Finding a wide model may sometimes be a hard process for many riders out there. Weston snowboards are among the widest on the market, which is fortunate for our larger-footed pals. Wide vs Regular Snowboard the 167 Wide Backwoods, for example, has a monster waist width of 28.1 cm and can fit up to a size 15 US Men’s boot.
If you prefer the feel of a twin shape under your feet or are more of a freestyle rider, you can still enjoy the nimble, playful ride of a twin board without worrying about toe or heel drag. Up to 164 Wide (waist width: 27 cm), the Range is offered.
Even the models in our inventory that aren’t specifically wide perform better as mid-widths. The Logger, a real twin that is a team favorite, is made to handle all kinds of freestyle characteristics. Available in a mid-width that will cover you up to an 11.5 US men’s boot in size 158cm (waist-width 25.9cm).
Our ladies’ board models are also on the bigger end of the range for individuals who have a US Women’s 9+ snowboard boot. The 152 Riva has a 25.2cm waist width, while the 155 Riva measures at 25cm. This allows for a broader range of riders who may not want to jump up a board size or end up with something that is difficult to turn or stiff.
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You could even discover that some boards are labeled “W” or wide throughout your search. Although this is pretty self-explanatory, it might be difficult to determine whether a broad board should be used. This is why I’ll be explaining who needs a larger snowboard today, along with its benefits and drawbacks, and everything else you should know! I’ve ridden a lot of snowboards, both wide and conventional width, to give you some context.
If you’ve taken the time to look over snowboard specifications, you’ve probably noticed that certain boards are referred to as “wide.” Although it may seem fairly clear that a wide snowboard will be wider than a conventional one, why is it crucial to understand the distinctions between the two types, and how may it affect your riding?
Wider snowboards are often made for heavier, taller, and riders with larger boot sizes, but this isn’t the only consideration. The performance, stability, and terrain compatibility of a board may all be influenced by its width.
What a Wide Snowboard!
If a snowboard’s waist is 260mm or over (26+ cm), it is often regarded as broad. The breadth of a snowboard between the bindings, in the center, is known as the waist width. Additionally, several companies sell “MW” or mid-wide/medium-wide boards. Although there isn’t a set industry sizing for mid-wide snowboards, they commonly have a waist width of 255-260mm.
Some companies will designate wide versions of their boards as such, but some won’t, so you’ll need to check the specifications to be sure the waist width is accurate. This is necessary to ensure that the board you receive is the right width for you (you’ll discover how to achieve this in just a moment.
A Wide Snowboard: Who Really Needs One?
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If you have larger feet, getting a wide board is crucial to preventing excessive boot overhang when riding. When your boot hangs over the edge of the board, either on your toe, heel, or both, that is known as an overhang. Most snowboarders don’t mind a little overhand, but a rider with a large boot size will have a lot of overhangs if they are using a regular snowboard rather than a wide one.
Instances of toe drag and/or heel drag, which occur when your boot digs into the snow when you go up onto your toe edge or heel edge while carving, are much more likely when there is an excessive overhang.
You’re undoubtedly asking at this point what boot size truly necessitates a wide snowboard, but there isn’t a single, unambiguous response. A broad board should be used if you are a men’s size 10.5 boot or larger, according to some individuals, while others claim that you only need one if you are a men’s size 12 boot or larger.
Men’s size 11 boots are the point at which, in my experience riding and sizing others for snowboards in my line of work, you should seriously consider a wide version of a snowboard. Unless you wear women’s snowboard boots in a size 12.5 or larger, I wouldn’t pay much attention to this section because women rarely have to worry about a snowboard being too narrow.
A Simple Alternate Consider the situation where you have a larger-than-average boot size but are unable to obtain a wide snowboard. Perhaps the board you want isn’t available in a wider version (some aren’t), or perhaps you already own one that is less than 260mm wide at the waist. The good news is that you can change your attitude, which is a rather easy choice that could just rescue the day.
When you change your stance, you are either changing your stance width or your binding angles; in this case, you’ll want to change the binding angles to make a narrower board rideable for someone with larger feet. Your boots have more room on the board the more angular your bindings are.
Who Else Should Take a Wide Snowboard Into Account?
Even if you don’t have huge boots or are not a larger rider, you shouldn’t automatically rule out having a wider board because they do have certain advantages over a standard-sized board. They do, however, have certain drawbacks, so you should be sure you’re purchasing a wide snowboard for the proper reasons.
Pros of Wide Snowboarding
More powder, more powder, more powder! Wide snowboards have an incredible float in deep snow, which is why many powder boards have very wide waist widths even though they aren’t considered “wide.” The 2022 Ride Minipig, which measures 261mm in width, and the 2022 Lib Tech Orca are two excellent examples of snowboards of this type.
Increased stability is a benefit of broader boards. Riders may go at high speeds without being concerned about being bucked around as much when there is greater surface area because of increased stability. Because of this, broad snowboards are a fantastic choice if you’re a speed demon on the slopes or have a bigger frame. Additionally, certain freestyle boards (often jump-oriented ones) come in larger sizes since they give better stability on the take-off and landing on jumps if you’re a freestyle rider and enjoy getting a lot of air in the terrain park.
Cons of Wide Snowboarding
Unfortunately, turn initiation and overall ride agility are two of the biggest drawbacks of a wider snowboard. having a bigger surface. Because they have a larger surface area, certain wider boards are also heavier than their non-wide counterparts, making them more difficult to throw about and raise into the air.
To avoid this, simply seek for “volume-shifted” boards, which are wider than ordinary but designed to be ridden at a shorter height than usual. Because of their increased breadth but decreased length, these shorter boards will often weigh less. For the reasons outlined above, beginners should aim to stay away from broad boards whenever feasible. Don’t worry too much about having to use a broad board if you’re just learning because it won’t have a huge influence on you.
If You’re Not Sure about Wide vs Regular Snowboard
It’s perfectly reasonable if you’re still unsure about what snowboard width to choose; it’s not an easy choice. A snowboard size chart may be used to determine this and provide a decent indication of the size range to search for. According to your height, weight, and boot size, the majority of companies will have a snowboard sizing chart on their website that offers suggestions for the board length and width to choose from. Even though looking at these charts might be a terrific place to start, it isn’t always sufficient. Why not consult a Curated Snowboard Expert if you really want to feel confident about your upcoming purchase?