Splitboards

Everything you need to know about choosing the optimal splitboard setup. After clarifying "What is a splitboard?", the question naturally arises "Which splitboard should I buy - do you have a recommendation?". Our Splitboard Gear Guide and the many test reports help you make the right decision. The choice of the best matching binding system and boot is also crucial.

The combination of splitboard, binding and boot is crucial in splitboarding.

Splitboard = a snowboard for ski touring

A splitboard is a snowboard that can be split lengthwise. This enables energy-saving ascents like with touring skis. Once at the top, the two board halves are reassembled into a snowboard and you can ride downhill normally. The bindings can be converted quickly and without tools and function like a ski touring binding on the ascent, like a regular snowboard binding on the descent. With matching climbing skins, you can go ski touring with the splitboard. Ride on and enjoy! In other words, a splitboard is the best way to discover the backcountry.

What type of splitboarder am I - Area of use?

First, it's about assessing yourself. Find out which type of splitboarding you identify with best. Then you can compare your type with the areas of use of the boards we've tested. Also look at the profiles and shapes to find your perfect splitboard.

Riding-Hiking Level

Most splitboard beginners can already ride snowboard off-piste and have intermediate to good riding skills. However, this doesn't mean they already have experience on the ascent, so the climbing qualities of a splitboard play just as important a role for beginners as for extreme use. The board profile is an important factor that comes into play significantly both on the ascent and descent.

Splitboard Profile Variants

There are now many different board profiles for all possible applications. Here's an overview of the most commonly built profiles and brief descriptions of their pros and cons.

Camber Splitboard

This is the traditional construction of snowboards.

Advantages: Optimal edge hold on ascent and descent, good POP.

Disadvantages: Less maneuverable, catching edges, less float.

Conclusion: The right choice for those who have always ridden camber and appreciate its advantages. Precise riding is required, but you can really push it in all conditions and hard traverses on the ascent are relatively easy.

Flat Splitboard

Has no preload, so lies flat on the ground.

Advantages: More edge hold than a pure rocker, so better ascent and more control. More forgiving than a camber board, relatively good stability at higher speeds.

Disadvantages: Less playful than a rocker board, less pop and edge hold than a camber board, less float in powder than a rocker or hybrid.

Conclusion: Well suited for splitboarding, although somewhat weaker on the ascent than camber boards, but offers more float and also a bit more maneuverability.

Rocker Splitboard

Rocker boards have negative preload, so they're shaped like a banana.

Advantages: Best float, very playful and maneuverable.

Disadvantages: Less edge on the ascent and therefore less grip than other profiles, rather unstable at high speeds with less tracking, reduced edge hold.

Conclusion: Rocker boards work perfectly on shorter, flatter ascents, but when it comes to hard and steep traverses, only crampons help, and quite early. Nevertheless, they have their advantages on the descent in untracked powder and the massive float brings a lot of riding fun.

Hybrid - The Best of Both Worlds

S-Rocker / Pow-Rocker Splitboard

Extended nose and camber into the tail. They're specially designed for highly variable conditions and steep descents. If the tuning and rider weight match, you have a lot of control and stability even at high speeds.

Advantages: Good grip in the rear edge area, also positively affects the ascent. Lots of float and maneuverability.

Disadvantages: Riding or landing switch is virtually impossible.

Conclusion: These boards are well suited for demanding splitboarding and splitboard mountaineering with a clear focus on fat lines, demanding couloirs or highspeed runs. Those who also want to ride switch with their split should choose a different profile.

Rocker-Camber-Rocker Splitboard

This profile offers significantly more edge hold than a pure rocker board but is still relatively maneuverable and has good float. On the ascent, it usually has good grip, although there are still compromises compared to a pure camber board.

Advantages: Maneuverable, stable, solid on the edge, switch riding possible.

Disadvantages: Slightly less grip than a camber board.

Conclusion: Well suited for splitboarding when descent fun should be great, ascent performance solid and playful use of terrain features desired. This profile also has good float in powder.

Camber-Rocker-Camber Splitboard

This profile provides additional POP, very good grip and control on the edge, both on ascent and descent. Hard landings after big kickers or drops are handled well. This profile also forgives small mistakes.

Advantages: Switch riding works, hard conditions are no problem, also quite stable on the ascent, maneuverable and fairly forgiving.

Disadvantages: It wants to be ridden very powerfully, otherwise it starts to "skip" in turns.

Conclusion: For freestyle-oriented and aggressive splitboarders, such a board can be the right choice.

Splitboard Shape Variants

There are many different shapes that have special riding characteristics or are particularly well suited for certain conditions. The most important shapes in brief:

• Directional: Directional sidecut - good for powder, nose is longer than tail
• Directional Twin: Centered stance, directional flex - freestyle and powder, usually softer in the nose than in the tail
• True Twin: Centered stance, centered sidecut - good for freestyle
• Tapered: Wide nose and tapering towards the tail - extra float for powder
• Reverse Shape: Has no taper but a curve outward, these special boards are mainly suitable for surfing in powder
• Fishtail / Swallowtail: Swallowtails let the tail sink and provide even more float on the deepest days

Finding the Perfect Boot-Binding Combination

The combination of splitboard, binding and boot is crucial for splitboarding performance. Splitboard boots and bindings significantly enhance the fun and safety of splitboarding. The boots have a firmer, grippier sole and a stiffer shaft - so less energy is lost in the boot and more power is transferred to the board.

Frequently Asked Questions About Boot-Binding Combinations

Splitboard Bindings Overview

Splitboard bindings have developed massively in recent years. There is now a wide range of binding systems and interfaces with different advantages and disadvantages. The connection between boot, binding and board is extremely important for power transfer.

Splitboard Boots - The Right Boot Makes the Difference

Power transfer is crucial for performance - a stiff boot is generally advantageous. With a stiff boot, less power is lost in the material and more is transferred to the binding and splitboard.

Features of Good Splitboard Boots

Compare all splitboard boots