Burton’s Official Snowboard Buying Guide

Whether you’re completely new to snowboarding or you’re looking to pick up your first board after a few seasons of renting, Burton’s Official Snowboard Buying Guide outlines the key things you should consider when shopping for a snowboard. Because the bottom line is that there are more options than ever before and it’s easy to get confused. But remember, snowboarding is about having as much fun as possible and that includes the process of choosing a snowboard to call your own. So, review this guide, make a list, drop into a store, ask lots of questions, and we’ll see you on the mountain with your new snowboard before you know it.

Pro tip: Don't get overwhelmed by the technical information in this guide. We put this together specifically for the gear nerds who enjoy thoroughly researching their equipment and geek out on comparing manufacturing specs. If that's not you, focus on the "product specifications to look for" at the end of each section and ask the shop rep for assistance.

Parts of a Snowboard

When shopping for a snowboard, you may come across some terms that you haven’t seen before, so a great place to start is reviewing basic snowboard anatomy. We recommend that you brush up on snowboard construction so you can familiarize yourself with the most important terms before proceeding (as we’ll refer to a lot of those terms throughout the rest of this guide).

How to Choose a Snowboard: The 6-Step Process

There are quite a few different variables to consider when buying a new snowboard and it can get complicated quickly. To simplify things, this snowboard buying guide groups the most important factors you should focus on into six main categories.

1. Riding Level
2. Terrain
3. Size
4. Construction
5. Graphics
6. Price

Note: The goal of this snowboard buying guide is to outline a repeatable framework that anyone can use to choose a snowboard. With that said, this guide is just one approach that we have found to be helpful, and it is by no means the only way to shop for a snowboard.

1: Gauge Your Riding Level

A good starting point in the snowboard buying process is taking an honest look at your experience level, as many manufacturers (including Burton) tailor boards to different abilities.

• Snowboards for Beginners: Snowboards in this category are designed for low-maintenance, no-fuss fun that accelerates the learning curve, with basic shapes, soft flexes, and catch-free bends.
• Snowboards for Intermediate Riders: Snowboards in this category are designed with features that work together to help riders progress their skills, like more aggressive shapes and higher-end construction.
• Snowboards for Expert Riders: Snowboards in this category are built for speed and stability and include unique shapes, hybrid bends, cutting-edge technologies, and top-of-the-line materials.

Once you have established your riding level, create a list with 8-10 different snowboard models from a few different brands that match your ability.

When shopping for a snowboard, look for these product specifications:

• Riding Level

2: Identify Where You Ride

The type of terrain you plan to spend most of your time on can help you narrow down your search for the perfect snowboard even more, as boards are often engineered with a specific use in mind. Note that this step can be skipped if your list from step one only includes beginner snowboards (as many beginner snowboards already fall into the all mountain category).

• All mountain: An all mountain snowboard is a type of board that is engineered to perform well on all terrain, including groomers, park, and powder.
• Backcountry: A splitboard is one great option for exploring the backcountry. Alternatively, snowboards that are specifically shaped for off-piste conditions and deeper snow may provide a bit more utility than a dedicated split setup.
• Park: A park snowboard can be soft and playful or aggressive and stiff, with popular models featuring a twin shape that's great for riding and landing switch.
• Powder: A powder snowboard is a type of board that is shaped and built with extra float for deep snow.

Once you have established your primary terrain, narrow down your list to 5-8 different models by focusing on the shapes, bends, effective edge lengths, and sidecuts that are best suited for your type of riding.

Pay close attention to the following specs for boards on your list to better understand how each one might ride.

• Shape: From twin to directional to asymmetrical to volume shifted, snowboard manufacturers have experimented with tons of different shapes in the past decade and each shape has unique properties. Make sure to read the shape descriptions carefully.
• Bend: Different board bends have significantly different characteristics. Review Burton's rocker snowboard guide for more information on what type of riding/terrain each board bend is best suited for.
• Personality (Flex): Personality (or flex) refers to the degree of stiffness of a snowboard. Flex can be used to describe the longitudinal stiffness (nose to tail) or the torsional stiffness (across the waist from edge to edge) of a snowboard.
• Effective Edge: A longer effective edge generally means more stability at high speeds with the downside of increased swing weight. While a shorter effective edge is typically more responsive and better for quicker turns but can require more work to control on hard-packed conditions.
• Sidecut Radius: A smaller sidecut radius makes a snowboard quicker and easier to turn, while a larger sidecut radius make a snowboard steady and consistent at high speeds.

When shopping for a snowboard, look for these product specifications:

• Terrain
• Shape
• Bend
• Personality (Flex)
• Effective Edge
• Sidecut Radius

3: Find the Right Size

We’ve discussed how to size a snowboard in great detail over the years, and if this topic is completely new to you, we recommend reviewing Myth Buster: Why You Don’t Need a Snowboard Size Chart before continuing. Because a size chart is designed to provide general guidance, but there are a few other factors that can influence how well a snowboard will perform. On top of that, personal preference plays a huge role in determining what size is best for each individual rider.

Another important aspect to factor in at this step is the gender of the rider. While some snowboard lines (like Burton’s Family Tree collection) are gender-neutral, many manufacturers break out men’s and women’s snowboards due to differences in boot size, weight, and leg strength. Obviously, these aspects are largely generalizations, but they can be helpful in narrowing down on an appropriate size. And remember, a snowboard has no idea what gender you are and only knows your weight and boot size so make sure those considerations are applied first.

Pro tip: Drop into a store and physically stand on a few different boards to get a feel for the sizes that feel right to you, especially if this is your first snowboard purchase.

With all that said, a snowboard size chart is still a good place to start. So, check out a few different size charts from a few different brands (yes, sizing varies across manufacturers) and use your weight and boot size to get an idea of the snowboard size ranges that might work for you. But remember that these recommendations (based on weight) are suggestions and not rules, so make sure to factor in your personal preferences. If you weigh more than a suggested weight of a snowboard, then it may feel a bit softer; if you weigh less than the suggested weight of a snowboard, then it may feel stiffer. Then, select your ideal size for each of the remaining snowboards on your list (it’s okay to list two different sizes if you’re on the edge of or in between specified weight ranges).

Pay close attention to the waist width for boards on your list (especially if you have big feet) to better understand how each one might fit, as the waist width of a snowboard is the primary indicator of what size boots/bindings will provide maximum performance. A smaller waist width makes for a more quick and nimble ride while a larger waist provides more stability and float.

When shopping for a snowboard, look for these product specifications:

• Length
• Weight Range
• Waist Width
• Binding Size
• Boot Size
• Gender

4: Select Your Construction Preferences

At this point in the snowboard buying process, you should have a list of boards that are built for your riding level and available in your size. Now, it’s time to select the other features you might want. Typically, this comes down to the materials, construction, and binding interfaces.

• Core: The material used in the core of a snowboard has a significant impact on its performance, impacting weight, and flex.
• Base: Sintered P-Tex is more durable and its micro-texture holds wax well which is great for high speeds, however, it's often more expensive. Extruded P-Tex is ideal for easy repair and low maintenance but does not retain wax as well.
• Fiberglass: Fiberglass (or just glass) is the standard composite material that holds a snowboard together and is largely responsible for torsional flex and how responsive or "poppy" it is. Note that different fiber angles and weaves impact performance in unique ways.
• Edge: Edges are usually made of steel, but some higher-end snowboards feature stainless steel that is rust-resistant and generally requires less maintenance.
• Mounting System: The interface you select will determine what snowboard bindings are compatible with your new board. Check out How to Mount Snowboard Bindings to research board/binding compatibility, especially if you already have a pair of snowboard bindings at home.

When shopping for a snowboard, look for these product specifications:

• Core Material
• Base Material
• Fiberglass Material
• Edge Material
• Mounting System

5: Choose the Graphics

You’re going to spend a lot of time with your snowboard so it’s important that you love the graphics. But there’s also a reason that this step is closer towards the end of the process: avoid buying a snowboard just because you “like how it looks” as that can cause problems.

Snowboards are available with all sorts of different graphics and finishes and it can be really helpful to visit a store to check out the board you like in real life at this stage of the process. Inspecting a snowboard in-person allows you to feel the texture and finish of the topsheet and view the colors in different lighting (spoiler: it might be sparkly).

Returning to your list, select your top three boards based on the graphics.

When shopping for a snowboard, look for these product specifications:

• Graphics
• Artist

6: Spend Within Your Budget

Make sure that you have money left in your wallet for lift tickets and après by selecting a snowboard that meets all the criteria above AND falls within your budget. Don't overspend. It is also important to remember that price isn't necessarily the indicator that you're getting the "best" snowboard for your needs so make sure to try different boards across different price points.

Of the three remaining snowboards on your list, it is likely that there are three different prices: one lower price, one higher price, and one price in the middle—a classic Goldilocks situation. But you’ve done all your homework up to this point so all you need to do now is decide how much you want to spend and get the one that’s juuuuuust right.

Pro tip: Don’t forget that you’ll need snowboard bindings and snowboard boots to round out a complete kit so make sure to budget appropriately.

When shopping for a snowboard, look for these product specifications:

• Price

Snowboard Buying Guide: Online vs. In-store

In general, it is almost always beneficial to visit a Burton Flagship Store, authorized Burton dealer, or other reliable local snowboard shop at some point during your snowboard shopping journey. There are a few key reasons for this recommendation:

• You can get expert advice from seasoned professionals.
• You’re guaranteed to get the right size.
• You’ll get to closely inspect the graphics.
• You might score a deal. If you’re in the market for other gear, many shops offer package deals or discounts for purchases on multiple items (like a snowboard + snowboard bindings, for example).
• You can tap into your local snowboarding community (it’s smaller than you think).

With that said, few physical shops can match the selection of an eCommerce store and if you’re not located near a snowboard shop then you may not have much of a choice anyways. So, if you do decide to go the digital route, there’s a few additional things you can do when choosing a snowboard.

• Use the on-site product filters. The entire process of drilling down into really specific product categories is super easy with online snowboard shops so play with all the combinations of filters to get a better understanding of product groupings and what your options are.
• Read the reviews. Take advantage of product reviews and look for patterns or common issues that might not be obvious from the product description alone.
• Shop the clearance section. We were broke snowboard bums at one point in time and we are (still) always on the lookout for a good deal. And when it comes to online shopping, the sale section is just a click away.