Backcountry skiing and riding are unique outdoor adventures. They are equal parts dangerous and exhilarating and can offer some of the best turns if you’re willing to work for them. However, with resort snowboards relying on one piece of wood instead of two, uphill movement was always an issue. Enter splitboards.
The splitboard is the snowboarder’s answer to backcountry skis. Freed from the limitations of one unwieldy board for uphill ascents, riders can literally unlock and split their board. With one piece on each leg, you stop limiting your stride and ability to ascend uphill. When you’re ready to go downhill, you put the board back together and ride.
- Backcountry Warning
- Top 5 Best Splitboards
- Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Splitboard
- Splitboard Bindings & Accessories
- Tips for Maintaining & Using Splitboards
- FAQ
Backcountry Warning
Backcountry winter adventures can be dangerous. We recommend getting avalanche training and tip-toeing into the discipline with knowledgeable friends and gradual slopes. We also recommend testing your uphill mechanics at ski resorts, many of which allow uphill access during certain times of the day.
Once you leave the resorts, nature has the ultimate say; prepare accordingly and understand that folks get injured and die every year in the backcountry. If you’re not ready to tackle splitboarding but want to get into snowboarding, check out our best snowboards for beginners page.
Top 4 Best Splitboards
Best Overall Performance
Brand Name | Product Type
Product Name
Price: 0.00$
The Solution Splitboard from Jones Snowboards is a winner. It features a directional rocker profile and mid-flex, making it both reliable and fun. The tail is designed to sink in powder, which lifts the front and gives you a nice powder surfing feel as well. In addition, the lightweight profile aids in efficient uphill travel while remaining consistent for aggressive downhill riding.
Price: 0.00$
Best Lightweight Splitboard
The Ultralight Stratos Splitboard certainly lives up to its name. The ultralight design is augmented by Koroyd, which dampens chatter at high speeds. What this means is you’ll get an easier ascent and a stable downhill ride without feeling every uneven section of snow surface beneath you. The weight of this lightweight splitboard is 2.7 kg (just under 6 lbs).
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
The Ultralight Stratos Splitboard certainly lives up to its name. The ultralight design is augmented by Koroyd, which dampens chatter at high speeds. What this means is you’ll get an easier ascent and a stable downhill ride without feeling every uneven section of snow surface beneath you. The weight of this lightweight splitboard is 2.7 kg (just under 6 lbs).
Price: 0.00$
Most Versatile Splitboard
Not satisfied with just being the best overall, the Solution Splitboard is back with the versatility crown. One of the most predictable features of winter is its unpredictability, and you need a board that accounts for that. Due to its directional shape and rockered profile, this board can handle winter's worst while giving you a smooth, responsive and powerful ride.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
Not satisfied with just being the best overall, the Solution Splitboard is back with the versatility crown. One of the most predictable features of winter is its unpredictability, and you need a board that accounts for that. Due to its directional shape and rockered profile, this board can handle winter's worst while giving you a smooth, responsive and powerful ride.
Price: 0.00$
Best Budget Friendly Splitboard
Splitboards are not cheap, and if budget concerns are top of mind, check out the Highpath Splitboard from winter recreation powerhouse Salomon. Featuring a high-performance tapered shape, stiff flex, and a custom cut to fit Pomoca skins, it’s a great deal. With a great slate of features, the Highpath is a reliable addition to any backcountry rider’s gear arsenal.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
Splitboards are not cheap, and if budget concerns are top of mind, check out the Highpath Splitboard from winter recreation powerhouse Salomon. Featuring a high-performance tapered shape, stiff flex, and a custom cut to fit Pomoca skins, it’s a great deal. With a great slate of features, the Highpath is a reliable addition to any backcountry rider’s gear arsenal.
Price: 0.00$
Best Splitboard for Advanced Backcountry Riders
The K2 Marauder is one of the top splitboards for backcountry. This workhouse is stable on variable terrain, can float powder well and has enough flex to stay playful. It has the versatility to help you run laps on the skin track or tackle steep slopes and couloirs way out in the backcountry. This one-size-fits-all solution has all the goods advanced riders want.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
The K2 Marauder is one of the top splitboards for backcountry. This workhouse is stable on variable terrain, can float powder well and has enough flex to stay playful. It has the versatility to help you run laps on the skin track or tackle steep slopes and couloirs way out in the backcountry. This one-size-fits-all solution has all the goods advanced riders want.
Price: 0.00$
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Splitboard
There are several factors to keep in mind before selecting the best splitboards for your backcountry goals.
Flex & Camber Profile
Flex refers to how stiff or malleable a board is. The stiffer the flex, the harder it is to bend. A stiff flex provides stability in choppy and uneven conditions. A softer flex is very responsive, which makes it easier to turn (a nice benefit for the terrain park & beginners). However, soft flexes tend to chatter or shake underfoot at higher speeds, which leads to stability loss.
Camber refers to an upward bend in the middle board that you can see from the side. The bend flattens with your weight as a rider. The benefits are straightforward: better grip, stability during turns and a better sense of control at higher speeds. A big camber, however, means it’s easier to sink in powder, which makes it harder to surf on top.
A rocker profile is the opposite of a camber. Instead of a bend in the middle, you have two bands on either end and a flatter middle. From the side, the board looks like a shallow U. The best splitboards for powder and maneuverability have rocker profiles. The biggest drawback is less grip and edge control.
Weight
Heavier boards tend to invite a smoother ride in rougher conditions than a lightweight board would. However, when you’re in the backcountry, that weight makes every uphill movement harder. If you’re spinning multiple laps or on a longer tour, you want to err on the lighter side. Lightweight options tend to be the best splitboards for powder.
Board Shape
Not all splitboards look the same. There are twins (also called true twins), directional boards and semi-twins (or directional twins). Occasionally, you have swallowtails as well, identifiable by their tail end, which has a deep groove cut in the middle so it looks like the two end pieces are tails (similar to the Swallow-tailed Kite, a bird of prey).
A directional board is asymmetrical and has one main direction that it should be ridden. You can ride switch, but it is much less stable and fun. Directional boards are built for speed, stability, and powder. True twins are symmetrical at the nose and tail. This is great for terrain parks, riding switch, and maneuverability. Semi-twins or directional twins combine elements of both.
Width
With width, it’s best to honour established guidelines, the most pertinent one being that your toes and heels should hang over the edge of the board by 1-2 cm. If your toes don’t hang off the board by this measurement, the board is likely too wide. If your toes and heels droop over the edges, the board is too thin.
Having said that, the wider the board, the better it is at floating powder. Wide boards are really fun when the fresh stuff falls. Wider splitboards do make uphill travel more difficult as there’s more board to move per step. For longer adventures, opt for the skinner side of things.
Bindings & Climbing Skins Compatibility
Many splitboards support a variety of climbing skins, but this is not always the case. Take, for example, the Jones Solution Splitboard. It has a specific cut feature that meshes well with Pomoca climbing skins. Make sure, no matter what board you buy, that you get the right skins. If a board matches with a certain pair of skins, get that type of climbing skin.
There are two main types of bindings: channel mounts or inserts. The most common options are inserts and most splitboards have them pre-drilled. The inserts support all splitboard bindings and most snowboard boots on the market. They’re standardized and reliable but not curated. If you are an advanced rider, channel mounts are more customizable but require specific bindings.
Splitboard Bindings & Accessories
Once you have your splitboard, get the right snowboarding gear and accessories to go with it. Splitboard bindings and accessories include the proper climbing skins to fit your board and the right bindings. More than that, you’ll want ski poles to aid in uphill movement. The right backcountry snowboarding gear makes a world of difference.
Tips for Maintaining & Using Splitboards
Splitboarding gear maintenance is essential. Over time, the wax on your board will get rubbed off, especially after ripping skins off of them several times. Make sure to re-wax your board to get the best glide. Similarly, get an edge tune every once in a while to keep those edges sharp and performing well. An ice scraper is also handy for particularly frosty days.
Ripping skins off is straightforward, but you want to avoid getting snow on them, or the glue won’t stick well. Try putting on and taking off skins at home without the skins hitting the ground to simulate this. Additionally, at home, practice working the locks that separate and recombine your snowboard. Remember, winter is cold, you want to transition quickly and efficiently.
As far as storage goes, think high and dry. Get all moisture off your skins before stuffing them back in your pack. When you get home, hang them on a wall peg in a well-ventilated dry area. This is useful for your board as well. Leftover moisture on your edges or base can lead to rust and eventually affect the performance of your board.
FAQ
Q: What's the difference between a splitboard and a regular snowboard?
A: A splitboard is a snowboard built for uphill travel. You can literally unlock and split the board into two pieces (one for each leg). With proper bindings and climbing skins, you can “walk” uphill as if each piece were a snowshoe. It’s the best way to get to backcountry riding destinations.
Q: Can splitboards be used in the resort?
A: Yes, although the weight of the board with its transition locks and specialized bindings may make it less attractive. Resort boards and regular snowboard bindings are often lighter and tailor-made to aggressively ride the resorts.
Q: How do you care for splitboard skins?
A: Splitboard skins need to stay dry, so the glue works best. Keep them in a well-ventilated area when not in use. If they get wet, make sure to dry them glue side up. While there are ways to remove debris from them, if pine needles, dirt, bits of rock or other items get stuck in the glue, the skins become less effective. Similarly, wet skins won’t grip your snowboard well.
Conclusion
With another winter season blowing through, make sure to get the best backcountry splitboards to support your adventures. If you want a daily driver with the best overall performance, the Solution Splitboard by Jones Snowboards is an awesome option. For lightweight enthusiasts pushing the boundaries of their backcountry forays, opt for the Ultralight Stratos Splitboard.
If the budget is a little tighter, you can get a whole lot for a lot less with the Salomon Highpath Splitboard. Last but not least, for the advanced and expert riders, give the excellent Marauder Split Package a try. Trust Altitude Sports for your splitboarding needs.
Share on
