I was a skier for decades, but with the proliferation of snowboards on the slopes it became pretty hard to resist the temptation to try out riding. After picking up an all-mountain snowboard, I was hooked. Snowboarding allows you to glide freely down the mountain, and there’s nothing better than feeling your whole body carve through the snow with your board.
The key to my experience was having the best all-mountain snowboard. With a versatile snowboard that I could use in any conditions, I was able to enjoy the snow no matter whether it was fresh powder, groomed trail, or hard, frozen surface.
There is a huge selection of all-mountain snowboards on the market today, which can make it tough to pick out the right board for your needs. Today, I’ll explain the factors you need to consider in an all-mountain snowboard that will affect your performance on the slopes. I’ll also highlight eight of the best all-mountain snowboards you can buy for the coming snow season to help you get the perfect ride.
The Different Types of Snowboards
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Not every snowboard is alike. In fact, snowboards can be broadly classified into several different types depending on what style of riding they’re meant to be used for.
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All-mountain
All-mountain snowboards are what you’re most likely to run into at your local resort. This is by far the most popular class of snowboard, and for good reason: they perform well in nearly any condition and on any part of the mountain.
The secret to all-mountain snowboards is that the weight is balanced towards the tail of the board. In general, the tail is short, narrow, and flat compared to the tip, which helps with control as you carve downhill. All-mountain snowboards can be ridden backwards, although the tail shape does make this a little more difficult.
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Freestyle
Freestyle snowboards are meant for the park. These boards are lightweight and flexible so that you can pop off of jumps and perform twists and turns in the air. Typically, freestyle boards can be ridden either forwards or backwards. Twin tip freestyle boards are completely symmetrical between tip and tail, while directional twin tip freestyle boards are symmetrical but are balanced slightly towards the tail like an all-mountain board.
Keep in mind that freestyle snowboards aren’t burly enough to handle all-mountain conditions. They don’t have a very sharp edge, nor are they stiff enough to handle travelling downhill at high speeds.
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Freeride
Freeride boards are designed for the most serious terrain on the mountain, like chutes, steep gladed runs, and cliffs. They’re able to power through crud snow or float on powder. On the whole, freeride snowboards share a lot in common with all-mountain snowboards. But, they tend to be stiffer, the directionality of the board is more pronounced, and they don’t have the same groomer-gripping edge as all-mountain boards.
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Powder
Powder snowboards are for the powder hounds out there. These boards are designed to set first tracks, with a lightweight construction and rockered shape that gives them tons of float. You’ll also find highly curved tips on these snowboards to help you stay above the powder.
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Splitboards
Splitboards are designed for snowboarders who want to get into the backcountry. These boards split in half down the center, so you can essentially have one ski-like surface on either foot for touring. When you get to the top of a run, you can clamp the two halves of the board back together and ride as you normally would.
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How to Choose the Best All-mountain Snowboard for You
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There’s a lot to consider when choosing the right all-mountain snowboard for the season. The graphic design on the boards may stand out most when you’re looking at them in the shop, but there’s a lot more to consider than just what looks good. So, let’s take a look at some of the most important features you need to think about.
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Size
The best place to start with choosing an all-mountain snowboard is to figure out the length and width of the board you need.
The length is typically measured from tip to tip, and the right length for you depends on your weight. Women weighing between 110-140 pounds will need a board that’s around 130-150 cm in length, while men weighing between 140-175 pounds will need a board measuring 150-170 cm. Riders over around 175 pounds will want a board that’s at least 160 cm, but you don’t want to get a board that extends way over your head, either.
If you’re in between sizes, you do have a choice. Longer boards are typically faster and more suitable for aggressive downhill riders. Shorter boards are more maneuverable and are often preferred by beginners and park riders.
Snowboard width is measured across the waist of the board and depends on your boot size. Ideally, your boots should hang over each edge of the board by about one to two centimeters so that you have maximum leverage when carving. Overhang too much, and you risk catching your toe in the snow; too little and you won’t be able to shift the angle of the board efficiently.
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Flex
Snowboards can flex both down the length of the board and across the waist. Longitudinal flex – down flex the length of the board – is what most riders care about when choosing an all-mountain snowboard.
Soft flex board have a lot of give. They’re perfect for beginners because they make it easier to turn the board and are more forgiving if you make small movements while riding. Park riders also tend to prefer soft flex boards because they can better pop off jumps and provide better balance on rails.
Stiff flex boards are more aggressive, for riders who want more control over their snowboard’s movements. Importantly, these boards maintain speed better than soft flex boards and hold an edge better at high speeds.
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Profile (Camber and Rocker)
A board’s profile describes how it looks when you set it on the ground.
A flat, or neutral, snowboard will sit with the base perfectly flat on the ground. These boards are good for all-around use. They make it easy to carve turns and float decently well on small amounts of powder.
A snowboard with camber will have a slight rise in the middle with floor contact on either end of the board, and tips that rise off the floor again. Cambered snowboards are more popular among experienced riders because they allow for more aggressive turns and faster speeds, particularly on hard-packed slopes and groomers. Beware of camber in deep snow, though, as this profile does not float well.
Rockered snowboards sit on the floor in the center of the board and rise to either end. This profile is ideal for deep powder because of its flotation, and it’s also popular in the park because it handles rails very well. Rocker takes away some power from the board, but beginning snowboarders will find it easier to initiate turns.
Note that there are also boards that combine rocker and camber profiles together, or rocker and flat profiles. These snowboards offer a compromise between the different styles when it comes to riding feel.
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Shape
Most all-mountain snowboards are directional, meaning that they are designed to be ridden with the tip down. That’s because the tail is narrow and flatter on directional boards – you can ride backwards, but you’ll lose some float and control. The benefit of directionality is that the board feels balanced and carves aggressively.
You can also find directional twin tip snowboards. These have symmetrical tips so they can be ridden forwards or backwards. But, unlike true twin tip boards, the weight will be shifted towards the tail to give you more control while carving.
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Sidecut Radius
Sidecut radius describes the taper from the tip and tail of your board towards the waist. All-mountain snowboards with a larger sidecut radius (wider waist in relationship to the tip and tail) will be better at make big, sweeping turns with a large radius. Boards with a smaller radius will make tighter turns as you sweep side to side.
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Effective Edge
The effective edge is the length of your board that is actually in contact with the snow as you’re riding. Since the tip and tail are always slightly upturned, the effective edge is shorter than the full length of the board.
A longer effective edge is great if you ride at high speeds or on icy terrain, as it will give you more grip. A shorter effective edge is better for spinning the board, which can be helpful in the terrain park.
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Base Material
Snowboards are generally coated in polyethylene on the bottom to provide a durable, sliding surface. Extruded bases are less expensive and easier to repair, but less durable over the long run because these bases are prone to warping. Sintered bases are more expensive and require more frequent waxing. But, they’re lighter, more durable, and stronger.
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The 8 Best All-mountain Snowboards of 2020 – Compared and Tested
1. Loaded Boards Algernon All-mountain Snowboard
- Best for: Aggressive carving
- Shape: Directional Twin Tip
- Profile: Camber
- Flex: Stiff
- Core Material: Bamboo and fiberglass
This high-quality snowboard from Loaded Boards is the perfect upgrade for experienced snowboarders. The board is built from bamboo and fiberglass with a cork footbed, which makes it lightweight, durable, and relatively stiff while still feeling highly responsive under your feet. Better yet, the sturdy flex and long effective edge of this board combine to make it a great choice for aggressive carving, whether you’re riding groomers or crud.
The radial sidecut carves a big arc, which makes this board very fun for sweeping downhill in smooth lines. On top of that, the directional twin tip adds to the balance and speed of this board. It should come as little surprise that Loaded Boards built this snowboard with a pronounced mustache camber, which further adds to its aggressive carving ability.
The board is expensive, but the construction is very premium. Note also that the base is sintered rather than extruded, so this board can last for many years if properly cared for.
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PROS:
- Lightweight bamboo and fiberglass core
- Stiff with mustache camber for aggressive carving
- Large sidecut radius carves smooth lines
- Sintered base
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CONS:
- Expensive
- Doesn’t perform super well in powder
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2. Jones Men’s Mountain Twin Snowboard
- Best for: Moving between groomers and the terrain park
- Shape: Directional Twin Tip
- Profile: Cambered
- Flex: Stiff
- Core Material: Fiberglass
This inexpensive all-mountain snowboard from Jones is perfect for riding groomers and hitting the terrain park, although it’s capable of much more. The board features a traditional aggressive design, with a cambered profile, directional twin tip, and stiff flex. But, unlike all-mountain snowboards that you’d want to bomb down the steepest crud with, this board has a blunt nose, a more progressive sidecut, and a slightly shorter effective edge.
That allows this board to be more maneuverable in the terrain park as well as riding through tight trees. The downside is that the board lacks some of the strength needed to hold up on the steepest terrain and in the worst snow quality. It’s also worth noting that this board has a surprising amount of lateral flex around the board’s waist, which can come in handy in the park to help you get an extra pop off a ramp.
This board isn’t cheap, but thankfully it’s built to last. The base is sintered and the topsheet is made from durable ECO-plastic.
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PROS:
- Aggressive design with cambered profile
- Progressive sidecut for tight turns
- Plenty of lateral flex for launching jumps
- Durable
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CONS:
- Expensive
- Doesn’t deal well with hard-packed crud
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3. STAUBER Summit Snowboard
- Best for: Beginning snowboarders
- Shape: Directional Twin Tip
- Profile: Camber-rocker Hybrid
- Flex: Soft
- Core Material: Fiberglass
The Summit snowboard from STAUBER was designed with novice riders in mind. First off, it’s fairly inexpensive so you don’t have to feel bad about using it for a few seasons and then upgrading to something more premium. You can even buy the board with bindings, which is great if you’re building your riding kit from scratch.
The board has a few adaptations to make it easier for beginners to learn to snowboard. The directional twin tip allows you to explore the slopes or the terrain park without sacrificing balance, while the soft flex makes it much easier for beginners to initiate turns on this board. STAUBER also used a hybrid camber-rocker profile on this board, which allows for smoother turning without taking away the ability to carve hard as your technique improves.
Do note that the board’s shape and sidecut radius are designed to prevent beginners from catching an edge. In icy conditions, that can backfire a bit as it can be more difficult to get a grip on the terrain.
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PROS:
- Inexpensive
- Rocker-camber hybrid profile for easy turn initiation
- Soft flex for easier turns and pop in the park
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CONS:
- Not the most durable board
- Suffers in powder and on icy terrain
- Not stiff enough for aggressive carving
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4. Burton Deep Thinker Snowboard
- Best for: Poppy riding
- Shape: Directional
- Profile: Directional Camber
- Flex: Soft
- Core Material: Super Fly II 700G Wood
This all-mountain snowboard from Burton is very unique. It features a directional camber, which differs from a traditional camber in that the front half of the board is also rockered. This allows it to get far superior float in deep snow compared to most traditional cambered snowboards, without giving up on the aggressive carve that camber traditionally provides.
On top of that, this board is designed to pop when you jump into the air. The soft flex and lightweight wood core of this board give it a surprising amount of flotation. Meanwhile, the directional design of the board itself also ensures that the tail is ready to launch at any moment. The flex is directional so that you have less stiffness in the tail, and can use the stiffer waist to help lift the bottom of the board.
That’s a big plus whether you want to take this board into the park or simply have fun hopping around on small terrain features throughout the resort. If you find yourself in deep powder, the Deep Thinker’s pop also helps you to clear obstacles like snowed-over rocks and logs. Unfortunately for park riders, though, all of the directionality of this board does somewhat limit your ability to spin and ride backwards.
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PROS:
- Excellent pop in tail of board
- Lightweight core material
- Directional camber adds rocker to front of board for flotation
- Moderately aggressive carving style
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CONS:
- Doesn’t have the most edge grip on icy or cruddy terrain
- Directional design limits use in the terrain park
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5. Capita Kazu Kokubo Pro Snowboard
- Best for: Freestyle riding
- Shape: Directional
- Profile: Flat-camber Hybrid
- Flex: Moderate
- Core Material: Bamboo
The Kazu Kokubo Pro is about as close to a freestyle snowboard as you can get and still call it all-mountain. The board is built for steep terrain, deep powder, and aggressive riding.
To start, this board features a very flat cambered profile. There is a slight camber to provide power to your turns, but Kapita didn’t want to undermine the board’s float in heavy powder. The ridiculously lightweight bamboo core doesn’t hurt with flotation and pop, either.
The board is directional, as you’d expect from a big terrain board. The moderate flex is on the soft side for some riders, but the benefit is easier turn initiation in tight terrain like trees and rocky areas as well as better pop when hucking a cliff. The sidecut radius of this board is shorter than most true all-mountain boards, which also helps when maneuvering through tight terrain features.
Importantly, this snowboard is built to take a beating. It features a sintered Hyperdrive base and a Holysheet fiberglass topsheet with high-performance resin. The edges are fully stainless steel.
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PROS:
- Durable, strong, and lightweight board for big terrain
- Excellent float in deep powder
- Short sidecut radius for tight turns
- Moderate flux for better turn initiation
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CONS:
- Expensive
- Not the best board for park riding or groomers
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6. Lib Tech T.Rice Pro HP Snowboard
- Best for: Advanced snowboarders
- Shape: Directional
- Profile: Camber-rocker Hybrid
- Flex: Stiff
- Core Material: Wood (60% aspen, 40% Paulownia)
The T.Rice Pro HP board from Lib Tech was built with aggressive resort riders in mind. This snowboard was made to tear through steep terrain, with a directional shape and a camber-rocker hybrid that allows for hard-charging turns. The rocker hybrid helps this board navigate the terrain on powder days, but it’s worth noting that this snowboard doesn’t have the flotation necessary to push through more than ankle-deep powder.
One of the big differences between this board and the similarly big-mountain Kapita board is the flex. Lib Tech’s snowboard is very stiff, which allows you to push your speed limits without worrying about catching an edge or the board vibrating beneath you. While you can navigate reasonably tight terrain with this board, the large sidecut radius makes it ideal for carving smooth lines in your favorite face.
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PROS:
- Handles steep terrain easily
- Rocker tip adds back some flotation
- Stiff flex limits vibration while riding aggressively
- Very smooth carve lines thanks to wide sidecut radius
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CONS:
- Not super floaty for riding in powder
- Expensive
- Doesn’t handle tight turns all that well
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7. System Timeless and Summit Men’s Snowboard Package
- Best for: Snowboarders on a budget
- Shape: Twin Tip
- Profile: Camber-rocker Hybrid
- Flex: Stiff
- Core Material: Wood (Poplar)
If you’re looking to build an all-mountain snowboarding package from scratch, this board, bindings, and boots package from System is worth a look. The package is impressively inexpensive, which puts it well within reach of most beginner and intermediate riders’ budgets.
The Timeless board is a true-all mountain ride. It features a stiff wooden core that allows you to power down groomers and off-piste runs alike, and a long effective edge ensures you can keep control in any conditions. While the snowboard isn’t perfected for the park, it does feature a true twin tip design that allows you to ride forward and backward. The wooden core is also relatively light, which gives this board some pop.
The other thing to note about this snowboard is the camber-rocker hybrid profile. The rocker is designed to add float to this board on powder days and makes it easier for beginners to ride. Meanwhile, the camber ensures that this board is gamely enough for steep terrain and aggressive riding on groomers.
The boots and bindings that come with this board are also very nice. The Camp Seven Summit Binding system uses a simple pair of ratchets to secure you to the board, and the toe piece can be either over your foot or over your toe depending on what you prefer. The APX boots are extremely comfortable and durable, and can even be thermally molded to your foot by your local snowboard shop for a perfect fit.
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PROS:
- Board, bindings and boots package
- Very inexpensive
- Camber-rocker hybrid profile gives the board all-mountain capabilities
- True twin tip design is good for the park
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CONS:
- Non-directional shape can be more difficult for beginners to ride
- Rocker is less than ideal for steep terrain
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8. Camp Seven Drifter and APX Men’s Snowboard Package
- Best for: Deep powder
- Shape: Twin Tip
- Profile: Camber-rocker Hybrid
- Flex: Soft
- Core Material: Wood (Poplar)
The Drifter snowboard from Camp Seven is an all-mountain board built for powder days. The board is extremely lightweight thanks to a poplar wood core, and has a ton of float as a result of the camber-rocker hybrid profile. On top of that, the true twin tip shape makes it a ton of fun to ride through powder and the tips are upturned enough to keep you from riding beneath the snow surface.
This board can suffer a little bit on more aggressive terrain, especially if you’re riding hardpack. That’s because the board is relatively flexible and the lack of directionality makes it a bit harder to initiate turns in crud. Still, a large sidecut radius makes this board extremely fun in more open areas, since you can carve beautiful flowing lines into the snow.
The board is paired with the same Summit APX boots and bindings as the Timeless snowboard, which makes this package a terrific value. The boots are comfortable and long-lasting, while the bindings give you the option to wear the toe strap on top of your boot or directly over your toe.
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PROS:
- Inexpensive board, boots, and bindings package
- Excellent float thanks to rocker and low weight
- Large sidecut radius is great for carving flowing lines
- Soft flex makes turn initiation easy
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CONS:
- Non-directionality compromises the board in steep terrain
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The 4 Best Snowboard Brands of 2020
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Whether or not one of our eight favorite all-mountain snowboards strikes your fancy, it’s worth knowing about which snowboard brands regularly sport high-quality boards. Many brands offer variations of the designs we spotlighted, so it’s easy to get the snowboard that perfect matches your needs.
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Burton
Burton is a goliath of the snowboarding world – chances are, nearly half the boards you’ll find at your local resort were made by Burton. The company has a truly massive array of board designs, so it’s easy to find a snowboard that exactly fits all of the characteristics you want. On top of that, Burton is constantly innovating in boards and bindings, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for new riding tech.
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Jones
You won’t find a ton of snowboards classified as “all-mountain” from Jones – the company’s main focus is on freeriding and big mountain activities. But, many of Jones’ snowboards perform as well on groomers and even in the park as they do on huge, committing lines. Look for boards that are slightly on the stiffer side and feature more aggressive profiles from Jones.
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GNU
GNU boards are famously good for riding in powder thanks to a mild rocker profile. The company has other designs, but if you’re looking for a board that can go anywhere in the mountain in snowy conditions GNU is worth exploring. Importantly, all GNU boards are made in the US out of eco-friendly materials, so you can feel good about your environmental footprint while riding.
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Lib Tech
Lib Tech pioneered the camber-rocker hybrid profile over a decade ago, and it’s now relatively standard on all-mountain snowboards. The company hasn’t stopped innovating, and today many of its boards are able to take on the entire mountain – from powdery slopes to groomers to the terrain park. Whatever conditions you favor, chances are good that Lib Tech has a board for you.
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FAQs
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A: Snowboard length usually depends on your height and weight, as well as your riding style and skill level. While there are general guidelines for snowboard sizing, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s recommended sizing for the snowboard you have in mind – different shapes, profiles, and effective edge lengths will change how a snowboard feels for a specific size of rider. When in doubt, more aggressive and experienced riders tend to prefer longer boards, while beginner riders and boarders who spend a lot of time in the terrain park tend to prefer shorter snowboards.
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A: If you’re a beginner, you want a board that’s relatively easy to control and that helps you through your turns. That typically means finding a board with a soft flex and a strong directionality, since both of those features will make it easier to initiate shifting weight from one side of your board to the other. You may also want to look for a snowboard with a rocker profile, since rocker also makes it easier to shift weight on the board and control your turns.
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A: Camber-rocker hybrid profiles have become very popular for all-mountain snowboards because they combine the aggressive riding of camber with the flotation of rocker. So, a hybrid profile is good for a lot of all-mountain riders.
But, it’s important to think about where you’ll spend most of your time riding. If your local resort gets walloped with snow, more rocker might be important. On the other hand, if conditions are often cruddy, more camber might be better. Hybrid boards are best for mixed conditions or if you spend time at a lot of different resorts.
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Conclusion
All-mountain snowboards allow you to enjoy all the different styles of snowboarding, from ripping groomers to launching jumps in the terrain park to trying out challenging and steep terrain. These boards are ideal for beginners and experts alike, which also means that an all-mountain snowboard can grow with you as you become a stronger rider.
There are a ton of all-mountain snowboards on the market, which can make finding the board that’s perfect for your needs difficult. With our guide to choosing a board and reviews of the top eight all-mountain snowboards, you can quickly and easily find the right snowboard to hit the slopes with this winter.
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