The Ultimate Splitboard Quiver by Alpenglow Sports
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.พ. 2025
- After putting close to 400 days on six purpose-built splitboards, I'm convinced that Alpenglow Sports carries the ultimate splitboard quiver. Jump into the comments with your ideas for great boards for me to test and even add to the quiver.
Our splitboard buyers guide has all the questions you need to ask to make sure you find the right split: alpenglowsport...
Featured boards:
Jones Solution Split 158
Jones Stratos Split 156
Jones Ultralight Butterfly Split 154
Jones Ultralight Hovercraft 2.0 Split 160
United Shapes Covert Split 157
Jones Storm Chaser Split 152
About Jones Snowboards: alpenglowsport...
Thanks so much Max! Can you make a vid on bindings & accessories? I'm pretty curious about your crampon/ ski crampon recs. Thanks!
Hey hey! Yes! I'll post some binding, boot, and accessory reviews as the season progresses. Thanks!
Curious how the K2 and Burton’s compare? Guessing you like white because black heats up more.
Yo! You're correct about the color choice! I rode Burton boards up until the switch to Jones. I would stay away! Burton and K2, with their channel systems, are instantly incompatible with the majority of splitbaord bindings! Imagine wanting to try hardboots or switch up your bindings and have to get a whole new board. They also miss out on key split tech innovations that Jones pioneered and I wouldn't wanna ride without! Traction tech and the boltless bridge to start. Great question!
Nice review! That’s an amazing quiver! I’ve been on the hovercraft split for 12yrs now. A 2014 and a 2023. 160cm. I’ve been eyeing out the new ultralight since my 160 weights almost 8lbs. It’s a tank. Sounds like the ultraLight is less stiff than the normal construction?? I’m 190+lbs and a little worried it won’t be stiff enough for me and noodle out when hiking thru pow.
Also I’m hoping they make the new storm chaser in a 157 next year. Looks rad with the new camber. 🤙
Hey Jake! You understand it correctly. The Ultralight Hovercraft is a softer board underfoot, but I can't say that I've noticed it while climbing. I think skinning in pow is a pretty forgiving scenario so I'm hopeful you'd still get good performance at your height and weight. I think the savings are worth it especially for a pow board! I find I don't need the stiffness when it's soft underfoot.
What else! Thanks!
Loved this Max, thank you! Have you ever had issues ejecting out of those Voiles? Had them for a season and ditched them for phantoms last week, as hard (right) kick turns on icy skin tracks wouldn’t hold the pressure of my boot (when I needed it most). Perhaps it’s defective.
Secondarily, pros/cons on Phantom vs Spark HB bindings. I’ve ridden both, settled on Phantom (although Spark was easier for multiple laps/transitions for me). Cheers from Utah dude!
Hey! Thanks! Once, I lost the center screw on my STS toe piece worked loose and I ejected out of the binding in the same scenario you described! I have not had that issue since shoring that screw back up. I've come to trust them more than all others, actually! Lots of failures with Spark and Phantom under my belt.
I run the Spark Dyno DH on another board all season long. The most appreciable difference is the lesser degree of cant between the two bindings. The Sparks have just 3 degrees of cant compared to Phantoms' 5 degrees. I find that less cant fees better in my Key Disruptive boots and more cant feels amazing in my Phantoms. I ride Phantom M6 and a Slipper HD 90% of the time.
What else? Cheers!
@ love this! Thanks! I feel my one STS might be defective. The lever is just loose, always has been. There really is no force needed to lock it. Perhaps I’ll explore that option.
Lastly, I also have Keys (ride phantoms most). What scenarios do you prefer the keys over the Phantoms?
Awesome review!
I want to buy my first split but can't decide between the Stratos Ultra and the Butterfly. My current freeride board is a Retro Ripper. Love the surfy feel and the full camber but could be a bit stiffer in technical lines and rough conditions. I think the Stratos will deliver a very similar feeling, which I would love. Plus it's freestyle oriented. But now as I'm getting more informations about the Butterfly I'm slowly catching feelings for this beautiful shape and now I'm not so sure which to pick, because I would love to get more into very ambitious lines and mountaineering stuff. For those targets the Butterfly seems to be more fitting.
Do you think the Butterfly could be a daily driver? Since the mountaineering stuff will probably just be a sidequest and I still want to have fun in every condition. From deep pow to hard crust. And maybe with a little freestyle aspect. Do you think the Butterfly can handle this as well?
(I'm 6'2, 180 pounds, size 9.5 shoes)
Thanks!
Hey Dee! The Stratos stands to be the most fun-oriented split you'll find! It's very playful (short sidecut radius) and holds up to most ambitious lines as well (stiff tail). It can chatter a bit in the firm stuff so I'll often choose the Butterfly any time there is variable conditions expected.
I have been daily driving the Ultralight Butterfly for 2 seasons now and I've rarely felt that I was on the wrong shape. I am fortunate to ride in a stable, coastal snowpack so I am also stepping into more ambitious riding pretty often. I might choose a different board if I had months of mid-winter meadow-skipping. Otherwise, I'm a strong believer in this board and recommend it anyone with big mountain objectives. Jeremy rides the same zones as I and I haven't seen him ride anything else since that board came out.
Go for it! I could help you special order a 158 Ultralight Butterfly, which have become pretty hard to get! I would recommend that size for your height weight and rider ambitions.
Cool vid!
Black top sheets get hot from the sun and snow likes to clump on it
CORRECT! Please join me in encouraging all brands to avoid black topsheets for splits!! Ice is your enemy out there!
DING DING DING! Black topsheets melt snow and refreeze ice more than any other color. HUGE difference maker out there when you're scraping your entire topsheet every lap. Nice one!
Thank you, nailed it with the breakdowns! I live in Tahoe but for travelling to Japan which, non-ultralight, splitboard would you recommend? Bringing 157 Storm Chaser snowboard and 159W Solution, currently.
Hey Blake! I'd favor the Hovercraft 2.0 split, likely size 156, for the insane float potential AND versatility if snorkel deep conditions don't line up. Unless you're traveling to Hakuba and have high-alpine, big-line aspirations in the Japanese Alps, I'd consider leaving the Solution at home! Favoring a pow board like the Hovercraft 2.0 or Mind Expander (154 or 158) gives you the best chance at harvesting what Japow has to offer. Both those boards are in stock at alpenglowsports.com 😉
@@alpenglowsportstahoe Wow thank you! Going to be all over Hokkaido and Hovercraft seems more fun, will look into that.
I am having a hard time choosing. Any thoughts on the jones mind expander and how that compares to the stratos?
Hey! The one board I didn't have for this video is the Mind Expander Split. We do sell it and I've been riding the solid version for two seasons. The Mind Expander is even more playful than the Stratos (shorter turn radius at 6.9m) which makes it a better pow board but overall it's less versatile. For pow laps and tree riding, the Mind Expander will be incredibly fun and floats amazing. For bigger mountain objectives, the Stratos has 90% of the fun and will hold up better at speed! It's a very versatile tool that will help you rider bigger lines with more confidence. Some more info here: alpenglowsports.com/pages/jones-splitboards-buyers-guide
@@alpenglowsportstahoe if I’m honest I use my split primarily before and after lifts close. So before lifts a board to rip first tracks whether pow or groomed. After lifts close I just want to feel stable on icy/ hard snow BUT I do like to do mellow side/backcountry low angle that can pivot well in trees and variable snow. I don’t like riding a boat but I don’t want to small washy of a board… if there’s even one you recommend other than those let me know. But I’m considering the stratos now… my weight gets me though I’m 200lbs and 5’7/5’8 with size 7.5 boots. My sweet spot for resort boards are stiff 154-not so stiff 159s. I ride the powgoda carbon split now 155 but it feels flimsy/brittle and almost too turny… almost like I slip out too fast… sorry a lot of info but maybe it helps! LOVE your videos.
@@alpenglowsportstahoewhat about the jones hovercraft 2.0 split? Would you choose that over statos AND mind expander?
Hey Max, I’m going to Japow soon, I bought hover ultra light split this year . Is necessary to ride split board if don’t need to climb. Or just bring my normal Stratos ❤
Hey!! Japan is an excellent place to have a splitboard and the Hovercraft 2.0 is a much better shape for bottomless days in Japow. I would consider bringing your split and a backcountry kit if you can manage traveling with the extra gear! If you have a larger-sized Stratos it will float almost as good. Have a great trip!
Hey man, awesome video! Which of these boards would you recommend for a multi day splitboard backcountry expedition late season around April. Will be about 1500-2000M elevation per day with uncertain snow conditions. I'm a mid level rider not looking to do crazy ambitious lines, just have a good time going up and down. Thanks !! Im 6'2'', 180pounds and wear size 10.5 boots.
Hey! I'm stoked to hear about your trip. Sounds fun! I think the Stratos will be the best choice for uncertain snow in new terrain. It delivers a fun riding experience and is a great companion as your one-board-to-do-it-all! I would favor the 161wide Stratos at your height/weight/boot size. I have one left at alpengloiwsports.com!