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We tested 15 of the best 2026 all-mountain snowboards from Arbor, Rome, Jones, Cardiff, Never Summer, and more to make sure you have the perfect deck underfoot this season.
Credit: Ross Patton
By Rachel Lightner ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ Updated November 7, 2025
Snowboarding is a great way to get exercise, connect with friends, enjoy nature, and test your mind and mettle on the mountain. To get the most out of your day on the slopes and minimize chances of injury, it is critical to choose the right snowboard for your riding style, body type, and chosen terrain.
Our team of professional riders, certified backcountry guides, and lifelong passionate rippers has tested more than 80 different snowboards since 2014. We ride everything from freshly groomed corduroy and hard-packed ice to massive jumps, rails, and deep, deep powder. We go beyond taking just a few standard laps per board; our team truly pushes the limits of each model to understand where potential is boosted or hindered by design, shape, flex, and material.
After spending an entire season switching between the boards in our lineup, we gave the ultimate stamp of approval to the Cardiff Goat Pro Carbon. It is a highly technological piece of equipment that can handle the most advanced terrain, all while providing speed, pop, and stability at a moment's notice.
The Rome Women's Ravine Pro is our top choice out of the women's boards we tested, providing a playful, easy-to-edge, highly popable, stable, and supremely floaty ride, especially when it came to those deep powder days.
We can't wait to see where your newest rig can take you, and we like both our friends and readers to stay safe on the mountain and use the best noggin protection. For in-depth recommendations, check out our ski helmets and goggles.
Our men's testing team unanimously chose the Cardiff Goat Pro Carbon as the best men's snowboard bar none, for its responsive, stable, dynamic, and luxurious carbon fiber feel. Throughout all our testing, it provided sturdy edge grip in firm and icy conditions, which is born from its poplar, paulownia, and titanal core, reinforced with carbon fiber for better pop and a stiffer ride that provides stability on bumpy or chattery terrain. The Goat Pro Carbon also floats and turns well in powder thanks to its 11 mm taper and Cardiff's Halfcamber early-rise rocker on the tip and tail. The mostly cambered profile creates a super stable base for impactful landings and railing edge turns as well. Our testers had a high-octane experience on every nook and cranny of the mountain, but noted that it was perfect for large runs, saying it is a “downright dominant board when it comes to tackling treacherous terrain.”
The Goat Pro Carbon didn't come without its growing pains. Its 10-meter-long radial sidecut is one of the largest we have ridden, and it feels reluctant to make tight turns. It took us a little while to get the hang of swooshing the large, stiff board through the trees, and we needed moderate effort to get each one around. Its stiff flex pattern doesn't lend itself to agility, so if you're excited about slashing through swift bank turns and making pinpoint direction changes, then the Goat Pro Carbon may not be the perfect fit. It is a board made for riders ready to push their all-mountain freestyle boundaries on a model that feels like riding King Arthur's broadsword.
The Rome Women's Ravine Pro is an easy recommendation for our women's team. It is a force in powder, leapfrogging every other board with stability at high speeds, effortless float, and a responsive, playful construction. This well-rounded model rides smoothly in varying conditions and then turns up the gas in deep snow and slushy spring corn. It features a tapered directional shape, medium flex, and a large 3D spooned nose that lifts you out of the fluff without burning your back leg. Additionally, its tapered directional shape provides just enough effective edge contact for ripping carves at high speeds and slashing through banks. This techy snowboard is not only our team's favorite, but its clean style and sleek look will surely turn heads as you bomb runs, lay down carves, and bounce from pillow to pow shot. Our testers loved it so much in deep snow that they barely had to exert themselves, exclaiming that “the board does the work for you.”
It was challenging for us to find a flaw in the Women's Ravine Pro, as it's a joy to ride in every condition and accommodates a wide range of abilities from novice to advanced. Our only notable complaint about this snowboard is its lack of park prowess. Despite its uncanny pop from the integrated tail hotrods, the directional shape and all-mountain vibe doesn't adapt to buttering and switch tricks as well as a twin-shaped board would. That said, we could still take off and land switch, but we had to change our stance to a more centered position. Not only is this shred stick spectacular in powder, with high marks in every other metric, the Rome Women's Ravine Pro is unbeatable amongst our lineup.
The Rome Ravine Pro is the best men's snowboard for powder; no other board comes close when throwing huge clouds of fresh snow all over the slopes. Its entire construction is designed for ultimate gliding in deep, fresh powder, from the directional shape and minimal taper to its 3D diamond-spoon rockered nose that supplies ridiculous float. In addition to being a beast in pow, the Ravine Pro's tail construction is highly advanced and creates more pop than any other model due to the integrated carbon fiber hotrods. These hotrods also work as stabilizers when landing off large cliffs or pillow drops, backed by a hybrid camber profile with rocker on the nose for float and traditional camber on the tail for pop and stability. Once we got to the bottom of the gnarlier terrain and found ourselves on low-angle cat tracks, Rome's sintered base provided more speed than industry standards, and our team noted that the base is one of the best on the market in terms of wax retention.
Although the Rome Ravine Pro is our top pick for pillaging perfect powder, it leaves a bit on the table in certain conditions. The directional shape doesn't particularly press when sliding boxes and rails, nor does it have the flex well enough to provide a playful experience on those slushy spring butter days. This waist might also be too narrow for large-footed riders. It just barely fit the boots of one of our team members with size 11 feet. At the end of the day, this powder hound is meant to be ridden hard and would be a fantastic choice for a range of riders looking to amplify their cliff-dropping and pow-popping game.
The Cardiff Lynx is a long-time favorite of our women's testing team, and it continues its rampage this year as a top contender that easily excels from edge to edge. From floating with ease atop chest-deep powder to carving groomers from first to last chair at the local resort, the Lynx kills it. Its core is made of poplar and paulownia, overlaid with carbon stringers from tip to tail, providing a responsive, reliable, and secure ride through and through. Its underfoot camber offers engaged turns, while the rockered tip and tail maintain a smooth glide and transition from edge to edge, resulting in superior stability and control. Our team felt so comfortable on the rail at high speeds, one of our testers even noted that “variable terrain was no match for its solid construction and design.” It is instantly responsive when carving down every condition, from hardpack to high-speed corduroy, and is by far our team's favorite for laying into heavy turns.
If you're mostly looking to transition from rail to rail and bank turns all day, the Cardiff Lynx is an obvious choice, but if you're seeking a more freestyle-oriented snowboard, this isn't it. The Lynx is aimed specifically at all-mountain terrain, and the directional shape doesn't lend itself to being ultra-fun. This model is also slightly less poppy than other boards we tested. If you're looking to slide steel and chuck off of cheese wedges, we would point you towards a skinnier board that doesn't have quite the footprint that comes with the Lynx. Although it may not have the most stellar park performance, we highly recommend this board to riders who are excited about a stick that will grip every slope it encounters.
As our winner for best men's carver, it's not surprising that the Jones Howler is designed by two of Jones' best riders, Elena Height and Victor De Le Rue. Their design results in the best on-edge experiences our team has encountered, without a doubt. Its lengthy sidecut and signature Traction Tech make long and medium-length carves that leave deep gouges in firm snow. The 3D contoured base provides smooth edge-to-edge transitions, and we experienced no catching with the traction tech. The classic cambered shape delivers not only stability at speed and deeper contact points, but also impressive pop off side hits, cat tracks, and large kickers. The Howler performed at a higher caliber than our initial expectations.
The Howler is extremely capable of riding intense lines in deep powder and huge jumps on a sunny spring day, but it will take an experienced rider to coax out its true potential. Its stiff, edge-heavy tendencies require technique and commitment, and inexperienced shredders might really struggle to engage this board in the way it's meant to be ridden. We recommend that true beginners steer clear of the Howler; however, anyone with a few years under their belt, solid fundamentals, and the desire to grow into the potential of the board will not be disappointed.
If you want an all-mountain snowboard that will not only hold up, but power through the gnarliest topography, check out the Jones Women's Howler. It is built by professionals for tackling every terrain — from tree glades to steep off-piste descents. This board's completely cambered profile and stiff tail can grip any surface. We particularly grew fond of this board for its versatility across any condition, from icy halfpipe walls to choppy powder runs to champagne powder. Once our team took to the groomers, our lead tester couldn't hold back her enjoyment for carving, stating, “It feels like it was built to carve.” Offering seamless transitions from toeside to heelside and back again, this board does best when on a serious edge. The wide waist width and setback hole pattern make it floaty in powder, while the poplar and paulownia core provides stability and pop when it comes to airing off cliffs and powering through turns at high G forces.
The Jones Women's Howler is an incredibly well-rounded powerhouse throughout a variety of conditions; however, its stiff profile can be cumbersome for beginners. It is an aggressively built snowboard for aggressive riders, and the directional cambered shape could feel intimidating and downright foreign compared to more friendly hybrid profiles. It took our team a while to pull out all of this board's positive attributes, and it may take even longer for an inexperienced rider. Despite being hard to master, once we were able to tame the Jones Women's Howler, it was hard to switch back to other boards that were less springy and responsive.
Among our extensive lineup of all-mountain snowboards, the Arbor El Camino stands out for delivering exceptional performance on every jump, slope, carve, and slash we tested. It strikes a perfect balance between playful fun and raw power, making it a dependable daily driver for a wide range of conditions. Built with a poplar and paulownia core reinforced by carbon fiber stringers, it's not only one of the most responsive and durable boards in Arbor's collection but also one of the lightest. Its directional design is cleverly concealed beneath a near-twin shape, with setback hole patterns that allow riders to fine-tune their stance for their preferred terrain. From early-morning groomers and halfpipe sessions to untouched powder lines, the responsiveness and playfulness when turning make it an excellent choice for carving through virtually any type of snow.
The El Camino uses Griptech edge design, its signature feature, which adds small bumps along both edges near the feet. At first, these extra contact points threw us off balance a few times. The board felt slightly catchy and unstable, and it took a few runs for our team to adjust. Once we adapted, however, that same feature inspired more confidence when edging close to cliffs and cornices. Another minor drawback is its relatively narrow waist. The 158 cm model we tested has a 25.2 cm waist width, which isn't ideal for riders with boot sizes above 10.5 due to potential toe or heel drag. Before buying, it's worth considering your boot size and consulting the brand's sizing chart to ensure a proper fit. Despite these small considerations, the El Camino earned high marks across all test conditions and ultimately proved itself as a true quiver killer.
Most of the Yes Women's Airmaster 3D's design attributes make it a uniquely user-friendly ride amongst our lineup of mostly high-octane all-mountain snowboards. Its traditional twin-tipped freestyle shape, mid flex, and 3D contoured base all make for an easier board to initiate turns and encourage progression, with a more buttery and lighthearted feel. Although the Airmaster 3D feels looser and more cheerful than other models, its classic camber, poplar/paulownia core, and carbon fiber stringers provide serious pop and stability for someone looking to progress from small to large jumps or begin learning in the halfpipe. We genuinely enjoyed this board's flex and nimble feel, making freestyle riding fun and approachable. One of our testers had such a splendid time on the Airmaster, they remarked, “It turned the mountain into a playground and I felt like I was able to ride with a new playful and creative perspective.”
On their website, Yes claims a flex rating of 8 out of 10 for this board, but we found it to be a bit softer in comparison to others in our lineup. This simple lack of stiffness, combined with its 3D base technology, makes the Women's Airmaster 3D less reliable when it comes time to dig edge in a steep face or track its edges consistently down variable terrain and chatter. That said, the full camber makes up for some of its lack of stability and power, and after a few runs, our team felt an uptick in their learning curve, which is one of its defining characteristics. It is a fun board for all levels to advance on.
The Arbor Rain stands out in our snowboard lineup for delivering the most explosive pop of any model we've tested. It's equally capable when floating through powder, offering impressive stability for launching off massive cliffs or spinning big park-style features. Riders with more advanced skills will appreciate its rock-solid landing platform, which allows for small adjustments on the approach and boosts confidence to go bigger with each jump. Built for smooth, stable performance at top speeds, the board combines 360-degree wrapped sidewalls with a traditional camber profile—an ideal setup for tackling challenging, technical terrain. Several of our testers even noticed skill progression while riding it, saying they “found it to be the perfect board for taking freestyle tricks from the park to the entire mountain.”
That said, the Arbor Rain isn't designed for everyone. Its lively flex pattern, medium-length sidecut, and classic shape make for a powerful, precision-focused ride that can be too demanding in less experienced hands. Many beginners, and even some intermediate riders, may find it tough to turn smoothly or fully tap into its energetic pop. A few advanced riders might even face a slight learning curve. Despite this, if you're beginning a journey to up the ante in the side country and terrain park, then the Rain may be precisely the souped-up snowboard you're looking for.
In the backcountry, more of your time is spent going up than coming down, and every splitboarder we know is looking for a more efficient way uphill, and that hinges deeply on which board you have. Fortunately, we found that the Jones Ultralight Stratos is not only efficient for the uphill but also incredibly competent when it's finally time to go downhill. One of our favorite attributes of the Ultralight Stratos is that we simply stopped thinking about our gear and just focused on the ascent ahead and the descent below. The shape is predictable even in the worst conditions and turns into a straight-up fun and playful splitstick when conditions are good. A wide range of riders will find this hyperlight, solid, and lively model to their liking. Some of our testers felt it is the perfect combination of performance in split and solid mode, noting, “This board makes life pretty easy when taking laps all day when the snow is dumping, or for long days on big objectives.”
The Ultralight Stratos comes with a lot of benefits, but you are going to pay for them; this is one of the most expensive splitboards on the market. If you aren't willing to pay a high price, Jones offers this board in their standard construction at a more reasonable price. There is also a limited range of sizes for the Ultralight Stratos, but if you can find a fit, you surely won't regret investing in this luxurious splitboard.
The Jones Ultralight Stratos makes it easier to explore for fresh snow.
Credit: Dom Rickicki
How We Tested
At Gearlab, our Snowboard Review process always starts with one common denominator: the snow! With that simple element, we take a handful of finely crafted snowboards and begin to carefully dissect them from tip to tail. We measure them side by side, observing shape, size, rocker, and material, before eventually noodling it about for a flex test. After surveying each board comes the fun part! Our test team migrates onto the slopes for months at a time, testing each snowboard on new factors and in different weather conditions. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, freezing cold temps atop mountain peaks, slushy spring days in the park, early racecourse starts, and lunch break powder turns. After countless hours of sliding, turning, and flying, our team crunched the data and weighed the options before choosing our award winners. For a deeper understanding of our testing process, take a peek at our how we test article.
Our Snowboards are tested across five different metrics:
– Edging
– Float in Powder
– Stability at Speed
– Playfulness
– Pop and Jumping
We spent a lot of time inside measuring, eyeing, and re-measuring every spec before finally getting into the mountain lab.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Why Trust GearLab
Our testing team has achieved accolades ranging from contest trophies to backcountry guiding certifications, and even clips in internationally distributed films. But it's about more than just our accomplishments while we're strapped in. This team also has formal education and decades of experience in research & development that enable them to analyze and evaluate how snowboards perform in every way. In keeping with our Golden Rule of zero bias no freebies, we asked the brands to invoice us as if we were a shop and charge us the total retail value of the boards.
We test all the gear that comes across our desk to its limits, all so that we can write the most honest review for our readers. And we truly love it.
Credit: Ben Wynn
Our lead women's snowboard review tester, with over 20 years of experience, is Rachel Lightner. If you look at her numerous years of competition, backcountry expeditions, and even a Legendary Baker Banked Slalom win, it's no wonder she started snowboarding at 8. After traveling around the world professionally and riding a snowboard in various conditions, she obtained her Level I AIARE Certification and is currently studying for Level II. This further added to her knowledge of snow science and safety, which in turn fuels her appreciation for quality in outdoor gear.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Aspen Weaver grew up in the mountains of northern New Mexico and was put on the slopes at the ripe age of two years old. Since then, the mountains and snow sports have been a key part of life. Throughout his high school and college career, Aspen competed at a professional level, working closely with brands to develop high-end snow gear, ultimately tuning his eye for function. These experiences, combined with over 30 years on the slopes, have given him a deep understanding of the relationship between a snowboard's construction and performance.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
With over 25 years of experience on the shred stick, Ross Patton, is our fearless test leader and Managing Editor at GearLab. From spending his entire life riding mountains to producing backcountry films and developing snowboard gear for world-class brands, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge in snowsports and created a keen eye for detail. This has helped him hone the skills necessary for leading gear tests at a level that is nothing short of exceptional. These skills and experiences, coupled with a formal education in Environmental Science, have allowed him to consider the material properties of the boards as well as the ever-changing conditions of the snow and terrain where we enjoy the sport we love.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
How to Pick the Best Snowboard for You
The most important part of a stunning day on the hill is having fun, and what's underfoot can add a serious boost of joy. With all the jargon and techy terms, how do you know what is the most important thing to pay attention to when choosing a new snowboard? From size to shape, and camber to flex, there are a few things besides the color of your snowboard that should be taken into account. A wide array of technologies built into snowboards can predict their performance on different terrain.
A myriad of different snowboards are on the market these days, making for a perfect size and shape for all.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Do You Need A Gender Specific Snowboard?
Snowboards are built and sized to specifically fit either male or female anatomies. Male-specific snowboards are typically built with more material and oftentimes in much larger sizes to support larger, heavier bodies. While some manufacturers use the “shrink it and pink it” method, we only tested female-specific boards that had material build differences to account for different body mechanics. Yes, this includes size, but also stiffness, mounting options, and board width. These differences do not mean that you have to stick with one line of gender-specific snowboards. So yes, if one board design looks better and the features are similar, then go right ahead and order what feels best for you.
Winter playground.
Credit: Aspen Rain Weaver
Men's Snowboards
The pilots for our men's snowboard testing put each snowboard through a set of strenuous tests. The chart below summarizes our overall performance scores of the Men's Snowboards available today:
Key Metric Scores - Men's Snowboards
Product
Edging
Float in Powder
Stability at Speed
Playfulness
Cardiff Goat Pro Carbon
8.5
8.5
9
7
Rome Ravine Pro
8
9
8
7
Jones Howler
9
8.5
8
6.5
Arbor El Camino
7.5
8
8.5
7
Yes Airmaster XTRM Fridge
8
7
6
8.5
Never Summer Eclipse Proto T3
8
8
6
7
Weston Gnarnia
7
7
6.5
8
Arbor Rain
6
7.5
9
5
Women's Snowboards
Our expert female snowboard testing team used every snowboard in a set of rigorous tests from peak to valley, and glacier to glade. Their assessment of each snowboard's performance is shown in the chart below.
Key Metric Scores - Women's Snowboards
Product
Edging
Float in Powder
Stability at Speed
Playfulness
Rome Women\'s Ravine Pro
8.5
9
9.5
9
Cardiff Lynx
9
9
9.5
8.5
Jones Women\'s Howler
9.5
9
9
7
Yes Women\'s Airmaster 3D
7.5
8
8
9
Weston Dream Machine
7.5
8.5
8
6.5
Never Summer Women\'s Proto T3 FR
7
7
7
7
Arbor Veda
7
6.5
8
6
Size
Choosing the right size of board for you is the first, and possibly the most important step in choosing a snowboard. The length and width of a snowboard can affect several factors, including stability and how quickly you can turn. In most cases, you will want a snowboard that correlates to your height and weight, and manufacturers typically have size guides that can help you determine the correct size.
The board size that's right for you is subjective.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
However, if you want a snowboard that feels more nimble, you can size down. On the other hand, if you want more stability underfoot, you can size up. Most snowboards are available in both regular and wide versions, and a wide snowboard can offer more stability, but can also be beneficial for anyone with a larger-than-average foot size. A wide board will leave enough room under your feet so your toes or heels don't drag in the snow.
Sidecut
The sidecut refers to the inward curve on the edge of your board, and depending on how deep or shallow it is, it can drastically affect your snowboard's turn radius. Sidecut is measured in meters, and is determined by measuring the radius of the circle that would fit the curve of your snowboard's long edge. With a larger snowboard sidecut, your turns will be faster and bigger, whereas a short sidecut snowboard will make tighter and slower turns. As a rider, you should evaluate what type of snowboarding you will be doing.
Sidecut radius is defined as the size of the circle that you could draw if you used the board as a template.
Credit: Blake Patterson
Shape
Snowboards come in all different shapes and sizes that will affect your riding in a few different ways, and no, they're not just for looks.
Snowboards come in a wide array of shapes. The shape you choose should be based on your riding style.
Credit: Blake Patterson
True Twin Tip: Just like it sounds, a twin tip has an identical tip and tail. From the width, shape, and silhouette, the entire board is a mirror image of itself. For many snowboarders, the most popular option is a true twin-tip snowboard, as it has more diverse abilities. The ability to ride with either your left or right foot forward can be particularly useful for beginners and those who ride switch often. This is also essential for those who ride the Terrain Park, rails, or halfpipe.
A twin-tipped snowboard is the first choice for many freestyle boarders.
Credit: Ross Patton
Directional: Directional Snowboards are built with differently shaped tips and tails. The tip is often wider and softer, while the tail is narrower, and much stiffer. The overall effect is a more stable snowboard that holds better at higher speeds and in carves. Directional Board Shapes are a stunning choice if you're searching for those steeper and deeper powder days, or if you want a board with more power and stability while carving around the mountain.
Directional snowboards are built primarily for all-mountain riding.
Credit: Ross Patton
Directional Twin: The most common version of this shape is mostly symmetrical, with a similar tip and tail, while the core, stance bolts, and exterior materials are directionally constructed. These can also be built with a directional shape, but the core materials will then have twin-shape construction.
With a directional twin, you generally get attributes that lend themselves to both big mountain and freestyle.
Credit: Ross Patton
Asymmetrical and Volume Shifted: Asymmetrical shapes most commonly have a shorter toe side and a longer heel side, or vice versa. The ida behind these quirky-looking snowboards is that our bodies are not shaped symmetrically when riding sideways; therefore, an asymmetrical snowboard shape can work better with your body mechanics. This design significantly eases edging and stability without sacrificing too much playfulness. They can often help a beginner learn or simply make your long days on the mountain slightly easier and more enjoyable. Volume Shifted Shapes are for those who prefer to go out on powder days and avoid hard pack. A shape that's wider throughout the entire board, and possibly features a swallow or moon tail, can help with this. These tweaks increase surface area in the front and improve float in chest-deep snow. The moon or swallow tail takes away surface area in the tail, allowing for less back leg burn when you genuinely do need a snorkel.
Hole Pattern
You'll want to make sure the hole pattern on your board is compatible with your bindings. The most common hole patterns are 4x2 and the Channel system. The 4x2 hole pattern is compatible with most bindings and allows for the utmost customization. The channel system requires either channel system bindings or baseplates that work in the channels. When it comes to hole patterns, it's mainly about which board and binding combo is best for you, and the right way may come by mixing them both.
A volume-shifted snowboard can be seen by its wider footprint, larger nose, and oftentimes altered tails.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Profile
The profile of a snowboard makes it better for certain types of snow and riders.
Camber: The most traditional of all base shapes got its name for having a convex shape underneath the snowboarding, raising the feet and creating contact points towards the end of the tip and tail. This allows for harder edge hold, minimal flex, and a more powerful pop, making it an ideal choice for any rider looking to ollie higher or carve groomers with more aggression. A cambered snowboard can provide a familiar, stable feel, but can sometimes fall short in powder. With greater stiffness and downward force at the tip and tail, it can be difficult to keep above the snow on those deeper days.
Camber can be seen by its rise in the snowboard between the tip and tail, and is known for its power, stability, and pop, catering to more intermediate and advanced riders.
Reverse Camber: Speaking of powder, reverse camber, or a rocker profile is what you'll want if you prioritize float in powder. A rocker profile is defined by its concave shape under the feet, which makes the center of the board your contact point, and arcs up at the tip and tail. The forgiveness of this shape can be beneficial for beginners who need a bit of ease when turning a snowboard or when starting to link turns throughout the mountain. The rocker shape is also particularly popular among freestyle and powder snowboarders for its playfulness and increased surface area at the nose and tail. Often built with more flex, this is an astonishingly fun shape both in the park and in the sidecountry, yet rocker boards are less stable at higher speeds and have less edge-hold on icy or hard-packed terrain.
These are just few of the various types of snowboard cambers.
Credit: Blake Patterson
Hybrid Camber: Hybrid Camber is here to change your snowboard game. With a combination of both rocker and camber underfoot, in the nose, tail, or center of the board, everyone can have a snowboard that's perfect just for them. Want to add more float to the nose while still maintaining a contact point for edging? Choose the hybrid camber on both the nose and tail, or just the nose with a true camber on the tail. There are many different combinations you can choose from. Define the terrain you ride most and find the combo that works best for that.
You can see this hybrid camber sitting in contrast with the flat ground making for an interesting wave of the camber profile.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
3D: These snowboards are known for their “spoon-like” tips and tails. The design is characterized by its concave shape along the width of the snowboard, rather than other camber profiles that run along its length. A 3D-shaped snowboard is a technology that can particularly help beginners because of the early rise along both the tip and the tail contact points. That means fewer hard-edge catches and easier turn initiation. And particularly for the Powder People out there, 3D early rise can create lift in deep snow, much like an airplane wing. For 3D tech, those downsides include less edge control on groomers, hardpack, or ice.
Flex
The flex of a snowboard can determine a lot of the effects you feel while riding down the mountain. Longitudinal flex is what is shown as a “flex rating” by the manufacturer and defines how the board flexes from tip to tail. Most snowboards will have a flex rating — and boy, did we put ours to the test. Flex ratings range from 1 to 10, with 1 being the most flexible and 10 the stiffest. Continuous flex throughout a snowboard means that the materials and intended flex of the board are consistent throughout its entire build. On the other hand, many snowboards layer different materials in specific areas to achieve what is called progressive flex. This creates softer or stiffer flexes across the board that tailor it to different terrain. Torsional flex runs along the width of your snowboard. With more torsional flex, it's easier to initiate turns and is more forgiving when riding on rails or freestyling. With less torsional flex, you get increased edge hold.
Testing longitudinal flex.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Several factors should be taken into consideration when evaluating the flex of snowboards: your size, ability, and the type of terrain you wish to ride.
Size: The smaller you are, the more flexible you want your snowboard to be. With more flex, turn initiation takes less effort, and your experience while handling your board is better. On the other hand, a stiffer board is more suitable for larger humans.
Ability: With a more flexible snowboard, beginners can easily link turns and have a quicker time “getting the feel” at lower speeds. With greater speed and expert terrain comes the need for a stiffer stick. Typically, beginners enjoy a flex rating of 1-3, intermediate riders would be on a 4-6, and an expert might choose a 7-10.
Type of Terrain: As we maneuver our way through the mountain, there are specific flex ratings that many snowboarders prefer. While riding a terrain park involves jumps, rails, and sometimes speed, it demands a flex that responds when needed while offering plenty of playfulness for freestyling. A flex rating of 1-6 is the ideal range, while big mountain riders prefer a much stiffer board for those steep, fast runs, a rating of 7-10 would be appropriate.
Testing and determining flex ratings for every snowboard we review, the reason? To bring a deep understanding directly to our readers.
Materials
Just as any great Michelin-starred chef would tell you, “It all starts with the best ingredients.” Snowboards are built in layers, and different materials affect areas such as speed, flex, pop, and even rust prevention. The higher quality of materials and added features may improve riding performance, but they will affect the cost of your snowboard. You can also buy a less expensive baseline snowboard with fewer features that may work perfectly for you.
Care and Maintenance
Snowboards need regular care and maintenance before the beginning of each season. Wax should be applied to the base to prevent it from drying out, becoming sticky, or slowing down, and a light gummy stone is always a great way to refresh those rusty edges when it comes out of the garage after summer. There is a wide variety of available tuning kits, most of which contain the necessary tools for maintaining, tuning, and performing minor fixes to your new snowboard. Or you can go to your local snowboard shop for a tune-up as soon as those first flakes fly.
Topsheet: Starting from the top down, the topsheet usually has a cool graphic or texture on it, and is what you see when you strap in. Beyond looking cool, a topsheet can affect a board's weight and flex, depending on whether it is made of nylon, polyurethane, wood, or aluminum.
Not only can topsheets look rad with a myriad of art, colors, and design, but they can also significantly impact flex and weight.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Core: The core is the heart of a snowboard. It defines the “ride” of a snowboard, and the chosen materials and structure determine attributes such as weight, strength, and flex. The core of a snowboard is generally made of laminated strips of wood, sourced from trees such as Beech, Birch, Bamboo, Paulownia, and Aspen. For added pop, strength, or flex, technicians often add carbon fiber stringers or even titanium rods.
Fiberglass and Epoxy: A layer of fiberglass is added to both the bottom and top of the core, wrapping it for maximum flex and durability. Different fiberglass weaves can be used to tweak both longitudinal and torsional flex. Everything is then adhered and sealed together with epoxy.
Sidewalls: Sidewalls seal the outer edges of the core layers, and additionally function as extra shock absorbers on your snowboard, meant to transfer and dampen energy. Generally made of rubber, wood, or aluminum, the sidewall is wrapped around the edge of the snowboard, then covered and protected with plastic or urethane on the outside.
Here you can see an example with the black sidewalls encasing the edges of the snowboard.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Edges: Edges are laid down on the bottom corner of the sidewall, and the strips of steel (or rust resistant stainless steel) slice and dice through snow and ice. The edges provide effective grip on the snow, allowing you to carve. Manufacturers use different edge concepts that add multiple contact points along the edge, such as introducing wave patterns or geometric angles to the effective edges of a snowboard, thereby improving grip and carving ability.
Edges of a snowboard are like the tires of a racecar, they transfer grip, power, and control all into the hands of the driver.
Base: Along with the core, the base of your snowboard is one of the most important components. They are usually made of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene… or in layman's terms, P-tex, a material which reduces friction and resists moisture absorption. Extruded Polyethylene is used on your run-of-the-mill product, and is low-cost and low-maintenance. Next up is Sintered Polyethylene, which offers greater durability and higher speeds. The Creme De La Creme of base materials is a Wax Infused Sintered Polyethylene. It has added wax retention and higher-speed capabilities. It comes with a higher price tag, but we don't think you will be disappointed with the outcome.
A high end base will retain more moisture from wax and need less maintenance over time, however with a better base material comes a higher price tag.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Heading to the Backcountry?
For some, the idea of getting away from the resort and the crowds, finding fresh, untracked snow, and working for their turns is an irresistible allure. If you find yourself being pulled this way, a splitboard is the tool that will let you access these mountains. If you are new to splitboarding and the backcountry, it would be wise to look into taking an avalanche education. Backcountry snowboarding can involve serious avalanche risk, and it's imperative that you understand how to stay safe before heading out.
Splitboarding can be your season pass to fresh tracks and adventure.
Credit: Dom Rickicki
Conclusion
As true winter enthusiasts, we believe that a snowboard is our portal. A portal that we can take into Nature for a connection, whether it be with a friend, family member, or just you and the outdoors. So why not have a snowboard strapped onto your feet that you feel wholeheartedly great about? We truly hope you have found our insights and information helpful in discovering the right snowboard for you, your style, and your budget. Can't wait to see you all out on the hill somewhere, and no matter where you may be, may the snow gods bless you.
