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CATEGORIESIn this Active Junky Snowboard Buyer’s Guide, you’ll find top boards from preeminent shred brands like Burton, Lib Tech, Rome, Never Summer, and more. It doesn’t matter why you’re shopping for a new snowboard—what matters is that you’re in the right place.
Photo Credit: Drew Zieff
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For those of you who are unfamiliar with Active Junky, welcome. You’re about to discover a whole new way to buy gear online. Basically, when you sign up for Active Junky and shop for gear, we give you cash back for every purchase you make. It’s not too good to be true—we actually send you a check or deposit money into your PayPal within three months of your purchase. You can put that extra cash towards more essential snowboard gear like boots and bindings or even towards a dream shred trip to Canada, Japan, or Alaska. Regardless of what you decide to do with your cash back, Active Junky is where smart snowboarders begin their search for new gear.
Photo Credit: Mike Stolp-Smith
Welcome to the Active Junky Snowboard Buyer’s Guide
In this Buyer’s Guide, we’ve included a bit of everything—whether you prefer to surf pow or throw down in the park, there’s something for you in here. Some of the decks follow more traditional recipes as far as shapes and profiles go, while others are funkier, out of the box, and futuristic. Before you get overwhelmed—picking a new snowboard can be a tricky task, after all—we’ll break down some key points to help you understand snowboard sizing, shapes, profiles, flex patterns, and more. Then, we’ll dive into reviews of our favorite snowboards for 2020. If you’re looking to skip the schooling and get straight to the reviews, we’ve included a brief overview of some of our favorite snowboards just below.
A quick breakdown to point you in the right direction.
Women’s Specific: The Lib Tech Dynamiss is a top pick for our lady shredders—it’s a versatile all-mountain board that doesn’t shy away from the deep stuff.
Pow: For all of the powder-lovers out there, it doesn’t get better than the directional Weston Japow, which has a swallow tail, setback stance, and gargantuan nose to surf through bottomless snow.
All-Mountain: For an all-around crusher, the Burton Custom, Never Summer West Bound, and Rome National are all worth considering.
Park: The Public Darrell Mathes Display is a flat deck that isn't designed to stay flat for long: pop is abundant, jibs are a delight, and best of all, this board has all-mountain capabilities.
Wide Board: Having trouble with toe drag? Check out the Capita Warpspeed if your feet are on the large side.
Don’t know where to start? Consider the following three questions a funnel: they’ll help you narrow down your snowboard decision-making. We’ll start by breaking down your ambitions around board and terrain types. Then, we’ll give you a basic run-through of relevant technology. Finally, we’ll give you some tips on sizing. If you’re familiar with these topics, feel free to skip down to the board reviews.
Photo Credit: Drew Zieff
This sounds obvious, but different boards are designed for different objectives. A snowboard that performs well in the park is probably not your best bet for a big mountain line, and vice versa. Some boards are specialized: a swallowtail is built for floating arcing turns down powder glades; a soft, jibby twin is namely built for presses on rails and boxes. Other boards are versatile: a mid-stiff directional deck might be tuned to take on the entire resort. All this to say that there are hundreds of boards that are designed for a multitude of purposes.
One of rapper Tupac Shakur’s most famous songs is titled “Ambitionz az a Ridah.” Snowboarders have much to gain by considering this lyric before purchasing a snowboard. What are, as Tupac rapped, your ambitions as a rider? What kind of riding do you want to do? How often do you ride different terrain types? Do you skip the park in favor of groomers? What about cliffs, couloirs, and chutes? Do you live for powder days or half pipes? Is the entire mountain your terrain park? Do you ride it all?
As much as possible, you want to come into this process of buying a new snowboard with an understanding of what it is you like to ride. If you are unsure about what type of terrain you like to ride, we recommend an all-mountain board like the Burton Custom. Boards in this category can handle anything and everything.
There are three main categories of snowboards—freestyle, all-mountain, and freeride. But keep in mind, these categories aren’t necessarily boxes, but rather swathes on the spectrum that is snowboarding, if you will. They blend into one another. An all-mountain board shares characteristics with both freeride and freestyle boards, for example. We’ll break down the general characteristics below:
Freestyle: Terrain park enthusiasts look for boards that excel in the freestyle category. These boards are generally but not exclusively twin shapes, and they can come in a variety of camber profiles and flex patterns fine-tuned for different objectives within the terrain park. On the whole, they tend to be softer, more flexible, and poppier.
All-Mountain: “All-mountain” covers a broad range of snowboards, from soft-flexing intermediate boards to hard-charging directional decks that can stomp enormous park jumps. Most of the boards we test fall into this all-mountain category, as most riders don’t have a quiver of boards, and instead rely on a single board day-in, day-out and henceforth prefer the Swiss Army Knife versatility of the all-mountain category.
Freeride: Speed and stability are key in this category. Freeride shapes are often directional, and they also tend to be stiffer than their freestyle compatriots. That said, softer, playful, slashy, surfy powder boards also fall into this category. These boards aren’t designed for the terrain park.
Photo Credit: Drew Zieff
Snowboard design has never been more advanced—or more nuanced. While it’s important to look at the big picture when buying a board, don’t brush off the little things: seemingly microscopic differences between boards can make a big difference in ride feel. The following breakdown of snowboard vocabulary and technology may be overwhelming, but if you can, read through it. You’ll gain a basic understanding of board shapes, profiles, flex, and more—and it will only help you fine-tune your search. Also, if there’s a technical phrase you don’t understand in a board review or product description, feel free to jump back to this section—chances are we’ll touch on it here.
Twin: If you cut a twin board in half, each side will look exactly the same, as the tip and tail are indistinguishable from one another. Freestyle boards tend to rely on this shape, as they best facilitate riding switch.
Directional: While twin boards can be ridden both ways, directional boards are designed to be ridden with the nose up front and the tail in the back. Riding switch isn’t out of the cards on a directional board, but it’s definitely trickier than on a twin shape. The hole patterns may be “setback” on directional boards, meaning the bindings will sit slightly towards the tail—this can help provide stability and float while improving turning ability. Directional boards typically (but not always) have stiffer, stubbier tails and softer, longer noses. Freeride and all-mountain shapes most often utilize this design.
Directional Twin: When twin shapes have a directional flex pattern, or directional boards have a twin flex pattern, they’re known as directional twins. Manufacturers mix and match flex and shape to enhance certain aspects of board design. For example, a twin shape with a directional flex pattern might offer more turning stability than an average true twin shape, or a directional board with a twin flex pattern might be better suited to ride switch than a directional board with a corresponding directional flex pattern.
Asymmetrical Shapes: In recent years, asymmetrical designs have become hot ticket items. Since snowboarders are, unlike skiers, positioned sideways, the logic stands that we treat heelside turns differently than toeside turns. In fact, most snowboarders notice that toeside turns are much easier to initiate than their weaker heelside counterparts. By making the core softer and more forgiving at the heel and/or implementing a shorter heelside sidecut, board manufacturers are enabling riders to balance out the anatomical differences between turns.
There are two types of flex to a snowboard: longitudinal and torsional.
Longitudinal Flex: runs the length of the board and is directly related to the amount of pop a board provides. Think of this as the vertical axis of flex.
Torsional Flex: occurs at the torso, or the waist of the board, and is most directly related to a board’s turning ability. Think of this as the horizontal axis of flex.
The sidecut refers to the depth of the curve along the board’s sidewalls (measured by the radius of an arc). Sidecut directly relates to turning ability: a shallow, long sidecut makes long, gradual turns while a deep, short sidecut turns more sharply. Of course, these days there are progressive sidecuts that combine the two (shallow and deep arcs) as well as boards with multiple contact points (think Lib-Tech’s Magne-Traction) where the sidecut is engineered from multiple arcs.
When we talk about a board’s profile, we’re discussing how it looks if you lay the board flat, close one eye, and look at it from the side. Shape is an important factor to consider when analyzing how a board will perform in various conditions, but the conversation is incomplete without discussing a board’s camber profile, as this is the true determinant of how a board will engage with the snow. It’s also crucial in determining a board’s effective edge, i.e. where the board is in contact with the snow.
Camber: When a snowboard with a traditional camber profile lies flat, the center of the board is raised while contact with the ground is made outside of the binding inserts, like an upside down “U.” Camber naturally arches upward and flexes downward under pressure, putting the board’s edges on snow and improving both grip and turning control. The release of this downward pressure adds to the board’s pop.
Rocker: The polar opposite of camber, rocker naturally arches downward and flexes upward under pressure (a regular “U” shape, as it were). When lying flat, rocker snowboards have a single point of contact between the binding inserts while nose and tail are raised. This keeps the board’s edges off snow, adding playfulness and improving float in deep snow. Rocker is also known as reverse camber.
Hybrids: Many snowboards are engineered with both rocker and camber, sometimes even multiple instances of each. For example, a board might have rocker in the middle of the board and just outside the feet, with camber sections in between. Different combinations allow boards to excel in distinctive conditions and terrain.
Photo Credit: Drew Zieff
If only there were some magical formula to figuring out snowboard sizing! Unfortunately, it’s a complex and imperfect art, as it’s namely a matter of personal preference. However, there are a few things you can consider to make finding the right size a little bit easier.
Height: Back in the day, if the board was between your chin and nose, that was considered an apt enough fit. While it’s helpful to start there to get a general sense for snowboard sizing, it’s important to dive deeper.
Weight: Your height doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s much more important to consider weight. Logically speaking, you’ll size up if you’re on the heavy side, size down if you’re a featherweight. Check out this table from our good friends at Backcountry for a weight-based approach to snowboard sizing.
Width: Do you have big old boots? Check the waist width of the board you’re looking at. Depending on the model, you may need to consider sizing up into a Mid-Wide or Wide board.
Riding Style: Riding style is everything. Freestylers size down for spins and jibs, freeriders size up for stability, speed, and float—all-mountain riders hang in between.
Surface Area: A new generation of retro, surf-inspired shred sticks are putting more volume in the waist of the board, with less of an emphasis on length. The same float is delivered in a surfier, whippier package. Size down, and slash to your heart’s content.
Each board we test is evaluated against five major attributes. We then select one key attribute in which each board excelled and listed it below in each board review.
Pop
Does the board snap off the lip of a jump? On flat ground, can it pop an ollie with ease? Freestyle boards often score well in this category.
Stability
Can this deck ride out of sketchy landings? Is it trustworthy in no fall zones? When push comes to shove, is the board you want underneath your feet in a hairy situation? Directional sticks often score high here.
Turning Ability
Can this board lay a trench across fresh corduroy? Does it carve well? Does it instill confidence to rail turns or does it scrub out and leave you wanting more?
Float
Let’s talk powder. Does the board keep your legs from burning up after a run in the deep stuff? Does the camber profile allow the board to be easily engaged in powder, or do you need to muscle it around?
Versatility
Can it handle the cliffs, the park, and everything in between? Is it a relentless workhorse, or does it shy away from certain zones of the resort? All-mountain boards do well in this category.
Photo Credit: Lio DelPiccolo
One of the best women’s snowboards Active Junky has ever tested, the Lib Tech Dynamiss is absolutely dynamite. New to the Lib Tech line this year, this affordable all-mountain board is built with versatility in mind. The C3 camber profile sandwiches mild rocker between two camber sections, and the profile delivers both leverage in powder and precision on groomers, making the Dynamiss a perfect one-deck quiver for resort riders, itinerant snowboarders, and those shopping on a budget.
Lib’s lauded Magne-traction edges further enable riders to dominate technical terrain and rail photo-friendly turns down perfect cordoruy. As far as the shape goes, the setback is minimal and the nose of the Dynamiss is almost imperceptibly wider than the tail, which helps add float in powder without mitigating the ability to spin and ride switch.
Thankfully, Lib refrained from giving the Dynamiss a candy-coated, cavity-inducing paint job—instead, legendary freerider and spray can virtuoso Jamie Lynn graced the Dynamiss’s with a sleek, dark cat that our testers found delightfully spooky.
Pros:
Testers dug the Dynamiss’s do-it-all capabilities. After all, while we might want to have a quiver of three or more boards, sometimes one is all we can afford. We loved the Dynamiss’s mid-stiff flex, grippy, reliable edge-hold, and stability both in freeride and freestyle scenarios. From railing turns down steep groomers and launching off cat tracks to muscling the Dynamiss through choppy chunder, this new Lib Tech wowed each and every tester who was lucky enough to ride it.
Cons:
While testers were impressed on the Lib Tech Dynamiss’s stability at speed, a couple noted that they weren’t blown away by the pop. This was the one area that some testers felt the Dynamiss was lacking, but they acknowledged that they were nitpicking to find anything wrong with this stallion of a snowboard.
Tester Quotes:
“The all-mountain rider that wants to have one board to take on everything? On a hill with varied terrain? The Dynamiss is calling your name. You don’t even need to check the weather or conditions—grab the Dynamiss and get out there.”
“I could take any turn in any conditions and that Magne-traction sucked my edge down and held beautifully.”
Key Attribute: Versatility
Why We’re Stoked:
A ripping women’s board that doesn’t have pink or purple graphics? We’re sold. Oh, and if you’re a dude that’s looking for a similarly radical and versatile snowboard, we’d be remiss not to point you towards the Lib Tech Dynamo [LINK]. The Dynamo is the men’s version of the Dynamiss, and you’ll often see it underneath the feet of PNW wunderkind Austen Sweetin.
A new deck in the Never Summer line, the West Bound takes the fun-loving, pow-slaying hybrid camber profile of the Shaper Series and brings it to a more pragmatic all-mountain design. Before we dive deeper on the West Bound, a shout-out to the Colorado brand’s Shaper Series.
The Shaper Twin is a rad, wide board that’s at home all over the resort and shines in the terrain park. The Swift is one of our favorite surf-inspired directional powder boards—and it also comes in a fantastic splitboard. The funky Insta/Gator is a blast to carve on corduroy. The point is, Never Summer’s Shaper Series is on point, so when they brought the Fusion Rocker Camber Profile over to the West Bound, we were understandably hyped.
The Fusion Rocker Camber Profile is built around a standard rocker zone between the feet, which is sandwiched by camber sections. What distinguishes the profile is the extended flat transition area in the nose of the board—the setback, directional design improves buoyancy in powder, without causing the board to wash out in hardpack.
Pros:
While the West Bound is an all-mountain deck, the profile enables surfy turns in deeper snow. Never Summer judges the board mid-firm and in the middle of the road for dampness—for the most part, testers felt this combination helped balance playfulness and stability.
A burly big mountain rider, however, judged the West Bound a little more flexible tip-to-tail than advertised and said, “She leans to the tricky side of shred, but has the stability to take the tricks to bigger slopes.” Consensus was that poppy take-offs and secure landings are within reach on the West Bound.
Testers were also hyped on the West Bound’s Vario Sidecut. The multi-radius sidecut’s edge-hold provided grip while euro-carving groomers and peace of mind when dipping off-piste into nightmarish refrozen chunder.
Cons:
Those who are lighter may find the West Bound a touch stiff for playful all-mountain riding. Similarly, some backseat-heavy riders who are used to camber-dominant shapes might be put off by the flat transition area in the front of the board, which can cause unwanted hang-ups if you aren’t careful.
Tester Quotes:
“A versatile board that can cater to most scenarios—a very satisfactory pocketknife to go and do what you want on the mountain.”
Key Attribute: Versatility
Rossignol’s Sushi has been a mainstay in powderhounds’ quivers since its launch a few years ago. We’re fans of the Sushi’s big, fat nose and wide outline—it’s a ton of fun in powder and surprisingly shreds groomers, too. This year, we got excited to see Rossignol expand their experimental Sushi line with the addition of the Sashimi.
Sushi, Sashimi… there’s a theme going on here, yeah? Like the Sushi, the Sashimi is short, fat, and built for use in deep powder hot spots like Japan. Designed with freeride phenom Xavier De Le Rue, Rossignol claims the Sashimi sits as a cross between Xavier’s big mountain knife, the XV, and the Sushi. It makes sense: the new shape is slimmer than the Sushi and wider and more flexible than the ultra-stiff XV. For many riders, the Sashimi will be more of a daily driver than the Sushi or the XV. The XV is a rad board, but if we’re not riding steep and technical lines, there are definitely other more friendly shapes that we’d rather be riding on a powder day—the Sashimi included.
Pros:
As the wide, directional shape suggests, the Sashimi is well-prepared for deep conditions, and testers were most impressed by the shape’s ability to float surfy turns. The long, wide, scoopy nose is rockered, which helps the Sashimi plow through pow, while camber makes up the majority of the board and enables carving enthusiasts to put the Sashimi on rail. For those who love to nerd out on camber profiles, Rossignol’s Amptek Elite allocates 30% rocker at the nose, 60 % camber in the center of the board, and 10% rocker in the tail.
Compared to the Sushi, the Sashimi is narrower and a little quicker edge to edge, but still encourages surf-inspired turns and laidback, stylish carves. Like the XV, the Sashimi has a “reverse directional flex” pattern, which essentially focuses stiffness at the front foot. The directional, setback shape allows for backseat riding in deeper snow—and this is where the Sashimi is at its best. However, in techy terrain or garbage, choppy snow, the stiff zone underneath the front foot helps riders drive turns, transfer energy, and make it home safe and sound.
Cons:
While testers found the Sashimi a fun board after a solid storm, they weren’t keen to rely on the new Rossi in subpar snow. Also, in purely deep powder days, we prefer the wider, more heavily tapered Sushi. The Sashimi can be a daily driver, but perhaps only if you are a fair-weather snowboarder or call Hokkaido home. It is also not the most energetic when it comes to ollie power.
Tester Quotes:
“I’m not a huge directional fan, but this board was versatile enough to accommodate my style.”
“This board floats over powder like oil over water. It also rips groomers with a purpose, but isn’t ideal in chop.”
Key Attribute: Float
Why We’re Stoked:
We love seeing more short and wide shapes on the market. Unless you’re spending a bunch of time in the terrain park, they’re often more fun to ride—especially when the conditions are all-time. The Sashimi is another board, like the Sushi, that deserves a spot in the quiver. Plus, Rossignol has kept both the Sushi and the Sashimi reasonably affordable, which helps make the case if you’re considering adding a short, fat, floaty deck to the quiver for deeper days.
Also, this year Rossignol dropped a women’s version of the Sashimi, so ladies can get on the pow train, too.
Weston’s Japow is a modern take on the classic swallowtail. One glimpse of the Japow and it’s obvious that this thing is meant for deep snow and face shots. Weston used to be a fairly underground brand, but the Japow is just one of the boards that’s put the small Colorado company on the map. (The Backwoods, is another one of our favorite Weston shapes—it’s more versatile than the Japow but still purpose-built for blower snow.) However, when ski resort snowstakes get buried and winter storm warnings threaten to break the stoke-o-meter, the Weston Japow is the board we want to be riding.
Pros:
The swallowtail has a 25mm taper and the stance is naturally set deep in the backseat. Your rear binding is positioned next to the deeply cut, carbon-reinforced “V” tail. That stance positioning, combined with a wide, rockered nose and the cutaway tail shape helps the Japow surf through any depth of powder. We rode this shape in bottomless snow last season and were beyond impressed by the board’s buoyancy as well as its handling on hardpack.
Many powder-specific shapes float well in deep snow, but the Weston stood apart with its ability to tackle marginal conditions. The spoon-shaped nose is rockered, which delivers that float, but the broad section of camber underneath the bindings helps the Japow engage on groomers, too. We were impressed by the quick edge-to-edge transitions—this board truly carves up a storm if there’s no fresh storm snow to be had.
Given the nature of the short, stubby tail, you wouldn’t expect there to be much in terms of stability. However, Weston reinforced the tail with two strips of carbon, and the result is surprising ollie power and stability.
Cons:
Riding switch on this shape is a big no-no—you’re liable to get hung-up and might have to hitch a ride in the back of a ski patrol sled down to the base. Other than that, we have few negative comments to relay about the Japow.
Tester Quotes:
“In deep snow, nothing turns like this swallow tail. From laying down trenches on groomers and rippin’ roostertails in powder to hucking methods off of natural features, this deck gives me everything I want and more. It’s stable, fast, poppy (enough, given the short tail), and beyond everything else, it’s tons of fun. I can’t recommend it more highly.”
Key Attribute: Float
Why We’re Stoked:
One of the best powder boards we’ve ever tested, the Weston Japow is the ultimate addition to your quiver. We’re also stoked because the Weston Japow is available as a splitboard. As a resort board, the Japow is awesome, but in the backcountry, the swallow tail is truly in its element. Deep, untracked snow and the Japow are a match made in heaven, so if backcountry and blower get you hyped, be sure to track down a Japow split.
Ask any longtime snowboarder: chances are they’ve ridden a Burton Custom before, and chances are they loved it, too. In fact, the Custom has been a part of the Burton lineup for over two decades. Since ’96, the Custom’s all-terrain versatility has made the deck a favorite of shredders who want and need one board for every single day on the mountain. The capable directional shape has an almost indiscernible setback stance, equally wide nose and tail, and a twin flex, meaning that the Burton staple can tackle straight lines and still spin and stomp switch in the park.
Burton offers the Custom in a couple different camber profiles: the classic, traditionally cambered Custom (better edge hold, preferred by euro carvers and hard-charging pros who lay lines in the pipe) and the hybrid, rockered Custom Flying V (more float, more playful, better performance in pow). Either way you decide to ride, these Burton decks make sweet single-board quivers.
We tested the traditionally cambered Custom—the board of choice for all-mountain slayer, style guru, and Olympian Ben Ferguson—in Crested Butte’s early season powder, icy chunder, tight trees, fresh groomers, and small-to-medium terrain park features.
Pros:
This board kills everything in sight. While there are boards in this buyer’s guide that we prefer in specialized situations, the Custom is one of our top picks for a single-board quiver.
On groomers, the extended grippy Frostbite edges underneath the bindings provide excellent purchase, and that combined with the traditional camber profile allows you to lean into and rail carves. Testers agreed that carving ability was the most attractive aspect of this deck.
Powerful twin flex makes the Custom a predictable deck when landing and riding switch, and one tester cited the tail as having “big boosting potential” when loaded up. The setback is mellow (-12.5mm), but the directional shape makes quick work of powder, bumped-out chop, and variable conditions of all creeds. The Custom has a new modern look, with a slightly blunted tip and tail adding a touch of float in deep stuff.
Cons:
Those grippy edges can definitely bite back if you’re not paying attention. Float isn’t delivered in spades due to the full camber build. Also, and this is an old argument, but the Burton Channel system is a pro for some, and a con for others. If you have Burton EST bindings, this is a go, otherwise, Burton’s Re:Flex bindings are sweet because you can use them with boards from other brands that possess a typical 4-hole binding pattern.
Tester Quote: “The core provides a delightfully damp landing platform, and the classic camber profile and mid flex won't surprise when you take off.”
Key Attribute: Turning Ability
Why We’re Stoked: After more than twenty years, the Custom’s always a favorite.
Dragging your hand on a turn? Awesome. Dragging your toes on a turn? Awful. Big feet can make purchasing a snowboard a nightmare. By the time you find that deck that has all the features and traits you’re looking for, chances are, it’s a bit too narrow. For folks who don’t have Shaq-sized feet but are still on the larger-than-convenient side of the spectrum, Capita’s Warpspeed is an excellent mid-wide ripper.\
As with many wide or mid-wide decks, the Warpspeed is built off of some of Capita’s most lauded shapes. The multiple-radius progressive sidecut is architected from the Supernova, and the camber profile is borrowed from the award-winning Black Snowboard of Death.
Although it’s on the wide side, the Warpspeed’s damp core is very responsive torsionally, and snappy enough to whip edge-to-edge. Responsive turn initiation and explosive carves are supplied by the rockered nose, a slightly-cambered sidewall that locks in tight, and steel edges throughout.
The process of turning is the first thing you learn on a snowboard, but it’s one of the hardest things to perfect. When the Warpspeed’s mid-stiff flex, hybrid camber profile, and sidecut shape harmonize, you can really style out your carves and work on getting lower than Lil John back in 2002.
Let’s talk camber for a moment: the Warpspeed’s profile is far from simple. Starting at the upturned tail, there’s a short rocker section, a slightly longer flat camber section, positive camber between the feet for those locked-in money carves, and finally reverse camber at the nose for float. Similarly, the Warpspeed is no slouch under the hood, either, as Carbon Vs and Bamboo rods brace the board under the bindings to reduce chatter and increase pop.
For the capable rider, this whip will work its way through all terrain and snow conditions. It’s not always a graceful ride, but it will manhandle and maul any obstacle in its path.
If you’re a lightweight rider or an intermediate who craves a forgiving deck, look elsewhere. This deck demands your attention: it’ll dish out Capita punishment to those who don’t commit to their lines going in and out of turns, especially in tracked-out, variable snow. Also, unless you’re straight-airing jumps, this isn’t a board you want to rock in the park.
“The wider frame slows turn transition just a hair, but it’s nice having your toes a little further from the edge when your trying to shave your armpit on the corduroy.”
“The Warpspeed is an all-mountain beast with a camber pattern that seeks side pow, soft mogul lines, and natural booters.”
Key Attribute: Stability
Why We’re Stoked: If you have a size 11 or bigger, get off that regular deck and hop on a Warpspeed. You can thank us later.
New to the Rome lineup this year is the National (it was dropped in an early release limited edition run in 2017)—an all-mountain freestyle deck that’s at home all over the hill. Designed with the likes of legend Bjorn Leines, who has mastered every facet of snowboarding over his storied career, from park jumps and street rails to spine lines and backcountry step-downs, this new positive camber deck immediately captivated our test team.
We tested the 156, which has a single carbon rod down the center of the deck, a trait shared with the rest of the range aside from the 158, a Bjorn-developed special edition with double arced rods adding even more snap to the package. While we didn’t get a chance to test Bjorn’s special edition, we loved the 156’s playful pop, impressive turning ability, and pliable positive camber profile.
The blunt tip and tail are rockered for float and fluid turn engagement, but camber’s at the heart of this creation, providing stability and pop by the bucketload. Rome calls the board a 7/10 on the stiffness scale, though if anything our testers thought that was a bit high, citing a soft tail as butter-friendly and the aptly-named SuperPop Core Matrix poppy enough to air over any slow signs in sight.
The board crushed moguls, as the SinterStrong Sidewalls are durable and damp enough to regain an edge quickly after a high-speed bobble. Also, while the width of the tip and tail are the same, the nose is slightly longer, supplying some powder proficiency without drastically minimizing the ability to ride switch. In fact, that longer nose isn’t noticeable until you are riding switch through moguls (it can be a bit draggy) or riding regular through pow, when those extra millimeters make a big difference.
After wielding this all-mountain deck in more technical, icy, and steep terrain, our testers craved more aggressive torsional stiffness. While the National could straight-line out of mogul lines with ease, our testers noted that it scrubbed out on a couple chundery big mountain landings.
Tester Quote: “A poppy playful stick that rails and responds, grips and rips.”
Key Attribute: Versatility
Why We’re Stoked: Speed and style are a timeless combination, and hopefully this new Rome deck stays in the line for a while.
This flat-based deck is lightweight and whippy in the park, and it works magic on boxes, rails, jumps, and jibs. But what’s most surprising about this board is its ability to rail turns like an all-mountain board. For turning the entire mountain into a jib festival, this is a deck you want to consider. Plus, Public is a small, core company—the kind of company that contributes to the lifeblood of snowboarding.
Pros:
You don’t need to be a park purist to like this board. This board earned tens from testers who only dabble in the park at the bottom of steeper, more technical terrain. It’s rare that a park board can stand up to those discerning testers, however, the Public’s flat camber profile and surprising edge-hold makes for a winning combo.
The True Twin shape is perfect for swapping between switch and regs, while Urethane sidewalls lock in to carves with surprising confidence, making messing around across the entire mountain acrobatic and entertaining. This might not be the poppiest board we’ve tested, but it’s certainly up there, and the ollie power under the hood is incredibly easy to engage. Public injected the deck with explosive flex in the tip and tail, adding a strength you might not know existed to your ollies, nollies, and butters.
Cons:
Some revert-ready rail riders may prefer a more forgiving board for buttering with abandon, but in truth, our test team dug the 6/10 stiffness of this deck. It’s not often you see carbon stringers laid up in a jibby park deck, but this comes down to a matter of preference, and we love the stiffness of the Display. The flat profile does decently in powder, and the Display is a great option for a backcountry booter session, but it’s not going to be your first choice on a powder day if big lines are on the horizon. Again, not necessarily a negative here… If you can't tell, we don’t really have any negative feedback for this board.
Tester Quote: “This deck really does convert the whole mountain into a terrain park. I love the landing abilities, it’s super stable, but that pop is just out of this world.”
Key Attribute: Pop
Best For: For an all-mountain rider with freestyle roots, this board is one of our favorites. Butter out of carves, pretzel off rails, snap ollies off rollers, you name it—this Darrell Mathes pro model gets the job done.
Why We’re Stoked: It’s a jibby jump board that excels way beyond the boundaries of the park.
