04 am

             Hi Nick

             The Outerspace Living is more what I would categorize as all-mountain-freestyle, but I think it would be a good fit for you. It’s a good option for a high-end beginner/intermediate rider and will keep you progressing. Loose a little bit in terms of powder (just being true twin centered isn’t ideal there) but it is one of the better centered twins in powder, so it’s doable there. It’s a good all-rounder. Certainly good for riding switch.

             Mountain Twin not as good for riding switch and just a little more advanced. I would still say it’s intermediate suitable but a little more of a learning curve than the Outerspace Living and Libre. The Libre is in between in the sense that it’s more freestyle oriented than the Mountain Twin but as much as the Outerspace Living. Though I wouldn’t say it’s as good at speed. The Mountain Twin best for speed, then the Outerspace Living, then the Libre.

             Size-wise:

             The Libre I would go 158. As I mentioned in my other reply it has a 267mm width at the back insert which should be fine for your boot size (usually I wouldn’t recommend a boad with a waist as narrow as 252 for a UK11 but in this case it should be fine, unless you ride with a really straight back foot).

             The Mountain Twin I would say 157 – this is again a case of being wider than the waist suggests. I measured a 266mm width at inserts for the rear insert for the 157. It does have a wide reference stance though and if you were going for a narrower stance it wouldn’t be as wide at the narrower stance.

             For the Outerspace Living, you would need to go for a wide option, IMO. The 156 that I rode was 259mm at the inserts (which is pretty standard for a board of that waist width). So, I would say the 157W would be the best size for you.

             Hope this helps with your decision

           • Nick Robinson says

             October 15, 2018 at 11:23 am

             PS
             The Rossignol One does look like a great board, could I add that to the boards I’m looking at at the sec too, what would you think size wise for me?
             Thanks
             Nick

           • Nate says

             October 16, 2018 at 11:08 am

             Hi Nick

             It’s a tough one. I think the 156 would be too short and too narrow. The 157W probably too wide to be ideal. I think the 159 could work though. It’s 265mm at the inserts, which, if you ride with relative angled binding angles, I think you would get away with. Straighter binding angles, probably not though. I think the 159 would be a good length for you in any case, so I think that length works. It won’t be as good for learning freestyle stuff at that length but it will be good for speed, powder and carving – and still certainly doable for riding freestyle (I own the 159 – 6’0″, 185lbs, US10 (UK9) – and I use it as an all-rounder).

214. David says

     August 15, 2018 at 8:26 pm

     Hey Nate! Been reading a lot of specs and comments on various boards and have been attracted to a few. I’m on the low side of intermediate and 5’9″, 170 lbs, 10.5 boot. I’ll be living in Japan for next few years and will have access to excellent snow. For the past few years I’ve mostly used rentals but bought a 155 Rossi District secondhand and have played on it the past two seasons. I don’t ride switch, but would like to be able play around a little and also enjoy groomers with my family. Interested in all mountain, but really found the tree runs fun this past season which was a first for me. Hope you can weigh in an opinion. I’ll be using Burton Mission bindings. The boards I’m thinking of are:
     157 Jones MT, !59 Jones Explorer, Yes Standard, and Yes PYL

     Reply

     • Nate says

       August 16, 2018 at 10:06 am

       Hi David

       Thanks for your message.

       The only one I would cross off the list for you, is the PYL. It’s an amazing board, but I don’t think its suitable for what you’re describing. a. because it’s more of an advanced board, not really suitable for intermediate, IMO and b. because it’s not something that’s the easiest to slow down and play around with.

       But the other 3 would definitely be suitable for what you’re describing.

       In terms of size, I think you’re in the right place with 157 for MT and 159 for Explorer (the Explorer is something that you can ride a little longer). I wouldn’t go longer than that. The debate would be between 154 and 157 for MT and 156 and 159 for Explorer but I think 157 and 159 would work well. Pros and cons to going shorter and longer, but on balance those sizes would be good for you, IMO.

       For the Standard, the 156 is probably the best bet. You could even look at going down to the 153, but the 156 would work. The 153 (or if you were to go 154 for MT and 156 for Explorer) would be a great size for the trees (more agile at slower speeds) – and also good for learning jumps, playing around and riding park. But the longer options will give you more stability at speed, better float in powder and better for carving, IMO. So, those are some things to weigh up, in terms of sizing.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • David says

         August 20, 2018 at 12:40 am

         Thanks so much for the input on sizing and will take your suggestion to avoid the PYL at my level. Since I don’t have a local snowboard shop, I feel more comfortable purchasing online now. The 156 Explorer is on my wish list! Thanks again!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           August 20, 2018 at 2:39 pm

           You’re very welcome David!

           Reply

           • David says

             October 29, 2018 at 4:25 pm

             I decided on the 159 Explorer and it arrived today. Looking forward to this winter! Thank you for the recommendations and information you provide on your site!

           • Nate says

             October 30, 2018 at 10:45 am

             You’re very welcome David. Thanks for visiting the site! If you think of it at the time, let me know your impressions once you get the chance to ride your new Explorer. Bring on winter!

215. Matthew says

     July 8, 2018 at 10:40 pm

     Hi Nate,

     I’ve been checking out lots of your reviews and think the Jones mountain twin is the board for me.
     I am intermediate and i am looking for an all mountain board that i can keep and grow my skills with for a few seasons.

     I want a board that would suit the conditions of Australian snow which can get a bit icy but also be able to take it with me when i travel to Japan, Canada, Colorado in powder conditions etc.

     I enjoy a mix of carving groomed runs, off the tracks through the trees and hitting natural jumps are drops along the way. Currently learning to ride switch a bit better and hitting some smaller jumps in the parks.

     Do you think this board would suit my needs? Or any other recommendations?

     I am 185 cm tall, usually sit between 88-93 kg and boot size is 11.5 which are Burton rulers so i believe their sizes are known to be a bit different.

     Thanks in advance, your reviews have been a big help already!

     Matt.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       July 9, 2018 at 10:27 am

       Hi Matt

       Thanks for your message.

       It sounds like you do a real mix of everything, which would make the Mountain Twin a great option – it’s really consistent across all sorts of terrain and is really versatile for different aspects of riding, so as a one board quiver I think it would suit your needs really well. It’s also intermediate level suitable but something you can ride as a more advanced rider too, so it ticks that box as well, IMO.

       In terms of size, I would say the 161W would be a great size for you.

       Burton boots (as well as some other brands, like Adidas, Vans and Ride) tend to have a smaller outersole for their size, so you can get on narrower boards, but with 11.5s, I would still go wide even with Burton boots. However, if you really want to go with a regular width, the 162 is an option, but only if you ride with certain binding angles – i.e. if you ride with something like +15/-15 – something where you have your back binding on a reasonable angle.

       You could also go for the 164W, it’s an option – and would be better in powder, and provide a little more stability at speed, but I think the 161W will be the better all round size for you for doing a bit of everything.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Matt says

         July 14, 2018 at 2:46 pm

         Thanks for the reply Nate! It was a great help, espscially with the recommendation on a wide board.
         Would you have a recommendation on good all mountain bindings? I have looked at your top 10 and in terms of price and rating the burton cartels seemed like a good option.
         Are there any others you think would compliment the mountain twin?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           July 16, 2018 at 10:46 am

           Hi Matt

           The Cartels are a great all round binding, especially for the money, IMO. They would go well with the Mountain Twin, IMO.

           Another great option outside of that list (which are just coming out in a 2019 model), would be Union’s new Strata bindings. I haven’t published my review on them yet, but rode them in the spring and they’re a great all round binding, IMO. And they’re the same price as the Cartels. So, the Cartels would work well, IMO and the Strata’s another great option at the same price point.

           Reply

216. Dan says

     June 24, 2018 at 10:44 am

     Nate, thanks a lot man!
     Taking a while to think it over. So far NS Snowtrooper attracts the most.

     A pint is on me, if happen to be near by.

     Cheers mate! Great advises!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       June 25, 2018 at 10:02 am

       You’re very welcome Dan!

       Don’t think we’re on the same continent, but definitely appreciate the offer of a pint!

       Reply

       • Dan says

         July 3, 2018 at 3:30 am

         We are indeed on different ones. However catching different snow around the world is a plan.

         Reply

217. Dan says

     June 21, 2018 at 2:30 am

     Hi Nate!
     I am getting closer to mid level (not pro yet), however want to acquire board, I could go forward with, as well as keeping it for longer time in terms of progression and its quaility.
     Universal, all mountain, classic camber. Mid price.

     What do you think of these ones ? Brands itself?
     ROME GANG PLANK
     or
     ARBOR SIN NOMBRE 2018
     or
     GNU
     or maybe (not sure)
     BURTON DESCENDANT 2018

     Also your own most reliable brand advise would be appreciated.

     Thanks!
     Dan

     Reply

     • Nate says

       June 21, 2018 at 10:33 am

       Hi Dan

       Thanks for your message.

       As far as brands go, everyone you mention there are good brands, IMO.

       However, the boards you’ve mentioned, I wouldn’t consider them to be all-mountain strictly – not by my definition.

       The Sin-Nombre would be the closest. But is a centered all-mountain board – closer to what I would say is all-mountain-freestyle. All-mountain is what I would consider the most versatile, and I sometimes refer to them as the do-it-all boards. All-mountain-freestyle is still very versatile but tend to be weaker when it comes to riding powder – and stronger for riding switch and often for jumps, than all-mountain boards. So a little more freestyle focused.

       The Gang Plank is what I would consider a park/freestyle board – and a more jib than jump focused park board.

       The Descendant I would also consider a park/freestyle board – but more bordering on all-mountain-freestyle than something like the Gang Plank.

       But also the Gang Plank is flat-to-rocker rather than classic camber. And the Descendant has Burton’s Purepop camber, which is closer to classic camber than flat-to-rocker but still not classic camber. The Sin Nombre is pretty much classic camber (but they way Arbor do it makes it less cathcy). Not that I think you should necssarily stick to traditional/classic camber – just that you mentioned it as one of your things.

       The boards you’ve mentioned also vary quite a bit in terms of flex, with the descendant being medium-soft, the Gang Plank Medium and the Sin Nombre medium-stiff.

       Sounds to me like you’d be better off with something medium flex.

       If you’re really looking to stay with classic camber (which I’m assuming you mean a board that is all camber), and looking at those brands, and something with a medium flex, then I would say:

       ~ Burton Process Camber
       ~ Burton Custom Camber (though more expensive than the Process)
       ~ Arbor Bryan Iguchi Pro Camber (centered stance but otherwise pretty much all-mountain)
       ~ Arbor Element Black Camber (centered stance but otherwise pretty much all-mountain)
       ~ Rome National (also centered and not fully camber, but close to)
       ~ YES Ghost (again, centered, and probably what I would call all-mtn-freestyle, but very close to being categorized all-mtn, it’s on the cuff)

       There are of course more options outside of going with traditional camber – it’s a camber profile that isn’t used a lot these days.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Dan says

         June 21, 2018 at 12:47 pm

         Nate! Thanks for reply! Much appreciated!
         Went to the store today and went through various stuff.
         The sales assistant recommendation of course increased the price, which are
         LIB TECH ATTACK (didn’t like much)
         and (due to my desire getting closer to mountains)
         NEVER SUMMER CHAIRMAN 2017 (serious stuff, but the price … )

         What do you recon?

         Thanks!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           June 22, 2018 at 9:29 am

           Hi Dan

           To me, the Chairman would be too advanced and stiff. It’s also what I would consider Freeride, rather than all-mountain. Great in powder, for carving on groomers and great for bombing fast. But not as good at other things like jumps, riding switch, buttering etc. And not that easy to maneuver at slow speeds. A great board, IMO, but I think you would want to be at quite an advanced level to enjoy it – and you would want to ride the style that it’s suited to.

           The Attack Banana would be suitable, I would say (more all-mountain-freestyle than all-mountain, IMO, but still pretty versatile). It’s on the pricier side, but if you’re ok with that it’s doable.

           The TRS would be another good option from Lib Tech – a little more aggressive in camber profile but overall a better board than the Attack Banana, IMO. But also not cheap. The Terrain Wrecker is another Lib Tech option.

           Neither the Attack Banana nor the Chairman are traditional camber boards though. If you’re willing to look outside camber, you’re a mid-level rider and you’re looking for an all-mountain board, then I would consider the boards on this list over either of those. Unless I’m understanding your preferred style of riding and your ability level, incorrectly?

           Reply

           • Dan says

             June 22, 2018 at 3:11 pm

             Nate, again – thanks for your time and such a detailed explanation!

             Confused among such a variaty of brands and purposes, which have been just moved from all-mountain towards freeride )
             Ok – freeride, mid level >>>

             BURTON 2017-18 CUSTOM FLYING V
             Never Summer Snowtrooper 2018
             Jones Aviator 2018
             FLOW RUSH (would you consider at all?)
             Salomon 17-18 Super 8

             Also what do you thin of Capita? Any advises?

             Thanks,
             Dan

           • Nate says

             June 23, 2018 at 11:27 am

             Hi Dan

             You’re very welcome.

             I would say that the Custom Flying V and Snowtrooper are all mountain – but to be honest all-mountain is what I would recommend for mid-level freeride anyway. Most freeride boards are too advanced and usually too stiff for a lot of people. The Super 8 however, is probably one exception to that – I would say it’s technically a freeride board, but easier going than most freeride boards. I know it gets confusing! But yeah, something all-mountain is a good choice, IMO, for freeride for the average rider. Higher level riders get more out of what I would consider full-on freeride boards, if that makes sense.

             So, yeah Custom Flying V, Snowtrooper would do the job. The Aviator is another that I would consider kind of in between all-mountain and freeride – but a little more aggressive than the other 2 mentioned.

             The only Flow board I’ve ridden is the Era in the 2013 model (which I own) so I’m not too sure about the Rush.

             Capita have some great boards. In terms of all-mountain/freeride, the Mercury is a great option. It’s on the stiffer/more aggressive side compared to the Snowtrooper (very easy going) and the Custom Flying V, but still ok for a high-end intermediate rider.

             A more easy going but also more freestyle rather freeride oriented Capita option is the Outerspace Living but it sounds like you want something a little more freeride oriented.

             But also, anything like the Jones Mountain Twin, Slash Brainstorm, Ride Wildlife, Rossignol One LF, NS West would all fit the bill too.

218. Yannick says

     June 12, 2018 at 11:23 pm

     Hi Nate,

     I’m looking for a new board and I was hoping you point me into the right direction.

     I’ve got my park/slight all-mountain board, the Descendant, which I am pretty satisfied with. Looking for a second board now.

     I’m an intermediate rider. I’m looking for something poppy for jumping of natural hits and parks, that can carve when I get to that level and float reasonably well in powder. I won’t be going into the pipe or jib very often but the occasional jib can be done with nearly every board, right? Haha.

     I was looking at the West and the One Magtek. Any pointers you can give me?

     I am 6″1′ and weigh in at 169lbs (+- 11lbs, depending on the type of training I do).

     Reply

     • Nate says

       June 13, 2018 at 12:42 pm

       Hi Yannick

       I think you’re looking in the right place (all-mountain boards), given everything you’re describing.

       I would go for West over the Rossi One in your case, mostly because you’ve specifically singled out pop as being an important factor. Whilst the Rossi One doesn’t have too many weaknesses, pop is one of them. It’s not completely devoid of pop, but its not its strong point either. So, yeah the West would be a good match for you, IMO.

       Or Slash Brainstorm or Niche Story – I think those two would also fit the bill and be a good compliment to your existing Descendant.

       Yeah the occasional jib can be done on most boards – there are some that I wouldn’t but you can certainly hit jibs with something like the West, Brainstorm, Story and Rossi One.

       At 6’1″ and around 170lbs, I’d say something around 160 would be a good bet, at an advanced level. So at intermediate, you could come down a couple of cms if you wanted. In any case, I think the 159 would be the best size for the West. And a good compliment to your Descendant (which I believe is a 155, based on our previous discussions).

       For the Story I would also go 159. From our previous discussion, I think you had size 10 boots, right. The Story, sounds like its quite wide in the 159 but from what I’ve measured with Niche boards, they tend to have a big magnetraction bump right at the waist, that makes them sounds wider than they are. At the inserts they aren’t as wide as their waist width would suggest. In saying that I haven’t measured the Story particularly at the inserts, so I couldn’t say for sure.

       For the Brainstorm, I’d say 160, as it would be the best compliment to your 155 Descendant, but if you felt that was too long for you, you could definitely ride the 157 as well.

       If you are still considering the Rossi One, then the 159 would be the best size for you, IMO.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Yannick says

         June 14, 2018 at 3:29 am

         Hi Nate!

         Thanks again for this very helpful comment of yours.

         I have decided to go with the Never Summer West. The Story seems kind of hard to get here in Germany 🙁

         Should I wait and get the 2019 West model when it comes out or should I just go ahead and grab the current one? Sure, saving a bit would be great but if there are some changes that make the board better, I might wait for the 2019 model. Do you know of any changes (besides artwork)?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           June 14, 2018 at 11:09 am

           Hey

           As far as I’m aware, the 2019 West is identical to the 2018 West, except for the graphic of course – so I’d go for the 2018 if you can’t get the 2018 model in your size. I’d only wait for the 2019 model if your preferred size wasn’t available in the 2018 model.

           Reply

           • Yannick says

             July 5, 2018 at 1:03 am

             Hi Nate,

             it’s me, I’m back and I changed my mind, again. Haha!

             I decided to go with the Brainstorm after reading through all your reviews (again). I got a really good deal on the 2017/2018 160 version of it, so I am excited to take it on the mountain this next season.

             Just so you know!

             Thanks very much!

           • Nate says

             July 6, 2018 at 9:13 am

             Hi Yannick

             Thanks for letting me know. Hope the Brainstorm treats you well. Let me know what you think, once you’ve had a chance to ride it.

219. lewis B says

     May 9, 2018 at 7:32 am

     Hi Nate,

     looking for some advice on what board to go with next, this will be my 3rd stick and now I have a lot more budget to play with now i’m older.
     I’ve had my last board which was a k2 world wide weapon for almost 5 years, it has taught me a hell of a lot about what I like and would want in a board, it was great as a board when I was intermediate rider as it still had the flex and suppleness , never rode too fast for me and turned really nice, was also super light which I loved, and that would be a big factor again in my choice. what I also now know though, is I’m not too much about park stuff as I used to be, I’ve grown into more backcountry riding, but still riding groomed piestes with my mates. I love hitting a natural kicker, and like to use the mountain as one big park. my wants would be something stiffer now, with a lot more grip/ bite in harder snow/ice, something that I can make it through the powder with, but would still love the quick turns, finally has nice stability at speed. I know I’m asking a lot here, but that’s where you come in!

     my stats are;
     5ft 6, 64kg ( 141 llbs) , inter – experienced rider, 15 years riding, 7 on my own boards) reg stance, I ride on burton mission bindings.
     my old board is a 147 I think off the top of my head, but I know I could ride longer now something up to 151/153.

     thanks for the advice in advance.

     Lewis.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       May 9, 2018 at 11:05 am

       Hi Lewis

       Thanks for your message.

       In terms of size, I think something around 151 for your specs, experience and style would work well.

       As I was reading through your message, the YES Standard definitely came to mind. It’s on the all-mountain-freestyle side of all-mountain, but that sounds just like what you are, in terms of using the mountain as a big park. And something you can setback and still be really good on powder days. I guess the only thing is that it’s not like really light – not heavy either, but about normal in terms of weight. I started weighing some of the boards I demoed this season and the 156 YES Standard (2019) that I demoed was 2880 grams. Which is 18.46 grams/cm. The average of everything that I weighed was 18.21 grams/cm. But note that this was a small sample size of only 24 different boards. The heaviest was 20.63 grams/cm and the lightest 16.21 grams/cm. But importantly the Standard didn’t, to me, feel heavy on snow at all. It feels light and snappy. But also note that the 2019 version is supposed to be lighter than the 2018 model.

       If you did go with the Standard, I think the 149 would be the best size for you. Whilst there is a 151 for the Standard, the Standard is a little wider than normal, and sizing down a little is a good idea for this board, IMO.

       You could also look at some all-mountain-freestyle. The following would fit the bill, the biggest drawback for these, would be when you’re in powder. But they’re all quick turners, stiffer than the WWW for sure, but not overly stiff, good grip in harder snow/ice, great for riding the mountain as a park:

       ~ Never Summer Proto Type 2 (I haven’t weighed it but felt about normal)

       ~ YES Greats (slightly heavier than the Standard but not by much – the 156 I demoed was 2920 grams)

       ~ GNU Rider’s Choice (not sure of the weight but felt light on snow to me, just a small step behind the others in terms of stability at speed, but a little better in powder than the PT2 and Greats – but not quite as good as the Standard)

       >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       And some other all-mountain options – these ones probably not quite as quick in terms of turns but still quick. Not really sure of the weight of these, but none of them felt heavy:

       ~ Never Summer West (not quite as sharp in turns as the PT2 but better in powder)
       ~ Nitro Team Gullwing
       ~ Jones Mountain Twin (the Ultra Mountain Twin I weighed was quite light, not sure about the regular Mountain Twin though)

       One more thing about weight. Since your WWW is 147 then going to something around 151 will naturally add weight. That said, since your WWW is 5 years old, the newer boards might counteract that somewhat. I’ve never weighed a K2 board, so I don’t really have any gauge as to what they weigh compared to others.

       Hope this gives you some options to look into.

       Reply

       • lewis B says

         May 10, 2018 at 12:13 am

         HI again,

         thanks for the super in depth reply,
         given me a lot of food for thought, I was already looking at the YES Standard, based on your top 10 selection, never ridden a YES board, but always heard good things, is the 2019 YES standard out then, or will that be dropping soon and you just know some info on it, since you say it will be lighter?
         only reason I was looking at 2018 version now, for next season as there is some big discounts on last season stuff, which is what I tend to do, but I gave my self a healthy $700 budget for this next stick so if its coming out before the next season starts I can probably hold out?

         Cheers

         Lewis

         Cheers.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           May 10, 2018 at 3:50 pm

           Hi Lewis

           The 2019 model will likely be coming out August-ish in the Northern Hemisphere (already out in the Southern Hemisphere but I’m guessing you’re not down there!)

           I demoed the 2019 model in the spring (March). It has a new core (as do a few of the YES boards) and it’s supposed to be lighter/snappier – which I can attest to. It’s not like they felt heavy or anything last season at all, but I did notice a slightly lighter/snappier feel to the boards that got that new core (Standard, Greats Uninc & Ghost).

           So yeah, the 2019 YES boards will come out before next season but probably not until late August/early September.

           Cheers

           Reply

220. Nathan says

     April 17, 2018 at 2:26 am

     Hi Nate!

     I think the Never Summer WEST should be my next board, but I want to get your recommendation.

     I ride at pretty much all types of runs – from steep wind-on-your-face groomers, to the my-quads-are-toast (usually single, sometimes double) black diamonds, and the occasional powder runs at trees. Insert a few park laps (2-4) here and there when not crowded, but I really only go for small to medium-sized jumps, nothing crazy. I love powder runs in trees, but I don’t remember the last time I had more than a half dozen powder days in a season.

     The resorts I go to are the popular ones near Lake Tahoe CA, so they typically are very crowded. This means I need to be able to make quick turns and/or hard brakes in the crowded mornings. Afternoons and/or weekdays are typically better and I have more room to really go for what I enjoy – wind on your face speeds and/or wide carves. Unfortunately this also usually involves riding on chopped up, tracked out, uneven runs.

     It seems to me that the Never Summer West is the best combination of absorption of uneven terrain, speed stability, and carving ability – what do you think?

     I’m 5’6” 162 lbs, though I’m pretty confident I’ll be around 150lbs by the time I use this new board (next season).

     Thank you!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 17, 2018 at 11:25 am

       Hi Nathan

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the West would be great for what you’re describing. Would balance all your requirements well, IMO.

       In terms of size, I would say 154 is the best size for you. If you were definitely going to be 150 pounds, then the 152 would also be an option. But length comes down to personal preference somewhat too – so if you prefer, or are used to riding something significantly longer or significantly shorter, then I would adjust for that too. But yeah, I would say 154 is your best bet (will be good at both 160lbs and 150lbs, IMO). That said, you could still ride the 152 at 160lbs as well, for sure, so if you prefer shorter, then that’s definitely an option too.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Nathan says

         April 18, 2018 at 10:47 am

         Hi Nate,

         Thank you for your input! I think the size I get will probably depend on what I can get an awesome deal on LOL!

         Another question for you — do you see any issues riding this board with the stiff ThirtyTwo Focus Boa boots? I’m still breaking my new pair in, but so far have really enjoyed the heel hold and responsiveness.

         As for bindings, I’m planning on getting Union Ultra or Burton Genesis Re:Flex.

         So basically I’m looking at stiff boots with medium flex bindings and board – any issues with that?

         Thank you!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           April 19, 2018 at 3:30 pm

           Hi Nathan

           All good. I would still stick with either 152 or 154 if I was you – but whatever you can get the best deal on between those two sizes.

           Typically I try to match flex relatively closely between boots, board and bindings but a little difference is fine. The Focus Boa is significantly stiffer, comparatively, compared to the West but certainly doable, particularly if you are liking the boots. If I had to have anything considerably stiffer than the rest of my setup it would be boots.

           Reply

221. Andy says

     April 10, 2018 at 11:47 am

     Hey Nate:

     Great column! Thanks for posting.

     I’m a 40 year old man getting back into snowboarding after a five year hiatus (had a couple of kids and didn’t have the time). I’m 5’6″, 145 lbs, with size 7 boots. I’m an all mountain rider who rides predominately out west (Utah and Colorado). I ride groomers, powder, trees, steeps, and am no afraid to hit the occasional kicker — basically anything and everything. With that being said, I’m pretty much done riding the park. Anyways, I’m looking for a good, forgiving all-mountain board that I can easily take from the front side of the mountain to the backside of the mountain (think Snowbird) but is also playful. I’m leaning toward the Never Summer Snowtrooper (152 cm) or the Ride Wild Life (151 cm) paired with Burton Mission bindings. Any thoughts on those options? How about sizing?
     Many thanks!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 11, 2018 at 1:31 pm

       Hi Andy

       I’d say you’re exactly around the size I would recommend for your specs, style and ability – anything around that 151, 152 mark is a good option for you, IMO.

       Both of those boards seem to fit what you’re going for but I would be leaning a little towards the Wild Life in your case. They do have a few differences. The Wild Life is more freeride oriented and the Snowtrooper a little more freestyle oriented but both still all-mountain. The main differences I would say are:

       1. The Wild Life is a little stiffer flexing but still just a medium flex. A 5/10 I would say, so a little softer than a lot of all-mountain boards which tend to be closer to 6/10, 7/10. The Snowtrooper is softer again with a 4/10 flex, in my experience. But both boards I found to really forgiving and easy going.

       2. The Wild Life has a directional shape and directional hyrbrid camber (camber between and under the feet and rocker towards nose but not towards tail). The Snowtrooper has a directional twin shape and has a twin camber to it – it’s also a hybrid rocker camber (rocker between the feet and to just under the feet and camber from around halfway through the inserts towards the tip and tail). The Snowtrooper has a looser more surfy feel to it.

       3. Where it matters, the Wild Life is better in powder, a better carver and more stable at speed than the Snowtrooper. Not by heaps but noticeably. The Snowtrooper is a better board for riding switch and better for jibbing. Both are good for jumps, but the Snowtrooper better for spins, mainly because it feels more comfortable taking off and landing switch on it.

       On a whole it sounds like the Wild Life might be the most suitable for what you’re describing, because it’s more freeride focused and less so Freestyle but the Snowtrooper would do the job too.

       Hope this helps with your decision.

       Reply

       • Andy says

         April 11, 2018 at 2:44 pm

         This is great, Nate! Thanks for your input.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           April 12, 2018 at 10:16 am

           You’re very welcome Andy!

           Reply

222. Charles says

     April 10, 2018 at 5:03 am

     How come you picked a true twin as your nr. 1 all mountain board??

     People would be much better off with a directional twin or a directional board as a allmountain.

     The yes. standard is a allmountain freestyle deck?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 10, 2018 at 11:00 am

       Hi Charles

       I’ve been waiting to see if anyone would question this! I can definitely see where you’re coming from there and the Standard could certainly be classed as an all-mountain-freestyle board if you wanted to. To me, it’s kind of like an all-mountain board bordering on all-mountain-freestyle or all-mountain freestyle bordering on all-mountain. It could have been in either category but I chose to put it in this one. It’s not quite true twin as the nose and tail are slightly different (more volume in the nose overall – what YES call “Directional Volume Twin”), so whilst it is very close to true twin it’s not quite. The other thing is that it’s designed to have both a setback and a centered stance. Yes, you can setback any centered board if you choose too, of course, but it’s been designed with both a centered stance and setback stance in mind. Whilst neither of these things stops it from being a good all-mountain-freestyle board, it does, in my books, help to tilt it towards an all-mountain board as well.

       It also depends on your definition of all-mountain. Some use the term to mean a board that isn’t designed for freestyle at all – i.e. something to be used on groomers, off-groomer and backcountry. That is what I would categorize as a “freeride” board. My categorization of an all-mountain board is a board that can do a bit of everything – park, freestyle over the whole mountain, groomers, off-groomer, backcountry – the lot. Which the Standard, in practice, fits that definition very well, in my experience with it. All-mountain-freestyle boards (by my definition) tend to not be as good in powder – and that’s another reason that I chose to put the Standard into the all-mountain category – it’s decent in powder. Not sure if that’s mainly because of the directional volume twin, or that it’s a wider shape overall (i.e. more surface area) but both those things contribute to that.

       Hope this makes sense as to why I decided to classify it as all-mountain.

       Reply

223. Raimundo says

     March 28, 2018 at 12:22 pm

     Hey Nate! Congratulations on your website, it’s great you share all of this knowledge and passion, you are one of the clearest reviewers i’ve found.
     I’m an intermediately skilled snowboarder from Chile, looking forward to call myself “advanced”. I weigh about 80 Kg (176lbs) and am 175 cm (5ft 9in). Snow conditions here in santiago vary a lot, since it’s in the high mountains. I never miss a powder day, love groomers (speed!) and am getting into jumping. I dont really hit the park often, and the only pipes around are natural creeks between the hills (not groomed), which I sometimes hit. Through most of the winter, snow packs quite a bit, often behaving like ice in steep runs, which my average Rossi Imperial 156 really punishes, as well as the powder or packed off-piste slopes (as I said, quite average, doesnt excel in anything but going down the groomers).

     So in short, I’ve been looking for an all mountain upgrade that will let me enjoy both powder and icy groomers all winter round, that will be stable, fast and good at carving and that wont kill my legs half day through (I’m not much of an athlete really). I dont really care about jibbing or buttering, but i need to get better at switching so directional twin sounds rigt. Been thinking a hybrid profile, mid or mid-stiff flex could do a good job. Also, I’d like simple, modern graphics if possible (not a fan of Lib Tech’s style for example). After some investigation, this led me to three models:

     Niche Story (i have read it’s flex is softer than stated by the manufacturer, I dont know how stable could that be in steep fast groomers, which places it closer to freestyle than freeride)

     Niche Aether – apparently more balanced than the Story, have you tried it? Magne-traction seems to be less aggressive but quite effective on this one

     Yes Standard – I read that it’s got great carving and ice gripping abilities, even though it has no weird supercharged contact points in the edges (like magnetraction or such). Is it comparable to the Niches? Is it better for flat cruising? (a fair share of flat traverses in my resort, although i hate them, i have to get throught them without risking a fall)

     IDK, am I asking too much and giving too little? should I maybe get a more specialized board and just deal with the downsides but enjoy the pros? This is the first time I have the money to choose whatever snowboard I like, so I’m not used to having so many options, and have never ridden other than starter camber snowboards.

     Thanks a lot for your time, Nate. What would be of the internet without people like you…

     Raimundo

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 28, 2018 at 3:50 pm

       Hi Raimundo

       Thanks for your message.

       I think you’re looking in the right place here, given that you want a board that’s fairly versatile and also since you don’t want one that’s going to fatigue your legs by the end of the day. For both of those reasons, something with not too stiff a flex is a good idea – and given that you’re intermediate then not too stiff is also a good idea. But at the same time, you wouldn’t want to go too soft, or you start to sacrifice stability at speed and carving ability. So something around that 6/10 mark in terms of flex, is a good idea, IMO. And something all-mountain like this is also good, considering you want to be able to ride powder, groomers and throw in some jumps here and there – and to learn to ride switch better on.

       The Story is a little stiffer than the Aether, in my experience, and more all-mountain oriented. The Aether is what I would call an all-mountain-freestyle board. I would stick to all-mountain for what you’re describing, particularly since you want it to perform in powder.

       Between the Story and the Standard is a touch choice. The Standard has great edge-hold in hard conditions. And I think that’s largely down to what YES call “mid-bite” – the waist is quite narrow compared to the inserts. Which also makes it wider at the inserts than the waist width would suggest, so just keep that in mind. I find the Standard 156 is ideal for me (6’0″, 185lbs, size 10 boots), which is shorter than I would normally ride – but I like to size down a touch when the board is a little wider. Even the 156 is 270mm at the inserts, which is quite wide for a 258mm waist – and wider than I would normally ride. But it wasn’t sluggish for me at that width. I love the personality of the Standard, just love that board in general (as you can probably tell from this list).

       The Story is also a little wider at the waist than average, but I don’t think it’s as wide at the inserts. I haven’t measured it an the inserts yet though (as I only started doing that this year, and I haven’t tested the 2019 model of the story yet) but I measured the 156 Aether at the inserts (which has a 258mm waist) and it was only 260mm at the inserts (crazy to have only a 2mm difference, but the reason for this is that there’s a big magnetraction bump right at the waist, which makes the waist measurement seem wider than it really is). If the Story is the same, then it’s a more traditional width at the inserts than the Standard.

       I mention this just so you know what size to go with and whether they’ll be suitable for your boot size.

       I would say that the Standard is better for flat traverses.

       Both boards would be suitable for sure. In both cases, I think the 156 would be the better bet. But you could probably go to the 159 for the Story if you wanted to go longer.

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

       Reply

224. Dennis says

     March 7, 2018 at 8:25 pm

     Hey Nate!

     You have a great website. Learned so much about snowboarding since I discovered it. First I noticed your, top ten snowboard list, and I kept reading, and reading and I think I made the right decision based on all the information you posted regarding size, width, bindings etc. I would appreciate it very much if you could offer your opinion about my personal situation.

     So, I have done a ton of research and it led me to the Yes Typo. I live on the east coast, and board icy/groomed snow conditions often. However, on your top ten list, I saw that you rated the Yes Standard (also ice friendly) very high. For a while I was stuck between which I should get, as this is my first snowboard purchase, and I’ve only ridden rentals in the past.

     My height is 176.5 cm (5ft 9.5 in)
     My weight is 80kg (177lbs)
     My shoe size is 10.5 US

     So, I narrowed my self down to sizes for each board. I am an intermediate all-mountain rider. I pretty much split my time 50/50 all over the mountain.
     I decided that if I got a Typo, I would get a size 158cm and if I got the Standard, I would get the 156cm.

     The standard is a bit on the mid-wide side (25.8cm waist), so I was contemplating on whether my foot/boot size would be sufficient to get good use out of this board.

     Based on your review of both boards, and the fact that I felt like I could grow more in time with the Standard, I decided to go with the 156cm. I was wondering if I could have went with the smaller 153cm though.

     I also ordered Union Force Bindings in Large.

     And I am looking at three boots: Burton Ion -Speed Lace
     Burton Concord – Boa or Speed Lace

     And you mentioned on your website that K2 and Salomon have larger foot prints, so that may help if I find the above boots to be too far inside the edge. Do you have any recommendations for those boots, or boots in general? I’m a little

     So, I’ve ordered the board and the bindings, but would still appreciate your opinion after the fact, since I can always exchange them. I don’t plan to ride until the next season, but wanted to get good deals during the sales.

     And just to reiterate, I knew absolutely nothing about buying a snowboard until I found your website (with assistance from other websites as well).

     Thanks again!

     Dennis

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 9, 2018 at 3:38 pm

       Hi Dennis

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the 156 is probably the right size for you. I would put you on around a 158, 159 for an all-mountain board, and at an advanced level. But the Standard is a wider than normal board, so sizing down in length is a good idea (adds back some of the agility lost, going wider).

       With 10.5s, I think the width should be fine on the 156 – especially if you ride with a straighter back foot (e.g. 0-6 degrees on your back foot) but even if you ride with a more angled back foot, it should be ok. It’s going to be wider at the inserts than is ideal (just because it’s cinched in at the waist, so it’s a little wider at the inserts than a 258mm waisted board usually would be), but like I said, going a little shorter makes up for some of the lost agility/edge-to-edge speed from going wider.

       I think the 153 would be going just a little short for your specs. You would fit on it fine in terms of width, but it would be a little shorter than ideal, in terms of length.

       In terms of going for boots with a longer profile, I don’t think that would help much, if at all. Ultimately your leverage comes from your feet and not your boots (IMO) so having a longer outersole isn’t going to give much more leverage, if any. Applying pressure to the edges is all about your feet, IMO, so maximum width is determined by foot size and minimum width is determined by boot size. That’s my take on it anyway.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Dennis says

         March 9, 2018 at 11:51 pm

         Thank you so much for the advice. It definitely helps.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 10, 2018 at 10:36 am

           You’re very welcome Dennis

           Reply

225. Jack says

     March 6, 2018 at 5:11 pm

     Hi Nate, I cannot express how appreciative I am for your detailed reviews on different snowboards. Keep doing what you are doing, we love you for it! Also thank you for the personalised response for each person.

     I am interested in your board recommendation and size for me.

     I can go down a blue comfortably on regular, can’t ride switch, never tried park. My main purpose will be groomers on hard pack snow and ice since I’m in the East Coast. Therefore I think directional twins may be a good choice for me but not sure (I have only used rental boards). Small interest in attempting small natural jumps.

     My height is 5’8 , weight 160 lbs, shoe size 8.

     I’m currently thinking of Salomon Assassin, Rossignol One, Jones Twin Mountain, Slash Brainstorm, and open to any other boards. Would love to hear your opinion on Assassin compared to the others since it’s not on this list.

     Thanks!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 7, 2018 at 10:22 am

       Hi Jack

       Thanks for your message.

       I think those would all work for what you’re describing. The Assassin is what I would deem an all-mountain-freestyle board. The main differences being that it has a true twin shape and a centered stance. The boards in this list, and what I would determine “all-mountain” in general, have a little bit of a setback stance and either a directional-twin or directional shape.

       But that wouldn’t necessarily discount the Assassin, but it is leaning more towards freestyle, but can still ride the whole mountain. It would be the equal of the Mountain Twin & Brainstorm in terms of edge-hold in hard/icy conditions, IMO, with the Rossignol One being a little step better. But all pretty good in those types of conditions.

       In terms of size, I would say something between 154 and 156 would be a good range to look at for you, generally speaking.

       Specifically for the boards mentioned, I would say:

       ~ Assassin: 155
       ~ One: 156
       ~ MT: 154 (or you could go 157 for this board too)
       ~ Brainstorm: 154 (or you could go 157 for this too)

       Another option would be the YES Typo, which is the equal of the Rossi One in hard/icy conditions, IMO. For that I would say the 155 is the best bet for you.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Jack says

         March 10, 2018 at 12:20 pm

         Thank you for your response Nate! Much appreciated

         Reply

       • Jack says

         March 10, 2018 at 12:29 pm

         Thanks again Nate.

         One follow up question. If I settle with the Rossi One 156cm, would the WW of 252mm be too wide for me? In contrast, the 153cm has WW of 250mm.

         Throughout my rental experience, size 8 is my snowboard boot size. My weight fluctuates from 155lbs to 160lbs throughout the year.

         As you suggested, my other option is slash brainstorm 154 with WW 148mm.

         I guess ultimately I am wondering what WW would be most suitable for me with size 8 boots.

         Thanks!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 12, 2018 at 10:10 am

           Hi Jack

           I would say, ideally something between around 240mm and 248mm in terms of waist width, but sometimes that means a compromise in length or striking a balance between length and width.

           So, yeah, Brainstorm 154 is possibly the best balance in terms of width/length. The MT 154 and Rossignol One 153 would also be doable. You’re not getting a huge amount narrower going to the 153 from the 156, but it is a little bit – and since, even at the 153 length, it’s on the wider side for 8s, going that little bit shorter is ok, since you would be going a little wider than optimal.

           156 for One is still an option – the 153 will be a little more agile at slower speeds, and a little better for freestyle (but since you don’t ride freestyle that’s not a biggie). The 156 will be more stable at speed, have better float in powder and be better for big carves. So there are pros and cons to both. I was leaning towards 156 for you, just because of the lack of freestyle thing, but you could still ride the 153, if you wanted something a little narrower. Same goes for 154 MT and 154 Brainstorm.

           Reply

226. Arian says

     March 1, 2018 at 8:32 am

     Hey Nate!, (thought I posted this earlier but think my comment didn’t get through)
     I saw a few of your top snowboard articles.
     I’m just curious what board you’d recommend for me.
     I’ll pretty much only be in the Poconos, PA. Its pretty icy here on East Coast and not much fresh powder.
     I’m 5’3, 140-150 pounds (realistically 150 right now, but trying to lose weight haha 🙂 ).
     My shoe size is 7.5-8 (I can get away with a size 7 Burton Fiend which fits actually quite well after breaking it in)… The exact size of my feet (without socks) is exactly 10″.
     I already have a Skate Banana (as I thought the Magnatraction would help with icy conditions).
     Its fun, but just wanted to try another board as well to compare against it).
     Been only snowboarding a few years, so I’m a beginner I would say (the Banana’s rocker I guess helps out not get caught on any lumps for a beginner, but I’d be open for a hybrid rocker/camber style style if thats what you’d recommend).
     Note: i do like the idea of trying to become ambidextrous on the board, so I guess that means I’d like a True Twin all-mountain board… and also I’d like to learn how to do occasionally buttering tricks going down the mountain. I am not a speed junkie right now (I do some slow carves down the mountain hehe).
     What boards would you recommend?
     Realize I’m a beginner but cost doesn’t really matter if that makes a difference. and I don’t mind replacing my Burton Fiend shoes (and my binding setup) as well to match the board.
     I’m leaning towards a Yes Standard but they are sold out of my size (which i believe would be a 149).
     Can you give me a few board recommendations and what size for those boards you think should fit me?

     Thanks,
     Ari

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 1, 2018 at 1:39 pm

       Hi Arian

       I did receive your message last week – and replied to it but you mustn’t have received notification – maybe because that comment was on a different post.

       Choosing the Best Snowboard Specs Based on Different Types of Snow

       I have copied my reply again below, in case you still can’t see it there.

       You didn’t mention the Standard last time so to add to that – I think the Standard would be quite challenging if you are a beginner. If you feel you’re ready to step up there, then that would otherwise suit what you’re after. But as you say they don’t have the 149, which I agree would be the best size for you, for that board. The other option if you wanted a little step up (but not as big a step as the Standard) would be the YES Typo.

       Hi Ari

       Thanks for your message.

       It sounds like something that’s all-mountain-freestyle board would suit you well (essentially a twin, centered all-mountain board). Taking into account that you are at a beginner-ish level, and that you need something with good grip in ice, I think the following would suit you well.

       In terms of size, I would say something around 147 to 149 would be a good range to look at for your specs and ability level and for this style of board.

       ~ YES Basic – this is the first board that came to mind for you as it fits all of your criteria well – beginner friendly, good edge-hold in icy conditions and an all-mountain-freestyle board – the 149cm would be a great size for you, IMO. But you could also go 146, if you think you prefer shorter.

       ~ GNU Carbon Credit 147cm – this is perhaps more freestyle than all-mountain-freestyle but otherwise fits your criteria – not going to feel much different to your Skate Banana though – a similar board, except that it’s got an asymmetrical sidecut (heel edge has a deeper side cut). The other thing that it has going for it, in your case, is that the width is a bit narrower than on the Basic – so would fit your boot size better. It’s similar in width to the 148N Skate Banana – so if that’s the size you have with the Skate Banana, then it’s going to be very similar.

       Those are the two that come to mind that come in sub 150 sizes that I can think of. More options around that 152 size, but I think that would be getting on the long size for you – as an advanced rider, I think you could get up there, but for now I would say something 147 to 149 better, especially if you’re wanting to learn some tricks too – but length does partly come down to personal preference and what you’re used to – so if you’re riding something longer now, you might be able to go a little longer. If that’s the case let me know and we can look at other options – but I think the YES Basic would be a great choice for you.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

227. Andrew says

     February 28, 2018 at 5:19 am

     Hi Nate,
     Thanks for a great reviews!

     Can you help me to choose between Never Summer West and Jones Mountain Twin?
     What’s the difference?

     I’m an intermediate-advanced rider.
     Groomer 60%
     Powder 30%
     Jumps 10%

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 28, 2018 at 11:21 am

       Hi Andrew

       Thanks for your message.

       These are what I would consider the main differences between the West and MT, both technically and feel-wise:

       1. Camber Profile: The MT has a hybrid camber (camber between the feet and under the bindings and then rocker to tip and tail) and the West a hybrid rocker (rocker between the feet and camber that starts before the bindings and extends towards the tip and tail). So both have camber underfoot but rocker sections in different places. It usually comes down to personal preference which you would like better – but I’d say that the West is slightly on the looser side of stable and the MT a a little more stable – but in saying that I wouldn’t say that the West is particularly loose feeling.

       2. Even though the published flex for the West is softer than it is for the MT, on snow they felt very similar to me flex wise. The MT maybe marginally stiffer.

       3. The West has more effective edge per size – so the MT has a bit more in terms of tip/tail. Which, IMO helps to make the MT a little better in powder – and also helps to make the West a little better on a carve. e.g. 160 MT has a 119.4cm effective edge and the 159 West has a 122cm effective edge.

       4. The West is a little wider tip and tail compared to length, but just by a little – e.g. the 160 MT has a 298mm tip and tail and the slightly shorter 159 West also has a 298mm tip/tail. So not too much difference there.

       Overall, I would say that the Mountain Twin is a little more freeride oriented than the West, a little better in powder. And the West a little more groomer/freestyle oriented, but it’s still definitely all-mountain. It’s the board I would prefer to have on the groomers out of the two, but getting into powder I would prefer the MT. But I liked both for each. On jumps I preferred the West but the MT is certainly still good there.

       Hope this answers your question and helps with your decision.

       Reply

       • Andrew says

         March 6, 2018 at 12:43 am

         Wow! Thank you for your detailed answers, Nate!
         Another question))
         Jones Mountain Twin or Jones Explorer?)) I’m confused…

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 6, 2018 at 12:12 pm

           Hi Andrew

           The Explorer vs MT

           1. Explorer runs with a smaller effective edge (so essentially will feel a little smaller in the same size. E.g. the 158W MT has a 118cm effective edge and the 158W Explorer has a 116cm effective edge.

           2. The Explorer feels a little more aggressive, in my experience and a little more freeride oriented overall. It has a longer tail and nose – e.g. MT nose/tail length in the 158W is 20cm tail and 22cm nose – Explorer 158W tail/nose length = 21.5/23.5 – this is the main reason it has a shorter effective edge per length

           3. The Explorer also has a wider nose and tail

           4. Even though the specs are the other way around, I found the Explorer felt stiffer on snow than the MT – MT around 6/10, Explorer 7/10 – or maybe more like 6.5/10 – close in terms of flex, but the Explorer just felt a little stiffer on snow, to me (but that’s not from a head to head test)

           Overall, I would say that the Explorer is a little more aggressive, a little better for speed and carving but not quite as good for switch, jumps and jibs.

           Reply

228. Bob says

     February 25, 2018 at 12:52 pm

     Hi Nate,

     First up I of course want to say a HUGE thank you for taking the time and energy to create and maintain this website. Your reviews are very informative, and the amount of detail that you place into it is awesome. Please never stop being awesome!

     Here are my stats:
     height: roughly 5 foot 8 inches
     weight: roughly 140 pounds
     foot size: US 9-9.5

     A little about myself to help you. I have been riding a K2 Parkstar for the last few years, which is a rocker/flat/rocker type. I am an intermediate level 4 rider. In terms of my riding style, I would consider myself an all mountain with a small tendency towards all mountain freestyle. I like to hit the side hits on the edge of the runs, as well as do butters and presses on my way down. I want to get into more park in the future with jumps, rails, boxes but no pipe, but I do not plan to be going off piste or into tree runs any time soon. I live on the West coast of BC, where we get varied conditions from hardpack and a bit of ice, all the way to some powder if we are lucky.

     Now onto my question. I am looking for a new snowboard and am quite at a standstill on what to decide on. There’s just so many to choose from, and I was wondering if you had any advice. What I like about my current board is that it has nice pop, as well as having good flex. However, the board does not give very good carving or edge hold, gives very little pop out of a cave, and does not hold up in powder. I am looking for a board that will hold up well across the mountain, and will be good enough to help with a transition into more park riding. I have looked at the Jones mountain Twin, Jones explorer, the Slash brainstorm, the Yes typo, the Yes libre and the Yes basic. I am very much welcome to other boards not listed, this is just to give you a sense of what I have researched thus far.

     As always, thank you again for the tremendous help you have given myself and countless others. Keep up the excellent work!!

     Thank You!!!!!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 26, 2018 at 2:47 pm

       Hi Bob

       Thanks for your message and the kind words.

       You pretty much described everything about the Parkstar that are it’s weaknesses. And I’m not surprised that you find it lacking for powder, carving and edge-hold.

       I think going to something that has camber in the profile is going to go a long way to helping you get more spring out of a carve, and a little more edge hold, whilst maintaining pop. Also if you go a little stiffer, then that edge-hold and carving ability will be helped. Keeping some rocker in the profile will help with float in powder, and getting something with a little bit of a setback and a longer nose/tail will help too.

       So pretty much everything you’ve looked at ticks those boxes except for maybe the YES Basic – it’s got the camber but it’s a little softer than the others and not as good in powder. That said, it would be a good board for progressing in the park.

       So that’s the other factor, is still having something that’s going to go well in the park as well as increasing those other factors.

       My top picks there would be the YES Typo (kind of like a souped-up Basic with a very small setback). This would be a good option to give you a bit more for carving and edge-hold, maintain pop and also be good for upping your park game. The Mountain Twin would also be a great choice, as would the Brainstorm – though it’s got a more directional shape that might not be quite as good as the Typo/Mountain Twin for the park.

       The Explorer would work too, but it’s getting on the more aggressive sides for your needs – but it would be the best in terms of powder and carving.

       The Rossignol One is another option worth looking at, IMO.

       In terms of length: I think something around 152 would be a good length on balance based on your specs, style and ability. So for the boards mentioned, the following would be what I would suggest:

       ~ YES Typo/Basic: 152

       ~ Jones Mountain Twin: 151

       ~ Jones Explorer: 152

       ~ Slash Brainstorm: 151

       ~ Rossi One: 153

       All of these should be fine in terms of width. If end up with 9.5 boots and you have a straight back binding angle (i.e. 0-3 degrees) then you might be getting a bit narrow on the likes of the 151 Brainstorm or Mountain Twin, but otherwise they should all be great sizes in terms of width, IMO.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

229. Mick says

     February 20, 2018 at 2:48 am

     Hi there Nate,
     My stats are:
     Height 5’6″ (167cm)
     Weight 67kg (148lb)
     Foot Size (size 6)

     Ive been riding an Allian Ingemar Backman Freestyle 2003 Model. The one with the blue deck. 156cm.
     Im a surfer so my style is to go flat out down the mountain and ride low down crouching into fats bottom turns and big carving arcs like im riding a wave. Also i like hitting jumps at high speed. The Backman is unreal edge to edge and gets more comfortable the faster you go, its built for speed. Ive been to places like St Moritz Switzerland, Norway and Austria and am ok on any runs they have. However at slow speed it can be a bit harder to turn and more unforgiving. So i have been looking for a second board that may be more suited to smaller mountains and easier to ride at slower speeds
     Ive been looking at the Jones Mountain Twin, Yes Standard or the Slash Brainstorm. I want something that is still quite stiff and able to go edge to edge same as the allian but want to be able to be more manouverable at slow speed so i dont have to manhandle it as much as the backman.

     Also i think i might go shorter than 156 maybe 152 or less. What do you think about these choices, would they all be suitable for me. I like the slash graphic but only if its comparable to the other two boards.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 20, 2018 at 2:47 pm

       Hi Mick

       I have no experience with Allian boards, so I couldn’t say how any of these compare to your current board. But they are, IMO, great choices for what you’re describing. Something that can handle a bit of speed and are still quite responsive but you can slow them down when you need/want to.

       In terms of size, I think anything around 152 to 154 would be a good bet for you for this type of board.

       The Brainstorm is, IMO, certainly comparable to the Mountain Twin and Standard.

       The Standard is a board I would recommended sizing down for – so for that I would go for the 151 for you. The 153 would be too wide for you, IMO.

       For the Mountain Twin and the Brainstorm, I would go for the 154s.

       I think the Brainstorm would be the best size for you as it’s a bit narrower, which will be more suited to your boot size, IMO. The other 2 would certainly work, but the Brainstorm would be my pick.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

230. Bruno says

     February 20, 2018 at 2:12 am

     Hi Nate,
     First of all, I love your site and your detailed descriptions of every board.
     I’m in a bit of a pickle and I am looking for help.
     Just got back from holiday with my new Capita Mercury 157. I have to say, it was hard working. The board wants to go fast all the time. First day i lost a lot of energy getting used to it. Second day want a lot better. But got cramps in my leg in the 3th day. So my friends who are more advanced tried it out. One guy loved it because it works on technique, my other friend understood why I was getting the cramps, because with my level of riding it’s hard working. I’m thinking of selling it because it will take a while getting my level good enough to ride it with fun. I tried a friends Gnu Riders choise 2013 or so, and this was good fun, but sometimes washing out on long hard turns. Much easier on my legs, fast turn initiation.
     As I told I am an intermediate rider. 80% of the time I am on piste, I like to go of piste some times, but this year was harder because my confidence wasn’t on point with the board. Like to learn some jumps and butters.
     Boots: Burton Ion 2017 size 10
     Bindings: Union Atlas L
     Weight : 180 bls
     Height 5,9

     I was doubting with the outerspace living, but I’m not sure about capita because of the Mercury being such hard work, that maybe their boards aren’t for me. The Gnu riders choice 2018 looks a lot stiffer, so I think this is going to be too much for me.
     Thinking about getting a Yes Greats instead, I know this is listed as a freestyle board, but it looks so much fun and great to improve technique all mountain. Is this a good option? Also doubting with the Yes Typo.
     What size do you advice? 155 or 157?

     Love to hear from you.
     Thank you in advance. Best regards.

     Bruno

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 20, 2018 at 2:38 pm

       Hi Bruno

       Thanks for your message.

       Yeah the Mercury is quite an aggressive ride and it’s more for advanced level riders, so I’m not too surprised you found it hard work. Also, it is potentially a little wide for your boots, depending on your binding angles. I’d say it’s a good width if you ride with a relatively straight back foot (i.e. 0-6 degrees), but getting a little wide for size 10s with a reasonable angle on the back foot (i.e. 12 to 15 degrees). This may or may not have contributed to it being hard work for you.

       The Outerspace Living is a much easier going/less aggressive board, it’s softer flexing (5/10 vs 6.5/10 for the Mercury) and it’s narrower overall. Better for an intermediate level than the Mercury. But I can understand if you wanted to try something different. If you did go with the Outerspace Living, then the 156 or the 158 would both work for you, but I’d probably be leaning towards 156 for you.

       The YES Greats is what I would call an all-mountain-freestyle board (which is what I would also call the Outerspace Living) so it’s all-mountain but leaning more towards freestyle riding. The biggest downside of going with the Greats is that it’s not the best in powder – it’s a bit of an effort keeping the nose floating in deep powder. But otherwise it would be a great choice. So if you didn’t see deep powder very often, I think it would be a good choice. The 156 would be the best size for you for the Greats, IMO.

       The Typo is a little better in the powder than the Greats, so it’s a little more versatile in that sense. A great board for an intermediate level, IMO. It’s not quite as dynamic as the Greats, but it is a little better for riding deeper powder. For the Typo, I would say 158. But you could also ride the 155. The 155 would be easier going, more agile at slower speeds and better for riding park, but the 158 would give you more stability at speed and better float in powder.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Bruno says

         February 20, 2018 at 11:47 pm

         Hey Nate,

         Thank you for al the effort and your detailed answers !
         I tried the Mercury in +15,-15 and +15,-10 and +15,0.
         Also adjusted the angle of high-backs to more aggressive.
         But because my legs where already done for this didn’t make much difference 😉

         The Outerspace living still looks great, and when reading your reviews it looks really fun. Powders looks fun as well

         The greats looks the most fun board for me, but the lack of powder is kind of a downer. Not that I ride it all day, but with fresh snow I love to go next to the track. So maybe this isn’t for me.

         The Typo looks really fun as well.
         How would you compare the Outerspace to this one ?

         Also the Standars looks like a great board. Do you think this one could be for me. Or is it to advanced ?

         Since I am more on piste and not so much freestyle, maybe it’s strange that I’m looking at all mountain freestyle. But when reading your review these look like the most fun and more suited for me. Maybe a bit scared since I’ve gotten the Mercury for a lot of money and this isn’t for me..
         So hard to choose.

         Cheers!

         Reply

       • Bruno says

         February 21, 2018 at 12:49 am

         Hey Nate,

         another question (sorry) 😉
         I can get my hands on :
         Slash brainstorm 157 at 360€
         Yes Standard 156 at 400€
         Yes Typo (2017) 155/158 at 224€

         Might get 2 boards if i get a good deal. Would you advice getting two of these ? Or are they too much the same. If so which one would you adivice.

         THX !!!

         Reply

231. Bruno says

     February 20, 2018 at 2:02 am

     Hi Nate,
     First of all, I love your site and your detailed descriptions of every board.
     I’m in a bit of a pickle and I am looking for help.
     Just got back from holiday with my new Mercury. I have to say, it was hard working. The board wants to go fast all the time. First day i lost a lot of energy getting used to it. Second day want a lot better. But got cramps in my leg in the 3th day. So my friends who are more advanced tried it out. One guy loved it because it works on technique, my other friend understood why I was getting the cramps, because with my level of riding it’s hard working. I’m thinking of selling it because it will take a while getting my level good enough to ride it with fun. I tried a friends Gnu Riders choise 2013 or so, and this was good fun, but sometimes washing out on long hard turns. Much easier on my legs, fast turn initiation.
     As I told I am an intermediate rider. 80% of the time I am on piste, I like to go of piste some times, but this year was harder because my confidence wasn’t on point with the board. Like to learn some jumps and butters.
     Boots: Burton Ion 2017 size 10
     Bindings: Union Atlas L
     I was doubting with the outerspace living, but I’m not sure about capita because of the Mercury being such hard work, that maybe their boards aren’t for me. The Gnu riders choice 2018 looks a lot stiffer, so I think this is going to be too much for me.
     Thinking about getting a Yes Greats instead, I know this is listed as a freestyle board, but it looks so much fun and great to improve technique all mountain. Is this a good option? Also doubting with the Yes Typo. Love to hear from you. Thank you in advance. Best regards

     Reply

232. Rob says

     February 5, 2018 at 10:15 pm

     Hi Nate

     Great website and great reviews!!!

     I am advanced boarder 194cm 100Kgs 45EU boots

     Between Slash brainstorm Ride berzerker or Jones UMT what can you recommend?

     Bombing groomers and deep and jumping from side hits, kickers…..

     Thanks

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 6, 2018 at 1:18 pm

       Hi Rob

       Thanks for your message.

       Because you like side-hits, I would say that either the Jones UMT or Slash Brainstorm. I didn’t find the Berzerker as good for that.

       Size-wise, I would say something around 165, 166 would be a good length for you. And something at least 260mm at the waist. More if you ride with a straight angle on your back foot. Though length also comes down to personal preference and what you’re used to – especially for an advanced rider.

       So the best options for these two boards would be the 164W (262mm waist) for the UMT and 163W (263mm waist) for the Slash Brainstorm.

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

       • Rob says

         February 7, 2018 at 1:14 am

         Thanks Nate, good recommendation!

         What do you think about the pop and edge grip on hard snow for the Berzerker?

         Length and width wise this one still has my preference…167W

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 7, 2018 at 10:51 am

           Hi Rob

           I’d say that the edge-hold in hard snow is pretty good. I’ve ridden boards with better edge-hold but it’s not bad – I’d say maybe 3.5/5

           In terms of pop – again, it’s not super poppy, but it’s definitely got some o.k. pop there. I wasn’t huge on the Berzerker for side-hits though, not because of the pop which was fine, but more the approach, and didn’t like it that much for 180s, approaching switch, that kind of thing, which is the biggest reason I would go with the other two for that. But it’s certainly doable just, for me, not preferable. But if you prefer that size, then it might be the better option overall?

           Reply

           • Rob says

             February 8, 2018 at 2:31 am

             Makes sense yes!

             `You ever tried the Rome sawtooth?

           • Nate says

             February 8, 2018 at 2:14 pm

             Hi Rob

             I haven’t tried the Rome Sawtooth, unfortunately. Just based on the specs, it looks like it’s a little stiffer than the other options you’ve been looking at – not necessarily a bad thing if you like that. But just so that you’re aware. Overall it looks like it would be quite an aggressive ride.

233. Tony says

     February 5, 2018 at 9:00 am

     Hi, Nate!
     Can you tell me, which all-mountain freeride board is better four you?
     Jones Mountain Twin, Never Summer West or YES Standard? Or maybe Burton FLIGHT ATTENDANT?
     I’m newbie, but I need a Powder)))

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 5, 2018 at 2:12 pm

       Hi Tony

       As a newbie, I would go with the Mountain Twin over the rest. You could go West or Standard but they’re going to be a little trickier for a new rider, but I think the Mountain Twin would suit you well. The Flight Attendant will be too advanced for you, IMO.

       If you’d like size recommendations, I would be happy to give them, if you can give me your height, weight and boot size. Getting the right size is also really important.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Tony says

         February 6, 2018 at 2:16 am

         Thank You, Nate!
         height – 182 cm
         weight – 82kg
         boot size – 42.5

         Now I have Head Rush board 159

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 6, 2018 at 1:22 pm

           Hi Tony

           Thanks for the extra info.

           I think something between 157 to 159 would be a good size range for you to look at – so for the boards mentioned, that would be.

           Mountain Twin: 157
           West: 159
           Standard: 156 or even 153 – the Standard is the kind of board that you want to go a little shorter for

           My recommendation would be the Mountain Twin 157.

           Reply

           • Tony says

             February 7, 2018 at 12:07 am

             Thanks, Nate!

             I’ll feel the difference between Head Rush and Mountain Twin?))

             7/10 isn’t it too much for a biginner?)

           • Nate says

             February 7, 2018 at 10:39 am

             Hi Tony

             Yeah you’ll definitely notice a difference between those two boards. I haven’t ridden the Head Rush – but it has a different camber profile, is softer flexing, has a different shape and sidecut – it will feel quite different.

             I would say that the Mountain Twin is more of a 6/10 in terms of flex rather than the 7/10 that it’s given by Jones (that’s my personal take). Which is still stiffer than I’d ideally recommend for a beginner, but this would be the easiest for a beginner out of the 4 boards that you mentioned in your original post. If you want to check out more beginner suitable options, check out the link below:

             >>My Top 15 Men’s Snowboards for Beginners

             Hope this helps

           • Tony says

             February 7, 2018 at 11:28 am

             Nate, do you think it’s a good set:
             – Mountain Twin 157 (find a good price) 2018
             – Burton CARTEL M 2018 ог Technine Elements М 2014/2015 (new)
             – Nitro Thunder TLS 10,0 US 2014/2015 (i have)

             What do you think about Technine Elements?

             Thank you so much!!!

           • Nate says

             February 7, 2018 at 1:29 pm

             Hi Tony

             I think the Mountain Twin/Cartel is a good match. And Medium should be fine for your boots (I prefer medium in Burton bindings and also ride 10s). You’ll also be able to fit the large but I’d say stick with the Mediums.

             I don’t know anything about Technine bindings – so I’m not sure there.

             I also don’t test Nitro but based on specs the Thunder TLS should work well with that setup. You’re looking at an overall stiffer and more intermediate-advanced setup, but everything matches flex-wise, so I think it will work well together – but will be a bit of a step up.

234. Neal says

     February 2, 2018 at 3:27 pm

     Hey Nate,

     Awesome write up and unreal you have been answering messages for 3 years!

     I’m going back and fourth between boards like crazy. I’m 5’9, 175lbs, decent snowboarder but nothing to special, I ride in the west, and am spending less time in the park and more in the deep snow but still like cruising the groomers. I hate catchy boards!

     I demo’ed as Salomon Assassin and really liked it but I’m wondering if I’m missing out on something better. I’ve never tried a board with raised edges like Endeavour B.O.D, but it seems like it could give more float in powder and give a camber board a less catchy feel?

     If you could steer me in a board direction maybe I could make a choice!

     Thanks,
     Neal

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 3, 2018 at 10:06 am

       Hi Neal

       Thanks for your message.

       I don’t currently test Endeavour boards, so I can’t say how the B.O.D feels from personal experience but “spooning” the edges is something that is being done by a few brands now. I can’t say that I’ve ridden an otherwise fully cambered board with spooned edges like that though, but I’d say it does something to make them less catchy (would make sense) but I couldn’t say for sure. It also helps with float in powder – and I’ve experience this on Jones boards that use something similar. So that’s certainly an advantage of it – how much catchy-ness it takes away, I’m not sure.

       Since you’re spending more time in deep powder, I would say going for something with a setback and a little bit directional is a good way to go – but if you want to stick with something centered and twin, then that’s certainly doable, and the Assassin is an option there. Also, if you like riding switch in powder, then something twin, isn’t a bad idea.

       Some of the better all-mountain-freestyle boards I’ve ridden for powder are the Capita Outerspace Living and GNU Rider’s Choice, but the Assassin wasn’t bad either for a centered twin.

       >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       In terms of size, I’d say something around a 158 would be a good size for you for an all-mountain board. You could size down a bit for an all-mountain-freestyle if you wanted, and that would depend on the particular all-mountain-freestyle. For some (like the Never Summer Proto Type Two and YES Greats) it’s a good idea to size down a little, IMO. For anything from this list anything around 158 (give or take) would be a good option.

       The YES Standard would be a different story though, IMO and that’s something that I would size down for – and that would depend on your boot size too – if you can let me know your boot size, I can also recommend a good length for you.

       Hope this gives you a bit more to go off to narrow down a bit. Let’s get a bit of back and forth going and see if we can narrow it down some more – if you can let me know your boot size and also whether you have a preference for staying centered/twin or whether you think you want to go a little more directional/setback, that would be a good starting point.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

235. Trent D says

     January 29, 2018 at 11:46 pm

     Love your work Nate.

     Bit of a conundrum here, I am heading to Myoko in 2 weeks and can’t decide between hiring a performance board, sticking to a regular hire or buying while in Tokyo!

     Would love your thoughts.
     – It will be my 4th trip to Japan and I just love snowboarding! I’d say I am intermediate.
     – I’ve worked on carving and want to improve that. I’ve also spent time in powder. This trip I want to get off-piste and amongst the trees/powder, while having a board that can be fun to play with all over the mountain – next step for me small jumps / buttering on the groomers. Not too fussed about jibbing.
     – I am 5’11 and 90kgs (though hopefully a few less soon haha).

     A performance board is almost $100 more than a regular board for 5 days, and over $200 total.

     Will I be able to really enjoy a regular hire board, or should I pay the extra?
     And if so, if I were to hire a performance, should i just take the plunge and get a great all round all mountain that’ll keep me happy for a few years – based in Vietnam so only get the one week each year in the snow currently. If I left, it’d be back to Aus which doesn’t offer much in the way of powder.

     Let’s say buying is the way to go, then what board would you recommend for me?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 30, 2018 at 3:40 pm

       Hi Trent

       I’d say buying is the way to go. I think you’d appreciate the performance board over the standard hiring – but if you’re going to be spending $200, then it makes more sense to have your own board – not only will it pay for itself financially in a few years, it’ll also mean that you’ve got board that feels the same each time – that consistency is really nice to have.

       And if you go for something all-mountain, which sounds like the best option for you anyway, then it’s something that you could still ride with in Aus – or NZ if you were to take trips there, for example.

       Size-wise, I’d say something around 160 would be a good size for your specs and for an intermediate level. If you can let me know your boot size, I can also recommend a good width range to look at. I think anything here (that has a suitable size), would be a good bet, but look at the ratings tables to see what you think would suit you best (For example, the Typo and Process aren’t as good for powder).

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Trent says

         February 5, 2018 at 6:29 pm

         Thanks a lot, your love of snowboarding is awesome. I’m a size 10 US, don’t own boots but assume shoe size = boot size.

         As I don’t get season access I really just need a great all-round board that can be fun to play with carving on groomers, small jumps and try my hand at buttering but can also get me through pow.

         Reply

       • Trent D says

         February 5, 2018 at 11:27 pm

         Thanks a bunch, your passion for snowboarding is awesome.

         I am a size 10 US shoe. I’ll likely just have one board for all of the mountain and as mentioned I love pow, trees, carving and then chilling out at the end of the day playing around on groomers, small jumps etc.

         I am 180cm and 90kg.

         Cheers.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 6, 2018 at 12:56 pm

           Hi trent

           Yeah shoe size does usually equal boot size these days. Sometimes can be 1/2 a size different. I’m a US10 shoe size and most brands I’m a US10 for boots (Thirty Two and DC boots I’m a 10.5).

           In terms of width with 10s, you can ride anything as narrow as a 248mm waist width, if you’re riding with a decent angle on your back foot (12-15 degrees). If you ride with a straight back foot (i.e. 0-3 degrees), a minimum of 252mm is a safer bet. But most boards tend to fit size 10s well, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding something with a good width on it. I wouldn’t go for a wide board with 10s though. Try to stay under 259mm in terms of waist width, if possible.

           And yeah, something around 160 (159 to 161) in terms of length would be a good length to look at.

           Hope this helps

           Reply

           • Trent D says

             February 6, 2018 at 8:32 pm

             Fantastic, I note the YES Standard longest is 159 but 263 wide… my shoe size is 9.5 to 10 US depending on the pair of shoes. Would I be better off with the 156 long / 258 width? Will the 3cm less length make much difference?

             Also really interested in the Proto Type 2, looks great fun and really popular – but will it be alright in powder?

           • Trent D says

             February 7, 2018 at 7:35 am

             Thanks Nate.

             The standard is a bit wide at 159 length / 263 width. Should I opt for the 156?

             Otherwise would you suggest the proto type 2 (awesome reviews all over the net) or the west?

           • Nate says

             February 7, 2018 at 10:23 am

             Hi Trent

             Yeah the Standard is a bit of a different case. For that I would go with the 156. You take off a few centimeters in terms of length, but since it is wider, in a lot of ways you make up for that reduced length in the width. When you’re up on an edge, you still have less effective edge than on a longer board, but certainly in terms of powder, stability on landings and that kind of thing, the width makes up for the length – but yeah definitely 156 if you were to go with the Standard, IMO. Nice for trees to have that shorter length, IMO.

             The Proto Type Two is a sick board! But it’s biggest weakness, IMO, is in powder. It has a very blunted tip and tail and it’s true twin (well asym twin to be precise) and is centered. Those things don’t make it great for powder. The West would be your better bet. It’s like a setback, slightly more directional PT2, with a longer nose.

             Hope this helps

236. Gavin says

     January 25, 2018 at 1:58 am

     Hi

     Found your website and reviews really helpful but am a bit overwhelmed on what to go for! I board once or twice a season, am 5’10 / 70kgs /boot size 9 and am looking to upgrade my K2 Turbo Dream for a board and bindings that can cover most things. I love coming down the mountain reasonably quickly but spend a lot of time looking for and hopping off into the powder so am looking for something that holds and turns well in all conditions. I am not very adventurous when it comes to the park /tricks / jumps but like to mess around on natural jumps /rollers on and around the piste. Am I asking too much?!

     I’ve been advised to look at the Capita Mercury and the GNU Mullair. Am nervous that the Mullair may be a bit less versatile / stiff though so should I consider the Riders choice or DOA? Anything else to consider? I was impressed by your Yes Standard review but have read others that suggested it is better for bigger riders than me. Budget is not constrained!

     Binding wise, I’m thinking the Burton Genesis or Union Ultra.

     Any help you can give would be awesome!

     Gavin

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 25, 2018 at 2:40 pm

       Hi Gavin

       Thanks for your message.

       I think something all-mountain is the way to go, so you’re in the right place, IMO, since you want to hit powder. You could go with something like an all-mountain-freestyle too (like the Rider’s Choice or DOA) but they aren’t going to be as good in powder – can still definitely ride and enjoy them in powder – but just more effort to keep the nose afloat.

       It sounds also like you want something that will hold well in hard/icy conditions when you get them, so will keep that in mind too.

       Since you like riding fast but also like play around with natural jumps, then I think that something with a bit of camber you are going to enjoy (the Turbo Dream is flat-to-rocker) so no camber in there. Some camber will give you more spring out of turns, more pop and greater stability at speed.

       In terms of flex, I would say something that’s stiff enough – for speed and carving reasons, but probably not too stiff as it sounds like you still like to do some playful stuff and not just bomb the mountain. So, I think something with a medium flex is a good way to go.

       I would consider the Mullair more of a freeride board – which I would say is probably not what you’re after, based on these assumptions. It’s quite stiff and it’s pretty tailored towards speed, carving and powder – all things that you want – but beyond that it’s not as versatile as an all-mountain board. So for when you want to slow it down and play around it’s not going to be that suitable for that, IMO.

       The Mercury is an option for sure. It’s relatively aggressive and it’s great for speed and carving but it’s also decent in powder and it’s something that you can slow down and play around with a bit too, when you want to. It’s not in this list because I consider it just aggressive enough to make my other list (see link below)

       >>Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards

       But if you want something quite aggressive but not aggressive-aggressive (if that makes sense), then the Mercury is a good option. I’d say it’s 4/5 for edgehold in hard/icy conditions too. Not the best but pretty good. I’d say it’s just above medium flex – 6.5/10.

       But there a number of great options on this list too, that I think would also suit you.

       In terms of size, I would say something around a 157 is a good length for you, assuming a reasonably advanced ability level.

       The YES Standard is a wider board, so it’s something that I usually recommend sizing down for – taking a few centimeters off the length that you’d usually go for. For you that would mean going to the 153, IMO. It would still be on the wider side for your boots but that sizing down in terms of length helps to compensate for that. If you were open to going with a shorter/wider option (which is becoming more popular these days), then the Standard is still an option – but if you’d prefer to stick to a more traditional shape, then one of the other options would be more suitable.

       Hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

       Reply

       • Gavin says

         January 25, 2018 at 4:01 pm

         Thanks. That is really helpful. If I went for the Mercury, what bindings would you recommend?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 26, 2018 at 11:01 am

           Hi Gavin

           For the Mercury, I think the Union Ultra would work well – or the Genesis, though I feel like maybe something a little more responsive might be good better for the Mercury, so moving up to the Genesis X might be a better option. And for Union, you could also look at the Falcor.

           I think the Genesis, Ultra or anything from the following would suit most boards in this list well:

           >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

           And anything a little stiffer flexing, I think it’s a good idea to go a little stiffer with your binding, too, so in that case something from the following would work well:

           >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

           So yeah, for the Mercury Ultra, or anything from the list above, and otherwise depends largely on the flex of board you go with. You could still go with something from the all-mountain-freeride list for a board from this list (all-mountain) – so long as it’s not too much stiffer. If not matching, I prefer to go with the binding being stiffer than the board than the other way around, if that makes sense, just not too much stiffer.

           Hope this helps and let me know if you need any further clarification.

           Reply

237. Maggie says

     January 21, 2018 at 1:10 pm

     Just thought I’d pick your brain on advice for a new board. Firstly, I’m a girl and love colors & patterns!! I broke my bindings this year and my Never Summer board is now out of date being from 2010 – its the only board I’ve ever owned. But its time for a new board and bindings……. I am a solid level 4 and probably should be a 5 but high speeds makes me nervous and I haven’t taken a lesson in 2 years to get better at things like switch. I need to work on keeping form on blacks and high speed. I don’t do any freestyle – just an all mountain rider. Any thoughts on a new board and/or bindings? I only get out 1-2 times a year if that helps but want to be a 6 someday.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 22, 2018 at 1:41 pm

       Hi Maggie

       Thanks for your message.

       I think it sounds like an all-mountain board is something would suit you well. Or you could look at all-mountain-freestyle (it’s the kind of board that’s a little more freestyle oriented than an all-mountain board, but you don’t have to ride freestyle on it). I’d go all-mountain if you ride in powder a fair bit – but otherwise either option works.

       You can check out the following lists for some options for women’s all-mountain and all-mountain-freestyle boards.

       >>My Top 5 Women’s All-Mountain Freestyle Snowboards

       >>My Top 6 Women’s All-Mountain Snowboards

       For bindings, I would check out the following:

       >>Top Women’s All-Mountain Bindings

       If you’d like any size recommendations, I would be happy to give you my opinion – i would just need your height, weight and boot size.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

238. Justin says

     January 19, 2018 at 5:27 pm

     I had the T.rice pro 2018 this year and got a refund because it fell apart and now I have to choice a new board. I have snowboarded for around 20 years I would say I’m intermediate to Advanced I’m looking for an all Mountain Twin or directional twin that’s going to be good in the powder on steeps out of bounds for drops and a little bit of Park use mostly jibs and medium jumps. My home hill is lake Louise but I’m all over the Rockies any suggestions is much appreciate it because I can’t make up my mind. Was thinking
     never summer rip saw.
     Gnu rider choice
     Arbor coda
     But I’m not set on any of those boards.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 20, 2018 at 1:29 pm

       Hi Justin

       Thanks for your message.

       I would say anything centered and twin is going to have limitations in powder – not to say that you can’t ride powder in them – I rode in pow the other day on my short jib specialist board and it was still fun – but I definitely had to work hard to keep the nose up. So, whilst the Rip Saw/Rider’s Choice won’t be as bad as that – they’ll still be a bit more work – but since you’re looking for balance for riding the park as well, I think they will be good enough in pow for you.

       The Coda isn’t a board that I’ve had any experience with, but it looks like it’s a directional twin (but still centered) with a slightly longer nose than tail, so that will help for directional powder riding. Of course, if you like riding switch in pow then having a twin isn’t a bad thing – still not going to be amazing in either direction but you at least get a consistent experience in both directions.

       Between the Rider’s Choice and the Ripsaw, I’d say that the Ripsaw is stiffer and a bit more aggressive than the Rider’s Choice. So whether you want something a bit more playful or a bit more aggressive would be the decision there, IMO. For jibs, I’d rather have the Rider’s Choice, but I do prefer something softer flexing for jibs. For Carving/Speed I’d rather be on the Ripsaw and for powder the Rider’s Choice just a bit more preferred, just a little more surfy feeling and has more rocker in there than the Ripsaw which is more camber dominant.

       If you want to check out other options along the lines of the Rider’s Choice and the Ripsaw, check out the links below.

       >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       ~ Top 5 Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       But yeah, I think they would be suitable for what you’re describing, but it just depends if you want something a more aggressive/responsive or something more playful. I’d consider the T Rice Pro more on the aggressive side, so it might be that you prefer that side of things. I can’t say much about the Coda – it could be an option too, though it looks like it’s full camber – which is usually a good thing for speed, carving, pop, edge-hold and aggressive riding, but not necessarily as good for jibs or powder, not having any rocker in there at all. Looks like it’s on the stiffer side, like the Ripsaw, so if that’s something you’re looking for it’s got that in it’s favor too.

       Anyway, hope this gives you more to go off for your decision

       Reply

239. John says

     January 19, 2018 at 11:38 am

     Hey Nate,

     Awesome article man. I’m a beginner, I’ve gone out 5 long weekend trips with some friends, I’m hooked and picking it up pretty quickly so I’m ready to invest in my own setup. I’ve been on a Yes Basic and have really enjoyed it but I’d like to step up to maybe the Yes Typo or one of the other boards. I don’t see myself doing a ton of park but will definitely be in there from time to time. Can you recommend a beginner all mountain set up.
     I’m 5’10 185lbs size 10.5 boot.
     Thanks

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 19, 2018 at 2:11 pm

       Hi John

       Thanks for your message.

       I think the Typo would be a good option. A good little step up from the Basic, and in a more all-mountain setup than the Basic, but not too big a leap.

       In terms of length, I’d say something around 156 to 158 would be a good length for you at this stage. I think ultimately, once you’re more advanced you could switch up to more like a 159, 160, if you wanted to, but at this point I think you’d get more out of something slightly shorter. As a rule of thumb, I’d normally say take off 3-5cm as a beginner, which would put you around 155 to 157, but since it sounds like you’re picking things up quickly, I think 156 to 158 is probably the best range to look at.

       In terms of width, on a 10.5 boot, you could ride as narrow as around 250mm, but only that narrow if you ride with binding angles like +15/-15 (i.e. with a decent angle on the back foot). But if you ride with a straighter back foot (e.g. 0-3 degrees on the back foot, then you’d need to go at least 258mm waist width, IMO.

       So I’d say it’s between the 156W and the 158 for the Typo, depending on binding angles.

       Another great beginner all-mountain option is the Never Summer Snowtrooper – beginner friendly but all-mountain and still a really quality deck. For that the 156 (252mm waist) would be a great length (depending on binding angles) or the 157X (262mm waist) – though that’s getting on the wide side overall, IMO, for you, even with a straight back foot, but still definitely doable. It will have a different feel to the Basic (because of rocker between the feet and camber to tip and tail, Basic (and Typo) have camber between the feet and rocker to tip and tail).

       Burton Process Flying V is another option (157 or 157W) – a more similar profile (rocker between the feet, camber towards tip and tail and then a bit of rocker again before tip and tail) as the Snowtrooper. Also note that if you often ride in hard/icy conditions, the other options would be better than this one, IMO.

       Or Rossignol Templar (158 or 156W)

       Hope this helps

       Reply

240. Jason says

     January 18, 2018 at 8:26 am

     Check out the new Karakorum “quiver connectors” for their Prime bindings – tempting just to be able to swap bindings around super easily. $700 tempting? We’ll see.

     The Prime System
     Ended up grabbing some Ride Insanos and a Jones Flagship 165w, can’t wait to test it out.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 18, 2018 at 2:55 pm

       But then I’d have no reason to have multiple pairs of bindings – and I like having lots of bindings! 😉

       But seriously that does look pretty cool.

       That said, I do like to ride softer or stiffer bindings depending the board – so having more than 1 is nice – but I definitely see the appeal there.

       Nice work on the Insano and Flagship. Would be interested to hear what you think of them once you’ve had a chance to ride them. And also how you feel that combo works with your 13s.

       Happy riding with your new setup!

       Reply

241. Jason says

     January 11, 2018 at 8:34 am

     Hey Nate,

     Thanks for the post. I’m actually in the process of picking out a new board now, this has been helpful. I’ve been finding it difficult because I’m 6’4″, 220, and a size 13 boot (stance is 15, -6.) Do you have any picks for all-mountain boards geared towards bigger riders? I’ve been snowboarding for a long time and and can ride just about any terrain. I like to go fast and to see the whole mountain. My typical day is a mix of bowls, chutes, trees, bumps, groomers, even a little park time (no rails.) I live on the East Coast, but try to get out West as often as possible. Anyway, curious to know what your recommendation would be.

     Jason

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 11, 2018 at 2:40 pm

       Hi Jason

       Thanks for your message.

       The first board that springs to mind is the Lib Tech Skunk Ape – it’s not something that I’ve ridden because it’s designed only for bigger boots and I wouldn’t be able to test it properly with my size 10s. It’s also known to be really good in icy conditions and based on other boards with that magne-traction, I’d say that it would be. It’s an all mountain board, so I think it would be a good match. I think the 165W would be a good size for you. It would still be on the narrow side for size 13s with a 6 degree back angle, but you might squeeze on there – what brand boots do you have? If you prefer your ride a little longer, or you’re coming from a longer board, then the 169W is also an option.

       An even better option size-wise would be the Nitro Magnum – not a board I’ve ridden again, but it’s another all-mountain board and is a wide specific board. The 165W has a 274mm waist and the 168W (if you were thinking longer) has a 278mm waist. For those options, I would be pretty confident that you wouldn’t have any width issues. I have no idea what it would be like in icy conditions, as Nitro isn’t a brand that I test.

       Then there’s the Ride Timeless – which has a 275mm waist width for the 167. So size-wise a good fit. But just note that this what I would consider a freeride board and it’s also the stiffest board I’ve ridden. If that’s not an issue for you, then that’s also an option. But I think for what you’re describing, either the Skunk Ape or the Magnum are probably the better options – with the Magnum being the safer out of the two in terms of width.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Jason says

         January 15, 2018 at 10:56 am

         Thanks Nate! The skunk ape is one that I’ve come across in my searches but the magnum and timeless are two I hadn’t considered yet. I think 165W is about where I want to be – the Jones Flagship is another that I’ve been thinking about.

         Right now I have a pair of 2011 Salomon Evos that I need to replace – hopefully with something equally stiff but lower profile. The K2 bindings I use have toe lifters that help with drag, but I’ve been eyeing some Karakorums lately that probably wouldn’t have that. For snowboards, I’ve been switching between a Sierra Stunt (read Burton Blunt) 159W and a Burton Baron 172 that I got back in 2004 when everyone thought that a snowboard should at least reach your chin. One feels like trying to ride a sponge, while the other isn’t inclined to turn until you’re going at least 40mph.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 15, 2018 at 2:01 pm

           Hi Jason

           Thanks for the description of your current boards – cracked me up – and also very apt “one feels like trying to ride a sponge and the other isn’t inclined to turn until you hit 40mph”! classic.

           Switching to low profile boots is definitely recommended for your size, and that would give you a little more leeway width-wise. That and the toe lifters, could help to get you on something like a Skunk Ape 165W or even Flagship 165W. I’m not familiar with Karakorums – I had it in my head they were mostly splitboard bindings (not something I have any experience with).

           Reply

       • Jason says

         January 15, 2018 at 1:00 pm

         Thanks Nate!

         That Skunk Ape is one I’ve been looking into. 163-165 is the range I’m looking into, right now I have a 159 and a 172 – neither is that good of a fit unfortunately. Have you ever ridden a Bataleon? I’m considering the Stallion as well – the 3BT tech they’re harping seems pretty innovative but I’d be curious to know if you have an opinion.

         Jason

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 15, 2018 at 2:13 pm

           Hi Jason

           I haven’t tested any Bataleon boards – not a brand i currently demo, so I can’t really help you in terms of the Stallion, unfortunately. But that 3BT does sound interesting – and definitely another option in terms of sizing. 3BT definitely something I’d like to try – hopefully can get a look at some Bataleon’s this season.

           Reply

242. Drew says

     January 10, 2018 at 8:05 pm

     Hi Nate,

     I appreciate what you do here with your website. Probably the most helpful snowboarding review website that I’ve come across so far…

     I’m in the market for a new all mountain board. I get out west typically twice a season and would consider myself an intermediate to advanced rider if I was comparing to myself to other all mountain riders on the slopes. My primary objective when get out is to find untouched stashes even if that means a little hiking is involved…

     I’m 5′ 7” and hover right around 150 pounds give or take 3 pounds or so, boot size 9.5. I’ve been riding a (158) Forum Grudge for the past 8 years and have loved it like and extension of my body. I’ve never even demoed another bored since then but think its time to pull the trigger on something a little more technically advanced.

     I was about to go right ahead and order the Yes Standard (156) after reading your review but then stumbled across a review explaining how the 156 isn’t probably the best choice if you have under a size 11 boot and almost a definite bad choice if you have anything other a ten. It mentioned this due the stance width or lack there of. I wanted to get your thoughts on this and possibly a recommendation on another board then. (the jones mountain twin, slash brainstorm and never summer west all seem like great options but sometime too many options makes things harder)

     Any way once again I appreciate you, your website and your time. If you have a chance to get back with me sometime that would be dope.

     May the snow gods be with you

     -Drew

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 11, 2018 at 12:47 pm

       Hi Drew

       Thanks for your message.

       The Standard is a wider board. So it’s good for those with longer feet or as a semi short/wide type board. Short wide type boards typically take off some length and add width. So they’re designed to be ridden at a shorter length. The maneuverability you loose for going wider is made up for in a shorter length. I say semi short/wide because it’s not to the same degree as some outright short/wides that recommend taking off 5-10cm of length.

       For your specs, I would say that the 153 would be the size you’d want to go with for this board. You would be going shorter but you make up for that shortness with extra width (so you still get decent surface area for float in powder).

       If you found a 2017 model, the 156 would be a good size for you in that model – it had a more traditional shape then.

       But if all of that sounds too foreign and you want to go with a more traditional shape and length, then something like the Mountain Twin, Brainstorm or West would all be great choices for you, IMO. I would add the Rossi One to that list too. A great intermediate to advanced level, do-it-all board.

       In terms of length, I would typically recommend something around 154, 155 for your height and weight – but if you’re used to a 158 and think you want to stay closer to that length, then you could definitely do that.

       So for those boards, the sizes you’d be looking at would be:

       MT: 154 or 157 – 154 would probably have the better waist width for you, but the 253mm waist width on the 157 is doable too, if you wanted to stay at a longer length
       Brainstorm: 154 or 157 again – but in this case the 157 has a 250mm waist and the 154 a 248mm waist – both would be suitable but this would be a better waist width if you decided to go for a 157, compared with the MT
       West: 154 (250mm waist) or 156 (252mm waist)
       Rossi One: 153 (250mm waist) or 156 (252mm waist)

       Hope this helps with your decision

       Reply

243. Michael says

     January 7, 2018 at 12:46 pm

     Hi Nate,

     You have answered a few of my questions recently and I really appreciate it.

     What I would like your take on now is, what 2 or 3 all mountain boards come to mind as being best in powder for an all mountain board, even if they didn’t make any of your top all mountain lists?

     Thanks a bunch,
     Michael

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 8, 2018 at 12:46 pm

       Hi Michael

       It’s hard to say the best 2 or 3 in this case as there are a number of all-mountain boards that I would rate equally for powder. But in terms of what I think are the best in powder for an all-mountain board (and keep in mind this isn’t counting freeride boards or powder specific boards, which tend to be better in powder than all-mountain boards, so this isn’t what I think are the best boards for powder).

       ~ Jones Explorer
       ~ YES Standard (in the slam back inserts)
       ~ Slash Brainstorm
       ~ Jones Mountain Twin
       ~ Niche Story
       ~ Rossi One
       ~ Ride Wild Life
       ~ Burton Custom X Flying V
       ~ K2 Turbo Dream

       Sorry that it’s not narrowing it to 2 or 3 but hope this helps anyway.

       Reply

       • Michael says

         January 8, 2018 at 8:34 pm

         Hi Nate,

         Yes, I understand there are plenty of freeride and powder specialist boards that would be better in powder. I just wanted to know the best or the top few in powder out of the all-mountain category.

         So the boards you listed are not in any order of their powder performance if you had to say, is that correct?

         Thank you,

         Michael

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 9, 2018 at 12:28 pm

           Hi Michael

           Yeah, pretty hard to separate them, really. If I had to say, then I’d say Explorer maybe just slightly on top. And, if you were only ever going to ride the Standard centered, then it would be at the bottom (but still surprisingly ok in powder centered, but still not as good as the others here when not in the slam backs).

           Reply

244. Matt says

     January 1, 2018 at 2:26 pm

     Hey Nate,

     Wanted to echo the previous comments on just how awesome your suggestions and feedback are.

     I am currently riding a High Society 165w which is probably a little big for me to be honest.
     I am 6’2, 190 lbs with a 12 size boot.

     I do not really get in the park much, but would like to get something a tad bit smaller (160w).
     Love getting in the trees, cutting and bombing runs.

     Have looked at the following boards: West, Standard, Process.
     I am looking at new bindings and boots as well, but I believe my current setup would be compatible with the first 2. I also didn’t see the Standard in a wide. I didn’t know if it was possibly still wide enough.

     Thanks again!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 2, 2018 at 11:07 am

       Hi Matt

       Thanks for your message.

       I’d put you at around a 162cm (assuming advanced level and no freestyle) so you’re not too far off – but if you like riding trees, then going shorter than that, I think you’d appreciate it, especially compared to 165 – so 160W isn’t a bad bet, IMO.

       The Standard (2018 model anyway) is a wider board generally – so although it doesn’t have specific wide sizes, it accommodates bigger boots anyway. The 159 would be your best bet there and the 263mm waist width should be fine for size 12s, particularly for the fact that the Standard has what YES call “mid-bite” which essentially cinches in the waist – so the width at the inserts and tip and tail is wider than what the waist suggests – so it should definitely be suitable width-wise.

       The West 160W would also be fine for 12s, IMO. If you have a completely flat back foot and love to euro carve, then it might be pushing it being too narrow – but in pretty much all other scenarios it should be fine for 12s.

       The Process doesn’t come in wide sizes, unfortunately, only the Process Flying V – and that’s more freestyle oriented and not really a bomber in my opinion – so I would choose between the Standard 159 and West 160W, if I was you.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Matt says

         January 3, 2018 at 12:08 pm

         Thanks – this really helps. Would UNION CONTACT PRO bindings pair well with the Standard?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 3, 2018 at 2:25 pm

           Hi Matt

           I would personally opt for something a little stiffer than the Contact Pros for the Standard. They would do the job, but I think something a little stiffer is preferable. Check out the following links for some options.

           >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

           >>Top 5 All-Mountain-Freeride Bindings

           Reply

245. dp says

     January 1, 2018 at 7:48 am

     Nate – love the site. all mountain intermediate (skill) groomer rider that took many years off (kids). Ive only had one board – cannot even tell what its flex/profile is (late 90s burton balance 160)- its that old. It rides fine but definitely upgrading. My issue is I need a board that both fly down blacks/blues as well as go SLOW under control with my 5 yr. old on skis on greens. I THINK those are 2 different boards – a shorter flexible? rocker board? for slugging down greens (flipping around etc. to keep an eye on her) and a different board (was thinking the YES but might be too stiff for my experience level anyway) for tackling steeps with my wife and older kids….

     I can tell you my OG Burton stinks for going 2mph on greens…easy to catch edges etc.

     Love to hear your thoughts….

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 2, 2018 at 10:01 am

       Hi DP

       Thanks for your message.

       Definitely not surprised that your 90s Burton is difficult riding slow and easy to catch an edge on – I don’t think any board from the 90s was pleasant doing this on (from what I hear, I wasn’t riding in the 90s).

       But yeah, definitely having something softer flexing and shorter is going to help for maneuverability at slower speeds and having rocker in the profile is going to help with catching your edges when riding slow.

       You could definitely go for 2 boards and do it that way. Probably the best way, but if you only wanted to get one, then there are boards that will do that for you.

       For starters – you don’t have to settle for all rocker, or all camber – a lot of boards these days, in fact probably most are hybrids, so you can get the best of both worlds. For you I would go for a hybrid camber (camber between and under the feet and rocker tip and tail) because you will be used to having camber underfoot and having a bit of rocker tip and tail is easy to get used to, compared to suddenly having rocker under or between your feet.

       And in terms of flex, if you were going with just one board, then going with something mid-flexing is a good idea – you’ll still be able to bomb pretty well but also be able to slow down and still have good control at slower speeds.

       In terms of length, if you want to go for just one board, then it would probably be a compromise between something a little shorter, for those slower speed days with your 5 year old but not so short that it compromises too much for speed, carving and float in powder.

       But to be honest, from what I’ve heard of older boards like that, going with a mid-flexing hybrid rocker is going to feel a lot more maneuverable and catch-free at slow speeds, even if you didn’t size down a little.

       If you’d like I could recommend a size for you, if you could let me know your height, weight and boot size.

       Off this list, I think the Rossi One, Jones Mountain Twin, Slash Brainstorm and YES Standard (depending on boot size) would all work well for you as a one board quiver. If you think you’d prefer 2 boards, let me know and I can recommend a softer more playful option to go with. But for your second board, I think something from this list, as an intermediate rider, would still be the way to go – but in that case I would say to go for one of these in a longer size and go for a shorter size for your softer, more playful board that you’ll use with your youngest.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • dp says

         January 2, 2018 at 1:07 pm

         Thanks for the long response – I actually spent many hours on your site last 48 hours and several hours on the net trying to figure out what the heck my OG Burton was – cant even find it. I assume is the lowest grade board so guessing its pretty flexible and flat? Its like turning an aircraft carrier at times – but you ride what you got i suppose and adapt to it.

         my weight bounces between 175-190 – with an 11 boot size. My sweet spot is blues but love to tackle blacks if the snow is good (or the slopes are crowded) and can get away from the kids. We just do other stuff on crowded icy days, so being able to handle that is not important. Want something that can handle powder but honestly see that maybe 10% of my time. Even though my size says 159/160ish was thinking a bit shorter to be more easily putter with the kids (although i could have that wrong).

         I almost pulled the trigger on a Yes Basic, which I assume to be perfect for me now BUT want something to grow into/challenge me a bit more so held back (plus to be honest did not like the way it looked).

         I figured a Yes Standard in the 159 was just about right but concerned about going wide vs. length and could not find one for sale. I did find a used 156 so will try that out.

         I am very torn between the Standard (156) vs. Never Summer West (157W) vs. Brainstorm (159W). I already clicked through your site and ordered the second 2 and will just return whichever. Would love your thoughts/guidance. Thanks again.

         Reply

       • dp says

         January 2, 2018 at 1:10 pm

         sorry one more comment – was thinking about using the 156 standard as my go to hang out with the family board and the 159W brainstorm as my more advanced terrain board.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 3, 2018 at 1:43 pm

           Hi DP

           Yeah going shorter will make it easier to putter with the kids for sure. So if you were going to grab 2 boards, then something around that 159, 160 mark for your longer board would work and the 159W Brainstorm, would be a good width for size 11 boots too. Without also knowing your height, I couldn’t say for sure which length I think would be better, but it sounds like you’ve sized yourself around that, so I think that would be good.

           The West 157W could work too. It’s a little shorter of course, but it’s also a little wider which would compensate for that reduction in length. The other thing to keep in mind with the West is that it has Rocker between the feet – so this is going to feel a bit different to what you’re used to – but that’s not necessarily a bad thing – just might take more getting used to initially.

           The Standard is quite a wide board – and wider than you’d think by looking at the waist width. It’s cinched in at the waist (what YES call “mid-bite”) so the tip/tail and insert width is a little wider. So for that, I would go for the 156 if you were going to go with that one.

           However, if you already going to have the 159W Brainstorm or 157W West, I think the Standard would be too close in terms of the type of board – and even though it’s shorter, I would still go for something a little more different if you were going for 2 boards. That way you could get something that’s nice and playful for riding with the kids. Just that way you’d have a little more contrast between the boards.

           If you still wanted to go with YES, then I’d look at the Basic again and also the Typo (156W for either).

           That’s how I’d do it anyway.

           Hope this helps

           Reply

           • dp says

             January 3, 2018 at 1:53 pm

             it helps ALOT thanks. I got a used 156 standard coming and since its used probably cant return. Ill probably try that out and if it works well ill return the other two i ordered….or ill keep the Brainstorm.

             I love the site and MANY THANKS

           • Nate says

             January 3, 2018 at 2:12 pm

             You’re very welcome DP.

             Just to note that the 2017 model of the Standard is narrower (they changed their sizings for the 2018 model). The 2017 156 only has a 250mm waist width, which might be pushing it being too narrow for 11s. You could probably squeeze on there – and if it’s the board you’re going to use with your kids, then you’re probably not going to be doing any big carves, so you’ll probably get away with it – but just wanted to let you know. If it’s a used 2018 model, then ignore all of that.

246. Kyle E says

     December 31, 2017 at 8:39 pm

     Hi Nate, I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole of your site over the last 2 nights trying to get back into the new gear tech that’s come down since I last upgraded 10 years ago.

     It’s probably about time to upgrade from my 2007 GNU Carbon High Beam.

     I am about 5’10”, 210 lb, size 12 boot. I just got some Rome Katana Bindings and need a new board.

     While I live closer to the Michigan hills, I am only on those hills a handful of times and go out west 1-2 times per year.

     Honestly, I usually stay on the groomers with the wife but like to carve it up, but need to be able to cruise lazily too. I enjoy hitting the side trails and going through trees when able but it’s a low percentage. I also like to hit powder when able, again, but it’s not as common. I am never in the park, and don’t spend any time riding switch. I am probably firmly intermediate level, and don’t have much desire to hit super steep chutes, I just like to explore and have fun.

     I’ve kind of narrowed my search down to: Never Summer West, Jones Mountain Twin/Ultra Mountain Twin, Jones Explorer as these are high rated and available in wide. I think the explorer might be too aggressive though. I am having a harder time sifting through the other options that might be available in a wide.

     I don’t want to go too aggressive where I can’t cruise anymore. Which of these do you think would be best? Or do you think there is one I have overlooked that might be better (which is certainly possible!)?

     Thanks – and I hope I didn’t overload your site with comments!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 1, 2018 at 10:36 am

       Hi Kyle

       Based on the new info here, I would say that going for an all-mountain option (like the Mountain Twin or West) is probably your best bet. If you want to be able to cruise, then these will be better for slower speeds than something like the Flight Attendant. The Explorer is still doable as well but something like the Mountain Twin or West would be that little bit cruisier.

       I think the Rossignol One and Slash Brainstorm would also work well for you. Size-wise, I think the following would be a good bit for your specs, and for the type of riding you’re describing.

       Mountain Twin: 161W
       West: 160W
       Brainstorm: 163W – though this might be getting on the long side for you if you want you’re riding more cruisey
       Rossi One: 161W

       Even though the Rossi One is lower in the top 10 list, the main thing that it’s behind on is jumps, and if that’s not something you’re going to be doing, then that’s a non-issue.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Kyle E says

         January 4, 2018 at 6:12 am

         Thanks for the replies! I will consolidate to here from now on hah! Also, so many options and now there are 2 more! The Rossi looks like a real good choice too.

         I’m sure any choice would work for me. I just don’t have much locally where I can test ride things.

         I also was looking at the Yes Standard, do you think that would be an option for me at 159 as something that runs wider but doesn’t need a “wide” moniker for my feet?

         I always felt the 161 Gnu I have now, while stable, is tough to take through trees which I’d like to do more of. Do you think any one of these would stand out here or all about the same?

         Thanks for your help again, I know I have a lot of questions still!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 4, 2018 at 10:20 am

           Hi Kyle

           Yeah, I think any of these options would definitely work for you. Perhaps the Brainstorm 163W is getting a little long if you’re thinking about the trees – and just to at least cross one of them off to narrow it down a bit.

           But then we could add in the YES Standard – didn’t think to add that because I was scrolling though boards in that 160 to 162 range. The Standard 159 (263mm waist) is a little shorter (but that will help in the trees) but also a little wider. Even though the waist width is similar to the other options here, the waist is cinched in on this board – so the tip/tail and inserts are wider. So, if you wanted to go a little shorter and make up that length with width, then this is a great option.

           I don’t think anything really stands out above the rest, I think they would all be suitable for you. The West is a little different to the others in that it has rocker between the feet and camber under foot and to tip/tail. The other options have camber between the feet and under the feet and rocker tip to tail. Not sure if you have any preference there, but that might be another factor.

           Reply

           • Kyle E says

             January 4, 2018 at 11:56 am

             I think the Rocker in the middle of the West is the only thing throwing me off. Not sure the significance of this or how it would feel really. I don’t honestly know what to expect from the differences in the 2 builds, as I agree it does seem to be the NSW pattern vs Rock/Cam/Rock in all the rest.

             And yes decisions would be easier if something stood out as obvious! Thanks for your help though it’s been very err helpful lol

           • Nate says

             January 5, 2018 at 9:09 am

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

           • Kyle E says

             January 5, 2018 at 3:40 pm

             After long consideration I decided to order a Yes standard 159. I’m super excited, will be nice to have something a bit shorter too. Thanks again for all your help! No need to respond I know you’re busy!

           • Nate says

             January 6, 2018 at 8:29 am

             Nice One! Hope you enjoy the board as much as I did. Let me know what you think once you’ve had a chance to ride it.

247. Rodry says

     December 25, 2017 at 6:35 pm

     Hi Nate

     I found very helpful your texts. I consider myself high beginner/low intermediate rider. I will mostly ride in Colorado – I weight 65kg (with all the gear probably around 70kg), 1,70m tall and wear boots 10. I used to ride Burton Custom Flying V 154 . I plan to change my board but I am between the Yes Standard and Never Summer West. And Probably I should stay at the 154 size. What would you recomend? And what about the bingings any hint? Once again nice website – very helpful. Cheers r

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 26, 2017 at 5:53 pm

       Hi Rodry

       Thanks for your message.

       I agree that sticking with something around that 154cm range, probably 154 max, is a good idea. So if you go Standard that would be the 153cm (assuming 2018 model – the 154 if you’ve found a 2017 model) and for the West, the 154cm.

       The Standard 153 is wider than the West 154, so will probably actually have a bit more surface area overall. So I think in terms of powder, the Standard 153 is going to have it by a little bit, especially when on those slam back inserts. But overall, they both are very versatile and high quality boards. They definitely have different personalities, with the Standard being a very stable feeling board and the West being also quite stable but on the looser side of stable – just because of that little bit of rocker between the feet. So whichever you like the sound of the feel better.

       I think either board will work well for you but hope this gives you something extra to make your decision from.

       In terms of bindings I would check out the following list. These options pair well with these boards, and will work for your ability level also.

       >>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Rodry says

         January 13, 2018 at 6:40 pm

         Thank you so much mate.- for sure it helped. Cheers

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 15, 2018 at 12:19 pm

           You’re very welcome Rodry – hope you’re having/have an awesome season!

           Reply

248. Bernhard says

     December 6, 2017 at 2:02 am

     thanks a lot Nate

     yeah,
     that makes perfect sense.
     Thanks again for your detailed assessment.

     Very helpful to see this also in connection with the bond angles.
     153 Standard or the 155 Typo for me is best suitable for me
     because of the angles. i just need to decide which of both one 🙂

     You should be paid for it: -)

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 6, 2017 at 11:28 am

       Hi Bernhard

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

       Reply

249. Bernhard Mende says

     December 4, 2017 at 4:54 am

     Hi Nate,
     really love syour posts,
     sounds like you really have a clue 🙂

     so i`h like to aks you about the Yes Standard too.
     becaus i am think about to order one this season, since I wasn’t so happy with my last board last season.
     it was Libtechs TravisRice Pro in 155.
     But somehow it didnt blast me away.

     Now iam really into Yes Snowboards becaus i like the brand and the ideas behind it.

     so. my specs are
     5,8`/ 161 lbs and used a Burton Cartel with Size 10.

     mainly iam on groomers but also a little bit backcountry.
     want to learn more carving and little jumps too.

     I’m a little torn between Yes standard and Yes typo.
     by the yes standard i would prfer the 164 but 153 could also good.

     But the Typo seems to ve also nice good Board.
     could try the 155 or the 156W.

     so I’d like to know what you think about it.

     Cheers from Europe
     Bernhard

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 4, 2017 at 12:09 pm

       Hi Bernhard

       Thanks for your message.

       I’d say that the Standard, I would go 153 for you. Just because it’s a wider board. That 253mm waist isn’t that wide – but it’s got what YES call mid-bite, which cinches the waist in. For perspective, the 153 Standard has a wider tip and tail width than the 158cm Typo.

       So 153 probably sounds quite short – but you get that extra surface area from the width. The other thing I would say is that I really liked the 156 and I’m 6’0″ and 180-185lbs – also with size 10 boots. So, I think for you the 153 is a good size.

       For the Typo, I would say 155. Again for me I’d go 158 for that board – and I think you would be better with the 155. You could go 158 if you felt you wanted something longer, but I think the 155 is the best size for you.

       The 156W Typo is also an option, depending on the binding angles you use. If you have binding angles like +15/-15 or something similar (i.e. a bit of angle on the back foot), then the 155 would be the best bet. But if you have a straighter back foot – like 0 degrees on the back foot – then going for the 156W might be the better bet. But anything like 6 degrees or more on the back foot and the 155 is the better width.

       Hope this helps and makes sense!

       Reply

250. Nick says

     December 2, 2017 at 1:16 pm

     Hey Nate,
     I’m headed back to Colorado this coming January and am looking for a new board. I spend most of my time at Breckenridge and Vail so I tend to get into all sorts of snow conditions. I typically rent equipment, but it’s definitely not the same as riding my own board so I’m in the market for something new.

     I’m 5 foot 9 and weigh around 160. I currently ride an all-mountain board but want something with a little more pop. Most stores I’ve talked to have been recommending the Burton Amplifier at 157cm as an all-mountain freestyle so that’s what I’ve been leaning towards, but I’m open to any and all suggestions. I’d have to buy a compatible disc for the channel mechanism since I have k2 bindings if I went with a burton as well. I’m not crazy about Burton’s graphic for the board either so there are a few things that kept me from pulling the trigger and going that route.

     What boards are going to be similar in performance to the Burton Amplifier? Or rather, what do you think I should look at?

     Thanks for your help!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 4, 2017 at 10:01 am

       Hi Nick

       Thanks for your message.

       I haven’t ridden the Burton Amplifier so I couldn’t say for sure, but I’m not convinced it would be the most poppy board around. It’s got a flat-to-rocker profile and usually I find that camber has more pop – not that you have to go full camber – but something with camber under the feet, I find tends to help a lot with pop. That’s not to say that flat profiles don’t have pop, because I’ve ridden some with plenty (K2 Fast Plant & Niche Knew come to mind) but typically not as much as a trad camber, hybrid rocker or hybrid camber profile.

       But like i say, I haven’t ridden the Amplifier, so I couldn’t say for sure.

       But if you wanted to check out some other all-mountain-freestyle options to compare the Amplifier to, check out the link below.

       >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       In terms of size, I’d say around 157 is a good size – but you could even go 1 or 2 centimeters shorter if you wanted. I like to go a little shorter for an all-mountain-freestyle ride, compared with an all-mountain. But that would also depend on the all-mountain size you’re riding. If you’re riding like a 159, 160 for your all-mountain, then 157 is probably a good way to go – but if you’re on a 157 as it is, then you could go a little shorter if you wanted to. But yeah, something around there is good, IMO. And it will depend on the board too. E.g. if you went with Amplifier, 157 would be best because 154 is probably getting a little too small – but something like the YES Greats or Capita Outerspace Living, then the 156 would be the best size, IMO.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

251. Dan says

     November 28, 2017 at 6:26 pm

     Hey Nate,
     You give some great review. I’m 6’1″ and about 160lbs. I just need some help, I have been riding a Burton Clash for a while now and its gotten a bit boring. I’m would like to stick my Genesis bindings, but I’m looking at a new board and boots. I have a more all- mountain ride with the occasional pow and the rare park. I need my board to have a really nice bit to groomers, making my carves nice and shape please. I have been looking at the Subculture, Flight Attendant, Jones Explorer and Jones Mountain Twin as my new board(but open to other options). But most of them seem on the softer side or being more pow boards. Another problem being my boots, I have a pair of K2 raiders which were good and all but not what I had a liking for. It would be great if you could give me some suggestions for an all around boot with a bit a stiffness.

     Thanks,
     Dan

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 29, 2017 at 3:12 pm

       Hi Dan

       Thanks for your message.

       I think an all-mountain board will probably suit you the best at the moment – and anything from this list below will definitely give you a good step up from the Clash. You could look at Freeride boards (like the Flight Attendant as well) but I think you would want to get stiffer, more responsive bindings than the Genesis for a board like that – freeride boards tend to be stiffer and require more oomph to turn well. I think all-mountain would be the way to go. Check out the list below.

       Jones Explorer (6.5/10 flex) and Mountain Twin (6/10 flex) fit the bill as does the K2 Subculture (5/10 flex) – though I prefer the Jones options for those. I wouldn’t go too stiff if I was you – a. because you are coming off quite a soft board, b. at 160lbs something too stiff could feel like a dead plank of wood (though if you are quite strong and athletic you can get away with a bit stiffer) and c. Anything that goes too stiff (like beyond 7/10) will be getting too stiff for your bindings).

       If you weren’t worried about powder then you could look at something all-mountain-freestyle too – but I think all-mountain is the way to go.

       In terms of boots – I think something from the following list would be a good way to go. These all have a flex of either 6 or 7. There are other good options in that flex range too – so if you don’t see anything there that suits your needs, let me know and I can give you some other options.

       >>My Top All Mountain (medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

       In terms of board size, I would say something around 159-160 would be a good length, assuming you are at a reasonable level of ability – high intermediate kind of thing. If you want sizing advice for a specific board, let me know (and also if you could let me know your boot size).

       Hope this helps

       Reply

252. Michael says

     November 24, 2017 at 10:50 am

     Hi Nate,

     Thanks so much for the detailed response (you replied way back on October 16 but I totally forgot to come back and check). Again, I really appreciate you taking the time to give such thoughtful, detailed advice.

     So, when I posted my question, I left out what I was currently riding because I just wanted your ‘blank slate’ advice not knowing what I am currently on. For the last few years I have been riding a Never Summer Cobra 161 (I think it’s a 2012/13). It seems to do fairly well. I just wanted to see what other options may be out there that may be a better fit or help me take my riding up a notch. I am on Salomon F20 boots and Burton C16 bindings. (I submitted a question on your boots review page as well as I am looking to upgrade by boots and bindings)

     How would you compare the NS West VS Capita Mercury VS NS Cobra? And, would I also take a hit in Powder performance with the Capita Mercury vs the top boards in your list like you said I would with the other lighter option boards you listed? Would I sacrifice dampening on the lighter Mercury?

     Thanks,
     Michael

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 24, 2017 at 12:21 pm

       Hi Michael

       I would say that the Cobra and West are quite similar. In a lot of ways the West is the successor of the Cobra, even though Never Summer released both models in 2016 – I think that was the only year they overlapped. They are a little different, but the West would certainly be more similar to the Cobra than the Mercury. But it’s got Never Summer’s more aggressive camber profile – which, to me, makes it a better carver than the Cobra and with a bit more pop. The Cobra a little more float in powder, but not hugely, I wouldn’t say.

       The Mercury is probably the equal of the West in powder I would say. The Mercury is also a little stiffer than the Cobra and the West, but only marginally.

       The Mercury is a surprisingly damp board for it’s lightness – so there wouldn’t be any issues there.

       You can compare more by checking out the Mercury here:

       ~ Top 6 Aggressive All-Mountain Snowboards

       Even though it’s in that list, it’s less aggressive than it was in previous years.

       And the West here:

       ~ Never Summer West Review

       I will have a full review of the Mercury up soon, but I haven’t completed it/published it yet.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Michael says

         November 26, 2017 at 8:07 pm

         Hey Nate, thanks a bunch! That gives me something to think about.

         Reply

       • Michael says

         December 26, 2017 at 1:02 pm

         Hi Nate,

         I hope you had a nice Christmas.

         I have a few more questions.

         I read a review at a different site that said the Jones Mountain Twin was a little slower edge-to-edge than some of these other top all-mountain boards. Did you feel that in your comparisons? I think you actually said in your review the JMT was quick edge-to-edge, correct? How does it compare in that respect to the Brainstorm? How to they compare to each other for trees and/or powder? Which is lighter?

         I think I have for the most part narrowed my search down to the JMT and the Brainstorm but with a bit of curiosity for the Ultra Mountain Twin. I understand both the JMT an JUMT have “increased torsional response” for the 17/18 model. What does this actually mean, stiffer when twisting the board? Please elaborate if you can. Please offer any insight you can comparing the 16/17 to the 17/18 JMT.

         Have you had a chance to ride the JUMT yet?

         Also, I have been considering actually going with the Genesis X over the regular Genesis. What are your thoughts on the Genesis X on either the Brainstorm or JMT?

         By the way, I did pull the trigger on the Burton Concord boots (size 10).

         Thank you!

         Michael

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 27, 2017 at 9:25 am

           Hi Michael

           Thanks for your message – I had a great Christmas – hope you did too.

           I felt like the JMT was medium-fast – certainly not the fastest edge-to-edge that I’ve ridden, but pretty good. Compared to the Brainstorm, I felt they were similar. However, I rode the 157 JMT and the 160 Brainstorm – so the 157 would be naturally quicker edge-to-edge. That said, the 160 Brainstorm is actually a little narrower than the 157 JMT, and narrower is also typically quicker edge-to-edge, so that tempers it a little. Without having ridden the same length it’s hard to see – but length for length, I’d say the Brainstorm would be marginally quicker edge-to-edge – but in this case the 157 Brainstorm compared to the 157 JMT would also be narrower, so that would favor it in terms of edge-to-edge speed.

           In terms of the “increased torsional response” there isn’t much information on this but my understanding is the same as what you’ve said – that it’s stiffer torsionally (so width-ways rather than end to end) and that’s supposed to increase the response. This was done across the Jones line – I can’t say I noticed the difference, so I think it’s pretty subtle.

           Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance to ride the JUMT – but my understanding is that it’s a little stiffer and a little more responsive.

           In terms of bindings, you could definitely put the Genesis X on either the JMT or Brainstorm. The Genesis X will be a little stiffer in terms of flex match – but they’re also bindings that I find, I’d say because of the way they flex with the board, that can match a wider range of flex. With the Genesis X over the Genesis, the main difference will be that they’ll give a bit more response – so should help whichever board you choose to turn quicker, compared to having the Genesis on them. Sometimes going with too stiff a binding on a board that’s softer, will overpower the board – but in this case I don’t think it would. In any case they’re not far off anyway – with the JMT and Brainstorm being a 6/10 and 5.5/10 respectively (in my books) and the Genesis X being 7/10.

           Hope this helps with your decision

           Reply

253. Roger says

     November 22, 2017 at 12:54 pm

     Hi!

     I’m looking a board for all mountain and freestyle. THe priority is a ICE HOLD level and My intention is a board easy to ride, easy to go fast (speed) on groomers, the second intention is a lear alittle of powder and jumps/ollies in groomer/mountain. And last learn little jibbing. I say with a correct order 🙂

     IS my second year, last year i learn a lot I go fast and move on red tracks, etc. I need a board easy to learn, playful and a board for years. I looking a yes Typo, good icy hold, all mountain and easy, is possible a lack of speed stability? The other hand I see yes libre, but not have underbite and have the basic base, no need wax ( is possitive)

     And later for bindings, I see burton cartel, genesis or some union, but union not have a medium flex.

     thanks

     Reply

     • Roger says

       November 22, 2017 at 1:04 pm

       Sorry for size, I have last year 152cm, my height 1.74m and 65kg with gear.

       Reply

       • Nate says

         November 23, 2017 at 10:24 am

         Hi Roger

         Yeah, I think the YES Typo, the YES Standard, the Rossignol One would all be good options. Or you could look at the GNU Rider’s Choice.

         The Typo is a good all round board and probably your biggest concern there would be stability at speed, like you say. But otherwise, it ticks all the boxes – definitely an easy ride, great in icy conditions and can do a bit of everything. With the YES Standard you would get a bit more performance in terms of carving, speed and powder – but it’s a more challenging ride and won’t be as good with jibs. The Rossignol One also something that won’t be as good jib-wise but otherwise would fit what you’re looking for.

         The GNU Rider’s Choice is an all-mountain-freestyle board – you can check out more on that in the review below. It would be more like the Typo in terms of not being quite as good for powder, stability at speed as the Standard and One but better in the jibbing stakes.

         >>GNU Riders Choice Review

         In terms of size, I think something around that 152cm, 153cm mark is a good size for you. So with these options the best would be:

         YES Typo: 152cm
         YES Standard: 151cm (this is a wider board so going shorter is a better idea – depending on your boot size)
         Rossignol One: 153cm
         GNU Rider’s Choice: 151.5cm

         If you can also let me know your boot size, I can make sure that these will be a suitable width too.

         Reply

         • Roger says

           November 23, 2017 at 4:49 pm

           Hi!

           Boot size 9.5-10

           I read about yes standard, and 2018 version are to wide and not have initial turn.
           I see the rossignol one LF (2018 one magtek) and i like the specs. Better on speed and powder, and less on jump /jib. But seems good, my first goal are speed and powder.

           I like the old design but all out of stock. I will buy the rossignol one LF 153.

           In terms of bindings, which is a best choice? Burton cartel, union contact pro or genesis?

           Boots I ask you same day:
           ***Nate says
           November 23, 2017 at 10:03 am

           Hi Roger

           In terms of something that’s good for skinny ankles, I think something with a double boa system is a good way to go. They usually produce the best heel hold. And if you’re looking at good reduced footrprint then yeah, Burton, Adidas, Ride are a good way to go. And Vans are also doing well, in that respect too.

           I think in terms of boots with great heel hold and reduced footprint, the Vans Infuse Boa (medium-stiff flex) is a good choice. This is a mixture of traditional lacing and boa but has great heel hold with that boa working on the ankle. Or Vans Aura (medium flex). Some options from Ride are the Ride Trident (mid-stiff),
           and Ride Lasso (medium flex).

           Or if you want something Burton or Adidas, then the Adidas Response ADV (medium flex) or the Burton Photon Boa (mid-stiff), Burton Ion Boa (mid-stiff) or Burton Concord Boa (medium) could work for you. Since you’re looking at all-mountain-freestyle you might want something more mid-flex, so maybe Aura, Response ADV, Concord Boa or Lasso would be the best choices. But you could go more mid-stiff if you felt like you wanted something a bit stiffer.

           Hope this helps***

           For boots , like confortable and best heel hold for my skinny ankle.

           I like adidas adv response, is good around, only is not he best looking for me. The other burton are all similar, ION BOA or PHOTON i like, but my Burton MOTO 17, fits horrible, heel lift, a lot of presure points. Only for this, I’m looking adidas.

           Thanks,and I’m ready for final result of this material hehe

           Reply

           • Nate says

             November 24, 2017 at 11:20 am

             Hi Roger

             Thanks for your reply. I did receive both of your messages (have deleted the other one) – just that all comments have to be moderated before being published so they don’t show up instantly.

             I think the Rossignol One LF 153cm is a great choice for you.

             I would say for bindings the Cartels are a great match to that board – the Genesis would also do a great job. The Contact Pros are also great bindings but are better for softer flexing boards, IMO – so probably a touch too soft for the One LF.

             If you’ve tried on the Response ADV and the heel hold feels good and the comfort feels good, then I think that’s a good way to go – there is not substitute for trying on boots in person – everyone’s feet fit differently.

             The Moto doesn’t have very good heel-hold, IMO, so I’m not surprised you had heel-hold issues there if you have smaller ankles. The Motos are speed lace – where the Photon Boa and Ion Boa are double Boas – and in my experience have significantly better heel-hold. But if your feet don’t fit Burton boots well, then it’s a good idea to go with another brand.

             Hope this helps and hope you have an awesome season with your new setup!

           • Roger says

             November 25, 2017 at 2:37 am

             I don’t test the adidas response in person, i buy it beacause have a 100€ discount on black friday. Around 280€ from 380€. The other hand the burton cost around 400€ and no search a discount. In your score, the adidas response scored 4.5 on heel hold, i trust it 🙂

             I buy direct adidas online store, when arrive and not fit well, i have 100 days to return. no problem. Here in barcelona, is dificult to test/buy burton ION or proton.

             Thanks for all info.

           • Nate says

             November 25, 2017 at 10:52 am

             You’re welcome Roger.

             I would try Vans if you can. They have decent reduced footprint these days. If you’re not keen on the mixed lacing of the Infuse you could try the Aura. K2, Ride and Salomon boa boots are worth a try too. Salomon boots tend to be narrower and K2 and Ride have good heel hold in their Boas, from my experience.

             If you really have trouble finding something that can hold your ankles down, you could also try adding extra external J-Bars around the liner of the boot.

           • Roger says

             December 12, 2017 at 6:34 am

             Nate!

             I test the adidas response, it’s good, but I think, the held lift a little. You recomend the best vans infuse, no?

             I return this, And look the vans infuse, or the best model you tell, for good confort, super good held hold and medium. Thanks

           • Nate says

             December 13, 2017 at 12:05 pm

             Hi Roger

             Thanks for your update. Yeah, I think the Vans Infuse is worth a try. You never know how it’s going to fit. I found the Adidas Response to be good in terms of heel hold, but everyone’s foot is different. But yeah, try the Vans Infuse, also good heel hold for me – but no guarantees for you, but worth a try

           • Roger says

             December 14, 2017 at 2:58 pm

             Perfect, if not Burton BOA, like you say. I buy this boots on shop when I go to ski station. Thanks for all

254. Nick says

     November 14, 2017 at 7:23 am

     HI Nate it’s Nick again, I commented back in October with the dilemma between the Never Summer West and Ripsaw. In the end you recommended, either a 159 West or 158 Burton Trick Pony.

     Just to reiterate, I am most definitely still interested in the West, however I think it is pretty lame to only consider two companies to buy a snowboard from. Also, I like the new Trick Pony cause it seems just a versatile for where I’ll be riding at. As for my riding style, ride mostly resorts on east coast in Pennsylvania. Like charging groomers and want to be able to mess around in the terrain park, natural jumps, side hits, and some butters. I still like the idea of a stable camber and still willing to look at the Never Summer’s ripsaw camber profile. Powder isn’t a huge concern as I’m pretty sure you can ride it with any board, you just need to pay a bit more attention to a board that’s not made for powder. As long as I get a board that can carve super hard, ride in ice, hit most jumps (natural or terrain park), some boxes, butter, and ride switch efficiently I think I’ll be happy.

     My stats are around 180-190 lbs and 5’10”

     I also have a question concerning boot size and whether or not I need a new pair. So right now I am in a pair of older Ride HyPhys. They are a double boa lace system and are pretty comfortable. Usually I wear a 10 or 10.5 regular shoe, but in the Rides I wear a 9.5. When I got up the lift I like to rest the edge of my board on my other boot and discovered that it cut the top of it and exposing some of the boa cord underneath. Should I be concerned about this and get a new pair? My local ski shop guy replaced the broken boa on the side of the same boot. If I need a new boot what would you recommend? Not to particular about laces, but do like the idea of traditional. Sorry about the length comment man. Thanks in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 15, 2017 at 10:59 am

       Hi Nick

       Since you’re willing to look outside the brands that we originally discussed, then I think the following would also be options, in addition to the West and Trick Pony you’re currently weighing up.

       ~ YES Standard: Great in hard/icy conditions, and just a great all round board, can do a bit of everything. Sizing is a little different (for the 2018 model – if you’re looking at the 2017 model let me know and we can look at the sizing for that) so you’ll want to go a little shorter as it’s a wider board. So, for the 2018 model, I’d say 156 for you. More details on the Standard at the link below.

       >>YES Standard Review

       ~ Rossignol One 159 – great edge-hold in icy conditions. Probably not quite up there with Standard and West in terms of carving and in terms of jumps but certainly for the rest and for icy conditions edge-hold it’s one of the best.

       >>Rossignol One Review

       ~ Niche Story 156 – like the Standard the Story is a wider board that I would size down to the 156 for. Again very strong in hard/icy conditions. It’s a little stiffer than the other options but not by heaps. It has rocker between the feet and camber to tip and tail like the West.

       >>Niche Story Review

       You could also look at something like the Mountain Twin or Slash Brainstorm – not quite as good edge-hold in icy conditions as the above 3 mentioned but still pretty good.

       In terms of hard/icy conditions I’d say the following:

       Rossignol One: 5/5
       YES Standard: 5/5
       Niche Story: 5/5
       NS West: 4/5
       Jones Mountain Twin: 4/5
       Slash Brainstorm: 4/5
       Burton Trick Pony: 3.5/5

       The Standard and the West are the best carvers in my opinion and since that sounds like a very important factor for you, I think one of those two would be the best options. Standard in a 156 (if 2018 model) and West in a 159.

       BOOTS

       So long as your boots are still functioning I don’t see any need to replace them right away – unless you have a good deal somewhere – but as long as they still work, I’d keep riding them. They will become unride-able at some point. Snowboard boots tend to have a fairly limited lifespan. If I get 100 days on a pair of boots, I’m happy.

       I do the same thing with my board on the lift sometimes and I get the same issue – the lower part of Boa boots actually aren’t loosening off properly at the moment and I suspect that has something to with leaning the board on the boot!

       If you do get new boots then something from one of these lists would be a good option to match the boards (in terms of flex) that you’re looking at. If there’s nothing that quite works for you on this list, let me know and I can give you more options.

       >>My Top All Mountain (medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Nick says

         November 15, 2017 at 11:29 am

         Awesome stuff man! What’s your opinion on the Proto Type Two for me? I know you rate it # one for All Mountain Freestyle, but from all the demos I’ve seen and reviews I’ve read that thing seems like it can carve just as well as the West, and my problem is that I have ridden too much park, butters, jumps, or switch up to this point so I don’t really know how I feel about the style. My concern is that if I end up liking the style in addition to my all mountain riding the Proto 2 would be better. I know setbacks are designed with a specific style in mind, and if I end up liking freestyle just as much as carving, I don’t want to be riding a setback board centered all the time especially at a resort that isn’t even technically a mountain. Also, I like the idea of the Proto 2 being a 157 and seems like a better transition for a longer board coming off of a Wild Life 155. Thanks man for taking the time as always!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 16, 2017 at 3:15 pm

           Hi Nick

           I think the Proto Type Two could certainly work for you as long you’re willing to work a little harder when you do hit powder. Yeah I’d say that the Proto Type Two is just as good on a carve as the West. The main differences between the two, IMO, are:

           1. The West is better in powder – or to put another way takes less effort in powder
           2. The Proto Type Two is naturally better for riding switch and is better for jumps
           3. The Proto Type Two is a little better on jibs but neither of these boards is great in that area – but doable

           I’d say those are the main differences – but yeah in terms of carving they’re the same to me.

           And for sizing I’d say 157cm as you’re thinking. This is basically the equivalent of the West 159 in terms of effective edge – the PT2 just has a shorter nose/tail.

           I think at some point we were discussing the Ripsaw too, and I think that was surrounding flex, for if you were wanting to go a little stiffer. The Proto Type 2 is a little softer than that. From my experience, I would say Proto Type 2 = 5/10, West = 6/10 and Ripsaw = 7/10. So if you were looking for stiffer, then Ripsaw – but if you want that mid-flex, then the Proto Type 2.

           Reply

           • Nick says

             November 17, 2017 at 2:16 pm

             Nate, I think I have finally decided I’m just going with the PT2, it just seems like the board that will best handle all the conditions I’ll be riding in. Also, it will give me room to grow into park if I find out I enjoy that too. The nice thing about the PT2 is that I can actually go check the board out in person. I can always get a board later on down the road for charging and pow.

             Thanks man you’ve been a huge help!!

           • Nate says

             November 17, 2017 at 2:55 pm

             You’re very welcome Nick. Hope you enjoy the PT2 as much as I did. And like you say, you can always get something down the road more suited to pow, if you feel the need.

255. Kyle says

     November 6, 2017 at 10:56 am

     Hi Nate, Thanks for putting these ratings together. Really helpful all around as I check out what board will be best for this season coming up.

     I am a bit stuck as I want to take the next step from my current board and focus more on Aggressive all mountain or light freeride. My typical day is hitting West coast slopes like KT22 that involve small amounts of trekking off the lift to hit tree runs and find freshies. I like steep and hitting more natural lips but then cruising the mountain later in the day.

     I wouldnt call myself an advanced rider but I think Im above intermediate… After reading your reviews I saw the Ride board but think it might be too soft for what I’m looking for. Any other suggestions? The Slash Aurora might be a good choice but cant seem to find any as its last season. ANy input would be helpful.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 7, 2017 at 12:28 pm

       Hi Kyle, hopefully my other reply answered your question. But let me know if you want more options.

       Reply

256. Kyle says

     November 5, 2017 at 7:03 pm

     Hey buddy, awesome reviews. Curious at your opinion on a more freeride all mountain. The review on the ride is great but not sure it’ll keep up with me. I’d say I’m more than an intermediate rider who hitting mostly west coast slopes. No necessarily going to backpack but I’ll hike to certain areas off the lifts. Love hitting freshies, finding tree runs, and steep stuff like KT22. Any recommendations? I think it makes sense to stay in all mountain category but open to a less aggressive freeride.
     I’d appreciate any help here

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 6, 2017 at 2:45 pm

       Hi Kyle

       Thanks for your message.

       For a less aggressive freeride, all-mountain freeride type ride, I’d look at the Jones Explorer, Burton Flight Attendant, Capita BSOD. Those are the first boards that spring to mind. If you’re still looking for more options after checking those out, let me know and I can dig deeper.

       >>Jones Explorer Review

       >>Burton Flight Attendant Review

       >>Capita BSOD Review

       Hope this helps

       Reply

257. Ede says

     November 5, 2017 at 10:18 am

     Hi Nate,

     I would like to upgrade my snowboard, i been riding a Santa Cruz Strip 2012 model for the last 3 years to learn because it has a soft flex and rocker shape but now i feel i need something more stable when going a bit faster but i would like to have the easy turns the Santa Cruz provided and also to improve into a more advanced level of snowboarding, could you help me with an advice?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 6, 2017 at 2:27 pm

       Hi Ede

       Thanks for your message.

       I have no experience with Santa Cruz snowboards but if it was a soft rockered board – and you’re now looking for something with more stability but you still want that catch-free easy turn initiation, then going with a hybrid profile would be the way to go.

       Hybrid Camber profiles have camber between the feet for stability and pop and then rocker towards the tip and tail to raise those edges to make it easier to initiate a turn and to skid turns (it’s also great for powder and for buttering to have that rocker there). How pronounced the camber is and how far the camber sections run along the board differ between boards – so some can be more camber dominant and others more rocker dominant.

       The other option is the Hybrid Rocker – this has rocker between the feet and camber under the feet and towards tip and tail. This typically has a slightly looser feel but, again, the amount of rocker and camber differs depending on the board.

       If you prefer the sound of the Hybrid Camber, then something like the Standard, Brainstorm, Mountain Twin, One or Typo would be great options. If you’re thinking more Hybrid Rocker, then the West & Story are your best bets. The Burton Process Flying V or Custom Flying V are also options – they have rocker between the feet, camber under the feet and then rocker again towards tip and tail (what they call “Flying V” hence the name). IMO this feels more like a hybrid rocker than a hybrid camber.

       But yeah, if you’re looking for more stability but still want easy turn initiations, then I would look at those two profiles – and I’d definitely steer clear of something that’s all camber or predominantly camber and something that’s all rocker or predominantly rocker.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

258. Gavin says

     November 2, 2017 at 9:15 pm

     I enjoyed reading your reviews! Also spent quite a bit of time reading all your replies to the comments from other users.

     Have just ordered a Yes Standard in 151 cm. I’m yet to receive it in the mail. In the meantime, just wondering if you could give me your 2 cents on the matter.

     i’m 164 cm, about 137 lb, size 8.5US Burton boots.
     Current board is a Never Summer Cobra 155 cm. On Flow NX2 GT fusion bindings.
     I have boarded for about 4 years and mainly just go down the hill with occasional adventures off piste.
     I do love the powder.
     I’d say i’m intermediate level.

     The Cobra feels great on the powder and is stable at speed. But somehow always felt the Cobra at 155 cm was a little longish for me. In the woods, had a bit of difficulty initiating quick turns.

     Was contemplating the Jones Mountain Twin (151 cm) but thought it might be a bit similar to my Cobra, both character wise and appearance wise (both are blue).

     Will be having a snowcat expedition during my next snowboarding trip and anticipate some nice runs and decent powder. Thought the Yes Standard with bindings set back would be great for the job. Am also hoping it serves me well during normal mountain days.

     do you suppose I made the right choice with the Yes Standard? or will i end up with buyers remorse?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 3, 2017 at 11:23 am

       Hi Gavin

       I actually think you’ve gone with a great option.

       For your specs, I think you’ll really appreciate the extra maneuverability of a 151 over a 155 – and the Standard is pretty quick edge to edge – so was the Cobra, but at 151 you will definitely get more maneuverability for the trees and in general.

       You will loose a bit in terms of deep powder over the 155cm Cobra – but with your specs, I don’t think you’ll really notice it that much at all.

       You’ll be going from having rocker between the feet and camber tip to tail to having camber between and under the feet and rocker tip and tail – so that might require a few runs to get used to, but you’ll get used to that, just know that it will be a different feel to begin with.

       Honestly, if you were asking for a recommendation for size before you bought I would of being weighing up between the 149 and 151 for you for the Standard and potentially would have recommended the 149 if you weren’t coming off a 155 and if you weren’t likely to be hitting much powder. But, since you are coming off a 155 and you are going to be hitting the deep stuff, I think the 151 is a perfect size for you. And you can set it into those slam backs for your snowcat days and if you feel like riding more freestyle on your resort days, then you can center it up.

       So long story short, IMO, I think you’ve made a good call there.

       Reply

       • Gavin says

         November 6, 2017 at 5:48 pm

         thanks for taking the time to reply! makes me feel much more relieved.

         the Standard is on its way to me and i should be getting it in the next few days!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 7, 2017 at 12:49 pm

           You’re very welcome Gavin. Hope you enjoy your new board and have an awesome season!

           Reply

259. benjamin lejeune says

     October 24, 2017 at 7:26 am

     Hi Nate!

     by dint of looking for the ideal board for me I get lost a little, I need your advice
     I ride for more than 15 years, I weigh 83 kg for 183 cm, I love bombarded on the slopes, carver as much as send a bit of freestyle backcountryu and still a little in the park
     I ride bataleon for several years that I love, I loved the most wide on both the French tracks in the Japanese snowy forest. I am now on an evil twin that I like a lot on track and park but much less in the pow or it is very limited ..
     I’m leaving Japan in 2018 and want to enrich my quiver with an all mountain board or freeride
     I hesitate between jones mountain twin or aviator, capita kokubo or navigator, or burton gate keeper or flight attendant … or maybe lib tech jack knife…
     knowing that I will not go all the years in Japan unfortunately …
     I ride with bindings el hefe very stiff ride that I love because very reactive and who go very well to my ride rather aggressive and committed
     I wish to put less than 500 euros ..
     Thank you for everything in advance
     kind regards

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 25, 2017 at 9:49 am

       Hi Benjamin

       I think something in the freeride cateogry would be a good bet for you. Since you already have your Evil Twin for riding the park, you could get something that specializes more for speed, carving and powder.

       So, I think something off the following list would work well:

       ~ My Top 5 Freeride Snowboards

       But going with something like the Capita Kokubo (a bit of a different kind of board – kind of a powder freestyle board) is also definitely also an option.

       Burton Gatekeeper isn’t on that list but is another good option if you can find it in a suitable size (it only comes in a 159 and 163).

       The Mountain Twin might be softer flexing than what you would want given how you describe you like to ride and given that you have El Hefe bindings – and the fact that’s it’s more do-it-all kind of board – I think you can specialize more, given that you already have the Evil Twin for freestyle.

       The Aviator is an option too.

       The Navigator is probably similar in terms of flex as the Mountain Twin but it is more specialized towards riding powder – so a better pair up with your Evil Twin than the Mountain Twin, IMO.

       Lib Tech Jack Knife is one I don’t know too much about yet – but from what I’ve heard this could fit your needs too – I’d say it’s a freeride board.

       So yeah, I think you’ve got a good list of options there – and I think that looking for that more freeride board is the best way to go, given that you already have a board to ride freestyle on.

       Hope this helps.

       Reply

260. Brandon says

     October 24, 2017 at 1:15 am

     I am looking for an all mountain freestyle board. I am 192cm,95 kg and have a shoe size 46 eu/12 us. What boards, bindings and boots would you recommend? I like capita boards, bataleon evil twin and ride warpig.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 24, 2017 at 10:54 am

       Hi Brandon

       In terms of Capita boards for all-mountain riding, I’d say the Outerspace Living or Mercury are great options. The Outerspace Living is more what I would call an all-mountain-freestyle board but it’s pretty versatile – and better in powder than most all-mountain-freestyle boards. The Mercury is what I would consider a more aggressive all-mountain ride.

       So, if you’re a more advanced or more aggressive rider, and not really into freestyle, then the Mercury is probably your best bet. If you are more of an intermediate or beginner rider, or if you’re more freestyle focused, then the Outerspace Living.

       I don’t demo Bataleon boards, so I can’t really comment on the Evil Twin – except that it’s a popular board for sure.

       The Warpig is a fun little board – but not one that I would consider the one board to have. Some would but I see it more as a fun short/wide board to have in the quiver for powder days and for riding trees. Definitely something to look at if you want it as part of your quiver – but if you’re wanting just one board, then I think there are better options.

       I just saw that you’re looking specifically for all-mountain-freestyle. You should check out the link below:

       >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       In terms of size for you, I would go for something around 163cm, give or take, for an all-mountian-freestyle deck, give or take and certainly something wide for size 12s – at least 260mm at the waist.

       Unfortunately, there isn’t really an appropriate size for the Capita Outerspace Living.

       If you’re a more advanced rider and like you’re riding more aggressive, you could look at something like the DOA (161W). I think that’s probably the only Capita all-mtn-free board that would have an appropriate size for you.

       For the Evil Twin, there’s a 159W, which would be on the short side, but doable. But like I say, I haven’t ridden it so I can’t really comment on how good a ride it is.

       If you’re willing to go outside those brands, then check out the link above, otherwise, I think the DOA would work, so long as you aren’t a beginner (and I would pair it with at least medium boots and bindings and even medium-stiff – as per my other comment, I don’t think it would work with the Vans Hi-Standard.

       Sorry, this ended up being a thinking out loud response! Hope it gives you a bit more to go off anyway.

       Reply

261. Nick says

     October 20, 2017 at 6:13 am

     Hi Nate,

     I’ve read a ton of your reviews all across the board and they are a huge help to me. I am in the market for a new snowboard and bindings, and I am having a bit of trouble deciding on one. There are a few candidates I found that I feel will fit my style, but I’m not sure on the camber part. I would consider myself an intermediate to advanced rider. Basically, I love charging down diamonds and carving at high speeds, but also want something that’s slightly playful (maybe medium flex?) and can do a little park, but not that important. The reason being is most of the people I ski/board with all like park, but are willing to freeride too. I board mostly at resorts on the east coast around Pennsylvania, but want to take a few trips to Colorado to experience fresh pow as well. Right now, I am currently on a 2014 Ride Wild Life which was pretty fun to learn on, but I want something more like a camber profile. I would prefer to buy a snowboard that’s made in America from Never Summer, but I am also willing to go with a brand like Burton or Nitro if they have something that matches what I want better. I know the difference between a camber and a rocker, but what is slightly confusing is the the camber/rocker/camber and the rocker/camber/rocker. A lot of the NS boards seem to be camber/rocker/camber, but one review on youtube said they were more of a rocker, and I’d prefer a camber. Originally, I was looking at the NS Ripsaw and West which seemed like awesome boards, but again, they have that camber/rocker/camber profile. Then I looked a little bit at Nitro’s Woodcarver and a Burton Custom. As for the bindings, I already decided Burton Cartels were the way to go. I am really torn though I hope this wasn’t to lengthy for ya, but thank you in advance.

     Height: 5’10” Weight: 185-190 U.S Foot Size: 10-10.5

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 20, 2017 at 12:06 pm

       Hi Nick

       Thanks for your message.

       It sounds like an all-mountain board is the right place for you to look. They’re typically more freeride oriented but are softer flexing and more forgiving and less directional and so they’re also fine for taking in the park – but still more towards the freeride side of things, which it sounds like is more important for you.

       Never Summer basically have 3 different camber profiles – Fusion Rocker Camber, Ripsaw Rocker Camber and Original Rocker Camber. They all have rocker between the feet but they have different amounts of rocker and camber. The Fusion Rocker Camber won’t be on any of the boards you’re looking at since you’re looking all-mountain. So the difference between the Original and the Ripsaw is:

       1. The Ripsaw Rocker Camber has rocker between the feet but its only a short section of rocker. Camber starts before the inserts and extends all the way to the tip and tail. The camber is also more pronounced than it is on the Original Rocker Camber

       2. The Original Rocker Camber has rocker between the feet that extends to under the feet and the camber doesn’t start until around the outside of the inserts. The camber extends to tip and tail but isn’t as pronounced as it is with the Ripsaw Rocker Camber.

       The main difference this makes is that the Ripsaw profile (which is on a number of boards – not just the Ripsaw) provides a more aggressive more poppy feel and gives more of a camber feel to it compared to the Original Rocker camber, which is more playful, loose feeling and has a more rocker feel to it. That said, the rocker between the feet, even on the Ripsaw profile is definitely still noticeable and gives a looser feel than full camber or hybrid camber (where the camber is between the feet and rocker towards tip and tail).

       The West has the Ripsaw Rocker profile so would be more suitable to what you’re looking for – but there is still a slightly looser feel – but certainly not to go as far as to say that it’s loose, if that makes sense.

       I think the West would be a good option for you – but if are concerned about getting a really stable, more camber like feel, then there isn’t really that option with Never Summer.

       I don’t currently test Nitro gear, so I can’t really comment there.

       Burton, definitely do have camber options for all-mountain boards (like the Burton Process on this list). But they do tend to be fully camber, with the exception of the Trick Pony (which I think would be your best Burton option). Their Flying V profile, tends to be on the looser side (probably more so than the Never Summer Ripsaw Profile). Flying V has rocker between the feet, camber under the feet and then rocker again, tip and tail. Also their flying V doesn’t tend to play too well in hard/icy conditions, which I’m guessing you encounter out East a fair bit. Never Summer boards actually do have pretty good hard snow conditions grip.

       If you wanted to go fully camber, then you could look at Burton Process or Burton Custom – but they will be harder work in powder. The Trick Pony is probably your better bet for Burton.

       So, I would say Never Summer West or Burton Trick Pony.

       In terms of sizing, I would say:

       Never Summer West: 159cm

       Burton Trick Pony: 158cm

       But if your Wild Life is anything significantly longer or shorter than that, then we might have to revisit those sizes.

       There are of course other options we could look at outside of those brands but for those brands, those 2 boards would be your best bet, IMO. Though there might also be something Nitro suitable.

       Burton Cartels are a good all round binding, that will work with pretty much any board, except for the softest and stiffest boards, so I think that’s a good bet.

       Anyway, hope this gives you a bit more to go off for your decision.

       Reply

       • Nick says

         October 21, 2017 at 6:40 am

         Nate, I honestly cannot thank you enough for your answer. Not only was it fast, but it was also super informative. You’re reviews are a huge help, and you’re answer made my decision so much easier! I did a bunch of research on the Trick Pony as well as the West and decided to go with the West. Since it’s made in USA, and the snowboarding community is in agreement that you can carve super hard on it while being able to mess around in the park it just seemed to be calling my name. I’ll probably just go with the 159 since since the size chart recommends it. I will say this though, I got my Wild life around three years ago, and I may have weighed around 180-185. I think it would be a good size although I do tend to fluctuate between 185-195 right now, and may put on more weight in the future due to weight training, but probably not much. So depending on your definition of significant decrease and increase, I think I would otherwise be alright with the 159 because I don’t want to get the next size up and have it be too big for me.

         Also, I put my regular shoe size in my original message, however my actual boot size right now is 9.5, not that it makes a difference according to the size chart, just thought I would mention it.

         I am probably going to a local ski shop this weekend to see how my Ride HyPhys fit in burton bindings because right now I am wearing NOW IPOs. I’ll probably use my HyPhys for another season. The probably end up switching to normally laced boots since it’s what I’m used to from playing hockey.

         Seriously though, thank you again for the help and keep up the awesome work! I’ll definitely hit this site back up if I have any other questions.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           October 21, 2017 at 1:51 pm

           You’re very welcome Nick. 9.5s should be a good fit on the 159 West. Hope you enjoy your new gear and have an awesome season! Definitely hit me up if you have any other questions.

           Reply

           • Nick says

             October 23, 2017 at 4:52 am

             Will do, much appreciated!

262. Kyle says

     October 19, 2017 at 10:24 am

     Hey Nate,

     Im a advanced to expert rider and i ride Colorado and Utah every winter and I’m trying to find a good all mouton board for me this upcoming winter. Im 5’9 weigh 175 and my boot size is 11.5. Ive been looking at the ride wild life and burton trick pony mostly even some never summer boards. i ride mostly some powder and resort riding some natural jumps and terrain I tend to stay out of the park. is ther any board you could suggest for me? thanks

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 20, 2017 at 11:18 am

       Hi Kyle

       Thanks for your message.

       Definitely different feeling boards those two. The main differences are, I would say:

       1. The Trick Pony is overall a slightly more aggressive board and a little more advanced
       2. The Wild Life will perform better in powder
       3. The Trick Pony is going to be better for riding switch and for jumps
       4. Even though I’ve scored them the same, I think the Trick Pony is better for carving, but the Wild Life is definitely easier to skid your turns on – but as an advanced/expert rider you probably won’t have any issues there.
       5. Overall the Trick Pony (directional twin, 12.5mm setback) is slightly more freestyle oriented than the Wild Life (directional, 20mm setback) – the latter being almost more of a more easy going/forgiving freeride board.

       In terms of sizing, I would say for you:

       Trick Pony: 158W
       Wild Life: 158W

       But you should also weight up what size you’re currently riding. If you’re used to something shorter or longer, then there might be a better size, but generally speaking, I think those would be good sizes for you for those boards.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

263. Kurt says

     October 17, 2017 at 6:27 pm

     Awesome reviews Nate! I’m looking for a new all mountain snowboard and am trying to figure out which one would be the best for me and my riding. I am 6’4″ and 170 lbs. I am an advanced/expert rider, and ride both on east coast (NY, VT) and west coast (CO, UT, WY). My favorite stuff to ride is trees, bowls, off piste (but still on resort), and powder. I also like steep groomers, moguls, and jumps off natural features I find around the mountain. I like to ride switch every now and again. I don’t really spend any time in the terrain park. I have been looking at the Jones Ultra mountain twin (have you ridden that or just the regular mountain twin?), Mountain twin & Explorer, and Never Summer West & Ripsaw. I was also interested in yes standard, but have heard the new model is pretty slow turning? Do you have any recommendations on boards, or thoughts on what would be best for what I like? Thanks

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 18, 2017 at 12:27 pm

       Hi Kurt

       Thanks for your message.

       I haven’t ridden the Ultra Mountain Twin – unfortunately. A board that seems to escape my grasp every season – but I vow to ride it this season!

       As for the other options, I think the Mountain Twin, Explorer, West and Standard are all options. The only reason I don’t include the Ripsaw, is that it’s more park oriented than the others – and wouldn’t be as good for powder as the others, IMO.

       With the YES Standard, if you size it properly I don’t think it’s too slow turning at all. The idea with this board, IMO, is to size down a little bit – you go a little wider but a little shorter. For example for the 2017 model sizings I would have rode the 158 but for the 2018 models, the 156 was the better size for me. The advantage of doing this is being slightly better for the trees and for spins (and any other situation where a shorter length is appreciated). But it’s still something that you don’t want to be overly wide for your feet. So, in the right size, the Standard is an option – but I’d need to know your boot size to determine what would be the best size for that board.

       In terms of the Mountain Twin. I would say Ultra Mountain Twin for you. Like I say I haven’t ridden it – but it is supposed to offer up a bit more performance and as an advanced/expert rider, you would be able to take advantage of that.

       If you want any opinions for sizes for any of these, I’d be happy to give you mine, if you can let me know your boot size – though I’m sure you know what you like at this stage? The only thing would be the Standard really as this is sized slightly differently.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Kurt says

         October 18, 2017 at 5:39 pm

         Thanks for the info! I wouldn’t mind getting your opinion on board sizes for Ultra Mountain Twin, West, and Standard. Boot size is 10.5/11 depending on brand.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           October 19, 2017 at 9:55 am

           Hey Kurt

           I think the following would work well for you, but also keep in mind the size that you’re used to will influence it as well. As an established rider, you’re probably used to a certain size.

           Ultra Mountain Twin: 161W or 162

           West: 160W or 162

           Standard: 159

           But if you can let me know what size you ride now, and I can adjust based on that. Also, if you can let me know the width you ride. If we know that you already ride a board with say a 255mm waist and you’ve never had heel or toe drag issues, then that would influence width choices. Also, do you like to get really low in your carves? In that case we’d want to look at something a little wider.

           Reply

264. Michael says

     October 15, 2017 at 9:29 pm

     Hi Nate,

     It’s awesome all the advice/help you are giving people to help them in their snowboard adventure. Like others have said, I can tell your responses are genuine and really with the best interests of the person you are helping in mind. Maybe you can point me in the right direction.

     I am 45. I have been snowboarding for about 14 years but not a lot of days each year and some years have been quite lean. At least 1 year I didn’t even make it up once. In recent years I have been almost exclusively riding at Loveland ski area in Colorado but I would like to get to some other places, maybe even other states if possible. I guess I am intermediate but not really sure. For the most part I like to ride all over…..groomers, greens, blues, some blacks if there is good snow but not so much when they’re really tracked in. Love riding the powder in the trees, small to medium jumps, I want to work on riding switch a bit too. I really enjoy cruising through a nice stand of trees with all the varied terrain, obstacles, woops, and hopefully some powder, then at the end of the trees jump on the trail and get a little speed the rest of the way down. I do kind of want take my riding up a notch this year – what ever that looks like, not sure yet. I typically gravitate towards gear that is a bit lighter weight whenever possible. I am very interested in a board that does well at varied terrain and conditions – like and all-mountain board. Good edge-to-edge sounds attractive as well.

     I am a little under 5′ 10″ and around 183 lbs. and I wear size 10 snowboard boots.

     Out of your top all-mountain list, what would be your top 2 or 3 boards you would recommend to me and what size would you suggest?

     Thanks a bunch for your advice!!

     Mike

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 16, 2017 at 1:16 pm

       Hi Michael

       Thanks for your message.

       First of all, I think you’re looking in the right place for sure (all mountain boards), based on the info you gave me.

       Generally speaking I would say something like 157 to 159 for you for an all-mountain board. And with a size 10, you’re pretty much good for any regular width. You have very similar specs to me (185lbs, 6’0″, size 10).

       I would say one of the top 4 in this list would be the best bets for you – I know it sounds like a cop-out to suggest the top 4, but based on what you describe, I think those are the best options. All but one thing – none of these boards are particularly on the light side – not heavy either, very middle of the road in terms of weight, from what I felt.

       If lighter than normal is really important for you, then the Capita Outerspace Living and the Salomon Assassin and Assassin Pro were the lightest boards that I demoed last season. Those boards are noticeably lighter than everything else I tried – but they’re all-mountain-freestyle boards and you’d be taking a bit of a hit in terms of powder performance. But if you were willing to sacrifice powder for lightness, those are great options. Actually, the other option is the Capita Mercury which is also lighter than normal – I would class it as more of an aggressive all-mountain board – but only just. I had to debate whether or not it should be classed as all-mountain or aggressive all-mountain. So if you were happy with something a little more aggressive that’s also an option.

       But if you wanted to stick with something on this list, then the following sizes would be great for you, IMO.

       ~ YES Standard: 156 (258mm waist) – a little shorter than the 157 to 159 we discussed but it’s a bit wider and designed to be ridden shorter (which is nice to have for the trees.

       ~ Never Summer West: 159cm

       ~ Slash Brainstorm: 157 (could do 160 as well if you wanted longer but I think you’d enjoy the 157 slightly more, there are pros and cons with each size but on balance I think 157cm)

       ~ Jones Mountain Twin: 157 (same as per Brainstorm)

       And if you wanted to look at the others I mentioned, then I think the:

       ~ Capita Outerspace Living: 158cm

       ~ Salomon Assasssin: 158

       ~ Salomon Assassin Pro: 158

       ~ Capita Mercury: 157 (since it’s a little more aggressive and a little wider, I think the 157 is the best size option out of the 157 and 159)

       Hope this helps

       Reply

265. Gábor says

     October 11, 2017 at 3:54 am

     Hi Nate!

     This website is amazaning as your attitude to help others!

     I am wondering if you could help me to find a snowboard. It would be really great.

     My “specs”:
     Weight: 95kg/209lbs
     Height: 1.95m/6.4f
     Boots size: 46-47/ US 13-14 ( I’m not sure)
     Level: Intermediate-Advanced

     I’m looking for an all mountain board which I would use for freeriding mostly,but I am also visiting parks too.In additon I would like to improve my switch riding too.
     My problem is that I’m not familiar in the market, specially not with board wide enough for my feet.

     Could you please suggest a couple of boards with it’s height?

     Thank you for your help in advance.

     Greetings from Hungary,
     Gábor

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 12, 2017 at 2:06 pm

       Hi Gábor

       Thanks for your message.

       46-47 would likely be US12 or US13 depending on the brand of the boots (different brands have different conversions). So, assuming it’s around 12.5, then I think looking at something with at least a waist width of 264 would be a good idea. If you can let me know the brand of your boots, that would help to be more accurate, but I think either way you should be fine if we look at something with at least that 264mm waist.

       And I think length wise, something around 166cm is a good option but we can look at something slightly shorter or longer than that too, but around that is a good bet, IMO.

       Because it sounds like you’re looking for a board that can do a bit of everything, then I think you’re looking in the right place on this list.

       So of the all-mountain options, I think the following would be suitable for you.

       ~ Never Summer West 164X (266mm waist) – you could also potentially go 168X – the 164X will be better in the park and the 168X a little better for speed, powder, stability – but overall I think the 164X is probably the better size if you’re going into the park.

       ~ Niche Story 162W (265mm waist) – getting on the short side for you, but doable at that length and the width is good

       ~ Jones Mountain Twin (or Ultra Mountain Twin) 164W (262mm waist): pushing being too narrow for US13s but if your boots translate to US12, then it would be a good option

       ~ Slash Brainstorm 163W (263mm waist): Like the Mountain Twin pushing it to be too narrow for 13s but good for 12s

       ~ Rossignol One 165W (268mm waist): A good size all-round, IMO

       Hope this gives you some options

       Reply

       • Gábor says

         October 18, 2017 at 2:24 am

         Hi Nate!

         Thank you for your answer!

         I just found a great offer for a Nitro Magnum 2016.

         Do you have any experience with this board? What do you thin would it be good for my specs?

         Thanks again.

         Gábor

         Reply

         • Nate says

           October 18, 2017 at 1:43 pm

           Hi Gábor

           Nitro isn’t a brand I demo currently so I haven’t had any experience on the Magnum. Also, I wouldn’t be able to really test that particular board properly because it only comes in wide sizes and I don’t have large enough feet to get the most out of boards that wide.

           For you though, they would likely work.

           The 163W has a 270mm waist, so it would certainly be wide enough and not too wide. So that would be a good size. The other option would be to go up to the 167, if you felt like you’d like a longer board.

           Based on the specs and a quick bit of research it does look like it’s an all-mountain board leaning on the side of freeriding, so I think it sounds like it would suit your riding – but as I haven’t ridden it, I can’t really say for sure what it’s like to ride.

           Hope this helps

           Reply

266. Leonardo says

     October 11, 2017 at 3:08 am

     Hi Nate! I’m 192cm, 190 pounds and I have a shoe size 12.5. I was thinking of getting the capita doa with the union force bindings, I would also want a tradicional lacing boot. Any recommendations? I’m mostly interested in carving, being stable at high speeds but also ride a bit of park and do butters. Do you think this is a good setup? Would you change the board or the bindings or do you have any recommendations?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 12, 2017 at 1:52 pm

       Hi Leonardo

       It sounds like the DOA would be a good board for you, based on what you’re describing. I would say that the 162W is the best size for you. Just so you know this an aggressive feeling board (a good thing assuming that’s what you’re after) and also that it’s not great in powder or amazing for jibbing (but not terrible there). But it’s super poppy and great for jumps – and I found it to be really stable at speed and a good little carver for a twin.

       If you haven’t already, also check out my DOA review:

       ~ Capita DOA Review

       Or if you want to check out some other options that I think would also be suitable, check out the following:

       >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       The Force are a good option for this board, IMO. They are a little stiffer than medium and this board, I find, rides better with a slightly stiffer binding. I’ve ridden it with medium-soft bindings, medium bindings and medium-stiff bindings and the mid-stiff bindings felt best on this board. It was amazing with the Union Ultra FC (but those are seriously pricey). But yeah, I think the Force would work well on it.

       Same probably goes for boots – something a little stiffer than medium would work well, I think.

       So something from the following list would be a good call:

       >>My Top All Mountain Snowboard Boots

       The Vans Infuse are basically traditional lace but have a boa coil that works to pull your heel down – but they’re predominantly traditional lacing. There’s also the Tactical ADVs there that are traditional lace that would be a great option – especially given that you have 12.5s and Adidas have great reduced footprint in their boots.

       Another trad lace option, not on that list would be the Ride Fuse (again has a Boa coiler but predominantly trad lace.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

267. KV says

     October 4, 2017 at 8:39 pm

     Nate, thanks for all you do… it’s appreciated! I do have a question. Would the NS West be foregiving enough so that I can be a little lazy while cruising the mountain with my kids??

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 5, 2017 at 4:40 pm

       Hi KV

       Thanks for your message.

       The 2018 West has a bit more of an aggressive profile than previously (Never Summer’s Ripsaw Rocker in place of their Original Rocker Camber – which basically means the camber sections are a bit more pronounced and are longer than they are on the Original Rocker Camber). But it’s still the same flex and still playful enough. I think you can still slow it down and play around a bit on it – maybe not as much as in the past – but it’s still not a super aggressive ride.

       If you want to go more playful and cruisey but wanted something that was very similar to the West you could try the Never Summer Snowtrooper – it’s pretty much the West but with a slightly softer flex and it has the Original Rocker Camber profile, which is less aggressive. I just published my review of the Snowtrooper today – you can check it out at the link below.

       ~ Never Summer Snowtrooper Review

       Hope this helps

       Reply

268. Adam says

     September 30, 2017 at 1:51 pm

     Hey Nate,

     Thanks for the great article!

     I am hoping you can help me pick out my next board.

     I am going into my 3rd season in Colorado and am addicted to snowboarding! I currently have a Jones All Mountain Twin 158W 2014-2015 model. I have enjoyed a lot about this board but have a couple of complaints that make me want to get a new one.

     I feel like it may be a bit heavy? I love to launch off of “natural” jumps on the slopes (not necessarily in the parks as much) and I don’t feel like I am catching air as big and long as I could. I love popping jumps on natural terrain and keeping up my speed to pop a mother if available… I also feel like I could be catching more speed going down the mountain. I like charging the slopes high speed but carving them up when I want to as well. I sometimes go off the trails into the trees to have fun exploring. Maybe once or twice a day I’ll dip into the park to catch air off the big jumps and will hit the half pipe just for fun and test myself.

     I don’t know if I should switch to a “set back” board as opposed to a “twin”? Also, I would love your opinion on if I should stick with All Mountain or change to an Aggressive All-Mountain board? I love riding in powder but don’t always have a choice…last season not much powder, the season before tons of it…so, I need a board that can do well in all conditions…your top two rated boards look good to me-maybe the never summer west because it is made in CO….but I am having a hard time deciding.

     Again, I would greatly appreciate your advice!

     My specs:
     Weight: 152-155lbs
     Height: almost 5’11
     Boot size:13

     Adam

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 2, 2017 at 10:07 am

       Hi Adam

       Thanks for your message and sorry for the slow response – have been in the process of moving apartments all weekend!

       Yeah, I think that the West is probably your best choice. I think that there isn’t really a size that would be suitable for the YES Standard for you. I would say the 156 is close – but I just think it would be too narrow for size 13s – even though that board does cinch at the waist more than most boards, I think it would still be a bit narrow at the inserts for 13s.

       The 157X West has a 261mm waist and should be ok. I would normally say even wider for size 13s, but if you’re not having any heel or toe drag issues on the 158W Mountain Twin, then it should be fine. I would say that 158 is the longest we want to go for you, given your specs and how you like to ride – so going longer to go wider, isn’t something I’d want to do. What boots do you own out of curiosity? Actually, if you’re having no problems on the 158W Mountain Twin, then the 156 Standard might still be an option – but ordinarily I wouldn’t go that narrow for 13s. And I still think that for what you’re describing the West is possibly the better option – just because it feels a little lighter on snow, in my opinion.

       The other option would be to go for an all-mountain-freestyle board – you’d get more out of them for your jumps – and there are some really light options going around in that category. If going light is important then something like the Salomon Assassin or Capita Outerspace Living. Is an option. But you’d sacrifice performance in powder, in my opinion, over an all-mountain board.

       Actually, the Capita Mercury might be an option too. It’s like a setback, directional version of the Outerspace Living. Really light – not as focused on jumps, but a little better for powder than the Outerspace Living.

       But yeah, I think that the West 157X would be a great option anyway but if you did want to check out some all-mountain-freestyle options check out the link below. I haven’t updated that list for 2018 yet, but there are some other options that I haven’t mentioned here.

       >>My Top All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       Hope this helps

       Reply

269. Alex Hurley says

     September 27, 2017 at 7:15 am

     Hey Nate,

     Im totally lost man haha but here are some things to consider. I currently am riding the Burton Jeremy Jones 2008 board…have been for over 6-7 years. the board still feels brand new. Ive rode the board over 300+ times easy with the burton cartel bindings…ive worn through both of the cartels but the never felt super responsive to me. I ride the entire mountain and am not afraid to do anything aside a 60ft kicker due to getting messed up on a backflip and having a gnarly season ending wipe out. Now i mainly like to ride pow and hit all the natural features to get creative. I still hit all the features in the park (aside from the 60 ft kickers still) and even come in contact with hard/icy conditions. I do not know the right board for me honestly.

     I am 5’7 and weigh 165. foot size is a 9.

     Can you please give me some direction before I go through seasons of trial and error. Im going on a trip to Colorado to hit up every mountain befor my military leave is over.

     Thank you so much for any and all advice you can give me.

     V/R
     Alexander Hurley

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 27, 2017 at 3:02 pm

       Hi Alex

       It sounds like you want one board to be able to do everything on and since you want to hit park and pow and everything in between, then I think you’re in the right place looking for an all-mountain deck.

       And that’s half the battle won.

       As you’re coming from an all-camber board (which as far as I’m aware is what the Jeremy Jones was), I think looking at a hybrid camber is a good option. It’ll still have the camber between the feet that you’re used to but has some rocker towards tip and tail – one advantage of that is better float in powder and another is that it feels nice on presses – but I think you’ll still want something with a good bit of camber in there.

       The other thing is that it sounds like jumps (even if not the 60ft kickers anymore!) are a big part of your repetoire – so something with good pop and stability for landings is another thing to look out for. And also we want something that can handle hard/icy snow conditions pretty well.

       Taking all of that into account I think the following would be good options:

       ~ Jones Mountain Twin
       ~ Slash Brainstorm
       ~ Burton Trick Pony
       ~ YES Standard

       In terms of sizing, based on your specs, and how you describe your riding I would say the following:

       ~ Jones Mountain Twin 154 or 157
       ~ Slash Brainstorm 154 or 157
       ~ Burton Trick Pony 154 or 158
       ~ YES Standard 153 or maybe 156 but that’s getting pretty wide for size 9s.

       I’d be leaning towards the longer of those lengths, just because you are looking to ride in powder, but since it sounds like you like to do a lot of creative freestyle stuff, the shorter lengths are definitely an option. I’m guessing you were on the 156 Jeremy Jones? But if you could let me know the size that you have, that can also be taken into account.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

270. Fred says

     September 26, 2017 at 3:38 am

     Hi

     I’m a 34 year old beginner, with 8 days of snowboarding on the clock, progression is good I think. But I would like to buy another board. And I want your opinion. I now have a burton clash 2017. Great bord for learning how to turn, linking turns and all that, but when I try to hold it on the edge it skids away on the more firm icy groomers. Maybe it is my lack of technique (and for that I plan another lesson on my next trip) or is it the crapy edgehold of the clash? Therefor I’m looking for a do it al board because I don’t know yet if I will lean more towards park or going fast. The clash also doesn’t give much confidence when building up speed. So I looked for some other boards and I think I would like something in the Yes range. The basic (2017/2018), typo (2017/2018) or standard (2017) Would they all three be suitable for a beginner that can link turns on blue and red (less confident on black) How do they carve and will they be suitable for a little basic jumping, boardsliding on rails, buttering.
     Thx mate!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 26, 2017 at 1:40 pm

       Hi Fred

       I think that the Typo is the board for you. Definitely beginner friendly but you can also carve and is one of the most versatile boards going around. I think that the Standard is just that bit more advanced and not so beginner friendly.

       The Basic would also be a good option – but the Typo is going to be a little better for speed, carving and in powder. The Basic will have it a bit over the Typo for riding switch but only just and the Typo is a good board for that too.

       Either of the 3 will give you heaps more in terms of edge-hold in hard/icy conditions compared with the Clash but yeah, overall I’d say the Typo is your best bet.

       If you’d like any opinions on the right size to get I’d be happy to give you my input. I’d just need your height, weight, boot size and the size of your Clash.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Fred says

         September 27, 2017 at 12:36 pm

         Hi and thanks for the advice.
         I ‘m 1.85m for 81kg (converted to us messurements that will be 6.07 feet for 178.57 pounds in my nakie that is.). I have the Burton moto boots in Eur 44.5 (US 11.5) and the Union flight pro bindings in L. (You see, I followed your advice for those things.) My clash ’17 was a 157W.

         I saw you rode the typo 2018 during a test day, I’m waiting for the review. And how it compares to the 2017. Besides that, do you have any other recomendation? I’m curently looking at the yes range because I prefer to buy in a local shop. But they have also a burton proces or capita… And what about the greats? So many questions, so little time.

         And when can you say that you made the transition from beginner to intermediate? Just to know if you recommend something to a specific group, that it is suited for me. If I look to the level classification I guess i’m in between 4 and 5. comfy with linking turns on blue and red. Trying to carve (wich works in softer conditions.) Less confident on black runs. So let’s say a level 4.

         I’m trying to analize/understand everything, so …

         grtz

         Reply

         • Nate says

           September 27, 2017 at 3:13 pm

           Hi Fred

           Funny you should mention the 2018 Typo review – I’ve just finished writing this up and will be ready to publish tomorrow!

           Come back to the site tomorrow and it should be up. The 2018 Typo is pretty much the same board as the 2017 model.

           In terms of size I think the 159W would be a great size for you. It’s adding a little bit of length to your clash but I think that’s fine at this stage and it’s a good width. If you really didn’t want to go any longer than your current board, then the 156W is an option, but I think the 159W would be the best size for you.

           In terms of ability, the Typo is definitely a good fit for you, IMO.

           In terms of the Greats, I don’t think there would be a suitable size for you there. There aren’t any wide options.

           Reply

           • Fred says

             September 30, 2017 at 3:51 pm

             Thx for the input. Just bought a jones ultra mountain twin today. I keep you updated if it was a safe bet for a beginner. 🙂

           • Nate says

             October 2, 2017 at 10:08 am

             You’re welcome Fred. Hope the new board works well – and yeah, I’d definitely be interested to hear what you thought of it for a beginner.

           • Fred says

             October 8, 2017 at 4:30 am

             Couldn’t wait for my trip to Hintertux in november so I went to the indoor slope. First impressions: Turning is as easy as with the clash, even managed to go down in switch, actually my first time I tried the whole bunnyslope switch. You can feel that this is a faster base. Absolutely no problems with skidded turns and even managed to do some carves as well. So great board for a beginner! 🙂
             Hope to read a test of the Ultra mountain twin from you, so I can compare if I feel it the same way.

           • Nate says

             October 9, 2017 at 9:17 am

             Hi Fred

             Awesome to hear! And great to hear your take on the board from a beginner’s perspective. Thanks for sharing!

271. Ridvan says

     September 18, 2017 at 10:33 am

     Hey Nate,

     I am currently on a 155 Burton Process Camber. I’m looking to replace it with either the One Magtek or the Never Summer West. I weigh 150-155lbs so I was looking into the 156 for both the West and One Mag for my all mountain needs. Im on the east coast (NY) so I don’t get too much powder, but I would like a board that can handle it. I am a high beginner/low intermediate and still skid my turns so I’m wondering which is better for that? Also, how does the West compare to the One Mag with harder/icier snow? I have a 153 Funslinger for the park so I wouldn’t really be venturing into the park with the West or One Mag except for a few jumps/natural hits and also maybe a few boxes.

     I look forward to your response!

     Reply

272. Van says

     September 18, 2017 at 8:55 am

     Hey Nate,

     I’m a high beginner/low intermediate looking for a new board. I ride mostly on the east coast (NY) and deciding between the Rosi One Mag or Never Summer West. I feel these boards are very similar and my concerns with the West might be that it won’t be great in harder packed snow/icy conditions or would it be good on those too? I weigh 150-155lbs, 5’9.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 18, 2017 at 12:33 pm

       Hi Van

       Thanks for your message.

       The Rossi One is the better board in hard/icy conditions – but it is one of the better boards going around for those conditions. The West certainly isn’t bad. To rate them I would say that the West is 4/5 in hard/icy conditions and the West is 5/5.

       I find a couple of differences between these board. The West has a slightly looser feel – certainly not a loose feel overall, but slightly looser than the One, which is a very stable feeling board (this is mostly down to the rocker sections underfoot on the west). Also the One is slightly better in powder but the West has better pop is overall more fun for jumps.

       In terms of size I would say, assuming you have a boot size less than US10.5, the 154 or 156 for the West. If you’re concerned with powder, carving and speed, then the 156, if you want to be doing more freestyle type stuff, then the 154, would be your best bet.

       For the One, a similar argument – 153 or 156, depending on preferences, but I’d be leaning more towards the 156 in this case. But also take into account that the shorter sizes will be easier to ride, which might be a factor as a high beginner/low intermediate.

       Hope this helps to weigh up your decision.

       Reply

       • Van says

         September 18, 2017 at 3:55 pm

         Thank you very much! I’ve been very undecided between the two. I’m coming from a 155 Burton Process Camber which I really dislike. It’s way too unforgiving whenever I wasn’t paying attention to what I was doing and also wasn’t that great at all in icy conditions so I’m looking for something to satisfy those needs.
         That being said, after reading your post, I just ordered a 156 West. I prefer a slightly looser feel and I just think the West will fit me better overall. I chose the 156 because I have a 153 Funslinger for more freestyle orientated riding. I hope the West is forgiving enough as I still skid turns here and then, but it seems as though it is.

         Thank you again!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           September 18, 2017 at 5:02 pm

           Hi Van

           Just got your second message, after I answered your first one. I agree that since you already have a separate park board that 156 is the better size choice.

           I found the West was fine for skidding turns, and should definitely be more forgiving for skidding turns than the Process Camber – and should have a bit more in terms of edge-hold in harder conditions. I think you’ve made a good choice there.

           Reply

           • Van says

             September 18, 2017 at 9:24 pm

             Thank you so much for clearing this up! Cant wait to get out on the slopes with the new board.

273. Dan says

     September 17, 2017 at 3:29 pm

     Hi Nate, I’m really impressed with your information and with how much help you’ve given others. I’m in the market for a new board and need some advice.

     I’ve been snowboarding for about 10 years, entirely on a cheap 158cm Lamar board my wife bought for me. We visit exclusively NY and New England resorts so a lot of ice and hard pack. I stick to the blue groomers and the occasional easy diamonds when I’m feeling adventurous. I just like to cruise and take it easy for the most part. No parks or Backcountry.

     That being said, I do want to start learning some small jumps, but no jibs, just as I’m heading down the trails.

     Based on what you’ve advised to others, I’m leaning towards Burton Process, Rossignol One Magtek, NS West, and Trick Pony. I’m trying to pick up a 2017 model on discount to save a few dollars. I’m 5’10 150 lbs and wear a size 10.5/11 boot.

     Am I on the right track for boards? Anything else you can advise, such as waist width?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 18, 2017 at 11:40 am

       Hi Dan

       Thanks for your message.

       I think you’re definitely on the right track, looking at an all-mountain board – and the boards you’ve mentioned all have decent edge hold for hard conditions.

       In terms of size I would say something around the 155 to 156 range would be good for you. Since you’re used to a 158cm, then I would say you could probably go as long as that if you wanted. But generally speaking around that 156cm range would be good I think. In terms of waist width, based on a size 11 boot, I would say don’t go narrower than 254mm at the waist – and you can get away with slightly narrower if you have low profile boots. But, generally try to get something 254mm +.

       Because you need something with good edge-hold in hardy/icy conditions I would say the following are the best for that from this list. I’ve put what I think are your best size options and a rough rating for how well I rate them in hard/icy conditions.

       ~ Jones Mountain Twin (155W) – 4/5 hard/icy conditions
       ~ Never Summer West (157W or 156 if you have low profile boots) – 4/5 hard/icy conditions
       ~ Niche Story (156) – 5/5 hard/icy conditions
       ~ Rossignol One (157W or 156 if you have low profile boots) – 5/5 hard/icy conditions
       ~ YES Standard (156) – 5/5 hard/icy conditions
       ~ YES Typo (156W) – 5/5 hard/icy conditions

       The Burton Process could also be an option – it’s not as good in hard/icy conditions as the above though – and it is a traditional camber profile – which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but some people don’t like the unforgiving nature of this kind of profile. If you like to cruise and take it easy, this might not be the most fun profile for you. The Trick Pony is an option too – not as unforgiving a profile as the Burton Process – but again, not quite as good as the boards mentioned above, in terms of hard/icy conditions. Slash Brainstorm would also rate as a 4/5 in hard/icy conditions but in my opinion, there’s not really a suitable size there for you.

       Hope this helps with your decision.

       Reply

       • Dan says

         September 20, 2017 at 2:42 pm

         Thanks again for this help. The ski shops around me simply don’t have the snowboard knowledge to help make an informed decision.

         Looking around I can’t seem to find a 2017 board in my size based on your recommendations so it looks like a 2018 model is in my future. I am gravitating towards the Rossignol One LF and the Yes Standard, although I do like the Niche Story and the company’s sustainability of their manufacturing so possibly that board.

         Based on those boards I’m looking for bindings that match. I read your reviews and I like the Burton Cartels and seem like that would be a match. If not, what binding should I look at?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           September 21, 2017 at 5:38 pm

           Hi Dan

           You’re very welcome.

           In terms of bindings, the Cartels would be a great match with any of these boards. If you’re not familiar with Burton bindings, just be sure to get the “Re:Flex” model as the “EST” model will only work on Burton boards.

           Reply

274. Tim says

     September 8, 2017 at 3:04 pm

     Hi Nate, I have a Yes basic which I am really enjoying, but I would like to step it up next year, and the Standard is one board that catches my eye. However I have size 7.5 / 8 feet, and i’m thinking the increase in width may not favour me. In fact, I was wondering what you thoughts were about the trend towards shorter wider boards with respect to riders with small feet. Is it something best left to dudes with bigger feet, or do some of the modern edge tech (like Yes’s mid-bite) compensate enough to give it a go?
     Many thanks
     Tim

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 9, 2017 at 8:53 am

       Hi Tim

       Thanks for your message.

       I think you could give it a go, if there’s a size that will work for you. You would need to size down to compensate for the extra width.

       I think the trend towards shorter wider boards isn’t something that’s going to take over and be the norm but there’s definitely a place for it – I really like them for the trees, especially.

       The Standard isn’t as extreme as some short/wide boards – in terms of it not being that wide – and you don’t want to size down as much as you would for something like a K2 Cool Bean for example. But you do want to size down a little bit in length. It’s an in between kind of thing – but probably still closer to a traditional shape than something like the Cool Bean or that type of board, if that makes sense.

       In terms of for those with smaller feet, it’s tricky but I think it’s still doable but it probably also depends on other specs, to see if there is a good length. If you can let me know the following, then I can make a recommendation as to a good size for the 2018 Standard for you (if any):

       1. Your height and weight
       2. The length of your YES Basic
       3. Your ability level and how you like to ride (i.e. tricks, jumps, just cruising, powder, steeps, trees, a bit of everything etc)

       Reply

275. Jordan says

     September 4, 2017 at 4:41 pm

     Hi Nate,
     Its late 2017 and am having a difficult time with all the choices out there. I have been riding a K2 Raygun for about 5 years (1st board) and have realized I am outgrowing it. I mostly ride groomed runs and powder with the occasional off-path boarding. Switch is not too important for me and I occasionally will hit the park. I always like to challenge myself in terms of speed and carves. I live in Norcal and ride at Tahoe, Whistler, and CO resorts. The Turbo Dream can be purchased at a decent price, but am afraid that it won’t be much of an upgrade over the Raygun (plus you did not review it well). I would say I am an intermediate-advance boarder that rides mostly blues and sometimes blacks. What are your thoughts? Other boards I am considering are the Slash Brainstorm, Burton Custom Process V, Custom X, Flight Attendant, Yes Standard, Rossignol One, NS West, and Ride Bezerker. I am 6′ 185 lbs and size 13 shoe. Thanks in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       September 5, 2017 at 2:47 pm

       Hi Jordan

       Thanks for your message.

       There’s definitely a lot of choices out there – so it’s good to be able to narrow them down.

       I think your best choices from those you’ve listed, based on what you descibe are.

       ~ YES Standard
       ~ Never Summer West
       ~ Ride Berzerker

       And some other options:

       ~ Jones Explorer
       ~ Capita Mercury

       The reason I’ve chosen these is that their strong on Carving and Speed, which sound like 2 very important characteristics for you – but they’ll also be able to occasionally hit the park and won’t be too aggressive/stiff. But can get aggressive enough.

       The Custom X is great for speed and carving but it’s also really aggressive, really stiff and doesn’t offer anything for the park – and is really unforgiving if you’re off your game. The Flight Attendant is another one that would be suitable in terms of carving and speed – and also for powder – but doesn’t offer the versatility of the other boards mentioned.

       The Flying V profile doesn’t offer much in the way of carving which is why I wouldn’t suggest anything with a flying V profile.

       In terms of size, I think something between a 159 and 163 would be a good choice – if you want to lean more towards that powder, speed, carving end then going to the longer end of that range is a good option. If you want something a bit more playful, then the shorter end of that range is better. Since it sounds like speed & carving is your main game – then something around 161 to 162 would be a good bet.

       In terms of width, since you hve 13s, you’ll want to make sure the waist width is at least 265mm – so you’re looking at quite a wide board.

       With that in mind, the following would be the best sizes for you, IMO:

       ~ YES Standard 159cm (263mm waist) – probably a little short and a little narrow – though if you have low profile boots the width shouldn’t be an issue
       ~ Never Summer West 160W (263mm waist) – again a low profile boot would be a good idea for this one – or if you thought you’d like to go longer then the 164W is an option. I wouldn’t personally go that long with your specs – but some people like that to go longer
       ~ Ride Berzerker – 163W (261mm waist) – again pushing being too narrow – would probably get away with it with low profile boots but would definitely need low profile boots
       ~ Jones Explorer 161W (264mm waist) – I think probably the best size for you out of this lot.
       ~ Capita Mercury 161 (261mm waist) – like the Berzerker pushing it in terms of width

       Actually another great option for you would be the Lib Tech Skunk Apes. It only comes in wide sizes. The 161W (268mm waist) would be a good size for you, IMO. I haven’t ridden the board though (I have size 10s, so I wouldn’t be able to test the board properly as it only comes in wide sizes) so I couldn’t say how it was in terms of carving and speed. From the specs I would class it as an all-mountain board though.

       What length is your Raygun? Do you know the waist width of it?

       Hope this helps and gives you some options.

       Reply

       • Jordan says

         September 5, 2017 at 8:01 pm

         I cannot express on here how much your response guided me. My Raygun is 157w and has a 262mm waist which just a bit thin for my DC boots (not low profile). I am looking into new boots and bindings though. I currently ride the Raygun with Cartels.

         Somehow I missed all the excellent reviews of the Jones Explorer. People seem like it over the Flagship and Mountain Twin. Given the 264mm waist and 161w length, this seems like a great fit. What would you say the difference between the West, Standard, and Explorer is?

         I recognized that you didn’t mention the K2 Turbo Dream or Brainstorm in your response…for educational purposes, what is the reason? I would like to be able to spot the differences as I plan to own multiple boards.

         Random question – I will ride greens with my friends, but I get sick of slowing down and stalling on the flatter parts…is this have anything to do with the board? Or is just not enough speed?

         Once again, your response was a huge help.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           September 6, 2017 at 11:41 am

           Hi Jordan

           You’re very welcome.

           I would definitely recommending something from Adidas, Burton or Ride for your next boots. They all have good reduced footprint that should help you to fit on slightly narrower boards.

           I’d say that the biggest difference between the West and the Standard is that the West has a slightly loose feel to it (not majorly but noticeable) and this is mainly down to the camber profile – the West has a hybrid rocker (rocker between the feet and camber from inserts to tip and tail) and the Standard has a hybrid camber profile (camber between the feet and rocker towards tip and tail).

           The Explorer is a board that I consider part way between an all-mountain board and an aggressive all-mountain board. It’s got the performance in powder that aggressive all-mountain’s typically sacrifice for other things – but it’s also got more of an aggressive all-mountain feel to it on carves – but you can definitely slow it down and play around with it too – which is something often missing from an aggressive all-mountain board – it’s in my Top 6 Aggressive All Mountain Snowboards list if you want to check that out.

           I think the Brainstorm would be suitable – but just because I think the West and Standard are slightly better carvers, I thought you would appreciate that. But it would still be an option. The 163W (263mm waist) would be the most appropriate size for that.

           I actually really enjoyed riding the Turbo Dream but I think in terms of carving and speed, it sounds like you’re looking for a bit more. It’s quite a quick board edge to edge and quite maneuverable but when you really lean into a carve – especially at decent speed, it just felt a bit washy for me – I didn’t feel like I could really lay into a carve with confidence. It’s a fun board to ride but it’s more of a casual ride, IMO.

           In terms of stalling on flats, that’s mostly to do with the base of the board, IMO. A board with a sintered base will typically run faster over flats than an extruded base (the Raygun has an extruded base), provided you keep it waxed up. A bit of camber in the camber profile and a stiffer flex can help there too – but in my opinion it’s mostly down to the base when it comes to flats. Keeping up speed obviously helps as well – but the base makes a big difference.

           Reply

276. Jason says

     June 17, 2017 at 10:54 pm

     Hey Nate,

     Coming back to bother you with more questions. Since the brainstorm is out of stock everywhere I am torn between the NS West 159 or Typo 161. The powder rating between the two is only .5. Is that 1/2 point substantial? Across the rest of the field the Typo seems like it would suit what I am looking for more. I just want to make sure the board I choose has close to effortless float in the powder and something I can play around with on groomers. One thing I heard the Typo lacks in is dampening at high speed. I don’t believe I ever go too fast anyway but I don’t want a cattery board. I don’t know when the new line of boards come our for 2018 but I leave for Chile at the end of August and need a board for the trip. Am I better off waiting to purchase something like the brainstorm closer to then?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       June 19, 2017 at 10:39 am

       Hi Jason

       I think that the NS West is probably the better bet for what you’re describing and a closer comparison to the Brainstorm.

       The Typo wouldn’t be a bad choice but the West is a little better in powder, and the Typo can get a little chattery at speed. I’d say they would definitely be the major areas that the West excels over the Typo. That and carving. But the Typo is a little better in the more freestyle side of things – switch, jumps, jibbing.

       I do also think that the 159 size for the NS West is probably a little better based on what you were saying in a previous comment about your current Custom feeling a bit long for you now. Whilst the West and Typo will both feel a little shorter than the trad cambered Custom, I think going down that little bit more might be the better option. Of course the longer length of the Typo would give you more surface area for float but with the West being better in powder overall, the 159 West would still likely float a little easier than the 161 Typo, IMO.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • JASON says

         June 19, 2017 at 12:42 pm

         Nate, thank you and it was very helpful but unfortunately I was impulsive and ordered the Typo and Burton Cartel bindings. The phrase “playful and forgiving” kept pushing me towards the Typo. Is it worth me canceling the order and paying the extra $50 for the West? Sorry just really concerned with being 100% happy with this set up after not enjoying the Custom at all.

         Reply

       • JASON says

         June 19, 2017 at 12:58 pm

         Also, the camrock profile over the Hybrid Rocker, to me, seemed to be a better option.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           June 20, 2017 at 2:03 pm

           Hey Jason

           I think you’ll be fine with the Typo. It will definitely be a very different board to the Custom. It will have better float and be a lot more playful. And if you like the sound of the Camrock profile, then that’s another thing. I’m a big fan of the Typo – just on balance I thought the West was a slightly better option for your particular case but I definitely think that both will work well for you.

           Cartels should go well with the Typo too.

           Reply

277. Quin Johnson says

     May 3, 2017 at 10:53 pm

     Hey Nate, I had spoken with you earlier & you recommended me a 156 W of a Yes Standard or a 157 W of a Never Summer West X(I’m 155, 5’10,-Burton imperials size 11) I had recently told you I was going to Whitefish but now I have a job transfer to Crested Butte. What all mountain board would you recommend for Mt crested butte considering they have a little less powder & more hard pack on an average? Thanks- Quin

     Reply

     • Nate says

       May 4, 2017 at 1:36 pm

       Hi Quin

       I would still say the Standard or the West and still in those sizes. Both boards are good in hard pack. I would say there are some boards that are better when it comes to very icy conditions – and if you were to encounter those more – like if you were on the East Coast, then maybe, but even then these boards are decent for that too. But in Colorado, even on a mountain that gets less snow, those two will serve you well, IMO.

       Reply

       • Quin says

         May 7, 2017 at 8:50 pm

         I went ahead & ordered the Yes Standard W you recommended from backcountry for a sweet deal bc of my recent mountain-bike purchase. I like how their wide is really a semi-wide deck. Near perfect reviews I have read online everywhere regarding the standard. Can’t wait for our next winter!! Thanks again for all the advice Nate!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           May 8, 2017 at 9:30 am

           You’re very welcome Quin.

           It’s always hard buying a board when the winter seems so far away and you’re itching to try it! Would love to hear what you think of it once you do get a chance to try it

           Reply

278. Quin says

     April 17, 2017 at 1:34 am

     One more comment I forgot, I’ve been riding a Lib tech skate banana 156cm & it was very shaky at low speeds. I know it is basically a park board but bought it bc of great beginner board reviews but not very stable whatsoever.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 18, 2017 at 2:43 pm

       Hi Quin

       Thanks for your message.

       First of all – you should definitely gain a good bit of stability from any of these boards over the Skate Banana. The Skate Banana is quite a loose feeling board and not really made for stability.

       From what you describe I think you’re looking in the right place by looking at all mountain boards. Based on the fact that you enjoy riding trees, want something good in powder and want more stability at speed, I think that the following would be the best options for you and their sizes:

       – Niche Story 156cm (258mm waist)
       – YES Standard 156W (256mm waist) or you could even go 159W (258mm waist) if you were looking to size up but I think the 156cm would be the better size for your specs
       – Rossignol One 157W (264mm waist – though I think this might be a little bit too wide)
       – Never Summer West 157W (261mm waist)

       I think those would be your best bets in terms of edge-to-edge speed (important for the trees), float in powder, stability at speed and just all round good all mountain boards.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Quin says

         April 18, 2017 at 5:38 pm

         Appreciate your help Nate, your website is very helpful & your response time couldn’t have been any quicker. Thanks again!-Quin

         Reply

         • Nate says

           April 19, 2017 at 4:53 pm

           You’re very welcome Quin. Thanks for visiting the site!

           Reply

279. Quin says

     April 17, 2017 at 1:29 am

     I hardly ever hit the park. Mainly groomers & some snowboarding powder through trees. Thanks Nate-Quin

     Reply

280. Quin says

     April 17, 2017 at 1:27 am

     Hey Nate, just wondering what snowboard as well as size you would recommend for me. I’m 5’10 155 pounds size 11 Burton imperials with Burton medium cartel bindings. I’ve now grown into an intermediate level snowboarder moving to Whitefish Montana. Any suggestions based on exp, size/weight & resort area for all mountain riding groomers & powder/tree skiing mainly. I’ll hard let ever hit the park. Thanks , Quin

     Reply

281. Tony says

     April 12, 2017 at 12:13 am

     Thanks again, Nate!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 12, 2017 at 12:54 pm

       You’re very welcome Tony. Thanks for visiting the site!

       Reply

282. Tony says

     April 10, 2017 at 8:34 pm

     Hi Nate,
     Two more questions. I wear size 8 Burton boots. For the Genesis bindings I can either go with size S (6-8) or size M (8-11). I’m assuming I go with the S. Also, I can’t seem to find any Mountain Twin boards in 151cm. The only board I can find for sale at this late in the season is the 152cm West. I was going to just purchase both the board and the bindings now since there is only one left of each that I can find. Is there any reason to hold off?
     Thank you!
     Tony

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 11, 2017 at 2:48 pm

       Hi Tony

       No reason to hold off. I think the West 152cm and the Burton Genesis would make a great combo for your specs and the style of riding you’re describing.

       For the bindings size I’d say go with the S – with your boots you would be fine in either S or M but I would say go for S. I have 10s and prefer Ms over Ls even though both work fine. I just prefer the slightly snugger fit of the Ms. In your case this would be the S – but you can’t really go wrong with either size.

       Reply

283. Tony says

     April 10, 2017 at 3:40 pm

     Hi Nate,
     Thanks so much for the recommendations. I’m actually snowboarding with my family and my bindings just broke today so this is very timely. Also, since it was so long ago, I didn’t even realize that I was riding a 156cm board. I’m super excited to get new equipment and hope it will help me enjoy the slopes that much more while improving my skills. Again, thanks for responding!
     Cheers,
     Tony

     Reply

284. Tony says

     April 8, 2017 at 8:49 pm

     Hi Nate,
     This is a terrific website. I am an athletic 43 year old father of four and have been snowboarding for the better part of 20 years. However, I have only averaged 2-3 days a season on the slopes. I consider my skill level an intermediate, but I like to get to advanced. I can carve with relative ease on any blues but have some issues with blacks and high speeds. I’m so jealous when guys fly right past me at 70-80 mph. I don’t know how they do it! I snowboard mainly in Mammoth and the west coast. After reading your site I definitely want to purchase new gear. I have a Burton Custom board and bindings that are 20 years I’m sorry to say. I enjoy carving at a decent speed on groomed runs, but love powder and going through trees – slowly – when possible. Sometimes I try a small jump or two but I really have no plans to do any park stuff or ride switch. I’m 5’7″ and 135 lbs. What board and bindings would you recommend that I purchase? Thank you in advance!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 10, 2017 at 11:15 am

       Hi Tony

       Sorry about the late reply. Have had a busy weekend testing snowboards.

       Based on what you’re describing, I think you’re looking at the right types of snowboards. I think something all mountain would suit you well.

       I think that the Jones Mountain Twin, the NS West, the Rossignol One and the YES Standard would be your best bets from this list. I would say Brainstorm too, but I don’t know of anywhere they have them in stock – but if you can find one, that’s an option too. I would say the Niche Story too but i think that the shortest size would be a bit too long.

       In terms of size, I would say the following for each board:

       ~ Mountain Twin – 151cm
       ~ West – 152cm
       ~ One – 153cm
       ~ Standard – 152cm

       This sizing is based on height weight & ability, and trying to strike a balance between trees (where a shorter more maneuverable board can be better) and powder/speed (where a longer board is better).

       For bindings. I would say that anything from the following list would work for you and would match the boards above. The only thing is to make sure that if you go with a Burton binding that you get the “Re:Flex” version. Unless you get a Burton board, in which case the “EST” version is fine. But the EST version won’t fit no non-Burton boards.

       ~ Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

       Hope this helps

       Reply

285. Dan says

     April 4, 2017 at 4:10 pm

     Hi Nate. What are your thoughts on the ride warpig? Is this board as good as people make it out to be? Is it a good all mountain board. I’d like to add one to my quiver but I’m a little hesitant. I’m curious what your thoughts are on the board. Thanks

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 5, 2017 at 4:18 pm

       Hi Dan

       I thought the Warpig was a fun board. If you’re adding it as an extra board to existing boards, then that’s probably the best place for this board. I wouldn’t ride it as my one board quiver.

       Just so you know too, this board designed to be shorter and wider. So, the one I rode was the 154cm. This is shorter than I’d normally ride for this type of board but you’re supposed to ride shorter on the Warpig. That 154cm has a 270mm waist width – so it’s super-wide. The width adds back the stability lost in the length and the shorter length makes up for maneuverability lost in the extra width.

       It certainly wasn’t sluggish edge-to-edge as I find with regular length wide boards – so that drop down in length helps there – and I don’t know if they do anything else to help with that.

       It comes in 2 sizes – “small” and “large” which are 148cm and 154cm respectively. I almost feel like I could have gone with the 148cm size to really get the most fun out of it.

       It didn’t blow me away – but I don’t ride a lot of short/wide boards like this. But in terms of short/wides, I think I had more fun on the Capita Slush Slasher (151cm with 286mm waist) – but maybe with this type of board 154cm was too long for me.

       When I was demoing it the guy said it is supposed to have the feel and surface area of a 160cm for the 154cm.

       To me this kind of board isn’t really an all-mountain board. It’s good for powder and just fun in the slush and the trees (with that shorter length but still that surface area for the powder, I felt this was a good board in the trees – I think it would have been even better if I had the “small” size). You get that surface area and the rockered nose and a tapered directional shape. Poppy and fun but not an all-rounder, IMO.

       Hope this gives you more to go off

       Reply

       • Dan says

         April 5, 2017 at 4:52 pm

         Ok nate thanks for the response. Most of the reviews I’ve read have been about the 148 cm size. Most people say it’s pretty good but I’m not sure it’s a one board quiver. Like you said, maybe just to add to the quiver. Thanks again and cheers.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           April 5, 2017 at 5:01 pm

           Yeah for you I would go for the 148cm size. I think that would be the best fit for you if you were to add it to your quiver

           Reply

286. Joe Lucketta says

     April 2, 2017 at 3:09 pm

     Nate,

     Sorry about the delayed response about the warpspeed. My house was literally robbed twice this week, the second time happening while I was upstairs getting ready to head to the mountain! Anyway, I finally got to head up and play with my new toys today, so I wanted to give you some of my insights.

     This board was an amazing step up in performance, I’m simply astounded! From top to bottom it was better than the clash. I’m getting off the first lift, and as much as I’ve progressed this season, I always had an issue with getting off while on the clash. I just thought that I sucked at life here because the board was always just so squirrelly one footed. Not so! As soon as this capita hit the snow and I plant my rear foot down, it locks into the snow and just coasted perfectly. I was so happy!

     So I was first on the lift and the snow was pretty darn icy, but I knew it was gonna soften up pretty quickly. So I start down the hill and holy cow this thing just starts screaming! The acceleration was jarring! So I put this bad boy up on my heelside and the edge just bites right into this frigid ice, cutting this beautiful pencil line behind me. I pop out of my squat to turn toeside and the board just explodes and like magic, I’m carving toeside! My fears of catching an edge in the ice soon subsided because this v2 rocker profile was just amazing. The board was just so locked in and responsive, it did exactly what I wanted it to. Edge to edge was lightning quick, that camber I the middle just provided so much pop that turning was just a ton of fun. And this board combined with the diodes just destroyed the chunder and the chatter. With the clash, my knees felt every little bump, but this was like a gentle massage on my feet, just great.

     And you were absolutely right. This is not a beginner board. I’m not sure I could’ve progressed well on this board, but after getting on with the clash most of the season, this was a very good upgrade. But it took an extra effort on my part for sure. You really can’t just stand up and cruise with this board. It wants to be on an edge, going crazy fast down the hill. I could feel the burn in my legs after every run because I was squatting so low to feed this beast the speed it craves. It’s just a really powerful board meant for a powerful rider!

     One last thing that really made me appreciate this board was the feedback I got from it. It felt very forgiving, but at the same time it made me very aware when my weight wasn’t centered or if I wasn’t heading down the fall line properly. I really feel like my skill can progress tremendously on this board and that as I do, it is going to reward me in spades. This is most definitely a board for the big guy that wants to ride the snot out of a mountain!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 3, 2017 at 4:42 pm

       Hey Joe

       Thanks so much for your response! Good to hear that you’re enjoying your upgrade. Sux about the break-ins, but hopefully the thrill of your new deck has made up for it at least somewhat.

       Keep up the good work and I hope you get the chance to ride your new beast again before the end of the season!

       Reply

287. Ed says

     April 1, 2017 at 10:00 pm

     Hi Nate,

     I am going to get a Slash Brainstorm and would like your suggestion on the size. I am 169cm tall and my weight is 60kg. I mostly ride fast on groomer, but also put time in backcountry, tree run and enjoy power day.

     Moreover, is there any difference in the 15/16 edition with the latest 16/17 edition for the brainstorm?

     Thank you in advance for your helps.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       April 2, 2017 at 2:06 pm

       Hi Ed

       I think the best size for you is definitely the 151cm.

       15/16 and 16/17 models are exactly the same. The only difference is the graphic.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Ed says

         April 2, 2017 at 9:50 pm

         Thanks for your advise Nate.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           April 3, 2017 at 4:46 pm

           You’re very welcome Ed.

           Reply

288. Piotr says

     March 25, 2017 at 12:46 pm

     Hi Nate,
     Thanks for this site, I found your reviews very helpful. It’s a great starting point when it comes to looking for a new board.
     I’m looking for a new board and I wonder if you can help me make a decision. Currently I have the Endeavor Guerrilla 2009/2010 151 cm board (did you ride it?). I pair this board with Salomon F22 boots and Rome Arsenal bindings. This board is medium flex with a camber profile. I have this board from the beginning, now I consider myself as an intermediate and I wonder if it is not a time to upgrade it. Nearly all my time on a mountain I spend just riding on a prepared slopes, occasionally I hit unprepared slopes with a deep snow. I don’t spend time in a park at all. I’m riding forward angles I tried different 21-6, 21-9,18-6, I’ve never tried a duck.
     I’m 169 cm tall, 58-60 kg. What I like the most while snowboarding is to feel this acceleration when you are running on a curve, I hope you know what I mean. My current board is good but I find it sometimes difficult to really keep the heel edge. But maybe it is my skills not a board problem. So I’m looking for a board which is good for curving, stable in speed (however I’m not a speed demon), doing good in uneven terrain (slopes are becoming really messy at the end of a day) but which also allow me to ride in a powder which I would like to do more in a future. As I’m a rather slim guy I don’t want a stiff board although I know they are usually good in curving.
     While reading your reviews and also reviews on different sites, I found particularly few boards interesting:
     – Never Summer Proto Type Two
     – Never Summer West
     – Jones Mountain Twin
     Especially the first one looks like a good fit for me. Based on your review it is good in curving, very good in uneven terrain, stable at speed and not stiff at the same time. The only obstacle is that you rated it as only a decent in powder.
     NS West and Jones looks better in powder but they are probably also stiffer.
     I wonder if you can advise me? Maybe you can think of the other board better suited for me? Have you demo an Endeavor Guerilla 2017? What do you think about this board?
     Thank you in advance for your helps.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 26, 2017 at 8:24 pm

       Hi Piotr

       Thanks for your message.

       Unfortunately I haven’t ridden a Endevour Gorilla, so I can’t say how this compares.

       I think you’re on the right track with the boards that you’re looking at. And you’re right, probably the biggest downside of the Proto Type Two, for what you’re looking for is for powder, especially if you’re looking to ride more powder. In saying that, it’s not terrible in powder. It’s average. And if you like to ride switch in powder it’s ok in both directions in powder. But it won’t float as well as the West or the Mountain Twin in powder.

       I wouldn’t say that the Mountain Twin or West are that much stiffer than the Proto Type Two – maybe ever so slightly but there’s not much in it. I know Jones rate the Mountain Twin as a 7/10 for flex – but I would say that it feels closer to 5.5 or at most 6/10 for on snow feel. And the West is similar to that for sure. I think so long as you get a size that isn’t too big for you, that they shouldn’t feel too stiff.

       In terms of sizing, I think that the following would be best for you for those boards:

       ~ Proto Type Two: 152cm

       ~ West: 152cm

       ~ Mountain Twin: 151cm

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Piotr says

         March 27, 2017 at 11:17 am

         Thanks Nate, really appreciate your reply.

         Reply

       • Piotr says

         April 14, 2017 at 6:50 am

         Hi Nate

         I ultimatelly bought Proto Type 2 as I found the best deal for it.
         I wonder what bindings would you recommend for it? I’m looking for something with good response for carving but still good butterability. I was thinking of:
         – Union Atlas
         – Union T.Rice
         – Salomon Defender
         – Burton Cartel (Genesis/X are too expensive for me)

         In your opinion, will they fit this board and my preference?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           April 14, 2017 at 1:45 pm

           Hi Piotr

           I would say the following:

           ~ Union Atlas – response 4/5 – butterability 4/5
           ~ Union T Rice – response 5/5 – butterability 4/5
           ~ Salomon Defender – response 4/5 – butterability 3/5
           ~ Burton Cartel – response 3/5 – butterability 4/5

           So, on the face of it that would make the T rice the front runner. However, based on your previous comment, you say that you didn’t want a board that was too stiff and given your weight, I think that the T Rice would be too stiff for you. You will notice that extra stiffness I think. So I would say that either the Cartel’s or the Atlas.

           The Atlas are still a medium-stiff option but I’d say they are bordering on medium a 7/10 for flex but bordering on 6.5/10. The T Rice an 8/10. Also, even though I said 4/5 for butterability I would say maybe 3.5/5. I think that the Cartels are a little bit more buttery.

           I think the Cartels are the best flex level for you. I would say 6/10. They aren’t as responsive as the Atlas (IMO) but probably have a little bit more butterability (as per comment above). Also the flex of the Cartels is the best match for the Proto Type Two.

           On balance I would say go for Cartels but the Atlas would also be a good choice – I’m just not sure if they’re bordering on being a little too stiff for you.

           You probably know this already but I like to tell everyone just in case – if you do go with the Cartel’s go for the “Re:Flex” model – the “EST” model will only fit on Burton boards with the channel system.

           Oh and great board choice by the way – love that board!

           Hope this helps and answers your questions

           Reply

           • Piotr says

             April 14, 2017 at 2:25 pm

             I was tempted to buy T.Rice, but after I red your comment I will try to find a good deal for Cartel or Atlas.
             Thank you very much Nate. Happy Easter!

           • Nate says

             April 14, 2017 at 8:11 pm

             You’re very welcome Piotr – hope you have a great Easter too!

289. Joe Lucketta says

     March 21, 2017 at 8:04 pm

     Hey Nate!

     Awesome reviews here! Glad I stopped in to check ’em out. I just bought a new board and wanted to get your thoughts. This is my first season out on the West Coast and I’ve been having a blast learning on my Burton Clash 164W. I’ve been out about 10 times this season, and I think that I was able to progress so quickly because of the gear (super conditions with all the snow this year helped too!). However, I decided to upgrade to a stiffer board because the Clash was definitely beginning to feel a bit soft for me, especially washy when trying to carve the steeps!

     So I decided to go with a Capita Warpspeed. It’s a big guy specific board, and I’m a biggun’ for sure! 6’3″ and 260, so I feel like I needed a good stiff board to handle what I was putting down. I opted for the 161cm because I felt like the 165 Clash was a little too long. I noticed that I didn’t see any Capita sticks in your top-10 lineups, so I wanted to know how you feel about my upgrade first, and also, how do you feel about Capita boards in general. Thanks, Nate!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 22, 2017 at 4:54 pm

       Hi Joe

       I really like Capita boards in general. But to me they don’t really have a board that fits this category. But Capita boards do feature in some of my other categories examples at the links below:

       >>Freestyle

       >>Aggressive-All-Mountain-Freestyle

       I would consider the Warpspeed more of a Freeride board. I haven’t ridden it as it’s not something that I could accurately test as all the sizes are too wide for me. But it does have a good reputation.

       It’s definitely a step up from the Clash – it will offer a lot more in terms of performance, particularly for carving and stability at speed. But it will also be a step up in the learning curve as it is a much stiffer, less forgiving ride than the Clash. But for carving those steps you’ll definitely get more out of it.

       Sizing down to the 161 will make it more forgiving than going with the 165 though – so this could be a really good step up for you. I think it was a good idea to start out on the softer Clash – starting with too stiff or too aggressive a board can really stunt progress but it sounds like it’s time to upgrade.

       Like I say I haven’t ridden it but based on reputation and specs, I think it will definitely offer you a good bit more in terms of performance but it will require a step up from you as well. But it sounds like you’re ready for that.

       That’s my take anyway. Have you had a chance to ride it yet? If so, what did you think?

       Reply

       • Joe Lucketta says

         March 24, 2017 at 2:50 pm

         Hey Nate,

         Thanks for the reply! Sorry I didn’t see your reviews on the more freestyle-oriented boards…I was focusing more on all-mountain and freeride sticks. Would the Capita Mercury (aka TFA) fit in a category like this? It’s a bit on the stiffer side at a 7.5/10 (according to Capita), but Capita puts it in the all-mountain category. I would love to see you review this one since the Warpspeed is essentially the same board, but in the wide variation.

         I’m glad you think this is a step in the right direction. I was on the fence about the board since most reviews say that it’s a pretty advanced board. But at the same time I didn’t want to get an intermediate board and end up trading it in after one season like I’m doing with the Clash now. Don’t get me wrong, I totally agree that the Clash was the perfect board to get me started. What I would’ve like to see with the Clash though is maybe just a little camber in the middle. I don’t know if that would’ve moved it out of the realm of beginner board, but one negative about it is that with the flat-top design it had pretty much no pop at all.

         Sadly, I have not had a chance to ride my Warpspeed yet. It was supposed to be here on Wednesday (Mar. 22nd), which was perfect because I was heading to Sierra-at-Tahoe the next day. Instead, UPS delayed the shipment due to the storms that came through (and dropped some beautiful powder on the mountain), so it didn’t get here until today. But from what I see here, I’m loving it already. It’s certainly stiffer than the Clash, but not rigid. With my body weight, I should be able to do nicely with that flex. The base on this thing is sick! It looks like it’s ready to soak up half of my 1 pound brick of wax that I’m about to put on it! Compared to that extruded base on the Clash, it looks like I should be able to get at least a few days out of one wax. With the clash, the most I can get is two days before I start seeing dry spots.

         Now my next decision is whether to buy stiffer bindings to go with the board. Right now I’m rockin’ Burton Customs, which have been really comfortable, but they have a good bit of flex in them too. I’ve been trying to decide between the Genesis and the El Hefe, so please chime in if you think the Customs are good or I should look for something stiffer! Thanks Nate!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 24, 2017 at 8:30 pm

           Hi Joe

           I would say that the Capita Mercury is an aggressive all-mountain board – bordering on freeride. It is quite similar to the Warpspeed but not exactly the same. The camber profiles are a bit different – and that’s the main reason I’d call the Warpspeed a Freeride and the Mercury an aggressive all-mountain – it’s that the Warpspeed’s camber profile is more of a freeride camber profile.

           And it just so happens that I have a Mercury sitting in the wardrobe waiting to be demoed as we speak! I’ll be taking it out on Monday.

           Yeah, sintered bases are much better at holding wax for sure. I find Capita bases to hold wax well in general.

           In terms of bindings, I would say that you’ll get more out of the board with stiffer bindings. You could try it with the Customs for a while but I think the board will be easier to manage with stiffer, more responsive bindings.

           The El Hefes are very stiff – and might be a little bit of a step too far in terms of their flex. They are very responsive but very unforgiving. The Genesis would be a good step up and even though they would be more of a 5/10 flex compared to the 7/10 of your Warpspeed (usually a good idea to try to somewhat match flex between board and bindings) I find that they are very good at working with a wider variety of boards than a lot of bindings.

           Check out the following links if you want more options for bindings that are medium to medium-stiff.

           >>My Top All-Mountain Snowboard Bindings

           >>My Top All-Mountain-Freeride Snowboard Bindings

           Let me know your experience with the Warpspeed once you get a chance to ride it. And I’ll get back to you on the Mercury once I’ve ridden it next week.

           Reply

           • Joe Lucketta says

             March 26, 2017 at 7:11 pm

             Hey there Nate,

             No update on the Warpspeed yet, but I should be heading to Sierra on Thurday if the winds aren’t too bad. I just wanted to update you on my binding search, which is now officially over. I found a pair of 2016 Burton Diode for $290 and figured I couldn’t really turn that deal down. After looking at numerous reviews, it seems like they’re right up there with the Genesis X and the T.Rice. I know that they’re on the stiffer side, but I feel like they’ll pair up with the board well…much better than the Customs anyway! The Customs don’t even look right on this board! Anywho, your feedback is much appreciated! Thanks!

           • Nate says

             March 27, 2017 at 5:20 pm

             Hey Joe

             Yeah that’s a pretty good deal on the Diodes – not the cheapest bindings on the planet, so to get them for that is good work. You’re right they are pretty stiff but also should be more responsive and able to drive the Warpspeed better than the Customs could. Also, cause you’re a big guy, you should be able to apply enough force there that they shouldn’t feel as stiff as they might do for a smaller guy.

             Super nice bindings – they were my top freeride bindings for the 2015/16 season. Burton unfortunately stopped making them after that but glad you could find them.

             I just rode the Mercury today too. Fun board. I think you’ll like the warpspeed. Will take some getting used to compared to your Clash for sure, with that extra bit of aggressiveness and stiffer flex. But once you get used to it, it will also allow you to do more. I would say that the Mercury felt like around a 6.5/10 in terms of flex on the snow (probably more like the 7.5/10 that Capita rate it as when flexing it by hand) but I was on the 155cm which is probably a little bit small for me – so it would have felt a little softer than on the 157 or 159 which would have been a more suitable size for me. But yeah overall a very lively and fun board!

290. Arian Evans says

     March 13, 2017 at 1:57 pm

     Nate – first off, many many thanks for this website. We got my wife started here: Rossi Myth and K2 bindings – taking her off of a stiffer Buton (lipstick & something else) with stiffer bindings – made a huge leap in her confidence and progress. She’s loving riding now (where before she was close to quitting)!

     I’m advanced beginner (3ish?) and need advice on next board (or not) – hoping you can help as I’m getting loads of conflicting advice:

     Style: all-mountain

     Skill: 1.5 seasons in. I ride switch naturally (used to skateboard switch) and can link turns easily on greens. On steep & uneven blues my board jumps & flexes and I sometimes bite it hard when linking turns. Since I switch naturally I wind up doing a lot of 180s to control my speed, which I think may be holding my progress back. In other words I over-ride one edge a lot, and 180 on that edge to control speed and direction when going fast, especially fast+steep/uneven.

     Size: 5’11”, 175-185 lbs (ride with backpack == 195lbs peak), Size 10 Burton boot.

     Gear: Currently riding 155 Rossi District Amptek, with Burton Custom bindings. Love it on the greens and easy to control riding toe-side facing uphill to keep an eye on the wife.

     A demo shop put me on a 163 (maybe longer?) Mod Fish and wow that thing was fast and stable. I could link turns easier but I had trouble braking it quickly – it turned me into a bowling ball when the slope got tight and crowded. Also disliked that I couldn’t ride switch.

     Questions:

     1. Do I get a stiffer board & bindings for Blue & Black all-mountain riding?

     2. Or should I focus on practicing linking turns on greens and eventually blues on the Rossi I have now? (e.g.- is it the flex/softness, or my lack of technique, that is making me unstable at higher speeds especially on steep or uneven terrain?)

     3. Given the above, if your advice is a stiffer setup, what’s the next step in an all mountain twin & bindings I should consider her?

     I have no brand affinity, though the next demo shop I’m hitting has Burton. Head, and Never Summer. They’ve recommended the NS West which they have in 156 and 159 (and larger/smaller). Are the Burton Customs fine, or should I get stiffer bindings? NS said I should get mid-stiff Flux bindings for the Proto II or the West.

     Thank you again – really awesome website/snowboarding resource here!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 13, 2017 at 3:31 pm

       Hi Arian

       I’m glad that your wife is loving riding now and progressing well. The right gear really does make a difference.

       In terms of your situation – you could definitely upgrade your gear and that will make a difference. But I think in your case it will be mostly a technique thing, I imagine. Having a stiffer set up and adding a little bit of length will definitely help with stability, particularly when riding at speed – but I wouldn’t go up too much in terms of stiffness or length – because that will slow down your progress and potentially rail road your technique. A 163 Mod Fish I think would be going too stiff and too long – it’s not the stiffest board in the world but it’s stiffer than I would prefer to see you on.

       The Never Summer West and Proto Type II would be a good next step up in my opinion. The West is more versatile in that it can basically do whatever you want it to – but it won’t be top notch at any one area. The Proto Type II is an all-mountain freestyle board and is more freestyle oriented than the West – it will be better at riding switch and for jumps but won’t be as good for powder – it will be the West’s equal for carving though, when you get to that level. Both will have better stability at speed than the Rossi District.

       All that said, with the right technique, you should be able to ride blues smoothly on the Rossi District. I think a step up in board would help – but I think working on technique would be your best bet. If I was you, I would stick it out on the District for this season and work on technique and then think about upgrading for next season. If you haven’t already I would definitely advise taking a couple of lessons – I still take at least one lesson a year and still get heaps of value out of them. The best thing about lessons is that someone is watching you from an outside perspective, can see where your technique is lacking and know how to correct it.

       If you’re really not that keen on taking lessons (though I think it’s the best/fastest way to improve) you could sign up for my email course. Go to Snowboarding Profiles and on the right hand side you’ll see a sign up form for the “7 Steps to Better Snowboarding”. This is 7 small tips to improve your basic technique.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Arian Evans says

         March 15, 2017 at 12:29 am

         Nate – many thanks, man! Gear can definitely make a difference starting out, if you are on completely incorrect gear. My wife was put on bigger, stiffer gear to “grow into” by what I now believe are demo shops trying to sell what they have left, or were their top dollar items. From boots that didn’t fit to super stiff (or large) boards & bindings…. That combined with our not knowing what were good beginner runs, snow, or instruction (we both just started) – let’s just say we’ve learned A LOT over the last year. Our frustration led us to your website and some gear changes for both of us, that have turned out to be great choices!

         She loves the flexible little Rossi & the K2 bindings you recommended. I went a similar route.

         Your advice for me makes sense – pretty much every sport I’ve ever done has turned out to be about 90-95% skill, 5-10% gear, in the end.

         I keep getting told I need a much bigger and stiffer board/bindings by multiple people…usually ones selling new gear. So: a 155cm Rossi District Amptek, which is rated for max 165lbs, should be okay for me running at 195lbs in full gear? I was told it can’t hold an edge with me because I’m over-flexing it. I was also told I should space my stance wider to help keep the edge flat.

         If you think I should be able run Park City/Tahoe blues no sweat with that deck, then I will keep at it until I can. 🙂 Any further advice welcome.

         Great suggestion on the lessons. Probably ready for another. Enough decades of martial arts have humbled me repeatedly with how often we are unaware of basic bad form and technique issues, and need help spotting it. I’m sure I have plenty of improvement opportunities – and I also signed up for your emails.

         A few last questions – I’ll probably demo a board or two in Utah next week, just for fun!

         1. Any general suggestions on next board, length/style, given what I posted in my first message? (current skill step – linking turns seamlessly on blues)

         2. The demo shop I’m visiting has the NS Proto II in multiple lengths, and from reading it sounds like my kind of board, but most of the ones they have are “Xs” (wides). Any drawbacks or considerations to a wide?

         NS told me that I can run shorter on a wide – e.g.- a 155/156 X will ride like a 160 slim and ride perfect for my weight. Thoughts?

         3. When I upgrade to a stiffer deck, should I upgrade bindings as well, or are the Burton Customs fine for something medium/medium-soft like an NS Proto II?

         4. Any good training/skill videos you recommend on snowboarding basics?

         Once I get the Blues figured out, if you want I can email you a writeup you can post about all the lessons the wife and I have learned so far, that we couldn’t find written up anywhere, if that’s useful. Figure there’s got to be lots of other new couples like us, unsure where to start.

         Have a good one,

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 15, 2017 at 3:02 pm

           Hi Arial

           1. In terms of length to go to next, I would say that something around 158cm to 159cm would be a good length for you – depends on the particular board but generally speaking that’s what I would go to next.

           2. For the Proto Type 2, I think that the 157cm would work well for you (it has an effective edge of 1220mm as opposed to the 1090mm of effective edge on your District – so even though it’s only a 2cm step up, you’d be going to a board with a good bit more effective edge). You could go up as much as the 160cm, which would be doable but would be a steeper learning curve. In terms of going wider, it is a good idea to go shorter if the board is too wide for your feet. But I prefer to stick to a board that is better suited to foot length. If your feet are too far inside the edges of the snowboard, then it makes it harder to apply leverage to the edges. This means it’s physically harder (which also tends to make proper technique harder to achieve) and slower to get from edge to edge. A shorter board is naturally quicker and easier to get from edge to edge so it makes up for that lack of leverage in a lot of ways. Personally I prefer boards that my feet are as close to edge-to-edge on. But you can go wider and then go shorter to make up for it. In that case the 155W would be the best bet. I also have size 10s (and I’m similar specs – 6″0 and 185lbs-ish) and I would go with 157cm rather than 155W.

           3. The Customs won’t be perfect for a stiffer board but they would do the job. Ideally, you would probably upgrade – to get some better response – but it’s definitely not necessary. If you were to go beyond medium in stiffness then I would say change for sure but as long as you don’t go beyond medium (which I would suggest you do), I think you’ll be fine on the Customs for a while yet.

           4. I’ve found Snowboard Pro Camp’s videos – Snowboard Pro Camp Videos to be good but you could also check out Snowboard Addiction or Snow Professor

           In terms of being over the weight recommendations, I agree that if you are too far over the weight recommendations, then it can flex the board too much and make the board feel softer than it is meant to be. If you’re just over, then it wouldn’t make much difference – 195lbs compared to 165lbs is quite a bit over – but I find Rossignol’s weight recommendations to be on the light side. I’d say that that board would more be for a 180lbs top – so you’re still a good bit over that with gear but not as much as the 165lb rating would suggest, IMO. You could try widening your stance and see how that goes. I always think it’s a good idea to experiment with stance width and stance angles anyway to try to find that sweet spot for you.

           If you wanted to do a write up about your snowboarding experience so far, that would be awesome! I’d love to post something like that on the site.

           Reply

291. Brent says

     March 8, 2017 at 8:03 pm

     Hey Nate,
     I’ve been a skier for 30+ years, but switched to snowboarding after a few knee surgeries. I’ve rented for the last couple years, but seems difficult to find demos that fit my size/build. I’m 6′ and 210# with a size 12 boot and the largest I’ve been able to demo is a 157W. I live in the South, but take a couple trips a year to board 10-15 days or so. I would classify myself as an upper beginner, lower Intermediate stage. I’ve been researching every day for the last few months, and seems that every day I find another board that peaks my interest. I’m not much of a park rider, just prefer to barrel down the groomers with family and friends, so I was thinking an AM/Freeride may be suited to my style. I’ve looked at the Snowtrooper X, Agent Rocker, Process Flying V, Jones Mountain Twin, Pulse/Assassin, etc. As I said, everyday I find another that I think would work. Another forum also recommended the K2 Raygun, so that’s given me another option to consider. I want a board that I can enjoy, but continue to progress on. Any suggestions?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 9, 2017 at 4:40 pm

       Hi Brent

       Thanks for your message. Yeah I think size-wise something 160-162 would be a better range – and with 12s, a wide board is necessary for sure.

       I think all mountain is the way to go – Freeride boards tend to be more advanced and would be difficult to transition to at this point – but that doesn’t mean that you’ll have to transition to one at some stage – you could ride an all-mountain board as the only board you ever ride. Most all-mountain boards are good to ride even as you become more advanced – if you change your style, become a more aggressive rider or get into big mountain stuff or something like that then you might want to change but you’ll know that when/if that happens. Anyway, long story short, I think all mountain is the way to go for you.

       Definitely the Snowtrooper X, the Process Flying V and Mountain Twin sound like good options for what you’re describing. The Agent Rocker is the only one that I would maybe cross off the list. The only reason I say this is that it’s not really an all-mountain board – it’s what I would classify as an aggressive all-mountain-freestyle board. It’s probably a little bit advanced and more freestyle oriented. The name Agent Rocker is a little bit deceiving because there is actually very little rocker in the profile – it’s mostly camber.

       The Raygun is an all-mountain board and another option – though in my opinion the others are better all-mountain boards. If you wanted to go K2 I would go for the Turbo Dream over the Raygun (though I totally get if the Turbo Dream is too expensive).

       In terms of size, the following are what I would recommend for these boards.

       Snowtrooper X – 160W

       Process Flying V – 159W (or 162W)

       Mountain Twin – 161W

       Raygun – 160W

       Turbo Dream – 160W

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Brent says

         March 20, 2017 at 9:57 am

         Thanks again for the recommendations. One last question: I know that you recommend a soft to med-soft flex for entry to intermediates. Does that take into account the riders weight? I’m concerned over getting a 3-4 flex because I’m >200#. Should I be looking in the 5-6 range?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 20, 2017 at 5:04 pm

           Hi Brent

           It partly depends on the length you go for. If you go for something that’s longer and you are within the weight guideline range, then the board will feel stiffer flexing than if you are over the weight recommendations. Said another way if you are within the weight range, then the snowboard is supposed to feel like the flex rating that the board is given. But if you are above the weight range for that board, then the board will feel softer to you, if that makes sense.

           For the recommended boards and sizes, in the comments above you would be slightly above the ranges for the weight guidelines for those boards so they will feel slightly softer than their flex rating. So by looking at the 5-6 flex rating range they will actually feel softer than that – which in the case of a beginner, intermediate rider, isn’t a bad thing.

           All the boards we discussed are in that 5-6 flex range, except for the Snowtrooper. That is already a medium-soft flexing board, so has the potential to feel a little bit too soft. The others should be a good flex for you, IMO.

           Hope this answers your questions

           Reply

292. Pedja says

     March 5, 2017 at 12:35 pm

     I forgot to add,i think that my boar id old camber,and i barely can flex it;(maybe i should go for some hybrid option?anyway,i am waiting for your reply
     Regards
     Pedja,Serbia

     Reply

     • Nate says

       March 6, 2017 at 4:23 pm

       Hi Pedja

       Thanks for your message and sorry for my slow response – have had some epic snow recently and have been in the mountains a lot.

       In terms of size I think that something around a 156cm to 157cm, would be a good size for you. Something that you can balance carving and more freestyle type stuff with. I think definitely going with a hybrid profile is a good idea considering the direction you want to go in. And I think something with around a medium flex is a good way to go – to get a good balance for still being able to carve up the groomers but also that’s not so stiff that you can’t butter it.

       In my opinion, you don’t need a wide board. I have size 10US also and I don’t like wide boards, generally. Anything up to a 258mm waist width I find is fine but going beyond that is getting too wide for me. But I would say that you should have a cut off point at 249mm that should be your narrowest choice.

       So all in all I think that something all-mountain or all-mountain-freestyle. I would be leaning towards all-mountain-freestyle if you don’t do that much in the powder. The all-mountain would have the advantage of being better in the powder but you can definitely ride an all-mountain-freestyle board in the powder and they’ll generally be better for things like pressing, jumps, switch etc.

       You can check out these links for some options – I don’t really deal with low cost brands but I will also point out some that are on the lower cost end of the boards that I can recommend.

       ~ My Top 5 All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       ~ My Top 10 All-Mountain Snowboards

       In terms of the lower price end for All-Mountain-Freestyle I think you should look at the YES Basic and the Capita Outerspace Living. There are sales on 2016-17 models at the moment in a lot of places. If you can go for that or an older model – or an older model of any of the ones in the links provided, then you can save costs. I would say if you can get a good price on an older model of a good board it’s a better option than going with a budget brand – but that’s just my opinion.

       I hope this gives you some options to look at.

       Reply

       • Pedja says

         March 7, 2017 at 4:20 pm

         Thanks a lot Nate.only 3 boards from your list that i was able to find nearby is burton proces ,burton proces flying V and Burton flying V custom which is most expensive.Since i aleady had camber with K2,i am leaning towards Burton flying V.Its not wide but it is 157,seller said since it has rockers on the tip and tail,this one cm (i wanted 155 or 156)will not make difference.
         What do you think?
         Also can you reply to my question above regarding bindings?my old flow and suggesting new ?thanks
         P.s. fast reply would be great since i need to chose fast,my K2 is defected and i need to get new one,going in three days to France,Val Thorens.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 8, 2017 at 5:09 pm

           Hi Pedja

           I think that the Burton Process Flying V would suit your purposes well. I also think that the 157cm is a good size for you. I think 157cm will be fine and if your old K2 is a trad camber profile then the Flying V profile will definitely feel shorter size for size – so the 157cm won’t feel longer than your K2 155cm. Also the width on the Process Flying V 157cm (252mm waist width) is just right for you in my opinion, with size 10s.

           Apologies for not answering your question about bindings before – I missed that one. I don’t have a lot of experience with Flow bindings – I haven’t ridden them in years – but you will want something that has good butterability – Burton do tend to be good with butterability – especially if you went for EST bindings to go with your Process Flying V – but others do it well as well. I think anything from one of the following lists would work well for you.

           ~ My Top 5 Freestyle Snowboard Bindings
           

           ~ My Top 5 All Mountain Snowboard Bindings

           Hope this answers your questions and helps with your decision. Have an awesome trip!

           Reply

293. Pedja says

     March 5, 2017 at 12:30 pm

     Hello Nate,thank you for this great article!I am Pedja,from Serbia,EU.
     I am intermediate/advanced rider,started 18 years ago,but with roughly 5-15 days per season ;(.I am 38 years old(but i am active ,snowboarding and wakeboarding and i still want to proggres)and i got bored with mostly piste and wood boarding(all my friends are skiers,only i am snowboarder) and i decided to start with smaller jumps,and learning butter.Big jumps ,park or pipe ,i am not planning to do.So,basically i would like to have board for piste carving(not soooo fast),switch,butter,flat tricks ,rarely powder and small/middle jumps on and off the piste.As i said i am 38years old,178 cm height ,83kg weight and boots size 10US.My gear now is old 2007 K2 fuse wide 155cm ,old flow camo bindings and Adidas Energy boost
     Now,i would like to replace my board and bindings and i hope you will help me out.My questions;
     1.what board would you suggest?please suggest the best buy option and also cheaper one ,if you have .Since i am not spending that many days on the snow per year,unfortunatelly.
     Do i need wide..?i feel like this board is too heavy when i try some flat tricks,tho i had no chance to test some others…
     2.what bindings?i wanted to buy again Flow (something better like NX2 )because i like how easy i get into them,but the guy who is pro said that those bindings are not good for what i want,that i should go for freestyle bi dings,from Burton or similar.what is your opinion?
     Thank you and keep up the great work!

     Reply

294. matt page says

     February 28, 2017 at 12:20 pm

     Cheers nate like I said b4 awesome site cheers for all the helpful advice , I’m off to Austria on Friday so will be testing it all out for myself anyway lol ? Hopefully all is good cheers again .

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 28, 2017 at 6:45 pm

       Hey Matt – you’re very welcome. Hope you have an awesome trip to Austria!

       Reply

295. Matt says

     February 23, 2017 at 11:53 am

     Hiya , wish I had found this site before I purchased my new board I may have been tempted to another lol
     I did by the Rossi 1 mag 157wide so that’s good it made it on ur list but in ur review there may have been a better option typical lol

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 23, 2017 at 3:40 pm

       Hi Matt

       I think you made a good choice. The One Magtek may not have rated #1 in this list but it’s a very good board. And really there isn’t too much in it. Any of the boards in this list are good quality and great for all-mountain “do-it-all” riding.

       Reply

       • Matt says

         February 23, 2017 at 3:47 pm

         Cheers but I don’t do any park or ride switch or anything like that, i usually go to the top of the mountain and bomb it down carving down the piste at top speed , and obviously on powder days enjoy the pow .
         Also how do u rate the salomon synapse boots please ?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 24, 2017 at 3:47 pm

           Hi Matt

           I think the One Mag is one of the better boards in this list for doing that kind of thing. But maybe something like a freeride board or an aggressive all-mountain board would have been a better option for you if you’re not into anything freestyle.

           Salomon make decent boots generally. The Synapse is a stiffer flexing option which is probably what you are looking for given your riding style – not necessarily the best in their class but will do the job for sure. If you have wider feet they also come in a wide option. There is also a Synapse Focus Boa – if you like a boa system or if you tend to have heel hold problems with boots, then the Focus Boa is probably the better bet, IMO.

           If you want other options, check out the links below:

           >>My Top 5 All-Mountain Boots

           >>My Top 5 Freeride Boots

           Hope this helps

           Reply

           • matt page says

             February 25, 2017 at 11:08 am

             Cheers Nate well i went with the one mag so will find out in a week how it rides ? But on reading ur reviews I may have gone with another board, I was looking at the slash nahual and salomon super 8 too so at least the one mag is in ur top list .
             With the boots I actually went in the shop wanting the burton ion boots but as soon as I tried them on they didn’t feel good which I was disappointed about and must’ve tried on about 7 pairs of boots b4 finding the synapse.
             By the way I love ur site and all the advice u give is awesome ?

           • Nate says

             February 26, 2017 at 9:10 am

             Hi Matt

             Thanks man.

             You bring up a good point that I forgot to mention in my last response – boot fit. This is probably the most important factor for boots – so no matter how good the boot, if it doesn’t fit then it’s not good for you. So yeah if the Synapse feels like the best fit, then that’s a good one to go with.

           • matt page says

             February 25, 2017 at 12:10 pm

             I think going on ur reviews now I would’ve gone with the jones explorer it’s looks a nice deck . When u rode it did u think it was a nice damp smooth ride ??

           • Nate says

             February 26, 2017 at 9:16 am

             Hi Matt

             I agree the Explorer would have been a good fit for your style. I found it really good at speed and for carving – really stable when riding fast and minimal chatter – so yeah I would say it’s damp and smooth for sure. It’s not quite as aggressive as some other aggressive all mountain boards – it’s a bit more forgiving – and it’s got better float in powder (IMO) than the average aggressive all mountain board. It’s aggressive all-mountain bordering on all-mountain – it’s kind of an in-betweener.

           • matt page says

             February 27, 2017 at 5:55 am

             Cheers mate ,
             Just out of interest for myself have u tested the salomon super 8 or slash nahual? Is so wat were ur thoughts and or why didn’t they make it on ur top list ?

           • Nate says

             February 27, 2017 at 5:22 pm

             Hi Matt

             I haven’t ridden either of those boards. I would consider them freeride boards – so they would be on the freeride list. Based on what I’ve heard and other reviews, they wouldn’t have made that list but that’s only a list of 5, so doesn’t include all of good freeride boards, by any means.

296. Jams says

     February 7, 2017 at 8:41 am

     Nate – thanks for the awesome article. I’m looking to do all mountain work, mostly in Northern California which is a good amount of powder recently but can be a little compact at times. I ride a little switch and like to jump some but for the most part, I’m trying to find an all purpose board that I can have fun with carving around (looking for a bit of a nimble, relaxed feel) but also pick up some speed and have some good responsiveness. Would appreciate your thoughts.

     Thanks!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 7, 2017 at 3:55 pm

       Hi Jams

       The first board that came to mind from your description was the NS West.

       I’d say the easiest going of these boards, in terms of relaxed feel, would be the YES Typo, NS Snowtrooper, and Burton Process Flying V, with the NS West being just above that.

       In terms of stability at speed, I’d say that the Standard, Trick Pony, One Magtek, West Story and Brainstorm are all up there.

       In terms of a nimble feel, I’d say the quickest from edge-to-edge would be the Standard, the Typo, and the Story with the Trick Pony, the West, the Brainstorm and the One Magtek coming in after that.

       For carving, the Mountain Twin, the West and the Standard and the Process (non flying V) were the best but the rest aren’t far behind.

       So I’d say between the West and the Standard – though the Standard is a little bit of a stiffer flex than the West – so it would depend if you wanted a medium flexer (the West) or something that’s on the softer side of medium-stiff/stiffer side of medium (if that makes sense).

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Jams says

         February 7, 2017 at 5:13 pm

         This is really helpful, thanks Nate. Do you have any experience with the Bataleon The One? Just came across it and it also seems to check the right boxes.

         Thanks again.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           February 8, 2017 at 4:24 pm

           Hi Jams

           Unfortunately I know very little about the Bataleon The One. Bataleon isn’t a brand that I currently demo/review. On the face of it, without having intimate knowledge about it, it’s more of a freeride board. Sounds like it’s great for powder and can ride on hard pack when you need it to. But I think it would be quite challenging to ride switch and not made for jumps – I know those aren’t your main things but it will make those things more challenging when you want to do them.

           I wouldn’t say this is as all-purpose a board – I wouldn’t say it was an all-mountain board but more of a freeride board – but like I say, this is only based on a brief look at some specs.

           Reply

297. Avi says

     January 26, 2017 at 8:47 am

     Very helpful post, thanks.
     I’m thinking of replacing an ancient Nidecker Mountain 157, and was looking at the Niche Story. I’m about 5’6″ and 175 lbs, size 8 boot. Ski mostly out west now (Utah / Colorado), groomers, bowls and some trees. No time in the park or pipe. Advanced, but rarely pushing it and now spend part of each day with the kids, who are still beginners.
     Thoughts on the Story, and whether I can go with the 156?
     Thanks very much.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 26, 2017 at 7:40 pm

       Hi Avi

       I think the Niche Story will work well for what you want. I found it really fast edge to edge which is always good for the trees and also carves well for the groomers and bowls. Handles speed really well too. I think the 156cm would be the best size for you, based on your specs and how you like to ride.

       Reply

298. Rojan says

     January 17, 2017 at 5:22 am

     Hi Nate,

     After all the things i’ve read, i’m tempted to buy a Yes Standard. I won’t be able to test, because they seem to be sold out everywhere in Holland these days. I’ve found a webstore in Germany which still has a couple of them in stock. But i’m uncertain which size to buy, and i need a little input on that.
     So i’m 76kg/167lbs and 1,78m/5’10, and US10,5 burton freestyle shoes. I’m coming from a 153cm board which is probably on the short side for me now, but when i bought that one (which is a long long time ago), i was around 68kg.

     So which one to choose? Yes website suggest to consider a wide version above size 10 shoes.
     My thoughts were either the 156 Wide version or the 158 normal width.
     Would the wide version be a considerable different ride from what you guys experienced?

     Thanks for your help,
     Rojan

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 17, 2017 at 1:56 pm

       Hi Rojan

       Thanks for your message.

       Normally I’d say not to go wide with 10.5s. A wide will only feel the same as a regular if you have the foot size that suits wide boards (IMO). Which in the case of a 10.5, then if you were on something that had a 260mm+ waist width, then I’d say that wide isn’t the way to go.

       However, the wide sizes for the YES Standard aren’t actually that wide.

       So, for example, the 156W actually only has a 256mm waist width (which can only just be considered a wide really but is more of a mid-wide). For your boot size I would say anything between a 252mm and a 258mm waist width is the ideal range to look at. So that means that the 156W and the 158 both fall into that category.

       And because the 156W does have a little bit more width, then you are probably getting a similar surface area so both will be similar when it comes to float in powder and stability at speed and stability on landings.

       So it’s tough to pick between them. I think both sizes would work well but I would just lean towards the 156W. The main reason for this is that it will be less of length up-size compared to the 153cm you are currently riding but you’ll still get all the value out of the extra stability.

       That’s my opinion anyway, but really there’s not much in between those two sizes.

       Hope this helps.

       Reply

       • Rojan says

         January 20, 2017 at 3:04 am

         Hi Nate,

         Thanks for your input, very helpfull.

         Rojan

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 20, 2017 at 4:34 pm

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

           Reply

299. Dean says

     January 16, 2017 at 12:13 pm

     Nate, Based upon your reviews and recommendations (and some others), this year I bought a Jones Mountain Twin 162 and K2 Lien AT bindings (2016) in Large. I have been riding for about 15 years. I am 6’2′ 195 lbs. and a size 11 (Salomon F4.0). I have, for the past 8-9 years, ridden a Lib Tech TRS (also 162) with Burton Mission bindings. Because of the skiers with whom I now ride, I ride more mogul-ly steep runs than before, so have changed my angle to a slight duck (worked pretty good on my old TRS). I ride everything from groomers, to bowls, to very steep, to moguls to a bit of the park boxes. Now that we have enough snow in Colorado I brought out my new board and have ridden it a couple of times, but find that my turn initiation is not as quick, less binding flex (expected perhaps) – especially going heel to toe side at speed. The 162 does not come in a wide, but the boots have a fairly small profile, so overhang has not been a problem (plus the Liens sit a bit high), although getting the heel of my boot in is a very tight squeeze. That said, however, carving an S path though powder or chunk is a joy with this new board.

     After all that, my question is the somewhat awkward-feeling transition (and a bit of harder work) from my old TRS to the Mountain Twin with new stiffer bindings something that I need to hang with (i.e., not start playing with my stance, angles, etc.) due to the more rocker-camber-rocker style of board? I will leave it open ended at that.

     Thanks!

     DeanS

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 16, 2017 at 12:58 pm

       Hi Dean

       The TRS and Mountain Twin are certainly very different boards – as they are now – and the 9 or so year old TRS is probably quite different to the current TRS. So these comparisons are made comparing the 2017 models of the Mountain Twin and TRS.

       I found the TRS was a bit of a looser ride than the Mountain Twin – a bit twitchier at speeds but a little bit quicker from edge-to-edge.

       I’m not 100% sure if your old TRS had the same camber profile but the TRS now has a Hybrid rocker (camber/rocker/camber) and the Mountain Twin has a Hybrid Camber (Rocker/Camber/Rocker) so this will certainly make for a different feel.

       In terms of bindings, again we are comparing 9 year old (just an assumption) bindings with new bindings. I think there wouldn’t be a huge difference in flex between the Missions and the ATs if you were to get both new now (with the ATs being a bit stiffer) but if you’d ridden a fair bit on the Mission’s then they would likely have softened up over time – so the ATs will likely feel significantly stiffer right now.

       I think given that you have this new set up, that it will take a bit of getting used to – a. because the boards have a quite different feel and b. because you are riding new gear vs gear from 8,9 years ago.

       But that’s not to say that you shouldn’t play around with your angles. I always change my angles depending on the board I’m riding and I find it does make a difference. When I rode the TRS last spring I used a +15/-6 stance and when I rode the Mountain Twin, I used a +18/-6. If you still feel like the board isn’t feeling quite how you like it, then I would definitely experiment with different binding angles.

       I like ride anything from a +15/-15 to a +21/+3, depending on the board (but I do ride a lot of different types of boards).

       Hope this helps and I hope you can find the sweet spot and get a feel for your new setup

       Reply

       • Dean says

         January 16, 2017 at 2:10 pm

         Thanks Nate! That is what I suspected, but feeling awkward on my board is a sensation I am not used to. Of course, if I had updated my equipment more timely . . .. And in all those years of riding, I just recently started playing around with my stance angles. I wish I started that years ago!

         The stability of the Mountain Twin at speed is a great improvement, but it is good to know that the Mountain Twin may not have the edge-to-edge quickness of the TRS (even an older model). I will change the angles somewhat, but it makes sense to get used to handling of the board first to cut down on the variables.

         Thanks for staying so on top of your site, it is an awesome resource.

         DeanS

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 17, 2017 at 1:39 pm

           Hi Dean

           You’re very welcome. Hopefully the board works out for. Enjoy the rest of your season!

           Reply

300. Ishan says

     January 10, 2017 at 4:27 pm

     Hi mate. Awesome review!
     Need some advice please. Im seriously fed up of renting and want to get my own board. I board mainly in europe on the groomed stuff. I think im an intermediate. I can link turns easy on most slopes but now i want to learn to carve properly leaving only a thin line in the snow. From there it would be great to start learning to butter and maybe start to hit the park. I need a board that i can try all of those with (if possible)

     Im 5ft 11 and around 75-78 kilos. Medium build. My boots are burton moto imprints US size 10 UK size 9 EU size 43

     I was looking at an all mountain boards in particular the skatebanana. Is this a good board for what i want to do? Which length and width do you think best? Also am i way off with board choice? I was thinking a medium flex which can carve and is still loose enough to eventually start trying tricks with?

     Which boards would you recommend?
     Thanks for putting up with all the questions.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 11, 2017 at 4:14 pm

       Hi Ishan

       Thanks for your message.

       I’d say that the Skate Banana is more of a freestyle board than an all-mountain board. It can handle the rest of the mountain (outside of the park) but not ideally suited to it.

       I would actually recommend an all-mountain-freestyle board for what you are describing. They are (the good ones anyway) good for carving but are also playful for buttering and playing around in the park. The only downside really is that they’re not as good in powder as an all-mountain board like the ones on this list.

       But if you don’t think you’ll be doing any backcountry (off piste) missions where you’ll see deep powder – or if you don’t think you’ll be doing this for a while, then I’d definitely go with all-mountain-freestyle. Check out the link below to my list of the top 5.

       ~ My Top 5 All-Mountain-Freestyle Snowboards

       If you want more options outside of that list, let me know and I can recommend some others too.

       Reply

       • Ishan says

         January 12, 2017 at 2:16 pm

         Yo Nate.

         Thanks a lot mate. Il let you know how i get on.

         Reply

301. Eduards says

     January 6, 2017 at 5:22 am

     Hello, Nate,

     Many thanks for such a great review.

     I’d like to have an advice too.

     I have boot size US11/UK10/EUR44.
     My heigth is 6’1 in/184cm
     My ‘dry’ weight(withouht anything) is 175lbs/79kg
     Bindings: Union Travis Rice 2017

     My riding style is more like all mountain – I like powder(when available), I like to carve, like riding fast, I like to make jumps where possible, try riding switch, pipe etc. – to get some versatile snowboard. But not really interested in jibbing/rails. I don’t want to be too clumsy and too slow from edge to edge, want to have a full control over my board.

     I’ve chosen 2 boards with two diferent sizes:

     -Jones Ultra Mountain Twin 2017 – 158W or the 161W
     -Yes Standard 2017 – 159W or 161W

     I’d like to go wide as I really hate toe/heel drag. I checked both Jones and Yes homepages and both of them are recommending get a wide for my feet size, so I’d like to stick with the wide.

     P.S. Sorry, I know you haven’t tried Ultra version of Mountain Twin, but based on what you know and heard, maybe you have some opinion.

     Many thanks,
     Eduards Berzins

     Reply

     • Nate says

       January 6, 2017 at 4:50 pm

       Hi Eduards

       Thanks for your message. I agree that a wide is a good option for you in these particular boards. Both boards have a mid-wide size which will fit size 11s very well.

       As you know I haven’t ridden the Ultra Mountain Twin, so this is based on my knowledge of the Mountain Twin and what I’ve heard of the Ultra Mountain Twin – the Ultra Mountain Twin over the regular Mountain Twin should add a bit of performance – a little quicker edge to edge and a little more carving performance. A little bit less playful than the Mountain Twin but the biggest thing with that would be for ground tricks and jibs. That’s not a disadvantage for anything else really.

       Both the YES Standard and the Ultra Mountain Twin would suit how you ride very well, IMO, but overall I’d be leaning towards the Ultra Mountain Twin for you – but I don’t think you can go wrong with either.

       In terms of sizing, the 161W sizes will give you more stability at speed and better for wide carves and better float in powder. The 158W and 159W would give you a bit more maneuverability and be a bit quicker from edge to edge and will be easier to spin. From what you’re describing I’d say that the 161W, whichever board you go for, would be the best size for you.

       Hope this helps with your decision.

       Reply

302. Carlos Quiros says

     December 31, 2016 at 9:59 am

     HI Nate,

     Thanks for your reviews,

     I’m looking for a new board. I like to go fast (mid 40s) , love going through trees but also like to take little jumps and would like to get better at doing spins. I don’t do jibs or half pipe really but would like to have the ability of doing switch as I would like to get better at it. I am also teaching my kids how to ski so need to the ability to go slow and remain stable. I’m torn between the Never Sumer 25, West, and Proto type 2. Also the Lib tech T.Rice pro. I was reading reviews on the Proto type 2 and recommends a duck stance. Would it be ok to be 18, -6 on that board. Sorry lots of questions. Happy New Year.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 31, 2016 at 10:29 am

       Hi Carlos

       For what you describe I think the West would probably be the best option. The Proto Type Two will work as well but they’ll have different strengths and weaknesses.

       Being a centered asymmetrical twin board the Proto Type Two will be a better board for riding switch and it will be better for jumps and spins too. But the West will be better in powder and slightly better with speed (but not by much). Both are equally good carvers and both are stable feeling and you should be able to ride them slow no problems.

       The Twenty Five is a more aggressive board than the other 2. Whilst it would the best in powder and for riding at speed, it would be a difficult board to slow down on when you’re teaching the kids. Also it’s quite difficult for riding switch on – so I think it would be between the Proto and the West.

       As far as having to ride the Proto with a duck stance, I wouldn’t say that. It is an asymmetrical twin and the duck stance would be best for riding switch (which it is on any board really) but I’ve ridden asymmetrical twins with that exact stance (+18/-6) so it’s definitely not mandatory to ride it with a duck stance. I often ride +18/-6, even on twins – I also sometimes ride duck on twins (+15/-15) and there is a difference but it’s mostly just for riding switch and if you’re used to riding with a +18/-6 when riding switch then it’s fine.

       Hope this answers your questions and helps with your decision – Happy New Year!

       Reply

       • Carlos Quiros says

         December 31, 2016 at 1:46 pm

         Thanks for your recommendations Nate!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           January 1, 2017 at 9:41 am

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

           Reply

           • Carlos Quiros says

             January 8, 2017 at 10:04 pm

             HI Nate,

             So I’ve decided on the Never summer West. I was thinking a 156cm or should I go a little bigger?

             I’m 6 ft tall and my weight ranges between 175 and 185 Lbs. Boot size is 10.

             Thanks again!

             Carlos

           • Nate says

             January 9, 2017 at 5:00 pm

             Hi Carlos

             I think that the 156cm would be a little too short for you. I think that the 159cm would be the best size for you.

             Enjoy the new board!

303. Scott Mandrell says

     December 20, 2016 at 8:10 pm

     Hey Nate,

     I think you have an awesome post, thank you!

     I was wondering what your honest opinion on the Burton Custom board is? I’m more of an all mountain rider and want something that is great for carving in anything from powder to rougher/bumpier terrains. I’ve read a lot of reviews that talk very highly of the custom but wanted your input. Also, do you have any recommendations for bindings? I am a size 10 shoe and use DC boa boots.

     Let me know what you think, thank you!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 21, 2016 at 1:40 pm

       Hi Scott.

       Thanks for your comments.

       The Custom is a really good carver but, in my opinion, isn’t the best in powder – not the worst either but I’d say average in powder. It’s definitely a nice board to ride but if you’re in the powder a lot, then I think there are better options.

       In terms of bindings you could check out my top 5 all mountain bindings at the link below. Or the second link if you want to expand that list to more bindings.

       ~ Top 5 All Mountain Bindings

       ~ All Mountain Bindings Scores Catalog

       For sizing check out the next link

       ~ Binding Sizing

       Hope this can point you in the right direction but let me know if you have any other questions.

       Reply

       • Scott Mandrell says

         December 21, 2016 at 9:28 pm

         Hi Nate,

         Thank you for the advice!

         With regards to bindings, how do I determine what bindings will fit the board I am getting? Would any bindings fit any board?

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 22, 2016 at 5:53 am

           Hi Scott

           Most bindings brands will fit most boards. The only thing you need to look out for is Burton’s EST bindings. EST bindings will only fit on Burton boards that use the channel system. All other bindings should fit all other boards – including Burton Re:Flex bindings.

           Hope this answers your question

           Reply

304. Justis Cooper says

     December 20, 2016 at 5:42 am

     Hey Nate, love the reviews you’re putting down here. It’s really helped in narrowing down my quest for the perfect board that suits my specific riding style. I think I fit into the All Mountain category, but i’ll let you be the judge.
     (ME: 6’0 185lbs) I spend most of my time on the sides of runs, blasting through trees and powder, off delicious pillows, slashing a new path every time. I like hitting jumps and drops, and I’m trying to go bigger and bigger every year. When the powder isn’t in abundance, I’ll hit the rollers on the groomed runs and side features, playing around with butters, presses, and occasionally in the park. What I really want out of a new board is something that I can still hit aggressive powder and tree runs with, but is still playful and flexible enough to do all that flatland goodness andddddd offers good pop off jumps, with a nice stable landing (and eventually more jibbing in the park, but I may get a seperate board for that).
     So initially I had in my mind that I wanted to buy the Slash Brainstorm (157) this year, but another well-known reviewer of boards completely slammed it, calling it a “turd” and a “stiff overpriced, overbuilt” board. Other options I had on my list were the Burton Trick Pony, Yes Typo and Jones Mountain Twin, but none of those boards are that flexible, so i’ve heard. So I guess I might be looking for the perfect All mountain board that is Meidum-Soft (4-5) or that Freestyle board that rips all over the moutain as well.
     Maybe I am over thinking this and just need to grab a board and shut up, but I figure you’re the wizard to ask when in doubt. Also, I keep getting told with my weight and height that I need to get a 160 at least, but I’ve been riding a 156 up until now and I’ve had no problems, plus I like the maneuverability and ease of throwing spins.

     Phew, thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Looking forward to see what you have in mind 🙂

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 20, 2016 at 11:53 am

       Hi Justice

       Thanks for the message.

       First of all I wouldn’t say 160 at least. I’d say 160 if you wanted a freeride oriented all-mountain board or up to 162 or 163 for a purely powder or freeride board. But for what you’re describing I wouldn’t go as long as 160. I am pretty much exactly your height/weight and I like a 160 for powder when possible but I would go as low as 154 for the park. For all mountain riding I like 158 or 159 and for all-mountain-freestyle type stuff I prefer 156 to 157. So at least 160 would be a narrow sited view.

       Also, I’m not sure who slammed the Brainstorm but I couldn’t agree less with those comments. Maybe they got terrible conditions that day or a size of the brainstorm that was completely wrong for them? For starters it’s not that stiff, secondly it’s not that expensive – in fact it’s a good bit cheaper than the average price for all-mountain boards. It’s more like the average price for a park board or beginner board (which tend to be cheaper). Of the boards that I’ve rated the average all-mountain snowboard price (disregarding budget brands which aren’t worth looking at IMO) was $510. The Brainstorm is only $449 – so I’m not sure where they got expensive from – unless they’re mainly a jib rider and used to the price of a jib board? I can’t explain that.

       Anyway………..I think from what you’re describing I would agree with your assessment that an all-mountain board is the way to go. For a lot of what you describe an all-mountain-freestyle board would be good but you’d loose something in the powder – so an all mountain board might sacrifice a little for riding switch and for jibbing but make up for it in the powder.

       I don’t think anything in this list would be too stiff for you. They are all pretty much medium flexing except for the Story (medium-stiff) Standard (medium to medium stiff) and the Snowtrooper (medium-soft). You sound like you’re a reasonably advanced rider so I think you would appreciate a medium flex and it definitely wouldn’t feel too stiff.

       If you’re after that slightly more freestyle oriented all mountain board but without entering the all mountain freestyle category, then I’d say the Burton Trick Pony or the YES Typo would be great options. If you were less into freestyle, then the Rossi One & Niche Story are better options. For the perfect middle ground, the Brainstorm, Mountain Twin, West & Standard are good calls. If you were to prefer just a casual ride for the groomers, then the Snowtrooper is a good choice.

       But for you I would say either the Typo or Trick Pony or the Brainstorm/Mountain Twin if you want a bit more out of powder.

       In terms of size, I think anything from that 157 to 159 mark would be best – but that would depend somewhat on the particular board that you chose.

       If you make a call on which you want feel free to send me a message if you want a recommendation on the right size for that particular board or for a couple of boards if you’re weighing up between a couple of different boards.

       Hope this helps with your decision. Let me know what you decide on.

       Reply

       • Justis Cooper says

         December 21, 2016 at 5:10 am

         Will do! Thanks for the input. It’s top notch how you answer everyone back on their specific questions. Cheers to you

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 21, 2016 at 1:50 pm

           You’re very welcome!

           Hope you have an awesome season!

           Reply

305. Brenda says

     December 19, 2016 at 8:20 am

     Hey Nate,

     Great thread. I am a woman looking for a good all mountain snowboard for east coast conditions. I am 5’0′ and weight around 120lbs. I learned to ride 10 years ago in Colorado and have had an awful amount of trouble making the switch to east coast riding…now living in upstate New York (Catskills area). I ski mostly blue trails here but am a better rider out west (as everyone is) and have done double black diamonds and moguls there. But I do not feel as confident taking those on here with all of the ice. I am not really into the park but would like to do an ollie here and there for fun or jump some rollers when they come up on the trails. I am really just trying to find a board that I can turn easily but without much chatter so I can do steeper runs on the East Coast mountains. Any suggestions?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 20, 2016 at 9:11 am

       Hi Brenda

       Check out my top 6 all mountain snowboards for women at the link below. The Rossignol boards (Rossignol Frenemy and Rossignol Diva) in that list will be the best in icy conditions and will be able to do everything you’re looking to do. The Never Summer Infinity, Never Summer Aura and the Jones Twin Sister are good in hard conditions but won’t be as good in icy conditions as the Rossi boards.

       ~ Top 6 Women’s All Mountain Snowboards

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Brenda says

         December 20, 2016 at 9:35 am

         Thanks so much!!!

         Reply

         • Brenda says

           December 27, 2016 at 6:16 am

           Just wanted to let you know that I bought the Diva on your suggestion. I took it out this weekend and LOVED it. Thank you so much !! I would have been too scared to throw down $500 on a board without knowing how it would perform so I am really grateful!

           Reply

           • Nate says

             December 27, 2016 at 7:19 am

             Hi Branda

             Stoked to hear that you loved your new board! And that I could help you make the decision. Have an awesome season!

306. Marco says

     December 5, 2016 at 12:28 pm

     Hi Nate,

     to be honest one of the best boards review.
     The mountain twin has totally catched me but I need to know how good it is on powder compared to my current board which is a burton dominant 2008 (if you know it). I love this board but and I can not just keep the nose up on powder, very good for riding and park but to be honest the freeride is the mountain side that I love.
     I am about to get one 157, I am 8.5 as boot size and 167 lbs, 1.84 cm tall.

     thanks for your help

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 6, 2016 at 2:21 pm

       Hey Marco

       I don’t know the Burton Dominant well but just doing some quick research I think that the Mountain Twin will be a lot better in powder. It sounds like the Dominant was a park board really and not designed for powder.

       I think the 157 would be the best size for you.

       I think the Mountain Twin would be a good choice for you too. It’s good in powder and for more freeride type riding but is also playful enough for freestyle. It’s one of the few boards around that actually does that really well.

       Reply

307. Zach says

     December 1, 2016 at 3:09 pm

     Hey Nate,

     Love your reviews here, I’ve found them to be some of the best, most in-depth around. I’m trying to pick out a do-it-all board to ride at Snowbird this season. I’m a pretty decent rider and was really looking hard at board’s like the gnu space case, never summer proto and YES. The Greats because I like the idea of asym for switch riding and like riding a centered stance, but I feel like these boards may come up short in the powder department? The Jones Mountain Twin has come highly recommended but it isn’t a true twin so I was worried about it’s switch performance and having to mount it back a bit. What do you think of it? I’m 5’8″ and weight about 160. Looking for a board that’s fun and freestyly, does okay in the deep stuff, and will get me down the hardpack when were taking hot laps. Do you think the Mountain Twin might fit the bill? Any other recommendations? I work for an online retailer and we don’t carry the slash brainstorm unfortunately. Let me know, your response is much appreciated.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 1, 2016 at 4:47 pm

       Hi Zach

       Thanks for the message.

       I would say all 3 of those boards are average in powder. Not bad but not great either. But to be honest I can’t think of any boards that are twin and centered that would be any better in powder. So if you want asymmetrical twin and centered, then the 3 boards you just mentioned would be the best picks in my opinion. Also, I have ridden worse boards in powder too. I would say 2.5/5 for powder for those boards and I’ve ridden boards that I would rate as a 1/5 for powder.

       That said, the Mountain Twin isn’t bad at riding switch – but it’s not going to feel as nice for riding switch as the others. It is of course better in the powder.

       The Mountain Twin is one of the most versatile boards going around if you want to do everything – but it’s naturally not going to be the best at everything.

       From what you’re describing I think the YES Greats and the NS Proto Type 2 would fit the bill the best. But if you think you’ll be riding a lot of powder – then you might appreciate the Mountain Twin more. If you are going to only be riding powder occasionally then the Greats and Proto will be the best options. They certainly can ride powder but it’s just going to take more effort/focus to keep the nose from sinking.

       In terms of size I would say the following for each board:

       Mountain Twin: 154cm – going with this length will make it a bit more freestyle oriented than if you were to go with say the 157.

       Proto Type Two: 154cm as well but you could go up to the 157 – which would help to give it more float in powder but will also make it harder to spin and ride switch.

       YES The Greats: 156cm – this is probably the best size for a good balance between powder and doing tricks

       Hope this has given you some more to go on for your decision (and hasn’t made it more confusing!)

       Reply

308. Luke says

     November 30, 2016 at 7:02 pm

     Hi Nate first of all great post you did over here very detailed and informative. i have a question for you. i`m an intermediate rider looking for a new board this year. i wanted the slash brainstorm but it`s been sold out. Im between the Never Summer west and the Yes Standard but cant figure out which one is best for me. I`m more into all mountain riding but powder and trees are my favorites but also hitting the park sometimes but not too much. my question is if the yes standard is more stiffer than the West and how much more. I preffer a medium flex to butter and do a little of freestyle. Hope you can give me the answer! Im 6`0 150 lbs

     Reply

     • Nate says

       December 1, 2016 at 3:27 pm

       Hi Luke

       I think that the YES Standard is probably the best bet overall for what you’re describing. In saying that both would be good options but I would lean slightly in favor of the Standard. I know I have it listed as medium-stiff here but I’d say that it’s on the softer side of medium-stiff if that makes sense. Maybe like a 6.5/10 and the West pn the stiffer side of medium – like a 6/10. So there’s not a huge difference in terms of flex there. The Standard felt just a touch stiffer.

       But even though it’s a touch stiffer it was a bit nicer to butter, in my opinion. Not by much but it just felt that little bit easier to butter – maybe just because it has rocker sections tip and tail, whereas the West has Camber sections tip and tail.

       Reply

       • Luke says

         December 1, 2016 at 5:43 pm

         Thanks for replying Nate!!
         Im more into the Yes Standard but its been a nightmare to get it. Apparently it is out of stock.
         What can you tell me about powder, trees and uneven terrain between the West and the Standard? Which one is better for that kind of riding apart from groomers which both excel at it. I cant decide between those two both are great boards. Hope you can help me decide!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           December 2, 2016 at 12:15 pm

           Hi Luke

           I’d say they are both similar for powder with the Standard being a bit quicker edge-to-edge making it probably more suitable for tighter terrain.

           In terms of uneven terrain, I found the West to be a little bit better. Again not much in it but just a bit better.

           You mention that you are finding the YES Standard hard to find? Did you mean the Slash Brainstorm? As far as I can tell the YES Standard is widely available but the Brainstorm is a bit harder to come by. Check out the links below for both boards. Whether or not they’re in your size I’m not sure.

           >>Slash Brainstorm at backcountry.com
           

           >>YES Standard at evo.com

           The links above are US stores. If you’re in Europe try the following.

           >>Slash Brainstorm at blue-tomato

           Hope this helps with your decision

           Reply

309. Mitch says

     November 29, 2016 at 5:30 pm

     Nate, I currently ride a Lip Tech Jamie Lynn Phoenix 160cm. I’m old and used to camber boards but have found this board too catchy. My original board was a 156cm but I took about 10 years off and started back up a few years ago. I ride East Coast conditions, so usually icy or catchy groomers. At the time I purchased the Jamie Lynn it was the smallest available, it’s a very aggressive board. While I’m pretty experienced, I’m now basically just going down the runs, carving embankments, some light jumps, etc… was looking at Rossignol One Magtech or Yes Standard. Which of these two is more forgiving or less catchy, especially on flat groomers?

     Thanks for your feedback.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 30, 2016 at 2:57 pm

       Hi Mitch

       Thanks for your message.

       Both of those boards will be less catchy and less aggressive than the Jamie Lynn Phoenix so you’re on the right track. Either one will be an improvement in terms of the issues you are having with Jamie Lynn Phoenix.

       In terms of catchiness I think they’re both about equal in that respect and I didn’t find them catchy at all.

       In terms of riding on a lot of ice though, I think that the Rossi One would be your best bet. The YES Standard is pretty good on hard and icy conditions but the Rossi One is just that little bit better.

       I would also say that if you used to ride a 156, that you should consider getting a shorter size than your current 160 – because if the board feels too long, that will also add to the catchiness and make it more difficult to maneuver. If you can let me know your height and weight, I can give you a size recommendation for each board if you’d like.

       Reply

310. Josh says

     November 27, 2016 at 1:25 pm

     Thanks for writing this and responding to people. I’m 5’9″ and 140lab (size 10). I have not bought a new board in about 5 years, but I’ve been snowboarding for a long time with some decent gaps in between periods of lots of days. I no longer spend time in the park–looking for a board that is fun on and off the groomers, good in powder, and OK on a skinny 40+ year old’s bones. For years, I bought Burton Customs and my last board was a LIB. I’m super interested in what you think is the best board, binding, boot set up (even if it’s expensive). Thanks again for the article and responses.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 27, 2016 at 7:27 pm

       Hi Josh

       Thanks for your message.

       There a couple of ways to make a board a bit more easy going on the body. One is to size down a bit and the other is to go for a softer flex. Another is to go with a more mellow camber profile. I think you’re on the right track with this list.

       I would maybe say no to the Niche Story on this occasion – usually this is one of my top recommendations but it’s a little stiffer than the others on this list and just requires a little bit more effort to wield it. Otherwise I think you’d be safe with anything on this list. In terms of size I’d try to go for anything around a 152 or 153. This does also depend on the particular board and if you find something you like I can give you a more customized size recommendation on the board that you decide on.

       In terms of boots and bindings try to match the flex. For you I’d say something medium flexing is a good bet. The boots and bindings at the following links would be good options, IMO.

       >>Top 5 All Mountain Snowboard Bindings

       >>Top 5 All Mountain Snowboard Boots

       Hope this helps

       Reply

311. Trent says

     November 22, 2016 at 1:00 pm

     Hi Nate

     Thanks for putting the time into some quality reviews!I am from New Zealand (often riding uneven variable snow conditions) and will spending the season at Revelstoke. Im tossing up between the Jones Mountain Twin and Rossi One Mag and ill be looking to take the board home after the season in Canada. I weigh 87kg and am 6ft tall with size 11 boots. Would you mind offering your opinion on which board and at what size you would reccomend?
     Cheers again
     Trent

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 22, 2016 at 5:56 pm

       Hi Trent

       Welcome to BC!

       Both of those boards would be good choices. I think there a couple of things to weigh up.

       The One Magtek will be better in icy conditions. The Mountain Twin is also pretty good for hard and icy conditions but that’s something that the Rossi One is particularly great at.

       The Moutnain Twin will be better in powder and also with jumps and jibs if you’re into those.

       Your choice probably comes down to a couple of things.

       a. Whether you ride more in ice or more in powder – though both are fine at either but one is better than the other
       b. If you’re into jumps/jibs or think you’ll get into it at Revelstoke

       In terms of size I would say:

       Mountain Twin: 161W or 160 or 162. Any of these 3 sizes would work. The wide isn’t really that much wider than the regular’s and your size 11.0s would fir on either width (256mm waist width on the 160 and 162 regular sizes and a 260mm waist on the 161W). In terms of length it probably depends on what you’re used to and how you prefer to be riding. If you are going to be a little bit more freestyle oriented or if you are more of a beginner to intermediate rider then I’d go with the 160. If you are more advanced and prefer to bomb the mountain a bit more and are more carving/speed oriented then the 162 would be a good choice. The 161W will add a bit more stability with the extra width but will be less maneuverable/slower from edge to edge.

       One Magtek: 159. In my opinion the wide versions of the One Magtek are a little too wide for 11.0s. Not undoable but I wouldn’t go that wide with 11.0s. The 159 is a bit shorter than the Mountain Twin options but it does have a longer effective edge so it will be long enough in my opinion. The waist width is 254 but it does have a deeper sidecut (so the width at the inserts will be wider than it would be if it had a shallower side cut).

       This is assuming that you mean US 11.0 boots.

       Deep breath!

       I hope this info has given you a bit more to go on for your decision. Personally I’d go with the Mountain Twin but I don’t see that much ice and I like to be able to hit jumps and jibs when I get the feeling. But you may be different in those aspects.

       Have an awesome season in Revelstoke!!

       Reply

312. Ry says

     November 21, 2016 at 5:15 pm

     Hey Nate,
     You are the man! Your reviews are super helpful.

     I am debating between 4 boards and am wondering if you could weigh in…
     Loaded Algernon
     Jones Ultra Mountain Twin
     Slash Brainstorm
     OZ Woody

     I mostly spend time charging pistes, with occasional ventures into some bowls and trees. I also like to hit some side hits and rollers every now and then. I really want to find a nice balance between great edge hold while still being able to cut through some of the rough stuff. I am 6’2″ 160lbs, so I am also wondering what size you would recommend. I have been riding a 162 for years, but I feel like sizing down a bit might make things a little more fun. Also I was thinking about pairing the board with either the Burton Genesis or Cartels, any thoughts on those?

     Thanks again, Cheers!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 22, 2016 at 1:42 pm

       Hey Ry

       I don’t follow Loaded or OZ so I can’t really say much about them (can’t keep up with every brand – there’s so many of them!) but I definitely rate the Mountain Twin and Brainstorm and I think they’d definitely suit how you like to ride by the sounds of it.

       To be honest the two boards are quite similar rides with only very subtle differences. See score breakdowns for relative strengths and weaknesses. So either would suit well.

       In terms of size I’m only guessing that you would have boot size 11 or up? If that’s the case then I would suggest the 159W for the Brainstorm and the 158W for the Mountain Twin. I think 162 is probably a little bit long for you – though it also depends on the board. For these boards I would go with:

       Brainstorm: 159W
       Mountain Twin: 158W

       If you can let me know your boot size I can more accurately recommend a size for you.

       Hope this helps.

       Reply

       • Ry says

         November 22, 2016 at 5:34 pm

         Totally forgot boot size: 10. I am thinking to stay away from the wide to keep it a bit faster from edge to edge.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 22, 2016 at 6:03 pm

           Good call! Definitely don’t go wide if you have 10s. I wear 10s and wouldn’t go wide.

           In that case.

           Brainstorm: 157
           Mountain Twin: 157

           You could also go 160 on either but I would say 157 will be a better match for your weight. But if you like a slightly longer board or if you want something that’s better in powder you could size up to the 160. It will be a bit more stable at speed and float better in powder. The smaller 157 would be more maneuverable and better for those side hits. 157 sounds quite small for your height but it’s mostly about weight. But yeah you could definitely do either.

           Reply

313. Dany G. says

     November 18, 2016 at 4:51 am

     Hi Nate,
     based on your feedback and what I’m looking for in a snowboard I’m leaning towards the Yes Standard. I’ve also read your review of the Yes Greats (Top All Mountain Freestyle) and it also seems to be a good option for me but I want to clarify some of your scores and evaluation just to be sure.

     So, between the two…

     Uneven Terrain score:
     Standard: 3.0
     Greats: 4.0
     Why this difference, since both 2017 versions of these boards have the same construction?
     What does the 3.0 for the Standard means? Did you feel any big chatter and vibrations?
     This is a big deal for me because I ride a lot on crowded days with ruined groomers..

     Carving score:
     Standard: 4.0
     Greats: 4.0
     Both have the same score. Does this means that the asym sidecut on the Greats doesn’t make a big difference?

     Powder score:
     Standard: 3.5
     Greats: 2.5
     Mountain Twin: 4.0
     I’m going to be riding more mountain/groomers with the occasional (not very often) powder day.
     With 2.5 does it mean that the Greats is inadequate in Powder, or isn’t ideal and you can still have fun?
     The 3.5 of the Standard means that the extra back inserts and the slight directional twin shape doesn’t make that big of a difference when compared with something more directional like the Mountain Twin?

     In general I want a board with less jib and park characteristics but that rides switch very good and more for the mountain.

     Many thanks and great website and advice by the way!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 18, 2016 at 5:30 pm

       Hi Dany

       I’ll give you my opinion for each factor that you have brought up.

       Uneven Terrain:

       I felt that the Greats hugged bumpy terrain a little better. In terms of chatter the Standard was fine in terms of feeling chatter when riding at speed. Chatter for me is something that comes under speed. Speed for my ratings is how fast the boards rides but also, and more importantly, in my opinion, how stable the ride is at speed and how chattery it is. I would say the reason that the Greats was better with uneven terrain is that it is softer flexing than Standard, which helps it to go with the bumps a little bit more.

       Carving:

       I do think that the asym sidecut helps with carving for sure. But carving is a factor of a few things. One thing is that you can hold that edge without washing out even when carving at high speeds. Generally speaking a stiffer flexing board will be better at carving because it can hold an edge better. On that alone I would expect the Standard to be the better carver. However, to me they felt as good as each other for carving – and I would put that down to the asym side cut for sure.

       The Asym sidecut also makes riding switch easier, IMO. In my experience with riding switch on asym boards I definitely prefer it to non-asym boards.

       Powder:

       I wouldn’t say that the Greats is inadequate for powder. You can definitely still have fun in powder. The score of 2.5 means it’s average. I’ve ridden boards that were worse in powder. But if you wanted a dedicated powder board or if you rode a lot of powder and wanted an all-mountain board for everything then The Greats probably wouldn’t be suitable. If it’s only occasionally I wouldn’t be put off The Greats for that reason. You might just have to work a little harder keeping the nose from sinking as you would on a board more suited to powder.

       It was noticeable that the Mountain Twin was better in powder but not by a whole lot over the Standard. But the Mountain Twin is what I would deem a directional twin shape and the Standard – even though it’s deemed a “true” twin isn’t really a true twin – maybe closer to a true twin than the Mountain Twin but it’s still got a little bit more nose. Also, the Standard is centered this year but it has setback options. I rode it setback. It wouldn’t be as good in powder if you set up centered on it.

       I hope that answers your questions and helps with your decision.

       Reply

       • Dany G. says

         November 20, 2016 at 5:09 am

         Hi Nate,
         I think that you’ve just puxed me more into the Greats 🙂 because, if it’s still fun in powder days, then it seems to be the better option for me.

         Many thanks!

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 21, 2016 at 10:54 am

           You’re very welcome!

           Hope you enjoy your new board and have an awesome season!

           Reply

314. Ryan S. says

     November 17, 2016 at 8:20 am

     PS I love a lap through the park but usually skip the pipe.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 17, 2016 at 2:55 pm

       Hey Ryan

       It sounds like you like to do a bit of almost everything – so an all mountain board is definitely what you want.

       All 3 of the boards you’ve mentioned you can’t go wrong with really.

       Between the Brainstorm and the Mountain Twin, I rate the Mountain Twin very marginally better at carving and the Brainstorm marginally better in powder and over jumps. I found the Brainstorm very very slightly quicker from edge to edge but there’s so little in it that they’re practically the same. In fact in a lot of ways, these two boards are quite similar – both in terms of their specs and how they felt to ride.

       If I had to choose between the Brainstorm and the Mountain Twin for you, I’d say Brainstorm, but like I say, you’d be fine with either.

       I haven’t ridden the Ultra Mountain Twin but from what I hear it’s a slightly stiffer, slightly snappier, slightly more stable at speeds and slightly quicker from edge-to-edge version of the mountain twin. Also slightly more stable on landings. So, in theory as I haven’t ridden it, it would give you the carving of the Mountain Twin and perhaps a bit better again but quicker from edge-to-edge (nice for the trees) and a bit more for jumps. So in theory it would be the best choice. But you do also pay a fair bit more for it.

       If money’s no object, then the Ultra Mountain Twin is worth a crack otherwise the Brainstorm – but only just. The Mountain Twin would definitely do the job most excellently!

       Hope this helps with your decision. As I say, you can’t really make a wrong choice between those 3.

       Reply

     • Nate says

       November 17, 2016 at 3:04 pm

       Oops I forgot sizing!

       Mountain Twin: 158W (258mm waist width)

       Brainstorm: 159W (259mm waist width)

       You’re on the cuff of wide and regular width boards with size 11s. But both these wide versions are actually really mid-wides. So there actually just right for your boot size.

       In terms of length I would put you on anything from a 157 to 160 so these lengths are also perfectly in the middle of that. And in terms of the manufacturers weight recommendations you fit nicely in these sizes too.

       Reply

315. Ryan S. says

     November 17, 2016 at 7:26 am

     Nate,
     Great article, thanks for writing it.
     Ive been contemplating the mountain twin for over a year. Now the Ultra mountain twin is out and I’m torn.
     5’11 175lbs
     Size 11 Burton Imperial boots
     Burton cartels
     I say I’m intermediate but that doesn’t tell you much. I love to carve and hit jumps. I love tree lines and plan to do some more back country this year places like Colorado and Canada.
     I’m truly looking for an all mountain board. I don’t get enough time in powder but looking to change that soon. I live all the way on the east coast (I surf all winter while you guys are out snowboarding)
     The board I have now is literally 14 years old.
     First question is this
     Between the
     Jones MTN twin
     Jones Ultra MTN twin
     Slash Brainstorm

     What would you lean towards for me and sizing is the second area where I need advise.

     Thanks again for the write up. It really helps sort through the information overload out there when. It comes to board selection

     Reply

316. Brian says

     November 14, 2016 at 1:44 pm

     Hi Nate- Love your site.
     It’s been a handful of years since I’ve purchased a new board and there’s been a lot of progression with camber profiles and edge shapes in that time, so I appreciate your help sifting through all of the new information.
     I’m 6ft, 150lbs, wear US 10 boots and my ability level is intermediate/advanced.
     I do most of my riding on the east coast so I deal with my fair share of hard pack and ice but I also visit some bigger/snowier mountains from time to time.
     I’m looking for something that’s responsive and can hold an edge in the east coast conditions so I’m leaning towards a board that’s a little stiffer with magne-traction or some other edge technology.
     Most of my riding is done on the trails with the occasional powder and tree run sprinkled in and I don’t do a lot of park riding, just some jumps here or there, so jibbing ability isn’t a big concern for me.
     What do you think would be a good fit for me?
     Thanks for your help

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 14, 2016 at 9:05 pm

       Hi Brian

       Thanks for your message.

       For your conditions I would say that the Rossignol One Magtek and Niche Story would be your best bets. They both have really good edge hold in hard and icy conditions. They’re also overall just really nice boards with the one weakness for both of them being jibbing – which, as you say, isn’t a concern for you.

       Outside of those two the next best on hard and icy conditions would be the Slash Brainstorm, Jones Mountain Twin, YES Standard, YES Typo and Never Summer West.

       There are other options if you wanted to go for something stiffer flexing but those would be your best bet from this list.

       Reply

317. Jon says

     November 11, 2016 at 4:11 am

     Hi Nate

     Great site!

     I was hoping you could help me decide between a Yes Standard 156 or a Yes Typo 155?

     If you ignore the price difference, which would you say would be best for someone who does groomers, steeps, side country, natural features, ice, powder, but only a little park?

     I’m an advanced rider, 40, 175lbs, 5’11”.

     Many thanks!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 11, 2016 at 4:41 pm

       Hi Jon

       Thanks for your message.

       Because of the fact that you won’t be in the park that much I would say go with the standard. It’s a little quicker, a better carver and slightly better in powder, especially if you set your stance back.

       I’d say that the Typo is marginally better in icy snow but there’s little in it – they’re both pretty good in hard-to-icy conditions. If you did more park, then I’d say the Typo just because it’s a better jibber.

       Either would work but the Standard the Standard would be a better fit for you, I think.

       Reply

       • Jon says

         November 12, 2016 at 3:03 am

         Thanks for the reply Nate.

         How do you think the Standard would compare against the Slash Brainstorm for those requirements?

         Jon

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 12, 2016 at 4:20 pm

           Hi Jon

           In terms of powder, the Brainstorm is the pick of the two.

           For hard to icy snow conditions I’d say they’re about the same.

           The Standard is a marginally better carver, IMO and will be marginally better at riding switch if you have it centered.

           Both are about the same for jumps. The Brainstorm is a little better for jibs but not much in it and neither are amazing for jibs but you can still definitely hit the occasional rail/box etc on them.

           Reply

318. Marc says

     November 6, 2016 at 6:31 pm

     Hello Nat.
     Im looking to change my belove A snowboard David Vincent 159 for something more adapted to my riding style. Im east coast, riding groom and ice 75% of the time. I dont do park or big air anymore. Looking for a board that will turn quickly in the wood and that will carve well. I like to butter, im not a speed demon and need to be able to play with the kids at low speed. Im 6ft, 200pds. Got vans Infuse 12 Us boots. Im pretty sure that i need a wide board but never got any problem with the one i have atm. I rarely ride switch. Was looking at burton custom 159w or flight attendant 159. Any suggestion is welcome. Thx for your time.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 7, 2016 at 2:55 pm

       Hi Marc

       Thanks for the message and the info.

       I wouldn’t go with the Custom or Flight Attendant. Not that I don’t rate those boards because I definitely do – but since you are riding in ice a lot I would go for something that’s better in those conditions. Something that has better edge hold in hard and icy snow.

       Something like the YES Pick Your Line is great in icy conditions – and would be great for your carving – but it’s definitely not something you’d be able to use to play and go slow with – and not great for buttering.

       If you were set on a Burton board, then the Custom X would be your best bet. It’s definitely more pricey than the others though but it’s better in harder conditions. That said, it’s still probably not the best when it comes to slowing things up and playing around.

       I’d suggest one of the following:

       >>YES Typo (159W – 261mm Waist Width)

       >>Niche Story (159 – 262mm waist width)

       >>Lib Tech Skunk Ape (161W – 268mm waist width)

       When compared to Proto Type Two and The Greats above you’d sacrifice a little bit in carving but you’d make up for that because they are better in icy conditions.

       Hope this helps.

       Reply

319. max says

     October 24, 2016 at 12:47 pm

     Hi Nate
     thumbs up for the help you provide to the people here, that’s really cool. I’m 40 now and was a intermediate/advanced rider 20 years ago, but without great trick skills. I lived in Mexico in the meantime and didn’t touched snow since. Now I’m back to Switzerland and wanna ride again. I was an advanced skater as a teenager. I want to get an allround board but will probably go more for powder and carving since fooling around won’t make my back too happy, but I’d like to leave the option. I’m 6.1 ft tall 72-75kg shoe size 11 to 11.5 US. The brainstorm 160 seems good or should I be looking into wide? I think i’ll probably pick up again in a couple of days so a beginner board wouldn’t be worth it right? What do you think? Thanks for the input.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 24, 2016 at 8:59 pm

       Hi Max

       Thanks for visiting the site.

       I don’t think you need to go for a beginner board and I think the Brainstorm would be a good choice for you by the sounds of what you want and should be fine for getting back into it. As you say, you’ll likely be back to an intermediate level pretty quickly.

       In terms of size, I think you should go for the 159W. I would be worried that the 160 would be slightly too narrow. You might get away with it but you’d definitely be pushing it. I think the 159 length is fine for you too and the width is definitely better suited.

       Reply

320. Jim Stroud says

     October 2, 2016 at 1:33 pm

     Nate, I am 65 180lbs 5’10” and ride an old travis rice 161.5 camber board and as I get older finding myself catching edges more on hardback. I ride mostly out west and looking for an all mountain board that is good all around and less catchy on hardback. I am a strong intermediate/weak advanced. I mostly do greens blues and a few blacks when the powder is deep otherwise I am on piste if no fresh snow. Mostly directional with +15 and 0 stance. I was looking at the Jones Mountain Twin. would this be a good choice or is there another one you might suggest for a guy my age with slowly decreasing skills.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       October 3, 2016 at 11:16 am

       Hi Jim

       Thanks for your message.

       For starters I would size down a bit – not too much, but a couple of centimeters would help with making the board easier to maneuver. Something around a 158cm or 159cm I think would be best for you.

       I think the Jones Mountain Twin could work. It has a Hybrid Camber profile (camber between the feet with rocker towards the tip and tail). It will float well in powder when you are in it but it’s also good on hardpack. It’s got a bit of a setback stance and a directional twin shape. I have never found the Mountain Twin to be catchy. It’s probably similar flex-wise to the Travis Rice but maybe very slightly softer. Probably the best size would be the 160cm for you. This would make it a little shorter which should help with maneuverability.

       Another option would be the Never Summer Snowtrooper. This is slightly softer flexing than the Jones Mountain Twin which would make it a little bit more forgiving and it also comes in a 159 which I think would be a great size for you. It would be a slightly less aggressive, slightly more playful option than the mountain twin but should still also be able to do everything that you want it to.

       The Snowtrooper is more playful and forgiving and prob the better size in my opinion, but perhaps the Mountain Twin would be better in Hardpack.

       Hope this helps.

       Reply

321. andy ivers says

     August 25, 2016 at 1:52 am

     Nate

     Thanks a lot for all your advice.
     Have gone for the Slash Brainstorm 157.
     Keep up the good work.

     Andy

     Reply

     • Nate says

       August 26, 2016 at 8:06 am

       You’re very welcome. Glad I could help. Let me know what you think once you’ve had a chance to ride it.

       Reply

322. Andy says

     August 24, 2016 at 1:07 am

     Nate

     Thanks for your reply.
     Think i’ve now ruled two of the boards out ( cobra, basic).
     I’ve also read some awesome reviews of the Jones mountain twin. How would this compare to the Typo and Brainstorm ?

     With regards to the sizing, i’m worried about making the same mistake again and going too small so a little apprehensive about going down the 155 route. Would they still be ok ?

     Are there any other boards you feel might suit or be better ?

     Thanks again for all your help.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       August 24, 2016 at 2:24 pm

       Hey Andy

       The Mountain Twin is more like the Brainstorm than the Typo. The Brainstorm and the Mountain Twin felt like very similar boards to ride for me. As per the ratings above, I think that the only thing is that the Brainstorm was just slightly better for jumps – but really there is very little difference between the 2 in my opinion, even in that area. So yeah the Mountain Twin is definitely an option. If you need to choose between the two – get the one that you can get for the cheapest, they really are that similar.

       The Mountain Twin also comes in a 157 and I think that would be the best for you. If you’re worried about going too short again then I’d choose the 158 if you go for the typo. It’s slightly longer than the 157 in the Brainstorm and the Mountain Twin but it’s a softer flex so should be easier to maneuver despite that slight bit of extra length. I think that the Brainstorm or Mountain Twin are better boards but will take more to get used to. The Typo would be a good transition board because it’s easier to get used to but doesn’t quite have the same performance as the other 2. Though it would be better at jibbing if that’s something you were wanting to get into.

       Hope this helps,
       Nate

       Reply

323. Andy Ivers says

     August 23, 2016 at 3:08 am

     Hi Nate

     Love your reviews.

     I’m looking at a new board and was after some advice.
     Don’t do a great deal of boarding, but usually an annual holiday to france or the likes. A couple of trips up to scotland ( Aviemore or Glenshee) and trips to the snowdomes.
     I’m a beginner to intermediate and ride piste, off piste, powder, tree lines. Don’t do very much park at all but would like to move into some smaller jumps.
     I’m currently looking at the Slash Brainstorm, Yes Typo/Basic, Never Summer Cobra.
     Obviously reading your review i know which YOU think is best, but which do you think may be best suited to me.
     I currently have a skate banana 152 but earlier this year in France felt it was really unstable and twitchy, especially when i picked up a little speed.
     Also which size.
     I’m 5’8″ tall, 182lbs, wear size 9 uk boots.

     Thanks for any advice you could offer.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       August 23, 2016 at 1:21 pm

       Hey Andy

       Thanks for your message. You’re definitely right to look for a new board and I’m not surprised that you found the Skate Banana unstable and twitchy – it’s definitely a loose board. Which some people like and if you’re doing purely freestyle riding in the park then the Skate Banana is a fun board but for your purposes not suited. I think that the 152cm is definitely too short for you as well. It would be ok as a freestyle length (even then prob a tad too short for you) but not for what you want to do and that would add to that twitchy unstable feel – particularly at speed.

       I think the best length for you would be between 155 and 158 given your height/weight and your ability level.

       Any of the 4 boards you’ve mentioned would be a big improvement for how you’re riding. They’ll take some getting used to because they’re very different boards to the Skate Banana and will be longer – but once you’re used to them, they’ll serve you better.

       The Basic and the Typo are fairly similar boards in my opinion with the Basic being slightly better for freestyle and the typo more all mountain. Both should be pretty easy to get used to and would be suitable for what you want in my opinion. The Typo would be better off piste particularly as it has a bit of a setback and the basic is centered. For both the YES boards the 155 or 158 would be suitable sizes. The 158 would offer a bit more stability at speed but the 155 would be easier to maneuver and easier to get used to and probably an easier transition from the 152 you’ve been riding.

       The Brainstorm might take a little bit more to get used to but once you’re used to it I think it would be ideal for what you want. The 157 would be the best size for the brainstorm for you, in my opinion.

       The Cobra would be the hardest to get used to and I would say this is probably the least recommended of the 4. However, it is still suitable and still an option, it would just be a steeper learning curve. For the Cobra you would need to weight up between the 155 and the 158. The 155 will be easier to ride but the 158 will offer more stability at speed once you were used to it.

       Hope this helps. Let me know what you end up going with.

       Reply

324. Sam Greenwood says

     August 10, 2016 at 9:18 pm

     Hey buddy,

     Im just wondering did you test the 2016/2017 Never Summer Proto Type two?
     The one with the word PROTO on base in multi colour

     Its won many other “best all mountain” reviews

     Keen for your feedback

     Regards
     Sam

     Reply

     • Nate says

       August 12, 2016 at 9:22 am

       Hey Sam

       I did demo the Proto Type Two – and loved it!

       However, I consider it an all-mountain-freestyle board rather than an all-mountain board. I have a separate list for those. The Proto Type Two will definitely be on that list when I update it for 2016/17. The predecessor to the Type Two (the Proto HD, was already on that list). Also I’m going to be updating that list to a top 10 (currently a top 5) for 2016/17 because there are so many all-mountain-freestyle decks around these days – and because I demoed a lot more of them last season.

       Reply

325. Don says

     July 14, 2016 at 8:52 pm

     Hey Nate,

     I’ve been reading through many of your write ups the past few weeks and I feel like you write very honest and unbiased reviews compared to other websites out there.

     I’m 6′ 2″ 190, Burton 12 boots, with athletic build. I picked up snowboarding while working in Alaska the last 2 winters. I’ve become comfortable on all parts of the mountain, including all types of difficulty. I haven’t touched parks, rails, etc. and for me a great day is long steep groomers and when the snow is good tree runs. Mammoth is my home mtn and I love the steeps at the top there.

     I’ve rented (wasted a lot of money) the last 2 seasons and it’s time to buy my set up.

     I like a board that has a solid edge over icy conditions (early and late season at mammoth can get icy) and then something that can handle big powder days (Tahoe and Mammoth).

     The last board I demo’d was a 161 W never summer chairman and it was fast, with a tremendous ability to grip icy conditions. I loved it but only had the chance to ride it one day. I also rode the NS cobra in Tahoe and really enjoyed it. Can you recommend something for me or speak to the Chairman I mentioned? I’m willing to sacrifice performance in the park for performance at the top of the mountains on steep groomers and big powder days. Of course, I’m also willing to hear Any recommendations on brands, board length & width. I would assess my skill level as advanced but not expert by any means. Thanks in advance!

     Best,
     Don

     Reply

     • Nate says

       July 14, 2016 at 9:40 pm

       Hey Don

       Thanks for visiting. Glad to hear you’re going with your own setup – definitely beats renting!

       I think it sounds like a freeride board would be the best choice for you. They tend to be hard charging, good on the steeps and great in powder. I’ll leave a link at the end of this to my top freeride boards.

       The NS Chairman sounds like it’s a good fit for you. It’s not on this list because it’s a freeride board. It doesn’t make my freeride list (but that’s only 5 long at the moment and it wasn’t far off). It’s known for being good in hard and icy snow conditions too, so that would make a good choice for that reason too. Also, because you’ve already ridden it and liked is a plus too.

       In terms of length, I’d say anything from 161 to 165 would be a good bet for you. And in terms of width you’ll want to go with a wide I’d say. Although Burton do tend to have good footprint reduction tech (so the outersole is less than it would be on other boots of equivalent size) so you might get away with something like with a 257mm waist width – but I’d go wide to be on the safe side. So the 161 W or the 165 W in the chairman would work. If you were comfortable on the 161W then that would probably be the best bet. Also size depends somewhat on the individual board but I think that would be fine on the Chairman.

       Of the boards in the list below I’d say to look at the YES Pick Your Line (I rode the 2017 version recently and it’s a lot of fun!), the Jones Flagship or the Rossi XV Magtek. The Pick Your Line and XV Magtek are particularly good in icy conditions and the Flagship isn’t far off. They’re all killer in powder.

       >>My Top 5 Freeride Snowboards

       In terms of sizing I’d go with the following:

       Flagship: 162W
       Pick Your Line: 160W
       XV Magtek: 164W

       But the Chairman is also a great option.

       That doesn’t mean you couldn’t also go with an all-mountain board. From this list to suit what your after the best choices would be Slash Brainstorm, NS Cobra, Jones Mountain Twin, & Niche Story.

       Hope this helps

       Reply

       • Don says

         July 15, 2016 at 9:17 am

         Nate,

         Wow, thanks for all of the advice! I’ll look into your recommendations and links you have provided. I’m already stoked for the upcoming season.

         Last question, do you have a recommendation on a solid set of bindings? I want something middle/top of the market price wise, that will be durable and efficient. I’m not opposed to spending more money for better quality, but as this is my first board purchase I don’t need everything to be top of the line. I haven’t don’t much research on bindings and honestly just have always gone with the ones on my demo boards haha.

         Keep up the great work, it really helps us boarders out here looking for honest advice/recommendations!

         Best,

         Don

         Reply

         • Nate says

           July 15, 2016 at 6:12 pm

           Hey Don

           You’re very welcome.

           Bindings can definitely make a big difference and can be overlooked. Generally speaking you’ll want to match the flex of your bindings to the flex of your board – though this doesn’t have to be exact. I’ve also made some lists for some different types of bindings if you want to check those out.

           >>Top 5 Freeride Bindings

           >>Top 5 All-Mountain Bindings

           Reply

326. Adam says

     June 11, 2016 at 6:55 am

     Hi Nate,

     Great article, I’m thinking about purchasing the Brainstorm but can’t decide what size would be best for me. I weigh 78kg and my bootsize is US 10.5. What would you recommend?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       June 11, 2016 at 2:03 pm

       Hey Adam

       Either the 157 or 160 would be best for you. I don’t think you’ll need the wide. Your boot size is borderline and you’d be fine on both. But I prefer not to go with wide unless you really have to. I’d say the 157cm would probably be the best for you. If you can let me know your height (weight is 80-90% of the length decision but height has some influence) then I’ll can give you a more definite between the 157 and 160.

       Reply

       • Adam says

         June 12, 2016 at 8:32 am

         Hi Nate,

         Thanks for the quick reply, I really appreciate your advice with this. I’m 5’11.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           June 12, 2016 at 12:50 pm

           You’re very welcome.

           I think both would be fine but I think that the 157 is the slightly better choice. I rode the 160 recently and I’m 85kg and 6″0. I think because you’re a little bit lighter that the 157 would be better but not much in it.

           The other consideration is conditions. If you get a lot of fresh powder then having a bit of extra length can help with float in powder. In that case then go with the 160 but otherwise the 157. The Brainstorm is amazing in powder in general so the 157 will definitely do the job well but if you’re always riding powder (lucky if you are!) then go 160.

           I’m sure there was a less long winded way to say that!

           Hope this helps

           Reply

327. Aaron says

     May 18, 2016 at 3:06 pm

     If it was between the brainstorm or mountain twin, which would you choose and why?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       May 19, 2016 at 3:23 pm

       Hey Aaron

       I would get the Brainstorm – just because I found it very slightly better for jumps and I like to be airbourne as often as possible. But there really isn’t much in it and I did like jumps on the Mountain Twin but the Brainstorm was just that little bit better.

       Reply

       • Aaron says

         May 26, 2016 at 10:55 pm

         I’m 5’11”, 165lbs. Size 11.5 boots. I bought the 159w, I really like both this board and the jones. I hope it’s a good fit. I have been riding an old 162 onetrack. It’s time to upgrade.

         Reply

         • Nate says

           May 27, 2016 at 5:24 pm

           Hey Aaron

           I think that’s going to be the perfect fit for you. Hope you enjoy the Brain Storm as much as I did. Let me know how it goes when you get a chance to ride it.

           Reply

           • Aaron says

             June 2, 2016 at 9:09 pm

             For sure, I only wish they made a 161w. That would have been my preference.

           • Nate says

             June 3, 2016 at 3:56 pm

             Yeah if you’re used to the 162 then a 161 might have been an easier transition – but I think once you get used to the 159 it might actually be an even better size for you.

             I rode the 160 and I’m 6″0 and 185lbs and it felt like the perfect size.

           • Aaron says

             December 31, 2016 at 10:03 pm

             I’ve ridden the slash brainstorm a few times so far and I like it! Lots of pop, great edge hold, and a decent carver. Would have preferred a little more setback. My old board was a old school , traditional camber freeride board, so this is quite different. I may mix it up next year, and buy the burton FA. I feel that board suits my riding style a little better. But in the meantime I’m enjoying the slash.

           • Nate says

             January 1, 2017 at 10:12 am

             Hi Aaron

             Thanks for your input. The Brainstorm is that kind of board that is designed to be a good all rounder – so it’s not setback too much so that it’s not too difficult to ride switch. The FA is a freeride board and I’d say it would feel more similar to your old board (it’s setback more and is mostly camber, with a rockered nose for better float in powder).

328. Thomas says

     November 30, 2015 at 12:32 pm

     Hi Nate.

     Thanks for this! Helps allot.

     I am going with the Slash brainstorm, now I normally ride a more Jib board ( salomonder/skatebanana) 151-152, would you recommend going longer for the brainstorm? Size 8/41, weight 70 kgs.

     Thanks again for a great article.

     Thomas

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 30, 2015 at 1:09 pm

       Hi Thomas

       You’re welcome.

       Yeah with the Brainstorm I would go longer than you would for a jib board. I think the 154cm would be a great length for you and the 248mm waist width would be great for your boot size too. You could probably also get away with the 157cm but would take more getting used to if you’re used to 151-152.

       But yeah I would definitely go at least up to the 154cm.

       Hope this helps.

       Reply

       • thomas says

         December 1, 2015 at 5:56 am

         Great! Thanks allot……..!!

         Much appreciated.
         Thomas

         Reply

329. Danish says

     November 6, 2015 at 10:06 am

     Hello Nate!

     Great website, I love all the information you have here!

     I’d like to get your expert opinion on what board I should proceed with. I’m one of those situations where I’m a smaller foot but not too small and not to big.

     Specs:

     Sex: Male
     Height: 5’8
     Weight: 190 lb
     Level: Intermediate
     Type: Mainly groomers, enjoy a mix of freestyle and freeride. Would like to work on carving and some switch riding
     Location: East Coast Hard Pack / Ice
     Current Board: 2013 Rossignol Templar 156 (Used since beginner)
     Binding Angles: 15+/9-
     Bindings: 2015 Burton Genesis Reflex Medium
     Boots Sz 8 Burton Ruler
     Barefoot Measurement – 259mm

     I’m looking to get onto a new board. Also debating on moving up in size to a 158/159.

     I’m finding it hard to find a board that has smaller waist widths, I tend to see an average waist width of 253 in the 158/159 range.

     I’m in between on the following boards

     1) Libtech TRS 159 – Has a waist width of 253, another forum member provided me with the insert width at the bottom measuring 260mm

     2) Prior MFR – 158 – Has a waist width of 248, radius of 8.5 and a setback of 25mm. The store owner provided a measurement at the front inserts of 257 on the bottom and 250 at the topsheet.

     Which would be the better option for me? I don’t know much about the Prior MFR and hard to find reviews as it is a smaller company. It’s also twice the price as the TRS i’m getting is from last season. But i’d rather go for the better option.

     I’m also open to any suggestions you may have for any other mid-flex All-Mountain type boards.

     I look forward to your response!

     Thank you soo much!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       November 6, 2015 at 1:16 pm

       Hey Danish

       Thanks for the message and all the detail. Makes it really easy to recommend a board with all of that detail.

       I agree that you should go up to a 158, 159 or 160 now and you’re right they tend to come in around that 252-254mm waist-width range which will be on the wide side for you.

       However, you might have to make some compromise between getting the right length and the right width and better that you err on the side of wide in your width and not on the side of narrow. So I have tried to find some good 157cm to 158cms with as small a waist width as i can. So it’s on the shorter end of your length range and the wider end of your width range but I think these are a good compromise.

       I confess to knowing nothing about Prior boards but that’s not to say that isn’t a good option – I like the waist width of that.

       ~ Slash Brainstorm 157cm – WW 250 – this should get you within the 5mm range (within 5mm from your toe to the edge of the board and your heel to the edge of the board) by my calculations. I measure width by the rule that you don’t want to be more than 5mm over the edge (measuring on the bottom of the board) or inside the boards edge for both toe and heel (in bare feet). So this board should get you within that range. It should have pretty good edgehold for your conditions too. And not to mention the fact that it’s at the top of this list!

       ~ Rossingnol Angus 157cm – WW 251 – this is a bit wider again but it’s got great edgehold for icy and hard conditions.

       ~ Lib Tech TRS 159cm – WW 253 – The TRS is still an option I think – especially if you can get a good deal on it. It’s great in icy and hard conditions and sounds like it would suit your purposes well. By my calculations it’s going to sit just outside of the 5mm rule that I usually have – but not by too much so it might be worth making a compromise on this. Unfortunately the 157cm TRS also has a 253mm waist – otherwise that would have been a good option. So I would go for the 159 if you choose to go with the TRS.

       Hope this helps. I think any one of those 3 will work for you. Unfortunately you’ll have to make a compromise either way by the looks of it. Oh and the TRS actually makes my list of all-mountain-freestyle snowboards (yet to be published) so I definitely do rate that board as well as the other 2 which are on this list.

       Reply

       • Danish says

         November 9, 2015 at 7:16 pm

         Hello Nate

         Thank you soo much for your reply. It’s nice to get some good advice on a topic that doesn’t really get enough thought from most shops.

         I’ve decided that I’m going to go the custom route with prior.

         Now I say your rule that it should be within 10mm, 5mm on each side at the inserts.

         If I go the custom route, what mm overhang on either side would be optimal? This is my chance to get the sizing really dialed in 🙂

         Thanks

         Reply

         • Nate says

           November 10, 2015 at 11:38 am

           Hey Danish

           Glad to be able to help.

           The ideal setup is to have your bare feet go from edge to edge (on the bottom side of the board). Remember to take into account your usual bindings angles.

           This will mean that there should be anywhere from a 10mm to 20mm overhang of your boots (depending on the outersole of your boots).

           The reason for this is that it’s ultimately your feet that put the pressure on the edges to make a turn and if your heels and toes are right on the edge then it will be easier to apply pressure there – which means you can make faster, sharper turns with less effort. Of course you have to balance this with boot overhang but 20mm of boot overhang is absolutely fine.

           Hope the board turns out sweet! It’d be awesome to hear what your impressions are once you’ve had a chance to ride the board.

           Reply

330. T.N. says

     August 24, 2015 at 2:34 am

     Have you ridden the Rossi Templar? If so how does it compare on this list considering that it was designed to sit between the Taipan and the One.

     Reply

     • Nate says

       August 24, 2015 at 8:21 am

       Hey TN

       I haven’t had a chance to ride the Templar but I hope to this winter. I didn’t really consider the Templar for this top 10 because of it’s medium soft flex. Which to me makes it more of a beginner to intermediate board – and probably more of an all-mountain-freestyle board than a straight all-mountain.

       If I get a chance to ride it this winter I will definitely post a review on it but I suspect it won’t fit in this top 10 based on what I’ve seen and the board’s specs – it may make the beginner list or the all-mountain-freestyle list (when I create one!).

       It’s certainly in between the Taipan and the One in terms of price but this doesn’t always translate to being in between in terms of quality – and in this case I suspect it isn’t as good an “all-mountain” board as the Taipan though it may perform better as an all-mountain-freestyle or beginner board.

       Hope this helps and thanks for visiting.

       >>Learn more about some different types of all-mountain snowboards

       Reply

331. Peggy Menke says

     February 16, 2015 at 2:16 pm

     Hi, Nate. This is a great review. I had no idea that there was so much involved in purchasing a Snowboard. Love your website, you have a lot of valuable information to share. Thanks!

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 16, 2015 at 7:47 pm

       Hey Peggy – thanks for visiting. Yeah there is a bit to it. But well worth the effort to make sure you get the right snowboard – can make a lot of difference to how you progress.

       Reply

332. Kristina A says

     February 15, 2015 at 2:32 pm

     This is a great post, love the detailed reviews. I will be bookmarking this site and I’m going to trust your recommendations… do you have any tips for first time snowboarders?

     Reply

     • Nate says

       February 15, 2015 at 8:01 pm

       Hi Kristina – thanks for checking out the post and glad you liked it.

       I have quite a few posts for beginners (see links below) and also have a Top 5 Men’s Beginners Snowboards post and a Top 5 Women’s Beginner Snowboards post. You can also find some individual detailed beginner snowboard reviews here.

       I have linked to a few of the posts that should help you get started as a beginner (some parts of the posts may not relate to beginners).

       I might even add a category to make it easy to search for anything relating to beginners – thanks for the idea!

       How to Choose a Beginner Snowboard
       How to choose snowboard bindings for a beginner
       Should I Rent or Buy a Snowboard, That is the Question
       What Are the Snowboarding Skill Levels? Discover Yours
       Choosing the Best Snowboard Stance Setup
       The Key Specs to Look Out For In a Snowboard Jacket
       The Key Specs to Look for when Choosing Snowboard Pants
       Understanding the Different Snowboard Camber Type
       Snowboarding Terms Definitions: An Easy Guide
       Find Out What You’ll Need on the Mountain with This Snowboarding Equipment List

       Reply

       • Dr. Haid says

         March 9, 2017 at 8:49 am

         @Nate: Awesome post! I’m a total newbie but am quite addicted to boarding already. Have hit the slopes 4 times on a board and have already grown the balls to ride down a blue at Jay Peak!

         I was wondering if you can provide some suggestions on boards I should look at. Here are some facts/stats below:

         Based on my research, I’m looking at
         1. NS Snowtrooper
         2. Burton Flight Attendant

         Physical Stats:
         ~155-160 lbs, 169cm (~5’6.5″), Boot size 9-9.5,

         Details:
         Ride normal/regular, Will be riding mostly groomers but would like to hit the backcountry once I am more confident – do not plan on parks at ALL.. Will ride mostly Northeast US but once I am comfortable, would love to hit the western US and perhaps South America as well!

         Experience:
         Rides 1-3: Rode a 150cm Burton but was having trouble stopping on third day so I mentioned it to the guy at the rental place. he suggested asking for ‘next level up’ the next day. I got a 156cm Burton directional which was fine as in no problems turning or carving but at high speeds, I felt like the board was wobbling under my feet (so hard to explain). The only other issue was I slowed down too much at flat areas and it was a pain to get to a downward slope without taking off bindings. Other than that, I had no issues with the 156cm through the day.

         Ask:
         Can you please recommend a few boards and sizes? Bindings, boots would also be helpful. No constraints on budget etc..

         Reply

         • Nate says

           March 10, 2017 at 10:17 am

           Hi Dr. Haid

           Awesome that you are getting into snowboarding!

           I think the Snowtrooper would be a great option but I think the Flight Attendant would be a little bit too advanced at this stage. I would look at an all-mountain board for you rather than a freeride board (which the Flight Attendant is). If you get on something that’s too hard to ride it can really slow your progression (not to mention enjoyment).

           In terms of size, I would say that 156cm is the max length I would go with at this stage. It sounds like you were comfortable on that, so I wouldn’t say no to that length but I wouldn’t go any longer. 150cm is a bit too short for you, even as a beginner. I would normally recommend something around 152cm to 154cm for you as a beginner – but Since you felt comfortable on the 156cm, I think anything 153 to 156 is a good range to look at.

           I would say that your best choices from this list are:

           ~ Never Summer Snowtrooper
           ~ YES Typo

           But anything here really (apart from Burton Process – just because it has a traditional camber profile that won’t be suitable – Process Flying V will be ok but it’s not that good in icy conditions which you will likely experience a fair bit of being on the East Coast). And probably not the Burton Trick Pony either – it will be better in icy conditions but the camber profile is probably bordering on being a bit difficult to start on.

           The rest should be fine in terms of being rideable for a beginner but also boards that can take you into the backcountry in the future and that you can grow into in general – and that should do well in hard/icy conditions.

           If you narrow it down to a particular board or couple of boards let me know and I can recommend what I think would be the best sizes for those particular boards.

           In terms of bindings and boots, check out the following.

           ~ Top 7 Beginner Snowboard Boots

           ~ Top 5 Beginner Snowboard Bindings

           ~ Top 5 Freestyle Snowboard Boots (don’t be deceived by the name – I should really have called this top 5 medium flexing snowboard boots)

           ~ Top 5 All Mountain Snowboard Bindings

           The gear in the 2nd two links will be of higher quality generally – but will also be not quite as easy to learn on. But not hard to learn on either. If you wanted that step up in quality but with a slightly steeper learning curve, this would be the way to go. If you wanting learning to be as easy as possible (but with the likelihood that you would want to upgrade in a season or 2) then the 1st two links would be the way to go, IMO.

           Hope this helps

           Reply