Hello and welcome to my YES Basic Uninc RDM review.
In this review, I will take a look at the Basic Uninc as an aggressive all-mountain-freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Basic Uninc a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other aggressive all-mountain-freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: YES Basic Uninc RDM 2023
Price: $579
Style: Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex Rating: Medium-stiff (7/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium bordering on medium-stiff (6.5/10)
Rating Score: 86.4/100
Compared to other Men’s Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle Boards
Out of the 14 men’s aggressive all-mountain-freestyle snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Basic Uninc’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Basic Uninc’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Aggressive All-Mountain-Freestyle |
Price: | $579 |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Smooth/Snappy: |  |
Dampness: |  |
Playful/Aggressive: |  |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Sintered (YES's "Sintered True") |
Weight: | Felt Normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
149 | 248 | 110-160 | 50-72 |
152 | 250 | 120-170 | 54-77 |
156W | 259 | 150-200 | 68-90 |
158 | 253 | 160-210 | 72-95 |
Who is the Basic Uninc Most Suited To?
The Yes Basic UNinc RDM is ideally for anyone who is looking for that do it all one-board-quiver style board but in a more aggressive manor. It is for a riding style that prefers to spend the day ripping around the mountain carving up groomers, rather than cruising around slashing things.
It's only real weakness is riding powder and if you don't plan on doing that (or have a different board for that), then this is going to be a really enjoyable board for the right rider. You can essentially take it anywhere from jumps to carving and expect it to perform well at all of them.
I would not recommend this board to any beginner riders. It's a little too aggressive for them. But anyone who's a intermediate-expert rider can have a great time on it.
The Basic Uninc in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Basic Uninc is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: YES Basic Uninc 2023, 158cm (253mm waist width)
Date: February 23, 2022
Conditions
Sunny with cloudy periods. 100% visibility.
Temperature was pretty cold, ranging from -10°C (14°F) to -12°C (10°F) through the day. -13°C (9°F) with wind. Wind pretty much non existent though.
24 hour snow: 0cm (0")
48 hour snow: 0cm (0")
7 day snow: 8cm (3")
On groomer: Hard pack with icy patches for the most part. But mostly hard pack until we got lower down the mountain and then it was really icy.
Off groomer: Crunchy and icy for the most part. But still doable higher up the mountain.
Set Up
Bindings angles: +12/-9
Stance width: 22.4″ (570mm)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 10.32" (262mm) at both inserts.
Rider Height: 6'1"
Rider Weight: 180lbs
Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Tactical Lexicon ADV
Bindings Used: Fix Yale: M
Weight: 6lbs 9oz (2980grams)
Weight per cm: 18.86 grams/cm
Average Weight per cm: 18.59 grams/cm*
*based on a sample size of around 200 models that I’ve weighed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 models. So the Basic Uninc is very much an average weight and felt like a normal weight on snow.
Powder
Unfortunately we had no powder to test in on the day but taking a look at the specs and getting a feel for the board, it's not going to be great in powder.
The Basic Uninc RDM doesn't have a lot going for it when it comes to riding powder because it's a true twin, centered stance board with a traditional camber profile. I'm sure it can handle smaller amounts of powder with no issues, like any board, but it isn't ideal for deeper snow.
Carving & Turning
Carving: Capable of laying out nice carves due to the traditional camber profile, I did however prefer it for shorter, deeper carves. I found the underbite technology really grabbed ahold, making that style of carve most enjoyable.
Turning: Turns felt smooth and predictable and never felt washy or catchy. It also felt pretty quick edge-to-edge. I enjoyed it most when turning at moderate-higher speeds, as this is when the camber and underbite really felt like they were working cohesively.
Maneuverability at slow speeds: The traditional camber profile will require you to always be on top of your edges at slower speeds. I wouldn't say it's incredibly quick from edge-to-edge at slow speeds but I wouldn't call slow either - overall felt pretty average.
Skidded Turns: Handled them decently most of the time but could be punishing at times.
Speed
Definitely capable of bombing hills whenever desired. The camber mixed with the stiffer flex really allows you to rip down the mountain with a stable damp feeling. On top of that, I found it held an edge extremely well and didn't get chattery at these higher speeds.
Uneven Terrain
Not the best for smashing through crud/chunder but not terrible either. It can definitely get bucked around at times but is still maneuverable enough to correct your line when necessary.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Jumps
Overall performed quite nicely.
Pop: Only had a average amount of pop overall, but it was pretty easy to access.
Approach: Felt smooth and stable on approaches. Could be a bit quicker edge-to-edge for adjustments on smaller jumps that didn't require a ton of speed.
Landing: Absorbed landings nicely. Even when you landed a bit off center, it was forgiving and allowed you to ride away, even when not getting it quite right.
Side-hits: The overall capabilities of the board made side-hits really enjoyable, especially if they were bigger and required some speed.
Small jumps/Big jumps: Totally capable of being taken off any size jump but preferred it for bigger jumps.
Switch
Felt pretty identical riding switch, which wasn't much of a surprise as it has all the tools to succeed, like the centered stance and true twin shape. In transition from regular stance to switch, the board felt uncatchy and smooth, which for a camber board was a welcomed surprise.
Spins
Again the shape and stance made any spin feel smooth and effortless. You can set-up or land switch without too many issues or catchiness. My only critique would be a bit more pop for doing spins on smaller features, to help get that extra air for bigger spins.
Jibbing
Quite capable and enjoyable if you're an experienced jibber but not as much if your newer because it requires more effort for things like butters and presses due to the stiffness. And the traditional camber isn't the most forgiving when on a rail feature as it can be more catchy than a board with some rocker.
Butters
Performing butters/presses on the Yes Basic Uninc RDM takes a bit more effort than your average park board - you have to lean into them a bit more than normal to hold them into place.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
JUMPS | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SPEED | 4.0 | 16/20 |
CARVING | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
SWITCH | 4.5 | 9/10 |
SPINS | 4.0 | 8/10 |
CRUD/CHUNDER | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TREES/BUMPS | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
BUTTERS | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
POWDER | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 86.4/100 |
Overall, the Basic Uninc RDM is a board that will make you put in some extra work due to it's more aggressive nature but that work is quite rewarding, as you get a one-board-quiver style board that is seriously fun for things like big air or carving.
While it may not do any one thing extremely well, this board is really well rounded and capable of doing almost anything you ask of it.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Basic Uninc, or if you are ready to buy, or if you just want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
- CA
- UK/EU
If you want to check out some other aggressive all-mountain-freestyle snowboard options, or if you want to compare how the Basic Uninc compares to other aggressive all-mountain-freestyle snowboards, then check out the next link.
Do you think this board would work as a park snowboard for someone who rides 90%park 10% groomers
Hi Leon
I think it depends on your level in the park and how big you’re going. For the average park rider, it wouldn’t be my first choice. But if you’re a high level park rider hitting big jumps and doing big tricks, then it could work for sure. It’s not something that I would use as my park board, but I’m not a super strong jibber (would prefer a more playful board than this for boxes/rails etc) and don’t do anything too extreme (like spins on medium jumps and typically straight air on larger jumps for me). If I was getting a predominantly park board, I’d personally go with something softer/more playful. But for bigger tricks and an experienced park rider, this could work.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hey Nate, I see you’ve been testing the Basic and Basic Uninc RDM out in 158cm sizing with US10 boots.
My boots are the Salomon Dialogue Dual Boa in US10.
Do you think the 156W would be suitable as well or would the 158cm be better? What would you recommend? I know, with the underbite tech, that the waist width decreases at the points on the inserts so I’m not sure if this will mean more overhang?
Hi Andrew
The Basic/Basic Uninc aren’t super wide at the inserts vs the waist. They’re about average. Average difference is around 10mm (1cm). With the Basic Uninc it’s 9mm wider at the inserts vs the waist, by my measurement. In the 158 I measured it to be 262mm. IMO that should be wide enough for Dialogue 10s in most scenarios. However, if you tend to ride with a flat back binding angle (e.g. 0-6 degrees) and you like to carve deep, then there is some risk of boot drag there. The 156W isn’t super wide for a wide board, so I think it would be doable too (and even preferred if you think you’ll be carving deep with a flat back binding angle – I only refer to the back binding angle as it’s pretty rare to have a front binding angle less than 9 degrees). The 156W should be around 268mm at the inserts, which is on the wider side for 10s, but it’s nothing mega wide for 10s or anything – and given that you’d be sizing down 2cm in length vs the 158, it would be suitable. I would still go 158 optimally, unless you think you could risk boot drag (i.e. depending on binding angles and how aggressive you like to carve), in which case the 156W would be the better bet, IMO.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hi, thanks for the review, I own a burton custom camber154 for all mountain free style, but the skied turn and butter is so hard on this. I think I just not have enough power to ride the custom. I am 5″7 145 pounds. Will this basic uninc be better on those if I go for a 152. Thank you
Hi Charlie
Thanks for your message. Like most YES boards, the Basic Uninc RDM is a little easier to butter than you’d expect. The tip and tail press more easily compared to its overall flex. So, you should find it easier to butter vs the Custom, particularly if you go 152. In terms of skidded turns, it might be a little easier but not a lot of difference there. If you want something easier to skid, then either something with some rocker in the profile, something with upturned edges or something with a softer torsional flex, will make it easier to skid turns. It’s not bad for skidded turns for a flat based, traditional camber board, but you’re not likely to find it significantly better for skidded turns vs the Custom Camber, IMO.
Hope this helps
Thank you a lot for the review and the reply. I wonder how would you compare custom(camber) to the basic uninc, their specs look a lot similar, so I wonder what is the biggest different and weather its worthy to get a uninc since I already have the custom, would it be better for me to go for other yes snowboard? Thank you !!
Hi Charlie
Specs-wise, there are some differences – e.g. the Custom is a directional twin with 12.5mm setback vs true twin for the Basic uninc and some differences in effective edge, contact length and sidecuts etc too. But I’d still say they are more similar than different. I would say that Custom is a little better for carving and has more pop for jumps with the Basic Uninc being easier to butter and better for riding switch. Probably the main differences.
If you wanted something a little more playful from the YES line, you could look at the Standard or Greats, if you’re still looking for an all-mountain freestyle board.
Thank you for the review.
I have a free thinker 2023 as you gave the highest socre to it. Now I’m thinking about yes basic beacuse it’s on sale now. lol. I don’t have any yes board yet. Would you like to compare those two boards. I like using them for park and carving. and I do a lot of jumps.
Hi JJ
Thanks for your message. Main differences, IMO, are (I’m guessing you mena the Basic Uninc RDM, given your on this review, rather than the regular Basic):
– Freethinker lighter and snappier
– Freethinker overall better for jumps, particularly in terms of pop
– Preferred the Free Thinker for carving and turning in general
– The Basic Uninc RDM is easier to butter
I’m definitely not one to judge, with the Quiver I have, but just to note that both boards are suited to really similar things – they’re not the same feel, they definitely have distinct personalities, but use purpose is the same, IMO, so not typically something I’d have in a quiver together. But if you want two similar types of boards with different feels, I’m definitely not one to talk with the amount of overlap I have in my own quiver!
Hope this helps
Thank you very much for the in-depth review. What would be your advice on choosing between size 149 or 152 given my measurements (5′ 6″, 130 lbs. and size 8 boots)?
Hi Ryan
For your specs, I would go 149. I think that should be a really good size for you. I would put your “typical all-mountain length” right on 149 – so I think it will be spot on. Whilst the 152 wouldn’t be massively long for you or anything, it would be on the long side and that coupled with the extra width, given your boot size, would be too big overall, IMO. 149 should be just right, IMO.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hi Nate,
Wondering why you thought this board wouldn’t be great in icy conditions considering it has the Yes midbite.
Hi Danny
Thanks for your message.
Wouldn’t say that it wasn’t great in icy conditions. Still better than most in icy conditions, just not necessarily top tier. That rating was given based on how Fraser, who did most of the testing on this board, thought it performed in icy conditions. The Basic Uninc RDM has underbite, rather than mid-bite. However, I’ve found underbite to be really good in icy conditions in the past and this is somewhat subjective. I found it as good as the other underbite YES boards I’ve tested (i.e. the Basic and Typo).
Hope this helps
Thank you for the review.
When you talk about powder performance, you did not mention the slamback insert. It looks like you can get a significant setback out of that. Have you had the chance to test it?
Hi Ethan
Thanks for your message.
Forgot to mention it in the powder section, thanks for pointing that out. But it was taken into account for the score. You can certainly set this back more than most twins, but without that extra setback, I would’ve said 2/5, as there isn’t really anything else, other than that setback, that’s helping it in powder. Haven’t had the Basic Uninc RDM in powder, so no haven’t tested how much better it would be in powder when in the slam backs. But have setback twin boards in powder – and whilst it certainly makes a difference, it’s not something that drastically turns the board into a powder king or anything.
Hope this helps
HI, thank you for running this informative website for the snowboarding community!
I am 5’7, 155lbs, boot size 9m.. Is the 152cm is too small for me?
Hi Jay Kim
Thanks for your message.
I would put your “standard all-mountain” length at around 154/155, so you’re not too far off the 152. It would be sizing down a little bit but not much, so I think it could work. The 156W and 158 are too big, IMO, so I think the 152 is the best size for you for this board and a size that could definitely work. Likely to feel a little softer/more playful than it would if you were to ride it in a 154/155 (if it had one) – a little less stable at speeds and less float in powder – but easier to maneuver and butter etc.
Hope this helps with your decision