UPDATE: Check out our review of the Best 2018/2019 Kids’ Snowboards here
If a snowboarder ever tells you that “it was better in the 90s”, you can bet the farm that they were already a fully grown human by then. For groms trying to learn in the days of dial-up internet and Beanie Babies, options were limited – so much so, in fact, that the vast majority of pre-pubescents found on any given mountain would be on skis.
“For groms trying to learn in the days of dial-up internet and Beanie Babies, options were limited… fortunately, things have moved on considerably since then”
Fortunately, things have moved on considerably since then. From just one or two companies catering to the young team, now just about every major brand worth its salt has at least one kids’ board in the range. Where once the problem was not being able to get any gear at all, now it’s knowing where to start.
Not only are there more boards to choose from, the differences between each are more pronounced. Some aim to unlock your grom’s inner freerider, whilst others are designed to give them the confidence and control to take on park features without it ending in a bonanza for the Tooth Fairy. Of course, there are plenty of all-rounders too.
We grabbed as many 2017/18 kids snowboards as we could, and put them under the feet of three experienced, resort-dwelling young testers aged 9, 11 and 13.
We’ve also roped in their Team Manager (aka Dad) to pass his eye over the kit. He’s offered the all-important perspective of the parent, and after years of trial-and-error he’s now well placed to offer key tips for How To Choose The Right Snowboard Gear For Your Kids, so be sure to check those out too. Plus don’t forget to check out the latest kids snowboard bindings, as they are hugely important at this stage too.
Visually the boards run the full gamut of styles – from decidedly kid-friendly, cartoonish graphics to subtler, scaled-down versions of adult boards – but knowing how they perform on the hill is still the most important thing.
With all of that in mind, here’s what kids snowboards are worth looking out for, and why.
Scroll down to view the best kids’ snowboards, or skip to a particular brand using the links below
Arbor | Bataleon | Burton | Flow | Gnu | Head | Jones | Rome | YES
Click any image to enlarge
