Is This Snowboard One Of the Best? - K2 Excavator

[@JfromHouston]

My favorite board of last year. One thing he didnt touch on much was how this thing rides on groomers: lays trenches going as fast as you want. Honestly a spectacular resort board.

[@boostedreefer1041]

Just bought a 150 a few weeks ago and been loving it! Great at side hits and carving hard! I’m 5’7” 160lbs and wear a 8.5-9 boot and went with a 150, kinda wish I got a 146

[@hermanhung706]

​@@boostedreefer1041I'm 5'4" 140lb, I looking for deep powder and tight tree run, you recommend 142 or 146 for me. Thanks a lot.

[@narrowistheway77]

Nothing can touch the Alchemist in the K2 lineup for freeriding though, it’s just absolutely brilliant, it’s been improved since the 20/21 release too, they took a board that was basically perfect and then against all odds made it better

[@jstone18]

Thanks for reviewing the board, Stoked you like it! You're ripping on it

[@SnowboardProCamp]

Thanks man! You guys have nailed it with Excavator and also the Afterblack for park! Do you have a favourite board or one you’d recommend I check out next?

[@gboates]

Thanks or please convey my thanks for the 21-22 Alchemist160 - only downside is where do I go from here... thinking seriously about the Excavator.

[@jasonlorance1918]

Great video! I have a 22 K2 Instrument and it quickly became my favorite board. Just works in everything and definitely has a faster base than the Jones boards I had been riding. Loved those also, but the K2 just gets me thru stuff that I hadn't previously been able to do. Will have to check this one out! Thanks!!

[@SnowboardProCamp]

Will have to check out the Instrument!

[@linoid85]

I demoed this board last season and bought it. Love it and looking forward to riding it next season.

[@Jessev2x]

Great review. I love this board, too! It definitely helps a lot in pow. Less leg burn 100%!!

[@SnowboardProCamp]

Leg burn doesn’t exist with this board!

[@asimon22xl]

Looking to get one I’m 6’1. 200lbs Would you recommend 158 or 162cm? What are you guys on / height/ weight

[@Jessev2x]

@@asimon22xl I'm 5"5 and 135 and I rode the 150 at 150ish lbs. If you want it to be purely pow and if you're riding deep pow go bigger. Better float and stability. If you want to be able to maneuver better go with the smaller option. It's meant to be ridding smaller so unless you want extra extra float you should be okay.

[@steveokay8810]

This was my Daily Driver last year and it was amazing. Great in pow, trees and rips on hard pack too. A bit stiff for the park, but if that's not your thing it's hard to go wrong with it.

[@humboldtistari]

One of my favorites too. I have the 2022 and I rode it the most these last two seasons.

[@patrickrobb]

Same. Love the mostly black look and think the base was the quickest they did compared to 23 and 24

[@pollackrocket]

Rode a K2 Recon Riser back in the day...thing was easily one of the best All Mountain/ Freeride boards of it's day, they just struggled with durability back then if you rode 60+ days a year they just wouldn't last. From what I've heard those issues are nothing but a memory now, and I am considering this very board for my return to the mountains! Haven't ridden in a few years, but I am moving back to Truckee, and taking a full time/ year round position as a lift mechanic. Going to need a VERY versatile board to get me all over the mountain, in extremely varied conditions as the job requires. I think this is one of the boards that'll do it......

[@adventurercarlo115]

Let’s goooo that board rips

[@BoardsBikesAndHikes]

I really wish I had demoed one in Jackson Hole. Also wasn’t a huge fan of the top sheet till I saw it in person. In person it is BEAUTIFUL 😬😍

[@wlp6200]

Picked up a 22/23 Excavator new for undrr $400, hyped to try it this year! I wish there were more vids n reviews on it though.

[@SnowboardProCamp]

Good choice!

[@himboslice_]

love my excavator, def takes a lot more effort to stay ontop of than my superpig tho. only bring it out on pow days or if I'm trying to go fast. 158 185lb and had to set back stance to not get leg burn. replacing the excavator with a surfari this coming season tho.

[@gboates]

Give an Alchemist a go... I'm 188 lbs and size 10.5 been riding a 160 for two years and it's quite a machine. Coming from 30+ years and hard boot background

[@Negentropy369]

Ugh, I miss winter. Still 4 months left!!! I wish I could just sleep untl December...

[@ryanwarnes1241]

Great video and very informative information. Can I get your thoughts on the following: If you could only pick one board to use for the entire 2024 season, which will see service in the Japan backcountry, New Zealand groomers, and maybe a sneaky trip to the Sierra’s for a bit of everything. Which one would you pick: K2 Excavator Never Summer Swift Capita Kazu

[@TropicalG87]

How does this compare to the orca?

[@helgevig5134]

I love this review format! I have a 143 k2 party platter from back when it was more set back, and with flat camber. Thinking of trying this in 142, even though it might be kinda similar ish 🤔 You have any thoughts on this? I'm curious to try this camber profile, and see how it fares compared to my PP!

[@pholton3300]

I got the K2 Passport last season and really enjoyed it.

[@choyax098]

I love the passport. Even though i’m a beginner, it didn’t hold me back from anything.

[@patrickrobb]

Interested to know your binding angles when in backcountry on the Excavator? Does it change much to when carving groomers? Cheers

[@Mkayyyyyyy]

Would love to see a video going over the top 3ish boards for each type of snowboarding.

[@killavolt5694]

Are you using reference stance?

[@SnowboardProCamp]

Yes!

[@ES-kn9fo]

Hey Kevin, great review. How does the Excavator compare to the Nidecker Beta APX? Specifically float in powder and turning speed? Thanks!

[@SnowboardProCamp]

They’re very similar. To be honest it’s hard to compare

[@bryangle]

How does this compare to the Lib Tech Orca?

[@M78-y7r]

Awesome footage (as always)! How would you compare this board to the Jones Stratos?

[@SnowboardProCamp]

Good question! Haven’t ridden the Stratos yet but I’m guessing it not as pow specific because it got a slightly smaller nose

[@bushflyr7335]

Great review, I'm about to pull the trigger on one of these, just trying to figure out sizing. Any tips for a 5-11 200lb dude going back to softies from alpine kit?

[@chertaev]

What the size for me?) 77kg 154 or 158?

[@chinko3705]

If anyone could help! Im 6ft 191lbs I’m a US 11/10.5boot is the 158 with a 270mm waist going to be too wide or difficult to handle ?! Or should I go with the 154 with a 264 waist for maneuverability ? Also don’t want any toe or heel drag

[@tinsley_alex]

What are your specs riding the 162? Think you could size down a bit?

[@wlp6200]

I was wondering same thing

[@Ridee_1981]

Got this board in 162 and can to wait to test it. One question - you have tester it with Nidecker Supermatic ? Is it a good option?

[@SnowboardProCamp]

I’ve got a few video on the Supermatic that came out this past winter

[@Ridee_1981]

@@SnowboardProCamp Just saw it :) and it was great ! Anyway my core question is. was it a good match: Excavator and Supermatic for daily grooming ? :)

[@V1NC3J]

This vs a dancehaul or an orca?

[@richiedigit]

Thoughts on how it compares to the libtech orca?

[@kevinburns6026]

How does it compare to a nitro slash? Similar shapes but slash with full camber

[@hefahun]

I have the oppurtunity to buy an Excavator 2022 in size 142. Now i ride the Rome Gangplank 148 but id like to buy a directional board for resort and pow riding. I’m 60 kg and 170 cm tall, my foot size is US8. Will the 142 Excavator fit me?

[@kljyeung]

Did you size down as recommended? If so did you set the bindings stance wider equally to offset the narrower reference? Im not sure if adjusting stance wider pushes my back leg too far back given its already set back

[@inmotion_snow]

loving the clips

[@YoTengoUnLCD]

Where/when is/was this? Amazing snow! Also, what’s your current favorite freestyle board? I’m looking to get something soft as plastic for my second board!

[@ΕυάγγελοςΠλεξίδας]

How much do you weigh? I bought this board last year and become my all time favourite!!!

[@asimon22xl]

Which length did you go with and how do you like it? I’m 6’1 200lbs and would most likely get the 162

[@ΕυάγγελοςΠλεξίδας]

@@asimon22xl i am 1,82hight and 75 kilograms weight... I buy the 150 last year and i buy 154 this year to see if its better for me... I have a friend that will buy the 150 if 154 will be better (I haven't tried the 154 yet because i am from Greece and the snow is comings in 2-3 weeks)

[@ΕυάγγελοςΠλεξίδας]

@@asimon22xl I like everything from this board but i take the bigger size this year because i wanted to be more stable the big nose...When i am in very high speeds in uneven terrain the nose go up and down a little bit. Doesn't go till the front foot but I wanted to see if the 154 will stop this... Overall the best board i have ever ridden!!!

[@pli1226]

I'm really considering picking up this board on sale from my local shop right now. they only have a 150 left. I'm 5'8 155lbs size 9.5 boot and medium size bindings. I'm concerned about the taper in the tail, will there be toe/heel drag? My other boards are twin and directional at 157/158. Would the 150 too short/small? Thanks

[@alastor1052]

Nah 150 perfect, it's a volume shift so its fatter and shorter

[@acolachi]

6’1” 200lb Sz 12. Riding powder and some trees with some groomer ripping. Would you recommend the 158?

[@jerryb63]

For what it’s worth, I’m 6’1” and 185lb, riding with a pack so prob not far off your weight. US Size 11 Ride Trident boots. Riding piste and powder off the sides etc. if I’m lucky. No park or switch riding, tricks etc. I got a ‘22 Excavator 158 and a Dancehaul 157 on the slopes for just a week last year. Coming from a 163 directional twin standard width (also had 165, 161 in the past) I wasn’t sure how I’d get on with volume shifts but realised how much heel and toe drag were affecting me so I wanted to try them especially as I never ride switch anyway. Even with the waist width of both around 268 there is still some overhang but a great improvement for carving especially on steeper slopes where I was getting judder on heel sides on steeps previously. The Dancehaul was a little soft for me but a nice ‘turny’ feel. I liked the Excavator more, probably for the slightly stiffer flex and more set-back reference stance. I’d say you could ride either 58 or 62 going by my size 11s which aren’t particularly low footprint in size, but it depends on how much heel/toe overhang you can put up with and what binding angles you run. The 162 will maybe be better for your boot size alone I think unless they’re a small footprint model. I have gone back to a mild positive/positive stance but am going to go more positive this year to decrease overhang further still, and because I just like it more as it’s how I learnt back in the 90’s and duck never worked for me. I didn’t have long to adapt to the boards but I found changing edge wasn’t a problem once you started to focus on making it a quicker transition while carving. The Dancehaul felt short at first and a little soft in the nose. The K2 didn’t, or I’d adapted to it by then. I didn’t get it in the trees as conditions were just too poor with little visibility most days, but overall I loved it and it was certainly easy to manoeuvre at that length. The Dancehaul has a slightly smaller sidecut radius which I’m sure helped make it easy to get shorter turns, but the K2 wasn’t much bigger radius although felt better on wider turns. The K2 had a stiffer nose too. They’re both pretty small sidecuts anyway and have a short effective edge so a little extra length in the 162 wouldn’t be a bad thing I reckon for a heavier big-foot rider. And I needn’t have worried about it being too stiff, it really wasn’t, but then I like stiff boots and some spring out of a turn. Would have liked to try the 162 for the extra width though. Hope that’s of some use, at least until the experts reply…

[@SnowboardProCamp]

Im about the same height and weight as you and I ride the 162

[@loolwilliams6862]

Can you please review the Bataleon Cruiser?

[@SebastianMopardo]

What about if you compare this K2 to Jones Mind Expander? Thanks bro!

[@narrowistheway77]

You need an Alchemist bro, if you want to take your freeriding to the next level, that’s the board in K2’s lineup that will take you there. It’s definitely a stiffer board, but they shaped it to absolute perfection for freeriding, and the tech built into that board will blow your mind when you feel it underfoot for the first time

[@biminjo6999]

Hey man should i get the 23/24 or 24/25 alchemist?

[@narrowistheway77]

@ depends if they have your preferred size in the 23/24 or not, a lot of those sizes are long sold out already. Don’t deal hunt unless you can’t get the right size, it’ll just work against you. The Alchemist is a board you should buy at the full length and width for you height and boot size, don’t undersize it

[@HighBall-wt8jp]

How about riding switch on harder packed groomers etc

[@choski76]

Will be riding it 23-24?

[@jeffstewart4162]

You like it better than the surfer in pow?

[@SnowboardProCamp]

I do like it more than the surfer. It’s not as wide but has a bit more length for control at high speeds. Plus much better on groomers.

[@calebholloway1993]

Looks like you busted the board up there on the side at the end of the video

[@Ras77Pmo]

Made in ?

[@SnowboardProCamp]

I think this one is made in China, but they also have some boards made in Washington state like the Alchemist.

[@AMac815]

All K2 and Ride snowboards are made in a *K2 owned* factory in China. They're very quiet about it, hard to find info anywhere, but it is one of the few makers who owns the factory and employs the craftsmen directly. The other ones I know of being Mervin, Never Summer, and Capita. Most everyone else outsources to GP87 or Taiwan. Correction: the Alchemist is indeed made in Washington, along with a limited release women's board. I'm pretty sure the rest of the line is in the China factory.

[@therascals8237]

hi, how does would it compare to Burton Skeleton Key?

[@darylgregg]

Dude how steezy are you riding these days

[@darylgregg]

Was going to add a Jone ME to the quiver this season but after watching this and doing a bit more research think I’m sold. Question re size I’m 6’1 85kg sz 10 boot so pretty similar to you I think, but not as advanced rider. I would have thought I’d downside a bit on this board so was looking at 158 rather than 162 but see you’ve gone with the bigger/wider board. Is that the go or should I be looking at a little less board? Also you should hit up Ruapehu when you come out to NZ this year. Easy drive from Auckland. Is looking like best season in years and whilst not as good as cardrona how often do you get to ride on a volcano!

[@ellstackeradventures]

Yooo

[@adventurercarlo115]

Yooooo

[@SnowboardProCamp]

Ellstacker!!!

[@Shred1904]

Yooo

[@demizius]

great review, but why is it that when i see a great mustache on a man i just have to comment? lol. sick dude.

[@SnowboardProCamp]

😅 awesome! I need to grow it back now

[@franceiroca]

The excavator doesn’t have rocker on the tail

[@giladlavi4393]

Flagship all day

[@Bad_Riders]

Hmmmm i think i need more proof, after all k2 is predominantly a ski brand…

[@SnowboardProCamp]

😂

[@Ridee_1981]

One if the most stupid comment I’ve read For a long time….