Snowboard Buying Guide this Winter

Looking at Beijing 2022’s snowboard sports stats and schedule left you wishing you are balancing on a board right now.

Well, winter in the Northern Hemisphere is still far from over which means you have all the time in the world to do winter sports.

Take action before your board gets all rusty and nasty, or, if you are a beginner, the euphoria dies down.

There are varied sports we could check out during this cold season. Among these are ice skating, ice hockey, skiing, and snowboarding.

But among these, the latter gets the majority of adrenaline junkies’ attention due to the thrill that comes with it.

Oops! Not so fast. Venturing into it is not as easy as you think it would be.

First of all, know that snowboarding requires some basic training as it involves a lot of movement and balancing.

You have to train and achieve that quick reaction time which will save you from falling off your arse more times than you’d like.

If you skipped on leg day for long, it is time to brush up on some squats before you dive right in.

Read more on our Men’s Winter Fashion Recommendations.

Board Sizing

Also, good knowledge of selecting the right board will save you a lot of work. It could get overwhelming at times since you want to get the one that is most perfect for you in all aspects.

For beginners, scoring your first board does not have to be too technical. The important thing for our newbies here is to get you to feel what it feels like to ride aboard.

Due to this consideration, you have to tailor your equipment’s measurements based on the basic requirements of your body. This could be your height or your weight. Also, your boot size has a lot to do with the width of the wood—not too wide, not too narrow, just the right width.

For intermediate to advance level players, you are safe to make a choice not only on your personal measurements. It could also come based on your ability level.

People who have gone past the painful board-falling moments are now free to select a gear based on the riding they resonate with best.

Here is a list of the most common snowboard types and our recommendations thereafter.

While the list for our Best Winter Boots is Here.

Types of Snowboards

As mentioned, different occasions call for different equipment. The most common types are all-mountain, freestyle, and freeride snowboards.

They may look quite the same at first glance, but each is created to serve different purposes.

All-Mountain Snowboard

Hurrah for our beginners out here, we start off with the most friendly type of all.

The all-mountain type could stand on any type of terrain and offers versatility, especially if you plan to ride at moderate speeds.

For those not unsure yet on which one to get, the hard and fast rule is to get all-mountain. It works great on mountains, powder snows, and any lumpy and bumpy roads in between.

They code-switch between directional riding, meaning they can only be ridden in one direction. Or twin riding, letting the user ride backward using the tail as the point of direction.

These types are usually narrower and flatter on the tail compared to the front. With this, you will find all-mountain boards more balanced on the tail which takes riding pointing backward a great experience overall.

Arbor Foundation 

Pros: low price point + made from sustainable materials

Cons: offers no special feature which means it is limited to beginner users for the most part

For our all-mountain category, we highly recommend the Arbor Foundation snowboard. This bad boy is easy to control which gives users a no-frills, catch-free experience.

In terms of fundamentals, we are quite surprised that it turned out to be very versatile.

Its core is made of poplar/paulownia wood blend which is responsible for its lightweight performance, without compromising good durability.

Construction-wise, the use of Biax glassing specifically imitates a park and street-inspired riding. This will thus create good stability for beginners.

Ideal for riders weighing between 118 to 204 pounds, it is one of the most versatile boards available—weight-wise.

Moreover, what sets this board apart from others is its commitment to sustainability. It features the use of recycled steel for its edges while adding natural wax to the base before dispatch.

Offering a three-year warranty shows that Arbor is committed to the quality of its products.

This retails for $330.00 which is one of the lowest-priced all-mountain units you could score on the internet today.

Freestyle Snowboard

Now, we are advancing towards a board that will allow users to make tweaks and tricks here and there.

The Freestyle snowboard is considerably shorter in size since it is designed for quick ride switching and wall rides. Although, it does not allow users to travel as fast as when they are riding the all-mountain type.

This equipment can come in a twin tip or directional variant. The former offers a symmetrical shape between the tip and tail which means it maintains a good balance at the center. This very feature makes it a beginner-friendly board still, despite the significant reduction in length.

It can also be ridden in both directions, whatever the user fancies at a given moment.

Burton Custom X Snowboard

Pros: wide range of size choices + top-class technology use

Cons: high price point + stiffer flex which makes it not friendly for beginners

Upon its launch, the snowboarding community could not stop raving about the Burton Custom X snowboard.

This product made use of the most advanced technology of its kind, featuring a cambered board. This allows a precise, although slightly stiffer turning, which is exactly what intermediate and advanced riders are looking for.

It also has a spring-loaded pop which makes every jump using this board feel like you have a literal spring on your feet.

Did we mention its Dragonfly 600G core? It is so far the strongest and lightest core on the brand’s product lineup.

Sizes come in three different variants namely 150 cm, 158 cm, and 162 cm to cater to a wider set of audiences.

The Burton Custom X is quite pricier compared to its counterparts, priced at $799.95. However, the features you get on this board ensure that you get most of what you pay for.

Freeride Snowboards

We move past our beginner-friendly lineup. Last on our list is reserved for our more aggressive readers who prefer faster, more intense rides.

Freeride snowboards are intended for soft powder and hard-packed snow as it allows greater opportunity for carving. It specifically calls riders who prefer to go off the beaten path, which in snowboarders’ language, the groomed runs.

It features a wider and longer nose, compared to the tail, which makes it ideal for directional riding. Unlike the two former variants, the freeride type only intends to move in one direction.

Meanwhile, what sets it apart from others is a stiff flex which allows greater stability even when riding at faster speeds.

Lib Tech T.Rice Orca Snowboard

Pros: offers MORE FUN as it allows carving

Cons: more specific type + for intermediate to advanced riders only

Known as the king of terrain vehicles, the Lib Tech T.Rice Orca snowboard knows exactly what FUN and EXCITEMENT feel like.

For our beginner community, you are required to clock in more hours before you could advance on using this type.

The core is made up of 60% Aspen and 40% Paulownia which explains the light and smooth glide, with a floaty feel on powder snow.

It has a flex rating of “STIFF,” which means that it is more ability-centric. But moving at high speed has never been this fun before.

It comes in a wide range of sizes from 138 cm to 162 cm and retails for $649.99.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also check out our Top 10 Activities for Men recommendation.

Pinstripe Magazine

Pinstripe Magazine Staff
Online Men’s Lifestyle Magazine on Gear, Grooming, Girls, Gadgets