How to choose the right size snowboard

The old fashioned way of measuring the right size snowboard was to stand the board up next to the rider, and pick a board that comes up to somewhere between the riders chin and nose.

Although a method like that will put you in the right ballpark, it is not really a good indicator of the best size board for you.

The best way to size a snowboard is based on the riders weight. If you have two guys, both 5″11″ (181cm) but one weighs 120lbs and the other 200lbs, they are going to need different sizes.

light and heavy snowboarder

So obviously, there is not one board that is going to be as suitable for the lighter rider on the left compared to the heavier rider on the right.

Rough guide to what weights should go with what size (for an all-mountain board)

  • 41kg / 90lb = 140cm
  • 45kg / 100lb = 143cm
  • 50kg / 110lb =146cm
  • 54kg / 120lb =149cm
  • 59kg / 130lb =152cm
  • 64kg / 140lb =155cm
  • 68kg / 150lb =158cm
  • 73kg / 160lb =161cm
  • 77kg / 170lb =162cm
  • 82kg / 180lb =163cm
  • 86kg / 190lb =164cm
  • 91kg / 200lb =165cm
  • 95kg / 210lb =166cm
  • 100kg / 220lb =167cm

For example, I weigh 68kg (150lbs) so based on the above table I should be looking at a 158cm board.

This basic measurment is a good ballpark for sizing you for an all mountain board. Things change a little if you are planning on riding one type of terrain over another.

If you are planning on cruising all over the mountain, a little through the park and off-piste on pow days, stick to the original size should be pretty good.

If you like to do a lot of riding in the park, jumps, rails and jibs I would go at least one size down. This is going to help because you are able to manouvre and swing a slightly smaller board around easier, but it is not so small that you will have trouble landing bigger jumps. In my example it would be a 155cm

If you are someone who is looking at spending all day in the park, hiking rails and spending all your time jibbing, I would go two sizes smaller. You want a small easy to move board, and having a stiff and stable board is not needed (or ideal) for jibbing. In my example it would be 153cm or smaller board.

If you are buying a board for powder, I would go at least one or two sizes bigger. The larger the board, the more surface area you will have and the more float you will have. The less you are sinking in pow the better. For my real life powder board, I ride a 163cm, which is quite big but handles amazingly in deep snow.

snowboard sizes

Don’t get too caught up in the small details when trying to size your board, in real life you can ride any board anywhere, if you get the size in the right ballpark you will be fine.

Personally, I like to ride slightly shorter boards, and I recommend the same to most people. I have a 154cm board that I ride all over the mountain, it is fun everywhere from the groomed runs to the park, but it doesn’t do very well on powder days.

In short, rider a bigger board for powder, and smaller boards for jibbing.

Have a look at through some all mountain, park, jib and powder boards.

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3 thoughts on “How to choose the right size snowboard”

  1. your size is going to go off surface area of the broad witch is unique to each model, most guys are gonna be from 80 -95 kg and your saying start looking at 160 and up. not many manufactures make snowboards over 162-163. you really take the weight measurement with a grain of salt, if you fit awesome, if not in soft snow dont worry about it.

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  2. hey, I’m 5’10” and about 145lbs. I currently ride a 153cm lobster job board and am kind of interested in something shorter, maybe a 148. What’s your opinion on the size for a rider of my stature? too small? mainly for park and freestyle, something i can really throw around like a toy haha

    Reply
    • You would definitely be able to move a short board around easily, but especially for your weight it is going to be really small. Moving, spinning and turning will be pretty easy, but it isn’t going to be that stable for landings compared to what you are riding now.

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