One thing everyone. I am doing Short/Wide Favorites next. They were in the Alt Freeride Favorites list last year. I wanted to do a separate list because they have enough difference to be in their own category. It's something my web developer is going to change on thegoodride.com but for now Short Wide's are still in Alt Freeride. Sorry for the confusion.
Yet again, another superb board overview and roundup. I always learn a thing or two from these vids and they’ve influenced several informed purchases along the way. Love this channel and its format. Cheers!
Im just a little surprised the Dancehaul/dancehaul pro hasnt made the list this year. But what a great list, having any of those boards would be a treat for absolutely anybody. Thanks for a great video James!
@thegoodridesnow keep ripping dude! Sadly i was very hyped about the wide when i bought it but a trend i keep seeing with these short wide boards is that the longer the board, the closer it is to regular wide. There are just a handful of boards that are really wide in the large sizes. Dont get me wrong, i love my board (157 dancehaul) but i sometimes wish it was just a bit wider. Like a warpig in my size would be. What is your opinion on the matter?
How would you compare the hovercraft 2.0 vs Cardif powgoda in 1) float 2) stability and dampness 3) carving and general groomer performance. Looking to get a pow specific board to have along side my Amplid surfari without sacrificing too much stability and groomer versatility. Thanks!
Thank you for your professionnel work..in that catégorie in particular, my best! As you said, and i say so, its a good time to be a Snowboarder...very good Shapes in différents brands! KeepOnRiding and Best Season 2025! 🎅🤙
K Cafe Racer & 56 Mantaray . 2 of the best freeride boards period. Love the articulated carves w the Mantaray. Thanks for your recommendations James/ Chris@SnowSurfNH
Hey James, love your work! Ive been in the market for a new board, but am just lost in trying to figure out what to move to next. Im 6'2, 205lb (and ride with a 15lb backpack) and size 11US boot. I ride a 2017 jones flagship which ive loved. However i feel that i went too undersized at 157w, as i do get bogged down and struggle float sometimes. I also love carving and flying down the mountain - flagships been great for that. I am looking at moving onto a Jones mind expander 163. What are your thoughts? Did picking a 157w flagship hindered my ride? Should i be going longer?
Going from a 2021 hovercraft to a new alchemist for this type of terrain, what should I expect? People keep saying how stiff the alchemist is but you have it listed on your site as almost the same stiffness as that year hovercraft, is that accurate or close? Hovercraft is the stiffest I’ve been on
It's stiffer than the Hovercraft 2.0, rides longer and narrower. The Hovercraft is on the medium side of med/stiff and the Alchemist is on the stiff side of Medium/Stiff. Both go straight and fast well but in different ways.
love these reviews, could you review the koura pocket rocket really interested to hear your take on the board. I just bought the korua TF so excited to try it out this season
Great vid as always! Looking at the PYL UnInc. Boot 11.5, 6'3"tall, weigh 180lbs. Currently daily drive a yes standard 162. Looking for that bigger mountain board but concnered the tapered underbite side cut may give me issues with my large feet. Can i get away with the pyl uninc in a 161?
You know I'm not sure the PYL Uninc is the best call coming from a 162 Standard. That's much wider over the back foot and I'd like this better for you if you were a 10-10.5. It also will feel pretty small coming from the Standard 162. You might like something longer like the Jones Mind Expander 166 or Transition Finder 160 instead. If you want to get into it more, hit me here to give me the info I need to help you much better. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/
@@thegoodridesnow Thank you for the input! I have been looking at the T Finder a little bit as well, continue the research. Thank you again for all the excellent snowboard content.
I agree 🙌. I have 3 of them and used to be such a Korua fanatic that I lost track/wasn’t giving other boards the attention they deserved. Now this offseason I bought 3 boards (2 second hand). And I prefer them over the Koruas I own. Let’s say… I couple are very similar but have a couple of things that make them different. The alchemist is a beast in its own league 🫡 haha
General setback question: When you are saying how far these boards setback all the way back, is that relative to the effective edge length? For example the pyl uninc specs sheet says 0 setback at reference, which I’m assuming is in reference to sidecut (or multiple sidecuts in this case). Sorry for the confusion, I just sometimes get lost in all the numbers and find the manufacturers’ spec sheets in particular to be difficult to follow. Thanks for all your reviews!
Yes Center of board. If you ever have questions, you can usually find the answer on The Good Ride like you can here. thegoodride.com/about-the-good-ride-snowboard-reviews/
Great video as always. I’m keen to hear your thoughts on the K2 passport as I’d think it fits into this category? Would you consider it more of a freeride board? Thanks.
th-cam.com/video/ZluB1L80_jw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PQJCQqXJyms7iT1Y The guy from Drift boards is comparing these exact boards on a low angle powder day in this video. Spoiler: powgoda came out on top in that reviewer’s eyes
So it was tracked up when Brigham was on the Powgoda vs. the Hovercraft so his perspective is off and he picked the Powgoda over the Hovercraft on the chair before he even rode it just based on specs. I rode both in super deep untracked snow and found the Hovercraft is better there. I do agree with Brigham though on choosing the Powgoda over the Hovercraft if you are riding more tracked up snow like he was or tighter tree lines because its much easier/quicker to turn.
Fair enough. I’m guessing you would put the storm chaser in the powder/short wide category? Thank you for your reviews btw- I went with the pyl uninc for my DD from this list for mostly freeriding in the sierras, your review definitely helped make up my mind
Thanks and hope it works as well for you as it does for me. If you go here thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/?mens=1 you can see the categorizations of every board as well as a lot more.
There is always overlap between categories. I would say the older Stale model more like the Service Dog rode much shorter and wider but the new model rode much more narrow, especially under the back foot. I'd love to own a 157 which would feel more like the 158 Mind Expander, 158 Powgoda etc. The 154 felt too small and too narrow where the old 153 felt like a lot of board.
Turny just means the sidecut likes to turn more than it likes to go straight but it can do both. No this carves a lot harder than your mountain twin. Especially if you want to do across the groomer carves to circle carves.
Boot size is super important so we are close but not the same. I'm a true 9. If you are a 10 that's a pretty big difference. 9.5 is less but it's still easier for you to turn a board than it is for me. Check the in depth review where I talk about 160 vs. 156 for me and why I chose the 156 for my riding style and preferences. If you like speed more than control then I'd suggest the 160. thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/jones-hovercraft-2-0-snowboard-review/
I’m 5’8, 165lb, boot size 9.5. Looking to finally upgrade to my next board. Im looking for a playful and fun board that I can take into the tree runs as well as handle typical groomers. I tend to ride back foot heavy and enjoy just cruising around. Would the K2 excavator 150 be a good pick?
Yeah that could work but the Cardiff Powgoda came to mind based on what you wrote as it's more playful/easy to ride vs. the Excavator which is pretty stiff and likes more aggressive riding. To know for sure though, I'd need a lot more info from you so hit me here If you want to get into it more, and get much better help. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/
@@thegoodridesnowthanks for the quick response! I’ve never heard of this, I’ll take a look. The powda seems more similar to the K2 almanac even. I’ll do a little more research. Thanks!
How does the Mantaray compare to the Skeleton Key? Looks like they are both pretty similar in terms of shape and stiffness. Is it like a premium Skeleton Key with much better base?
Two pretty different rides even though they have some overlap in places. Mantaray- Much faster base, way better grip, similar float and a more tapered/directional feel. SK- Much more centered feel with the balanced freeride geometry sidecut. Much more pop on an ollie and spring out of a turn with all that extra camber.
Fun board but this year I liked the Flagship Pro better. Check the review here thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/jones-flagship-snowboard-review/ and check the Flagship Pro review here. thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/jones-flagship-pro-snowboard-review/
Between the Jones ME and the Yes PYL Uninc , which one can charge a straight line and absorb the chop better? edit: also the K2 excavator, which of the 3 are most stable at speed?
So the ME and Excavator can absorb chop better with the stiffer flex but the PYL Uninc can go straight better so it's about what is better for you. The Excavator runs shorter/wider though so it bucks a little more than both these boards and is the most cranky in harder uneven snow.
Jones mind expander size recommendation: Which size do you recommend 154 or 158 for 5’11 (180cm）， 156lbs (72kg, 75kg max sometimes) and US 9.5 boot size ? Thank you very much!❤
@patrickwu8415 154 is 130-180lbs, 158 is 150-200lbs, 72kg=159lbs, 75kg=165lbs. Remember to weight your body, boots, filled backpack, clothing and helmet plus goggles.
@@thegoodridesnow I’ve only ridden Nitro Beast 155 and Burton Custom X 157/158， both worked for me. Burton Custom X feels more stable and works better in powder , ME would be my first powder board.
I say it's medium/stiff and not Medium. Watch the full review where I flex it more and you see how it bends. The demo I got might be different from the production but it also might be your perspective based on what you rode before, your specs and what size you rode.
@ agreed! Just tried over 15 boards this year already, generally attracted by stiffer boards and this one was top 2 stiffest (only some Dupraz were more stiff but didn’t like them). I love your reviews i would have just classified this one as « super stiff » :)
Thanks for the good words and yeah, 15 boards is a great start but check out boards like the Cafe Racer Plus, Jones Flagship Pro, Burton First Cut and Ride Commissioner if you want to ride or feel super stiff.
blaur board shop has terrible customer service. i ordered a pair of goggles and the order was confirmed. i have been waiting for 2 weeks already and the tracking still says preparing shipment. I don't know if i should just count my losses or drive out to cali and cause a scene
Sorry to hear that. Did you call them? Shoot me an email through thegoodride.com with your order number and I'll reach out to them as well. I want to make sure our new sponsor treats the good ride peeps well.
Yes, like I said, you can call it both. Rome's product manager said this... "To be honest, there is really not a right or wrong way to pronounce those two boards, the first year I spent a lot of time trying to get people to go with the proper Norwegian pronunciation but its all good really, both are readily accepted."
One thing everyone. I am doing Short/Wide Favorites next. They were in the Alt Freeride Favorites list last year. I wanted to do a separate list because they have enough difference to be in their own category. It's something my web developer is going to change on thegoodride.com but for now Short Wide's are still in Alt Freeride. Sorry for the confusion.
Yet again, another superb board overview and roundup. I always learn a thing or two from these vids and they’ve influenced several informed purchases along the way. Love this channel and its format. Cheers!
Thanks so much for the good words.
These videos rock thank you happy thanksgiving
Many thanks!
Just joined your patreon! love the content cant wait to see the other videos on there!
Many thanks for helping us pay the bills in the summer! Message me there if you have any questions.
Great content senior Beast.
Thank ya!
Picked up a mantaray cuz of your review. Looking forward to try it this season!
Right on and hope you love it as much as I love mine.
The Yes PYL is amazing, I have a 17/18 I still rip today and it is my absolute favorite board ever.
Thanks for your take and yeah such a fun ride. It's a Freeride favorite.
@@thegoodridesnow I bought it all those years ago after seeing one of your vids on it!
Im just a little surprised the Dancehaul/dancehaul pro hasnt made the list this year. But what a great list, having any of those boards would be a treat for absolutely anybody. Thanks for a great video James!
Dancehaul will be on the Short Wide list I'm working on next. Thanks!
@thegoodridesnow keep ripping dude!
Sadly i was very hyped about the wide when i bought it but a trend i keep seeing with these short wide boards is that the longer the board, the closer it is to regular wide. There are just a handful of boards that are really wide in the large sizes. Dont get me wrong, i love my board (157 dancehaul) but i sometimes wish it was just a bit wider. Like a warpig in my size would be.
What is your opinion on the matter?
@@thegoodridesnow Will the excavator also be there? :)
the short wide outline is a dancehaul lol
yes @guybenshushan523
How would you compare the hovercraft 2.0 vs Cardif powgoda in 1) float 2) stability and dampness 3) carving and general groomer performance. Looking to get a pow specific board to have along side my Amplid surfari without sacrificing too much stability and groomer versatility. Thanks!
Thank you for your professionnel work..in that catégorie in particular, my best!
As you said, and i say so, its a good time to be a Snowboarder...very good Shapes in différents brands!
KeepOnRiding and Best Season 2025! 🎅🤙
Thanks for taking the time to write this and hope you get it deep this winter.
K Cafe Racer & 56 Mantaray . 2 of the best freeride boards period. Love the articulated carves w the Mantaray. Thanks for your recommendations James/ Chris@SnowSurfNH
Thanks for your take and glad they work for you. Cheers!
Tested surfari this year. I'ts awesome :)
Great to hear.
Over Mind Expander and Cardiff Powgoda, which one would you prefer for Mt Bachelor riding?
Powgoda because it sets further back and has more rocker before the nose. We need all the float we can at Bachy when it's deep and far from steep.
Nice dude 🏂🏂❄️🏂🏂
Many Thanks!
Love the 1.0 hovercraft
Hey James, love your work!
Ive been in the market for a new board, but am just lost in trying to figure out what to move to next.
Im 6'2, 205lb (and ride with a 15lb backpack) and size 11US boot.
I ride a 2017 jones flagship which ive loved. However i feel that i went too undersized at 157w, as i do get bogged down and struggle float sometimes. I also love carving and flying down the mountain - flagships been great for that.
I am looking at moving onto a Jones mind expander 163.
What are your thoughts? Did picking a 157w flagship hindered my ride? Should i be going longer?
Do you mean 156w or 159w Flagship?
@thegoodridesnow wow, you do indeed know your boards well! Better than I do, it is the 159W, my bad.
No worries and yeah you might like the 162w or 165w better but the 162 or Mind Expander would be really fun as it matches well with your specs.
Going from a 2021 hovercraft to a new alchemist for this type of terrain, what should I expect? People keep saying how stiff the alchemist is but you have it listed on your site as almost the same stiffness as that year hovercraft, is that accurate or close? Hovercraft is the stiffest I’ve been on
It's stiffer than the Hovercraft 2.0, rides longer and narrower. The Hovercraft is on the medium side of med/stiff and the Alchemist is on the stiff side of Medium/Stiff. Both go straight and fast well but in different ways.
love these reviews, could you review the koura pocket rocket really interested to hear your take on the board. I just bought the korua TF so excited to try it out this season
Thanks! I rode the old one in waist deep pow. So unique and fun. th-cam.com/video/RCS7QDEyZAc/w-d-xo.html I'll try to get on the new one.
Great vid as always! Looking at the PYL UnInc. Boot 11.5, 6'3"tall, weigh 180lbs. Currently daily drive a yes standard 162. Looking for that bigger mountain board but concnered the tapered underbite side cut may give me issues with my large feet. Can i get away with the pyl uninc in a 161?
You know I'm not sure the PYL Uninc is the best call coming from a 162 Standard. That's much wider over the back foot and I'd like this better for you if you were a 10-10.5. It also will feel pretty small coming from the Standard 162. You might like something longer like the Jones Mind Expander 166 or Transition Finder 160 instead. If you want to get into it more, hit me here to give me the info I need to help you much better. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/
@@thegoodridesnow Thank you for the input! I have been looking at the T Finder a little bit as well, continue the research. Thank you again for all the excellent snowboard content.
Thanks for the good words!
Korua boards should be on every top 5 list. Great video and info as always.
I agree 🙌. I have 3 of them and used to be such a Korua fanatic that I lost track/wasn’t giving other boards the attention they deserved.
Now this offseason I bought 3 boards (2 second hand). And I prefer them over the Koruas I own. Let’s say… I couple are very similar but have a couple of things that make them different.
The alchemist is a beast in its own league 🫡 haha
General setback question:
When you are saying how far these boards setback all the way back, is that relative to the effective edge length? For example the pyl uninc specs sheet says 0 setback at reference, which I’m assuming is in reference to sidecut (or multiple sidecuts in this case).
Sorry for the confusion, I just sometimes get lost in all the numbers and find the manufacturers’ spec sheets in particular to be difficult to follow.
Thanks for all your reviews!
Thanks and this is set back on Board if you put the bindings all the way back on each insert pack like many do for pow days
Relative to what though? For a 160 cm board, is “center of board” literally 80 cm from nose and 80cm from the tail?
Yes Center of board. If you ever have questions, you can usually find the answer on The Good Ride like you can here. thegoodride.com/about-the-good-ride-snowboard-reviews/
@ ahh yes that does answer this exactly- thank you!
No prob!
Have you ridden the nitro dinghy, things a beast in this category
YES so damn behind. Didn't make this list but like I said in 1:39 there are a lot of great boards out there right now and that's one of them.
great video, but what about the korua pencil? and any k2 board that compares to that? thanks
Thanks. Pencil is snowsurf. Go here to filter by categories to see what is similar thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/?mens=1
Great video as always. I’m keen to hear your thoughts on the K2 passport as I’d think it fits into this category? Would you consider it more of a freeride board? Thanks.
Thanks. No that board doesn't really fit here. Here are all my thoughts on that board thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/k2-passport-snowboard-review
@ thank you.
Sorry if i missed it but what was the best pow floater of this list? Hovercraft 2.0? Thanks for the content.
Yep Hovercraft 2.0 and new Powgoda with set back inserts.
th-cam.com/video/ZluB1L80_jw/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PQJCQqXJyms7iT1Y
The guy from Drift boards is comparing these exact boards on a low angle powder day in this video. Spoiler: powgoda came out on top in that reviewer’s eyes
So it was tracked up when Brigham was on the Powgoda vs. the Hovercraft so his perspective is off and he picked the Powgoda over the Hovercraft on the chair before he even rode it just based on specs. I rode both in super deep untracked snow and found the Hovercraft is better there. I do agree with Brigham though on choosing the Powgoda over the Hovercraft if you are riding more tracked up snow like he was or tighter tree lines because its much easier/quicker to turn.
Fair enough. I’m guessing you would put the storm chaser in the powder/short wide category?
Thank you for your reviews btw- I went with the pyl uninc for my DD from this list for mostly freeriding in the sierras, your review definitely helped make up my mind
Thanks and hope it works as well for you as it does for me. If you go here thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/?mens=1 you can see the categorizations of every board as well as a lot more.
Great list. Would the Stale fall im the short-wide category? That thing is pretty darn wide and not particularly long 😊
There is always overlap between categories. I would say the older Stale model more like the Service Dog rode much shorter and wider but the new model rode much more narrow, especially under the back foot. I'd love to own a 157 which would feel more like the 158 Mind Expander, 158 Powgoda etc. The 154 felt too small and too narrow where the old 153 felt like a lot of board.
Супер! Спасибо за обзор, бро. Какая доска понравилась больше всего ?
When you say the ME is “turny” does that mean it can carve well? I’m concerned it could wash out on deep carves, which happens on my mountain twin
Turny just means the sidecut likes to turn more than it likes to go straight but it can do both. No this carves a lot harder than your mountain twin. Especially if you want to do across the groomer carves to circle carves.
I’m the exact same size you are, in that 5’10 range about 190 pounds. What size did you get for jones hovercraft? Im a 9.5-10 in boot size.
Boot size is super important so we are close but not the same. I'm a true 9. If you are a 10 that's a pretty big difference. 9.5 is less but it's still easier for you to turn a board than it is for me. Check the in depth review where I talk about 160 vs. 156 for me and why I chose the 156 for my riding style and preferences. If you like speed more than control then I'd suggest the 160. thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/jones-hovercraft-2-0-snowboard-review/
Hello ! Did ever tried a Slash snowboard? I love my slash vertical . It carves great, stable at high speed and it floats good in the pow.
Yes I rode many Slash boards a while back. I'm overdue for trying them again.
I’m 5’8, 165lb, boot size 9.5. Looking to finally upgrade to my next board. Im looking for a playful and fun board that I can take into the tree runs as well as handle typical groomers. I tend to ride back foot heavy and enjoy just cruising around. Would the K2 excavator 150 be a good pick?
I currently ride an old Burton clash 2013 151. It just doesn’t hold an edge well anymore, doesn’t carve great and has ZERO pop.
Yeah that could work but the Cardiff Powgoda came to mind based on what you wrote as it's more playful/easy to ride vs. the Excavator which is pretty stiff and likes more aggressive riding. To know for sure though, I'd need a lot more info from you so hit me here If you want to get into it more, and get much better help. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/
@@thegoodridesnowthanks for the quick response! I’ve never heard of this, I’ll take a look. The powda seems more similar to the K2 almanac even. I’ll do a little more research. Thanks!
Currently riding a capita super doa with union ultras. Thinking about upgrading to atlas or falcors with my tm-2 boots. Any suggestions?
Faclcors could be fun if you want something similar to the Ultra's but with more response and a bit less shock absorption.
How does the Mantaray compare to the Skeleton Key? Looks like they are both pretty similar in terms of shape and stiffness. Is it like a premium Skeleton Key with much better base?
Two pretty different rides even though they have some overlap in places.
Mantaray- Much faster base, way better grip, similar float and a more tapered/directional feel.
SK- Much more centered feel with the balanced freeride geometry sidecut. Much more pop on an ollie and spring out of a turn with all that extra camber.
What about the flagship pro? How does that stand in this list?
Fun board but this year I liked the Flagship Pro better. Check the review here thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/jones-flagship-snowboard-review/ and check the Flagship Pro review here. thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/jones-flagship-pro-snowboard-review/
Between the Jones ME and the Yes PYL Uninc , which one can charge a straight line and absorb the chop better? edit: also the K2 excavator, which of the 3 are most stable at speed?
So the ME and Excavator can absorb chop better with the stiffer flex but the PYL Uninc can go straight better so it's about what is better for you. The Excavator runs shorter/wider though so it bucks a little more than both these boards and is the most cranky in harder uneven snow.
Jones mind expander size recommendation: Which size do you recommend 154 or 158 for 5’11 (180cm）， 156lbs (72kg, 75kg max sometimes) and US 9.5 boot size ? Thank you very much!❤
158...longer effective edge... Better ride
@ would it be too much for my weight?
@patrickwu8415 what make/model/size/year board do you ride now and how does it work for you?
@patrickwu8415 154 is 130-180lbs, 158 is 150-200lbs, 72kg=159lbs, 75kg=165lbs. Remember to weight your body, boots, filled backpack, clothing and helmet plus goggles.
@@thegoodridesnow I’ve only ridden Nitro Beast 155 and Burton Custom X 157/158， both worked for me. Burton Custom X feels more stable and works better in powder , ME would be my first powder board.
Can you review the new Arbor Candle rain?
I'll for sure try. It's been a while since I got on Arbor and would like to ride several of their boards.
What about burton fish?
Pow Favorite...If you go to thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/?mens=1 you can see all the favorites and Categories
How can you say the surfari is medium flex, just tried it and never saw such a stiff board!!!
I say it's medium/stiff and not Medium. Watch the full review where I flex it more and you see how it bends. The demo I got might be different from the production but it also might be your perspective based on what you rode before, your specs and what size you rode.
@ agreed! Just tried over 15 boards this year already, generally attracted by stiffer boards and this one was top 2 stiffest (only some Dupraz were more stiff but didn’t like them). I love your reviews i would have just classified this one as « super stiff » :)
Thanks for the good words and yeah, 15 boards is a great start but check out boards like the Cafe Racer Plus, Jones Flagship Pro, Burton First Cut and Ride Commissioner if you want to ride or feel super stiff.
Can we get a video on womens boards??
Working on that but it probably wont' happen soon.
blaur board shop has terrible customer service. i ordered a pair of goggles and the order was confirmed. i have been waiting for 2 weeks already and the tracking still says preparing shipment. I don't know if i should just count my losses or drive out to cali and cause a scene
Sorry to hear that. Did you call them? Shoot me an email through thegoodride.com with your order number and I'll reach out to them as well. I want to make sure our new sponsor treats the good ride peeps well.
i have heard Stale say stale before when talking about this borad...
Yes, like I said, you can call it both. Rome's product manager said this... "To be honest, there is really not a right or wrong way to pronounce those two boards, the first year I spent a lot of time trying to get people to go with the proper Norwegian pronunciation but its all good really, both are readily accepted."