Burton Custom 2023 Review
The Burton Custom is one of the most famous and longest running snowboard models. It is a freestyle sort of all mountain board, that has a traditional camber profile, a directional shape and a medium flex rating. It has been around forever, and is made in a few different versions.
Currently there are two main versions of the Burton Custom, which have the same overall construction, but with different camber profiles.
The easy to ride version is the Flying V, which is a hybrid profile that has rocker between your feet, with camber sections out towards the nose and tail. This is the version that will suit beginner to intermediate riders.
The other option is the traditional camber model, which is probably the one people are thinking of when they talk about the Custom. Being traditional camber, it does have a bit more of a learning curve, a catchier feel though it is much more capable than the Flying V.
When I first decided that I was going to move to Canada and start snowboarding, I bought two boards. The first was a Forum Recon, which was a pretty easy board to ride, and the second was a 2007 Burton Custom, which I got knowing I would have to work my way up to it. At that point everyone was riding camber boards, with rocker Skate Bananas just starting to show up occasionally.
I spent a lot of time riding my 2007 Custom, and getting lessons on that board I think helped me (hopefully) learn some good techniques. I have ridden the custom a couple of times over the years, on the 2017 and the 2023 model.
Except for pretty small changes in the weight of the board, as well as the flex, it is pretty much the same thing.
There is now going to be a second option for the Custom each season. Simple white topsheet, with a black base. It will run alongside whatever graphic is designed for each season. Have a look at it on Burtons website.
How it Rides
Board size: 156cm
Boots: Vans Infuse
Bindings: Burton Cartel X EST
I weigh around 70kg/155lbs, and am 6 foot tall. I generally ride with my back binding on the reference point, with the front binding moved one notch narrower, which puts the stance width somewhere around 21 – 21 1/2 inches wide.
I was riding the 2023 model at Mt Buller, in spring conditions that were a mix of soft deeper slush, hard icy sections in the shade, with everything in between. Although not always the most fun, they are good conditions for testing boards in.
Flex and Pop
The Custom has a medium overall flex, so it is easy enough to press and move it around without a huge amount of effort. The pop is good, meaning that if you flex it for an ollie, it pushes back quite strongly which gives it a pretty lively feel.
Edge Hold
You should expect good edge hold from full camber boards, and the Custom does feel quite solid. You can push all your weight on the edge and be pretty confident that it will grip even through quite icy sections.
Speed
The Custom has a sintered base, so I never found speed to be an issue, in any conditions on any of the boards over the years. Though I also do make sure to keep everything I ride pretty well maintained, so it should do well.
Overall
Overall I think that the Custom is one of the best all around boards that you can get. If you needed just one board to ride everything, this would be it.
It has a nice lively feel from the camber profile, a fast base, and good edge hold.
I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners though, unless you were certain that you were a fast learner who picks things up very quickly. If you were a beginner, or someone who is only going to ride maybe a week or so per season, then go for the easier to ride Flying V.
If you are an intermediate or above rider, then you can probably get a lot from the Custom.
View the Custom on Burton.comSimilar boards:
Basically the same board, that has very similar features, and the feel riding it.
Although the Legend is a true twin, it has a similar feel in flex and edge hold, and is just as much fun to ride.
Basically the Custom X is a slightly stiffer, more aggressive version of the Burton Custom.
Features of the Burton Custom 2023
Camber
The traditional camber is the profile that gives you the most pop, stability and edge hold. It isn’t necessarily the easier profile to ride, but it gives you a really good ride if you are going to put the work in. Ollies will snap back nicely, and it has a very stable feel.
Directional Shape
There board has a directional shape, so it has a slightly longer nose than tail. Hardly noticeable though, you could ride switch on this all day long.
Twin Flex
Although it has a directional shape, the flex on the board is the exact same no matter which way you ride it. So that means that pressing or ollieing will feel the same in both regular and switch directions.
Super Fly II 700G Core
The core is made up of a combination of strong and light woods, to keep the weight down but still keep it strong. The Super Fly II core is in the middle of the range of cores that Burton offer, with the lightest they have being only 500g and the heaviest being 900g.
Dualzone EGD
The grain of the core along the toe and heel edge is perpendicular to the rest of the core, to give a little more strength (and they say add edge hold).
45 Degree Carbon Highlights
Adds to the torsional (twisting) flex of the board.
Sintered WFO Base
A sintered base material, that comes with waxed infused from the factory.
The Channel
Technically more options than you would ever need for stance widths. Pretty much all bindings are compatible with the Channel.
Sizes Available:
- 150cm
- 154cm
- 156cm
- 158cm
- 162cm
- 154cm Wide
- 158cm Wide
- 162cm Wide
- 166cm Wide
- 170cm Wide
Wide options
In general wide boards are 260mm or wider at the waist width (narrowest part of the board). The width scales up with the length, so the 154w isn’t that wide, while the 170w is really wide.
On Burtons site, they say to look at wide boards as an option if you are in a US size 11, and definitely if you are in size 12 or bigger.
| Board Size | 150 | 154 | 156 | 158 | 162 | 154W | 158W | 162W | 166W | 170W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Range | 120-180 lbs. / 54-82kg | 120-180 lbs. / 54-82kg | 150-200 lbs. / 68-91kg | 150-200 lbs. / 68-91kg | 180-260 lbs.+ / 82-118kg+ | 120-180 lbs. / 54-82kg | 150-200 lbs. / 68-91kg | 180-260 lbs.+ / 82-118kg+ | 180-260 lbs.+ / 82-118kg+ | 180-260 lbs.+ / 82-118kg+ |
| Waist Width | 248mm | 250mm | 252mm | 254mm | 256mm | 258mm | 262mm | 264mm | 266mm | 270mm |
| Stance Location | -12.5 | -12.5 | -12.5 | -12.5 | -12.5 | -12.5 | -12.5 | -12.5 | -12.5 | -12.5 |
| Binding Sizes | M | M/L | M/L | M/L | L | L | L | L | L | L |
| Running Length | 1085mm | 1125mm | 1145mm | 1165mm | 1205mm | 1125mm | 1165mm | 1205mm | 1245mm | 1285mm |
| Sidecut Radius | 7.4m | 7.6m | 7.8m | 7.9m | 8.2m | 7.6m | 7.9m | 8.2m | 8.4m | 8.7m |
| Sidecut Depth | 20.0mm | 20.8mm | 21.1mm | 21.5mm | 22.2mm | 20.8mm | 21.5mm | 22.2mm | 23.0mm | 23.7mm |
| Stance Width | 505mm | 530mm | 530mm | 560mm | 560mm | 530mm | 560mm | 560mm | 560mm | 560mm |
| Nose Width | 288.1mm | 291.5mm | 294.3mm | 297.0mm | 300.5mm | 299.5mm | 305.0mm | 308.5mm | 312.0mm | 317.4mm |
| Tail Width | 288.1mm | 291.5mm | 294.3mm | 297.0mm | 300.5mm | 299.5mm | 305.0mm | 308.5mm | 312.0mm | 317.4mm |
| Effective Edge | 1135mm | 1175mm | 1195mm | 1215mm | 1255mm | 1175mm | 1215mm | 1255mm | 1295mm | 1335mm |
Previous season graphics
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
Hi Lucky,
Would you still choose Burton Custom 156cm or Nitro Team 155/157cm if you were to choose between the two? I am look for just 1 board that would be able to give me good foundation (which both of these will) and will take me far. I am currently 80% groomers and 20% trees and light pow. But will be soon including 10-15% park as well.
Thanks!
They are so similar that I would just go with whatever one you like the look/price of most, though if you want to get into tiny details the Team is a bit narrower so it will turn quicker. But that is just a couple of mm, so probably not noticeable in real life.
Thanks Lucky, but I saw your video on the Team and you said you’d choose the Team over Custom any time. Is there a reason?
Also how would the Team’s Dual Degressive Sidecut ride compared to the Custom? Money and Looks aside, I can’t decide on which one to go with. Or even the Korua Otto.
Really they are quite similar – though in a non scientific way the Team felt a bit lighter to me than the most recent (2023) Custom that I have ridden. Technically the Team is a tiny bit narrower and has the slightly different sidecut, it might be those things that have added together that really made me like the Team when I rode it. Really either you can’t go wrong with – the Otto is way different though, go for that if you want a much heavier/solid board, that has a more powerful feel, though with less forgiveness if you get something wrong.
Understood! So I’ll go with the cheapest board and likely the Team as I like the idea of degressive sidecut where one doesn’t need to get that ‘hooky’ feeling unless you want it, and when you want it it’s probably the time where you pressure for the inner smaller sidecut radius.
Understood on the Otto too, guess it’s either the Team or Custom for me. Though now researching too much, im afraid that a low-intermediate like me would be better off in a process or stick with Team/Custom to build solid foundation and fundamentals. Which would you recommend? Process or Season Nexus or Team/Custom. Thanks again!
Oh the hooky feeling is going to be on both the Custom and the Team, much less to do with the sidecut and more to do with the full traditional camber profile. Nothing to worry about at all, you will get used to it fast and the positives way outweigh the negatives. The Process or Nexus are good options as well, they just have a toned down profile with the flat/rocker sections at the contact points. Any of those 4 will take a bit of getting used to, but there will be slightly less of a learning curve on the Nexus and Process.
I’m between Burton Custom and Capita mercury. Which one would you choose between these two as a resort snowboard?
Both are really good, and I would be happy to take everything out no matter the conditions. Technically there is a little bit more forgiveness with the rocker sections on the Mercury, but it isn’t going to be super noticeable. If you like searching for fresh snow whenever it is around I would choose the Mercury, but if you spent more time on groomed runs I would go for the Custom.
Do i need wide size if my boot size 10.5US?
No need for a wide Custom with those size boots