Introducing our guide to the best women’s snowboards for the upcoming ski season. We’ll dive into what each snowboard does well and what type of rider the snowboard will be best suited for. Before shopping let’s go over some basics about riding style and board types.
Every snowboard has a vast array of tech features built into it that make it more catered for certain conditions and certain riders. Some of these features include flex-level, rocker vs. camber, shape, etc. Based on these features, in-bounds snowboards can be broken down into roughly four categories: All-mountain, freeride, freestyle, and powder. Continue reading as we help you decide which type of snowboard to choose.
Snowboard Styles
All-Mountain snowboards are designed with versatility in mind. These snowboards are forged for the rider who relishes in cruising the entire mountain and ski resort: groomers, glades, moguls, park and powder. All-mountain snowboards generally have a medium amount of flex that offers solid control at speed but is still flowy, with a combination of rocker and camber that creates the perfect all-mountain ride.
Freeride snowboards are generally built for more aggressive, expert riders who want to get off the groomed slopes. Freeride boards excel in off-piste riding, charging through variable snow at high speeds. They are usually built with a stiffer flex for optimal responsiveness at high speeds, with a cambered profile for idealized edging.
Freestyle snowboards tend to have softer flex and are designed to be playful and forgiving. They are often ridden in shorter sizes that make the board more agile. This makes freestyle snowboards ideal for experienced park riders looking for a park board and beginner all-mountain riders alike since they are easy to maneuver.
Powder snowboards are built for advanced riders surfing deep snow. They generally have a directional shape that helps keep weight on your back foot and are built with a fat nose to maximize surface area and floatation through fresh snow. Powder boards are often built with rocker to make them super flowy and fun to ride in the deeper snow.
These categories are helpful in searching for a women’s snowboard but are not the end-all-be-all of what a board can do. Most snowboards available today are capable of all-mountain riding but excel in one of these categories. As you start shopping for snowboards, one of the most important considerations is the snowboard size. OnTheSnow’s snowboard sizing chart is a good place to start.
Now that we’ve gone over the basics, let’s check out some of the best women’s snowboards available today.
Top Women’s Snowboards
Jones Twin Sister (All-Mountain)
MSRP: $550
The Jones Twin Sister snowboard is among the all-mountain snowboard headliners. It has a medium-stiff flex for optimal responsiveness and stability, without being too rigid. The Twin Sister has a freestyle shape for those who have a playful style but value that confident stability. It’s a directional twin snowboard that’s approachable but still packs a punch with camber between the bindings and rocker at the nose and tail. “The Twin Sister is easy to turn thanks to its friendly flex and CamRock profile that also offers sweet float in pow,” write the experts at Jones.
Never Summer Proto Synthesis (All-Mountain/Freestyle)
MSRP: $650
Never Summer’s Proto Synthesis is another excellent choice for an all-mountain snowboard. This board is designed with Proto-specific Rocker Camber, giving you ultimate energy transfer while still maintaining the playfulness of a rockered snowboard. It has a true twin design, great for throwing tricks and riding switch, while the medium stiffness and Power Grip Sidecut holds an edge with the best of them. “The Women’s Proto Synthesis is the ultimate all-mountain freestyle board for the hard-charging lady rider who rides fast, carves hard, laps the park, spins off of side hits, and can do it all switch,” boasts the board makers at Never Summer.
Ride Compact (All-Mountain)
MSRP: $450
The Ride Compact is a supreme all-mountain snowboard for beginner and intermediate riders. The directional shape creates a larger nose and a slightly set-back binding stance. This shape is ideal for those who are learning how to shred while creating an easily maneuverable feel and responsive nature for those who already ride. A solid grip on ice comes from the camber bend. A wood core blend of lightweight paulownia and strong aspen helps give the Ride Compact an effortless but stable feel. Consider the aggressive Ride Magic Stick for hardpack or something more confident at high speeds.
Jones Women’s Flagship (All-Mountain/Freeride)
MSRP: $700
The Jones Women’s Flagship is a monstrous snowboard, great for the experienced and aggressive rider tearing through variable snow. Jones declares that the Flagship “is one the most confidence-inspiring freeride boards on the planet.” It has a mid-stiff flex coupled with a directional rocker profile, making this thing a speed demon with on-a-dime control. The Flagship also has a tapered tail that sinks in powder for back foot steering, while the wider nose floats like a champ. The Basalt Power Stringers and Power Core increase torsional response while dampening vibrations over choppy snow.
Capita Birds of a Feather (All-Mountain/Freestyle)
MSRP: $550
Capita’s Birds of a Feather has won every major industry design award in recent years, and for good reason. This is a do-it-all board that excels in freestyle riding, and an all-mountain snowboard that has an affinity for popping, spinning, and playing. Its flex level is on the softer side of medium for a fun and forgiving ride, while the elongated effective edge maximizes edge control. The Birds of a Feather has a positive camber underfoot for the pop and power of a fully cambered board, with reverse camber at the tip and tail to minimize the chance of catching an edge. This gives you peace of mind as you land those park tricks. New technology for 2025, includes a Hybrid HolySheet™, which weaves Carbon Boosters together for that lightweight construction and precise feel.
Burton Feelgood Flying V (All-mountain)
MSRP: $620
The Burton Feelgood Flying V is another great versatile option. It’s a high-performance board for the entire mountain and is suitable for a wide array of riders from progressing to advanced. This board has a medium flex and a reverse camber profile, which means it has two camber zones under each foot and a rocker section between your feet. A traditional camber board will carve a bit better and dig into hard snow more, whereas this board will feel balanced and energetic on harder and softer snow. The Feelgood Flying V is fluid, approachable, and easy to maneuver. If deep carves aren’t your main priority, then this could be the snowboard for you.
Bataleon Push Up+ (Freeride/Freestyle)
MSRP: $600
A new board for the 24/25 season, the Bataleon Push Up+ is a women’s designed snowboard built for elevating skills. A light woodcore offers upgraded responsiveness and a smoother ride no matter where you are on the mountain. Conquering jumps, digging arcs, or floating through powder – the Bataleon Push Up+ can handle it all. This model is slightly stiffer compared to the regular Push Up but still has a medium-soft flex. This makes it lightweight and easy to maneuver just with a little more oomph compared to the base model and has a nice edge-to-edge feel. This kind of versatility makes it fun to ride everywhere on the mountain.
Salomon Oh Yeah (Freestyle)
MSRP: $400
The Salomon Oh Yeah is a solid freestyle and women’s park board. The medium-soft flex pairs with Rock Out Camber for responsive turns and versatility across all terrain. A Popster-shaped core is thinner underfoot and thicker by the nose and tail to maximize the natural shape and pop of the wood. This is what helps the Oh Yeah feel easygoing for park rats and groomer cruisers. Since it takes little effort to flex, it is also a great snowboard for beginner riders. The forgiving and maneuverable nature appeals to progressing intermediates as well. If you’re looking for something better at high speeds and on groomers check out the Salomon Rumble Fish.
Jones Rally Cat Snowboard (All-mountain/Freestyle)
MSRP: $450
New from Jones for the 24/25 season is the Rally Cat. Already receiving high praise from testers, the Rally Cat is an awesome all-mountain, freestyle option. It boasts an approachable flex and feels easy-going down groomed terrain, while the Rally Cat has a solid float in powder and feels smooth underfoot. It’s not the most aggressive board out there, so it won’t grip ice and hardpack as well as some of the stiffer options, but its directional twin shape and soft-medium flex (thanks to the poplar wood core) is perfect for progressing riders. Advanced riders who prioritize playfulness and freestyle performance will appreciate the lightweight nature and quick edge-to-edge responsiveness. The Jones Flagship, featured above, is the better bet for hard-charging riders who want to plow through crud and variable snow.
December 18, 2024
