2024 FIELD TEST RESULTS: CoMING SOON
50 Unique Reviewers.
3 Days of Testing & Reviewing.
Nearly 300 Reviews Collected.
Aside from it’s utility as a product show, on-snow demo, and cultural gathering, INTERLUDE presents a unique opportunity to gather feedback on the best products in snowboarding.
With a strong group of the best riders and minds in the industry gathered in one place, we wanted to seize the opportunity to test and review, and build a collective database of rider feedback for use by our Brands and Retailers.
We have crunched all the data, below are the results for our stand-out categories including:
Top 10 Best Boards
Best Quiver Killer Board
Best Freeride Board
Best Boot
Best Binding
10. Lib Tech Lib Rig
From Lib Tech:
Austen Sweetin is one ripping all terrain snowboarder... he rode pretty much every board we make in every condition imaginable (especially pow) and carefully studied his favorite geometries, and working with our experiMENTAL design team, combined them into the ultimate hard charging resort ripping pow blasting shred rig.
The Lib Rig by Austen Sweetin... a full sized floaty but streamlined nose and a switch functional tail, deep carving sidecuts, no toe drag waist widths and mild taper, all sitting on a no nonsense power OP chassis, plus a rugged speedy knifecut sintered base. Austen topped it off with some of his own understated visually sweet and easy graphics in bright orange on black.
09. Salomon HPS -
Takaharu Nakai
From Salomon:
Designed and built from start to finish by snowboard icons Wolfgang Nyvelt and Takaharu Nakai. This board brings a unique tapered directional profile featuring Powder Camber profile and tons of rocker on the nose making this masterpiece extremely nimble and smooth.
A directional camber profile with a long, extended rocker section in the nose for buoyancy in deep snow, with camber between the feet for carving, stability, and control. The tail width is slightly tapered (2-20mm). This loosens up turning initiation and improves floatation in deeper snow without sacrificing edge hold on hardpack.
08. Arbor Satori
From Arbor:
By acclamation, Bryan Iguchi has secured a legendary status in snowboarding's history. For more than 20 years Bryan has driven the trends, engaged in the community, and contributed to its culture as it evolved around him. His experience is unparalleled and his knowledge of snowboarding goes deep. In his newest creation, Guch approaches snowboarding with a mindset of humility to mirror the evolution of his own riding trajectory. The "fun and friendly, solid and stable" Satori.
07. K2 Antidote
From K2:
We delivered the board our team riders always wanted with the Antidote. Targeted at advanced-to-expert level riders whose style blurs the lines between freeride and freestyle. From resort charging to even the heaviest of freestyle features, the Antidote can handle whatever you throw at it.
This directional twin is strapped with technology, most notably, our patented SpaceGlass™ technology found in the tip and tail. Weight reduction and a more rigid material allows for quicker spins and better edge pressure at the contact points. Recess3D technology removes excess material from the board, minimizing swing weight and chatter while also adding visual depth to the top sheet.
The Antidote’s most defining feature is its 3D Base Contour. Just 3mm of contour with 3D shaping deflects snow, eases turn initiation and plows through chunder when things get hectic. Get on the Antidote wave and experience a more “catch free” ride.
06. Arbor Candle - Rain
From Arbor:
The first of the Candle by Arbor Collective. Pat Moore's unique design philosophy and aesthetic light the way to unlocking your freestyle riding potential. Featuring dual-radius nose and tail ramping, the Rain offers a powerful ride with less hang up and the perfect powder float. Pat's parabolic camber, directional twin, board of choice tastefully blends the rest of traditional snowboard design qualities and the state of the art for the shining addition to your quiver.
05. K2 Passport
From K2:
Like any good exploratory mission, don’t forget to take your Passport with you -- the key to accessing uncharted terrain. Built for the intermediate-to-expert level rider and shaped and sized to be unisex, the Passport is directional in every way but remains switch and fakie friendly. Slightly-wider-than-average waist width is met width 8mm of taper to ensure easy turning and float in deep snow. It’s complemented by an elongated rocker profile from the front insert pack, throughout the tip.
A tighter sidecut radius in the tip and tail allows you to engage turns easily, while a longer radius between the feet makes the turn smooth and predictable progression. We’ve added a new blend of ICG 10™ Triax fiberglass to the Passport, adding tip-to-tail snap with precise edge performance. This glass layup wraps our lightweight A1 core - which features three species of sustainably harvested timber, and all of it sits atop a fast and durable Sintered 4000 base.
04. Capita Aeronaut
From Capita:
Side Hit Euphoria™ has generally been considered an enlightened state. Understood as real on a conceptual level, yet intangible to most that lack an understanding of the methodology required to produce such an experience.
Now, the existential joy of enhanced board control and massive ollie-pops is attainable to all. The all-new Aeronaut series was designed in collaboration with The Rocket Man, Arthur Longo. The goal: to introduce the local-resort maximizer. The result: a semi-old school, respectful nod to the 90s; a directional, cambered snowboard that can meet the most demanding all-mountain pursuits your resort has to offer.
With high-grade components like a HyperDrive™ ADV base, Amplitex V-TECH Amplifiers, and a lightweight and extremely durable Panda Hover Core™, the Aeronaut has the power to charge through terrain at high speeds and pop off any enticing features.
03. Nitro Dinghy
From Nitro:
We are proud to introduce the new king of the hill, the shorter and wider Quiver board, the Dinghy, which offers a fun all-mountain surfy ride to riders with a larger foot or those looking for a wide board to enhance their turning and edge hold in the pow or on the groomers. The Dinghy is a versatile board, much like the boat, built to do it all in a compact wide directional tapered shape, allowing all types of riders to enjoy the experience at lightning speeds provided by the Sintered Speed Formula II Base.
Even though the Dinghy is built wide, the Powercore II, Reflex Core Profile, and Progressive sidecut keep it quick on its toes and agile from edge to edge – providing a fun surfy ride even in the tightest of trees. The new Nitro Quiver Dinghy is for the rider looking for a fun shape, versatile wide size, and ride experience that pushes the status quo of the future of snowboarding!
02. PUBLIC Research
From PUBLIC:
The PUBLIC Research is the most freeride focused board within our snowboard line. The overall directional shape and 8mm of taper makes this board float effortlessly in powder and rail turns on hard-pack while maintaining some freestyle DNA that PUBLIC is known for.
This board is packed with all of our best technology, such as our all new Carbon V and tip to tail carbon stringers. Combining this new tech with our tried and true Poplar Light Core and super fast sintered base gives you an unmatched freeride board for exploring the entire mountain.
01. Nitro Alternator
Congratulations, Nitro. The Alternator was ranked as the Best Board Overall.
From Nitro:
The new Alternator is the result of listing to the Team Riders and focusing their experiences on a board that offers the best all-terrain ride on the market for any experienced rider. Jared Elston and Griffin Seibert have been avid riders of the Team Pro, the Banker, and Team boards, and they wanted to take the best of all these boards and create a board that offers better performance on those deeper days while maintaining that everyday ride feel. Dare we say a true Quiver Killer?
The new directional shape and progressive width allow for more float and surface area for turns, sprays, and stomping, while the high kick in the tail allows for effortless switch pow riding.
“This board is a launchpad. It feels like it has so much energy loaded into it. When you hit a jump or side hit just right, you are boosted.”
Best Quiver Killer Board
Capita Aeronaut
From Interlude:
Congratulations, Capita. Ranked 4th Best Board overall and Best Quiver Killer Board. To determine this ranking from the data set, we used an aggregate of overall ranking combined with the “Best Use” scale - and this board ranked the highest out of all boards rated as “Do It All”.
From Capita:
Side Hit Euphoria™ has generally been considered an enlightened state. Understood as real on a conceptual level, yet intangible to most that lack an understanding of the methodology required to produce such an experience.
Now, the existential joy of enhanced board control and massive ollie-pops is attainable to all. The all-new Aeronaut series was designed in collaboration with The Rocket Man, Arthur Longo. The goal: to introduce the local-resort maximizer. The result: a semi-old school, respectful nod to the 90s; a directional, cambered snowboard that can meet the most demanding all-mountain pursuits your resort has to offer.
With high-grade components like a HyperDrive™ ADV base, Amplitex V-TECH Amplifiers, and a lightweight and extremely durable Panda Hover Core™, the Aeronaut has the power to charge through terrain at high speeds and pop off any enticing features.
“Great shape. A good combo of being a little softer
without sacrificing stability ”
Best Freeride Board
PUBLIC Research
From Interlude:
Congratulations, PUBLIC. Ranked 2nd Best Board overall and Best Freeride Board. To determine this ranking from the data set, we used an aggregate of overall ranking combined with the “Best Use” scale - and this board ranked the highest out of all boards rated for powder and turning.
From PUBLIC:
The PUBLIC Research is the most freeride focused board within our snowboard line. The overall directional shape and 8mm of taper makes this board float effortlessly in powder and rail turns on hard-pack while maintaining some freestyle DNA that PUBLIC is known for.
This board is packed with all of our best technology, such as our all new Carbon V and tip to tail carbon stringers. Combining this new tech with our tried and true Poplar Light Core and super fast sintered base gives you an unmatched freeride board for exploring the entire mountain.
Best Boot
Vans Verse Range
From Vans:
This is Vans Snow. A clash of heritage and progression. This upgraded version of the Verse is intended to be a functional and reliable addition to your backcountry toolkit. Designed to support overland adventures and uphill travel, the Verse Range Edition’s Adaptive Range Mode features a Rear Drop-Cuff that can be unlocked to widen the top opening of the boot for a significantly expanded range of motion. Skinning a switchback, punching up for quick pow scores, ripping the snowmobile deep into the hills, or just going for a good old-fashioned hike—the Verse Range Edition gets you there with less effort and more protection.
Best Binding
Union Force
From Union:
The #1 binding in snowboarding - The next generation of Force snowboard bindings have arrived. Fully redesigned for the 2023/24 winter season, the new Force provides a smooth and responsive ride feel for any rider, any condition and any terrain. More professional snowboarders choose to ride the Union Force snowboard binding than any other binding on the market today. Ride like the best - ride the Union Force.
We designed the Field Test to collect both quantitative and qualitative information on products. Quantitative to make for easy and fair comparisons on product characteristics, and qualitative to go deeper into the nuances and minutiae of thoughts and observations.
As with any data set, there is some inherent bias based on external conditions so take this all with a grain of salt. These results aren’t absolute, they are just data!
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Huge thanks to all of our testers & reviewers, our exhibiting brands, our supporting sponsors, and everyone involved at INTERLUDE.
— The Interlude Team