The 10 Best Snowboard Brands

Snowboard

Matt Gibson

Over the years, the growth and popularity of snowboarding have resulted in a huge expansion in the number of snowboard brands. With so many choices, it can be tough for a new rider to figure out which companies truly produce high-quality gear and which are just trying to make a quick buck.

If you're not sure which brands you should be shopping for, these 10 are some of the best snowboard brands with reputations for quality, innovation, and style.

Burton Snowboards

Burton has been in the snowboarding industry since the beginning and has grown to become far and away the most recognized brand in the sport. The company's commitment to innovation, research, development, and design since 1977 has made riders turn to Burton again and again for high-quality snowboard gear. Burton makes gear for men, women, and young riders of all skill levels. Their huge selection of boards, boots, bindings, clothing, helmets, and accessories make it easy to shop Burton for all of your snowboard supplies.

K2 Snowboarding

K2 is traditionally a ski company that has been in business for more than 50 years. The company entered the snowboard scene in the early 1990s.

Unlike other ski companies that tried to enter the snowboard market, K2 took its experience producing award-winning, top-quality skis and successfully applied it to creating high-quality snowboards. This Seattle-based company continues to build some of the best boards, boots, bindings, and gear in the industry.

Ride Snowboards

Ride Snowboards has been building boards for more than 19 years. Snowboarders have high expectations for the company's boards and other gear, and the company doesn't disappoint. Ride and its team of professional snowboarders are always testing and innovating to push the limits of the snowboard technology for the park, in the backcountry, and on everyday groomers. Ride Snowboards stands by its motto that its boards and gear are designed "for the people."

Rome SDS

The Rome Snowboard Design Syndicate (SDS) started with just three snowboards when it launched in 2001. Since then, the company has expanded dramatically to build boards, boots, bindings, gloves, and other gear. Rome values the opinions and suggestions of everyday riders, and their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction has helped them grow into one of the biggest names in the industry.

Lib Technologies

Lib Technologies, known to riders as Lib Tech, is famous for its innovations in snowboard design. The company's Magne-Traction edges and Banana Technology rocker shape are just a couple of the performance-enhancing improvements the company has come up with. Despite their silly names, Lib Tech's design innovations have helped to improve the overall riding experience for snowboarders.

Jones Snowboards

Jeremy Jones is one of the world's most famous backcountry riders, and his commitment to snowboarding extends far beyond riding. Jones has dedicated his life to making some of the most high-performing boards in the sport.

Jones' love of the backcountry has translated into of the best-known lines of splitboards in the industry and groundbreaking backcountry gear.

Arbor Snowboards

Arbor Snowboards, part of the Arbor Collective, has been building environmentally conscious snowboards since 1995. The company started with a goal of using as many sustainable products as possible to create its boards without sacrificing overall experience and performance. The company's success with boards has enabled it to expand into other areas, such as clothing, gear, and even skateboards.

Gnu

Gnu snowboards have been handmade in the United States since 1977, and the company was one of the first major manufacturers. Gnu has maintained a hardcore snowboarding sensibility, never pandering to the sport's mainstream fans, which has given the company unparalleled cred among serious riders.

Snowboarding was considered completely outlandish when Mike Olson started constructing his boards by hand, but his passion for riding led to one of the most progressive snowboard companies in the industry. Gnu is now owned by Mervin Manufacturing, a bigger snowboard manufacturer that allows the company to maintain its old-school hardcore style and make boards that are affordable for all riders.

Never Summer Industries

Never Summer came onto the scene early and built an excellent reputation over the years. The company began building snowboards in 1983, and its years of experience have resulted in excellent handmade products. Never Summer is focused on making durable high-performance boards with extra attention to detail and craftsmanship.

CAPiTA Snowboarding

CAPiTA Snowboarding is known for using long-lasting, Earth-friendly materials in its boards. CAPiTA uses 100 percent recycled ABS sidewalls, biodegradable top sheets, and environmentally friendly inks to create boards that are environmentally conscious and high-performance. Top-quality materials, quirky graphics, supreme craftsmanship, and versatility combine to make CAPiTA one of the top snowboard brands in the world.