Top 10 Snowboard Brands

With ski resorts across the country now open for the 24/25 winter season, many riders are making decisions on which snowboard brand they want to ride this season. With countless brands vying for your attention, choosing the right snowboard can be overwhelming. To help you navigate this snowy, and often expensive landscape, we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 snowboard brands that stand out in terms of quality, innovation, and performance. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider, these brands have something to offer everyone.

1. Burton
Burton is arguably the most recognized name in snowboarding. Founded in 1977 by Jake Burton Carpenter, this brand has been at the forefront of snowboard innovation for decades. They make every possible board you could dream of and they are offered at a variety of price points. The one drawback is that their boards only fit Burton bindings. The good news is that Burton also makes great bindings, but if you want to ride a different brand of binding, you'll have to look elsewhere for a board.

2. Lib Tech/GNU
Lib Tech and GNU are made by Mervin Manufacturing, which is known for its unique manufacturing process and eco-friendly practices. Their boards often feature innovative technologies like Magne-Traction that provide superior edge grip on groomed or icy slopes. Lib-Tech tends to use premium materials in their boards which makes them a little more expensive then GNU, but they share a lot of the same tech in most cases. Mervin genuinely makes some of the best boards in the industry and you will not be disappointed with a GNU or Lib-Tech board under your feet.

3: Bataleon
Bataleon is my favorite snowboard brand and they have been blowing up over the last decade or so. Their unique triple base technology sets them apart from competitors by allowing smoother transitions between turns. This design enhances on-snow stability making it ideal in the terrain park. The triple base tech is also super fun on pow days because it provides a lot of float in deep snow. Because of their triple base tech, Bataleon boards have what most riders describe as a surfy, skateboarding type of feel to them, making them forgiving and super fun to ride.

4: Yes
Yes focuses heavily on creating versatile snowboards that cater to different styles whether you prefer cruising groomers or hitting kickers. They recently merged with Lobster snowboards and Now bindings to significantly expand their product offering. Their marketing strategy is unique with a humorous vibe and they always offer killer graphics, making them a favorite amongst hardcore snowboarders everywhere.

5. Arbor Collective
Arbor Collective prides itself on its commitment to sustainability while producing high-quality snowboards that perform exceptionally well in various conditions. Their unique designs often incorporate natural wood materials, giving each board a super rad and unique look. We are big fans of their big mountain boards and their powder boards, but they also make some great freestyle boards. They offer a nice variety of unique shapes that cater to specific styles of riding, so if you want something other than a balanced twin tips, Arbor is a great choice.

6. Nitro Snowboards
Nitro Snowboards has made waves in the industry with its focus on rider-driven innovation and performance-oriented designs. Their boards cater to all types of riders—from beginners to seasoned pros—making them one of the best snowboard brands available today. Know for their freestyle boards, many of their sponsored team riders are featured in the best snowboarding movie edits each season, so you know they make solid park boards. 

7. Jones Snowboards
Founded by legendary freerider Jeremy Jones, Jones Snowboards is probably the fastest growing brand in snow sports. A few years ago they weren't in very many specialty snowboard shops, and now just about every store that sells snowboards carries Jones. People think they specialize in backcountry riding and splitboarding gear designed for non-lift serviced terrain, but they also have some great park and freestyle boards in their line-up. The use top of the line materials in most of their boards, making them a little pricey, which is probably the only potential negative against their product line because their stuff performs great.

8. K2
K2 may not be the most popular choice on this list for the hardcore riders because of their history of corporate ownership, but they have been producing snowboards since the early '80s with a long standing reputation for durability and versatility. They offer a wide range of boards suitable for different terrain and riding styles, making them one of the best snowboard brands for all-around performance.

9. Salomon
Salomon is not just about skiing; they also produce some of the best snowboards on the market today. Known for their cutting-edge technology and stylish designs, Salomon boards are perfect for riders looking to shred the gnar. You will find some riders who are not big fans of the corporate ownership and their long history in skiing, but they definitely make a solid product.

10. Gilson
Gilson is a direct to consumer brand that many people have not heard of because their boards are not available in retail shops (they only sell on their website). Without the retail mark-up they can spend more money using top tier materials, offering you a better quality board vs. a similarly priced board at a retail shop. They often use featured artists to make their board graphics, so they are known to have really cool, detailed designs on their top sheets. Gilson also has some very unique technology like 3D edges and a butter pad on their bases, making their boards super fun to ride, especially on rails and boxes.

Conclusion
This blog post is just the opinion of one person. Many would say that I am leaving out other cool brands like Capita, Endeavor, Signal, Rome, and Never Summer. These are all great brands, but when you are picking your top 10 favorites, a few good ones are going to be left off the list. The truth is, you really can't go wrong with any of these brands. At the end of the day, picking the right snowboard for you comes down to your style of riding, budget, and what graphics you like. So, pick a board and go rip because the snow is starting to fly in many parts of the country already.