What Snowboard Size is right for me?

Choosing the right snowboard size can be difficult, and often you'll get a different answer from your mate, your instructor, and a reddit page you found that was created 6 years ago. Here at Melbourne Snowboard Centre we have a simple solution to finding your perfect board size. 

Firstly, try not to get overwhelmed by all the tech talk of cambers, cores, flex ratings, and more. There's so much information out there to digest, but initially you need to consider four main points: 

1. Weight
2. Height
3. Boot Size
4. Ability
5. Where you spend your time riding

Most manufacturers give a recommended rider weight for each snowboard in their range. We have included this data when available on all of our snowboard product pages to make it easier for you to consider your options and find the right board. Keep in mind that this weight range is a suggestion, and does not necessarily apply to all riders of all shapes, sizes, and skill levels. It is a very good place to start, but it also comes down to personal preference. If you find yourself below the weight range the board may feel a bit stiffer, and if you're above the range you might find it rides a bit softer. 

Weight & Height

If this is the first board you're purchasing and you previously hired, you'll be used to the rental place sizing you up and putting you on any board that falls roughly anywhere from your chin to your nose. This is generally fine for an average height/weight rider however, it doesn't take into consideration the most important factor when choosing the correct size snowboard, your weight.

When you're riding your snowboard you're using your weight to control the board, it determines how the board will flex, and your board will never know how tall you are. This is why we always recommend choosing a board on weight and height rather than height alone. 

Where You Ride

This is important because some styles of riding require longer or shorter boards. If you spend more time in the park it is helpful to size down slightly to make quicker turns, faster spins and have more control while buttering through boxes and rails. If you prefer chasing powder and traveling overseas you may want a slightly longer board, the added surface area will help you float above the snow much like a surfboard in water. Typically for the average rider in Australia we recommend a slightly smaller board compared to what we might recommend to someone traveling overseas due to our smaller mountains and tighter runs. 

We recommend following the general size guide below for snowboard sizes, however you should always follow the size guide specific to the snowboard you are looking at for the best match. 

Weight (kg)	Average Board Size (cm)	Board Size Range (cm)
27	95	90-100
32	110	105-115
36	120	115-125
41	130	125-135
45	138	135-140
50	141	138-144
54	143	140-146
59	146	142-148
63	147	144-149
68	149	146-152
73	151	148-154
77	154	151-157
82	155	152-158
86	156	153-159
91	158	155-161
95	160	157-163
100	162	158-165
105	163	159-167
110	164	160-168

 

Do I need a wide board?

When Snowboards say that they are Wide it generally means they are for riders with a size US 12 or bigger. This is a very generalised way of thinking and the true answer lies with the waist width, which is the narrowest part of the board. 

We include the waist width in our snowboard size charts, so make sure you check this as not all snowboards that are technically wide, specify that they are wide. Below is a chart which converts the waist size to shoe sizes, but it is always best to double check the waist size of the board before automatically trusting company's definitions of Wide.

Wide: 260mm+ waist width

• Great for guys size 12 boot (US) and bigger

Mid-Wide: 255-260mm waist width

• Great for mens 10-12 boot (US)

Regular: 245-255mm waist width

• This is where the majority of board sizes sit. Guys with US boot size 8-10 should avoid wider boards. Also women with size 10 boots can also ride these boards.

Narrow: 235-245mm waist width

• This is the size of the majority of women's boards. Some mens boards also fall into this category and can be ridden by men with US size 8 shoe and smaller or any womens boot size. 

Do I have to ride a wide board if I have bigger feet?

You should always try to match your shoe size to the width of the board. Ideally you want a bit of your boot to hang over the board roughly 2-3cm on each side so you can leverage your board from toe-side to heel-side. If your toes and heels hang over too much, they have a chance to catch on the snow and slow you down, affect your turns, and knock you over. If they don't hang over enough, you will have to work much harder just to tip the board on edge. Volume shifted boards, powder boards, carving boards etc. are exceptions to this, and the accepted level of overhang can swing wildly in either direction depending on the board and style of riding. Powder board for example are usually wider than your regular all mountain board in order to help the board float, and tilting your board is much easier in powder than on hard snow so you don't necessarily need the same leverage as normal. 

Can a woman ride men's snowboards?

Absolutely, and it's very common these days for snowboards to be Unisex, but there are a few things to consider.

1. Flex - Mens boards are usually stiffer than womens boards which will make a mens board more difficult to ride.
2. Width - Mens boards are usually wider than womens boards, which will make it more difficult to get on edge.
3. Length - Not all mens boards come in sizes suitable for women.

That said, if you're in the weight range, the width range, and the board suits your style/ability, there's no reason why you can't ride any board regardless of what gender it's designed for. 

If you're still having trouble figuring out what size snowboard to ride, come visit the shop and we'll be happy to go over it with you. If you aren’t near Melbourne you can also email any questions or call us on (03) 9470 1822.