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If you're ready to ditch the resort in search of untouched powder and solitary mountain tops, it's time to transition to uphilling. If you're a snowboarder, you'll need a new ride. A great splitboard to carry you uphill more efficiently than a pair of snowshoes, and let you cruise down the mountain in one piece.
We've reviewed over 25 boards since 2020, and in this update, we include 11 of the most highly regarded splitboards. We put them to the test all over the country, from the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the summit of Mount Shasta. We skinned up icy slopes, dropped cliffs, turned in every possible condition, and even did some math to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each model.
The splitboard we would recommend to almost everyone is the Jones Snowboard Ultralight Stratos. It has a reliable build that experienced riders will appreciate, while still being manageable for those who are new to the sport. However, you will pay a pretty penny for that ride. If you need to stay in budget, the United Shapes Covert is a well-rounded board that performs well above its price.
If you're just getting your backcountry kit started, or need to upgrade last season's gear, you'll want to check out a pair of splitboard bindings and some skins.
The Jones Ultralight Stratos is efficient for the uphill and incredibly capable on the down. One of our favorite things about the Stratos is that while riding, we simply stop thinking about our splitboard and just think about splitboarding. This agreeable shape is predictable in even the worst of conditions and is fun and playful when the conditions are good. We think a wide range of riders will get along with the Stratos.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight
5.94 lbs
Tested Length
159
Flex
Medium
Camber/Rocker
Rocker/ Camber/ Rocker
Construction Type
Sandwich
The Stratos comes with a lot of benefits, but you are going to pay extra for those things; this is one of the most expensive splitboards on the market. If you aren't willing to pay this price, Jones makes this board in their normal construction at a more normal price. Alternatively, you can check out the United Shapes Covert, which is a good all-rounder that is much more affordable than the Stratos. 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 enjoyable splitboard.
The Weston Backwoods is an exceptional model for both the up and the down. It's an excellent choice for a one-board quiver for those who enjoy uphill efficiency but don't want to sacrifice downhill performance. It's not the lightest on the scale, but it felt the lightest underfoot, earning it an award for its climbing efficiency, snappy, secure performance on hardpack, and maneuverability in powder.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight
7.33 lbs
Tested Length
157
Flex
Medium - stiff
Camber/Rocker
Rock camber rocker
Construction Type
Sandwich
While the board is versatile, its stiff flex limits its playfulness. It's hard to flex, and its short tail limits the board's switch capability. If you need to briefly do a switch shuffle, there is an adequate rise in the tail, but it's not the smoothest experience. The Backwoods has numerous applications, but it won't necessarily be your freestyle stead. For that, we'd recommend the Venture Storm. But, if you are lucky to experience more than a few epic powder days a year, and want a board that will let you get the most out of it, then the Backwoods is a great choice.
The United Shapes Covert features a powder-style nose and a freestyle-inspired tail combined on a board with a full camber profile that can handle just about any snow you want to ride. It is a great option if you want a single-board quiver, and it is more affordable than many other boards that offer this level of versatility. On lower-angle, more relaxed terrain, it offers a surfy ride that we had a blast with.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight
7.45 lbs
Tested Length
158
Flex
Medium
Camber/Rocker
Rocker/ Camber/ Rocker
Construction Type
Sandwich
The general all-rounder shape of this board translates into a jack of all trades, master of none situation. The Covert does a decent job on most terrain, but if you have a preferred riding style or consistently experience mostly icy/fresh/firm conditions where you live, you might be better off with a more specialized board. It's also a bit heavier than average, which translates into more work on the uphill. But if you like to ride anything and everything, the United Shapes Covert will give you a great platform to do that, without breaking your budget.
The Cardiff Goat Pro Carbon Splitboard is a hard-charging board that breaks the mold of many stiff freeride boards by maintaining a good amount of maneuverability. The Goat was one of our favorite boards to have underfoot when the terrain was open and steep, and we had the conditions to let it rip. The Goat has excellent stability at speed, is fun in the air, and is forgiving if you get off your game a bit. For strong riders, we think the Goat is a board you could spend a lot of your season on.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight
6.79 lbs
Tested Length
162
Flex
Medium Stiff
Camber/Rocker
Rocker/ Camber/ Rocker
Construction Type
Sandwich
While the Goat is maneuverable for its category, it is not the same as having a softer, tapered, pow shape under your feet. If you spend a lot of time in low-angle, tight trees or just simply enjoy a more casual ride, the Goat is likely going to feel like a lot of board to handle. The same applies if you spend a lot of time in tight technical terrain. A strong rider will be able to get the board around, but we prefer the Goat in places where we can let it run fall line. The Jones Frontier is a much more user-friendly board that will be a better fit for those who are new to the backcountry. For big mountain terrain, the Goat is truly an exciting board to have under your feet.
Jones Solution is a tried and true board that has been a staple in the splitboard community for a while. Its stiffer flex is supportive when riding fast and hard, but the lighter weight allows you to make quick turns in narrower spaces, and makes it a great climber as well. That's not to say you won't have fun on more relaxed days. The Solution is playful enough to keep you entertained on low-angle slopes and twisty tree runs.
SPECIFICATIONS
Weight
7.38 lbs
Tested Length
158
Flex
Stiff
Camber/Rocker
Directional rocker
Construction Type
Sandwich
The Solution is not specialized for deep and fresh snow, and we would choose a different board if we wanted to maximize pow days. However, it performed well enough that we still had a good time whenever we came across an untouched patch of powder. For a truly cloud-like ride through deep powder, check out the Weston Backcountry Backwoods.
The Jones Solution is one of our favorite boards for climbing, and doesn't do too shabby on the downhill either.
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The Prior Slasher fits right into the scenic Tahoe vista! Credit: Laredo
Why Trust GearLab
Our tester Isaac Laredo has structured his life around outdoor education and recreation. He is working toward becoming an AMGA Splitboard Guide, in which gear must perform in all contexts. Snowboards and splitboards have become critical tools to optimize both work as an educator and pleasure as a snowboarder. Isaac received a Bachelor's Degree from Sierra Nevada College in 2019 in Interdisciplinary Studies, Environmental Science, and Outdoor Adventure Leadership. Since moving to Lake Tahoe in 2014, he has been able to maintain 100+ days per season in some of the most diverse terrain in the US.
No problems floating on the Jones Frontier. Credit: Laredo
Dom Rickicki started snowboarding early in life while growing up outside of Buffalo, NY. At the age of 18, he took out a little extra student loan money to buy himself a splitboard, and he never looked back. As an avid climber and snowboarder, Dom finds any opportunity that allows him to combine his climbing and snowboarding skills in the big mountains to be the ultimate form of freedom. Despite big mountain goals, Dom doesn't forget his humble East Coast roots and enjoys every day out on a board, big days or small days, good snow or bad snow. These days, he lives in Estes Park, Colorado, working as a full-time mountain guide, teaching avalanche education courses, and introducing new people to the backcountry.
How We Tested Splitboards
We researched over 40 top-rated splitboards before purchasing the top models to test side by side. Yes, we've purchased all of the models in this review. We do so to avoid bias and bring you honest data, alongside an accurate and objective review. Testing took place in Lake Tahoe, which is a premier destination for snow sports. The final data was used to compare and contrast each model, allowing us to bring our findings to you.
We took each board deep into the backcountry multiple times over the course of the season.
We assessed and reviewed 11 different all-around styled splitboards by climbing and descending in every condition. In this review, we judged each one based on its performance in the following metrics: firm snow, powder, climbing, binding adjustability, and playfulness. As we all ride in different snow conditions and styles, you may assign the appropriate weight to each category based on your usage pattern. If a model excels in a metric of value to you, be sure to take this into consideration.
It is not cheap to get into backcountry skiing, and even the lowest-priced boards are still a significant investment. Since we can't point you to a cheap board, the one thing we can do is to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. Most of the models are worth their price, but there are a few standout competitors that maximize their value based on performance and features. The Voile Spartan Ascent is one of the most affordable splitboards on the market. It provides everything you need to get out and enjoy the backcountry, alongside reliable performance. In this instance, lightweight doesn't come at the highest price tag, and this model is one of the lightest in the review category. Another excellent value is the United Shapes Covert. It's a touch spendier than the Voile but is a fantastic performance choice that is a bit more stable and featured than the Voile Ascent, yet it doesn't sacrifice a fun and unique character. The top-scoring Weston Backwoods has a slightly higher upfront cost but is justified by its performance and construction, making it a good value in our book.
Powder
If there's one thing that the majority of snow sliders have in common, it's our love for powder. We wake up before the sun to get a predawn lap before work. We brave storms that otherwise would keep us at home. Heck, we even call in “sick” from work. All to enjoy the sweet, sweet powder. We are willing to go through a lot to enjoy what powder has to offer, and we should be willing to select a board that maximizes our performance in the fresh. A board that floats well to conserve our energy. If we use less energy, we can take another lap. If we take another lap, we get that much more of the goods. Ultimately, good performance in powder increases our quality of experience when riding in these conditions.
To evaluate the differences in powder performance of each competitor, we rode a lot of powder in the name of collecting anecdotal data. We rode each board in similar snow conditions; sometimes, this meant switching boards in between laps. At other times, this meant cycling through boards during a specific storm cycle. Conditions in the backcountry are always changing, so getting identical snow conditions quickly becomes a challenge. At the end of the day, we simply rode every board as much as we could, and in as varied conditions as we could find, in order to parse out the strengths and weaknesses of each. A large part of flotation is based on the surface area. We busted out the calculators to find the surface area of each model.
Every board here was fun to ride in powder, but a few models stand out in particular. The Prior Slasher was a top contender in the category based on its effortless floatation and maneuverability. On deep or powder days, this model would be our go-to as its swallow tail naturally facilitates floatation. This allows the rider to lean forward in powder to generate speed and create powerful turns.
The short swallow tail found on the Prior Slasher allows for effortless flotation and tight turn finishes. Credit: Isaac Laredo
The Venture Storm floats very easily, is stable, and turns effortlessly through the powder snow. Powder riding on the Venture Storm was a joy from start to finish. The board floats without requiring extra rear leg pressure and is eager to carve or slash pow turns depending on your mood.
The easy turning nature of the Venture Storm makes it user-friendly and nimble for all levels of riders. Credit: Isaac Laredo
We also enjoyed the United Shapes Covert; it has a long, drawn-out, early-rise nose that naturally stays afloat due to its increased surface area. The board's shape supports multiple powder riding styles, whether it be nimble, quick tree movements, or ripping big open turns.
The Weston Backwoods was a standout performer due to its quality of float and maneuverability in tight trees. The board's shape is designed to float and takes less effort than most to keep the nose up. Thanks to its shorter tail, the board can pivot quickly due to its reduced surface area. If you ride lots of trees or appreciate agility like your favorite NFL running back, then look into the Backwoods.
We enjoyed riding powder days on every board we tested, but some gave us that bit of extra float that made a day truly incredible. Credit: laredo
Firm Snow
Firm snow conditions are inevitable in backcountry travel. They can be expected or unexpected, and sometimes they show up in the no-fall zone. Firm snow performance is critical for your security and safety, especially during more challenging objectives. No one wants to fall due to poor edge hold; it can change your run, and you can potentially get injured.
Another component of firm snow performance is its turning experience of corn snow. Corn snow is one of the sweet joys of the backcountry. The board's turning character should match our desired experience and the terrain we ride most.
It's all stoke when gear functions without a thought. Shown here is the Solution. Credit: Isaac Laredo
From corn to ice, we tested this metric by riding every condition we could find. We traversed on both edges and made turns on steep icy slopes; we also collected anecdotal evidence regarding our firm snow experience to distinguish between the models.
Every board got the job done on firm snow. The distinction came from the speed threshold found on icy snow. On icy days, the stiffer and mostly cambered profiles were the most stable. The Jones Solution provides a higher speed threshold and secure edge hold, while the G3 Axle, with its stiff torsional flex, was incredibly responsive and stable. The Axle provided impressive edge purchase even on firm spring melt-freeze crusts. Both of these have a strong feeling during a turn and offer a fun corn ride.
The standout model for quality of experience when turning is the United Shapes Covert. The model feels like a surfy snowboard, with a lively and plush flex that creates a user-friendly and snappy turn experience.
The in turn feel of the United Shapes Covert was one of our favorites. Credit: Laredo
Climbing
Splitboards spend most of their life ascending; the ratio of skinning to descending is not even close. Yet, very few splitboards are designed with this in mind. Let's be honest; they are probably not purchased with this in mind either. Climbing performance should be a driver in the selection decision, as a board that climbs efficiently allows the rider to enjoy the downhill as much as possible.
Apprentice Ski Guide Will Sperry testing out the Backwoods. Credit: Laredo
Our primary method to test the climbing ability of each model was touring. We toured to see how they felt and handled on the skin track. Weight is the single most significant factor in climbing mountains with a splitboard, although some technical features are also important. As they say, one pound on the feet is equal to five pounds on the back.
Testing the Jones Solution on Carson Pass. Credit: Canyon Florey
We weighed all the boards (without pucks, but with the standard clips, hooks, and slider screws on the channel boards) on the same scale and factored this into the climbing score. We created a rough weight-to-surface-area calculation for all the boards to understand how they measured up, literally. Since some of the boards are slightly longer or shorter than others, comparing only their weights would not be entirely fair. While the weight per surface area measurement is not perfect either, it does give more perspective to the weight measurement. Overall, the weight range is relatively narrow, but it is interesting to note the outliers.
The Jones Ultralight Stratos was the best climbing model. It is the lightest in our test, but there is more to it than just weight that contributes to a good climb. The Stratos is narrow so it is easier to get on edge on steep traverses, it also Jones traction tech edges which aid in grip. The full camber profile places a significant portion of the ski in contact with the snow, enhancing grip.
The Voile Spartan Ascent is another lightweight board in the review category. Its lightweight is supported by a mostly cambered profile that provides stable climbing. The Jones Solution and Cardiff Goat Pro Carbon also stood out for their stable and secure side-hilling performance.
Playfulness
Once we are at the top and ready to drop, weight is no longer a big concern. Now we just want to have fun. A few years ago, a common complaint about splitboards was that they were too stiff. The stiff boards excel in steep technical terrain but lose the fun feel that we enjoy on simpler terrain, which we often ride.
Playfulness was assessed through evaluating the board's flex, freestyle ability, ease of edging, and overall user-friendliness. Every tour, we tried to butter, jump, slash, and quickly turn the board, gathering data the entire time.
The Swift provides a lively in turn experience. Credit: Laredo
The boards that scored highest were the ones with the most freestyle DNA in their design. Some boards were incredibly fun and invited us to play and jump off terrain features. The Venture Storm was one of our favorites for enjoying the features found on our exits and spinning off side hits. The softer flex and tight turning radius of the Storm allowed the board to be user-friendly and ride like a freestyle-inspired board.
The Never Summer Swift is a distinguished competitor not for its freestyle merit, but for its easy-to-ride and fun turning character. This model is softer in terms of flex when compared to the market's offerings. This was the primary factor that contributed to the higher scores in this metric.
Buttery and playful turns are often benefits of softer flexing boards with tight sidecuts. Credit: Laredo
Binding Adjustability
If you have ever set up a splitboard, you know it's a pain if your stance is slightly off. You may need to deal with it and take the time to adjust your bindings. There are two options here: either a channel or an insert system. The channel system is easier to change than the inserts. In our review, only Voile and Burton used channel systems.
The channel systems varied a bit between manufacturers, but they all function similarly. Flex patterns felt normal, and no reviewers singled out the channels as influencing the ride quality of the board.
The Slider channel makes stances adjustments easy and quick. Credit: Isaac Laredo
We were pleasantly surprised by the ease of setup and adjustment that channel systems provide; dialing in the exact stance you want is much simpler than using the old standard insert pattern. If the heavens part and dump multiple feet of champagne pow on your local mountains, this system makes it easy to slide your bindings back, which will increase nose floatation.
In testing the Burton Flight Attendant on a powder day, we realized our initial stance location was not far enough back to optimally float the nose. Since this board had the channel system, it was only a few minutes to increase the setback and significantly improve our powder day. If you find yourself regularly fine-tuning your stance, a board featuring the channel system will simplify this process.
While the new Spark pucks increase adjustability, this adjustability is still much less than a channel system allows, especially when moving towards the tip and tail of the board. Within the range allowed by the inserts, adjustability is relatively simple with the Spark pucks.
Know Before You Go
Splitboards are fantastic tools for exploring the backcountry - when used correctly. To use them properly, you need to know more about the winter mountain environment than can be learned by busting out laps at the resort. The best-untracked terrain lies outside the ropes, but venturing out can be incredibly dangerous. Although it may be close, the nature of the snowpack beyond the ropes could be completely different from what it is inbounds. In addition to purchasing a board, you'll want to invest in an avalanche beacon. It is also a must to invest in an avalanche probe; something like the Backcountry Access Stealth Avalanche Probe, as well as an avalanche shovel. An affordable option is the Backcountry Access B-1 Shovel.
Knowing how to read avalanche terrain can make the difference. Credit: David Reichel
Once you've got all the gear together, make sure you receive training for such conditions. Seek out a Level 1 avalanche course and start learning about terrain from the avalanche safety perspective. Follow that up by becoming a daily reader of your local avalanche center's avalanche advisory, paying particular attention to the specific avalanche problems of the day. With practice, you can get the picture of what is happening in the backcountry and learn how to get out of harm's way while also knowing how to search out the goods.
Conclusion
Most manufacturers make a good backcountry product, and every product in this review excels in one metric or another. Look at how your riding will be on a day to day basis. Be realistic with your usage patterns and near-future goals. The bread and butter is selecting the board that fits your style of riding and your usage patterns. Use the metric scorings to identify which model will fit your needs and ride on.
