We're not going to sugarcoat it, but your first few days on a snowboard are going to be a mixture of slams, slides and bruised bits. But stick with it please, because once you get a grip on the basics you're in for a treat. Technology can help you though, and the latest beginner snowboards actively make it harder for you to fall and easier for you to have fun whatever the conditions. And thankfully, there are hundreds of snowboards specifically engineered to make life easier for beginners. We've researched the latest in beginner snowboard tech and hit the slopes to bring you the best snowboards for beginners that will transform your time on the mountains.
Hit the hill and master the basics with the best snowboards for beginners.
As we mentioned from the get go, snowboarding takes skill, and while the kids make it look impossibly elegant as they slash down the slopes, you need to be prepared to take a tumble, even if you are armed with the latest in beginner boarding tech. Yes, some naturals will take to riding (note: snowboarders 'ride', they don't 'snowboard') but most beginners will benefit hugely from a couple of lessons to get them started, regardless of the board technology between your feet. However you do it, and no matter how long it takes for you to link your first turns, the effort will be worth it, and the bruises will fade.
Even as a beginner, you’re going to encounter plenty of technical jargon that makes choosing the ideal snowboard both confusing and intimidating. To make things easier, we've talked to the experts and compiled this comprehensive feature covering everything you need to know to buy the best beginner snowboard, from understanding the differences between cambers, rockers, side-cuts and breadknife edges. Read on and all will become clear.
- Best Snowboard For Beginners Overall: Burton Ripcord
- Best Value Snowboard For Beginners: Decathlon SNB100
- Best Beginner Snowboard For Kids: Burton After School Special
- Best Beginner Snowboard For Teens: Lib Tech Banana Blaster BTX
- Best Beginner Snowboard For Women: Nitro Lectra
- Best Beginner Freeride Snowboard: Salomon Sight
- Best Beginner Snowboard For Progression: Nidecker Play
How We Chose The Best Beginner Snowboards
We know snowboards like the back of our ski gloves. With years of experience on snow, we understand that finding the ideal beginner board can be daunting, especially if you’re approaching snow sports for the first time as an adult. That's why we set out on a mission to create the ultimate guide to the best beginner snowboards available today that aim to help you learn and progress.
Aside from deep-diving the latest product launches and searching for the best boards from each brand, we're riders just like you who got our start at different times, in different ways. We've put countless boards to the test, spending endless hours in the mountains (it's a tough job, but someone has to do it), fine-tuning our selection process. We've floated on powder, skidded over ice and carved up the groomers to discover the most forgiving, beginner-friendly boards on the market today. And because manufacturers find unique ways to improve their boards each year, we revisit our selections to ensure our recommendations are accurate and up to date.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
At Forbes Vetted, we're acutely aware just how important choosing quality snowboarding equipment is to your enjoyment on the slopes. From the best snowboard boots and helmets, to the finest bindings and accessories, choosing the correct gear for your adventures will make all the difference on the trails. Snowboarding is an expensive sport, so we're committed to finding the very best equipment, whatever your budget.
We’ve tested snowboards, boots, bindings and accessories across multiple continents and ski resorts in an effort to identify what works, what doesn’t and how a product stands to improve your skills. Author Chris Haslam has covered ski and snowboarding equipment on behalf of Forbes for years, and his personal insights and recommendations are bolstered by expert research. He's not a beginner, but remembers all too well the pain of catching edges in the early days.
What Features To Look For When Shopping For A Beginner Snowboard
As you shop for your first board, consider the variables outlined below.
Profile/Camber
Lie a snowboard flat on the floor and look at where it touches the ground. With a classic 'camber' profile you’ll notice the middle rises off the ground while others may be 'flat' or even feature a concave banana shaped 'rocker' profile. In some cases, a board blends all three of these elements.
If you’re a beginner, you want a snowboard that’s relaxed and easy to control. Flat and rocker profiles are deliberately forgiving and make it harder to catch an edge when learning to turn. Traditional camber profiles are designed to be more aggressive, and demand greater levels of control.
That doesn't mean progressing and expert riders all use camber profile snowboards, though. Hybrid-camber or hybrid-rocker designs make it easier to turn, but these also perform differently in different snow conditions, and across the snow parks and trails.
Flex
The flex of a snowboard (rated from 1 to 10, 1 being soft, 10 being very stiff) determines how much ‘give’ it has as you ride. As a beginner, you’ll want a board at the softer end of the scale (no stiffer than 4/10) as you get used to carving and dealing with uneven surfaces. Many premium freestyle snowboards also have a softer flex, as this helps with ground tricks. A stiffer board gives more power and grip when turning fast in all snow conditions, and landing big jumps, but don't be tempted to snag a stiffer board if you're just starting out.
Edges
All snowboards have metal edges that bite into snow to provide control and steering. You might read about a board's 'effective edge' which is the length (in centimeters) that actually touches the snow as you ride. The shorter the effective edge, the easier the board will be to turn and spin, but the less control you'll have at speed or in icy conditions.
Some youth and freestyle boards also come with 'detuned' and even slightly upturned edges to help reduce the chances of catching an edge, either when linking your first turns or spinning on a box in the park.
But that's not the only edge technology to consider when buying a beginner board. Many brands now offer serrated or wavy-looking edges (brand names vary, but there's Frostbite, Mange-Traction, UnderBite and Traction Tech 2.0) that add traction, biting into harder snow and reducing the chance of the board sliding out from beneath you.
How Do I Choose My First Snowboard?
Your first snowboard should be a rental. We would not be doing our job properly if we suggested you spend $350 and up before you've ever set foot on snow. Do yourself, and your wallet, a favor and rent your snowboard equipment for at least the first few days.
And as most rental shops also sell new equipment, take the opportunity to talk to the people working there. Ask them to show you the latest beginner boards, and don't lie about your abilities. It's important to resist the temptation to buy a more advanced snowboard with the idea of “growing into it.” Believe us, you'll soon get tired of being hurled unceremoniously to the snow as you catch edge after edge on a board that’s too advanced. Beginner boards are deliberately forgiving, and they make mastering the basics a much easier, faster and enjoyable, experience.
Once you've got a grip on the snowboarding basics, and you're committed to a lifetime of radness, it's time to start shopping. We can't sugarcoat it—buying a board also means investing in boots, bindings, base layers and clothing. Thankfully there are dozens of fantastic beginner-to-intermediate boards that let you hone the basics, and help you progress season after season.
What Type Of Snowboard Is Best For Beginners?
You'll notice from the images of snowboards above that most beginner boards look very similar. Most have the classic pill shape, also known as either symmetrical 'true twin' shapes. This means there's no difference in performance whether you're riding them forward or backward (switch).
Generally, 'true twin' designs are great for learning turns confidently and cruising around the slopes, but also offer the ability to learn jumps and box tricks in the park.
You can also find 'directional twin' beginner snowboards that have a slightly set back stance—not over the middle of the board—and longer nose. These are designed predominantly for people looking to cruise about and enjoy powder days, rather than have ambitions in the terrain parks.
What Length Snowboard Do I Need?
In the old days, if a snowboard came roughly level with your chin, it was the correct length. It remains a good gauge, but doesn't take into account ability, style and weight.
A shorter snowboard is easier to turn and control, especially as a beginner, but to be sure, you'll find size and weight charts on all snowboard brand websites that help you determine the ideal board length. If your board is short, but you're quite heavy, you'll find yourself sinking in soft snow, and walking when the slope levels out.
As helpful as online size charts can be, don’t be afraid to visit a local shop where experts will be able to size you up and recommend a board instinctively. It may be a bit intimidating, but you’re more likely to find a board that meets your needs after talking to a professional.
What Width Snowboard Do I Need?
As a rule, your toes should hang slightly over the edge of the board, but if they stick out too much, your feet will drag when learning to turn. Similarly, a wider board will be much harder to initiate turns on and transfer edge to edge.
Snowboards are classified as being either standard, mid-wide or wide. Boot sizes (US Men) between 7 to 10.5 work best for standard snowboards. Boot sizes (US Men) between 9.5 to 11 and up work best for mid-wide snowboards. And boots that are 11 and up (US Men) work best on wide snowboards. Naturally, there's different sizing options for smaller feet, female-specific boards and kids, too.
