We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Travel Products Activity + Adventure Winter Sports The 10 Best Snowboards of 2024 From the best all-mountain rides to the board that’ll let you flex your creativity, these are the best snowboards. By Nathan Borchelt Nathan Borchelt A long-time veteran in the travel and outdoor space, Nathan Borchelt has been writing about adventure travel and doing rigorous gear testing and written recommendations for decades. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on January 5, 2024 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist and editor who has traveled across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and spent more than a decade reviewing hotel room. Travel + Leisure Fact Checking Process In This Article Expand In This Article Our Top Picks ReviewsTips for Buying Frequently Asked Questions Why Trust T+L Photo: Travel + Leisure / David Hattan The world of snowboarding has drastically evolved from when Sherman Poppen first introduced his “snurfer” in 1965. Modern riding was born with the influence of Tom Sims and Jake Burton in the late 1970s, which has led to a revolutionary movement that is today’s snowboarding scene. But all of those advances can make navigating the options for buying a new board a bit overwhelming. And that’s where we come in. From all-mountain rides to the best for speed, stability, style, carving, and powder, we’ve honed in on the best boards for all types of riders. Some, like Ride’s Deep Fake board, excel at delivering optimal riding across the entire resort (as well as dips into the sidecountry), while others will deliver a stable ride for beginner riders or those looking for the best value. We dove into the specifics of dozens of boards, the profile and use of camber and rockers, how well they found an edge, how well they floated on powder, and what types of flex each board would provide, to select the best options out there. We also looked at overall stability, as well as the length options, a measurement that directly corresponds with the rider’s weight. And we spoke with Ben Phillips, the Rental and Repair Manager at Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin Resort, on what to consider when shopping for a new board. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Ride Deep Fake Unisex Snowboard at Evo.com ($490) Jump to Review Best Value: Burton Ripcord Flat Top Snowboard at Evo.com ($294) Jump to Review Most Lightweight: Arbor Element Rocker Snowboard at REI ($400) Jump to Review Best for Speed: Academy Snowboard Co. Masters Series by Chris Roach at Amazon ($528) Jump to Review Most Stable: Ride Warpig Snowboard at Amazon ($550) Jump to Review Best Style: Public Snowboards Statement Snowboard at Publicsnowboards.com (See Price) Jump to Review Best for Beginners: K2 Gateway Snowboard at Amazon ($450) Jump to Review Best Carving: Rossignol One Snowboard at REI ($422) Jump to Review Best All-mountain: Lib Tech Apex Golden Orca Snowboard at Amazon ($1,300) Jump to Review Best Powder: Jones Flagship Snowboard at Amazon ($1,008) Jump to Review Best Overall Ride Deep Fake Unisex Snowboard PHOTO: Amazon $490 at evo.com View on Ridesnowboards.com Why We Love It Available in an array of lengths (including wide versions), this board will let you conquer the entire mountain, with plenty of stability and just enough pop to keep things fun. What to Consider Freestyle-oriented riders may prefer a true tip directional board, and it’s rated for riders at the intermediate and expert levels. The Ride Deep Fake is a unisex board that’s designed to handle the entire resort (as well as some sidecountry access). The shape provides ample stability, with quick edge control and a tapered linear quadratic sidecut that encourages easy transitions and reliable grip. The board really rips on groomers, but a slight rise on the nose lets it float in loose, deep snow and also helps punch through crud (or hard clumps of snow). The directional extra-camber profile also adds a touch of playful hop, while a selection of titanal metal layered with urethane running the length of the board provides dampening and responsiveness, letting you easily glide pretty much anywhere you want to go. The Details: 144, 148, 151, 157W, 159, 161W, 162, 165W millimeter length | 240, 243, 246, 252, 256, 259, 263, 267 millimeter waist width | Directional shape | Pre-curved glass fiberglass, aspen, bamboo, paulownia, carbon array laminates, metal, urethane | Medium flex Best Value Burton Ripcord Flat Top Snowboard PHOTO: Burton $294 at evo.com View on Burton.com Why We Love It The board doesn’t cut back on features, including a bigger rise at the tip to help navigate uneven terrain and a flat profile underfoot for added balance and quick turn transitions. What to Consider Aggressive riders, or those who love to pop into the backcountry, should look for a stiffer board, or one with a bit of camber. Burton brought the world the glories of snowboarding by literally inventing the sport, and they continue to make some of the most affordable all-mountain boards on the market. Witness the Ripcord Flat Top Snowboard, which provides an easy-going ride with a classic directional design, along with a little more nose lift than at the tail, so you can navigate through a mixture of conditions. Soft and playful, you find rockers at the tip and tail, without any camber underfoot, which provides more stability, balance, and easy edge transfer. This isn’t the board to dive into the deep or to ride super-aggressively on the groomed runs, but it opens the rider up to all other kinds of riding, including the park and mixed terrain with loose snow. The Details: 145, 150, 154, 157, 159, 156W, 185W, 162W millimeter length | 244, 247, 250, 253, 256, 258, 259, 261 millimeter waist width | Directional shape | Fly 900G cor, Biax fiberglass, metal | Soft flex Most Lightweight Arbor Element Rocker Snowboard PHOTO: evo $400 at REI $350 at evo.com View on Arborcollective.com Why We Love It Made with a lightweight ash core, this board employs loads of design and tech features to make it easy to turn in practically any terrain, and the true-twin composition bolsters its versatility. What to Consider Dedicated freestyle riders may want a board with a bit more “pop.” With the Arbor Element Rocker snowboard, you can choose from either a system rocker or a system camber profile — the former lowers the leading edge to improve hold and creates a surf-like ride with natural float, while the latter affords a smoother overall feel. But either way, the board delivers. The parabolic profiling construction blends together five different radii to create a central parabolic arc, so the board responds to different types of riding and rider ability. They’ve also added proprietary Grip Tech at the heel and toe points to improve edging on hard pack and ice. The base plate’s design leverages four heel-to-toe zones, which improves edge control and makes for a more intuitive feel. It performs admirably in powder and across the resort, and can even handle a bit of big-mountain or terrain/street riding. The Details: 153, 155, 157, 158MW, 159, 162MW, 166MW millimeter length | 24.95, 25.1, 25.3, 26.2, 26.7, 25.4, 26.95 centimeter waist width | True twin shape | Ash Powerply, highland II, sintered base, fiberglass, steel, bio resin | Medium flex The 6 Best Snowboard Bags of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Best for Speed Academy Snowboard Co. Masters Series by Chris Roach PHOTO: Academy Snowboard Co. $528 at Amazon View on Academysnowboards.com Why We Love It This directional board is highly responsive at high speeds in both powder and on groomed runs, with a slightly set-back stance and loads of tech to provide stability and easy turn initiation. What to Consider The directional design may limit this board in the park, and the length options are somewhat limited. Created with one of the biggest snowboarders from the 1980s, Chris Roach’s Masters Series board from Academy is built to work in all conditions, but it really excels when you’re focused on speed, either on groomers or through deep powder. A micro-camber profile adds a touch of pop and playfulness, while full-wrap metal edges assure you get a solid grip. Balancing stabilizers under the boots work to improve stability at speed, and — partnered with a featherweight damping system — also eat up any chatter or vibration. It comes with a slightly set-back overall stance, and a mixture of carbon and fiberglass that also improves durability. The Details: 155, 157, 159W, 162W millimeter length | 25.3, 25.5, 25.7, 26.4, 26.7 centimeter waist width | Directional shape | Carbon, carbonium, bi-lite fiberglass, durasurf, metal, sintered P-tex | Medium flex Most Stable Ride Warpig Snowboard PHOTO: Amazon $440 at Amazon $550 at backcountry.com $385 at evo.com Why We Love It A revolutionary shape makes this board turn like a narrower ride, so you can carve easily on hard snowpacks, float in powder, and hit features with even confidence. What to Consider It might be difficult for a first-time rider to control. The Warpig has been a staple in Ride’s line for a long time, and it’s easy to see why it’s garnished so much loyalty. Equally at home laying down turns at speed, hitting huge jumps in the park, and carving big mountain lines high above treeline, the wide Warpig from Ride uses a tapered bi-radial sidecut that makes it turn like a narrower board, while also providing loads of stability in powder and crud. The core uses a mix of aspen, bamboo, and paulownia to keep the board light without sacrificing durability, and the brand’s proprietary Slimewall material boosts energy transfer and dampening. Suitable for intermediate and advanced riders, the true-twin design doesn’t hold you back from nailing tricks at the park, with a modest rocker at both ends and a flat profile under your boots that reinforces an already-stable feel at high speeds. The Details: 142, 148, 151, 154, 158 millimeter length | 260, 265, 270, 277 millimeter waist width | True twin | Aspen, bamboo, paulownia, triaxial and biaxial hybrid glass, steel, carbon array laminates, urethane | Medium flex Best Style Public Snowboards Statement Snowboard PHOTO: evo View on Publicsnowboards.com $264 at evo.com Why We Love It A modest camber profile with flatness at the center helps initiate turns quickly, and it carves like a narrower ride, letting you fully express yourself in all types of terrain. What to Consider If you’re a hard-charging rider, this may not be the best option for you. From the park to the mountain to the street, the Public Statement lets you flex your max snowboarding style wherever or however you happen to ride. The medium-wide shape cuts back on toe and heel drag so that it rides stable in big, deep terrain. A positive camber profile lets the board flatten out at the edges to make it easy to initiate turns despite its wider waist. They’ve also layered in 20 millimeter quad carbon strips at the tip and tail to add loads of pop, with a soft-to-medium flex that provides some much-needed forgiveness as you work to dial your tricks. The Details: 150, 154, 157 millimeter length | 252, 256, 259 millimeter waist width | True twin | Biax fiberglass, urethane, sintered base, quad carbon, poplar | Soft-medium flex The 10 Best Ski Goggles of 2024 Best for Beginners K2 Gateway Snowboard PHOTO: Amazon $360 at Amazon View on K2snow.com Why We Love It Ready to support you as your skills improve, this board provides plenty of flex and forgiveness, and can handle all types of riding, from deep powder to groomers to glade skiing — and it boasts plenty of size options. What to Consider Once you’ve surpassed an intermediate-level skill set, you may want a board that more directly caters to how (and where) you like to ride. When it comes to selecting an entry-level board, it’s vital you go with one that allows you to progress in the sport, rather than ending up on a board that’ll only court frustration. And that’s where the K2 Gateway Snowboard shines. Boasting a directional twin shape with a progressive camber profile, it’s the perfect ride to navigate powder, groomers, glades, and forays into the park. The aspen core proves to be lightweight, with a playful mid-level flex that’s forgiving and helps you find an edge on even tight turns. Tip-to-tail carbon stringers help cut through chatter, and the Extrude 2000 base flows smoothly on packed snow, with rocker curves at the tip and tail to enable float. The Details: 150, 153, 156, 157W, 159, 160W, 162, 164W millimeter length | 24.2, 24.5, 24.7, 24.9, 25.1, 26, 26.3, 26.6 centimeter waist width | Directional shape | Aspen, carbon fiber, fiberglass, metal | Medium flex Best Carving Rossignol One Snowboard PHOTO: REI $422 at REI $423 at evo.com View on Rossignol.com Why We Love It Outfitted with high-end edge technology, this board holds its turns at high speeds, with an all-mountain rocker profile to aid in transitions between different types of snow. What to Consider This board is most suitable for intermediate and advanced-level riders. Outfitted with Rossignol’s Serrated Edge tech grips, the One Snowboard really excels at holding an edge at high speeds, making it feel at home in both above-treeline powder-choked bowls as well as on tight groomers that foster quick turns. An all-mountain rocker profile improves balance and provides ample forgiveness and float, while the LITE frame core tech provides dampening across the length of the board to help absorb any vibrations as you transition from corduroy to crud. The flex hovers on the slightly stiff side, which improves carving control, but it still provides enough bend to handle forays into the woods or quick runs through the terrain park. The Details: 153, 156, 159 millimeter length | 25, 25.2, 25.4 centimeter waist width | Directional shape | CBF1 wood with basalt and kevlar fibers, urethane, metal, basalt fibers, TPU, fiberglass | Medium-stiff flex Best All-mountain Lib Tech Apex Golden Orca Snowboard PHOTO: Amazon $1,300 at Amazon $910 at backcountry.com View on Lib-tech.com Why We Love It With a robust rocker/camber profile and a switch-friendly composition, this board can handle all conditions, with ample edge control, plenty of float, and freestyle-friendly riding. What to Consider All these design features come at a hefty price. The profile of the Lib Tech Apex Golden Orca Snowboard looks like an undulating snake, what the brand calls Banana Technology. It has a shortened rocker at the center, a mild camber at the rear foot, and an aggressive camber up front, which lets you rip through all sorts of terrain without concern. Strategically located serrations at the edge provide confident grip and control, even in icy conditions, while the long, floating nose glides effortlessly in deep powder. The switch-friendly shape also employs plenty of pop to add playfulness, a key element in executing jumps and terrain tricks, while the tight sidecut lets you find an edge while executing tight turns. The Details: 153, 157, 161 millimeter length | 26.3, 26.5, 26.7 centimeter waist width | Directional shape | Carbon and magnesium fibers, recycled PET plastic, paulownia, aspen, sintered base, metal | Medium flex The 12 Best Ski and Snowboard Pants of 2024, Tested and Reviewed Best Powder Jones Flagship Snowboard PHOTO: Backcountry $1,008 at Amazon $700 at backcountry.com View on Jonessnowboards.com Why We Love It When the deep stuff arrives, this board excels at floating on the snow, providing power and response at speed, and plenty of playful pop and stability. What to Consider It’s not the most nimble board for riding in the park. When winter delivers the perfect conditions: bluebird skies, fresh and deep powder, and nominal avalanche risks, reach for the Flagship snowboard by Jones. Built to bolster your confidence with every turn through the deep, this freeride board excels in powder and technical terrain. A tapered directional shape and a mid-stiff flex pushes both the power and control of the board, while the directional rocker profile enhances float, grip, and playfulness. Rough snow? A mixture of flax and basalt stringers absorb any chatter, while the long sidecut provides stability at speed. Built to deliver improving performance for intermediate and expert riders, it isn’t the board you’d use in a freestyle park, but on or off piste, it truly excels. On really deep powder days, you can also adjust the board to ride with a super setback stance to help you rise above the snow. And they also sustainably source the wood used in the core, weaving in bamboo stringers to add pop and durability. The Details: 151, 154, 156W, 158, 159W, 161, 162W, 164, 165W, 167, 169W, 172 millimeter length | 24.3, 24.6, 26.1, 24.9, 26.3, 25.4, 26.6, 25.9, 27 centimeter waist width | Directional shape | Triax fiberglass, polyethylene, steel, bio resin, flax/basalt stringers, triple-density wood with bamboo and paulownia | Medium-stiff flex Tips for Buying a Snowboard Know the different shapes and which is best for you Most boards are directional — that is, they’re meant to be ridden from tail to nose, while freestyle-focused boards are twin-tipped, meaning you can ride the board with either stance. This latter design resonates more with freestyle and park riders who want the flexibility of variable entries and exits on jumps or when executing tricks. Beyond that, “camber and rocker shapes are the two basics,” Phillips says. “Most boards blend a mix to provide the best of both worlds.” Camber profiles, which curve at the center of the board, provide a lively, playful, stable ride with lots of pop, and work well on hard packs and at speed. Rocker profiles have upturned tips and tails, which are great for riding in powder or the park, with a softer overall feel and easy turning. Flat boards work well to initiate turns quickly and improve the overall feel of the board. Prioritize flex Beyond finding the right board based on your weight, “stiffness and flex is really important,” Phillips says. “A softer board is easier to manipulate, which is great for beginners. As you develop and become more aggressive, the stiffness of the board becomes vital. As you pick up speed and inertia, a softer flex will work against you. Most popular are mid-flex boards.” Don’t forget special features As you start to drill into how and where you ride, look for features that’ll resonate with your riding style. If you plan on ripping groomers and hard packs, a board with a longer effective edge provides solid grip, while a board with a shorter edge allows for easier turning and spin. Also, be sure that the board is compatible with your binding set-up. It’s also worth noting that some brands make gender-specific boards. Women’s boards are generally slightly narrower, with softer flex and a less-pronounced camber. Frequently Asked Questions What are the different types of snowboards? “Board types cater to the specific types of riding,” Phillips says. “Most riders go with all-mountain boards because of their versatility.” As its name implies, these kinds of boards can handle any sort of terrain you’d find at a resort, including groomers, powder, the side country, and terrain parks. Other boards are more specialized, and cater to specific types of riding.When it comes to other board types, Phillips says that “anyone who has that type will be fairly experienced and looking for a specific riding style.” Freestyle boards are light and typically twin-tipped (so that you can ride facing either direction), and work best for playful riders who want to use the mountain and the parks as their playground, rather than focusing on stability or cruising on hard snow. Freeride boards best suit riders who prefer to stay off the groomed runs, with a stiffer overall flex than freestyle boards, and are typically directional. Powder boards are great for the backcountry or deep bowls, and are configured to provide float in deep snow, with a slightly upward lift to the nose to help the board rise. And then there are splitboards, which focus on the backcountry by separating into two “skis” for uphill climbs, and then reattach as a board for the descent. How long should my snowboard be? “The biggest misconception is that your height matters,” Phillips says. “It's more about your weight. You want to get a board that's appropriate to your weight because that dictates how much control you have over the board.” Most board-makers have guides to help you find the proper size based on how much you weigh. How wide should my snowboard be? Board widths are fairly standard — wider ones offer a bit more stability and provide extra float, while narrower boards are easier to turn and find an edge. But Phillips also says that if you wear a ski boot that’s bigger than a size 10.5, you want a wider board so that your toes don’t extend beyond the board’s edge, which can lead to falling. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Nathan Borchelt is a life-long winter sport enthusiast, and has been rating, testing, and reviewing outdoor and travel gear for decades. He performed a deep dive into the wide array of snowboards and interviewed Ben Phillips, the Rental and Repair Manager at Arapahoe Basin to narrow down the selection to the very best for all types of snowboarders. The Ultimate Ski Trip Packing List and Expert Tips for the Mountain Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we’ll send you our favorite travel products each week. Edited by Taylor Fox Taylor Fox Taylor Fox is the Commerce Outdoor Gear Editor at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Taylor holds a Master’s in Geography and has been a writer and editor for over nine years. learn more Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit