What is Burton [ak]?

“What is Burton [ak] and why should I consider adding some of the collection to my outerwear kit?” It’s a question that the Burton Guides regularly receive from skiers and snowboarders around the world. Fortunately, there’s a simple answer: the [ak] collection from Burton is a high-performance ecosystem of outerwear and apparel that’s engineered to deliver reliable results and is backed by a Lifetime Warranty. It’s rider-driven, function-first equipment that will take care of you, whether you’re cruising resort groomers, dropping heli laps in big mountain terrain, or earning your turns in the backcountry.

But [ak] didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It took years of on-snow testing and feedback from professional snowboarders to get to where it is today. For this guide, we worked with Burton’s softgoods team and renowned industry experts to compile everything you need to know about Burton [ak], from its early days of testing to the reasons it’s now the go-to choice for the most demanding riders.

• A Short History of Burton [ak]
• Burton [ak] Product Development
• Burton [ak] Premium Materials

A Short History of Burton [ak]

Any discussion that begins with the “what is Burton [ak]” question must go back to where it all started: in the big mountains of Alaska in the mid 1990s. After all, that’s what the [ak] line was named after, Alaska.

At that point in time, Burton team riders Craig Kelly and Dave Downing were pushing the boundaries of snowboarding and the limits of their gear. In fact, by Burton’s estimate the duo racked up nearly 200 days in the backcountry in 1996, with a significant portion of those days spent descending steep lines in some of the harshest Alaskan conditions.

But despite enjoying the highs provided by the incredible backcountry terrain, Craig and Dave regularly found themselves envious of the high-quality jackets and pants that the backcountry guides and helicopter crews were working with. Because the bottom line is that most snowboard outerwear on the market in the mid-1990s had style but didn’t have the technical features found in high-end mountaineering gear.

So, Craig and Dave called up Jake Burton Carpenter and the softgoods engineers back in Vermont and carefully outlined the improvements that were needed for the current Tri-Lite outerwear to hold up to the rigors of Alaska.

In a 2022 interview, Dave recounted the personal commitment they both felt to the project and laughed as he described Craig faxing detailed product feedback documents to the softgoods team from remote heli lodges.

To support their continued exploration of Alaska and beyond, Burton began taking the first steps to evolve the Tri-Lite outerwear line into something better. This collaborative effort was directly led by Craig and Dave, with help from Burton’s outerwear and materials experts as well as many other riders, including Victoria Jealouse, Marcus Egge, and Joe Curtes, to name a few.

When the 1997 Burton catalog finally hit mailboxes, riders got a glimpse of the first [ak] item to materialize: the Burton Tri-Lite [ak] Convertible Jacket. This snowboarding jacket was an upgraded, premium version of the original Tri-Lite jacket. Along with its more expensive price tag and [ak] designation, it included features that (at the time) were completely innovative for snowboard outerwear:

• A new three-ply Tri-Lite [ak] shell with taped seams, providing 10,000mm waterproof breathable protection from a GORE-TEX® membrane.
• Articulated elbows for a larger range of motion.
• A chest pocket for quick access to important gear.
• A storm flap for protection against blowing snow.
• A contoured hood for a better fit.
• Glove loops that prevented lost mittens.

Other innovations followed the next year, including a new Storm-Lite [ak] two-layer waterproof/breathable fabric, which was used across Burton’s Outland clothing line. The Tri-Lite [ak] Hi-Top snow pants also made their debut in 1998.

In 1999, [ak] backpacks debuted, with the flagship [ak] Profanity leading the charge. This premium, full-featured mountaineering pack, was designed with the help of Kelly and Downing and featured ice axe loops, an anatomical suspension, and a two-buckle snowboard attachment system. 1999 also saw the arrival of the first women’s-specific Tri-Lite [ak] snowboarding jacket and pants, and Tri-Lite [ak] mittens.

Then in 2000, [ak] broke away from Burton Tri-Lite to become its own standalone collection. Marketed as “big-mountain minimalism,” the outerwear and clothing line gave a nod to the athletes who contributed to development, specifically calling out Dave Downing, Craig Kelly, and Victoria Jealouse.

Since the official launch of the [ak] collection in 2000, the line continued to expand. Jake’s Rider Roundtables included regular discussions on what pieces to add, what functionality to adopt, and how to better address the needs of big mountain riders.

Burton [ak] Product Development

Over the course of its history, Burton’s high-performance [ak] equipment line has always focused on delivering the performance that riders want and need by incorporating their direct feedback. While this method of product development is popular across the modern outdoor sports industry, it was ahead of its time in the 1990s.

Built by Riders, for Riders

Rider feedback has always been the primary means for guiding the evolution of Burton’s [ak] equipment line. And Jake always advocated for nothing less than brutal, honest feedback in the pursuit of excellence: “Don’t sugar-coat it,” he would say. “Tell me the truth about this jacket.”

Fortunately, the process of developing new snowboarding jackets and pants has improved a bit, but the evolution of [ak] helped solidify the need for a better approach. In thinking about how best to collect rider feedback, the Burton Rider Roundtables were born. Now held annually, Rider Roundtables bring together top snowboarders from around the world to continue pushing the boundaries of the sport.

Burton [ak] Development Process

For an [ak] snowboarding jacket to go from concept to finished product, there are a series of steps along the way, but it all starts with the needs of snowboarders. The Burton product team considers these needs, considers warranty data and customer feedback, and brainstorms ideas for a functional solution with input from pro riders, and Burton R&D. Then, new product drawings are drafted, followed by a field-tested prototype, and ending only after rider feedback and refinements are complete. Every step of the [ak] development process (aside from final mass production) takes place at Threadworks, our garment prototyping lab, which is located at our Burlington, Vermont headquarters.

1. Line Drawings Created & Refined: The development process begins with Burton product managers presenting line drawings of potential products to riders who provide feedback. Everything from hem length and number of pockets to aesthetics is considered.
2. Mock-up Sewn & Critiqued: After incorporating feedback on initial line drawings, a non-functional mock-up is sewn for test fitting. This is where features and ideas can be demonstrated prior to adding them to a functional garment. Riders try on the mock-up and develop initial ideas and opinions about the design and functionality of the item.
3. Prototype Produced & Field-tested: Next, a functional prototype is sewn for field testing. This step is used to determine if the design choices, materials, and colors play nice in the snow.
4. Rider Feedback: Prototypes are field tested, and then product managers and riders get into the weeds regarding every little detail of the product.
5. Additional Refinements & Field-testing: Rider feedback is incorporated, and additional field testing takes place.
6. Final Product Goes into Production: The finished product can go into production, with confidence that it has been vetted by the best design teams and riders in the industry.

Burton [ak] Premium Materials

Burton’s high-performance [ak] line of snowboarding equipment pairs innovative designs with premium materials. This means that when a jacket needs to be waterproof, we rely on GORE-TEX waterproof/breathable membranes, or when a jacket needs to keep you warm, we utilize the highest quality down or synthetic insulations available in the outdoor industry. Every component of [ak] equipment (down to the YKK water-resistant zippers) is the absolute best that is available, ensuring that you can ride all day.

GORE-TEX Waterproof/Breathable Membranes

GORE-TEX waterproof/breathable membranes are the industry standard when it comes to keeping you dry in the outdoors. But utilizing Gore's technology means much more than just slapping the GORE-TEX logo on your snowboarding jacket.

The softgoods designers at Burton work in close collaboration with Gore, testing many different combinations of liners and face fabrics, to ensure that the GORE-TEX membrane's performance standards are met on both ends. The result is high-performance outerwear that looks, feels, and wears exactly how the pros envisioned, all with the highest level of waterproof/breathable performance you’d expect from the [ak] name.

Premium Synthetic Insulation

Burton [ak] utilizes a variety of premium synthetic fills in our insulated garments. This means products with proven performance across a wide variety of damp and cold environments as well as high levels of durability for riders who stack 100+ day seasons.

Fleece

When riders ask “what is Burton [ak]?” we’re happy to report that it’s much more than waterproof snowboarding jackets and pants. [ak] also includes base layers and insulators, like fleece jackets and pullovers. By offering a complete clothing line, from skin to shell, riders can build an [ak] layering system that will keep them comfortable, no matter the conditions. Like our premium synthetic insulations, we use industry-leading fleece textiles that have been tested and received the thumbs-up from our highly-critical product testers.

YKK Zippers

YKK is the gold-standard for zippers used across performance outerwear lines, like Burton [ak]. But what makes YKK so good? It’s the little details like the zipper teeth, pulls, and plastic hardware. YKK’s production process is highly refined, with exceptional quality control, both of which are important factors that keep these small parts functioning properly and reliably through ice and snow.

What is Burton [ak]? The Standard for High-Performance Outerwear

From its roots in Alaska and its history of rider-driven innovation to its unique development process and use of premium materials, Burton [ak] is now the standard for high-performance winter sports outerwear. But what gives [ak] that little something extra, making it so damn good?

The Lifetime Warranty. Because we believe in the process and believe that [ak] products truly are the absolute best, they are all backed by a warranty that will get you back on the snow if your product fails. Riders can trust [ak] because it’s designed by snowboarders, for snowboards, and is backed by the best warranty in the business.