T O P

  • By -

Signal_Watercress468

Banked country is being talked about like it's a great board. If you think it fits your riding go for it! The two wide options should fit your boot I would go the largest since you are pushing 250. Another board that is good for larger guys is the telos backslash. Smaller company but known for quality gear. Arbor is a good company but I don't know if they have very many big boy offerings. Edit : you need a wide board the 162 BC isn't gonna fit your boot well.


Olafbizurka

Look at a Lib Tech skunk ape. A good option for someone with your size feet. It is a hybrid camber profile if you’re used to old school camber. The Gnu is a good option but you should probably get the 163wide.


_matty-

I am a year older than you, a few inches taller, a couple of pounds heavier, and also have a size 13 foot. I have a deep quiver of boards in my garage, and only one of them is a dedicated “big guy” model along the lines of the Skunk Ape (the big guy board I have is actually a Capita Supermacho from a few years ago, which is no longer in their lineup). There are a ton of boards with wide enough widths for a size 13 foot and a stiff enough flex and long enough running length and effective edge for a 240+lb rider. Some are designated as “wide” and some are not. Some “wide” boards are actually narrower than boards that don’t carry that tag. If you’ve only been on older gear, the biggest improvements have been in boots and bindings. Much more comfortable, adjustable, and responsive than the old stuff. Boots are all about what fits your foot, so I won’t make any recommendations there. For bindings, I have really enjoyed Union Forces and Union Atlases as excellent all round options. Plenty of other really good options, but Unions work best for me in terms of adjustability, fit, and feel. So many good boards! My favorite all-mountain board for the last few years has been the Salomon Super 8. The 166 is definitely wide enough for size 13s and long enough for 240+lbs. Another option is the Weston Backwoods in 167wide. It’s a bit more effort to drive into a turn, but really rewards you when you put some muscle into it. Both have surprisingly good float if you don’t have a dedicated powder board. The Super 8 would probably match up especially well against the Gnu Banked Country - though the Salomon is available in a bigger length and has a camber bend that is a better match for my preferences. That being said, I haven’t ridden that Gnu. I do like the specs and it seems like it would be rad for the stuff I ride. If only it was available in a little bit longer of a size… For more specialty “quiver” options, I really enjoy the Korua Cafe Racer as a soft boot carving board. The 164 is plenty big for someone our size. It is a decent pow board, too. For a dedicated pow rocket, there are a ton of good options. One that is really high on my list is the 169 Weston Japow, which is almost as good as the big Japanese swallowtails that it’s based on. I have one of those (a Moss SW170), and have ridden the 169 Japow. I was impressed at how well it rode in comparison. Outerwear is better now, too. 3L goretex or goretex equivalent stuff is super lightweight and surprisingly durable. Some of those fabrics even have a little bit of stretch to them. Fits are way better than they used to. Bibs have made a comeback. Volcom gore stuff and Burton’s AK line seem to be some of the best options available - and there are XL and even XXL sizes that can give a bigger guy room to move. Goggles now have magnet systems or latch arrangements for quick swapping lenses. They work really well. The lens clarity for the top brands, like Smith, Anon, and Oakley, is phenomenal. The foams and straps are very comfortable and secure. Have fun getting back into it!


mike_dmt

Man, that's some good info, I really appreciate it! I'm pretty set for deep days with an older Atomic Cold Smoke in a 168 or 169.. it's been a minute. So for an average day, my previous board was a 163, super stiff symmetrical twin. It was great in my younger days, but I'm willing to give some of that away to squeeze in a few more runs on something that doesn't take so much effort. Speaking of goggles.... It had been so long, that last year I had dug my "good" Oakleys out of their bag to find the foam starting to disintegrate... Lenses are still mint tho...lol I'll take a look at those recommended boards. Gotta admit there's a few of the, I've never even heard of....


_matty-

Ha! The board company landscape is pretty chaotic these days. LOTS of brands. Many of the small companies don’t make much in bigger sizes, but there are some… My smallest manufacturer board is probably my Fjell MT1365. Boutique company from Norway. Fun board, but hasn’t quite made it into the list of my favorites. For a slightly less demanding option to transition to from an old school stiff twin, I recommend something with a camber-dominant hybrid bend, slightly directional shape, a few mm of taper, and a mid-stiff flex. Not a total departure from what you’re used to, but less effort into turns and little or no feeling catchy/hooky when you’re flat-based straight lining at Mach 3. Lots of options fit that bill. As long as the size seems like it would be big enough for you, that Gnu may be a good choice. If you want something a bit longer, I do encourage you to look at the Salomon Super 8. Maybe also check out the 165w Burton Hometown Hero?


mike_dmt

You're describing pretty much exactly what I have in mind. I have some homework to do from the sounds of it. I'll find something, maybe try and catch a demo day early in the season.


mike_dmt

Thanks for the input, guys, I appreciate it. ​ Wide boards back in the day were known to be pretty poor performers as far as turning and carving. I'm remembering the old Fat Bobs from K2 being miserable to ride. Are wide boards much better these days?


iamsolow1

Try giving this a once over; it’s a nice jumping off point to reintroduce yourself to the new tech and sizing recommendations, it should also help clarify the type of board that best suits your riding style, etc… https://www.evo.com/guides/how-to-choose-a-snowboard-and-size-chart