The best snowboard for women is out there, you just have to do some digging. There are a few important factors to take into consideration when you’re looking for your board since this decision is quite important — it’s what’s going to guide us through powder adventures, for quite a long time at that (we consider this to be a pretty long-term investment of up to 5 years or more, depending on how much you ride). Not to mention look the way we want our styles and personality to reflect. Let’s get into the basics first before we give you our picks.
How to pick your women’s snowboard
As we saw quite a few top women’s picks in our best snowboard guide, these things aren’t exactly cheap. However, they’re definitely an investment that’ll last you many years if you take proper care of yours. Our first piece of advice when choosing your snowboard is the price, as well as aimed budget you’ve got at hand. Do you want to drop a few hundred bucks on a decent model without some fancy features, or perhaps go above that mark and get a higher-end board? Perhaps after you choose the best for you you’ll change your mind.
What type of snowboard are you looking for? This is the second most important factor when shopping for your board. The type of snowboard is going to be mainly determined by your riding style as well as environment you foresee yourself riding in. Here is a little run down of the different types:
- All-Mountain: Coming in as the most popular of the three main types of boards, these perform quite well anywhere on the mountains. It’s the safest bet, especially if you aren’t planning on specifying or becoming more advanced to where you’ll be doing this professionally or as a hyper-hobby where type will matter (hence fitting most). They’re versatile and have a narrower tail (usually) which helps you position when you steer.
- Freestyle: These are lighter, shorter, a bit more flexible, and are best for those who know what they’re doing in half-pipes and terrain parks. If you’re doing some tricks or plan on doing so in the future, here’s your type. They’re not too stable when it comes to quick turns and going fast down the mountain, which is why they’re a bit more rare and only for those who will boarding in the air.
- Alpine: This type isn’t for tricks at all, and geared towards carving downhill since they’re long, narrow and stiff to help with speed and sharp turns. More for racers or really anybody looking for that adrenaline rush to go as fast as you can down that powder.
Is your snowboard going to match your snow goggles, helmet and more? Many we know love to get that perfect look going, so depending on how important aesthetics are to you, certain models may catch your eye. Otherwise, be sure to read those guides if you still need to choose your other snow gear after you pick out your snowboard.
Lastly, the snowboard’s camber (overall contour of the bottom of the board) is also in our opinion one of the more important factors in picking a snowboard. Traditional cambers have a slight curve in the middle (best for versatility and to suit all environments), while flat cambers are, well, flat (great for quick turns), and rocker/reverse have curves at both the tips and tails (best for powder and rails).
The best snowboards for women
Arbor Swoon
Simply put, this is a versatile, well equipped snowboard that is ideal for the lady riders out there who prefer hard packed snow, but also enjoy the option of floating atop a lighter packed surface. The Arbor Swoon is uniquely compared to a surfboard, as it contains a parabolic rocker design, but what makes it more exciting is that it includes thunderhead tips, which allow for more speed. This snowboard comes with a medium flex and a mountain twin shape that has a shorter tail and nose, allowing for a little more of a setback feeling, making it easier to glide on top of powder. The directional twin shape and the medium flex rating make this snowboard hands down the best snowboard for women. The single malt core allows for it to have a substantial increase in durability, and when you combine that with its reasonable price, you can see why there has been an increase in positive reviews about the Swoon. This comes in as our top pick for the best women’s snowboard in the market currently.
Burton Lip-Stick
An all-purpose snowboard that creates a liberating ride for female snowboarders of all ages. The Burton Lip-Stick is an incredibly durable medium flexing brings it home as it offers a reliable fully symmetrical shape that comes with Burton’s self proclaimed Flat Top. Capable of both tearing it up on a hilly flat surface and in the terrain park, this board can truly do it all. The focal point to this board, and truly what makes it one of the best snowboards for women is the light weighted ‘FSC Certified Super Fly II 700G Core’. This creates for not only an eco-friendly board, but also gives it optimal pop, strength and reduction in weight. The ‘Triax Fiberglass’ is a laminate that gives the board more of an asymmetrical flex which creates more stability. In addition, it is important to note the extremely durable Sintered WFO base for the lady riders out there who enjoy more rigorous conditions.
Roxy Ally BTX
The Roxy Ally BTX is a flavorful snowboard for the snowy mountain enthusiasts looking for an inspiring way to ride. Fully equipped with BTX technology enabling terrain park options as well as Magne-Traction edges that allow an enhanced grip. This all-purpose model comes with a medium soft flex rating and biaxial fibers for added enjoyment. The Ally BTX comes with unique versatility as it floats to perfection on groomers, as well as when riding on powder. The board itself is often acknowledged as being a perfect fit for the beginner rider, but it is also widely considered a good match for intermediates as well. Over the course of time, the Roxy Ally BTX hasn’t changed too much, and is still a relatively similar feel that riders have enjoyed over the years. This former “Good Wood Award” winner is arguably the best snowboard for women for the money. The mountain is yours for the taking when riding with this Ally.
M3 Escape
A sophisticated women’s snowboard that flies under the radar, the M3 Escape is truly the whole package. Known for being a bit underpriced, due to lack of advertising, this board still contains a Flexrite wood core that allows for a great response and minimal vibration. This all mountain board has a 122 cm edge which is effective for turning and carving. Not particularly known for riding in the terrain park, this is a board built more for speed and comfort. For all you female riders out there, looking to go fast, this is the board for you. It generally comes in medium flex and an extruded base, which means that really enables you to fly faster than anything out there. Mostly considered an entry-level/beginner board, we can see this being used by both kids and adults. This is truly a bargain purchase, and is widely considered yet another one of the best snowboards for women out right now.
Burton Feather
This is without a doubt another one of this big brand’s best snowboards for women. A gem in disguise, the Burton Feather is built to perfection. For the beginners out there, this is a snowboard that provides a simplistic design that makes learning fun. Built with a tapered shape and a flat top for added stability, this board makes carving a piece of cake. Soft and forgiving, this Burton only becomes easier to control over time. The twin flex and directional shape are perfect for improving on the park and within terrain. Though it is a beginner board, this is a board that is widely used by intermediates who prefer additional playfulness. The best part about this snowboard is that it solves problems for you female beginners who are constantly having control issues with your ride. So fear no more, this board is fully equipped with an upgraded ultra-thin profiling of ‘Filet-O-Flex’ to ensure a soft feel.
Salomon Gypsy
Fit for your flexibility needs, the Salomon Gypsy is certainly one of the best snowboards for women on the market. Furnished with EQ Rad Sidecut for more control that also comes with a Popster Booster additive for all the terrain park enthusiasts out there. This board comes with added carbon stinger instead of your typical Popster, which will create incredible give and creativity for the power of your snap and ollies. The Salomon comes with an industry typical sintered base, which enables the rider to go as fast as they want without losing their balance. Furthermore, this snowboard has a unique shape and a medium structured base for improved mobility and an effortless glide on harder surfaces. An excellent choice for women new to the mountain and an even better snowboard for those beginning to acclimate to the terrain. Don’t let this hot choice for a snowboard get away.
K2 Wildheart
Created by women, this is a board that was specifically designed for females who enjoy riding on a variety of terrain. Custom designed by the Snowboarding Alliance, this is an enthusiastically made board that comes with brand new volume swift technology that allows the rider to put their head down and fly through the wind. Generally this is a snowboard that is a bit shorter than average, however it won’t inhibit your ride as the volume shift and an extensive tweekend technology create superior maneuverability. The K2 Wildheart will be a first class ride involving far more control than your average board, which is paramount for anybody who is new to the sport. It comes with custom designs, and integrated carbon glass, which will decrease the weight and create a greater release of power. Due to the increase in pop, which will allow more airtime, this is a perfect choice for the park. If nothing else, this choice of snowboard will inspire you on and off the mountain which is another reason why it should be considered one of the best snowboards for women.
Burton Deja Vu
Built for a variety of terrain, and fully equipped with a sintered base and a twin flex this beast of a snowboard will get you through anything that presents itself on your ride. There is no secret that Burton’s Deja Vu is a masterpiece. The board itself comes with side effects that enable the rider to lengthen contact points which allow them to have more forgiveness and less give. Control of your snowboard is of utmost importance, which makes this version one of Burton’s top ladies picks. As per standard Burton procedure, the board comes with a 3 year warranty which is truly an underrated quality. This is a female snowboard that is built for all terrain, but is known to be a preference among more intermediate riders. Overall this snowboard will give you the opportunity to expand your ability and will hopefully see major improvement.
Roxy Sugar Banana
Here is a snowboard that is eclectic in both shape and design, offering more than just a “hip” style, and will have riders salivating at the opportunity to give it a ride. Other than just the beautiful graphics, this snowboard comes with standard banana technology that provides rockers directly between your feet, enabling more comfort and stability. Learning is never easy in this sport, but the Roxy Sugar Banana sure does make it fun. Crafted and designed in the United States, this board comes fully equipped with a true twin shape, and a soft flex for improvement in the park. The added CX 2500 base creates for a softer ride when cruising down steep mountains. For all you ladies out there who like to show off in rocky terrain, this board comes with a hardwood base that will allow you to grip the snow with ease.
Bataleon She-W
Naturally, the first thing that stands out about the Bataleon She-W is that it is slightly pricier than most. Don’t let that bring you down though, there are plenty other offerings that this snowboard has. Built for speed and comfort, the Bataleon She-W is certainly one of the best snowboards for women because it is fully equipped with a 3BT triple base technology, which makes the ride similar to that of a skateboard, rather than a surfboard. This technology enables a better grip preventing the common fall. In addition this comes with a soft flexing twin board for improved air time in the park. This is certainly an excellent choice for beginners and intermediates alike. Incredible versatility, as you are more than capable of cruising down steeper terrain at top speed. Owning a board like this will definitely help you feel more confident on the mountain.
