What to look for in your next quiver killer
Do you want one board to shred any terrain, in any conditions? Park jumps and tree lines, powder bowls and hardpack? Then what you need is an all-mountain snowboard.
At Rome we have plenty of quiver killers, but we’re not here to talk you into a specific purchase. Instead this article will outline the key features of all-mountain boards in general, so you’ll have a better idea of what to look for when the time comes to hit the market.
Profile and Flex
If you don’t know what conditions you’re going to be riding then you have to be prepared for anything. The weather in the mountains can change dramatically from one day to the next, so the last thing you want is a board that works well in soft snow, for instance, but sucks in hard or icy conditions. We recommend a classic camber profile between the bindings (for great edge control on groomers) combined with a small amount of rocker at the tips (which mellows things out a little and improves performance in pow). To learn more, check out our snowboard profiles explainer.
The flex of an all-mountain snowboard needs to be right in the sweet spot – soft enough to load ollies and get creative in the park, but firm enough that it won’t buckle during high speeds and rough landings.
Our best-selling National and the new Stale Crewzer are great examples of both these concepts, coming equipped with our Fusion Camber, a directional twin shape and carbon hot rods for plenty of power. The Crewzer is Ståle Sandbech’s go-to model when he and the RK1 crew wanna rip the whole mountain.
Float
If you and your crew have discovered a sneaky powder stash, you wanna be able to get after it. That requires more float than a regular park board can offer. A slightly extended nose incorporating rocker at the beginning, along with a setback stance to minimize leg burn, will give you just that. And once you’re back on the trails, these features will smooth out the ride when the resort gets bumpy towards the end of the day.
It’s a design philosophy that’s epitomized in our Ravine collection. Both the men’s and women’s versions feature a setback camber profile we call Free-the-Ride, combined with a huge, rockered nose that lets you hover over deep snow. We’ve also designed them with a tapered directional shape to help sink the tail and provide better maneuverability. If you need an extra dose of snap and power transmission, check out the Ravine Select, which has a pair of our new Carbon Omega hotrods placed in the tail.
Versatile Shape
Unlike pure freeride or powder boards, all-mountain models need to make it easy to take off and land switch. For freestyle performance across any terrain, we believe a directional twin shape is the way to go.
Riders who are less focused on tricks but still want the versatility to crank a euro carve or slash a powder bank will benefit from a directional flex like that found on the Freaker and Warden. The tail is noticeably stiffer, which offers additional stability at speed, support when you’re landing drops and extra drive through turns.
Bottom Line
The best all-mountain snowboards can tackle anything you throw at them, but you should keep in mind that the flex and profile of each model might tilt it slightly towards more aggressive or relaxed riding.
In general, you want to seek out something with a mid-stiff flex, a directional twin shape and a camber profile that incorporates a little rocker towards the tip and tail.
Most people own one snowboard rather than a whole quiver, which is why all-mountain snowboards continue to outsell everything else on the market. If you’re really into learning tricks or shredding powder though, it’s worth considering investing in something more specialist – after all, there’s a reason these boards exist. If you want to find out more, check out our articles on the best park snowboards and the best freeride snowboards.
