Understanding Snowboard Measurements
Burton’s guide to snowboard measurements outlines the common measurements you might come across when shopping for a snowboard, what each measurement is, and how those measurements can impact performance. You can use this information as part of your snowboard shopping process to get the perfect board for your riding style.
An Overview of Snowboard Measurements
There are two main types of snowboard measurements: size details and tech details. For many snowboard measurements, size details are used to quantify things, like length or width (for example: 156 centimeters). But for other snowboard measurements, the quantification may simply be a tech detail, like flex (for example: medium-stiff).
Size Details
Size details are most often used to describe the physical dimensions of a snowboard.
Length
Often expressed in centimeters or millimeters, the length of a snowboard is the total distance from nose to the tail.
Example: 154 centimeters
How does length impact performance?
- Longer snowboards are more stable at high speeds. Shorter snowboards offer lower swing weight and are usually easier to maneuver.
Waist Width
The waist width of a snowboard is the distance across the board (from the toe edge to the heel edge) between the feet at the narrowest point, typically expressed in millimeters.
Example: 250 millimeters
How does waist width impact performance?
- wider waist width snowboards have more surface area for float and are good for riders with larger boot sizes.
- Narrow waist width snowboards will be quicker edge-to-edge and nimble to respond for riders with smaller boot sizes.
Pro tip: Riders with big feet (size 12+ snowboard boots) should keep an eye out for large waist width snowboards.
Nose Width, Tail Width & Taper
The nose width of a snowboard is the distance across the board (from the toe edge to the heel edge) at the widest point in front of the front foot, typically expressed in millimeters. The tail width of a snowboard is the distance across the board (from the toe edge to the heel edge) at the widest point behind the back foot, typically expressed in millimeters.
Example: 291 millimeters
The taper of a snowboard is the difference between its nose width and tail width, typically expressed in millimeters. Note that a taper of “0” means that the nose width and tail width are the same.
Example: 25 millimeters
How does nose width, tail width, and taper impact performance?
- The nose width and tail width of a snowboard work together to impact the overall ride and feel of a snowboard.
- A large taper will cause the nose of the snowboard to ride up and the tail top drop; this type of taper is found on powder boards and freeride boards.
- A snowboard with small (or zero) taper is great for hardpack groomers, allowing easier power transfer through to the tail edges.
Sidecut Radius & Sidecut Depth
Sidecut radius is a measurement used to express the curve along the side of a snowboard and it is equal to the radius of a circle (in meters) that would fit into that curve.
Example: 7.6 meters
The sidecut depth of a snowboard is a measure of the total distance between the waist width and the nose/tail width, expressed in millimeters.
Example: 20.8 millimeters
Note that sidecut depth and radius are inversely related and a larger sidecut depth means a smaller sidecut radius.
How does the sidecut radius and sidecut depth of a snowboard impact performance?
- A smaller sidecut radius makes a snowboard quicker and easier to turn.
- A larger sidecut radius makes a snowboard steady and consistent at high speeds.
Pro tip: Pay close attention to the sidecut radius AND the type of sidecut, which can include radial, progressive, asymmetrical, and combinations of multiple types of sidecuts.
Effective Edge
Effective edge refers to the length of the metal edge on a snowboard that comes in contact with the snow when making a turn. Typically, effective edge is the distance between the widest point on the snowboard’s nose and the widest point on the snowboard’s tail, expressed in centimeters or millimeters.
Example: 1175 millimeters
How does the effective edge of a snowboard impact performance?
- A longer effective edge on a snowboard delivers increased stability.
- A shorter effective edge on a snowboard makes it easier to turn.
Reference Stance
The manufacturer’s indicated “standard” stance location on a snowboard is called the reference stance. The reference stance can be expressed in either inches or millimeters and it specifies the distance of the stance from the center of the snowboard.
Example: -22 millimeters / -0.5 inches
How does the reference stance of a snowboard impact performance?
- While the reference stance itself does not impact performance, it is a good indicator of a snowboard’s intended use. For example, park boards may have a reference stance of 0 (true center) while powder/all-mountain boards may have a reference stance of -25 (shifted 25 centimeters towards the tail).
Stance Width
The stance width is the measurement of the recommended stance size for a snowboard and is typically expressed in millimeters or inches.
Example: 560 millimeters / 22 inches
How does the stance width of a snowboard impact performance?
- While the stance width itself does not impact performance, it can be helpful in sizing a snowboard for your specific needs.
Pro tip: Review Burton’s Official Guide to Snowboard Stances for a complete explanation of how to dial in your stance.
Tech Details
Snowboard measurements that are indicated with non-number attributes are mostly used to explain tech details
Bend
A snowboard bend refers to how it looks from the side (its profile). In general, a snowboard profile will have at least one of the following bends: rocker, camber, or flat (or a combination of more than one type of bend).
Example: Directional Camber
How does the snowboard bend influence performance?
- The bend of a snowboard significantly impacts how it feels and rides, based on the type of bend (rocker, camber, or hybrid).
Pro tip: Review Burton’s Rocker Snowboard Guide for a complete explanation of each main snowboard bend.
Flex
Sometimes referred to as “personality,” the flex of a snowboard refers to its degree of stiffness. 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. It is also important to note that flex is relative to the size of the snowboard. For example, a large stiff board could be difficult for a smaller rider to maneuver but an appropriately sized board with the same stiffness could be much easier to maneuver.
Example: Soft and Playful
How does flex influence performance?
- A stiffer flexing board will be snappier and more responsive.
- A softer flexing board will be less responsive and easier to ride but may be unstable at high speeds.
Pro tip: Different manufacturers use different flex attributes so pay close attention to how a particular snowboard is described.
Binding Size
The binding size of a snowboard is the recommended size range of snowboard bindings that can be used on that specific sized snowboard.
Example: Medium/Large
How does binding size impact performance?
- Mounting bindings that are too large for a snowboard can cause the toe or heel of snowboard boots to hang over the edge of the board (this is called toe drag and heel drag). This issue impacts performance by preventing the rider from getting up on edge and holding a carve.
Pro tip: A snowboard with a recommended binding size can accommodate any size binding smaller than the largest recommended size. For example, if a snowboard specifies "Medium/Large" as the recommended binding size, "Small/Medium" bindings can be used without any issues.
Weight Range
The weight range measurement of a snowboard is the recommended weight of the rider for which the board was designed to deliver the best performance. This measurement is typically expressed in both pounds and kilograms. It is worth mentioning again that the weight range of a snowboard is just a recommendation.
Example: 120-180 pounds / 54-82 kilograms
How does the recommended weight range of a snowboard impact performance?
- Riders who prefer softer-feeling boards can (and should) stick to boards where they’re on the higher end of the weight range.
- Riders who prefer stiffer-feeling snowboards should stick to boards where they’re on the lower end of the weight range.
A Final Word on Snowboard Measurements
Obviously, there are lots of different things to consider when comparing snowboards. And while the amount of information may seem overwhelming, the point of providing all of this is to help you find the exact snowboard that’s right for you. If you have specific questions, we recommend dropping into your local Burton Flagship Store to chat with one of the friendly shop reps.
For more information on how you can apply these snowboard measurements to snowboard shopping, check out Burton’s Official Snowboard Buying Guide.
