How to build a snowboard quiver

A snowboard quiver is simply the set of boards you own, and the first step in building one is being honest about your season. Think back over your last few trips, or plan the next ones, and note:

• Where you ride: groomed runs, park, trees, powder, or a mix.
• What the snow is usually like: firm and icy, soft spring snow, or regular fresh snowfall.
• How often you ride: a single week a year or most weekends.
• How you get there: flying with one bag, driving, or living near a resort.

If most of your days are on groomed runs with some park laps, that tells you something different from a rider who chases fresh snow. Your quiver should reflect the pattern, not the exceptions.

It also helps to note what frustrates you on your current board. Perhaps the nose sinks in deep snow, the board feels nervous at speed, or it is hard work to press on park features. Those notes become your shopping list, and they are far more useful than a board’s marketing description when you compare options later.

Most riders should start with one board that handles most of their riding well. For many people that is an all-mountain board, which is designed to cope with groomed runs, some park and some soft snow. Burton’s snowboard buying guide describes all-mountain boards in exactly this way.

Choose this board with the same care as any first board: match its type, profile and flex to your ability and terrain, then check its size and width on the manufacturer’s chart. Our board-choosing walkthrough and size chart guide cover those steps.

Many riders are happy with one board for years. A second board is worth thinking about only when you notice the same gap again and again: the board feels hard work in deep snow, too stiff for the park, or unstable at speed.

The most common quiver mistake is buying a second board that is almost the same as the first. Before you buy, compare the two side by side:

• Shape: twin versus directional.
• Profile: camber, rocker, flat or a hybrid.
• Flex: within the same brand’s rating scale if possible.
• Intended terrain: what the manufacturer says the board is for.

If the answers are mostly the same, the new board will not change your riding much. Ask yourself which days you would pick the new board over the old one. If you cannot name them, you probably do not need it yet.

Bindings across the quiver

You can move one pair of bindings between boards if they are compatible with each board’s mounting system, but that means remounting and rechecking them each time. Some riders keep a pair of bindings on each board. Either way, follow our binding mounting steps and your manuals whenever you swap, and check each board’s mounting pattern first.

A second board is a bigger commitment than it looks, so test the idea before you pay for it:

1. Write down the gap. One sentence is enough: “My board sinks in deep snow” or “I want something softer for rails.”
2. Shortlist boards built for that job. Read what each maker says the board is for, and compare its shape, profile and flex with your current board.
3. Ride one if you can. Some shops and resorts offer demo boards or demo days; ask what is available near you. A day on a powder board in the right conditions tells you more than any review.
4. Size it on its own chart. Don’t assume your usual length carries across, especially for powder or volume-shifted shapes.
5. Decide how it will be set up. A second pair of bindings saves remounting; sharing one pair saves money. If you share, you may want different stance settings on each board, which our stance and angle adjustment guide explains.

Every extra board needs money, space and maintenance. Consider these before you add one:

• Purchase cost: a well-checked second-hand board can be a sensible way to try a new style. See how to buy a used snowboard. Renting or demoing a specialist board for a day can also tell you whether you want one.
• Bindings: decide whether you will buy a second pair or swap one pair between boards.
• Maintenance: each board needs waxing and edge care. See snowboard maintenance.
• Storage: boards need a dry place off the floor. See how to store a snowboard.
• Travel: check your airline’s current baggage rules if you want to fly with more than one board.

When a board no longer earns its place, pass it on rather than letting it sit unused. Our guide to reusing and recycling snowboard equipment explains how.