Best Powder Snowboards of 2023

JUMP TO: CAPITA NAVIGATOR | YES 20/20 POWDERHULL | BATALEON CRUISER | K2 EXCAVATOR | JONES MIND EXPANDER | SALOMON DANCEHAUL | NITRO PRIME RAW | JONES HOVERCRAFT | BUYING ADVICE

Author: Holly Price | Updated: January 31, 2023

The Short Version

The Long Version

There’s no friends on powder days, only your best buddy – your board. Yet making the wrong board choice can be the difference between the best day of your life and the one where you spend three hours digging your way out.

From the bottomless fluff fields of Hokkaido to the bowls and gullies of Tignes in the French Alps, those dreamy destinations on your boarding bucket-list mean nothing without the right board for the job.

Often designed for maximum float and reliable responsiveness, powder boards, like any other style of snowboard, come with a range of quirky features and tried & tested tech. From swallowtail shapes to carbon-rod powered pop, in this guide we take a look at some of the best powder snowboards available on the market for this season.

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

 

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

In general, there are three types of rider - the surfy one, the hard-charger, and the freestyle fan. Your preferred style of snowboarding will obviously dictate what sort of board you choose, and what specs will make a tangible difference in the quality of your riding. To figure all of this out, take a look at our buying advice at the bottom of the article.

 

Best Overall: CAPITA NAVIGATOR

ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate+

FLEX RATING: 5.5

SHAPE: Tapered Directional

PROFILE: Directional Hybrid Camber

PRICE: $$$

PROS: A super versatile ride that works well anywhere on the mountain with inlaid cork dampeners to bring a smooth sensation at speed.

CONS: Not the friendliest for beginners.

With a longer nose, shorter tail, and optimal setback, the CAPiTA Navigator checks all the boxes to provide a seriously enjoyable ride in the deep stuff. Designed specifically for those frothin’ powder hounds, the Navigator is described by the manufacturers themselves as a ‘compass that never fails’

Revised for 2022/23, the board has been upgraded with a lightweight and versatile P2 Superlight Core™, a new Powder Drive™ base, and is now offered in two new sizes—143 and 167. In terms of what that means in plain English, the P2 Superlight Core is an extremely lightweight and versatile core combined with high impact resistance and maximum pop, while the Powder Drive is an exclusive base material designed to fly through those trees with electric responsiveness and go super fast over flats.

The combination of mid-body camber, reverse camber and a flat nose makes this thing go POP with electricity, while also guaranteeing a stable landing and maximum float.

CAPiTA has also preempted any chattery riding that tends to be common with the oversized and wide powder board shapes with inlaid cork dampeners. The design of the Navigator has been carefully considered in order to create an experience that ensures the wide-frame rockered nose naturally floats, all while packing a punch of pop for those playful times too.

Overall, this powder-centric snowboard is a great choice for those leaning toward all-mountain and mellow freeride riding.

Best for Tree Runs: YES. 2020 POWDERHULL

ABILITY LEVEL: Advanced-Expert

FLEX RATING: 7

SHAPE: True Twin 

PROFILE: Camber 

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Plenty of snap and pop for pulling those butters off side hits and riding switch comfortably.

CONS: Easy to skid out during turns so definitely not a beginner ride.

A wide true twin that floats in powder? Sign us up. Despite being only five years old, the Powderhull from YES snowboards is a main player on the feelgood field. Significantly redesigned two years ago, this certified shred stick features refined bottom contours for a flawless float experience and a true twin shape for a uniquely versatile ride.

Like most big-boy boards, there’s a true science to the design. The Powderhull’s centerline is fully rockered starting from the insert packs, right through to the tips of the bluntly-shaped nose and tail. Out at the contact points is a more conventional base profile, resulting in a concave form across the nose and tail which acts differently at the front of the board than the back when riding in deep snow.

YES have explained this design in surfing terms as ‘the concave profile draws air under the board – just as with a longboard in the surf – causing lift and floatation. As the snow moves across the base it releases off the tail and the exaggerated rocker line along the center, causes the tail to drop downward.’

So, while the Powderhull is the most expensive in this line-up, the science suggests that it’s worth the investment for those who want that floaty feeling while keeping things versatile.

Best for Charging: BATALEON CRUISER

ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate - Advanced

FLEX RATING: 5

SHAPE: Tapered Directional

PROFILE: Traditional Camber

PRICE: $$$

PROS: A good choice if you’re looking for a one-board quiver that caters to powder.

CONS: Not the most comfortable riding switch due to the wide nose and tapered directional shape.

Naturally at home in powder, Bataleon’s Cruiser is a new shape for 2023. Described as a ‘freestyle board with a powder nose,’ the Cruiser is a versatile little number that can carve hard.

Designed to be super stable at high speeds, the board is also playful and fun for an enjoyable all-mountain experience. It can be ridden in traditional lengths or slightly longer because of its long nose compared to the effective edge.

Generating a reliable uplift when riding in powder, the Cruiser features a gradual side base uplift in the nose and the tail for maximum float. It’s also highly rated when it comes to smashing through crud, thanks to a lightweight yet durable core of 50/50 Paulownia and Poplar along with Bataleon’s own Urethane-infused sidewall technology also known as Shock Walls Sidewall. The Hyper Glide base is a standard sintered feature which is perfect for going fast as long as you keep it waxed and hydrated.

The killer combo that really makes this board a dreamboat though, is the positive traditional camber and 3BT (Triple Base) technology. Minimizing the potential of catching an edge without compromising power and pop, the Cruiser might be new to the line-up but it does have the potential to stay put.

Best for Versatility: K2 EXCAVATOR

ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate+

FLEX RATING: 7

SHAPE: Directional

PROFILE: Camber

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Five-year warranty on the S1 core and a good level of versatility for different riding styles.

CONS: Not the best for park or freestyle - but not impossible either.

A unisex board designed to ‘dig trenches and displace powder,’ the Excavator boasts the perfect blend of capability for those who like to dig deep on groomers and glide through those powder fields.

An advanced board, it has a wider directional shape and a stiffer feel to it that the more aggressive riders will love. While it’s not strictly designed for park and freestyle, it does have a camber profile for added pop, which should make those ollies and threes look all the more impressive out in the backcountry.

In terms of tech, there’s the ‘carbon power fork,’ which is a pre-cambered carbon inlay in the tail of the snowboard, giving it power when coming out of turns and adding a little extra pop. It also boasts a brand-new S1 core made using Bamboo, Aspen, and Paulownia for a snappy, responsive, and lightweight feel that’s durable enough to provide a five-year warranty.

Best for Float: JONES MIND EXPANDER TWIN

ABILITY LEVEL: Intermediate

FLEX RATING: 6

SHAPE: Directional Twin

PROFILE: Hybrid Camber

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Great on powder and great on groomers. Forgiving on sketchy landings. A decent all-rounder.

CONS: Not a total carving machine but still fairly stable at high speeds.

Want to float like a dream in either direction? A surfy, mellow ‘do it all’ option, the Mind Expander Twin from Jones is a hybrid Surf Series model that blends the playful and easy going with some freestyle ability.

For optimum control and responsiveness, the board has the Jones Traction Tech (three clever bumps along each edge) and a progressive sidecut. It also has a ‘blunt nose’ design which is best summed up by rider and founder Jeremy Jones himself:

‘How a board glides in powder, crust, corn, or any snow more than an inch deep, is dictated by its front contact point and just past it. Next time you are in soft snow watch how much snow comes over the corner of the nose near the contact point. The billowing snow coming out from behind the tip means you are plowing through it which is obviously slowing you down. By adding a blunt nose you get the float benefits of a much longer nose without the ‘snow plow’ rounded tip and its extra swing weight.’

As with all Jones models, the Mind Expander Twin is sustainably made with enough tech to shake a stick at (literally). There’s Biax fibreglass, 3D contours base, serrated-knife style Traction Tech edges, a premium sintered base and Basalt power stringers made with 100% natural fibers.

What all of the above guarantees is a durable, fast, floaty board with impressive edge-hold and dampness. Despite its subtle directional shape and flex, the board is pretty accessible for switch riding and is happy to butter, ollie and jib. You’re also not at risk of catching an edge, which makes slashing and skidding super fun.

Best for Beginners: SALOMON DANCEHAUL

ABILITY LEVEL: Advanced Beginner - Intermediate

FLEX RATING: 6

SHAPE: Tapered Directional

PROFILE: Rock Out Camber (Salomon’s own Hybrid Camber)

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Floats in powder, holds a good edge, and can still be ridden in the park.

CONS: Tapered directional shape can make switch riding slightly more uncomfortable for beginner riders.

With a wider nose for reliable float and a central flex to support riding in rougher terrain, the Dancehaul from Salomon is a great versatile unisex board that is perhaps more approachable for beginners than most of the other boards on this list.

Designed to work well with the holy trifecta of groomers, park and powder, the Rock Out Camber profile (Salomon’s most popular) is also great for stability and control when cruising through crud.

The medium flex rating means that the advanced beginner can get to grips with this board without it being too aggressive or making riding feel like hard work.

The sintered base guarantees top speeds as long as you keep up with your waxing regime, and the wider width combined with a shorter length makes for a really playful experience. The width in particular gives you a solid feel on landing, which will encourage you to level up with jibs and jumps.

Best on a Budget: NITRO PRIME RAW

ABILITY LEVEL: Beginner+

FLEX RATING: 5

SHAPE: Directional

CAMBER: Flat-Out Rocker

PRICE: $$$

PROS: By far the cheapest powder board on this list.

CONS: Not very damp - you’re going to feel everything if you’re riding aggressively over groomers or through crud.

Described as a ‘catch-free all-terrain men´s snowboard,’ the Prime Raw from Nitro is a versatile board with a skate pop feel to it.

Directional in shape, the bigger nose makes for effortless turn initiation and added float in the pow. User and progression friendly, the board uses the flat out rocker camber and single radial side cuts to ensure that catching an edge is highly unlikely.

Comfortable, effortless, and mellow, the board does have the downside of a lower flex rating which can make for a chattery feel when riding at fast speeds or attempting to blast through chop. However, what it lacks in aggressive stiffness it makes up for in butterability and pop - the flat out rocker profile makes for a fun freestyle experience and the small but mighty amount of pop in the micro rocker is great for nailing ollies and having fun with side hits.

Best Women’s Specific: JONES HOVERCRAFT

ABILITY LEVEL: Advanced-Expert

FLEX RATING: 7

SHAPE: Tapered Directional

PROFILE: Hybrid Camber

PRICE: $$$

PROS: A versatile option that packs some serious punch. Also the most sustainable board that Jones has ever made.

CONS: No real disadvantages to this board!

A powerful piste and pow board, the Jones Hovercraft is perfect for slashing, gliding, busting and slaloming down those tasty tree trails. An alternative freeride board, the Hovercraft offers effortless float and a shorter, fatter composition that guarantees fun.

Equipped with the usual Traction Tech serrated knife edges and 3D Contour base, the board also has the same blunt nose shape as the Mind Expander above, ensuring that the nose floats and doesn’t take on any weighty powder. Fast and responsive, the Hovercraft is perfect for keeping things under control, which is why getting between the trees on this thing is so much fun.

It has a new look for this season, with a refined Engineered Veneer Topsheet and a laser-etched topsheet which does away with the need for any solvent inks. Thanks to this careful and clever construction, the board is the most sustainable that Jones has ever made! Plus, for a bit of extra cash, it also comes in a splitboard variation.

BUYING ADVICE FOR POWDER 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 powder 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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