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What Company Makes the Best Snowboards, & Why?

144K views 164 replies 59 participants last post by  BurtonAvenger 
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#1 · (Edited)
Everybody has their favorite. I know I certainly have mine and its definately changed over the years as some brands have come and gone.

In your opinion, who makes the best snowboards?

Why ?
 
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#27 ·
kimchijajonshim said:
I know at least a few companies give their employees the day off when it dumps and they get a chance at a pow day. I suspect most of them do, at least the privately owned ones (Capita, Rome, etc.). The only difference is they don't publish useless press releases when they do it (zing!).
prior has a sign on the door saying winter hours 9 to 5 except if it snows 20+cm. theres another company that makes good boards, real stiff tho, more freeride/ backcountry oriented not the best for the park rat.
 
#28 ·
I am partial to Gnu because for the most part, the boards are made locally (and by locally I mean this contenant, lol). Nothing really against foreign made boards (and there are some REALLY good foreign boards) but its nice to the the "underdogs" keeping their heads up against companies like the Big "B". I guess it all really boils down to personal preference at the end of the day (there is someone on the forums that swears by Lamar, for instance, say no more).
 
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#30 ·
killclimbz said:
Even their super light board the Vapor isn't the lightest board out there. Elan gets that honor.
Is that up to date? Or did Rome pass Elan this year with the Design? If im remember right last years libtech website quoted the cygnus the lightest in the world. this year it only quotes it as a lightweight board.

I got an email announcing about Rome's new website a while back. It had a bunch of info on new stuff in the email. It talked about the Design being the world's lightest snowboard.


(i deleted the email accidentaly so i may have misread what they said.)
So if someone can varify that, that would be great.

*on topic. my favorite is Rome
 
#32 ·
midwestrider said:
Is that up to date? Or did Rome pass Elan this year with the Design? If im remember right last years libtech website quoted the cygnus the lightest in the world. this year it only quotes it as a lightweight board.

I got an email announcing about Rome's new website a while back. It had a bunch of info on new stuff in the email. It talked about the Design being the world's lightest snowboard.


(i deleted the email accidentaly so i may have misread what they said.)
So if someone can varify that, that would be great.

*on topic. my favorite is Rome
It's possible that they did. I know Elan had it last year. I haven't kept that up to date. El or Shay probably know who is currently the lightest.
 
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#33 ·
I never knew the Cygnus was even on the list as one of the lightest. Always thought Elan had the lightest for last year. Does anyone know know whos is the lightest for this year? Still wish I had $ 1200 to crack out on a Cygnus, That's a really sick board...
 
#40 ·
Dogpile !!

EverBorN : Get the sand out of your vagina.

I respect Burton for their business related success. :thumbsup:
But why pay Burton's inflated prices, when other companies make products that are just as good if not better & a better value.

Sure Burton's name is EVERYWHERE, they have the capital to spend on massive amounts of advertising.
I among others consider those magazine 'reviews' to be cleverly disguised advertising campaigns nothing more.
 
#42 ·
Rome is my brand of choice. It is not the only thing I have ridden. I still own the first two boards I ever rode which are both burtions plus I have one Palmer/Bud Light board. But about 4 years ago one of the guys at the local shop told me I should try out a Rome. So I ended up buying a 156 Anthem (still have it by the way)and I've never looked back. My riding progressed so much cause of that board ( although I'm sure anything besides my 169 bullet would have as well) which is why I'm partial to Rome. Plus I dig the way the company is run; it's not so commercial and the people are pretty friggin cool. But as of last year I got a 155 Agent and I've never felt more stable in spins, even little 180s feel f'n great. So i'm hopin that my Agent will do the same for me that my Anthem did.

Anyways, it true that you will never find which board company is "THE BEST" casue it all based on opinion. So if someone says "The people at Burton are a bunch of tools and are only about slapping thier label all over everything they make so you can be walking billboard for them" don't take it personally, if you like them that cool its not a big deal.

oh and uhh BTdubbs

Burton Sucks

hahahahah just playin.... but really they do
 
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#43 · (Edited)
mpdsnowman said:
Sara wants to snowboard with her friends. Never did it before. So mommy and daddy go spend money in a prime retail snowboard shop. Ahhhhh says the salesman here is a BURTON! The originator of snowboarding. Mommy brings it home @ $399.00, sara also received the $250.00 burton jacket, the $199 burton pants, the $75.00 hat with logo and the $15.00 thong...forget the thong she got that on her own. Bottom line she is a walking greenhorn billboard for burton.

Haha this made me laugh! I am Sara! Only it's my money, not mom and dad's, and in my defense I had a rationale. I knew NOTHING about snowboarding, had $600 for ALL my gear (from the hat on my head to the board on my feet). I knew Burton because of their crazy branding ability. Therefore I spent more on what I thought would be quality softgoods (Burton), so if it turned out riding was not for me I could chalk the board etc. to a loss, but I'd still have a quality coat!

AND chances are most people do start boarding at an age where their parents will buy/gift them their gear. I won't begrudge them that fact, lucky them! Wish it was me! Everyone was a greenhorn once. I know I am.... and yeah it sucks. I know everyone's always looking at me thinking, "Wow! That girl is ridiculous." But I'll only get better and learn about new companies if I get out (Yes, is my spiffy Burton Chopper Jacket) and go for it.

Finally, I looked at this forum because I am looking for a new board and don't know where to turn. And after a very short first year of riding I am trying to figure out a fairly decent board to get and I still am not too familiar with other companies. So I think everyone should keep on with their recommendations, so people like me can learn something!


After a read through I realized this may come off as something other than lighthearted. But it really is! I did feel ridiculous in my $400 outfit on $200 of gear. But I also felt ridiculous falling on my a$$ about 40 times my first few days out, so I figure at least I was consistent!
 
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#44 · (Edited)
There are alot of companies that make good boards but, I haven't tried every board every brand makes so I can't really make an educated reply to the question as to who makes the best board. And even if I could it would be a choice based on my personal preference.

However, with that being said from all the boards that I have used my favourite brand has to be Lib Tech and I'm actually a little shocked that they haven't been mentioned yet. Really well built boards, lots of pop, can take a beat'n and they've been making technological advances in board designs... banana tech, magne-traction, rib tech air core

I'm biased though so what do I know.
 
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#45 · (Edited)
i ride a roam vinyl, but i haven't ridden much else to compare it to. but i can say that my riding progressed a good deal in the year that i've ridden it compared to my p.o.s. blue light special board from sports authority (it was a gift from a friend to see if i'd really get into riding). i just feel more in control & my turns are smooth & not so forced. i know another year of riding helped me progress, but i think the board also had something to do with it.

i did ride some kind of burton when i first rented, but it was only a couple days & it was my first time out, so i can't really compare that,either.
 
#46 ·
I'm a big fan of Ride, equipment I've been using for the last 3yrs, this year I'm switching to LibTech because I like what they're doing with Technology and trying to advance the industry a bit. I would also stand by Nitro and the old school Morrow shit was crazy! I'm too big for most of the smaller companies though they just recently started putting out some long wide boards so maybe I'll get a chance to test them out. I will never ride a burton product again outside of their bindings. Boots breakdown too fast and the boards are overpriced for what you get. I have been hearing some great things about Neversummer but haven't had the chance to test it yet.
 
#109 ·
I'm a big fan of Ride, equipment I've been using for the last 3yrs,
Same here. I've had 3 Ride board/binding setups and have been more than satisfied everytime. I've demoed and/or purchased some Burton stuff and while I didn't have a bad experience, I always found myself
wondering why it is priced more (and much more in some cases)

All that said....Burton does have great marketing and a sound business plan. I've been wanting to demo some other brands, but every demo day around here seems to be Burton, Burton and more Burton. I've only been able to ride one Rome board (and way too short for me) and a smattering of mid-range boards from other brands. Every Burton demo day, I seem to be able to try out every one of their models in pretty close to my size.
 
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#47 ·
I bought a lamar cheap off ebay because I was brand new and didn't want to F up an expensive board. So far it has done the trick, but the edges are chipping on the deck and it's got some damage when I really didn't go over rocks or stumps. I Picked the sport up super fast, and am pretty damn good after only a few times out last year. I was thinking about buying a new board, but it just seems like there is no "ONE" to buy. I might just ride this thing out til it breaks then step up and get a new one. I loooked at all the companies people talked about in this thread and saw nothing that set one above from the rest. Burton of course has the branding and name, but also that price, so who knows what board will end up on my feet as a more permanant board of the future.

I guess I'll just have to spin the wheel and whoever has the coolest looking design will probably win
 
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#48 ·
I know very little about boards. All i know is this forum kicks ass! The "Sara" comment and the Burton basher have made my day. I agree with the comments and that's why i have ventured into what seems to be the best new technology in boards, and that is Lib Tech. When i looked at many brands of boards this past while all i say was the same board as my 2004 Kemper (1st board). Lib Tech don't let me down and by Feb 2008 i'll know if Lib Tech new technolgoy is where it's at. Cheers!
 
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#49 ·
PaoloSmythe said:
there is a lot of hate towards Burton and it is interesting. for sure it is easy to feel like you are supporting the under dog, but knocking the top dog.

burton did well to corner a market early on and make massive capital because of it. this capital is now used to maintain their market position thru an influential team of professionals and a shit load of marketing.

does that guarntee that their products are the doggy's dangler? course not. but at the same time, it doesn't suggest that they no longer try to make good stuff.

i have had a few burton products. some broke, but their customer service was quick, courteous and generous. i have other stuff that still works and i cannot fault it. is it the best? well i dunno, and i won't know until i have tried absolutely everything that is out there! does it work for me tho? hells yeah. so who cares? let's go riding!

remember, opinions are like arseholes! we've all got one!
Amen brother!
 
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#51 ·
for one burton did NOT invent snowboarding... it started with a GIRL skiier, cant remember names and she was getting good and her father made it a challenge for her by welding 2 edges of the skis together... people did this for a season or 2. that got lame. THEN, Tom Burton or whoever came out with the snurfer, after about 3 years of that or so idk how long and several peoples attempts he PERFECTED the IDEA of a SNOWBOARD! BURTON did NOT INVENT SNOWBOARDING! some burtons suck big monkey nuts and others are good. but yet again it only comes down to your preference, whatever you are comftorble riding on is up to you. every company is the best for something, no company can ever be overall the greatest company. the reason why burton is so big is bcus they were ONE of the FIRST snowboards to come out and they stuck in there, there team shaun white (who is a massive prick) hanna teeter, and the list continues. they bought out forum last year and so now they own forum and jeenyus. 2 of burtons board and binding designers and engineers quit burton and now own the company everyone now knows of as ROME! i am not a burton fan but i will admit that burton has a couple of good boards depending on what you are looking to do such as jibbing, rails, jumps, backcountry, or just learning. every company has a good board for all that. but my top 5 fav brands are forum, ride, capita, rome, and technine. look them up if u have never heard of them... also look up stepchild theyre supposed to be amazing along with technine. if you can find them or their bindings anywhere besides online ill give u a cookie.
 
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