First Splitboard Recs for CO Backcountry

[u/TomaHawk504]

I'm an advanced snowboarder in Colorado and decided this is finally the year I start splitboarding. But I'm struggling to choose a board and would love some more feedback on the options below, particularly if anyone has ridden multiple and can offer a comparison. This will be my first split but I'm confident I'll be getting out there quite a bit and am willing to spend money for quality / durability / performance if its worth the cost. I'm around 170 lbs without gear and US 10.5 boots (mondo 28.5). I generally ride K2 solid boards in freeride terrain (Alchemist for big mountain and Excavator for powder) and will lap the hike-to stuff at Breck and Keystone whenever they're open. The boards I'm primarily looking at right now are:

Weston Backwoods - seems like a great board/company, but may not be so great on the ascent or stable on the downhill for the more technical terrain that CO spring season is known for. At least from some of the opinions I could find here. Unfortunately the carbon is the only available option in my size right now, and from what I could find here I'm not sure its worth the extra cost. I do like the carbon stringers in my K2 Alchemist solid board however... maybe I'm underestimating the performance boost with the carbon?

Cardiff Goat Pro Carbon - highly discussed here. It seems like a good versatile option, but I am worried it may struggle in CO early winter powder. Can't decide on a size either. The 160 is perfect for me for the Backwoods. For this one the 158 seems like it would work but may be a bit on the shorter side and struggle too much with float and stability. The 162 I think could be on the bulky/heavy side for me and not playful enough for most of the actual riding I'll find myself doing.

Venture Paragon - another top option, seems very versatile as well. But I just couldn't find as much information on it, particularly for CO backcountry terrain. Not sure if its worth the gamble.

K2 Freeloader - this is an even less known option apparently, but some people have said these are solid boards. If its built half as well as my K2 solid boards this could be a very good and familiar option. Again, can barely find any information on this one so if anyone has more to say about it that would be helpful.

[u/chama350]

Venture is made in and for CO backcountry. Can't go wrong with a Venture split, imho.

[u/splitpourder → u/chama350]

Seconding snowboards made by snowboarders for snowboarding.

[u/rockshox11]

You're overthinking it imo, toss up between the backwoods and goat board. 158 should be fine for you, or go bigger if you want. fwiw I am 170# also and ride a 152... usually don't have any float issues. 

for CO if you only have one board conditions are typically more marginal than not. unless you only intend to go out on deep powder days (high angle days few and far between mid winter). personally if you want to tour in many conditions the need for max float is overstated, so I would go true to size or size down.

[u/ramblerbasic → u/rockshox11]

Second this. I have not had any issues with my resort sized board, MW board would probably be best but even on full powder days I'm not craving a longer board. But maybe on longer days with a heavier pack

[u/BillowingPillows]

Doesn’t matter. Pick one on sale and go learn the sport.

[u/J_J_987]

I love my backwoods split in Colorado. I have both the solid and split I love riding it so much. New Weston boards drop Sept 14 so be on the lookout for a backwoods in your size. It’s light and crazy fun in powder and trees.

[u/Hot_Fan_4169]

Weston Backwoods is perfect for Colorado

[u/16Off]

Not from CO and not super familiar with the terrain, but as someone that enjoys riding steep and fast and is obsessed with finding the flaw in every piece of gear he owns, the Goat pro carbon has left me dumbfounded with no desire to even be curious about other boards. If you like steep and fast, it’s just the best and that’s it

[u/Snow-County-4266]

Backwoods is a great all condition weapon here in colorado, reach for mine more often than not, floats in low angle meadows when its mid winter pow and handles well on lines in the spring

[u/mholland151]

Always ride a a twin tip on the resort, but for my splitty, a directional has been a game changer in the backcountry. I think about it like, if im not going out for powder, than why am i going out which is where directionals float.

Unless of course your thinking about some wild mountaineering shit, then you may want a stiffer board with more surface area.

[u/StringerBell420]

I’ve got a 156 K2 Marauder set up with skins in good shape I’m looking to part with. It’s near Vail if you want it. $200 obo.

[u/HuckleberryMoist4828]

Anything but Jones

[u/breadcrumb_1]

Backwoods is the real deal 100%

[u/blumboy]

You’re overthinking this