Best All Mountain Snowboards of 2023

JUMP TO: BATALEON GOLIATH PLUS  /  CAPITA BLACK SNOWBOARD OF DEATH  /  BATALEON WHATEVER  /  LIB TECH T.RICE ORCA  /  AMPLID SINGULAR  /  GNU RC C3  /  YES. STANDARD  /  JONES TWIN SISTER / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Holly Price

The Short Version

The Long Version

Whether you’re a resort local or just looking forward to your winter trip, an all-mountain snowboard is perfect for both saving space and keeping your luggage light. Designed to provide enough versatility so that it works well everywhere from the park to the powder fields, this type of snowboard remains the most popular.

For an insight into just how great all-mountain boards are, you might want to know that the reigning king of snowboards, Capita’s Defenders of Awesome (DOA) has won the good wood award for seven years running - and it’s an all-mountain model.

Below, I’ve taken a look at a broad selection of all-mountain snowboards to bring you a round-up of the best that this season has to offer, taking into account shape, profile, flex, dampness and price.

If you love reading this review of the best all mountain snowboards, then you'll likely love reading some of our other snowboarding content:

 

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Not only are snowboards a pretty sizable investment, but they are also largely defined by specific, unique features that will determine how well you ride in different conditions and on varying terrain. Wondering how the profile of the board can affect your ride? Want to find an all-mountain model with maximum edge-hold? Then be sure to check out our buying advice at the bottom of the article.

 

Best Overall: BATALEON GOLIATH+

ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate+

FLEX RATING: 6

SHAPE: Directional Twin

PROFILE: Full/Traditional Camber

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Good level of pop for jumps and side hits, little catchiness, feels similar to ride in both directions, able to go at a good speed with zero wobble, easy to smash through crud/chunder.

CONS: Not super floaty in powder, fairly expensive.

An unrivaled choice when it comes to the all-singing, all-dancing one-board quiver, the Bataleon Goliath Plus amps up the stiffness ever so slightly to provide a decent all-rounder that rides both playfully and aggressively.

The heightened stiffness makes this board somewhat unsuitable for the newbie rider, but the ultra glide base combined with a 3BT (Triple Base Technology) traditional camber makes this board a dream for turning at speed and slashing through the slush.

The full camber gives the Goliath Plus some serious pop, which is really enjoyable if you’re looking for maneuverability and to be able to butter with ease. The board has a centered stance and feels super solid, which is crucial if you’re a rider who likes to hit larger jumps. That being said, even though the board is more damp than chattery, I’d say the prime level of jump for guaranteed stability is medium.

Ultimately - the Goliath Plus will take you anywhere and give you a fun time whilst you’re at it.

ABILITY LEVEL: Expert

FLEX RATING: 7

SHAPE: Tapered Directional

PROFILE: Hybrid Camber - Capita’s own Alpine V1 Profile

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Added torsional flex in comparison to previous models which amps up the dampness and smooths things out. Comes alive at speed, perfect for hard carving.

CONS: Not the type of board to be ridden slow which makes it inaccessible to beginners and even some intermediates. Also has more of a freeride feel due to the high stability.

Whether there’s a load of crud, a kid’s ski school or the resident mountain yeti in your way, Capita’s Black Snowboard of Death (BSOD) is guaranteed to get you past, through or around it. However, the sticking point to that is whatever you’re doing, you’re going to need to come in hot. 

Driving from inside the rear foot, the BSOD really comes into its element when you’re carving hard - but some tweaks for this season mean that it’s no longer the snowboard of imminent death during slower speeds.

Butters feel like a bit of a workout due to the overall stiffness of the board, but the midsection camber does make for a lively side too.

My verdict is that this is the board for those who want to soar down groomers with style and speed equally as much as they want to charge hard in the backcountry.

Best for Park: BATALEON WHATEVER

ABILITY LEVEL: Experienced Beginner

FLEX RATING: 4

SHAPE: Directional Twin

PROFILE: Full/Traditional Camber

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Increased flex makes for less catchiness, easy turns and better butters. All of this combined with a reasonable price point makes it a good choice for beginners.

CONS: Quite chattery, which might make it difficult to hold an edge in icy conditions. Not super stable or aggressive, which will affect your carving.

A medium soft board with Bataleon’s own Super Slick X base and 3BT camber, the Whatever is here to make your ride feel free and easy. While it’s not completely entry level, it’s friendly enough for experienced beginners and offers a laid back all-mountain capability that borders on freestyle.

A subtle Directional Twin shape makes for comfortable switch riding. The board is also pretty forgiving when it comes to sketchy landings, meaning it’s great if you enjoy hitting jumps, too.

In terms of powder riding, the Whatever has a lightweight feel and packs in Bataleon’s Super Slick technology which should allow it to hold its own in the deep stuff. All-in-all this board is a reliable all rounder that brings an easy-breezy appeal to boarding.

Best for Backcountry: LIB TECH T.RICE ORCA

ABILITY LEVEL: Advanced-Expert

FLEX RATING: 7

SHAPE: Tapered Directional

PROFILE: Hybrid Rocker - LibTech’s own C2X

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Locked and loaded with serious edge hold and high levels of smoothness.

CONS: Less suited to riding switch with a firm stiffness, making any freestyle movement a little bit of a workout.

Sitting on the freeride side of the fence, the Lib Tech T.Rice Orca is the weapon of choice for those who want to go fast and float. Travis Rice himself says this board has “literally changed the way I snowboard” – which is a testament to the years spent designing and making it.

Sporting a classic fish shape, the board has a shorter tail than nose which makes for good maneuverability in tight spaces and provides a guarantee that you’ll fly through deep powder. It also boasts magne-traction serrated edges for increased control in different snow conditions.

When Lib Tech and Travis Rice came together to create this board, they ultimately wanted to take the wiggle room provided by a standard short and fat fish but add some element of playfulness and pop. That resulted in the invention of the kinked whale tail, which is essentially an aggressive camber at the tail, allowing for some fun.

Best for Carving: AMPLID SINGULAR

ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate

FLEX RATING: 6

SHAPE: Directional Twin

PROFILE: Traditional Camber

PRICE: $$$

PROS: An impressive all-rounder that doesn’t stray too far into one particular snowboarding style. Traditional camber and reliable absorption also make it appealing for lower-level riders.

CONS: Seasoned park rats might find it a little too stiff - which isn’t really a negative for an all-mountain board.

Described as the ‘true all-purpose Swiss Army Knife,’ the name of this board says it all - it’s the singular choice for a capable quiver.

Reactive with a good level of stiffness, the Singular is even available in a true-twin shape for those who prefer park, or want to be able to transition edges and ride switch with ease. The top tech contained in this board includes two lines of ‘Viscodamp’ (a form of soft polyurethane) that sit in the nose, absorbing vibrations and bringing a good level of dampness, along with Amplid’s own ‘quadrax’ blend for some torsional flex.

While there’s no doubt that the Singular still offers much of the stiff stability associated with Amplid’s hard & fast reputation, this board branches out nicely into the realm of freestyle and floating. This is primarily due to a flatter tail and a central carbon rod that helps keep the camber alive.

Best for Freestyle: GNU RC C3

ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate+

FLEX RATING: 6

SHAPE: True Twin

CAMBER: Hybrid Rocker

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Not too technical or aggressive, great edge hold in all conditions. Nimble, poppy and maneuverable.

CONS: Not the most forgiving in skidded turns.

The true twin shape and high-level of camber in the hybrid rocker profile of Gnu’s RC C3 board make for a really fun ride.

A reliable daily driver, this board offers great edge hold with a medium stiffness and a little aggression for carving, making it great for cutting through crud. Expect it to be good in all conditions, however the predominantly cambered profile means it might fall short in deep powder.

All-in-all, this board is a great all-mountain freestyle option that packs plenty of pop and punch for side hits, pristine groomers and the park.

Best on a Budget: YES. STANDARD

ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate+

FLEX RATING: 6

SHAPE: Directional Volume Twin 

CAMBER: Hybrid Camber  

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Fairly good in powder, drives a carve well, directional twin shape makes it easy for switch and freestyle maneuvering.

CONS: Not many as far as all-mountain boards go.

The Yes Standard was designed with versatility in mind - a directional twin shape makes for fun freestyle riding while the Slamback inserts are on hand for those powder days. Despite it being a mid-width board, the Standard can also hold its own during serious carving thanks to the MidBite outline, and a workable stiffness ensures stability.

Two bamboo stringers travel the full length of the board for added pop and response, demonstrating how seriously Yes take their all-mountain capabilities. A centered stance ensures comfort no matter what you’re pulling, and a lighter core than previous models ensures you’re able to jump relatively easily.

Overall, the Yes Standard is the all-mountain board to go for if you’re looking to get serious bang for your buck.

Best Women’s Specific: JONES TWIN SISTER

ABILITY LEVEL: Experienced Beginner +

FLEX RATING: 6

SHAPE: Directional Twin

CAMBER: Hybrid Camber

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Lighter in comparison to other all-mountain boards, good for carving, fun for speed and slashing.

CONS: Not the quickest from edge-to-edge, but quick enough for those tree runs.

Boasting a really good glide in true Jones style, the Twin Sister is a super solid, dependable all-mountain board with some cool graphics to boot.

A twin shape, hybrid camber and 3D Contour Base make for nice transitions between switch riding while the added freeride stance pack amps up the capabilities. While the prowess and pop of this board might seem intimidating to some, I’m going to say that an experienced beginner would soon get to grips with this board thanks to the lack of catchiness and damp ride feel.

Plus, the reasonable price point also makes it accessible for those looking to level up their riding.

BUYING ADVICE FOR ALL MOUNTAIN SNOWBOARDS

Shape

There is no ‘correct’ shape when it comes to snowboards - they come in all manner of shapes and sizes which are designed to help you get the most out of your ride. Here, I’ll talk you through the different shapes available and what style of snowboarding they are best suited to.

TRUE TWIN (also ASYMMETRICAL TWIN): Exactly what it says on the tin, a True Twin shape is made of two identical halves, meaning it is entirely symmetrical. This usually means that the waist or center of the board is equal in distance from the nose and tail. True Twin snowboards are best for freestyle due to how easy it is to ride switch and set up for 180s.

DIRECTIONAL TWIN: A Directional Twin shape is only subtly different from a True Twin. These types of boards will have a slightly longer nose than tail thanks to the slight setback stance, which gives the board that little bit of direction while still allowing for switch riding.

DIRECTIONAL: The Directional shape is fairly self-explanatory - it wants to go in one direction more than the other. There are a number of things that make a board directional, such as a longer nose than tail, a different nose and tail shape, a setback stance and directional camber. While you can still ride switch on this board type, it won’t be the most comfortable experience. Directional shapes have one end optimized for riding with speed, in powder or when carving.

TAPERED DIRECTIONAL: Again, the clue is in the name with this one. A Tapered Directional board tapers from the nose to the tail, meaning that the contact point at the front of the board will be wider than the one at the back. Designed to float like a butterfly, these boards are all about powder hounds and freeriders.

Profile

Hearing terms like ‘camber,’ ‘rocker’ and ‘hybrid’ being thrown around can soon become overwhelming. However, by taking a quick moment to understand them, you’ll be better equipped when it comes to choosing the best all-mountain snowboard for you.

Below, I’ve listed the different types of snowboard profiles and what styles of riding they are suited to.

TRADITIONAL CAMBER: Way back when snowboarding was new, all boards were made with the traditional camber. Designed to make it easier to pop for ollies and jumps, boards with traditional camber have an ‘n’ or dish-like shape that arches upwards slightly from the contact point of the nose to the contact point of the tail.

CONTINUOUS ROCKER/REVERSE CAMBER: You can think of this shape as the reverse of traditional camber. Known as continuous rocker, reverse camber and many other names including the beloved ‘banana,’ this style of board has a ‘u’ shape which makes it harder to catch an edge and easier to spin - which is great for both beginners and jibbers who want to butter their way down the slopes.

FLAT: Flat boards are completely flat from contact point to contact point, meaning they offer maximum stability but not much speed. They’re also not that great for beginners thanks to the higher risk of catching an edge, but the payoff is that they offer good edge hold for those who want to carve.

HYBRID: Hybrid profile boards bring together a combination of camber, rocker and flat for different riding sensations and capabilities. There are tons of variations for different styles of snowboarding, but the most common are rocker/camber/rocker which is known as hybrid camber and the camber/rocker/camber which is known as hybrid rocker.

Hybrid camber is a profile favored by beginners due to the feel of the central camber underfoot and the ease of initiating turns thanks to the front and rear rocker sections, while the hybrid rocker, or Flying V as it is also called, is great for those who want plenty of pop for their jumps and airs.

Flex

The flex rating of a snowboard is very easy to understand - it rates how flexible the board itself is from 1 to 10.

MOST FLEX: At the lower end of the scale with flex ratings of 1 to 3, you’ve got freestyle boards that will allow you to butter, jib and press with ease. However, if you’re looking to step up to big park airs, you’ll want a little more stiffness and less flex to ensure you can land safely.

MODERATE FLEX: Similarly, for the best all-mountain snowboard experience, the flex rating should be around 5 so that you can get the best of both worlds.

LEAST FLEX: Anything over 6 is designed with aggressive carving and freeriding in mind, allowing riders to bomb down descents with failsafe edge hold.

Size

When it comes to determining what size snowboard you need, you’ll want to consider both length and width. Typically, the width should be fine if you ensure to get the right length for you, but in some cases (particularly if you’ve got huge feet) you’ll need to opt for a wider board.

LENGTH: When choosing the right length for you, you’ll need to consider your height, weight, ability level and what style of snowboarding suits you. Heavier people need longer boards, while lighter people need shorter ones. You’ll also need a longer board if you are taller, but this isn’t as important as weight. Ability level also affects your board size, with beginners typically needing something shorter so that they are able to maneuver easily.

Freestyle riders will normally opt for a shorter board for ease of movement, while freeriders and carvers will want more length for added edgehold. You can find out your optimum length based on your weight from the manufacturer of your chosen board. It’s important to note, though, that for an all-mountain experience, you’re best sticking with the recommended size for your weight and height.

WIDTH: In an ideal world, your bare feet would sit perfectly on the width of the board, toe against toe edge and heel against heel edge. If your feet are miles away from either edge, it’s going to make it harder for you to apply the necessary pressure to turn.

The easy way to find the right width of snowboard for you is by measuring your boot overhang. When strapped into your centered bindings, your boots should only have a maximum of around 2 cm overhang.

MORE INFORMATION

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