How, and where we tested
Our snowboard test took place in the lesser-known ‘sweet spot’ of Kaunertal in Austria. The glacier skiing area is the perfect testing ground to put a snowboard through its paces in one epic-sized single run. Just two lifts give you access to powder runs, weather permitting, then onto wide-open pistes, which are great for laying down sweeping carved turns, then into an extensive park which is ideal for tricks and jumps. Finally the run flows into a long and feature-packed piste with natural hits at either side for trying out tricks and having fun. It’s the ultimate test track!
Jones Twin Sister | £420
All-mountain » Advanced » Women » Flex rating 4
The Jones Twin Sister is the closest that anyone has come to cracking the one snowboard that can literally do everything. This board loves powder, piste, jumps, pipe, uneven terrain and even icy conditions with its Jones’ mellow Magne-traction edges.
Nice and light, the Twin Sister’s hybrid camber profile has plenty of pop, which also makes for precise carving. The slight nose and tail rocker means this board feels great in powder, and it’s fast but stable at speed.
Salomon Assassin | £380
All-mountain » Advanced » Men » Flex rating 4
Truly one of the most versatile boards we have tested, the Salomon Assassin is fast thanks to a speedy sintered base, and the hybrid camber gives it plenty of pop but makes it surprisingly forgiving and stable as well.
Cruising down the piste is easy and effortless and the Assassin is manoeuvrable through even the choppiest conditions. It also comes in a Classicks version, which has a little extra horsepower under the hood.
Salomon Gypsy | £330
Freestyle » Advanced » Women » Flex rating 6
‘Easy to ride’ doesn’t even begin to cover it – the Salomon Gypsy carves superbly and is manoeuvrable and catch-free at slower speeds too. Great for learning new tricks, comfort and stability is supreme. Female riders of any ability will love this board.
DC Media Blitz | £390
Freestyle » Advanced/expert » Men » Flex rating 2
If you’re a more experienced rider and love powering through every feature, be it in the park or on the side of the piste, then this powerful, stiff snowboard is a fantastic choice and one of the best boards for hitting jumps we’ve ever ridden.
Jones Mountain Twin | £420
All-mountain » Advanced/expert » Men » Flex rating 4
‘Freestyle meets freeride’ is what Jones says about the Mountain Twin, which they’ve designed to turn the mountain into your personal skatepark. On the mountain this fabulous board is happy in powder, piste, jumps, pipe, uneven terrain and even icy conditions thanks to its Mellow Magne-Traction edges.
Light with plenty of pop thanks to its hybrid camber profile, fast and stable, this might just be one of the best all-mountain boards available.
Jones Mountain Twin full review
Endeavor Nomad | £329
All-mountain » Recreational/Advanced » Women » Flex rating 7
The Nomad is a blast from the first lap. We didn’t ride this board in powder, but all over the rest of the mountain it was fun, forgiving and stable. It was rewarding in the park and even hitting ice wasn’t a problem.
Great for any rider, you’ll find yourself progressing quickly on this board and whether it’s all-mountain or just freestyle you’re after, this board will be amazing at both!
Great graphics and this year it has a channel mounting system similar to Burton's.
Burton Custom X | £520
All-mountain » Advanced/expert » Men » Flex rating 3
The Burton Custom X is undoubtedly one of the best positive camber snowboards on the market with a well established reputation for speed as well!
This aggressive, powerful board delivers long, technical carves and precision speed on demand, and is solid in choppy and icy conditions.
With a positive camber board you’ll always have good pop and although there are better powder boards, the Custom X does well in deep snow too.
Lib Tech T.Rice Pro | £460
All-mountain » Advanced/expert » Men » Flex rating 3
If you want to ride like travis then this is the board for you… The Lib Tech T.Rice Pro has to be tamed but it will give back everything you put into it, especially charging hard.
Lightning fast edge-to-edge, the Magne-Traction also offers incredible edge hold in all conditions. Stable, fast and fun when flying down the piste, its hybrid camber makes it aggressive, great in the pipe, and fantastic off jumps. Only expert chargers need apply.
Lib Tech T.Rice Pro full review
Bataleon Camel Toe | £385
Freeride » Advanced/expert » Men » Flex rating 5
The Camel Toe gives an amazingly playful and surfy feel. The tapered directional shape promotes float in powder and makes this an exceptional big mountain board.Really fun on the piste, even ambitious beginners will enjoy this!
Bataleon Camel Toe full review
Rome Tour | £290
All-mountain » Recreational/Advanced » Men » Flex rating 6
Rome make some amazing boards, but for all-mountain riding the Tour is one of our favourites. Friendly and intuitive to ride, it lets you push yourself a little harder and further every time.
Stable at speed and fairly light, the Tour rides piste and park well and if you get some good snow it performs well in powder too. Although it only has an extruded base, with a good wax the Tour is still fast and will hold its own, not to mention it looks great and is a decent price!
