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Thread: looking at getting into a splitboard. Which brand?

  1. #1
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    looking at getting into a splitboard. Which brand?

    Well, it would seem I have really 3 options. The voile mountain gun (wont go with a reg voile because I need a stiff board). The burton s-series. Lastly, neversummer apparently will do a custom split for you on their boards and set it up with voile hardwear. I know I can probably score a deal on the voile and burton, but probably not the never summer. I ride a neversummer t5 right now, and wouldnt switch it for any other solid board I have ever ridden, so I'm leaning towards neversummer. That said, if the other two brands do a good split board, its always nice to save money. Any ideas on which route would be the best? I havent been able to find much info or pros/cons on any of the various brands splitboards.

  2. #2
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    have you checked here?

    www.splitboard.com
    Waste your time, read my crap, at:
    One Gear, Two Planks

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tyrone Shoelaces
    have you checked here?

    www.splitboard.com
    Yep I have. The problem is that it seems to be all old info.
    Example: it reviews burtons OLD interface system as shit. Burton now uses voile's system.
    Also it has nothing really on the voile mountain gun compared to other brands. I'm looking for real experience. At first I was going to go for a burton so I could get the stiffer ride, but then voile introduced a new board because the split decision was too soft and would crap out on you...then I found out that neversummer will do a custom setup for you. Right now I ride a neversummer T5 and haven ridden any brand of board that will even come remotely close to the quality of ride I get on that. My hope is to find a split board that will come close to it's ride. Money is not an issue, but ride quality is. I want to make sure that if I spend $800 on a board setup that its not going to shit out on me when I encounter a 50degree ice crust or am blasting through some powder and hit a death cookie (my T5 has performed flawlessly in both these situations). I know you give up some performance by going splitboard, but I want to get as much out of it as possible. That is why I'm looking for some real-life experience from people on what they have liked/disliked about the various boards out there. My hope is that i can get something better than that website since it really didnt say alot.

  4. #4
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    Took a look at those Prior split boards...fuckin expensive, close to a grand....the question is, can their ride compare with a Neversummer? I dont see any reason to burn that much $$ if Neversummer can build something of the same and/or better quality for cheaper.

  5. #5
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    another vote for prior, have a buddy who has one, he loves it

    disclaimer: I know nothing about snowboarding

  6. #6
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    This really belongs in Tech Talk but whatever:

    I was in the same boat as you last year -- I swore by my Never Summer boards and wouldn't trust anything else because I delammed every other board I've ever ridden. So I got the split version of the same board I ride inbounds, a 168 T5.

    The Blaho brothers at NS were incredibly cool throughout the process and made the board before receiving the $$$ in the mail because I was on a tight schedule. They let me customize the setup, including the placement of the inserts and removal of the unnecessary ones (I only use the middle set and if it's soft and deep I shift to the back set) and of course most importantly the graphics, which they took from an old board and moved around so they wouldn't get hidden under the hardware in touring mode.
    Their workmanship is incredible -- they obsessed over all the little details and the two halves fit together perfectly, there's no wiggle at all when you clip them together before sliding on the binding plates. They pointed out that they went to extra lengths to make sure that when you split it one side says "never" and the other says "summer." Basically they babied my board and didn't want to hand it over when I came by to pick it up. By the way, they waited for me to pick it up on the way from the Denver airport to Wolf Creek at 10pm. So the whole point of this is that you'll be getting a quality board built by two dudes who really love what they do instead of migrant workers who just want to huff fumes in the factory.

    At first I would notice the weight difference and it felt a little funny due to the extra height of the plates. My first day on it I faceplanted a couple of times on a mellow run, but I got used to it and it feels just as good as the normal T5. The only thing is that my legs get tired more quickly because of the weight but you can't escape that no matter which board you go with.

    So yeah, I can't speak for the other brands but I most totally encourage you to go with the NS given that you're already stoked on them.

    Here's my ride, by the way:

  7. #7
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    Stay way from the burtons - Prior and voile are the best I've seen. never ridden the never summer, so can't comment...but they did spancer my co-worker's 12 year old son so they must be good people!

  8. #8
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    i have an '06 prior backcountry split. sadly, due to injury it has not touched snow. but that will change soon. heh. it is without a doubt the most beautiful board i've ever seen. super light and the construction looks superb.

    and i love the whistler topo map graphics....

  9. #9
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    Prior. Hands down the best, IMO. I wouldn't buy anything else. I've got a split 68 and a 60 Kyhber split and love them both.

  10. #10
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    Ive been riding the Voile 173 all winter - 60+ days. The board is only OK. Starting to delaminate - I personally think the voile hardwear sucks too, although there doesn't seem to be anything out there that is better. I won't be buying another Voile. I think i'll try a Prior or NS and go custom on the hardwear (dynafit bindings for skin up and better/easier to use plates). Got some ideas for more efficient hardware for the transitions.

    Does anybody know the weight on the Prior and NS?

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by CommanderBaker
    Ive been riding the Voile 173 all winter - 60+ days. The board is only OK. Starting to delaminate - I personally think the voile hardwear sucks too, although there doesn't seem to be anything out there that is better. I won't be buying another Voile. I think i'll try a Prior or NS and go custom on the hardwear (dynafit bindings for skin up and better/easier to use plates). Got some ideas for more efficient hardware for the transitions.

    Does anybody know the weight on the Prior and NS?
    click on a board then click "specs". weights are listed.
    http://www.priorsnowboards.com/boards.php

  12. #12
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    I have a custom Never Summer T5. Its fucking amazing. Rides like a solid board and the weight factor is easily offset if you just get into shape and learn how to ride it.

    I have ridden a Prior and id say it was awesome as well.

    Havent ridden a Voile, but id only go with a Mtn.Gun.

    I wouldnt buy a Burton because its expensive for just the board...then you need to buy the Voile harware and skins and by that time i belive you are over $900 and you might as well have just spent the money and got a CUSTOM job from the Blahos(NS).
    Last edited by Affix Snow; 03-30-2006 at 08:29 AM.

  13. #13
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    Prior, Rock Solid and they stand by thier work.

    Skip the Voile, it'll lose its pop and fall apart in a season

  14. #14
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    Couloir Mag did a split review last year. Check out Earn Your Turns for that.

    My vote would be for Prior also. Unless Donek rolls out a Split this year.

    Zach Davis at Couloir rides one a lot. And has tested tons of them. If I were getting one, I'd email Zach. He should be easy to find on their site since he's the sales guy.

  15. #15
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    the weight factor is easily offset if you just get into shape and learn how to ride it.
    It still seems like it would be real easy to shave 3-4 pounds off most of the marketed splitboards, especially when you iz paying $800-1200 for a ride. The Commander sez lighta iz fasta, fasta mean mo runs.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by CommanderBaker
    It still seems like it would be real easy to shave 3-4 pounds off most of the marketed splitboards, especially when you iz paying $800-1200 for a ride. The Commander sez lighta iz fasta, fasta mean mo runs.
    I agree 100%!!!! But until it happens, ill deal.

  17. #17
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    PRIOR.
    for realz.

  18. #18
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    Just got off the phone with the bro's down at Neversummer and they said they would do the whole setup with skins and all for $1,100. Pretty comprable to the cost of a Prior. Guess I'll cough up the cash and get one of the two brands. People seem pretty happy with both companies.

  19. #19
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    I wouldn't say the data on splitboard.com is old. It actually has more than you find anywhere as testers, manufacturers all post there fairly often.

    What's to update about the Burtons? Same okay Burton boards, same Voile interface, what's new?

    Prior, better than ever now that all the big splits come quad glass. I have an older 172st split and love it for pow.. Would prefer a Khyber 165 if I had to buy new now.. Some folks have had quality control issues on initial builds, but Prior have not hesitated to swap things out and make it right. Good folks...

    Voile - Mtn Gun is money for bigger riders, or just stronger riders looking for the most solid/stable bc tool. This is their first year building the guns so there's not as many reviews out there, but all have been good so far. Not like they haven't made a split bofore. Lot of old voile splits still in service everywhere, so I don't think durability is an issue there... Would love to hear otherwise if some knows better.

    Never Summer, what to say. The bros know how to built a good split. No complaints... Same bomber boards just in a split..

    Winterstick, TBD. They have one model out, or coming, but haven't seen a review on it... With Tom Burt and Jim Zellers doing their field test and consulting, it shouldn't suck.

    Donek, I wish... I know some folks have talked a lot to Sean about it, so it could happen... Who knows...
    Last edited by NoKnees; 03-30-2006 at 11:59 AM.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by NoKnees
    Donek, I wish... I know some folks have talked a lot to Sean about it, so it could happen... Who knows...
    I've heard Sean is working on some very cool top-secret stuff that maggots will find interesting. I don't know if that includes splits or not, but I'm looking forward to news. I wish he'd make some non-tele, non-twin-tip skis. Needless to say, I'm a Donek fan:


  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by NoKnees
    Voile - Mtn Gun is money for bigger riders, or just stronger riders looking for the most solid/stable bc tool. This is their first year building the guns so there's not as many reviews out there, but all have been good so far. Not like they haven't made a split bofore. Lot of old voile splits still in service everywhere, so I don't think durability is an issue there... Would love to hear otherwise if some knows better.
    Prior makes great boards. My buddy loves his. We haven't swapped rides so i can't comment, but they get the job done.

    Voile Freeride: they get the job done, but softly. Never heard of any durability issues. Have a 165 with 3 years of service and still going strong. A 173 with 1 very full year of riding, still going strong, but it hasn't seen the light of day since the 171 Mnt Gun arrived. Gun is a great ride, but you have to be aggressive (at least if you are light). It has a wider/bigger tail than the freeride so the mount needs moved back for the deep. For the really deep I still prefer the Freeride. However the Gun can handle any terrain you throw at it...at speed.

  22. #22
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    +500 gnar points if you hit the kicker in the background on that FC and survive

  23. #23
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    Mrs. Slim rides a Prior 156 Khyber split and likes it alot.

    I encourage you to check out: www.splitboard.com it has oodles of good info.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by shmoesmith
    Yep I have. The problem is that it seems to be all old info.
    True, the information on the site hasn't been updated in a while, but there are reviews and discussions going on in the forum:

    http://www.splitboard.com/talk/

    There's a board review section to the forum as well:

    http://www.splitboard.com/talk/viewforum.php?f=9

  25. #25
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    This thread is a REVELATION!!

    Sweet to see all these maggot bc boarders come out of the woodwork.

    Good advice in this thread, I covet the Prior Khyber is all I have to add.

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