Snowboards

Weston Hatchet Split 2021-2022 Splitboard Review

Price: €949 / $949
Category: Freeride + Powder
Sizes: 152, 156
Flex: 7/10
Shape: Directional Twin
Profile: CamRock
3D: No
Base: Sintered

A few years ago we would have laughed at the idea of a backcountry freestyle snowboard that was essentially a short stubby twin, and we would have laughed even harder if you told us it was also a splitboard. But what do you know, now we have the Weston Hatchet Split. A delightfully odd and super impressive board primed for spinning, buttering, slashing and popping off every natural feature in the side country and backcountry.

“A delightfully odd and super impressive board primed for spinning, buttering, slashing and popping off every natural feature in the side country and backcountry”

MORE INFO:
WESTON.COM

Who Is The Weston Hatchet Split For?

You may be new to the splitboard game, or just fancy something that’s primed for more mellow angle creative freeriding, You’re the kind of rider who loves to incorporate playful freestyle into all of your riding, whether its laid out powder butters or lofty spins off of windlips.

Shape, Profile and Sidecut

You can tell just by looking that the Hatchet Split is mega volume shifted, but it’s also a directional twin. You can ride this way, way shorter than a conventional freeride shape – about 8 to 10 centimeres. That’s because the volume has been pulled in from its length and out into the width.

This thing’s super wide – about 28 centimetres through the waist. This makes it perfect for slashy, surfy turns and tight lines through the trees. Because it’s less directional in its shape, it’s also ideal for bringing elements of freestyle into the backcountry – think pillow drops, powder butters and boosting 180s off of natural features.

There’s a good amount of positive camber running through the mid body, but the nose and tail feature quite similar-sized rocker zones. This means its performance in switch – especially in terms of how well it’s going to float – is almost identical whichever way you ride it.

“You can tell just by looking that the Hatchet Split is mega volume shifted, but it’s also a directional twin”

Construction and Materials

Sitting at a 7/10 the Hatchet Split features a full wood core, with added carbon stringers through the length for added snap and ollie power. With reactive triax glass sandwiching the core for response when you need it most and a slick sintered base to keep your speed when you’re riding low angle or between the trees.

Karakorum Ultra clips are a great option for durability and reliability – they really lock the split together when you’re riding it at provide some extra torsional rigidity in the nose and tail making it virtually ride and feel like a solid on the descents.

“Sitting at a 7/10 the Hatchet Split features a full wood core, with added carbon stringers through the length for added snap and ollie power”

Roundup

To differ from the solid version the Hatchet Split features an inside edge with full sidewall so you can always find grip on any sketchy ascents, and they’ve even built the tail a little heavier than the nose to assist with kickturns.