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Nitro Team Gullwing W vs. NS Legacy vs NS Heritage X

6K views 30 replies 11 participants last post by  jdang307 
#1 ·
well, as very often - long time reader but first time poster... I was trying to look for a similar information in the forum, but did not succeed :( (I am sorry if it still is there somewhere)

So first shortly some data: 75 kg (165 lbs), 184cm (6.03ft), foot size EU44-45, but Salomon Dialogue boots are in size US12. Riding for 2.5 seasons only (perhaps close to 30-35 days in total), I call myself confident beginner - can do European red slopes, just started trying some very light off piste in between of slopes, and just started some small jumps form 1 -2 ft kickers. Not really planning any park riding (as perhaps a bit too old - getting close to 40), primarily will stay on groomers, maybe some time later on (next season) will try some light freeride, but nothing too fancy/advanced.

So my dilemma: last year and this year I was renting Nitro Team Gullwing W162. I did not really have an opportunity to compare to other boards, but the board seem to be very well rated, at least in Europe. However two things seem a bit strange to me: difficult to keep a flat speed and turns maybe not that easy (but that could be also because of my inexperience). And this year I have chance to buy out the same board I am riding for quite good price (together with Burton Missions), but I am not really sure I want it. So was checking around for alternatives and found two potential "candidates": Never Summer Legacy or Heritage X. So here is the question: how those compare to Nitro Team Gullwing? Shall I better keep the board I have (Nitro), which shall be sufficient enough, or look for NS? If NS - which one would be better for my type of riding or planning? And advice would be very much appreciated, as I do not really have a chance to try NS boards - the only closest shop which claim to be NS representative, have nothing in stock. Thank you very much in advance!

PS. In case of NS, I was actually thinking about 158 size. Considering those are wide boards, guess shall be OK. Or...?
 
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#3 ·
Thanks a lot for your suggestion! But may I ask you why: is Legacy better because I am novice (but I would like to have something to grow in as I progress)? Or just because the riding I have described? Cause perhaps I misunderstood from previous descriptions/reviews that Heritage is actually more for groomers/freeride (that's basically what I want to do as soon as I grow in), while Legacy is more for more on fun/freestile side of the things. And unless 2014 Legacy version will have it, carbonium laminate of Heritage looks very tempting :)
 
#4 ·
The legacy is a quiver killer. You can play with it, or ride fairly big with it. And by big I don't mean Art of Flight big. But a properly sized legacy will let you ride almost any mountain within the ski area.

If you want the carbonium look at the proto ;)

The Heritage is a much more advanced board from what I've read. The SL, which I have ridden, is very very beginner friendly, and is more than capable of doing most resort riding.

If you want the Heritage get it. I just think it might be a bit more board then you want unless you are really going to cruise the groomers fast.
 
#6 ·
From what I understand, the Legacy is going to be more forgiving in terms of catching edges and turning than the Heritage. But I went with a Heritage as a low-mid level intermediate and had absolutely no problems with it catching edges. In fact I'm amazed at how easy that board turns. Granted, I'm much taller and heavier than you, but my Heritage is also a 166w and I can assure I am generally stuck riding pretty shitty snow most of the time.

I love my board and am very glad I chose it over the Legacy, which I was initially considering. But I'm also not into park stuff either so keep that in mind as well.
 
#7 ·
Well, trapper, now you confused me :)

By the way, went to the shop which sells NS today, and salesman tried to convince me that at my weight/height size 161 or even 163 is to go for Legacy... Is it really so? I was pretty sure about 159 for me...:huh: I am still a bit skeptical about shop salesman which try to size a board "up to chin"...
 
#9 · (Edited)
Don't listen to the shop guy, at your weight, anything in the mid to upper 150s would be way better than low 160s. I would personally recommend the 156 Legacy, or the 156 Gullwing, as your size 12s will still fit, and your weight/ability level is not enough to merit a longer board. I'm not sure how stiff the Nitro is, but the Legacy 156 is fine for you.

I'll add in that I am 91 kg and 190 cm and ride a 157 NS Proto CT. So you will be fine on the 156.
 
#10 ·
I'd also go with the Legacy. The Team Gullwing is a very good board but it has a crazy amount of rocker between the feet (reminds me a bit of first generation Flying V by Burton) which makes it a bit more squirrely and not as stable as a Legacy. In the end you can't go wrong with either board.
 
#12 ·
Didn't know about the extra rocker in the gullwing. I've heard lost of complaints of that original Burton style washing out a lot.

Go with the Legacy OP. You will get more years of riding it as your skills advance. In a year or two, the Nitro will lack edge hold you want while riding faster.
 
#14 ·
wow, thank you all, guys! Then I believe Legacy is the answer, and perhaps next year model. This year is almost no chance to find, and next year seem to be having an extra - matte finish ;) (no carbonium laminate, though). The only thing remains is the sizing - I think 159 would be good, but at least according to EVO sizng chart, 159cm board is for booths size from 9 to 11.5 (my Salomon's are 12). So maybe 161 the.... Strange, cause Heritage X is all the same boot size starting 11.5
 
#15 · (Edited)
Your tall & have big feet so the SL and the Heritage don't even bother with unless you enjoy toe drag which you don't...

The Legacy is a mid-wide version of the SL which may be a perfect size waist board for your big ass feet... I suggest at least a minimum of a 26cm board waist for a size 12 boot...

Your also over 6ft tall I wouldn't go any smaller than a 158cm but you'll outgrow it very quickly and suggest going with at least a 161cm...

The Heritage is more suited to a heavier rider than you are which would make it more work to control for you at 165lbs...

IMHO I think the Legacy 161 would be your best choice for an all mountain board ...

Keep in mind 3cm is a little over an inch in length not a huge difference but even though you are skinny feller you are tall and have big ass feet which make your biggest issue finding a board wide enough to accommodate a size 12 boot...

Heres a quote I found to support what Im saying as a general rule of thumb: "If you are going to be riding the whole mountain, you will want to go for a board with a waist width of at least, say, 258mm. This is generally where the mid-wide category begins. Riders with boot sizes 11 and 12 may be able to get away with a waist as small as 258, but will probably find something around 260ish to be most comfortable. Riders with size sizes 13 and above should stick with a full-wide waist width at least 265mm."

http://www.cju.com/snowboard/Buying%20a%20Snowboard/8950F572-E8E3-451A-8106-983B3C0E98DC.html

Also keep in mind all boots are different where a size 12 in one brand could be as big as a size 14 in another or like the new Burtons where a size 12 has the foot print of a typical size 11...

Your stance angle also needs to be considered if you typically have a wide duck stance you may be able to go with a smaller waist board but the closer your stance gets to 0 degree the wider board you will need...
 
#16 ·
Your tall & have big feet so the SL and the Heritage don't even bother with unless you enjoy toe drag which you don't...

The Legacy is a mid-wide version of the SL which may be a perfect size waist board for your big ass feet... I suggest at least a minimum of a 26cm board waist for a size 12 boot...

Your also over 6ft tall I wouldn't go any smaller than a 158cm but you'll outgrow it very quickly and suggest going with at least a 161cm...

The Heritage is more suited to a heavier rider than you are which would make it more work to control for you at 165lbs...

IMHO I think the Legacy 161 would be your best choice for an all mountain board ...

Keep in mind 3cm is a little over an inch in length not a huge difference but even though you are skinny feller you are tall and have big ass feet which make your biggest issue finding a board wide enough to accommodate a size 12 boot...
Ignore this. Mostly wrong.
 
#29 ·
Waist width by itself is irrelevant. It is meaningless without the other information I mentioned.
Like I said before, that is a statement only someone with tiny little feet would continue to repeat.

To the OP, if you get a chance check out the Nitro Blacklight they offer it in camber and GW. Its a mid wide so the waist width should be ok for your size 12's.
 
#24 ·
OK, OK guys, appreciate your responses, but you do not have to make a war out of it :) Out of talking to several other people and hearing your responses I believe Legacy shall be sort of 159cm size, the only questions it's width (referring to the sizing chart, where it says that 159 is till size 11) ... I know, it also depends on actual foot size and etc. but it is not that easy...

Also taking Heritage X vs Legacy question - is Heritage really not for advanced beginners? The reason is that I've tried yesterday some very short backcountry route through the woods, and really enjoyed and liked it. However, it was very difficult, and I am not really sure if that was only my incompetence or Nitro Team Gullwing fault as well... Taking that into consideration: can I choose Heritage and then "grow into" it slowly? or that would be too steep change and better take Legacy and then perhaps Heritage or similar after few years of practise?
 
#25 ·
Also taking Heritage X vs Legacy question - is Heritage really not for advanced beginners? The reason is that I've tried yesterday some very short backcountry route through the woods, and really enjoyed and liked it. However, it was very difficult, and I am not really sure if that was only my incompetence or Nitro Team Gullwing fault as well... Taking that into consideration: can I choose Heritage and then "grow into" it slowly? or that would be too steep change and better take Legacy and then perhaps Heritage or similar after few years of practise?
Like I said, I'm just finishing my second full season of riding. I've been on my new Heritage X 166 for a few weeks now and the board has been great. Really outstanding compared to my first board which was a full rocker and technically more forgiving in terms of edge catches. Still had no problem riding this board after a couple of hours adjusting to it. But, one of the big differences between you and I is our size and specifically weight. Board stiffness is relative to that and something like a Heritage is going to feel a lot softer to me that it would for you.

My advice if you can't try them out? Research the hell out of them from all sources, including here. But in the end, I took the advice of a few people on here that really know their shit and bought the model and size suggested to me. If people here that know what's up (which is not a category I fall under) are saying you're better suited for a Legacy in a 159 or whatever size they are saying, then that's probably the route you should go.
 
#27 ·
Didn't read through the other posts, but figured I'd chime in since I've owned all 3: Team Gullwing, SL, and Heritage. The Heritage is stiffer than the other 2, and probably more than you need. For the other two they're both very good boards. The SL 158 has more effectgive edge than the TGW 159, and the latter is a click softer. I ended up keeping my SL and selling the TGW at the time because they were so similar, there was no point in keeping both. Pretty much get the one you can find a better deal on.
 
#28 ·
OK, thank you all for all your advices and responses. I will probably stop at Legacy 159, unless will have a chance to try something else any time soon - Nitro seems to be a bit too big for me (despite perhaps a very good total deal I would get on my current rental board), Heritage perhaps is a bit too advanced for me (despite how I would love to have carbonium :)), so Legacy would be a safe bet. Not really sure I get any good deals available in Europe, but then will have to wait for next year models to show up. Again - thank you for all responses, but if you still have any other suggestion of thoughts - please share, as there seem to be not so many comparisons of those boards (except perhaps SL vs Heritage)
 
#30 ·
Honestly I think the advice that you are getting is spot on. My friend is a Pro rider and he said that the rider weight is really what you want to look at.. also boot size.

For Instance, I am 6'4 195lbs size 12 US boot and I ride a 162cm Wide board. Now I could go down to a 161cm or up to a 163cm but no more then that.

I think the real question you need to ask yourself is this.. are you going to gain a significant amount of weight during the lifespan that you plan on riding this board? If so I would size up a bit.. to put this in perspective your thumb nail is about 2cm, thats the menial size diffrence we are talking about here.
 
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