2024 Favorite Freeride Snowboards From The Good Ride

[@gpaull2]

Just got my first day on the PYL Uninc…totally agree. One of the most fun and confidence inspiring boards I’ve ridden in the past 35 years. 😎👍

[@thegoodridesnow]

Great to hear and thanks for your take.

[@youjib]

Do we need dozens of boards? No. But we keep watching for the good vibe.

[@skypiratez]

+1 for Amplid SG... Was riding 157 last year, this one I've upgraded to the 162

[@dcbjdgjgfdgkaggjgjkg]

Happy to see Weston get some love!

[@thegoodridesnow]

They make very good boards.

[@ammakko]

Great list! I prefer the big brother of the Amplid Souly Grail, the Surfari. I guess it's just a matter of preference, less turny, more bomby and better float maybe. Dampness unmatched!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks! Yeah that's a great board too and I agree with your take. It's an Alt Freeride Favorite and will be on the next list I'm working on right now.

[@wesleyboyd2714]

Capita Navigator needs to be in there

[@rasheedabiola1956]

Great video! I own the mind expander, flagship and PYL uninc and agree with the review. I will say that the Borealis Artefact is right up there as one of the better free ride boards I've ever ridden. It has unreal dampness, great float and quick edge to edge.

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks for your take. I'd like to try the Artefact. Hope I connect with Borealis this year.

[@LeandroT528]

How do you like the PYL UnInc vs the Flagship? Weighing the two of those against the Alchemist for my next board

[@rasheedabiola1956]

They PYL uninc and flagship are both completely different boards. I like them both. I do favor the PYL uninc just a little more.

[@thegoodridesnow]

Really comes down to personal preference. If you like to turn a lot go PYL Uninc. If you like something that goes straight and fast better go Flagship. Alchemist is more a competitor to the Flagship with a little more pop/stiffer flex but a slower base, less grip and less float.

[@ccarlock8537]

Looks like a cheeper base then even Never summer boards tho

[@ThumperTapper]

Jones Mind Expander will be my next buy

[@thegoodridesnow]

Hope you like it like we do. Cheers!

[@im5610]

We need a video about best bindings too,)

[@thegoodridesnow]

Working on it...just soo damn behind. Sorry

[@im5610]

@@thegoodridesnow Let the force be with you. Thank you for your videos and Merry Christmas for you and your family

[@thegoodridesnow]

Many thanks and likewise!

[@energ8t]

Still waiting to try my Soully Grail… such a crap season so far. First year I won’t ride on birthday in a few days due to crap conditions. Hopefully enough base by mid January. Such a downer

[@thegoodridesnow]

You said it! It's a pretty shitty year almost everywhere in the US. Fingers crossed that it gets better.

[@MileHighFrags]

The people have requested a Slash Portal review. Finally got the fire graphic it deserves. Freepow beast!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Looks fun. I'll try to get on it.

[@MileHighFrags]

⁠@@thegoodridesnowI can lend you my 59

[@thegoodridesnow]

If you are near Bachelor hit me up through the site that would be great.

[@wesleymaduro5592]

Curious If you tested nitro magnum. Rode it last season and it was a surprisingly nice board!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Davey was about to but got hurt at the end of the season when it arrived.

[@sambenison6689]

Any Never Summer freeride boards that you like? Would you add it to this list?

[@thegoodridesnow]

None made the list. I go strictly by how a board rides. The Cougar made our all mtn favorites list. If you want something really tapered/directional the Swift was pretty fun but it didn't make the list.

[@MagicChinaMan]

thx!

[@csababuka2499]

Hi Thinking about investing in that Decatlon landscape board but i'm hesitating because of the width and that it might be noticably slower from edge to edge . ( i'm US 9 boots , 5'11 , 176 lbs, male).

[@thegoodridesnow]

You know I really liked the 158w (Size 9US, 5'10", 185lbs) but I don't think I'd want to own it at my boot size. Some my specs like em wider though so its up to personal preference. Hit me up here if you want to get into it more shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@maxk6376]

Hey James I was hoping to see the Arbor Terra Twin/Pin on the list (although Arbor calls it a freestyle board). Any chance you'll get to test it? Nearly true twin short/wide pow board with 3D grooves for pow but has edge tech for groomers. Should be fun!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Haven't tried it. Arbor didn't send it last season. Hopefully they will send the rocker and camber versions this season.

[@jackli2571]

Thanks for the video! Any chance you can review Bataleon Thunderstorm?

[@thegoodridesnow]

I'll for sure try.

[@sbespn3820]

How does the PYL Uninc compare to the old GNU Mullair board?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Mullair carves a lot harder and felt a little stiffer out of the wrapper. The PYL Uninc is easier to pop though, has a faster base and much better float in powder.

[@nihost]

what do you guys think about the nidecker ultralight? i am experienced in high mountain freeriding

[@thegoodridesnow]

I put a lot of time on that board. Here are all my thoughts. thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/nidecker-ultralight-2011-2024-snowboard-review/

[@nihost]

@@thegoodridesnow aaah great, thanks a lot man :)

[@joshualong5390]

I’m 5 foot nine and 210 lbs what size flagship is ideal? 9.5 shoe should I go wide?

[@thegoodridesnow]

No do not go wide if you are a US 9.5. UK 9.5 could work but not US 9.5. That's not how the board is meant to be sized. Go 164 if you want more speed, ride bigger mtns and want more float. Go 161 if you want more control.

[@steveroberts5366]

Have you had a chance to get on the Stranda Descender? or any of Stranda's boards? Would love to hear your take.

[@thegoodridesnow]

Not yet. Been emailing with them and they plan to send some our way.

[@snowbdr89]

K2 Antidote Ride deep fake Nitro alternator K2 alchemist Ride berserker 😁

[@bakamono7]

For low angle pow, how would the Surfari (not Souly Grail) compare to the Yes PYL Un Inc?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Both float pretty well but aren't really low angle pow specialists. I would say they feel very different though. Surfari feels better going straight and PYL Uninc is more turny/slashy.

[@user-jf6xs7yj8w]

Hei adam.. I bought rom Ravine and today I tested it in deep snow. and before that I drove the Burton Home Town Hero, and it seems to me that it is much easier to turn with the Burton in deep snow... maybe because the Burton is a little stiffer? Thanks

[@thegoodridesnow]

Doing same day tests with same boots/bindings is the way to go. Well done. What were the sizes of each? I think its that and the diamond nose on the Ravine allows you to turn easier in pow than the regular nose on the HTH.

[@user-jf6xs7yj8w]

@@thegoodridesnow rome ravin 162, hth 160 wide. and I have 96 kg and a 43 foot size.. it seemed to me that I had to use more the back leg with Rome Ravin than with Burton, is that strange or does it just seem to me?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Right on.

[@redlinenorma1]

Curious about Korua boards, have you had a chance to try any or it just didn't make it to the top for you?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Almost all of them. They dont really make traditional freeride boards. Mostly snowsurf. Go to thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/?mens=1 Filter by brand, then by snowsurf, alt freeride and all mtn favorite and u can see our favorites. Great brand.

[@keylloyd9167]

What do you think kept the Valhalla off this list? Things you really didn't like about it, it was too close to one of these which you enjoyed more, or what? I'm still within my return window. Haha!

[@thegoodridesnow]

It's a good board but it just didn't vibe with me and the way I like to turn vs. the boards on this list. Check my review on it and how I talk about how it turned/carved. Or hit me up here and we'll get into what might be the best call for your specs/where you ride/riding style. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@user-lw8iv9cy8k]

And what about ProtoFR? It seems to be more turny, than Valhalla🤔

[@thegoodridesnow]

No. Less turny. More like the NS Cougar but with a different camber profile. Sits in between the Valhalla and Cougar. Check our review of the Valhalla as I compared both in there. thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/never-summer-valhalla-2024-snowboard-review/

[@im5610]

Do I have any chance to buy jones mind expander or me twin a little bit cheaper at the end of the season?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Not sure but probably not. Jones doesn't make a lot of boards every year.

[@user-jf6xs7yj8w]

Hey james I'm between 100-105 kg and 180 cm, leg size 43.5.. I like to ride allmountian-freeride and deep snow. I'm looking between salomon highpath and nidecker escape splus. what do you think ? Or are you letting me do something else? thank you

[@thegoodridesnow]

I think you might like the 162 Highpath More as it's a better fit. It's got better float in powder but the Escape Plus has a little more pop on an ollie and out of a turn but not by a lot. The Escape Plus 159 is a decent fit too. Hit me up here if you want to get into it more. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@user-jf6xs7yj8w]

Thank you james 👍

[@The1Flopsy]

Was looking at a Jones flagship or the new hovercraft 2.0 (seemed you all liked it). But with the flagship making the list and also the mind expander I'll have to look into that. Any reason the hovercraft 2.0 is behind both of those Jones?

[@thegoodridesnow]

We think of it as Alt Freeride. Check thegoodride.com. Working on alt freeride favorites vid next and its on that.

[@SlayBoredom]

Tested the hovercraft 2.0 yesterday, but we didn't really have pow (so just groomers mostly), but damn was it fun! I would love to get it, but I have to buy the splitboard version for now (as I need one urgently) and maybe later I am getting the solid version of it as well... (budget won't let me buy 2 boards right now lol)

[@The1Flopsy]

@@SlayBoredom awesome thanks for the review. I ended up going with a flagship bc I found a new one 20% off. I couldn't pass that up. I'll prob keep my eye out for a hovercraft in my size later and see if I can't snag a deal on one

[@SlayBoredom]

@@The1Flopsy Heard a lot of good stuff about the flagship! have fun riding

[@rkky]

Is the Decathlon board available anywhere or is it coming out next year?

[@thegoodridesnow]

I'm not sure. I think it's mainly available in the EU but hit Decathlon up to make sure. I hope they didn't limit production of the best board we've tried from them...

[@rkky]

@@thegoodridesnow that's too bad, i don't see on the US or Canadian website. Hope they release it here soon

[@thegoodridesnow]

Man. I hope they didn't fuck themselves on the best board we have ever tested from them... I'll hit them up.