The Capita Aeronaut is a directional, cambered, slightly tapered board – which is all the things I like in a snowboard. This is a new board for the 23/24 season, and it is designed to be the only board you would need for riding everywhere in the resort.
How the Aeronaut Rides
Board size: 157cm
Boots: Vans Infuse 9.5
Bindings: Burton Cartel X and Bent Metal Logic
I am 6 foot tall and weigh 155lbs – or 183cm tall and 70kg.
Camber Profile
The Alpine V3 profile is basically a traditional camber profile. There are tiny flat sections at the contact points, but it has the feel of a full camber board. The three main parts benefits you get from a cambered board are stability, good edge hold and pop.
Flex and Pop
Although it isn’t super easy to press or flex the board, it isn’t an overly stiff board. Capita rate this as having a 6/10 flex, which seems pretty accurate to me. It has a directional flex, which means that the nose flexes differently to the tail. A small amount of effort to ollie the board gives a good result, and if you try for a big ollie, even off a small bump, you can get quite a lot of air.
Edge Hold
The camber profile, and medium to medium stiff flex give the Capita Aeronaut the predictable and strong edge hold that you would expect from a traditional cambered board.
Normally, the tradeoff for strong edge hold is a less forgiving ride, but for some reason the board never felt overly catchy. I was able to ride with a fairly messy style and it didn’t feel like it was going to surprise me.
Turns
It isn’t super narrow, but overall the board does have narrower waist width. The 157cm model that I was riding had a waist width of 253mm. The waist width, combined with the progressive sidecut (a sidecut that gets tighter/smaller towards the tail of the board) and 5mm of taper mean that turns feel very quick.
They are smooth and easy to start a turn, and feel strong the whole way through.
Float
I wasn’t able to ride the Aeronaut in any proper deep snow, so I can’t comment on how it would ride – though the directional shape, setback and taper are definitely things you would want in powder.
Speed
It is hard to keep track of the names that Capita put on their boards, but in general as the price of the board goes up, the base gets faster. The Aeronaut I was riding had been freshly waxed, and it was very fast.
It wasn’t just quick in one particular set of conditions, I rode it in the rain, in fresh heavy snow, icy mornings and slush and sugar.
It felt like it was constantly trying to accelerate – the second you stop making quick turns it was almost like it is pulling you quickly down the hill. Flat sections of cat tracks meant that I had to concentrate avoiding other people, just because I was moving quickly compared to everyone else.
Switch
Although a directional tapered board is never going to be great riding switch, this wasn’t terrible. You aren’t going to spend ages riding a board like this switch anyway, but it is good enough to get by.
Overall
The Capita Aeronaut is a fun board, and it could easily be a one board quiver. It rides just like it is described – it is very fast, quick to turn and poppy.
If you are looking for a board with a more classic set of features, camber, taper, directional but with a light weight, this is. a good choice.
Features of the Capita Aeronaut 2024
Directional Shape
A longer nose than tail, with a little bit of taper as well. There is a 0.8″ of setback on the stance.
Progressive Sidecut
A mix of at least two different radii that are mixed together to get a balance of smooth starts to turns, with a strong or more powerful exit to the turns.
Alpine V3
Basically a full camber profile, with the tiniest little flat sections at the contact points of the board.
Panda Hover Core
The regular Hover Core is used on a couple of boards that I have owned, the Mercury and The Outsiders. It is a simple and mix of poplar and paulownia wood that is lightweight but strong. The Panda version is used on the Aeronaut and the Kazu, and the difference is that it has bamboo rods.
Amplitex V-Tech Amplified
This is a natural flax fiber mixed with carbon strands, and is added to keep the board reactive with the carbon, but still damp with the flax. This is found on just a few of their higher end boards.
Holysheet Tri/Bi Fiberglass
This version of construction is used on the majority of Capita boards, and is a mix of two directions (biaxial) on the bottom of the core, and three directions (triaxial) on the top of the core.
Magic Bean Resin
60% renewable, this resin is made to be strong and durable, which allows the cores to be thinner.
Hyperdrive ADV Base
Capita seem to change the names of their bases every season, so it can be hard to keep track, but this is a fast sintered base.
Silkscreen Base
360 Degree HRC48 Steel Edges
Full ABS1000 Sidealls
Stainless Steel 4×2 Inserts
Sizes available:
- 153cm
- 155cm
- 157cm
- 159cm
- 161cm
Capita Aeronaut Technical Specs
| Length (cm) | Effective Edge (mm) | Setback (in) | Waist Width (mm) | Sidecut (m) | Taper (mm) | Suggested Weight (lbs / kg) |
| 153 | 1200 | 0.8 | 247 | 8.3 / 7.3 | 5 | 115-175 / 52-79 |
| 155 | 1215 | 0.8 | 250 | 8.4 / 7.4 | 5 | 125-185 / 56-83 |
| 157 | 1230 | 0.8 | 253 | 8.5 / 7.5 | 5 | 135-195 / 61-88 |
| 159 | 1245 | 0.8 | 256 | 8.6 / 7.6 | 5 | 145-205 / 65-92 |
| 161 | 1260 | 0.8 | 259 | 8.7 / 7.7 | 5 | 160-220 / 72-99 |
Great review! Just wondering how does this compare to the Korua Otto in terms of stiffness and rideability?
Looking for something I can use as a daily.
Thanks! It is much much lighter than the Otto – a big plus for me. The Otto felt stiffer in general, but to ride it takes a bit more effort, or maybe it is that you have to be more deliberate with each turn to get the most out of it.
The Aeronaut is very quick and easy to turn, and all the performance is there, you just don’t have to try so hard to get a lot out of it if you don’t want to. It is a very easy choice as a daily board, for my riding at least.
Great review!
How does it ride comparing to a MegaMerc?
Thanks!
The Aeronaut does turn better than the Mega Mercury, but that is pretty expected with the directional/tapered shape. I would think of the Aeronaut as a nice shaped, light and expensive board, with the Mega Merc being a very light, fast but plain/regular shaped board – handy if you want to ride a lot of switch.
Incredible review. How does the Aeronaunt compare to the Super DOA? I’m looking for a board that will compliment my Burton hometown hero and Jone Storm Wolf. Thanks in advance for your help!
Thanks! It sounds like the Super DOA might be a better board for you – mainly because the Aeronaut will be crossing up a bit with the Hometown Hero. The Aeronaut is still a great board, but probably not different enough to justify having it as well as the Burton.
On the plus side, the Super DOA is a bunch lighter, even compared to the pretty light Aeronaut.
Fantastic review as always! Have a 22 mercury still in the wrapper but looking at the Aeronaut as a one board quiver. No park, all mountain, no switch, same size as you as well. Thoughts? Is the camber in the aeronaut more grabby than the mercury?
If you have have said even a little park I would say Mercury, but the Aeronaut will do everything you listed really well. The camber does make it a bit more direct feeling compared to the Mercury, but it isn’t so much that it feels like it will catch you out if you aren’t concentrating.
After riding the Aeronaut, I also got on the Black Snowboard of Death, which I would probably choose as my number one choice for the sort of riding you mentioned. It is a roughly similar board, but it felt a bit more powerful, like it would smash through chunky terrain a bit easier than the Aeronaut. Tiny differences, but might be worth having a look at as well.
Thanks for the reviews. How would this compare to a Custom camber? Probably 55 Aeronaut vs 54 or 56 Custom? 9.5 boot. Approx 160lbs. I’d probably set the custom up a bit further back than reference so it’d be similar to the Aeronaut’s -0.8inch.
In the past Capitas have felt like they’re hollow underfoot and I haven’t loved that. But, the Aeronaut’s shape looks so great and I love that in theory it’s like a detuned full camber board. Yeah?
What do ya think? Thoughts on turn shape (big and small) from both boards? Flex patterns?
thanks again,
I do like the Camber Custom quite a bit, but it is heavier than the Aeronaut. By that I mean the Custom is pretty standard, just the Aeronaut is nice and light. I think the main plus for the Aeronaut compared to the custom is going to be the shape. Aside from the setback, the progressive sidecut and little bit of taper is going to the make small and large turns a touch smoother than the plain radial of the Custom.
Flex overall is roughly similar on both boards, but the tail on the Aeronaut is stiffer, and will push back pretty hard if you need it to.
I think if you were going to look at a Burton board, the Hometown Hero would probably be a better comparison.
You should be pretty safe with the Aeronaut, but I don’t know if you are still going to get that “hollow” feeling you mentioned, its something I haven’t noticed.
Thanks man. Good to know on the flex profile.
I’ve actually ridden the Hometown Hero and I didn’t love it. The tail felt a bit too stiff, and overall the board just didn’t feel exciting- if that makes sense. I was also surprised by how washy the middle of that board felt on hardpack. It was weird, usually you loose a turn near the contact points, but this felt like the middle of the board didn’t hold well.
I’m still waiting for them to build the CustomE.R. (Extra Rad). A custom with some early rise in the nose and a touch of flat at the tail contact point.
thanks again!
Thanks for all your reviews! The board ticks almost all boxes for me but, like most of the Capita boards, it’s rather narrow. I’m 5′ 8″ with 11.5US boots and don’t want 159 or 161 board for sure. Do you know a comparable Salomon board to this? I have my eyes on Assassin Pro as upgrade to my old Villain.
I would have a look at the Salomon Highpath as a better option from Salomon. The Assassin/Assassin Pro are alright, but nothing speciall.
You could also look at the BSOD, it will have some wide sizes that will be a better match for your boots. I personally liked the BSOD a bit better, it felt damper and more solid – I’d be happy to ride it everywhere.
Which one would you say does better on side hits? Aeronaut or Mega Merc?
The Aeronaut’s profile will give it the tiniest bit more pop, but you can’t go wrong with either really. Both are light and snappy
Thanks for the review! I’m also trying to decide between the Otto and the Aeronaut. I have an old Skate Banana which was amazing as a learning board but I’m looking for a camber board that will serve my type of riding more: groomers, side hits and carving. I don’t often have good snow conditions and pow days are rare although freeriding is what I love the most there are seasons I don’t ride outside the resort once. I feel like both the Otto and the Aeronaut tick all the boxes and with almost a similar price (the Aeronaut is on offer in a local shop) so I don’t know which one to choose. What advantages to you see in one vs the other?
FYI I’m 171cm and 65kg, 25.4 cm feet.
Both will do the job you are looking for, but I would choose the Aeronaut as the top choice. It is much lighter and snappier than the Otto is, and has a tapered shape.
Otto would be great if you were a heavier rider and wanted a board closer to a twin shape. If you liked the idea/look of Korua boards, I think that the Transition Finder would be a closer option to the Aeronaut. Still (relatively) heavy like the Otto, but with a more directional shape as well as some good taper. Korua Shapes boards in general are quite wide, so although they will be great for aggressive carving, they will take more effort to turn with smaller boots.
I have almost the same spec, 64kg, 173cm, 25.5cm feet (us mens 7.5). I felt that by weight I should get 155cm and by foot size 153cm, It’s so hard to decide … it will be a hudge differnence? what do you recommend? it will be resort/groomers but also powders day. Main goal is carving pop jump and have fun. No rails nor jibs, just jumps in park.
I think that you will have the most fun on the 153. It will be quicker to turn, more playful but still with plenty of pop. If you do get a super deep powder day, just set the bindings back, I don’t think there is big advantage for you to jump up to the 155.
Great video! How does this compare to the mercury?
Thanks! It is a good option, but I think that it would do really well if I could ride it in some proper deep snow. The Mercury is still probably the most well-rounded board I have been on, but if I wanted something with a bit more shape or direction, it would be between this and the Black Snowboard of Death.