Splitboarding has had some real hype in recent years. However, the increasing availability of splitboards on the market today, along with the variety of boots, bindings and boards can be daunting if not confusing.

What splitboard type are you?

To make the orientation of purchasing a splitboard easier, we have divided potential splitboard buyers into five types. For each type, we give a recommendation, which will hopefully lead you to many hours of riding pleasure!

1. The Greenhorn

You’ve just started snowboarding, but the backcountry interests you more than prepared runs and you can hardly wait to finally slap those skins on your board and get started in off-piste terrain! It is advisable to consider a forgiving all-rounder board, that will cope equally as well with any terrain. A slightly softer boot does not demand too much foot while looking for a binding that is a slightly heavier model will allow the power transfer to function better.

2. The Daring one

You still don’t have much of a clue (yet) about splitboarding. However, as a passionate snowboarder, you are technically fit and need a high-quality board that stands out in all conditions and won’t let you down, even in steep gullies and difficult snow conditions. You should grab a top splitboard with a versatile shape. A combination of rocker and camber gives you, for example, an optimal combination of deep snow capability and edge grip.

3. The powder freak

You only come out to play when there’s a nice white fluffy powder to be had. Ideally, inclined powder slopes are your favourite. Technical routes are more the exception. Whether Swallowtail or a Rocker: For you, the board can be slightly longer and/or bent. Rockers manoeuvre superbly in powder, Swallowtails provide the necessary buoyancy. Result: You can enjoy the powder flow so much more!

4. The trickster

What you take to the pipe, you also want to apply on the terrain. Your friends are always amazed at what tricks you pull out on such short descents. A 360° here and a nose-grab are all just standard repertoires to you.

5. The Alpinist

The thing here that counts is extreme! You take your splitboard anywhere and can be found where experienced ski tourers also intend to ski. Whether it be a difficult four-thousand peek in the Western Alps or a steep gully descent. You need a board that will cope with long, icy slope crossings and diverse qualities of snow. Primarily, you should be looking for a solid, versatile board that will handle champagne powder just as well as a hard flank. Bindings with a hard highback give you board control necessary on a steep slope. Your boots should be very comfortable, have a stable base and ideally be compatible with crampons.

TIP: crampons for splitboards

Crampons are found these days in most splitboarder’s backpack. Splitboard crampons help in not losing your grip on crusty and icy passages, and have saved so many tours. In particular, on Spring tours, crampons should be considered as standard equipment, like the snow, early morning is often still hard and partly frozen. Without crampons, you run the risk of slipping helplessly backwards while wearing skins. The only people who can safely do without crampons are powder fanatics who only march out on the softest of conditions!

Small lesson on forms –  splitboard shapes & co

Those wanting to hold their own on the topic of splitboards, should know a thing about shapes. Various shapes for various ability levels of riders. It’s that simple.

Camber

The classic among the shapes and as versatile as ever. The shape makes for good edge hold and for a reasonable curve behaviour in difficult snow conditions. Suitable for: long Western Alps touring in icy conditions. Less suitable for: tricky descents with a lot of switches.

Rocker

Rocker shapes were in recent years, not only on the lips of deep snow fanatics – and not without reason! The deflected shape gives so much lift in powder and provides a high degree of manoeuvrability. Good for: powdery slopes. Less suitable for: icy ascents, hard-frozen downhill rides.

Flat

As the name suggests, it’s just flat. Splitboards with a flat shape are suitable for super icy, tough climbs and flanks which the edge grip must be relied upon. Suitable for: challenging 1,000ms of altitude tour in constantly changing conditions. Less suitable for: a Champagne Powder trip to Utah.

Swallowtail

Swallowtail boards are for deep snow par excellence! The straight tail in a dovetail shape ensures that the tail of the board drops and that the nose stays buoyant even in bottomless powder. Good for: deep, fine powder. Less suitable for: technical routes with varying, sometimes hard snow conditions.

Combinations

Of course there are mixed forms of camber and rocker, which have been optimized for certain rider profiles.

The correct bindings for splitboards

Splitboard bindings have a component that is critical for riding: The flexible highback. A short and soft highback allows for increased range of motion in pipe and terrain, higher and stiff highback provides optimal control while ascending and maximum power transfer on descents. While touring with a splitboard, usually a somewhat stiffer highback will give the board safer control through powder pockets, overblown sections and older crusted snow, where snow conditions are continuously changing. Highback splitboard bindings have the advantage that they can be moved to the back – a plus for walk-mode comfort!

Foot matter – What boot for splitboarding?

What would a great splitboard be without the right boot? It is often overlooked that comfortable shoes are instrumental in the success of a tour. First and foremost applies: Snowboard boots should be comfortable and not be the cause of blisters, chafing or numb toes during a backcountry tour. Regarded as a rough rule of thumb: better a half size too large as a half size too small. If you don’t own snowboard boots, a well-fitting pair of hiking boots is a good substitute. Bergzeit offers a great range of splitboard boots, that are specifically adapted to the needs of splitboarders and offer a perfect combination of comfort and stability.

Avalanche safety – a topic even with splitboards

Newcomers to the backcountry should take an avalanche course before the start of the snow season. There are many operators and organizations that have avalanche courses in their program. Avalanche courses teach you to assess the terrain properly, correctly assess risk, and appropriately handle an avalanche beacon, avalanche probe and shovel.

Keyword safety equipment: Splitboarders and their must-haves

For splitboard touring off-piste – even if only a descent via a deep snow slope – the safety trio of an avalanche beacon, avalanche probe and shovel are necessary. The Bergzeit.co.uk Shop offers various brands and sets. Take it one step further towards safety and consider an avalanche backpack. These backpacks have large airbags, which can be triggered in a few seconds in the event of an avalanche. Again, the Bergzeit.co.uk Shop has several manufacturers in stock with various sized packs. If you intend to ascend higher with a splitboard, where routes may include glacier and mixed terrain, it’s also worth considering paying a visit to a crevasse rescue course.

More on winter sports, ski touring, safety, freeriding:

• Avalanche backpack overview: Comparing airbag systems
• Avalanche Beacon: A Buyer’s Guide
• Legendary Jeremy Jones – an interview