From a crop of nearly 40 splitboards tested in March at Crested Butte, Colo., we’ve selected the best eight models for 2015 based on overwhelming tester feedback and groundbreaking innovation. Looking for the lightest, carbon board or the most versatile, all-mountain split? You’ll find it among these eight standouts.
But these aren’t the only splitboards that rose to the top at Board Test Week, and this isn’t all we have to say about them. Subscribe by the end of August to get the 2015 Gear Guide or order a copy, here, for the full reviews of these products, plus more than 20 additional Gear Guide Selects.
COLD SMOKE SPLITBOARDS VOODOO
$850 – COLDSMOKESPLITBOARDS.COM
SIZES (cm): 158, 163
WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 6 oz. (158)
+ “Good platform for cliffs, pillows and steeps. Easy to climb on slick slabs.”
– “Doesn’t come in a solid version for resort days.”
= An ideally flexed board built for all speeds on any mountain.
ICELANTIC GEMINI
$999 – ICELANTICSKIS.COM
SIZES (cm): 158, 161, 163
WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 13 oz. (161)
+ “Just what you want for steeper, gnarly lines. Trippy topsheet graphics.”
– “It requires lots of pre-loading to get pop out of the tail.”
= A hard-charging board that will support aggressive riders through big, fast turns and technical lines.
JONES CARBON SOLUTION
$1,199 – JONESSNOWBOARDS.COM
SIZES (cm): 158, 161, 162W, 164, 168W
WEIGHT: 6 lbs. 3 oz. (161)
+ “Easy to whip around. Awesome while breaking trail.”
– “Stiff torsional flex and not much pop.”
= An all-around powerhouse without the weight.
LIB TECH WINGMAN
$969 – LIB-TECH.COM
SIZES (cm): 165
WEIGHT: 8 lbs. 1 oz.
+ “A touring beast. Full confidence going fast and can lay turns almost sideways.”
– “A little too stiff lengthwise.”
= A stable powder hound that turns with ease and requires less energy to push uphill.
NEVER SUMMER PROSPECTOR
$999 – NEVERSUMMER.COM
SIZES (cm): 160, 164, 161X, 167X
WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 8 oz.
+ “Great combination of flexibility and stability. Surfs like a dream!”
– “A little heavy underfoot when touring.”
= An all-mountain explorer that pops big in powder and sticks landings with ease.
PRIOR BRANDYWINE XTC
$1,099 – PRIORSNOW.COM
SIZES (cm): 149, 154, 158
WEIGHT: 6 lbs. 14 oz.
+ “Its light weight begs to leave the ground, plus helps conserve energy for that extra lap at the end of the day.”
– “Prior clips can be tricky to put together in inclement weather.”
= The perfect balance for touring, with loads of playful energy. Just damp enough to handle frozen crust at high speed.
VENTURE ZELIX
$895 – VENTURESNOWBOARDS.COM
SIZES (cm): 154, 155, 158, 159, 162, 163, 164, 167, 168
WEIGHT: 7 lbs. 4 oz.
+ “Lots of life. Solid but not a brick. This platform felt stable in all terrain types.”
– “A little slow edge-to-edge but turns quickly if you work for it.”
= An all-mountain slayer that blasts through chop if you’re committed.
VOILÉ REVELATOR
$625 – VOILE.COM
SIZES (cm): 159, 162, 165, 169
WEIGHT: 6 lbs. 13 oz.
+ “Lightweight and stout. Channel system is handy for quick adjustments.”
– “The tail felt unstable at high speeds.”
= A lightweight, big-mountain board for aggressive riders.
Anything about the split bindings?
I had the same thought at first, but apparently Cold Smoke is in the process of developing a solid version of the Voodoo. I think the comment in this review is supposed to be sarcastic.
Reviews splitboards. marks one down for not coming in a solid board. lolwut?
Replied to wrong comment. See above
Not a single women’s specific board (or a women’s size board) on the list. Even more disappointing as there were two on the 2014 list…
Hi Eva,
The Prior Brandywine XTC that’s highlighted here is a women’s specific board.
Tyler Cohen, Editor
Congratulations Tyler, The magazine keeps getting better. See you in the Spring.