How To Choose The Right Snowboard

So you've spent some time on the snow, done your time with rentals and you're ready to stop throwing your money away on sub-par gear and get your very own setup. Maybe you haven't been to the snow yet but want to dive in head-first and start your snowboard journey on the best possible gear. We can help!

For first-timers, or people who aren't up to speed on the world of snowboarding, getting into the sport can be an overwhelming experience. Technical terms, sizing, brands, all of it can get super confusing, daunting, and turn you off the whole thing. Well, read on and we'll make sure you come out with a great setup, and a clearer idea of what you're getting and why.

Step 1. Find your size

This goes for your snowboard, and your boots. Find your boot size first, and then find your board size.

Click here for our boot fit guide

Click here for our snowboard size guide

Your boot size will influence your board size, so we always recommend sorting this out first and then moving onto your snowboard and bindings.

Step 2. Find your riding style

Your riding style comes down to where you like to ride. If you haven't been to the snow much, or at all, you're going to want an easy-riding beginner board. If you're stepping up off rental gear, you might want a board that will help you push your riding in certain areas (park, high-speeds, butters, etc.), or an all-mountain board that can do a bit of everything.

Here's a very general idea of what boards will fit into what categories:

Beginner

Soft flex
Reverse, Hybrid-Reverse, or flat camber profile
Cheaper price

Intermediate

Mid flex
Hybrid or flat camber profile
Mid-priced

Advanced

Stiff flex
Positive/Traditional camber profile
Mid-high price

Now this is a general idea so won't apply to all boards and all styles. An advanced rider might prefer a softer board for better tweaks and bigger presses on rails, and there are soft flexing boards that have a positive camber profile that would be suitable for early intermediate riders. Snowboarding isn't black and white, and isn't one-size-fits-all.

Before you settle on what kind of board you want, be real with yourself. You might dream of the X Games or dropping cliffs in the backcountry, but if you're sticking to the groomers and not keeping up with the pros, you probably don't need a pro-calibre snowboard. A board that's suited for your skill level will accelerate your progression and get you to where you want to be faster, while a board that's too advanced will be harder to ride and won't let you do what you want until you get to its level.

Step 3. Choosing your board

Now for the fun part! So you know what size you need, you know what your style is, now we can find a board.

If this is your first time, you can't go wrong with one of our Snowboard Packages. These will help take the guesswork out of picking your own snowboard, bindings, and boots, and you'll save some money too.

If you want to broaden your options, take a look at our Beginner Snowboard Range. Here you'll find a wide range of brands and prices, so you're sure to find something that will catch your eye. A snowboard from this range will generally be a bit more expensive, but will be better quality, more durable, and will usually last you longer in terms of skill.

Bindings and boots

Your boots are extremely important, so we always recommend coming in store to try some boots on and make sure you get the right fit. If this isn't possible, then choose your preferred lacing system, style, and most importantly, your preferred flex. Similar to snowboards, softer boots will be easier for beginners, stiff boots will be better for advanced riders.

Bindings are the same, and should be close to the flex of your board and boots. Pair a soft board with soft bindings and a soft boot, and you've got a easy-riding setup that will allow you to progress your riding without punishing mistakes while you learn.