Top 5 Boards
The Niche Story is a great board for doing just about anything and everything. This board will take you anywhere on the mountain that you want to go.
This board is a bit too stiff for a beginner to ride. Riders will need to be at least an intermediate skill level to have proper control of the board.
The Story is designed with a subtle taper, setback, and a tad of rocker that gives it a hybrid profile.
The board is much more maneuverable at faster speeds and is tough to skid on turns. One thing it can definitely do is carve. The faster you go, the better carve you get.
The Story is very much a “go big or go home” type of ride. From being better with high speed, to really shining on the larger jumps and not the smaller ones. It is loaded with pop, stable in approaches, and has a solid landing.
What We Liked
- Great for high speeds
- Good for aggressive riders
- Extremely versatile
What We Didn't Like
- Not good for jibbing at all
- Best for more advanced riders
The Typo from Yes is a great all mountain ride that is great for skill levels from beginners to the more advanced. It is also offered in 8 different size variations.
This is very similar to the Yes Basic but is a little faster, better for riding powder, and great at carving. This makes the board perfect for those looking for a truly versatile snowboard.
Turning and carving is smooth and easy but not overly aggressive. This board is extremely maneuverable at slower speeds and can weave between trees seamlessly. It is even great at going over rougher terrains.
The maneuverability of the board makes it great for side hits, spins, and has pop that is easy to get to. It’s jumping sweet spot are small and medium sized ones. While the board can handle larger jumps, it definitely was not made for them.
What We Liked
- Very versatile riding
- Great for riders that can handle a growing skill level
- Playful and stable
What We Didn't Like
- Not the fastest board
- Not great for large jumps
- Okay performance on powder
Salomon’s Assassin is one of the top all-mountain/freestyle boards around.
Using a combination of equalizer and quadratic side cut gives this board the ability of carving at high speeds and optimum edge control. This board is not a beginner’s board but is great for experienced riders that need a versatile board for anywhere riding.
Though it may not be designed for intense powder sessions, its directional twin shape and rockered ends gives it a decent float. If you find you have entered into some powder, the board can get you out of it. It just won’t be the greatest performer in the stuff.
While its biggest weakness is jibbing, the Assassin excels in hitting the jumps with easy pop. The board is snappy, light, and great for tearing up jumps, side hits, and executing spins. It just isn’t great for skidding turns.
You can definitely get your use out of this board as it can handle just about any type of terrain.
What We Liked
- Great for hitting jumps
- Great pop that is easy to access
- Can ride switch
What We Didn't Like
- Definitely not a jibber
- Not a powder gliding machine
This high end all mountain board is definitely not a beginner’s board. However, it can handle backcountry, groomers, and still make you look good tearing up the park
Riders need to have basic turns perfected, but this is a board that will stay with them as they grow in experience and skill level.
Rossignol’s One board has a mid-range flex through the middle and gets softer as you reach the tip and tail. This makes buttering extremely easy.
The rocker tip and tail make floating in powder an absolute dream, and even mimics freeride boards.
The versatility of the board means you can definitely lay out a strong carve, but riders can still skid turns when they want or need to. Plus, this board is very smooth at high speeds.
Though it may not have the most pop, it still makes jumps super fun. It handles the landing extremely well and can be landed switch.
What We Liked
- Smooth ride at high speeds
- Great float in powder
- Minimal chatter
What We Didn't Like
- Not a ton of pop
- Pretty pricey
- Not a beginner’s board
Capita’s FSC® Certified P2 Superlight Core™, which can be found in the Asymulator, is strong enough to hold up to high impacts and produce maximum pop.
The Asymulator is considered an all-mountain freestyle board and can hold its own in the stuff, this board was not intended for powder. It just takes a little more effort to keep the nose up.
With an asymmetrical shape, this board is created to execute turns with precision. Similar to their D.O.A, Asym. takes advantage of the Resort V1 Profile and its camber benefits.
The board makes it easy to skid on turns. It does have a quick edge to edge at slower speed.
Where this board is strong at hitting jibs and great for riding switch it does have its limits. This board can get a little wobbly at high speeds and is not intended for powder waist deep powder.
When it comes to jumps, it is great for most varieties, just take it easy on the massive jumps.
What We Liked
- Great at carving
- Great versatility
- Handles different types of terrains
What We Didn't Like
- Not designed for powder
- Not great at jibbing
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main types of snowboards?
There are three major types of snowboards. These include All Mountain, Freestyle, and Alpine.
Each type of board comes with a construction that is unique to the type of board they are. These characteristics are the material used, the shape, flex, and size of the board.
What is the best type of snowboard?
While this depends on your personal preference, the most popular boards are all mountain boards and the freeride boards.
These boards are more versatile and can handle the park scene, the halfpipe, and can even float on a powder surface.
One thing to know is that these are best for riders that have an interest in all types of riding. These boards will not have one specific terrain or condition that they will completely dominate.
With this being said, they do make some of the most fun boards around.
What is a hybrid camber?
A snowboard that has a hybrid camber comes with characteristics of rocker and traditional camber. This means that the body of the snowboard curves in a multiple of ways.
These hybrid camber boards are known to be some of the most versatile boards available. They provide a loose feel from the rocker and excellent powder float.
Conclusion
Overall the winner of our little roundup would be the Salomon Assassin. Though Capita’s Asymulator isn’t far behind.
It comes in a variety of sizes to suit a multiple of riders. Plus, it is very versatile and is good for multiple skill levels. Even more experienced riders can fun on the mountain with the Assassin.
The Assassin has good pop, so it is fun to hit the jumps and strong enough to handle whatever you want to throw at it. It can even get you through the powder if you find yourself riding it down the mountain.
The best way to get the best board for you is to check them out yourself. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and so are perfect boards.