The 10 Best Freestyle Snowboards to Upgrade To

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A freestyle snowboarder sees winter differently than your traditional resort rider. They dive into the park to ride the half-pipe, launch off jumps, and ride the rails, turning the entire resort (and sidecountry) into their own playground. And the boards they ride need to be up to the task, capable of flexing when needed, responding intuitively to every pivot, and handling powder, hardpack, slosh, and crud in equal measure.

Before making your pick, consider these factors. There's a type of board to match your preferred style of riding—be it park, all-mountain, or half-pipes—each offering technical advantages. The profile of the board can also offer differing riding experiences, but most freestyle boards are hybrids of both camber and rocker. The shape and flex also vary, though again most of these picks are twin-shaped and on the softer side.

These are the best freestyle snowboards you buy right now.

Best Overall

Rossignol Revenant Snowboard

Rossignol Revenant Snowboard

Courtesy of Backcountry

What We Like
  • Seriously playful—and reliable—riding in practically all conditions

What We Don't Like
  • Might be too much for beginners

Whether your freestyle riding takes you to the park, into the half-pipe, across the resort, or deep into fresh powder, the Revenant from Rossignol provides. This all-mountain board for intermediate to expert snowboarders boasts a RadCut design that blends traditional and reverse side cuts with a flat base that surfs like a dream. Serrated edges improve control and edging on hardpack, and a twin camber profile is combined with two blends of rocker for serious power and pop.

A mid-stiff flex blends the best of both softer and more rigid rides, with plenty of forgiveness, a playfulness at slower speeds, and a full-length edge grip when you’re ripping down the groomers. Sustainably-sourced basalt at the core proves stronger and lighter than fiberglass and more flex than carbon. Plus, kevlar integrations dampen vibrations to smooth out sketchy landings.

Sizes: 154, 158, 162 centimeters | Profile: Camber and rocker | Shape: Twin | Flex: 8/10.

Runner-Up, Best Overall

Ride Twinpig Snowboard

Ride Twinpig Snowboard (2022)

Courtesy of Backcountry

What We Like
  • Easy to ride—especially in the park—for riders of all levels

What We Don't Like
  • If you dodge the park or pipe, this isn’t the board for you

The Twinpig snowboard from Ride delivers everything an ambitious park rider must have, including an asymmetrical shape for easy entry in either stance. Still, there's a modest degree of different radii for the heel- and toe-side edges to help it reset for the next trick. A sintered base delivers a fast, durable ride, with a hybrid rocker profile for pop. A wider tip and tail than traditional all-mountain rides provide a smart, shovel-shaped cut that conquers in the pipe or park, but still floats in powder and cuts on groomers. The aspen core runs from tip to tail to optimize pop and flex, with double-impact plates under the binding areas to aid compression and hybrid glass laminates for an even measure of flex and stiffness without dampening speed.

Sizes: 142, 148, 151, 154, 157, and 156W centimeters | Profile: Hybrid rocker | Shape: Twin | Flex: 5/10

Best Budget

Arbor Erik Leon Relapse Snowboard

Arbor Erik Leon Relapse Snowboard

Courtesy of Arbor

What We Like
  • Environmentally-focused materials

  • Works well across the resort

What We Don't Like
  • N/A—hard to nitpick a board that is a solid ride and contributes to inclusivity and sustainability

Arbor Snowboards is approaching its 25th anniversary—and the Erik Leon Relapse board is a fine way to celebrate all of the advances the brand has made in the sport, anchored around its dedication to environmentally friendly practices.

They were the first to replace the plastic top with wood veneer and pioneered the use of bamboo, bio-plastic, and other reclaimed and recycled materials. Inspired by pro rider Erik Leon, the Relapse has a toned-down version of Arbor’s Grip Tech and Uprise Fenders to make for a more forgiving ride across the resort, and one that truly excels in the park.

A soft/medium flex works with recycled steel edges that carve confidently, while a camber profile provides a soft feel and plenty of pop. You also get the benefit of supporting Leon’s Community Outreach Riding Equipment collection, which is focused on building gear that makes it easier for everyone to engage with the sport.

Sizes: 150, 153, 155, 155W centimeters | Profile: Parobolic camber | Shape: Twin | Flex: 4/10

Best for Park

Capita Defenders of Awesome Snowboard

Capita Defenders of Awesome Snowboard

Courtesy of Backcountry

What We Like
  • Available in lots of lengths

What We Don't Like
  • A park-specific focus means it still rides well while all-mountain freestyle riding, but not in powder

Winner of the most coveted design awards in snowboarding for seven years (and counting), Defenders of Awesome from Capita comes with a hybrid camber design that provides the pop and response of a traditional camber, along with the predictability of a reverse camber that’s ideal for park riding, whether you're playing around or charging hard.

A Dual Blaster B2 core uses strips of Paulownia wood integrated into the poplar core, improving strength and flex while shaving down the ounces. Robust carbon fiber boosters increase power and response, while the Fortress Aramid Bound sidewalls provide heavy-duty protection against the jibs and rails, vibrating to reduce chatter and catch edges confidently.

Sizes: 148, 150, 152, 153W, 154, 155W, 156, 157W, 158, 159W, 160, 161W, 162, 163W centimeters | Profile: Hybrid camber | Shape: Twin | Flex: 5.5/10.

Best for Half-Pipe

Salomon Assassin Snowboard

Salomon Assassin Snowboard

Courtesy of Salomon

What We Like
  • Primed for the half-pipe, but equally at home in powder and across the mountain

What We Don't Like
  • Rated for intermediate and expert riders

Most freestyle snowboards geared for the half-pipe run a bit stiffer than the softer-leaning all-mountain rides. Salomon splits the difference with the Assassin, which boasts medium flex to improve forgiveness and a bunch of proprietary tech to provide explosive speed, agility, and edge control in tight spots—everything you want when riding the pipe. A mix of bamboo and carbon makes the board almost snappy, so it’s easy to catch air, with a hybrid “Rock Out” camber design (picture a profile that undulates like waves in the ocean) that further improves pop. More importantly, the Quadralizer Sidecut will catch an edge on the most hard-packed, icy snow, a common reality in most pipes.

Sizes: 150, 153, 156, 158W, 159, 162, 163W, 165 centimeters | Profile: Hybrid camber | Shape: Twin | Flex: 5/10

Best All-Mountain Freestyle

Rome Ravine Select Snowboard

Rome Ravine Select Snowboard

Courtesy of Backcountry

What We Like
  • Can handle every element of all-mountain riding

What We Don't Like
  • Could be a bit more aggressive

Rome describes their Ravine Select as a “big-mountain bodybuilder” and we’re apt to agree. This stiffer-than-average ride has been built to handle every element of all-mountain riding. A blurry flex design lets you stomp cliffs, and a healthy dose of taper and Directional Diamond 3D in the nose makes things nimble when cutting through the glades or floating on powder (or both).

Rockers at the tip and tail pair with a camber profile that’s slightly offset to the back foot to help you pop as needed without sacrificing edge control or speed. Impact plates lessen the landings and reduce chatter. And two thin Carbon Omega Hotrods have been milled into the board’s core at the tail to add a powerful snap and improve response time.

Sizes: 152, 155, 158, 162, 166 centimeters | Profile: Rocker/camber | Shape: Directional | Flex: 8/10

Best for Rails and Jibs

Burton Kilroy Twin Snowboard

Burton Kilroy Twin Snowboard

Courtesy of Backcountry

What We Like
  • Inexpensive

  • Promotes intuitive park riding for all skill levels

What We Don't Like
  • Slacks a bit in deep powder

  • Only compatible with a channel binding mounting system

For a soft and playful feel throughout the park, go with the Kilroy Twin from Burton. This workhorse of a snowboard comes with a traditional camber bend that promotes powerful turns and precise pop, making it easy to mount the park features, with continuous edge control from tail to tip. A layer of Biax fiberglass adds a jib-friendly torsional soft flex that’s forgiving and great for beginners learning how to navigate the park. Meanwhile, a mix of hard and soft EGD-engineered wood grains along the heel and toe wedge on two zones run perpendicular to the board’s length for more edge-hold response.

Sizes: 135, 145, 148, 152, 155, 159 centimeters | Profile: Camber | Shape: Twin | Flex: 3/10

Best for Beginners

Capita Pathfinder Reverse Snowboard

Capita Pathfinder Reverse Snowboard

Courtesy of Backcountry

What We Like
  • Easy to ride

  • Inexpensive

  • Options to choose either low-rise or reverse camber profiles

What We Don't Like
  • Overall even performance across all terrain, but after you level up, you may want to upgrade

Hurdle whatever trepidation you might have about picking up snowboarding by arming yourself with the Capita Pathfinder Reverse. Modest in price and high on performance, it’s ideal for riders still getting used to carving, popping, and jumping, with a softer flex for more forgiveness.

Choose from either a low-rise camber profile (if you want pop and carving control for all-mountain terrain) or reverse camber for a fun, looser, more skate-style feel for all-mountain and powder riding. A shorter tip and tail design reduces swing weight, making the Pathfinder Reverse easy to maneuver, with a poplar wood core reinforced with strips of beech for better power and durability and a Superdrive EX Base that’ll stand up to serious punishment as you start to dial your moves on the park features.

Sizes: 145, 147, 149, 151 151W, 153, 153W, 155, 155W, 157, 157W centimeters | Profile: Low-rise or reverse camber | Shape: Twin | Flex: 4/10

Best Women-Specific

K2 Spellcaster Snowboard

K2 Women's Spellcaster Snowboard

Courtesy of Evo

What We Like
  • Women-specific flex

What We Don't Like
  • Sizing tops out at 152 cms

The women-specific K2 Spellcaster can handle pretty much all terrain but definitely finds its home on all-mountain exploration. A mid-level flex scaled specifically for women and a combo camber profile that places the curve between the bindings delivers stability at speed and some serious pop. Rocker on both tips makes this board playful and predictable.

Vibrations are dampened via a blend of wood that sits at the center of the Rhythm Core, with a durable 4,000 sintered base that absorbs wax like a sponge to help you glide effortlessly without sacrificing durability. And the ominously named Carbon DarkWeb stringers extend at 45-degree angles in both directions from the bindings to provide snap and edge-hold while moving at speed or landing the perfect trick.

Specs: Sizes: 140, 144, 147, 149, 152 centimeters | Profile: Combo camber | Shape: Twin | Flex: 5/10

Best for Kids

Lib Tech Dynasword C3 Snowboard

Lib Tech Dynasword C3 Snowboard

Courtesy of Evo

What We Like
  • Intuitive to use

  • Inexpensive

What We Don't Like
  • Direction shape makes it less than ideal for park riding, and the mid-level flex drags a bit in the backcountry

The best kid-specific snowboard needs to be un-intimidating, reliable, versatile, and able to grow with the rider as they advance in both skill and age. Lib Tech has deployed all their board technologies in the Dynasword to assure the product matches those requirements. This all-terrain freerider comes with a relaxed-entry directional nose to help pick a line confidently, floating through powder and cutting through crud.

A C3 Camber contour dubbed Banana Tech partners with Magne-Traction for precise tracking and solid pop and stomp as your take-offs and landings get bigger. And the board runs fast, with a sublimated base and a lighter-than-average core of aspen and paulownia woods.

Sizes: 130, 135, 140 centimeters | Profile: Camber/rocker | Shape: Directional | Flex: 6/10 (5.5 in the 130-cm model)

What to Look for When Shopping for a Snowboard

Terrain

While all freestyle snowboards are generally lighter, shorter, and softer than a dedicated all-mountain board, if you favor a particular style of riding, focus on boards that are tailor-designed for that type of terrain to get the most gear-tech advantage. If you prefer to ride in the park or hit rails, jibs, and jumps, you want a board with optimal flex and more durable construction to help weather the features’ impacts on the boards. Those looking to huck serious air, meanwhile, should consider boards that help smooth out the landings, while half-pipe groms should gravitate toward boards with more forgiveness without adding too much flex than those that might cater to all-mountain freestyle riding.

Camber and Rocker

Both terms refer to the board’s silhouette and dictate which parts of the board are in contact with the snow when riding. Camber profiles have a bit of a lift underfoot, which gives the board a lively, stable ride and provides a degree of pop and responsiveness to help you hit tricks. Meanwhile, the aptly-named rocker profile flips the script, with a more snow-facing arch underfoot, creating a pronounced upturn at the tail and the tip, ideal for powder and park-riding. Rocker boards are typically softer than camber and deliver a surf-like feel, turning more easily than flat or camber boards—so they’re also good for beginners. But most of today’s freestyle boards are combos of both rocker and camber, providing good edge-control and pop from the camber underfoot, along with the floaty, easy-to-turn aspects at the tip and tail.

Shape

Given the creative nature of freestyle snowboarding, most boards in this category are almost universally true twin-shaped, meaning the rig is completely symmetrical from tail to tip. This allows you to ride switch and regular with equal confidence, and also allows for you to land tricks in either configuration. But for some riding styles—especially for beginners—a directional shape keeps things simple, making it easy to line up turns and tricks.

Flex

While all boards flex both lengthwise and across the board, most snowboard flex ratings refer to the former, simply because that’s the one that most impacts the board’s performance. The rating range is from one to ten, with ten being the stiffest. Most freestyle boards lean toward a soft flex, which makes them more forgiving and easier to turn—optimal characteristics for a lively, easy-to-control freestyle ride. Stiffer boards help maintain speed and are geared to deliver more grip when turning, and are better suited for all-mountain resort riding or carving up the backcountry.

Frequently Asked Questions
  • How can I travel with a snowboard?

    Most airlines will accept a snowboard and a boot bag as checked luggage, but each may have different rules or regulations.

  • What factors should I consider when selecting the size of a snowboard?

    Factors to consider include height, body weight, boot size, skill level and preferred terrain. However, weight is the most important factor to consider when selecting snowboard size.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a new snowboard?

    You should expect to pay a minimum of approximately $400 for a new snowboard with soft bindings.

Why Trust TripSavvy

Nathan Borchelt has been testing, rating, and profiling key products in the outdoor and travel space for decades. All the selections in this round-up were thoroughly vetted by consulting both pro and amateur reviews, and all key features of a freestyle board—their weight, stiffness rating, silhouette, core materials, and laminate layers—were weighed when making the final selections.

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