The Best Women’s Snowboards of 2016
Boards that play nice everywhere
Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.
These boards play nice everywhere. All you have to decide is what kind of conditions you spend the most time in, then go ride everything on the hill.
Gnu Zoid
Best For: Deep Carves
The asymmetric Zoid comes in two shapes: one for regular footers and one for goofy. Testers agreed it was a joy to ride almost anywhere. “It’s medium stiff lengthwise and charges through corn, bumps, and groomers,” one noted. The serrated MagneTraction edges provide solid hold on ice, and the surf-inspired Ekstrom tail “feels like pumping a wave but carves incredibly well,” our tester said.
Price $650 Response 4 Versatility 3
Head Hope
Best For: Going Bigger
The Hope is a twin-directional board with superior flex. A solid, stable feel on landings gave even less-aggressive riders the confidence to launch airs. Flat camber between the feet combined with a soft waist increases response time, while regular camber underfoot locks in the edges when going fast. Made from a light, stiff, tough graphene.
Price $429 Response 4 Versatility 4
Never Summer Aura
Best For: Doing It All
Whether you spend most of your time at the park or lapping groomers, the light, playful Aura can hang. The flex is just right, offering the perfect balance of responsiveness, stability, and pop. “Quick to turn, with great edge hold,” one impressed tester said. Extra camber under the feet gives it that superior control and adds liveliness, while rocker in between helps it float through the deepest snow.
Price $500 Response 4 Versatility 5
Amplid LoveLife
Best For: All-Mountain Freestyle
Riders gushed over this responsive board. With camber underneath your boots and rocker at the tip and tail, the LoveLife snaps through sharp turns on icy hardpack and holds its own in fresh powder. Amplid used basalt stringers throughout, which calm vibrations when you’re cutting through crud. Result: a ride that’s dynamic and forgiving yet stable. “Light and damp enough to absorb chatter,” one tester said.
Price $460 Response 5 Versatility 4