Fresh powder everywhere you look – for some, a hassle that slows their daily commute, their minds drifting to thoughts of warm summer days. But for the adventurers, those not afraid to embrace Mother Nature’s gift, it’s an opportunity – an opportunity to witness firsthand the unadulterated beauty of a fresh snowfall, to inhale the crisp winter air, and to shred some epic downhills.

This year has been phenomenal for winter activities due to record setting snowfall, and together with my son, we’ve been hitting the mountain so much more than prior years. Hopefully you fall into the same category, and whether you’re already an avid snowboarder or you’re just getting started, here’s the 2019 Burton gear we’re using to hit the slopes and take advantage of Mother Nature’s plentiful bounty.

2019 Men’s Burton Custom Snowboard

I’ve been snowboarding for twenty years, and nothing’s more essential to enjoying the ride than the board you select.  The Burton Custom is a legend in Burton’s lineup – they’ve been making it since 1996 – constantly honing and improving it along the way.  The result is the greatest all-mountain board on the planet, capable of transitioning from the park to the backcountry effortlessly while excelling every step of the way.

If I had to pick a single word that embodies the Burton Custom, it’s “versatility.”  Finding a board that does everything and does everything well is not an easy task.  And yet the Burton Custom pulls it off, as it has been for over two decades.  Some of the things you need to know about the Burton Custom:  first and foremost, it notes a directional twin shape, meaning its nose is slightly longer than its tail, along with a slightly set back stance.  It’s this directional design that gives the Custom its backcountry and powder shredding abilities – especially with the bindings set back on The Channel (which we’ll talk about in a second) – or you can configure the Custom for the park and easily ride switch.  It’s an incredibly solid board, and just like Goldilocks and the three bears, offers just the right amount of power and stiffness – not too stiff, not too soft, but just right.

Paired with its directional design the two other key features of the Custom are its twin flex shape and cambered design, giving you perfect edge control from tip to tail along with plenty of pop when you need it.  More Burton tech includes an FSC Certified Super Fly II core with carbon fiber enhanced fiberglass layering, Frostbite edges to keep you locked in when carving up icy conditions, and The Channel. If you’re new to The Channel, it’s an infinitely adjustable way to position your bindings, and for me, I’d never go back.  You can dial your bindings in to fit exactly what you’re riding, and because your feet are closer to the board, you get better board feel throughout your ride.  If you’ve never used it, you’re going to love The Channel’s feel and limitless customization.

Overall, the Burton Custom is just a phenomenal all around board.  Plenty of pop off jumps and stable when landing; incredibly responsive and solid at high speeds with excellent edge grip in icy conditions; and plenty of float and stability to shred the powder – if you’re like me and love mixing it up, the Burton Custom is easily the one board to get if you’re only getting one board.  One ride and you’ll be hooked.

$599, Burton

2019 Men’s Burton Cartel EST Snowboard Binding

To take advantage of The Channel binding system I opted for Burton’s Cartel EST Snowboard bindings.  Like the Custom board the Cartel EST’s are an excellent all-around choice for bindings, offering a mix of comfort, performance and adjustability.  Mated to The Channel Cartel EST can be dialed in perfectly no matter the riding conditions, and the level of control and board feel is on another level compared to standard setups.

To keep you locked in, Burton Cartel EST bindings feature Hammockstrap 2.0 and Smooth Glide buckles, and they’re super easy to use in any conditions, no matter how deep the snow or how icy it gets.  To activate medial and lateral flex the Cartel EST’s feature what Burton calls The Hinge, giving you a smoother feel and more pop when you ollie, and Burton’s AutoCANT cushioning automatically tilts you to put you in the most comfortable position while providing ample cushioning and a smooth ride.

I haven’t used the Burton Custom with any other bindings, but after riding it with the Cartel EST’s, it’s a killer combo.  Support, board feel, pop, comfort – it’s all here in spades, and I’m loving every second of it.

$279, Burton

2019 Men’s Burton Imperial Snowboard Boot

The last piece of gear I picked up this season is a pair of Burton Imperial Snowboard boots.  I figured if I’m upgrading my board why not upgrade the whole package, so I went with the Imperial’s based on my dealer’s recommendation.  Obviously describing boots is somewhat subjective based on your riding style and preferences, but for me the Imperial has been phenomenal.  It’s on the stiffer end of boots – call it a medium stiff – and overall it’s a really comfortable, lightweight all-around option.

Some of the tech highlights include S4 Panels with the upper and lower Speed Zone Lacing System, Vibram EcoStep soles, footprint reducing Shrinkage, and an EST chassis with B3 Gel cushioning.  All of this translates into a boot that after a couple days of riding feels completely broken in, offers excellent board feel, and gives me just the right amount of stiffness. Paired with the Burton Custom and Cartel EST bindings, it’s an absolutely killer trio for almost anything.

$339, Burton

2019 Kid’s Burton Family Tree Role Model Snowboard

I’ve been snowboarding with my son since he was five, and when I splurged on a new set of Burton gear I picked up a new board for my son as well.  He loves riding powder with me, so I upgraded his ride to the Family Tree Role Model snowboard.  It’s a directional all-mountain board that let’s him tear up a bunch of different terrain, with the added ability to hit the park if the urge hits.

Some of the Family Tree Role Model’s defining features include a directional camber with entry rocker, a 15mm taper (meaning the nose is wider than the tail), a twin flex design, and an FSC certified lightweight core.  The board floats great in deep snow, is super solid at speed, and is really stable throughout turns (as told to me by my son).

Like my Custom, the Family Tree Role Model also comes with The Channel, meaning the bindings offer infinite adjustment options, letting younger riders play with their setup to get the ride dialed in just right. My son told me it’s an huge step up from his prior board, and I know he’s shared his affinity of the board with multiple friends looking for new gear. I asked him to sum his thoughts on the new board, and his response was simple:  “I love it.”  Enough said.

$349, Burton

2019 Kid’s Burton Concord Smalls Snowboard Boot

The last piece of gear we picked up was a new pair boots for my son – the Burton Concord Smalls.  They pack of bunch of features from the adult lineup into a kid friendly package, including the Speed Zone Lacing system, a wishbone upper cuff, and DynoLITE cushioning.  The two things my son immediately pointed out to me is how much he loved their lightness and the upper and lower lacing system.  After riding them a few times, he followed up with how comfortable they are, and he called them a huge improvement over his prior boots. As with his new board, he highly recommends them.

$169, Burton

Conclusion

Technology is moving at an epic pace, and technology in snowboarding is no exception.  Burton is constantly pushing boundaries and incorporating next-level engineering into everything they build.  But they’re also keeping their environmental and social impact in check, with a host of sustainability goals they’re already implementing and more scheduled to be added by 2020.  You can read more about sustainability on the Burton website, but their goals are epic, and should be an example for everyone – better workplace environments, environmentally conscious materials, end of life solutions to avoid landfill waste… and plenty more.  Making insanely great snowboarding gear is awesome, but doing it by keeping people and the planet happy is what it’s really all about.

You can check out the full lineup of 2019 Burton snowboards at the official Burton website.

To truly appreciate the enhanced traction and stability of advanced 4MATIC all-wheel drive, you really have to see it in action. And that’s exactly what you’ll see in the two videos below as a Mercedes-Benz C350 4MATIC Coupe takes professional snowboarder and AVALON7 founder, Rob Kingwill, for a ride through what was once a mere road, but thanks to a fresh coating of powder, is now what may be the world’s longest halfpipe.

Shortened Version

If you spend any amount of time outside in the winter snowboarding, skiing, or doing anything else that involves speed and/or sudden impacts, you absolutely have to have protective head gear to ensure your head and eyes are protected.  I’ve gone through my fair share of helmets and goggles over the past decade and a half, and it seems like no matter which combo I’ve tried, I never was entirely happy with both.  Either the helmet was uncomfortable, too hot, too cold or too heavy, or the goggles didn’t fit me well, they fogged up too much or they didn’t fit well with my helmet.

Finally, after enduring years of various design flaws, I’ve finally found what is without question the best goggle/helmet combo I’ve used, and it comes in the form of the Smith Optics I/O Goggle paired with Smith’s Vantage Helmet.  Together, they form a perfect union of protection for your all-important noggin, keeping out the cold and sun, offering perfect venting in any weather conditions and absorbing brain-rattling impacts.

Rather than describe both simultaneously, I’m going to detail the Smith Optics I/O Goggle and Vantage independently, but truth be told, if you buy one, you need the other.  They’re like Simon and Garfunkel, peanut butter and jelly, beer and brats – individually they’re great; together they’re perfect.

Smith Optics I/O Goggles

First up we’ve got the Smith Optics I/O Goggle, a gorgeous, rimless pair of goggles that, first and foremost, look damn sexy.  Now, let me state for the record that you shouldn’t select a goggle based on its looks – form without function is worthless – but when you first see the Smith Optics I/O Goggle, you’ll understand what I’m talking about, as the sleek rimless design is just damn good looking.  Thankfully, however, they’ve got the engineering to match, as they’re the best performing, most comfortable goggles I’ve ever used.

Technologically, the Smith I/O Goggle is built on an ingenious interchangeable lens concept.  To change the lens on Smith I/O goggles, simply turn a couple clips on top, and the lens pops out.  Once you’ve done it, you can swap out lenses in 30 seconds, meaning that as conditions change on the slopes, you can change the lens quickly, anytime you need to.  As for the lenses themselves, each feature tapered lens technology to address refraction.  Without getting overly scientific, the concept is that when light passes through a medium (i.e. the lens), it changes course slightly (refracts), which when left uncorrected, leads to both visual distortion and eye fatigue.  To correct this distortion, Smith I/O lenses feature a thicker construction in the center and then taper out to a thinner design closer to the peripheral view, meaning that what you’re seeing is 100% accurate.  Improving your vision even more, Smith Optics offers a total of nine polarized and mirrored lens options that provide 100% protection from UVA/B/C rays along with three non-mirrored lens option – each of which will allow you to fine-tune your visibility in any weather conditions.  They’re quite simply the best, clearest lenses I’ve ever used.

But as great as Smith Optics lenses are, I love the I/O goggle’s fit equally as much.  Simply put, they’re built to be used with the Smith helmets, and with the Smith Vantage helmet, the I/O fit absolutely perfectly.  The curve of the helmet is contoured to perfectly match the curve of the I/O’s frame, meaning there’s no gaper gap.  Even better, both the Smith I/O Goggle and Vantage helmet feature an AIREVAC ventilation system to eliminate fog.  Traditional goggle/helmet combos have a tendency to trap warm air in the goggle chamber, which is what causes fogging, whereas the I/O goggle and Vantage work together to create constant airflow.  To create this airflow, the AIREVAC system works by directing warm up up through the top ventilation systems of the I/O goggles, where it then is dispelled by the ventilation system of the helmet.  I’ve been using both the Smith I/O Goggle and Vantage helmet all winter, and I’ve yet to encounter any fogging – the two perform absolutely brilliantly together.

Smith Optics Vantage Helmet

Just as the Smith Optics I/O Goggle fixes all the negatives I’ve encountered with other goggles, the Smith Vantage helmet solves all the problems I’ve encountered with other helmets.  First and foremost, the comfort of the Vantage is fantastic, largely due to its incredibly light weight.  Featuring Smith’s unique Hybrid Shell construction – a fusion of Bombshell ABS construction with flyweight In-Mold technology – the Vantage is not only extremely impact resistant, but it’s also extremely lightweight and boasts a significantly lower profile than other helmets.  It’s so light, it’s easy to forget you’re even wearing a helmet.  Another great feature of the Vantage that enhances comfort is the adjustable helmet fit system in the rear – it opens and closes as needed to help fine tune the fit on an individual basis.

The second area in which Smith has taken the Vantage to a new level in helmet technology is in the area of ventilation.  The Vantage features a total of 21 vents to provide an incredible level of venting for warmer days, a huge problem I’ve encountered with prior helmets.  Even better, however, is that the Vantage features what Smith calls the Dual Regulator climate control system.  The Dual Regulator system controls a total of twelve vents – four in the front and eight in the rear – and then allows you to open or close the front and rear vents independently of each other.  So you can open just the four front vents, just the rear eight vents, and you can even open the vents on a sliding scale, meaning you can open them halfway, for just a bit of extra cooling.  It’s brilliant at keeping you cool (or warm), depending on what you need, and it performs exactly as advertised.

And lastly, the final area of the Smith Vantage Helmet that bears mention is it’s lining, made from what Smith calls EVOLVE X-STATIC.  Constructed from up to 50% recycled silver with other recycled materials, it eventually becomes 3.7% X-Static and 96.3% recycled polyester. It’s super comfortable, warm when you want it to be, and best of all, it’s environmentally friendly.  Another great interior feature of the Vantage is the ear pad design, which feature integration for your favorite audio player by allowing you to insert your favorite ear buds.  In addition, you can also choose from two optional Skull Candy variants that feature either wired or Bluetooth sound systems included (at an extra cost, of course), allowing easy access to either your music library or phone while you’re on the slopes.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Smith Optics I/O Goggles paired with Smith’s Vantage helmet are, in my opinion, the best goggle/helmet combination on the market.  Together, they’re super comfortable, they provide a tremendous level of protection from the sun and impacts, and they don’t suffer from any of the things I’ve been forced to endure using other helmet/goggle combos.  They’re simply brilliant together.

To learn more about either the Smith Optics I/O Goggle or Vantage helmet, you can check out both at the official Smith Optics website.  To pick up both for yourself, head over to Amazon for the Smith Optics I/O Goggle and the Smith Vantage helmet, currently priced at $165 and $180, respectively.

Here in the Midwest (and much of the country for that matter), winter is in full force, with current temps hovering right around a balmy 10 degrees.  But despite the frigid temps, I’m still a happy man, as the cold weather means I’ve finally been able to get some serious time in on one of my favorite winter pastimes:  snowboarding.  And while you’re not going to see me hitting the Winter Dew Tour anytime soon, I have been snowboarding for a little over a decade, placing me somewhere in the advanced intermediate range (if I had to choose a skill level, that is).  This year, as I’ve found myself spending more time on the slopes, I decided it was time to treat myself to a new ride, and after much research, debate and deliberation, I finally settled on the new 2011 Ride Society UL.  After riding it for the past couple months, I have to tell you: this thing absolutely kicks ass.

In seeking out the perfect board, I already had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted, it was just a case of finding it.  First and foremost, I wanted an all-mountain board that would be at home on a variety of terrains, with an emphasis on groomed runs and park use (namely, kickers and pipe).  In terms of key attributes, it had to be lightweight, responsive, snappy, and tough – pretty much everything you’d expect from a great all-around freestyle board.  Ultimately, after talking to a variety of other riders, reading a bunch of reviews and doing some demo tests, the board that most impressed me was the Ride Society UL.

At it’s heart, the Society UL features a cambered twin design along with Ride’s trademark Thin Con construction and UL core.  If you’re unfamiliar with Thin Con, it means that the tips and tails are tapered, the swing weight is reduced, tip flex is enhanced and the sidewall runs past the effective edge, whereas the UL core UL features tip-to-tail full thickness silencer stringers placed strategically within the wood core for high strength and less weight.  If it sounds overly technical, it is – Ride’s put a tremendous amount of technology in the Society UL, and Thin Con construction is just the start.  From there, Ride added Slimewalls 85A (which are exclusive to the company), a UL base and UL steel.  Unlike conventional sidewalls, the urethane in Slimewalls is virtually indestructible, not only protecting the board, but also absorbing impacts and eating up bumps and vibrations in the snow as you’re riding.  As for the UL base and UL steel, they’re both new for 2011, and they’re both incredibly light and incredibly strong additions to the board.

As if the Society’s UL construction wasn’t already light enough, to help further decrease the weight, the board’s top deck features Hempbrain technology, thus eliminating the traditional plastic top.  Instead, an ultra-thin layer of hemp that’s both lighter and more durable than traditional top decks is in place, with the added environmental benefits that hemp is both easily renewable and requires little processing to use.  To make the board both super responsive and super snappy, Ride has added what they call Carbon Array 5 stringers and Pop Rods 3.0.  The first element – Carbon Array 5 – are 5 widespread carbon stringers placed at the binding zone that gather input from any stance width and all pressure angles and subsequently channel rider input to the opposing contact points for maximum board control.  As for the Pop Rods 3.0, they’re a series of carbon and urethane rods strategically placed in both the tip and the tail, adding a significant amount of pop to the board without increasing the board’s stiffness (the Society UL is the only Ride board featuring Pop Rods 3.0).

Believe it or not, these are only some of the tech specs of the Ride Society UL – there’s plenty I’ve left out.  But the reason I wanted to detail the technical aspects of the Society UL is to give you a sampling of the immense amount of engineering that’s gone into it.  It’s an incredibly technical creature, and when you’re riding it, you realize exactly how fantastic the tech is.  It’s an absolute blast to ride doing so many different things.  As noted earlier, I wanted a board that excelled at groomed runs and park use, and the Society UL does exactly that.  Ripping up groomed runs is, in no simpler terms, awesome.  The board is super aggressive, it carves superbly and it holds its edge extremely well.  Hitting the pipe and kickers, the Society UL comes into its own.  It’s stable, perfectly balanced and incredibly controllable in the air, easily ranking above any of the other boards I’ve ridden.  The Ride Society UL can spin all day, and it loves doing so.  Lastly, the Sociey UL has the absolutely perfect level of pop.  There’s no question Ride’s tech features work as described, as the ollie power of the Society UL is ridiculous, but most impressively, Ride has managed to offer an insane level of pop without an overly stiff board.

Is the Ride Society UL the best snowboard you can get?  It depends on what you’re looking for, but if you want a super responsive, super lightweight all-mountain board that can handle a wide variety of conditions, you won’t find any better than the Society UL.  It’s tough, aggressive, responsive, playful when you want it to be, and it boasts a game-changing level of pop.  For all-mountain use, especially on groomed  runs and park use, it’s the perfect board.

To learn more about the Ride Society UL ($599) and to pick up your own, head over to the official Ride Snowboards website for the full details or buy now from Amazon.com
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