SNOWBOARD GEAR FOR GETTING DEEP
Tamara Hinson rounds up the best snowboards and boots for riders with a weakness for off-piste terrain
MEN'S SNOWBOARD
SALOMON DANCEHAUL £400
One of the most versatile freeride boards we’ve come across. It’s packed with features that supersize the fun factor – including Salomon’s freestyle-friendly Rock Out Camber with Popster Core and the legendary Ghost Basalt Stringers – and the combination of extra width and a tapered directional shape ensures it will slice through backcountry powder stashes with ease. Edge-to-edge turns are a breeze on this speed machine, which we’d recommend for intermediate to advanced riders.
JONES AVIATOR 2.0 £499
We love everything about this board, including the graphics, which depict jagged peaks beneath a blood-red sky. Sadly that won’t enhance your performance, although the Aviator 2.0’s no-nonsense profile – a blunt-tipped directional shape – certainly will. Jones’ surfboard-inspired 3D Base Contour 2.0 gives this board plenty of float and makes it easy to crank up the speed, while a full camber and Jones’ Traction Tech 3.5 sidecut ensures maximum stability, even on ice, slush and crud.
WOMEN'S SNOWBOARD
NIDECKER ODYSSEY £395
This board’s aggressive sidecut and shorter tail make it a great choice for powerful freeriders who want brilliant stability paired with a nimbleness that makes it a joy to use on any type of terrain. Its unbeatable float results in an almost surf-like ride, although it’s equally at home on groomed hardpack, thanks largely to the strategically placed areas of shock-absorbing carbon and Kevlar and an ash wood veneer that enables it to strike the perfect balance between playfulness and power.
BURTON FAMILY TREE HOMETOWN HERO CAMBER £560
This lean, mean unisex machine does it all – it will charge through trees with the agility of a ballet dancer, although its rockered nose and tapered shape means it performs equally well in powder, too. Despite the fact that it’s definitely a board that is best suited to off-piste terrain, it’s also a joy to ride on groomed slopes, and its symmetrical twin flex means it performs equally well when ridden switch. Burton’s brilliant Super Fly II 700G Core does a great job of adding both pop and strength.
MEN'S BOOTS
Burton Photon BOA £340
As much as we love the look of these boots, we’re happy to report that it’s not simply a case of style over substance. These tech-packed boots are perfect for riders who’ll keep going until the last lift, whether it’s thanks to the ReBounce cushioning for unbeatable comfort, the liner’s extra-high, ankle-hugging cuff, or the areas of reflective foil underfoot, designed to keep feet warm on the coldest of days. We’re also fans of the Vibram Traction Lug outsoles, which ensure optimal board-to-boot contact – and will help keep you upright during your walk to your favourite après-ski bar, too.
WOMEN'S BOOTS
Vans Luna Ventana Pro £320
These versatile boots have all of our favourite Vans features (such as the calf-hugging PleasureCuff) along with a serious dose of tech, including a dual-density footbed featuring precision engineered airflow perforations and a nylex moisture-wicking top sheet. There’s also Instep Flex Zones to provide brilliant support without restricting movement, and an all-new thermal retention layer that encases the toes and helps keep your feet warm and dry. The V2 harness makes these boots ideal for anyone prone to heel lift – the harness works with the V2 liner to ensure an optimal fit.
