Best All-Mountain Snowboards [Reviews And Buying Guide 2020]

In an ideal world, anyone who’s into snowboarding will have a plethora of snowboards to choose from, each one for a specific purpose.

However, this isn’t exactly the most practical idea. Snowboards, nor money, don’t exactly grow on trees.

This is why most of us are left with no choice but to purchase a versatile all-mountain snowboard. Then again, a good all-mountain snowboard isn’t that big of a compromise.

In fact, a good all-mountain snowboard is the ideal daily driver because it can literally do it all. Or, at least, as far as snowboards are concerned.

Unfortunately, the problem here isn’t how good all-mountain snowboards can potentially be, but rather, how to choose a good all-mountain snowboard.

There are so many snowboards to choose from on the market. Of those, a lot are all-mountain snowboards, with its manufacturers claiming that their product can do it all.

But the reality is, most all-mountain snowboards on the market fall short on their promises and can’t deliver, which is exactly what we’re here to help you with.

You’ll find in our round-up below some of the best all-mountain snowboards available today, each carefully chosen to ensure that they are worth the investment.

Prices and images pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

 

1. Burton Custom Flying V

No all-mountain board is perfect. The best you can ask for is for a snowboard to tick all of the right boxes and asks you to make as few compromises as possible.

The Burton Custom Flying V is a good example of that kind of all-mountain snowboard.

A rocker-ish profile — we say rocker-ish because of the camber zone under each foot –, medium flex and poppy wood core with a carbon layer create a responsive yet playful feel that’s perfect for beginners and advancers users alike.

Not to mention, the board feels powerful enough for times when you just need a little bit more.

Perhaps the only issue with the Custom Flying V is its lack of carving at high speeds, especially on ice and hardpack.

All things considered though, that is one minor gripe. This is especially when you think about how well the Custom Flying V can handle a wide range of all-mountain conditions with relative ease.

Pros:

• Playful and powerful

• Extremely versatile

• Great for beginners and advanced users alike

Cons:

• Carving capabilities leave a lot to be desired

 

2. Yes Optimistic

If the Burton Custom Flying V’s lack of carve at speed just isn’t doing it for you, you might want to take a look at the Yes Optimistic.

Both come at the same price point, but the biggest difference is that the Yes Optimistic is arguably the more versatile of the two.

The larger nose and wide platform, as well as the tight sidecut design, help mitigate any drag on the heels and toes. This allows you to carve much better than you’d expect.

At the same time, the camber profile design keeps the Optimistic stable at higher speeds. Meanwhile, the natural setback stance allows you to downsize and float through powder snow much more essentially, giving it a playful touch if and when required.

If you’re looking to experience powder flotation at its all-mountain snowboarding finest, or like to rail and carve turns, the Yes Optimistic is pretty much a no-brainer.

Just be prepared to adjust to the inconsistent maneuvering when going through bumpy terrain.

Pros:

• Floaty ride

• Adjustable size

• Responsive feels

• Excellent construction quality

Cons:

• Difficult to maneuver through bumpy terrain

• Plain and bland aesthetics

 

3. Ride Superpig

Advanced riders will love the Ride Superpig. This is mostly because of its blunt nose and swing weight, which helps reduce the tail. This results in a shorter board that’s also lighter at the same time, allowing you to spray and splash at high speeds while also retaining full control of your board.

Meanwhile, you’ll find a pronounced rocker underneath the flat nose, a design choice that lets the snowboard float better when riding in powder.

With four different contact points for stability and a mostly cambered design, the Ride Superpig feels far more stable than it looks, especially when you happen to go through sketchy ice.

Other notable features of the Ride Superpig include reinforced parts to help minimize vibration and chatter, as well as five carbon stringers for a more efficient energy transfer for a more comfortable ride.

Pros:

• Lightweight and poppy design is easy to carve

• Floats extremely well on powder

• Stable

Cons:

• Too stiff for beginners and even for some advanced users

 

4. Never Summer Proto Type Two

All-mountain snowboards are pretty much the jack of all trades of snowboards, but even among them, most snowboards still specialize in one particular area over the others. But the Never Summer Proto Type Two isn’t like most snowboards.

It just seems like that the Proto was designed to be the all-arounder of all-mountain keyboards. The hybrid profile gives it a sporty feel without really losing the pop and playfulness commonly associated with freeriding boards.

At the same time, the profile flexes just enough and works with the asymmetrical sidecut to create a user-friendly ride that even beginners can ride with little to no problems.

While the all-mountain performance of the Proto isn’t worth writing home about, it’s not something that’s complaint-worthy either. It’s good, but not great, to put simply.

For riders who want just a little bit of everything, the Proto is an excellent choice.

Pros:

• Responsive and playful ride

• Comes with a three-year warranty

• Excellent all-around performance

Cons:

• Doesn’t really specialize in anything

 

5. K2 Broadcast

When it comes to snowboards, the usual price runs at about $400 to $600. Spending more doesn’t really guarantee substantial returns.

At the same time, spending less will most likely lead to an extremely subpar product that will leave you not wanting to go snowboarding anymore.

The K2 Broadcast is priced right within the $400 to $600 sweet spot, or so to speak, albeit a bit on the cheaper side.

A relatively new board on the market, the freeride shape of the K2 Broadcast has quickly made it a fan favourite. This is especially because most freeride boards cost significantly more than the K2 Broadcast but come with very incremental improvements.

Price isn’t the only reason why the K2 Broadcast finds its way on our list though. Its hybrid-shaped camber design leads to a responsive ride. Meanwhile, the overall design philosophy creates a fast ride that has a lot of pop.

While the K2 Broadcast definitely isn’t going to wow you with top-of-the-line features, it comes with far more than what most snowboarders would need at a price point that even hesitant beginners can afford.

Pros:

• Affordable

• Responsive hybrid-shaped camber design

• All-mountain snowboard that can double as a freeride snowboard if and when necessary

• Precise

Cons:

• Not for beginners

 

6. Endeavor Archetype

Founded by Vancouver-based snowboarding professional Max Jenke, Endeavor’s always had a different take on the snowboard formula. The Archetype is no exception.

Known for their build quality, Endeavor’s passion and love for what they are doing shows in the Archetype. It’s stiff, but not too much. It’s just right for railing and carving at speeds, as well as getting both big and side hits.

This is mostly because of the directional camber design that comes with a sidecut of about 20 cm.

The swallowtail design also makes it easier for you to get deeper when needed, and it’s designed to make sliding back your bindings a seamless experience.

With an aesthetic appeal that’s designed to cater to youngsters and those who clearly have a need for speed, the Archetype is definitely not for the faint of heart.

It looks fast even when you’re not using it, and when you are, you can clearly feel that it’s built specifically to push you to your limits.

Pros:

• Plenty of camber aids in speed, carving, and hold

• Feels nice and stable at speed

• Semi-locked in carve

Cons:

• Not for beginners and intermediate users

 

7. DC Mega Snowboard

DC isn’t exactly a name that most people go to when they’re looking for snowboards, but you’d be surprised about their offerings. In particular, the DC Mega is an all-mountain snowboard that retains the feel and comfort of skateboards.

In fact, it’s not as far-fetched to claim that the Mega feels like how a skateboard would feel if it’s used on snow.

Surprisingly enough, the answer to that hypothetical question is that skateboards can actually feel quite nice on snow — so long as they are built right.

The “lock and load” camber profile creates a medium-stiff ride that’s snappy and responsive, with a “Fresh Deck” top sheet responsible for mimicking the feel of a typical skateboard.

Also, because it weighs relatively less than most of its peers, it’s easy to glide the Mega across all kinds of surfaces.

If you’re worried about durability, don’t. The all-popular wood composition is backed by an integrated fiberglass construction for a solid feel despite its weight, or the lack thereof.

Pros:

• Comfortable skateboard-like experience

• Built for fast freestyle riders

• Stiff and responsive

Cons:

• There are better options for powder riding

 

Should Women Go For Women-Specific Snowboards?

It wasn’t until in recent years that manufacturers put out separate snowboard lines for women. Before this, most simply added a dash of pink to the snowboard and marketed it as for women.

However, today’s companies know better. As a result, there are snowboards that are designed specifically for women of all ages and experiences, as well as preferences.

Burton is one of the biggest names in snowboarding and has an expensive line of dedicated snowboards themselves. Other brands worth considering if you’re looking for women-specific snowboards are Coalition and Pallas.

 

What Other Things Will I Need for Snowboarding?

Now that you’ve chosen an all-mountain snowboard for yourself, you’re not exactly set to go snowboarding just yet. The right boots and bindings are just as important as the snowboard that you choose.

You’ll have to align the boots and bindings you choose with your snowboard, especially if you’re a beginner and want more support, as well as riding comfort.

For example, with boots, stiffness plays a huge role. It’s rated via a flex rating. The stiffer the boot is, the more stable it is and the better it is for all-mountain snowboards.

However, softer boots are more forgiving and are better for beginners, as well as for softer terrain.

Keep in mind that boot flex ratings aren’t universal. It will usually vary from brand to brand, even though most will rate the stiffness on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the softest and 10 being the stiffest.

Lastly, choosing bindings is no different from choosing the boots. It’s still rated via its flexibility and also on a scale from 1 to 10.

If you need help choosing the right boots and bindings for your snowboard, you’ll want to ask assistance from your local sports shop.

In particular, shops that specialize in snowsports apparel will be a massive help in making sure that you pair the right time of boots and bindings for your board.

 

Splitboard vs Snowboards

Most all-mountain snowboards are built for resort terrain. They’re not exactly for those who would like to go exploring in the backcountry. For those purposes, splitboards are better.

For those that don’t know, splitboards are basically snowboards cut in half. You climb uphill using these splitboards and when you’re going downhill, you reconnect the two pieces together to create a snowboard. You’ll need to use a different set of bindings to use them as well.

While splitboards sound like that they are an ideal option, they’re not perfect either. For starters, they cost more. Also, because they’ve been split apart, their performance, feel, and flex are different from the typical snowboard.

You most likely will still prefer a snowboard if you’re going to be snowboarding in resorts most of the time, and you’re better off using an all-mountain snowboard even if you plan on going backcountry snowboarding.

Either way, if you do intend to go backcountry snowboarding, we recommend taking a proper safety course first so you’ll want to do when you get there and how to keep yourself safe and sound.

 

Conclusion

“Why do you snowboard?”

That is the question that you should ask yourself when choosing a snowboard. This applies even when you’re shopping for an all-mountain snowboard.

This is because despite their versatility, not all-mountain snowboards are made for everybody. Some still cater better to a specific set of users.

Knowing the reason why you snowboard will help you get to know where you’re going to snowboard most of the time, allowing you to choose the right all-mountain snowboard for your own preference.

 

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