C4MTB, dont listen to the negative responses about not having a limit for buying a board and the hate for you wanting a do everything board.
Let's pull our heads out of our asses and realize not everyone wants a hardcore mud tire because they dont driver 100% of the time in the mud or rock crawl. Also, we dont want a racing slick tire because sometimes we see mud/rain/loose gravel/ etc. rough conditions. So what do those people buy ???? an all terrain tire...
What happens when people only want one board and are willing to pay a little extra for somethign that does well at all but not all, they buy an all mountain all terrain board or a stiffer park deck.
I have a 154 rook and a 158 rook. The 158 rook is definitely a stiffer deck compared to teh 154, but then again im 6'1" and 180'sh pounds. The Rook does exceptionally well at groomers/park and did well in powder. Was it amazing in any of these conditions.... well no.... did it do well in all conditions.... yes.
Here are the boards from my personal experience that I would use as a daily board, one board is a suggestion that i've not ridden.
- Nitro Rook: stiff jump board, excels at preload pop, stiff enough for cruddy conditions, forgiving for a stiffer jump board. My recommendation if you get the rook is to detune the edges between the bindings to avoid catchiness the Nitros can be known for (ridden for 3 years)
- Rome Mod Rocker: My personal go to board right now. Massive skate style pop, stiff enough to handle any groomer you can through at it and can take some off-piste riding, more forgiving than the rook. (ridden one season)
- K2 Turbodream: Once broken in this board will handle everything you throw at it and is hands down the best in off-piste and powder conditions. The only draw back is when running flat at high speeds it doesnt feel 100% locked in.
- Yes Basic: This board for the price rides like a high dollar board without the price tag. Tons of pop, super stable, and damp. (demo'd)
- Burton Custom Flying V: Not my personal favorite because I dont want to feel everything in the snow. Don't be fooled the Burtons are hands down the most liveliest boards i've ever ridden and are lightning quick. If you like those characteristics you've found hands down the best board, but, if you like a damp ride do not get a burton. I've hard the Sherlock is damp but there is no burton i've ever ridden that is damp. (owned one year)
- Lib Tech TRS/Attack Banana/Skate Banana: I put these all together because let's face it Lib Tech makes too many damn good boards. Here's how i see them: TRS = all mountain charger , Attack Banana = pow/off-piste freesytle destroyer, Skate Banana = Park deck that can still handle the whole mountain. (All boards have been demo'd)
Boards I'd suggest by paper: NS Proto, NS SL, Ride Machete, K2 Happy Hour (ridden once but the rep screwed up setting up the board, Capita (i've ridden some but cant remember which one stood out, good boards though). I've ridden some Arbors but could not fall in love with any.
Please be careful when listening to most of the comments from others because every board is subjective and the experience will be different from one person to the other. I tried to be as honest as possible with all board I've ridden but I often feel most people read a review and the factory description and think they can provide good feedback. Unless someone has ridden a board please do not consider their opinon, also, hand flexing means nothing. Anyone who's ridden enough boards can tell you hand flexing means nothing when you're on the snow.