Intro
We recently asked some of our snowboard reviewers which boards they’d include in their ideal 3-board quiver, and now it’s time to narrow that down a bit, to just 2 boards.
As we state in all our quiver selection articles, there is no single perfect quiver for everyone. It all depends very much on where you ride and how you ride. So our selections below should not be viewed as our answer to the question, “What are the best boards out there?” Instead, these are our reviewers’ personal picks, along with their rationale for why they would choose them.
As always, we’re interested to hear what you’d pick for your own quiver, so let us know in the Comments section at the bottom.
Get Advice (rather than our personal picks)
For more general suggestions — as opposed to what we personally would pick — check out our Winter Buyer’s Guide.
And if you’d like to get our recommendations for assembling your own quiver, then become a Blister Member, submit your question via the Blister Member Clubhouse page, and we’ll help you decide.
Five Questions
For each of our reviewers, we asked them to answer the following questions:
I. Which currently available snowboards would you pick for your own 2-board quiver, and why?
II. If we take splitboards out of the equation, which 2 solid boards would you choose?
III. What boards were the most difficult to leave off your list?
IV. What boards do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ride them, or get to ride them more?
V. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-board quiver, which company would you pick?
Jed Doane
I. Which currently available snowboards would you pick for your own 2-board quiver, and why?
This was a tough one. Ultimately, I went with versatile, all-mountain shapes that do everything well enough, at the cost of some freeride performance and float.
Board #1: K2 Antidote
If I only have one solid snowboard, I want it to be capable in all conditions. The Antidote is a stiff, full-camber, all-mountain-freestyle shape that takes effort and energy to ride, but is an excellent ATV. Subtle 3D spooning in the nose and tail makes for easier turn initiation and a surfier feel than expected from a stiff board. It’s fun in soft snow, capable on side hits and park jumps, and is, in my mind, an ideal 1-board quiver for strong riders looking for a stiff, adaptable ride.
Board #2: Jones Ultralight Stratos Split
Similar to Andrew, I think per-step weight matters a lot when designing a quiver that includes splitboards, and the Ultralight Stratos is not only great on the ascent, but is fun to ride and surprisingly versatile. For long, extended backcountry days or overnight trips, the Ultralight Stratos is the obvious choice, but it’s also great for maximizing quick dawn patrols or other short tours
II. If we take splitboards out of the equation, which 2 solid boards would you choose?
I’d probably keep my solid picks from our 3-board quiver article.
Board #1: K2 Excavator
Serving simultaneously as a stubby and maneuverable powder board, high-speed groomer crusher, and serviceable chop wrangler, the Excavator handles most freeride situations quite well. It’s not the softest in the short, volume-shifted category, making it a better pseudo-charger than others.
Board #2: Season Nexus
Relatively soft, easy to ride, and with a versatile shape, the Nexus is a great board for those days when riding a stiffer charger doesn’t sound fun. It’s solid in slush, fun in deep powder, and is a respectable groomer board for small-radius turns and slarves.
III. What boards were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Venture Paragon Split
In this quiver, I prioritized low weight over max durability in my splitboard, but the Paragon makes as much sense (or more, for some) as a splitboard in a 2-board quiver, given its versatile ride and bomber construction.
Lib Tech Golden Orca
For a more reverse-camber-forward option, the Golden Orca is a solid choice.
IV. What boards do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ride them, or get to ride them more?
Korua Transition Finder, K2 Niseko Pleasures, Capita Mega Merc
V. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-board quiver, which company would you pick?
I’d choose Jones. I’d probably go with a solid Ultra Mind Expander for a do-anything tapered charger that’s still serviceably maneuverable. For a split, I’d choose the Ultralight Stratos Splitboard.
Justin Bobb
I. Which currently available snowboards would you pick for your own 2-board quiver, and why?
This was a difficult exercise in restraint. I ultimately narrowed my 2-board selection to one solid board that can support a playful but aggressive riding approach in the resort and one versatile splitboard that can be trusted in terms of durability. I ride primarily in the Southwest (NM & CO) and seem to be adding more backcountry days each year. Finding soft and powdery conditions can be hit or miss, whereas rocks are a common theme, so for both my solid and splitboard, I need to prioritize damping and long-term durability.
Board #1: Amplid UNW8
One of my all-time favorite boards. I’ve tracked this model from its first year and have found it to only improve in stability yet maintain its responsiveness and its ability to cut deep and tight carves. Its aggressive camber profile allows for strong pop but also incredible edge hold. The UNW8 is also very light (yet durable in my experience), which helps reduce foot fatigue on long days and long seasons. It wouldn’t be my first choice for powder, but I have used this board all season in all conditions and didn’t feel like I was seriously missing out.
Board #2: Voile Skyline Split
The Skyline is not a low-volume board; in fact, it’s the widest and largest in surface area of any board I’ve tested relative to its overall length. That added surface area surely helps in deep snow, while its burly construction has so far proved to be a benefit in terms of durability. For me, the bit of extra weight on the skin track is worth the confidence I get from fully trusting in its durability and its incredible damping / suspension, especially in scenarios like chattery run-outs.
II. If we take splitboards out of the equation, which 2 solid boards would you choose?
Board #1: Amplid UNW8
I would still use this board as my go-to on most resort days, which usually include lots of variable conditions. I trust its edge hold and know it will respond immediately to (strong) input. Its lower swing weight (especially relative to similarly stiff, precise boards) makes mining little features for air time and spins very approachable. In icy or choppy snow, it’s surprisingly damp for its weight, and as stated above, reducing effort in these conditions helps with overall endurance and lessening foot fatigue.
Board #2: WNDR Alpine BellAire
This would easily be my choice for powder days. It offers incredibly easy flotation in soft snow but is still capable of holding steady in steep terrain and choppy snow. I’ve found some powder-oriented boards to have pretty low speed limits once the untracked snow runs out, but that has not been the case with the Bellaire. I also don’t believe backcountry riding is exclusive to splitboards; I would happily carry the Bellaire on a sled or up a bootpack to have some excellent backcountry days.
III. What boards were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Rossignol Juggernaut
Although somewhat different in terms of their ideal end users, the Juggernaut and UNW8 ultimately share many performance characteristics. The main difference is the directional shape on the UNW8. The Juggernaut is a true twin but shares some key characteristics — primarily stiffness and aggressive camber. I chose to prioritize the directional shape to fit my overall riding style but the Juggernaut has become another one of my favorites in the all-mountain category.
K2 Alchemist
I’m not yet fully acquainted with the Alchemist, but in the time I have spent on it, its standout traits have been stability and speed. I have spent a lot of time on the now-discontinued K2 Slayblade; the Alchemist has a similar feel but seems improved in terms of float, weight (lighter), and more importantly, swing weight. It’s very easy to spin with its reduced swing weight and also very poppy, with its stiff cambered profile.
IV. What boards do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ride them, or get to ride them more?
LibTech Golden Orca
I’ve been very eager to spend more time on the Golden Orca. Unlike the Orca, the Golden version is targeted to those riders who still want a solid tail to rely on and have more versatility in more conditions. This board has some smart people behind its design and deserves a good look.
Amplid Singular
Like Andrew, I’ve become a fan of several Amplid boards over the last 10 years, and I’m pretty sure I am going to love the Singular. I haven’t been on it yet, but based on the specs, I feel this could potentially replace the UNW8 in my 2-ski quiver.
Cardiff GOAT Pro Carbon Split
I have one in hand and it feels incredibly well built. Lighter than the Voile Skyline and with a more aggressive shape. Curious to test both its on-snow performance and season-long durability.
V. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-board quiver, which company would you pick?
Amplid
I have yet to be disappointed by the Amplid boards I’ve tried, so they seem like an easy pick. UNW8 for the solid board, and the Miligram Split completing the quiver. The Singular, once I’ve gotten more familiar, has potential to overtake the UNW8 in preference.
Andrew Forward
I. Which currently available snowboards would you pick for your own 2-board quiver, and why?
Similar to my 3-board quiver, I would want to prioritize powder-specific shapes that will still perform well on firm, variable conditions. Typically, I spend an equal amount of time touring in the backcountry as I do riding the resort, so this selection will obviously include a splitboard. Riding almost exclusively in Alaska, I need a quiver that can handle a variety of terrain and snow conditions that range from waist-deep blower pow to wet, heavy chunder and ice.
Board #1: Amplid Millisurf Splitboard
The most used splitboard of my personal quiver is the Amplid Millisurf. Its shape is amazing in powder yet it still edges well on variable and firmer conditions. Its flex is lively, with a nice balance that feels fairly stable at high speeds, yet snappy enough to feel smooth and predictable while hitting jumps and features. It is also the lightest splitboard I own, making the tour and breaking trail less fatiguing. I think Amplid really nailed it with the construction of this board — it’s extremely light yet also very durable in my experience. In my personal collection, the Millisurf has earned a permanent set of hardware and skins after years of enjoyment.
Board #2: Weston Japow
Similar to the Millisurf split, the Japow is by far the most used solid board in my quiver for the resort and sled days. Although its shape is phenomenal in powder, the Japow is also a blast to ride on groomers and most non-pow conditions. Over the years, I have shifted almost entirely to directional shapes, due to how well they ride in pow as well as performance while carving. This directional preference is largely attributed to riding the Japow so much, and it has become an all-time favorite in my collection.
II. If we take splitboards out of the equation, which 2 solid boards would you choose?
Board #1: Weston Japow
As mentioned above, the Japow will always have a place in my lineup. Although it’s technically a powder-specific (or at least, powder-oriented) board, it’s versatile enough to enjoy on groomers, and it’s still pretty fun when hitting pillows and other natural features.
Board #2: Season Aero
The Season Aero is one of my top picks as a daily driver for general riding and shallow pow days where you can still feel the hard subsurface. This board isn’t made for charging (I do wish it was roughly 20-25% stiffer so that it was better at speed), but it is exceptionally fun for cruising the mountain with a playful mentality. The Aero edges well on firmer snow, its flex pattern is great for buttering and jumping, and the shape can float through pow, making it a top choice in a smaller quiver.
III. What boards were the most difficult to leave off your list?
Narrowing down the quiver to two boards leaves a few niches unchecked, such as a deep-snow specialist and groomer-specific board. With that in mind:
Weston Backwoods Carbon Splitboard
Although the Millisurf gets the most use of my splitboards, I do really enjoy the Backwoods Carbon split for more serious alpine missions. It is considerably stiffer than the Millisurf and gives me a bit more confidence when I’m over exposure and riding bigger lines (both on the ascent and descent).
Amplid Pentaquark
Everyone loves a pow day, but living a stones throw away from the resort has proved to me how important it is to have a groomer board … and the Pentaquark is one of the best groomer-specific boards I have tried. As a rider who tries to ride every day that I can, the Pentaquark gets me excited to ride groomers. Its edge hold is remarkable and instills confidence for laid-over heel and toe-side carves. However, it is a demanding board to operate, with little room for rider error, hence the exclusion in this smaller 2-board quiver.
Weston Range
Although I find myself riding twin shapes less and less, the Range was a favorite of mine for many years due to its versatile shape. Utilizing the Range similar to the Season Aero, I found the Range to be a fantastic everyday shape that is playful in the park, and all over the mountain. I wouldn’t call it a “hard charging” board, but it does feel a bit stiffer than the Aero and seems to be a bit more stable when hitting chop, yet it retains a playful feel.
Amplid Snommelier
This is the “big gun” pow board in my current quiver. The Snommelier is my go-to board for pow days over 18” / 46 cm. The Snommelier (only available in a 166 cm) is one of the longer swallowtails I own and feels considerably faster than the Japow or Jones Storm Wolf when it really gets deep. While not as nimble as the Japow or Storm Wolf, the Snommelier is unrivaled when it comes to linking massive carves in open terrain.
IV. What boards do you imagine have the greatest likelihood of making your list, if and when you get to ride them, or get to ride them more?
Two boards that I am very excited to try are the Jones Ultracraft 2.0 and Amplid Singular. I also have enjoyed my time on the Nitro Squash so far but have not yet been able to test it in a wide variety of conditions.
Jones Ultracraft 2.0 Splitboard / Jones Hovercraft 2.0 Solid
I have spent several years riding an early-generation Hovercraft and still love it. It does great in deep pow and I even use it periodically at Alyeska’s Town League for racing gates. The shape feels exceptionally fast with excellent edging performance. I am excited to see how the updated shape and design ride.
Amplid Singular
As its name suggests, I think the Singular would be an excellent daily driver and 1-board quiver killer.
Nitro Squash
I only got to spend a handful of days riding the Squash last spring, but I was very impressed with how it rode. As of now, it seems like a nice option that slots somewhere between the Japow and Aero for all-mountain riding. Stay tuned for the full review on the Squash…
V. If you had to choose a single brand from which to build your 2-board quiver, which company would you pick?
I’d go with Amplid; Jones and Weston would be the close contenders. In my experience with several of their boards, I’ve been consistently impressed by Amplid’s constructions and designs. I have yet to ride an Amplid that I haven’t been extremely stoked on, whether it is a splitboard or solid. I think Peter Bauer and the rest of the Amplid team have done an impressive job of utilizing materials and shapes to make their boards stand out.
As for the particular boards, the Millisurf is an easy pick, and then I’d have to choose between the Surfari, Snommelier, Pentaquark, and Singular for my solid. Even though I have yet to try it, the Singular does seem like a good fit for that use case…
amplid unw8 , amplid pentaquark