Love the review. I’ve been thinking about this board. It sounds like something I would like - on the stiffer side, camber and a bit different. Thanks Lochie! 👍🤙
Thanks! The Stratos is a way more serious board, faster, stiffer and will hold up under really rough conditions, but the Dancehaul is much more playful and fun. To get the most out of the Stratos I think you would want to ride it pretty hard, but almost anyone can get a lot out of the Dancehaul no matter your skill level.
Coming from riding more than a half dozen NS boards and LibTech, would you go with the Protosynthesis, Stratos or Cap Mercury? Ideally, I'd like only one board for everything with no park whatsoever, intermediate rider. I have an NS 25 and WB I could keep for pow, but curious if the Merc would be a learning curve with the Stratos behind it in terms of picking it up. Just want something easy as hell to ride, forgiving, only getting about 6 days a year. Love the reviews!
From that list the Stratos is the top pick, good shape, nice taper, very solid all around. Though, the Frontier th-cam.com/video/uK0UOpRK9zE/w-d-xo.html would be better - easier to ride, with similar features all around. Less effort, so might be more fun for the week or so of riding each year.
Hi Lachi, First of all thanks a lot for the effort you put into your channel. I enjoy the reviews very much and your footage is dope! Currently I am stuck deciding between buying a Stratos or a Mountain Twin, for fun & easy all mountain groomer riding + some pow (but no park) - maybe you can give me an advise? I am an intermediate rider on a K2 Raygun which I ride for about 10 years now. I would like to get a new board with more performance and to progress my riding. My stats: 175 lbs, 5‘10, boot size 10,5. I figured out my options could be: 1. Get a Stratos for the deeper days and keep my old Raygun for early season and groomer-only days, or 2. Get the Mountain Twin and replace the Raygun completely with the MT. Question is if the MT has good enough powder performance? 3. Maybe third option could be to get the Frontier...? Thanks for your thoughts on this, as I am really overwhelmed by all the internet info...
Thanks so much! My first choice would be the Frontier, I think that it has a good balance between the Mountain Twin and Stratos, it doesn't take a whole lot of effort to ride and will be good in all conditions. Realistically I think it would replace your board for all conditions, I don't think you'd go back to your old board after riding it. With the Stratos being a bit stiffer, faster riding will be a bit easier, and the shape will help it float in powder a bit more, but it will need a bit more effort to get the most out of it. Both will help you progress pretty well. There is still nothing wrong with the Mountain Twin, but unless you are setting it back a fair bit I think the other two will be better in powder.
Great video ! I have a question, how does this board hold up against the Jones Flagship ? Did you ride them both ? For an intermediate to advanced guy who loves carving and goes like 15% of the time in pow and stay's the rest off the time on the groomers, what board off the two would you recommand ? Or maybe do you recommand and other board ? Thanks for the time to answer my qestion :) Greatings from Belgium.
Thanks! I have only been on the Flagship for a lap or two, so I can't really compare it well. The Stratos definitely does tick all the boxes you need. I would also add another couple of options that are worth a look at, the Nitro Fusion th-cam.com/video/_WIWnJN5exg/w-d-xo.html and the Korua Shapes Cafe Racer th-cam.com/video/OqVtm5OgPTo/w-d-xo.html. The Korua is a giant step above the others for carving, though I would be confident that you would like any of the three.
The Stratos is a good option if you want to stick to a more regular board. The Transition finder being so wide will take a bit of getting used to in general, but if you have big boots or really want to get into carving it could be the better choice.
Btw love your videos, you do some of the best reviews on youtube. Im about to buy my first snowboard and cant decide between the mercury mountaintwin and stratos. I want a board that's stable for fast carving and bombing but not to stiff and good for powder. Im kinda scared that a board thats on the stiffer side would be too hard to turn
Thanks! The Mercury and Stratos might be a bit stiff for a first board. The Mountain Twin is a good option, but I would probably put the Frontier th-cam.com/video/uK0UOpRK9zE/w-d-xo.html as a top choice. It has more rocker on the nose for better float in powder, still has enough stiffness without being as stiff as the Mercury/Stratos and does everything really well. You won't have any issues riding switch, will be able to press it but it is still very stable overall. I think it is the best mix of a solid first board, that will perform really well, but you won't grow out of.
Hey man! Thanks for another solid review. Would you compare the Stratos and the Hovercraft? Flex difference between the two? N what about float in pow? Thanks!
Thanks! Stratos is a much more usable board, nice and quick to turn, fast and floats well. A touch softer in the tail, but still a solid flex overall. The hovercraft is a beast, great for float and smashing through chopped up snow like it is nothing, but the big sidecut and wide width mean it isn't quick to turn or nimble. If you had wide open, steep and deep pow then the hovercraft will be great, but if terrain and conditions are more mixed the Stratos is better.
@@SnowboardRobot thanks for the response dude! I may up the quiver with the Stratos then. Picking between the Stratos and the Salomon HPS Louif. Looking for something with freestyle flair in the backcountry. Ive used the Kazu -17 for this in the past, but its been through the ringer so that one goes up on the wall now. Any thoughts on the Louif?
Great review! I've read on more than one occasion that the Stratos is no fun on messy, end of day snow, and is quite chattery... did you find that to be the case?
Thanks! No not at all really - both the Stratos and Hovercraft were stiff enough that they would just blast through end of day snow with no issue. I'd actually say they were more ideal for that sort of snow. I think it was helped by the fact that my legs didn't get tired on these boards, so I was never really feeling like I was getting kicked around.
Do you feel much difference in powder compared with capita aeronaut (without the big setback, it won't be fair)? I'm struggling to find a good quiver killer one board. I have the impression aeronaut will sync in deep snow like bigwhite or revelstoke, and that stratos is stiffer and more reliable on deep snow.
I didn't ride the Aeronaut in powder so it is hard to compare, but I would expect both to have a pretty similar float. I think you could happily ride either of those two everywhere. The Stratos seemed a little heavier and damper, while the Aeronaut was a bit lighter and snappier. The super setback stance on the Stratos will be a little help on super deep days.
Thanks for the awesome.review on the Stratos, I have been eyeing it quite a bit. I am currently riding a Jones Flagship in a 162w. I stand about 5'11" and weigh about 230lbs with all my gear on. Using now O-drive bindings and Ride Fusion boots. I am a powder, tree, groomer guy who rides fast, but also loves the trees. Can I get your thoughts between the flagship vs the stratos? I have not found anything that really compares the two and I keep looking at the stratos wondering if it would be more nimble in the trees than the flagship, but still give me a sweet ride doing everything else. Thanks. :)
I have only ridden the Flagship for a single run, so not enough to know what it is really like. It looks to me like the most major difference will be the smaller sidecut on the Stratos, so tighter trees and quick turns might feel a little easier. A lot of the other features are the same, but with the spoon on both boards you can cheat a lot of turns anyway, so unless you really want a new board, I don't know if you could really expect a big change.
@@SnowboardRobot thanks for the heads up and input. I was eyeing the stratos mostly because I had a shop recently improperly tune my flagship. So I was looking at purchasing a new board to replace the old. However the owner of the shop made things right and replaced my board for me. I would have to agree...I feel like the change would be mild honestly, small improvements...if that considering my weight and size. Thanks for the input!!!
Hi Lachy, thanks for the great content! I'm an intermediate rider (190cm/85kg/46 boots) currently on a Gnu Headspace (love it), Libtech Orca (not in love), and Jones Solution split ('uuuuuge fan). I'm handing the Headspace onto a friend, selling the Orca, and looking for something to ride everything one runs into in the Alps (don't care about anything in the park, so groomers/sidehits/off-piste). Had this/flagship/hovercraft or a Mercury/Mega Mercury in mind. Any tips?
Thanks, I do really like the Mercury, though I haven't tried the Mega Mercury yet to see the difference. I sounds like the Stratos is going to be the best choice though, especially as it will have that same Jones feel of your Solution Split - might as well stick along the lines of what you know you already like.
@@SnowboardRobot Thanks a heap for the response. Do you reckon a 161W would have enough float for an 85kg rider plus gear in deeper snow? I'm wondering if the 164W is actually the way to go, given most of the use case would be 50/50 on/off piste.
Im struggling to decide on this or the mercury. As an intermediate to advanced rider that does some pow, little park, little switch, but like groomers and general all mountain, which board do you think would be best?
I would go for the Stratos I think as the top choice. There is a tradeoff in switch riding, but the shape, taper and ability to set the bindings way back are going to make it way more fun for your type of riding.
Great review! I was wondering if you could give me some pointers for my next board, have a Jones MT for a all-mountain/freestyle board and am looking for something stiffer for better carves, pow and racing down groomers. Been looking at the stratos, the flagship from jones and the capity BSOD, YES PYL and K2 Instrument. Any pointers or other advice?
The Stratos and Flagship are solid options - I haven't ridden the other three so I don't know what they ride like. The key things I would look for are directional, with either camber or camber under the back foot, setback and taper. I use my Korua Tranny Finder for that exact riding, it might be worth a look as another options as well - th-cam.com/video/pDW03DkFk-M/w-d-xo.html
@@SnowboardRobot Thank you for the answer. Seems to be a lot of great boards in this category. Just trying to find a balance of good looks (gotta feel confident), performance, and pricing.
Hi, I've got this board, and paired it with K2 Lein AT bindings. I'm after some new boots that would work well with this set up. Any recommendations? Thanks
Boots are a tough one, it all depends on your foot shape. I would look for medium/stiff boots, if you can't try them on I would look at: Burton Ion, Salomon Dialogue, Vans Infuse and ThirtyTwo TM-2 would all be worth looking at, but suit really different foot shapes.
The Stratos felt much quicker to turn, even with it being a longer board than the Hovercraft I rode. Both were fast, stable and floated well in powder, but I would choose the Stratos as a board to ride everywhere/any conditions, and the Hovercraft just for big pow days.
@@SnowboardRobot Thanks! Your actual experience confirms my theoretical expectations when comparing the sidecut and effective edge between the hovercraft and stratos. I'm sure the float pack inserts have an effect as well, since it brings the setback even further back.
I've been riding the Stratos for 2 seasons now. I'm 5'4" 160lbs, US 9.5 boot size. I ride the 156cm Stratos. Great review. I would agree that the Stratos is great in any condition all over the mountain. I have never used the float pack inserts bc that stance is a bit wider than I normally ride. But for really deep days, I have set my normal stance one slot back and the board floats amazing. This board is super damp, especially with Flow or Drive (Jones) bindings. It's grippy holding a fantastic edge. And my favorite thing about it is that it is very nimble and turns are smooth and intuitive. This board is actually a bit long for my size but I can take it into tight trees and turn initiation is so fast. Like it's a smaller board. Carving in the groomers is a lot of fun as well. Definitely a quiver board. Haven't heard or read any complaints about it.
Love your review style, feels so zen to watch. Also, Im 6'2" but I only weigh about 155lbs, I would like to try a 159cm board but with a boot size of 10.5 would it be better for me to go with a the 161 wide version of this board?
Thanks! You could definitely get away with the 159, though there is a decent jump in width on the 161wide. Although wider, it puts you at the very bottom of the weight range, so it is going to make a stiff board feel stiffer. Jones recommend boots up to an 11, so I would go with what they say. What brand boots do you have, and what angles do you normally ride?
Love this review! I’m 6’1” at 190lbs / size 10 boot. My GF got me the stratos 156 for a gift. Do you recommend I size up to 159 or do you think I’ll be fine with a 156?
The 156 will be alright, but the 159 will give you more stability at speed, and better float in powder. This is what I copied from the Jones site "The Stratos fits like a directional twin, 1-3cm shorter than a directional freeride board. Riders of average size will best fit the Stratos 156 or 159 cm. Go for the smaller of the two sizes for better maneuverability in the park or on the steeps. Size up to the 159 or the 162 for better performance in pow. Riders with boots size 10+ check out the 161W and 164W." I have only been on the 159 so it is a bit of guesswork too...
No I didn't ride it on any proper deep days, though I think unless conditions were super good, or you were going heli-skiing there is enough shape/direction on the regular inserts to handle quite a bit of snow.
I think that the Mind Expander was slightly easier to make quicker turns, but not by a huge amount. It would float a bit better thanks to the giant rocker nose, but I would still easily choose the Stratos. It still floats really well, is much more stable and poppy, and I was much more confident riding fast into terrain I didn't know compared to on the Mind Expander where unless it was untouched pow, felt like I could be bucked at any moment.
@@SnowboardRobot Thank you so much for the response. Last question: from your personal experiencie testing both boards, which board did you enjoy more?
I think that it feels a bit damper (vibrates less and feels a touch more stable on chopped up snow), floats better in powder, has good pop, though the Mercury still feels a bit more lively/snappy and direct to the edges. If you wanted to ride fast, and float in powder it is a good choice.
Thanks! The Ravine looks good, though I haven't ridden it yet to give a proper comparison. It looks quite similar, though it looks like the tail might be a bit grippier/more aggressive than the Stratos, with the carbon hotrods and no rocker.
hey man thanks for the review! wondered if you could give some insight with sizing, i am 183cm tall, weigh 74kg. so i think we are pretty similar sizes :) from the size chart for the stratos, i am at the upper end of the scale for the 156, almost in the middle for the 159. i usually prefer a little more manoeuvrability so am tempted to size down, how did you find the 159 on groomers? easy to turn or would you have preferred a slightly smaller size? thanks in advance!
The 159 was good on groomers, but also that was with a positive positive stance, so getting it onto its edge was quite easy anyway. Technically the 156 will be a bit quicker and more manoeuvrable, a tiny bit narrower and a slightly smaller sidecut. It sounds like the 156 will be the better choice, and I don't think you are going to trade off anything, it will still feel quite very solid.
@@SnowboardRobot thanks man. I got a reply from Jones who recommended the 159, apparently the Stratos can get a bit ‘squirrely’ if you’re at the upper end of the weight range. Went with the 159 and hope it won’t be too unwieldy!
@@markdavidedwards Hope it suits well. I tested 159 last season (I'm 187cm, and was 74kg), it was really awesome board off piste and on clean groomers, really fast and a lot of pop. Though, being also used to more manoverability, didn't feel as comfortable on moguls and tight spots as my previous boards (evil twin 156, libtech trs 157, goliath 159). This season I'm 10kg heavier and again thinking of still getting 159 stratos lol
I started playing around with positive positive stance last season when I bought my Korua Shapes board. If I am riding any directional board from now on, I think I would have positive positive angles. I find it is easier to get low on a turn, I get better edge hold on both sides and is a bit easier on my knees.
@@SnowboardRobotThank you,.I watched Korua turning and it looks great but stance looks weird.Probably will start with neutral 0 back.I am realy enjoying 260 waist, salomon super 8, but will try to get my foots on K2 instrument camber under both foots.Thanks, you are doing great job.Stay safe, best regards from Bosina
Beautiful footage .what a rad place
Love the review. I’ve been thinking about this board. It sounds like something I would like - on the stiffer side, camber and a bit different. Thanks Lochie! 👍🤙
You look so relaxed on the board. I never thought of trying a positive angle on the back foot. Might give that a try this year. Cheers, nice vid.
I got this board for this upcoming season. I have the same type of terrain around my local ski resort. Looks like it's exactly what I'm looking for.
Oh nice! You will be able to get tons out of the Stratos
Nice reviews man! Hope your channel grows to like 100x soon. Any chance of a mega mercury or yes greats review in the future? Or t.rice pro?
Thanks! I will try and ride a whole bunch of boards this winter, and the Mega Merc is high up on that list
Nice review & great riding!!!
Great review! How does this compare to the Salomon Dancehaul??
Thanks! The Stratos is a way more serious board, faster, stiffer and will hold up under really rough conditions, but the Dancehaul is much more playful and fun. To get the most out of the Stratos I think you would want to ride it pretty hard, but almost anyone can get a lot out of the Dancehaul no matter your skill level.
@@SnowboardRobot maybe a more apt comparison to the volume shifted board is the super pig then? How does the stratos compare to the super pig?
Great videos, keep it up!
Would you prefer the Statos over the Frontier? I know it's more expensive. I'm having a hard time deciding between them.
As always: great review. ⭐Like your style⭐👍🏻 thanks a lot🥳
Loving these reviews! Keep at it man. Season is almost here 🙌🏽
Not long!
Coming from riding more than a half dozen NS boards and LibTech, would you go with the Protosynthesis, Stratos or Cap Mercury? Ideally, I'd like only one board for everything with no park whatsoever, intermediate rider. I have an NS 25 and WB I could keep for pow, but curious if the Merc would be a learning curve with the Stratos behind it in terms of picking it up. Just want something easy as hell to ride, forgiving, only getting about 6 days a year. Love the reviews!
From that list the Stratos is the top pick, good shape, nice taper, very solid all around. Though, the Frontier th-cam.com/video/uK0UOpRK9zE/w-d-xo.html would be better - easier to ride, with similar features all around. Less effort, so might be more fun for the week or so of riding each year.
Hi Lachi,
First of all thanks a lot for the effort you put into your channel. I enjoy the reviews very much and your footage is dope!
Currently I am stuck deciding between buying a Stratos or a Mountain Twin, for fun & easy all mountain groomer riding + some pow (but no park) - maybe you can give me an advise?
I am an intermediate rider on a K2 Raygun which I ride for about 10 years now. I would like to get a new board with more performance and to progress my riding. My stats: 175 lbs, 5‘10, boot size 10,5.
I figured out my options could be:
1. Get a Stratos for the deeper days and keep my old Raygun for early season and groomer-only days, or
2. Get the Mountain Twin and replace the Raygun completely with the MT. Question is if the MT has good enough powder performance?
3. Maybe third option could be to get the Frontier...?
Thanks for your thoughts on this, as I am really overwhelmed by all the internet info...
Thanks so much! My first choice would be the Frontier, I think that it has a good balance between the Mountain Twin and Stratos, it doesn't take a whole lot of effort to ride and will be good in all conditions. Realistically I think it would replace your board for all conditions, I don't think you'd go back to your old board after riding it.
With the Stratos being a bit stiffer, faster riding will be a bit easier, and the shape will help it float in powder a bit more, but it will need a bit more effort to get the most out of it.
Both will help you progress pretty well. There is still nothing wrong with the Mountain Twin, but unless you are setting it back a fair bit I think the other two will be better in powder.
Thanks very much for your advise👍
Great video ! I have a question, how does this board hold up against the Jones Flagship ? Did you ride them both ? For an intermediate to advanced guy who loves carving and goes like 15% of the time in pow and stay's the rest off the time on the groomers, what board off the two would you recommand ? Or maybe do you recommand and other board ? Thanks for the time to answer my qestion :) Greatings from Belgium.
Thanks! I have only been on the Flagship for a lap or two, so I can't really compare it well. The Stratos definitely does tick all the boxes you need. I would also add another couple of options that are worth a look at, the Nitro Fusion th-cam.com/video/_WIWnJN5exg/w-d-xo.html and the Korua Shapes Cafe Racer th-cam.com/video/OqVtm5OgPTo/w-d-xo.html.
The Korua is a giant step above the others for carving, though I would be confident that you would like any of the three.
@@SnowboardRobot Thanks for the reply, i'll check them out !
Nice review!
How do you compare the stratos with the transition finder?
The Stratos is a good option if you want to stick to a more regular board. The Transition finder being so wide will take a bit of getting used to in general, but if you have big boots or really want to get into carving it could be the better choice.
Btw love your videos, you do some of the best reviews on youtube. Im about to buy my first snowboard and cant decide between the mercury mountaintwin and stratos. I want a board that's stable for fast carving and bombing but not to stiff and good for powder. Im kinda scared that a board thats on the stiffer side would be too hard to turn
Thanks! The Mercury and Stratos might be a bit stiff for a first board. The Mountain Twin is a good option, but I would probably put the Frontier th-cam.com/video/uK0UOpRK9zE/w-d-xo.html as a top choice. It has more rocker on the nose for better float in powder, still has enough stiffness without being as stiff as the Mercury/Stratos and does everything really well. You won't have any issues riding switch, will be able to press it but it is still very stable overall. I think it is the best mix of a solid first board, that will perform really well, but you won't grow out of.
Great! Review!
Hey man! Thanks for another solid review. Would you compare the Stratos and the Hovercraft? Flex difference between the two? N what about float in pow? Thanks!
Thanks! Stratos is a much more usable board, nice and quick to turn, fast and floats well. A touch softer in the tail, but still a solid flex overall. The hovercraft is a beast, great for float and smashing through chopped up snow like it is nothing, but the big sidecut and wide width mean it isn't quick to turn or nimble. If you had wide open, steep and deep pow then the hovercraft will be great, but if terrain and conditions are more mixed the Stratos is better.
@@SnowboardRobot thanks for the response dude! I may up the quiver with the Stratos then. Picking between the Stratos and the Salomon HPS Louif. Looking for something with freestyle flair in the backcountry. Ive used the Kazu -17 for this in the past, but its been through the ringer so that one goes up on the wall now. Any thoughts on the Louif?
@@mikaelthunstrom8854 nah I haven't looked at the louif yet, but it sounds like the stratos has most of the stuff you are looking for
Great review! I've read on more than one occasion that the Stratos is no fun on messy, end of day snow, and is quite chattery... did you find that to be the case?
Thanks! No not at all really - both the Stratos and Hovercraft were stiff enough that they would just blast through end of day snow with no issue. I'd actually say they were more ideal for that sort of snow. I think it was helped by the fact that my legs didn't get tired on these boards, so I was never really feeling like I was getting kicked around.
@@SnowboardRobot thanks!!
Do you feel much difference in powder compared with capita aeronaut (without the big setback, it won't be fair)? I'm struggling to find a good quiver killer one board. I have the impression aeronaut will sync in deep snow like bigwhite or revelstoke, and that stratos is stiffer and more reliable on deep snow.
I didn't ride the Aeronaut in powder so it is hard to compare, but I would expect both to have a pretty similar float. I think you could happily ride either of those two everywhere. The Stratos seemed a little heavier and damper, while the Aeronaut was a bit lighter and snappier. The super setback stance on the Stratos will be a little help on super deep days.
Thanks for the awesome.review on the Stratos, I have been eyeing it quite a bit. I am currently riding a Jones Flagship in a 162w. I stand about 5'11" and weigh about 230lbs with all my gear on. Using now O-drive bindings and Ride Fusion boots. I am a powder, tree, groomer guy who rides fast, but also loves the trees.
Can I get your thoughts between the flagship vs the stratos? I have not found anything that really compares the two and I keep looking at the stratos wondering if it would be more nimble in the trees than the flagship, but still give me a sweet ride doing everything else.
Thanks. :)
I have only ridden the Flagship for a single run, so not enough to know what it is really like. It looks to me like the most major difference will be the smaller sidecut on the Stratos, so tighter trees and quick turns might feel a little easier. A lot of the other features are the same, but with the spoon on both boards you can cheat a lot of turns anyway, so unless you really want a new board, I don't know if you could really expect a big change.
@@SnowboardRobot thanks for the heads up and input. I was eyeing the stratos mostly because I had a shop recently improperly tune my flagship. So I was looking at purchasing a new board to replace the old. However the owner of the shop made things right and replaced my board for me.
I would have to agree...I feel like the change would be mild honestly, small improvements...if that considering my weight and size.
Thanks for the input!!!
Did u like the nitro squash or the Jones Stratos better?
Hi Lachy, thanks for the great content! I'm an intermediate rider (190cm/85kg/46 boots) currently on a Gnu Headspace (love it), Libtech Orca (not in love), and Jones Solution split ('uuuuuge fan). I'm handing the Headspace onto a friend, selling the Orca, and looking for something to ride everything one runs into in the Alps (don't care about anything in the park, so groomers/sidehits/off-piste). Had this/flagship/hovercraft or a Mercury/Mega Mercury in mind. Any tips?
Thanks, I do really like the Mercury, though I haven't tried the Mega Mercury yet to see the difference. I sounds like the Stratos is going to be the best choice though, especially as it will have that same Jones feel of your Solution Split - might as well stick along the lines of what you know you already like.
@@SnowboardRobot Thanks a heap for the response. Do you reckon a 161W would have enough float for an 85kg rider plus gear in deeper snow? I'm wondering if the 164W is actually the way to go, given most of the use case would be 50/50 on/off piste.
Im struggling to decide on this or the mercury. As an intermediate to advanced rider that does some pow, little park, little switch, but like groomers and general all mountain, which board do you think would be best?
I would go for the Stratos I think as the top choice. There is a tradeoff in switch riding, but the shape, taper and ability to set the bindings way back are going to make it way more fun for your type of riding.
Stratos or Hovercraft? I want to trade up from my mountain twin. I never ride switch. I just need a do everything board.
Stratos for sure, it will do it all easily.
Great review! I was wondering if you could give me some pointers for my next board, have a Jones MT for a all-mountain/freestyle board and am looking for something stiffer for better carves, pow and racing down groomers. Been looking at the stratos, the flagship from jones and the capity BSOD, YES PYL and K2 Instrument. Any pointers or other advice?
The Stratos and Flagship are solid options - I haven't ridden the other three so I don't know what they ride like. The key things I would look for are directional, with either camber or camber under the back foot, setback and taper. I use my Korua Tranny Finder for that exact riding, it might be worth a look as another options as well - th-cam.com/video/pDW03DkFk-M/w-d-xo.html
@@SnowboardRobot Thank you for the answer. Seems to be a lot of great boards in this category. Just trying to find a balance of good looks (gotta feel confident), performance, and pricing.
Just picked up the 156, size 10.5 boot - what kind of bindings would you recommend for groomer/pow specific? Great Video btw!
Thanks! Anything medium to medium stiff would be good. I really like Cartel X bit.ly/3Xi64Fr or the Union Atlas bit.ly/3XigkOc
Hi, I've got this board, and paired it with K2 Lein AT bindings.
I'm after some new boots that would work well with this set up. Any recommendations? Thanks
Boots are a tough one, it all depends on your foot shape. I would look for medium/stiff boots, if you can't try them on I would look at:
Burton Ion, Salomon Dialogue, Vans Infuse and ThirtyTwo TM-2 would all be worth looking at, but suit really different foot shapes.
How does it compare to the Hovercraft in your opinion?
The Stratos felt much quicker to turn, even with it being a longer board than the Hovercraft I rode. Both were fast, stable and floated well in powder, but I would choose the Stratos as a board to ride everywhere/any conditions, and the Hovercraft just for big pow days.
@@SnowboardRobot Thanks! Your actual experience confirms my theoretical expectations when comparing the sidecut and effective edge between the hovercraft and stratos. I'm sure the float pack inserts have an effect as well, since it brings the setback even further back.
I've been riding the Stratos for 2 seasons now. I'm 5'4" 160lbs, US 9.5 boot size. I ride the 156cm Stratos. Great review. I would agree that the Stratos is great in any condition all over the mountain. I have never used the float pack inserts bc that stance is a bit wider than I normally ride. But for really deep days, I have set my normal stance one slot back and the board floats amazing. This board is super damp, especially with Flow or Drive (Jones) bindings. It's grippy holding a fantastic edge. And my favorite thing about it is that it is very nimble and turns are smooth and intuitive. This board is actually a bit long for my size but I can take it into tight trees and turn initiation is so fast. Like it's a smaller board. Carving in the groomers is a lot of fun as well. Definitely a quiver board. Haven't heard or read any complaints about it.
Love your review style, feels so zen to watch. Also, Im 6'2" but I only weigh about 155lbs, I would like to try a 159cm board but with a boot size of 10.5 would it be better for me to go with a the 161 wide version of this board?
Thanks! You could definitely get away with the 159, though there is a decent jump in width on the 161wide. Although wider, it puts you at the very bottom of the weight range, so it is going to make a stiff board feel stiffer. Jones recommend boots up to an 11, so I would go with what they say. What brand boots do you have, and what angles do you normally ride?
@@SnowboardRobot I wear thirty-two exit boots and I ride at -9 degrees on the back foot and 12 degrees in the front
Yeah powder!
Hey man, you had chance to test the 24 version of this yet?
Also what size would you recommend.
I'm 90kg's at present
What size boots?
@@SnowboardRobot hey man, I have uk 9.5 Burton boots so pretty small footprint
@@t0gden12 somewhere around the 159 or a little bigger I think
Love this review! I’m 6’1” at 190lbs / size 10 boot. My GF got me the stratos 156 for a gift. Do you recommend I size up to 159 or do you think I’ll be fine with a 156?
I'm no youtube expert, but I'm the same height and weight and I'm going for the 161W. Size 12 boot. A lot of it depends on what level rider you are.
The 156 will be alright, but the 159 will give you more stability at speed, and better float in powder. This is what I copied from the Jones site "The Stratos fits like a directional twin, 1-3cm shorter than a directional freeride board. Riders of average size will best fit the Stratos 156 or 159 cm. Go for the smaller of the two sizes for better maneuverability in the park or on the steeps. Size up to the 159 or the 162 for better performance in pow. Riders with boots size 10+ check out the 161W and 164W."
I have only been on the 159 so it is a bit of guesswork too...
Great video! Thanks. I want to buy a stratos, I’m 150lb x 5,5ft (168cm). The question is: 153 or 156? I can’t decide… can you help me?
Thanks! I would got for the 153
Have you tried it in powder without using the setback inserts?
No I didn't ride it on any proper deep days, though I think unless conditions were super good, or you were going heli-skiing there is enough shape/direction on the regular inserts to handle quite a bit of snow.
Do you think this boards pops and do well on side hits?
It pops well with the stiffish tail, but overall isn't a super playful board. Fine for side hits, but it will take a bit more work to move it around.
Hey, thank you for the review. Compare with the mind expander, which board do you think has better/quick initial turn and works better in pow?
I think that the Mind Expander was slightly easier to make quicker turns, but not by a huge amount. It would float a bit better thanks to the giant rocker nose, but I would still easily choose the Stratos. It still floats really well, is much more stable and poppy, and I was much more confident riding fast into terrain I didn't know compared to on the Mind Expander where unless it was untouched pow, felt like I could be bucked at any moment.
@@SnowboardRobot Thank you so much for the response. Last question: from your personal experiencie testing both boards, which board did you enjoy more?
@@MartinGuillermoAcosta Definitely the Stratos, it is a solid board in all conditions, not just powder.
What's the jacket you are wearing?
Its the Blak Anorec - www.blakheadwear.com/collections/outerwear
how does this board compare to the mercury ?
I think that it feels a bit damper (vibrates less and feels a touch more stable on chopped up snow), floats better in powder, has good pop, though the Mercury still feels a bit more lively/snappy and direct to the edges. If you wanted to ride fast, and float in powder it is a good choice.
Great review. Love the comparison against the Dancehaul. How would this board compare to the Rome ravine?
Thanks! The Ravine looks good, though I haven't ridden it yet to give a proper comparison. It looks quite similar, though it looks like the tail might be a bit grippier/more aggressive than the Stratos, with the carbon hotrods and no rocker.
hey man thanks for the review! wondered if you could give some insight with sizing, i am 183cm tall, weigh 74kg. so i think we are pretty similar sizes :) from the size chart for the stratos, i am at the upper end of the scale for the 156, almost in the middle for the 159. i usually prefer a little more manoeuvrability so am tempted to size down, how did you find the 159 on groomers? easy to turn or would you have preferred a slightly smaller size? thanks in advance!
The 159 was good on groomers, but also that was with a positive positive stance, so getting it onto its edge was quite easy anyway. Technically the 156 will be a bit quicker and more manoeuvrable, a tiny bit narrower and a slightly smaller sidecut. It sounds like the 156 will be the better choice, and I don't think you are going to trade off anything, it will still feel quite very solid.
@@SnowboardRobot thanks man. I got a reply from Jones who recommended the 159, apparently the Stratos can get a bit ‘squirrely’ if you’re at the upper end of the weight range. Went with the 159 and hope it won’t be too unwieldy!
@@markdavidedwards Hope it suits well. I tested 159 last season (I'm 187cm, and was 74kg), it was really awesome board off piste and on clean groomers, really fast and a lot of pop. Though, being also used to more manoverability, didn't feel as comfortable on moguls and tight spots as my previous boards (evil twin 156, libtech trs 157, goliath 159). This season I'm 10kg heavier and again thinking of still getting 159 stratos lol
@@vanakunn thanks for the insights man!
@@vanakunn you've made me nervous now haha. was already wondering whether i should exchange it for a 157 mountain twin...
Hello, respect for a work.I have noticed you are riding positive stance back and front.What ,why, anything better.Thank you, stay safe, cheers
I started playing around with positive positive stance last season when I bought my Korua Shapes board. If I am riding any directional board from now on, I think I would have positive positive angles. I find it is easier to get low on a turn, I get better edge hold on both sides and is a bit easier on my knees.
@@SnowboardRobotThank you,.I watched Korua turning and it looks great but stance looks weird.Probably will start with neutral 0 back.I am realy enjoying 260 waist, salomon super 8, but will try to get my foots on K2 instrument camber under both foots.Thanks, you are doing great job.Stay safe, best regards from Bosina