Best Snowboards
Forget about those long-winded snowboard review sites that spend more time trying to prove their chops than they do actually inform you of the basics of buying a snowboard. This guide’s philosophy is that less is more when it comes to getting to the crux of finding the best snowboard to match your riding style, skill level and the kind of fun you crave for the winter season.
We have spent hundreds of hours researching, writing, and researching again to deliver a select set of the best snowboards from top snowboard brands. This is a one-stop shop in terms of learning about snowboarding background and getting right down to choosing a great snowboard from our detailed, information-packed snowboard reviews.
- Gnu Carbon Credit
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Our rating - Great on turnings
- Best for beginners
- Price: See Here
- Flow Sillhouette
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Our rating - Tough base
- Durable
- Price: See Here
- Nitro Ripper
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Our rating - Springy core
- Poplar wood
- Price: See Here
Best Snowboards Men, Women and Kids
Gnu Carbon Credit
Terrain: Powder, backcountry
Ability: Beginner
Shape: True twins
Camber/Rocker: Rocker
Flex: Soft
Review
It is the best beginner snowboard for progressing from flat turns to learning to catch an edge on groomers and performs very well in the park. The Magne-Traction seven points of contact provide a smooth grip on medium to wide turns and you will definitely feel solid snap out of the turns due to the all-wood core. It is best on uneven terrain where the soft flex handles the bumps superbly.
- Easy board for beginners
- Catch free turning facilitated
- Not so suitable for professional riders
FLOW 2016 Silhouette
Terrain: Powder, groomers
Ability: Beginner-Intermediate
Shape: True twins
Camber/Rocker: Rocker
Flex: Soft
Review
The Silhouette is one of the better performing and longer-lasting women’s boards. The tapered sidecut is mellow at the center and assertive where you need grip the most. The Optix 2000-A extruded, dense base is tough and easy to maintain. It also holds wax better than many of the best women’s snowboards available. It all adds up to control on the soft snow, high maneuverability and speed on groomers.
- Long lasting board
- Dense, tough base that is easy to maintain
- It is a package deal
Nitro Ripper 146 Youth
Terrain: Powder, park
Ability: Beginner
Shape: True twins
Camber/Rocker: Flat rocker
Flex: Soft
Review
For a younger, lighter rider just starting out, the Nitro Ripper imparts a sense of control and stability, while letting kids press the limits of fun. The flat rocker is super stable but has enough tail and tip lift for ollies or taking on shallow powder. This board will hold out for several seasons and makes a great hand-me-down for younger siblings.
- Poplar wood
- Springy core
- Soft flex
- Suitable for beginners only
Capita Spring Break
Terrain: Powder
Ability: Advanced
Shape: Directional
Camber/Rocker: Rocker
Flex: Medium
Review
The Spring Break is surprisingly snappy and maneuverable for a pow board. It provides effortless float and dances around the trees. The full rocker is not snappy enough for groomer turns, nor is it going to perform well jibbing or on the half pipe. On powder, though, look out.
- Pretty maneuverable
- 360-degree steel edges
- Not snappy enough for groomer turns
Jones Ultra Mountain Twin
The fast, durable base makes for a comfortable board in the park as well. The blunt nose glides effortlessly over crud, while the progressive sidecut eases turn initiation with a firm hold thanks to the Magne-Traction edge.
Terrain: Piste, powder, park
Ability: Beginner-Advanced
Shape: Directional twin
Camber/Rocker: Hybrid rocker
Flex: Medium
Review
This is one of the best all mountain snowboards with a medium flex and understated rocker-camber-rocker profile that provides performance from pow to hardpack with enough punch to make it fun in the turns. Due to the setback, it is not a true twins design, but can be ridden straight or switch and handles OK in the park. If you are looking for one board that does everything fairly well, this is it.
- Hybrid rocker profile
- Fast base
- Not a true twins design
Burton Flight Attendant 2016
Terrain: Groomers, powder
Ability: Intermediate-Advanced
Shape: Directional twin
Camber/Rocker: Hybrid rocker
Flex: Medium-Stiff
Review
The Flight Attendant gives an aggressive impression thanks to the fairly stiff flex. The springy camber is not exactly forgiving, but makes up for that with plenty of pop and tight turns in both powder and on the groomers. It is a tapered design, but rides switch well enough. Intermediate to advanced riders looking for excellent carving and a respectable pow board will be pleased with this one.
- Pretty stable
- Quick edge to edge feel through wide to medium turns
- Not suitable for begginer riders
Lib Tech Skate Banana Wide
Terrain: Park
Ability: Beginner-Advanced
Shape: True twin
Camber/Rocker: Rocker
Flex: Soft
Review
Although this top rated snowboard is suitable for all skill levels, its soft flex and full rocker is not suited to catching an edge on turns. If you like to butter, jib and turn tricks in the park, however, you will love it. It is loose, moderately fast and perhaps one of the best freestyle snowboards for 2017.
- Playfull feel friendly for beginners
- Soft flex
- Not too good for catching an edge on turns
Salomon Splitboard
Terrain: Backcountry
Ability: Intermediate-Advanced
Shape: Directional twin
Camber/Rocker: Full rocker
Flex: Medium
Review
Ready to leave the lifts behind and set out in search of downhill adventure? You need the best Salomon split snowboard. Salomon’s floats serenely over unbroken powder with a nice edge grip on harder snow. Although the ABS sidewalls are not eco-friendly, it will handily withstand the inevitable bumps and scrapes in the outback. It comes with a custom skin and is available in three lengths: 147, 156 and 163cm.
- Excellent tree weaver
- Lightweight aspen core
- Not eco-friendly
Burton Ripcord
Terrain: Powder
Ability: Beginner
Shape: Directional
Camber/Rocker: Rocker
Flex: Soft
Review
This is a top rated snowboard for soft snow and powder with a catch-free ride on hardpack. It is not a hard carver, which is exactly what novice riders want. In crud and bumpy snow, it is superbly stable. The lively wood core delivers plenty of air-catching pop on jumps. The bi-axial fiber is forgiving and supported by a durable extruded base.
- V-rocker profile
- Stable nose
- Best for new riders
Ride Men’s Agenda
Terrain: Powder, park
Ability: Beginner
Shape: True twins
Camber/Rocker: Rocker
Flex: Soft
Review
This is a good beginner snowboard for those building confidence on powder or in the park. It has excellent stability, flex and a catch-free sidecut, so you can explore the park or even dabble in backcountry conditions. It is also generously affordable. If it is not quite snappy enough for your taste, you might consider the Ride Crook snowboard instead.
- Stable flat to rocker board
- bi-axial glass
- A bit on the pricey side
Burton Women’s Feather
Terrain: Powder, groomers
Ability: Beginner-Intermediate
Shape: Directional twins
Camber/Rocker: Rocker
Flex: Soft
Review
This Burton women’s snowboard is a playful ride with soft twin-flex and enough rocker to behave well in softer snow, but with enough edge for practicing wider turns on the groomed trails. It makes for an affordable way to get into snowboarding, especially if you prefer soft snow or powder but do not underestimate its capability for some respectable carving as well.
- soft twin flex
- quite stable
- This is a beginner's board
Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro
Either one is suited for anywhere on the mountain you want to go with a rocker profile that delivers plenty of float in the powder, while providing tons of grip on the groomers. In fact, the Magne-Traction edges allow you to rip even harder on hardpack that other true twins design when riding regular or switch. It comes in sizes from 153cm to 164.5cm.
Terrain: groomers, powder, backcountry
Ability: Intermediate-Advanced
Shape: True twins
Lengths: Blunt nose – 153-157cm, Powder nose – 161.5, 164.5cm
Sidecut: Shallow
Camber/Rocker: Hybrid
Flex: Medium
Core: Aspen, polonia, basalt reinforcement
Laminate: Triax and biax fiberglass
Review
The Travis Rice Pro Horsepower has a rocker-camber with a special feel. The tips are firm with plenty of pop and power in the turns, while the mid-board medium flex provides a solid feeling of control whether floating over pow or carving on-piste. Hardpack performance is supremely enhanced with the Magne-Traction 7-point edge serrations. This board delivers on any terrain.
Conclusion
The Lib Tech T. Rice Pro HP is more than the best all-mountain snowboard made. It is incredibly eco-friendly with basalt-only fiver, Columbian Gold fibers, and a bio-plastic top sheet made from beans. It is handcrafted in the USA and delivers a ride guaranteed to be a new experience.
- Choice of blunt nose jibbing or pointy pow points
- Stronger, lighter core than original Pro version
- Pricey
Arbor Foundation
The snappy poplar core and triple radius sidecut provide control with a natural feel. Fully-wrapped sidewalls with 360 Rails provide additional durability and board longevity. It is a small investment for a lot of fun and predictable skill improvement in return.
Terrain: groomers, powder, backcountry
Ability: Beginner
Shape: Directional twin
Lengths: 155cm
Sidecut: Shallow
Camber/Rocker: Rocker
Flex: Medium
Core: Poplar
Laminate: Bi-axial fiberglass
Review
The Arbor Foundation is an ideal jump-off board for beginner riders who want to move up to harder groomers and freestyle moves. The rocker profile and solid wood core provide plenty of snap, pop and ergonomic control perfect for mastering turns without frustration. Buyers like the simplicity and budget-friendly price of this back-to-basics snowboard.
Conclusion
The Arbor Foundation will quickly move you up to intermediate level with stability, no-surprises responsiveness, and ample edge bite. It is a great board for building confidence, fundamental skills and just having fun without tearing down the winter sports budget.
- Solid, no nonsense, comfortable ride
- Durable build backed by a 3-year warranty
- Not the fastest board on the slope
Burton Custom Flying V
Along with customized core flex between the feet and additional carbon at the tips, this board has oodles of pop in hard groomers and a stable feel on softer snow or uneven terrain. Its unique V-rocker in the middle adds a feeling of playfulness, especially in powder.
Terrain: groomers, powder, backcountry
Ability: Intermediate
Shape: Directional twin
Lengths: Six sizes, 148-162cm
Sidecut: Shallow
Camber/Rocker: Hybrid
Flex: Medium
Core: Wood
Laminate: Carbon with 45-degree highlights
Review
The Flying V® rocker’s unique waviness gets tuned every year by Burton. The current model has improved edge control without losing its trademark playful feeling on soft snow. It is surprisingly stable and fun on uneven terrain, which makes this a good board for backcountry trails. Speed is enhanced by the sintered, wax-infused base.
Conclusion
Advanced riders appreciate the lively feel of the Custom Flying V over rough terrain and the adequate grip on short and wide turns. For backcountry powder, this board excels and holds its own on hard groomers with good speed.
- Versatile performance for varied conditions
- Wax-infused sintered base
- Edge hold degrades in hardest snow
Jones Snowboards Flagship
It features an oak top sheet with carbon quad-axial fiberglass stringers and a directional, hybrid rocker that craves deep powder, while delivering plenty of pop out of the groomer turns.
The blunt nose design reduces plowing in all snow conditions and increases speed. It is a great choice for riders who regularly encounter varying conditions or want to try out more skiing regions.
Terrain: groomers, off-trail, powder
Ability: Advanced
Shape: Directional
Lengths: 10 sizes from 154-172cm
Sidecut: Shallow progressive
Camber/Rocker: Hybrid
Flex: Medium
Core: Poplar, Beech
Laminate: Carbon, fiberglass
Review
This Austrian-made freeride board floats almost as well as a dedicated powder board, while delivering all the grip and liveliness needed for all-day carving on hard snow. The blunt nose and forward camber easily slices through crud as well. Buyers also like the emphasis on more natural and recycled material.
Conclusion
When you need a solid, all-around performer without sacrificing speed and carving ability, the Jones Flagship rules the slopes. It is Jones’ cornerstone product, which improves in performance, versatility and agility year after year.
- Great in powder, excellent carver, nice speed
- Hard, fast sintered base and lively top sheet
- Not so hot for jibbing and pipe
Rome 2016 Reverb Rocker
Reverb’s true twin shape makes this a perfect switch board that floats easily over powder. The unique combination of poplar zones and center bamboo rail plus a carbon fiber laminate with orthogonal tri-axial fibers ensure plenty of both pop and flex in this lively, versatile board.
Terrain: Groomers
Ability: Intermediate
Shape: True twins
Lengths: 154cm, 155cm-wide
Sidecut: Shallow
Camber/Rocker: Mixed
Flex: Soft
Core: Poplar, Bamboo
Laminate: Carbon
Review
The profile is camber-rocker-camber, but the camber seems slight in powder. On the other hand it is not catchy either. This board will not win speed races, but it is great for fakies, good for ollies and a fair out-of-park carver. It has sufficient pop in turns, though heavier riders may not feel it.
Conclusion
Rome’s Reverb Rocker is a great board for beginner’s moving up on groomers, in the park and on shallow powder. Its gentle rocker and positive camber, medium-soft stiffness and true twins design provide stability, maneuverability and enough pop for freestyle rides according to the majority of snowboard reviews.
- Stability with plenty of pop
- Excellent switch board
- Fair Carver, so-so in powder
Burton Chicklet Girls
Terrain: Park
Ability: Beginner
Shape: True twins
Camber/Rocker: None
Flex: Soft
Review
This is seriously one of the best snowboards for girls with colorful, sublimated graphics and a stable, playful and responsive action to it. The super soft flex enhances stopping and turning skills as she moves from raw beginner to a park master.
- Lightweight cap construction
- Colorful, sublimated graphics
- Not so durable
Ride Lil Buck and Phenom Kids
Terrain: Powder, park, groomers
Ability: Beginner-Intermediate
Shape: True twins
Camber/Rocker: Flat rocker
Flex: Soft
Review
This is one boy’s or girl’s snowboard that stands up to beginning rider punishment. Buyer reviews on the Ride Lil Buck often note how well it endures season after season. As your kid’s skills grow, this board adapts. Its performance in the park is equal on the groomers with a firm, gentle grip in the turns.
- Forgiving soft flex
- Impact absorbing Slimwalls
- Too colorful design
High Society Scarlet
Terrain: Powder, groomers, park
Ability: Intermediate
Shape: True twins
Camber/Rocker: Hybrid rocker
Flex: Medium
Review
This is the most versatile women’s snowboard we review and which you find in other women’s snowboard reviews. Its beginner’s stability can fool you until you let it loose in the park or rock the curves on a fast groomer. All that and it still floats and turns effortlessly through the pow. This is a board that serves beginning to advanced riders through many seasons. If the $500 price puts you off, it is not hard to find a decent used Scarlet for sale.
- Responsive flex
- Quite versatille
- Not suitable for beginner riders
Criteria Used For The Evaluation
Types of Snowboards
Snowboards come in a wide variety of shapes, lengths, flexes and cambers to suit various terrains, snow conditions, rider skills and activities.
There is no single board type that does it all, although all-mountain snowboards come close. That is why they are the most popular style. We explain each type and review an example of each below.
With regard to all-mountain boards, be sure to visit our dedicated All-Mountain Snowboards page where we provide in-depth reviews of the top snowboards in that category.
Powder Snowboards
The best powder snowboards tend to be longer to provide more flotation and their more pronounced tip camber helps deep snow gliding. Typically, these boards have a broader nose, narrower tail and a softer flex. The sidecut is usually shallow to assist turning. These also work well for all-day backcountry trips.
Best Snowboard brands
There are a handful of best snowboard brands from which you can find top snowboards for any style of riding. These companies have long snowboard histories that have earned the respect of riders everywhere.
We give you a brief overview of each with a product sample, but absolutely do not miss our comprehensive, in-depth guide to brands and products on our Top 10 Snowboards Brands page, which tells you everything you need to know about choosing the top snowboarding brands.
Burton Snowboards
Burton is a leader in snowboarding technology for all ages and genders. Their team roster includes the likes of Shaun White and Terje Hawkinson. They are always pushing the limits of snowboard tech. The Burton Jeremy Jones men’s snowboard is a twin design with directional flex, Super Fly II Core and snappy tri-axial plus carbon I-beam construction.
Lib Tech Snowboards
This Pacific Northwest-based snowboard company is best known for its innovative Magne-Traction edges and Lib Tech Banana Technology reverse camber that places contact precisely under the rider’s feet. The Lib Tech Skate Banana snowboard features their best technologies with assertive camber that excels at carving.
Never Summer Snowboards
Never Summer is an independent manufacturer that has makes some of the most durable, high-performance boards in the world. Every board has been built by hand in their Denver plant since 1983. The Never Summer Snowtrooper snowboard is a true all-mountain board that does it all from powder to piste to uneven terrain.
GNU Snowboards
Gnu got its start in the 1980s. Their strengths include deep sidecuts ideal for carving. Every board is hand-built. Their top-line Gnu Riders Choice C2 PBTX board demonstrates their innovative approach to all-mountain snowboard making. It features both an asymmetrical sidecut and tip/tail shapes, which improve edge-to-edge performance, while still making a great switcher.
Jones Snowboards
Jones is one of the top snowboard brands well-known for hard-charging rippers that are favorites of the best riders on the planet. The Jones Hovercraft snowboard is their signature board with a stiff directional rocker, directional shape, bamboo top sheet and a unique swallowtail. It shines in the backcountry where it glides over pow like a sports car.
How to Find the Best Snowboard for Your Needs
After considering your skill level and riding style, from cruising the piste, gliding over powder or hot-dogging the chutes and rails, you need to concentrate on how well a board is made. You want one that will grow with your skills and serve you well for many seasons to come.
Regardless of the board type that suits your riding style, there are other features to look at:
- Camber/Rocker – Flat rocker is great for beginners, floating on powder and enabling quick turns. Mixed camber or modified rocker increases carving performance and maneuverability.
- Shape determines if the board is primarily for downhill riding or can be ridden switch.
- Length, in part, determines speed. Longer boards are faster, while shortboards are preferred for park tricks.
- Width becomes an issue for riders with bigger feet, which is why “wides” models are made.
- Sidecut radius affects turning ability. A deep sidecut turns quickly, whereas shallow sidecuts are more stable on softer snow or irregular terrain.
- Edge and contact points work together to provide snow bite, which improves stability and assists turn initiation and exit.
- Flex is either longitudinal or torsional. Softer flex boards handle better over uneven terrain, whereas stiffer boards deliver better edge and stability at higher speeds.
How to Ride a Snowboard – How Does a Snowboard Work
When learning how to ride a snowboard, start in an area where the consequences of losing control are minimal, such as the bottom of a slope.
Strap on the board in a sitting position, stand up and then extend an arm to the downhill side to get you moving. As you reach the flats, shift your weight slightly to your heels to stop. After you have mastered that move, repeat it but use your toes to stop instead.
Now, make simple turns by leaning slightly in the direction you want to turn and stopping on your heels. Get going again, lean the opposite direction and stop on your toes. Continue in this fashion down the remainder of the slope.
Naturally, there is a lot more going on during your first snowboard day and rather than reading about it, check out this excellent video on the 10 Beginner Snowboard Skills you need.
What Makes a Snowboard Good?
When deciding how to choose a good snowboard, there are several technical factors to consider, which we cover in detail later in the guide. First, you need to understand your personal riding style in order to select a board matching that style. We discuss that in detail later too.
Beyond those general guidelines, a top consideration in any snowboard comparison is how a particular board is constructed. That will be a primary determinant of durability. You should expect a snowboard to last several seasons as long as your riding style or body size do not change.
For instance, cap and half-cap sidewalls protect the board core better by providing protection against bumps and rubs. A strong wooden core delivers the liveliness and is long-lasting. The best cores are reinforced with carbon or Kevlar fibers. Foam cores should be avoided. Bi- or tri-axial fiberglass wraps make durable snowboards. Additionally, the base material makes a big difference. Sintered bases are the toughest and fastest.
History of Snowboarding
Snowboarding started way back in the 1960s when a young inventor tied two skis together for his small daughter to ride on. Through the 1980s, it struggled with acceptance alongside alpine skiing but is now a super-competitive, highly respected sport in its own right. Olympic gold medals are now awarded to the best riders worldwide. Now, it is your turn to come along for the ride and add to the enthusiasm for one of the most fun sports ever invented.
I want to recommend you one of the best movie about snowboarding I have ever seen – “The Art of Flight“. Check out the trailer:
Best Snowboarders
The sport of snowboarding first appeared in the 1960s in the U.S. It became part of the Winter Olympics in 1998. Today, the big competitions include the Air and Style, X-Trail Jam, Shakedown, FIS World Championships and the Burton Global Open Series among others.
The USA Snowboarding Association sponsors 36 regional snowboard competitions open to all comers annually. Five of the best snowboarders include Shaun White, Gretchen Bleiler, Travis Rice, Nicolas Müller and Bode Merrill.
Bode Merrill is a 29-year old rider from Santa Cruz, CA who was recently named Snowboard Magazine’s top rider in 2015. He had been riding five years when he won 3rd place at the X Games Real Snow competition.
Nicolas Müller is a Swiss snowboarder who has been called the most gifted, natural rider on the planet for his signature smooth style and ability to instantly adapt to any terrain. In 2005, he was named Transworld’s snowboarder of the year.
Travis Rice is a snowboarding legend named as one of the top-20 most influential snowboard riders ever. You can find him performing in over 20 snowboarding films. He first left his mark on snowboard culture when, at age 18, he launched a backside rodeo over a 110-foot gap on California’s Mammoth Mountain snow park.
Gretchen Bleiler is a famous half-pipe snowboard champ. She has been riding snowboards since she was 11 years old. In 2003, 2005 and 2006, she won more half-pipe events than any other woman rider. She has won gold medals four times at X Games events. She gives back to snowboarding every summer via the High Cascade Snowboard Camp.
Shaun White is famous for both snowboarding and skateboarding. He holds records for the most X Games gold medals and most medals overall. He also holds two Olympic gold medals. His snowboarding passion began at the age of six.
Check out Shaun White nailing a triple cork in this video to witness his incredible skills for yourself.
Making the Decision
Winter will not wait. Now you know what it takes to make high-quality snowboards and have followed our top picks via our snowboard reviews. Therefore, it is now time to pick one or two for yourself and your family.
Snowboarding is an energetic and fun sport as you probably already know, and all it takes is getting the right board to set up a fun riding season. Hopefully, this guide has saved you time in selecting the ride board for you or your family member.
If you have any hesitation at this point, remember that buying on Amazon is risk-free. They offer you the most flexibility in shipping options and also the fastest shipping on the planet.
Their customer service and truly exceptional return policies mean that if you are not completely satisfied with the package that arrives, they will work their hardest to get a new one in your hands in the shortest time possible or return your money.
So, what is holding you back? Get a board, bindings, boots some flashy winter wear, download some apps and heed the call of the winter slopes!
