Best Powder Board
Snoplanks Asym Fish ($799)
Likely the weirdest snowboard shape we鈥檝e tested, the 听is the epitome of experimental. The compact heel-side edge and cockeyed nose are designed to counter the imbalances snowboarders feel when standing sideways. Our crew found the edge-to-edge action surprisingly quick. In powder, the unsinkable nose and light bamboo and carbon core imparted ample float.
Best Urban Board
Arbor Westmark Frank April Edition ($499)
Arbor鈥檚 aesthetic may be rooted in the woods, but the 听is built for the streets. This is, after all, the brainchild of Frank April鈥攁 Quebecois renowned for shredding the concrete jungle. Ample camber lends pop and hold, leading one rider to claim that 鈥渃arves come easy and butters look steezy.鈥 A park tester warned that multiple contact points could lead the board to catch at speed.听
Best Custom Board
Igneous Dark Star ($1,399)
Our tester 听boasted a yellowheart topsheet that was so beautiful, we wanted to hang it above the mantel. Those civilized notions quickly disintegrated: this beast belongs in the wild. With a blunt nose, notched tail, and aggressive sidecut, it draws clean lines through corduroy. Why so pricey? Igneous handcrafts to order, with exotic woods like orange pine and cocobolo.
Best Freeride Board
Jones Flagship ($650)
闯辞苍别蝉鈥檚 听is a multitool鈥攏ot flashy but capable of handling every type of terrain imaginable. A set-back stance, camber underfoot, a rockered nose, and stiff flex deliver the stability that spicy lines require, while a spoonlike tip and tail facilitate flowy, effortless turns. 鈥淩esponsive in steep trees and on big landings,鈥 confirmed one cliff-dropping tester.
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