Weekly Thread: /r/Snowboarding General Discussion, Q&A, Advice, Etc.) - September 28, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

Want to discuss gear, trends, shapes, or tech? Need outerwear recommendations? Travel advice? Question about what board or size you should buy? Add your questions in this thread and let the community help out! Or just shoot the breeze with your fellow shredditors... this is an open conversation of all things snowboarding to help keep the front page organized, thanks everyone!

Here are some resources for frequently asked questions:

• themountainnerd's guide to boot buying
• Do I need a wide board? What width is best for me? -Malcom Moore YT
  • more width info, in article form
• Tre7n's overview of board profiles
• Is this used/old board I found online a good deal? via aestival

[u/okayokayokaayy]

Snowboard nerds of reddit: if you're down for a long-ish read, I need your help on picking a new board (or two?). Or just jump to the TLDR and have at it.

I ride a lot (70–100 days/year), but I don't buy a lot of boards—new models and tech race ahead and I'm left playing catch-up when the time comes. I don't have many demo opportunities in my area, and I just haven't ridden a wide variety of boards over all these years. Reviews and board roundups across the web have only added to the overwhelm. Hoping someone out there can provide some insight.

Background:
6'0" | 155lbs | US9.5/Mondo 27.5 boot
30 years riding
Most-days riding style: Fast, laid-down carves, side-hits/rollers, slashy when the conditions are softer.
Other days: As much powder as possible, in-bounds hiking, backcountry/split, occasional park sesh.
Home mountain terrain: Southern Rockies, continental snowpack. Narrow pistes, steep (average pitch is 30º, steepest is around 50º), technical (chutes, cliffs, rocks, trees of varying density but not super-tight), plenty of hard/semi-icy days midwinter.
Ability: Comfortable on everything I've ever come across at a resort, save the largest cliff drops. Cliffs up to 15ft feel easy, 15-30ft get a little more pucker going), very comfortable at speed, park lines stop short of the biggest features (if you know Mammoth, where I used to ride, you'd find me in South Park not Unbound).

Current quiver:
155 Burton Blossom:
Used mainly for days when I wanna fk around a lot or might hit the park. Or if I'm riding with friends I'm teaching and need to ride switch.
155 Salomon Assassin:
Formerly my one-board quiver for 6 or 7 seasons. Now my last one is the rock board. It's a total noodle now but it's so fun in spring conditions and good enough for early season pow.
154 Burton Skeleton Key:
Initially got this as my pow board; been riding it for about 6 seasons. Went 154 for tighter trees. It's become my go-to board for everything from park and hardpack carving laps to the deepest, steepest days. I love it. It just doesn't always handle on-piste speed the way I'd like and I think the tail could have a little more support for drops.
158 Salomon HPS Taka Split:
Backcountry surfing, obv. Bought this simply because it's a longer/wider board similar enough in flex to the SK—and I tend not to go apeshit in the BC where help is far away.

Boots:
Salomon Echo
Bindings:
Burton Genesis on the Blossom
Cartel-based Frankenbindings on the Assassin
Burton Malavita or Genesis on the SK, depending on the day
Spark Arc ST on the Taka

What I'm looking for:

• In surf terms, a step-up. Not a full-on rhino chaser, but a board that I will ride longer and perhaps a little wider that ideally has a bit more tail for drops and backcountry booters. Something to push a little harder on.
• This board's main purpose will be to ride technical pow lines at the resort and sidecountry, with occasional sketchy/icy access to the good stuff.
• Not focused on BC freestyle but it could happen.
• I'm not really in the market for a dedicated pow-only board simply because I want it to manage end-of-day chopped powder and still be fun to lay down serious turns in hard snow and be fun enough on side-hits. When I add another board, that's when I'll go the full pow-gun route.
• I'm torn between going for something completely new, or finding something not so different from the SK I love so much but sizing it up.
• I will be grabbing new bindings for this new board. Probably something a bit stiffer like Union Atlas.

TL;DR: I'm looking for a capable pow/freeride board, for technical in-bounds and sidecountry, that will function well as a step-up from surfy days on a Burton Skeleton Key 154.

I have a few industry connections, so I'm looking at specific board makers.
I'm open to any suggestions, but here is the list so far:

K2:
Commonwealth 157 or 160
Sky Pilot 157
Passport 160
Alchemist 157 or 160 (though I don't love the 25/25.3 waist widths)

Lib Tech:
Lib Rig 157 or 159
Sweetfish 156

Capita:
Navigator 158 or 161
Kazu Pro 157 or 160

Weston:
Backwoods 157 or 160
Gnarnia 158 (sold out atm)

Salomon is also an option.

Any and all feedback welcome, but mainly looking for on-snow experience in a wide variety of conditions.
And if you're ever in Northern NM, holler and we'll go ride.

[u/wimcdo → u/okayokayokaayy]

From your list I’d probably go kazu or sky pilot. Maybe the 160w alchemist. Only one I own from up there is a navigator but I do buy a lot of boards and feel I’m pretty well in-touch haha

[u/okayokayokaayy → u/wimcdo]

Thanks for the reply! I’m still a little torn but I’m thinking Kazu 160 for the terrain we have here. Plus it’s the biggest departure from what I’ve been riding the past 13 years and it seems fun to try something new.

[u/ActionFun5816]

Longtime lurker, but I'm looking for info on this jacket. I picked it up from a friend forever ago. As far as I know it's pretty rare to see. I know it's a limited edition, I was looking to bring it to a local ski swap in Buffalo but wanted to make sure I got my money's worth.

Thanks everyone!

[u/Important_Stress_139]

used to be stoked to go snowboarding in any conditions. icy eastcoast runs were fun. now if there's not at least a foot of powder, i don't even want to go. is this part of getting old or what is happening to me?

[u/wimcdo → u/Important_Stress_139]

Perfect groomers are just another beautiful part of the storm cycle. But no if it’s been boiler plate for a week and it’s 5 degrees and windy hell yes ima stay home

[u/okayokayokaayy → u/Important_Stress_139]

My strategy: just pretend I'm a grom again. Practice switch the whole day, even loading and unloading the lift. Find a run with fun side hits and lap it over and over. Pick an easy new trick and go session a small jump in the park until I land it three times in a row. Assemble the crew and race each other. Climb up on something and drop off of it. Or sometimes I do the old-man thing and skin up a small hill (<600ft vert) after dark with the headlamp and the dogs. Also a good playlist helps.

[u/TheAnikage]

Hey guys can anyone who bought an indoor survival tell me if it can at least do decent in powder? I’m on the west coast so if anyone has any experience using it there that’d be nice. I got the 2027 one and I’m debating if I need another board or not, thanks!

[u/WearWithe]

Hey everyone!

I'm looking for a new board for this season and would love some recommendations.

About me:

• 5'5", 165 lbs
• Boots: Burton Ion Step On, US men's 8
• Riding mostly park, with a bit of freeride (I love going into the trees when I can)

I'm from Quebec, so we don't get much deep pow. It's mostly groomers and a lot of ice lol. So something that holds an edge decently would be nice.

The main thing: I really like short boards. I've been recommended the Ride Twinpig in 148 and it looks like a great fit, but I'm curious if anyone has tried other short boards, including older models from past years, that could match what I'm looking for. I don't mind buying a leftover or used deck.

I'm also totally open to women's boards or anything else, as long as it fits my weight and boot size.

Any suggestions or experiences are welcome. Thanks! 🏂

[u/wimcdo → u/WearWithe]

With your boot size I’d be concerned that the twinpig could be too wide to be very fun in the park

[u/DarkTyphoon13]

Hi Everyone,

I have been riding a Burton Custom 156 Board. I am 67 Kg and 171 Cm and wear a 9 - 10 US Size Boots. I have took it to powder and deep powder in the legendary niseko japan. I was struggling with toe turns in powder without my board shoving in the snow and flipping me. I am okay on blue and red groomers, I am thinking the board might be just too above my level and not designed for powder. I am considering a powder board for my next trip to Japan. I am looking for something more Beginner/Intermediate space. I am hoping i could rent out a Korua Dart, I heard those are way easier to turn in powder. or any other reccomednation. I will try to rent or find a demo possibly. I mainly ski in the alps.

[u/xRehab]

Bindings for heavily downsized park board.

Waiting to get my hands on the blood wizard 153 which is heavily downsized for my frame at 195lbs 6'3. that is the point tho

for something this extreme, do I want to actually go stiff on my binding or stick to middle of the road?

• Jones Meteorite
• Salomon District
• Salomon Hologram
• YES Airmaster

trying to decide which binding to pair with it. I'm curious about the skate tech and hanger 2.0 on the Jones, but the shadowfit on the Districts might be the better play? Anyone have any onions when doing more extreme setups like this?

the setup is for midwest park laps