Splitboarding Editors Selection Test 2016-17

Before we start with the test results, we want to give you a quick overview about our testing method. These are also the criteria you should have in mind if you are testing splitboards by yourself before buying, like at the Split&Relax in December. Comments and your experiences are most welcome, feel free to post your questions below this article or to the board's detail page. Splitboard Review Method: The boards in our independent splitboard review have been properly tested while touring, freeriding and also on the slopes. So we got a very broad perspective regarding the uphill and downhill performance. This is done to make our test the most objective evidence as possible. The conditions changed from powder to hardpack and slush. While touring we had different terrain from relaxed routes to challenging splitboard mountaineering. Our international test-team consists of riders (the guys between 70 and 100 kilos), who all have many years of splitboard touring experience and know exactly what is really important and what is less important to judge the performance of a splitboard. We have been asked many times why we don`t assign "Special Awards". In order not to distort the test results with striking awards! The boards we tested must perform in all disciplines. Due to the fact that each judge has his personal riding style, it is impossible to crown "a best Freestyle" -Splitboard. For this purpose Freestyle Boards should only be tested by Freestylers beeing compared directly in the discipline of Freestyle. In practice, if you do splitboarding in the backcountry this is not realistic. You need solid all-round qualities. Of course, the boards differ regarding their special characteristics like sh ape, profile, flex,... and so they have their advantages in a certain riding style. The five splitboards awarded with the "Splitboarding Editors Selection" have the best all-round performance. Splitboarding Editors Selection 2016/17. This coupled with your prefered riding style and area of use makes it possible to find your personal winner. The Boards were tested with the SP-Splitboard Binding and with the Spark Surge. We also mentioned the conditions and the boots used. All tested boards were equipped with 70-30 Mix-Skins from Kohla. Impressions Splitboard Test 2016-17 Here you get a summary of the tested categories to make it easier for you, to find a suitable board for your personal riding style. Riding Style/Flex: Describes the orientation of the splitboards, whether they are more Powder, Allmountain, Speed or Freestyle orientated. The Flex description is a "felt" Flex, so it is a subjective value. Riding Performance: Here we reflect the most important factors for a Splitboard, agility and edgegrip. Other parameters belong to personal habits. Uphill Performance: The most important thing at the ascent is a good skin, what we haven`t tested at this point. Good edgegrip, traction (in our test it is a part of traversing, so if the board turns around as the needle of a compass or if it is stable and pulls forward exactly) and little weight. If the board is a bit heavier you can compensate it easily with a lighter backpack or professional clothing. Features: Regarding the fact that the investment for a splitboard is a bit bigger, the finishing is also very important to us. Also the sustainability should be kept in mind as we have fun in the nature. So nature should be protected and the companies should put their grain to environmental friendly production. Statement: Every tester describes the board with his personal statement. If more than one person tested the board, the statement is a conjunction between the testers opinions. Splitboarding Editors Selection 2016/2017

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