How To Buy Your First Snowboard
Quick answer: For your first snowboard, pick an all-mountain board with a soft-to-medium flex and a rocker or hybrid profile. Size it by the manufacturer's rider-weight range (not just height), and if your boots are size 10.5 or larger, get a wide (“W”) board to avoid toe and heel drag.
Buying your first board is the first step to becoming a full-on snowboarder! Whether you're completely new or have some experience, the right board can make learning a lot easier. Here's what to consider.
1. Know your riding style
- Freestyle: jibs, jumps and park. Boards are shorter, softer and more maneuverable.
- Freeride: backcountry, steeps and big terrain. Boards are stiffer and excel in powder and off-piste.
- All-mountain: a little of everything. The most versatile choice and the best fit for most first boards.
2. Be honest about your ability
Beginners usually benefit from softer, more forgiving boards that make learning easier. Intermediate and advanced riders often prefer stiffer boards for control and response. Anyone can ride almost any board, but some are much better for learning the fundamentals.
3. Size by weight
Board size is probably the most important decision. Shorter boards are more maneuverable; longer boards are more stable at speed and float better. We recommend sizing by the manufacturer's recommended rider weight, because how the board flexes under you determines how it rides. If you wear size 10.5+ boots, consider a wide board (marked with a W, like 155W).
4. Choose flex and profile
Softer boards are forgiving and easy to control, ideal for beginners and freestyle. Stiffer boards are more stable and responsive at speed. The board's profile matters too:
- Camber: a slight upward arch in the middle. Precise, stable and great for aggressive turns, but less forgiving.
- Rocker (reverse camber or “banana”): curves up at the tips. Playful, forgiving, floats in powder. Great for beginners.
- Hybrid: mixes rocker and camber for a versatile blend of stability, maneuverability and float.
5. Pick a shape
- Directional: longer nose, shorter tail, rides mainly one way. Stable and strong in powder.
- Twin: symmetrical nose and tail. Ideal for park and riding switch.
- Directional twin: slightly longer nose. Versatile all-mountain performance that still rides switch well.
- Powder: large surface area, setback stance, often tapered. Built for deep snow.
6. Match boots and bindings
Make sure your bindings are compatible with your board and fit your boots. Boots are the most important comfort piece: buy the best-fitting pair you can, ideally in person.
7. Research and demo
Read reviews from riders like you and, if you can, demo a few boards. There's no single “best” board, just the right board for you.
Shop snowboards and bindings
- Salomon Oh Yeah Women's Snowboard Forgiving all-mountain freestyle
- Salomon Wonder Women's Snowboard Easy-turning women's board
- Salomon Craft LTD Snowboard Versatile freestyle board
- Salomon Assassin Snowboard All-mountain board to grow into
- Salomon Rhythm Binding Comfortable all-mountain binding
- Union Juliet Binding Women's all-mountain binding
- Dakine Pipe Snowboard Bag Protects your new board
Snowboard boots are sold in-store so we can fit them properly. Visit our Grand Avenue shop in Portland and our staff will help you build your first setup.
First snowboard FAQ
What snowboard should a beginner buy?
An all-mountain board with a soft-to-medium flex and a rocker or hybrid profile. It's forgiving, reduces edge catches and works on any terrain.
How do I know what size snowboard to get?
Use the manufacturer's recommended rider-weight range for each length. Height is a rough guide, but weight determines how the board flexes and rides.
Do I need a wide snowboard?
If your boots are size 10.5 or bigger, a wide board helps prevent your toes and heels from dragging in the snow when you carve.
Is camber or rocker better for beginners?
Rocker or a rocker-dominant hybrid is usually easier to learn on. Full camber is more precise but less forgiving.