Buying your first beginner snowboard can be difficult, but in the long run it is worth it. It’s better to invest in your own board the first year rather than rent out sub-par rental equipment at a resort. There are a few key things you should pay attention to when shopping for a beginner snowboard:
- A good sized board that matches your body weight and skill level
- Soft/Medium Flex will help you avoid catching edges
- Twin or Directional Twin Shape
Many of these boards are built to last and are designed for you to grow with them. Even after you get better at snowboarding, you can keep using these until you’re ready to add another snowboard to your quiver. Plus, it’s always nice to have an extra board around in case you convince a friend to join you in the fun.
You can find what we reviewed and what we think are the Best Beginner Snowboards for 2021-2022 down below.
Safe riding!
Our Top Rated Beginner Snowboards
Our Top Rated Beginner Snowboards for Men
| Sizes available (cm) | 140 | 145 | 150 | 150W | 155 | 155W | 160 | 160W | 165W |
|---|---|
| Shape | Directional |
| Profile | Bend | Rocker – Flat – Rocker |
| Core | FSC Certified Super Fly 800G Core Dualzone EGD |
| Flex | Soft |
| Terrain | All-Mountain |
| Riding Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
The Burton Instigator Flat Top Snowboard is the gold standard for beginner snowboards. It’s easy to ride and even easier on your bank account. The Burton Instigator is designed to help you learn the basics as quickly as possible. It has a slightly directional shape with a wider and longer front, but you can still ride switch just as easily. The profile has a flat shape instead of the usual rocker profile. Turns are now easier to engage and your less likely to catch and edge and crash.
Powderheadz Rating
| Sizes available (cm) | 145 | 150 | 154 | 156W | 157 |158W | 159 | 162W |
|---|---|
| Shape | Directional Twin |
| Profile | Bend | Rocker – Flat – Rocker |
| Core | FSC Certified Super Fly 900G Core |
| Flex | Soft |
| Terrain | All-Mountain |
| Riding Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
The Burton Ripcord Snowboard is built to help beginners and intermediate riders get better in more advanced situations. Like the Burton Instigator Snowboard – Men’s 2022 , the Ripcord has a directional shape and a flat profile that will help prevent you from catching edges. It has a softer, playful flex and Easy Rider features that is more forgiving than most snowboards. Upgrading the snowboard to the Channel™ system allows you to adjust your stance setup with any binding (not just Burton’s). This board sets you up for success as an entry-level performance snowboard. It’s a snowboard that gives you room to grow from Newbie to Intermediate.
Powderheadz Rating
| Sizes available (cm) | 137 | 144 | 149 | 155W | 157 | 159W |
|---|---|
| Shape | True Twin |
| Profile | Bend | Rocker |
| Core | Astro Core |
| Flex | Medium |
| Terrain | Freestyle |
| Riding Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
The DC Focus is designed for the beginner who has already taken a few lessons on the mountain and is comfortable enough to go to the next level. This freestyle terrain board is built with a true twin shape and beveled edge. It’s light and flexible enough to maneuver easily, and it’s anti-camber rocker style will help you from catching edges while you can be aggressive on the turns. If you’ve decided to ride park instead of groomers and back country, this is the board that will get you started.
Powderheadz Rating
| Sizes available (cm) | 148 | 152 | 155 | 158 | 161 | 162MW |
|---|---|
| Shape | Directional Twin |
| Profile | Bend | Parabolic Rocker |
| Core | Poplar Core |
| Flex | Medium |
| Terrain | All-Mountain |
| Riding Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
The Arbor Foundation is self-explanatory. It’s an entry-level board for the developing snowboarder with a parabolic rocker that’s forgiving during your first turns. It helps you build a (wait for it) foundation to help you strive towards more advanced riding. The core of these boards are made of poplar and built to teach you how to board without any expensive bells and whistles. You can beat up this board as you learn how to snowboard with no regrets and no fear.
This All-Mountain snowboard will allow you to get a little taste of everything, before you decide whether to ride on groomers, between the trees, or on the rails.
Powderheadz Rating
| Sizes available (cm) | 146 | 149 | 152 | 155 | 156W | 158 |159W | 161 | 163W |
|---|---|
| Shape | True Twin |
| Profile | Bend | Rocker – Camber – Rocker |
| Core | Full Poplar |
| Flex | Soft – Medium |
| Terrain | Freestyle | All-Mountain |
| Riding Level | Intermediate |
An incredibly easy ride, the YES Basic Snowboard is an old-school board with soft to medium flex. Buy this board if after a few days of lessons on the mountain, you’re already confident enough to go down some blues and maybe even try a black or two. The soft flex, camber profile, and true twin shape gives this board some flexibility as a freestyle or all-mountain board. If you buy this snowboard, you won’t have to upgrade to another board for a few more years. With this snowboard, you’re basically saying, “to hell with these bunny slopes, I want to go hard, NOW!”
Powderheadz Rating
Our Top Rated Beginner Snowboards for Women
| Sizes available (cm) | 138 | 142 | 146 | 150 | 154 |
|---|---|
| Shape | Directional Twin |
| Profile | Bend | Rocker – Flat – Rocker |
| Core | W1 Core | Single Species of wood |
| Flex | Soft |
| Terrain | All-Mountain |
| Riding Level | Beginner |
The K2 First Lite is the best snowboard for a beginner yet can still hang with intermediate riders. It’s lightweight on your feet, has soft flex, and a rocker – flat – rocker profile that’s great for entering and exiting turns with ease. The all-wood core becomes responsive at fast speeds but is nice and forgiving enough so you don’t ever feel out of control. This board will help you learn how to ride, and fast.
Powderheadz Rating
| Sizes available (cm) | 138 | 142 | 147 | 152 |
|---|---|
| Shape | True Twin |
| Profile | Bend | Rocker – Flat – Rocker |
| Core | FSC Certified Super Fly 800G Core Dualzone EGD |
| Flex | Soft |
| Terrain | All-Mountain |
| Riding Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
The Burton Stylus is a super light board with a super light feel that makes learning effortless. The tapered shape and stability makes turning extremely easy and the twin flex lets you ride in both directions easily. And the wide nose and narrower tail will help you float in powder.
Powderheadz Rating
| Sizes available (cm) | 135 | 138 | 142 | 146 | 151 |
|---|---|
| Shape | Directional Twin |
| Profile | Bend | Flat Out Camber |
| Core | Aspen Core – FSC Certified Aspen Wood with strips of birch |
| Flex | Soft |
| Terrain | All-Mountain |
| Riding Level | Beginner |
The Salomon Lotus is a fun board that has a soft and forgiving flex. The Flat Out Camber profile keeps the board steady and easy to turn. Salomon’s ‘Bite Free Edges’ also reduces your chances of catching an edge so you can learn with more confidence.
Powderheadz Rating
And there you have it! Our current list for the Best Beginner Snowboards of the 2021-2022 Season. There are literally hundreds of snowboards out there and finding the right one can be a challenge, so hopefully you agree with out choices. Do you think a certain snowboard deserves a spot on our Top Rated Beginner Snowboard list? Let us know? Email us at info (at) powderheadz.com and we will do our best to give it a thorough testing! Need more tips? Look below for a thorough guide on how to determine which beginner snowboard is right for you.
As always, happy riding!
How-To: Buy the Best Beginner Snowboards
Buying a snowboard can be a daunting task. There are so many snowboards built for different styles of terrain that you may not know where to start. Do you plan on staying on groomers? Hike through the back country? Coast on some powder? Or uncork some tricks at the park? Answering these questions will help guide you towards the right direction.
Before you consider purchasing a snowboard (it can be a pricey investment), take time to familiarize yourself with what type of snowboards are out there.
Snowboard Types:
All-mountain – Not too cold, and not too hot. All-mountain boards are a combination of Freeride and Freestyle snowboards built for those who want to do a little bit of everything. These are often the most versatile boards that have a medium flex and can come either directional or twin-tipped. The length of the board is often adjusted based on what style the rider is tends to lean towards, freeride or freestyle.
Freeride – Freeriding is for those who wish to explore what the mountain has to offer, whether that’s on the groomers or in-between the trees. Most often though, Freeriders stick to the back country, side country, or oft-piste”. Freeride boards are usually directional in both shape and flex. They have a stiff, over-sized nose compared to a shorter, stiffer tail that helps you initiate turns better and float on powder.
Freestyle – Freestyle snowboarding is reserved for the terrain parks. If you’re into tricks and big air, grab one of these boards. Freestyle boards are short, light, flexible, and are twin-tipped shaped so you can go back and forth between regular and switch. Many beginner snowboarders should look into Freestyle boards because their short length and soft flex respond to the rider quicker.
Powder – These boards are for advanced riders who love to stick to the backcountry or between the trees to find that perfect run of fresh snow. The boards will be stiffer, longer, and have a specific cambers to keep the board floating on top. Make sure you know what you’re doing if you decide to go in this direction.
Snowboard Shape:
Directional – Directional boards have a longer nose and shorter tail. Sometimes they have a twin flex but most often they will have a soft nose and stiff tail. These boards are made for all-mountain and are designed to float a bit through powder.
Directional Twin – A mix between directional and twin shaped boards (who would have thought). These boards have a true twin shape but have a directional flex and are made for freeride. They have a softer nose and a stiffer tail and your stance is usually further back than a true twin.
True Twin – Twin boards are symmetrical in shape and in flex and have a centered stance. These boards are best for beginners and freestyle riders. You’ll be able to ride switch like you can ride regular.
Tapered – Tapered boards are directional boards where the nose is also wider than the tail. These are designed for powder riding and are fairly stiff, so you can fly down the mountain as fast as you want. However, do not ride switch on these guys, you’re going to have a bad time.
Snowboard Shape:
Directional – Directional boards have a longer nose and shorter tail. Sometimes they have a twin flex but most often they will have a soft nose and stiff tail. These boards are made for all-mountain and are designed to float a bit through powder.
Directional Twin – A mix between directional and twin shaped boards (who would have thought). These boards have a true twin shape but have a directional flex and are made for freeride. They have a softer nose and a stiffer tail and your stance is usually further back than a true twin.
True Twin – Twin boards are symmetrical in shape and in flex and have a centered stance. These boards are best for beginners and freestyle riders. You’ll be able to ride switch like you can ride regular.
Tapered – Tapered boards are directional boards where the nose is also wider than the tail. These are designed for powder riding and are fairly stiff, so you can fly down the mountain as fast as you want. However, do not ride switch on these guys, you’re going to have a bad time.
Snowboard Camber | Rocker:
Camber – These boards are responsive and give a stable ride with some pop. Great for groomed runs and speed-demons.
Rocker – Rocker boards work great in powder as well as riding rails in the park. They’re usually softer than camber boards and are best for newbies.
Flat – These boards are responsive and turn on a dime while still being able to float.
Mixed – Hybrid boards with any combination of camber, flat, or rocker. These boards usually try to merge the benefits of either camber or rocker so you get a little bit of both.
Length:
The old saying goes, “The length of the board should be somewhere between your chin and your nose.” However, this old-school approach doesn’t account for the most important thing: the rider’s weight. Many brands will have different weight ranges for their lengths and different styles of boards. It’s best to find a good middle point for the weight vs. length, but always err on the side of a shorter board. The best advice? Read the sticker on the board before you purchase it.
Width:
You want your feet to overhang the edge by a little over half an inch. More than that and you’ll drag your feet when you turn, which will slow you down considerably. Less than that you’ll have less control on your edges. Also, wide boards float better in powder and are more stable while narrow boards are easier to turn. Usually, if you’re feet are US Size 11 or more, go for the Wider boards.
This is our current list of Best Beginner Snowboards for the 2021-2022 Season. However, there are tons more of Beginner Snowboards out there and we will be updating this list often with the most current information. Think we missed a Beginner Snowboard and that there’s one that deserves a spot on the Best Beginner Snowboard List? Let us know! E-mail us at info (at) powderheadz.com.
As always, happy riding!
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