Our pick of this season's best Nidecker snowboard gear
Whilst the story of Jake Burton and Tom Sims battling out for the title of the inventor of snowboards, Swiss entrepreneur Henri Nidecker was turning in his grave with the knowledge that he’s set-up a snowboard company in 1887, almost a hundred years before Jake and Tom.
Well, not really, although Henri set up Nidecker in 1887 making agricultural equipment for Swiss farmers on the shores of Lake Geneva, it wasn’t until 1912 that Henri got in on the snow hype. It took a further 62 years for the Nidecker factory to churn out its first snowboard and they’ve been doing it damn well ever since.
They were one of the first companies to develop a steel-edged shred stick and used their new-fangled technology to carve the first lines down the iconic Mont Blanc on a prototype. In homage to the Hawaiian surfers of the 50s, they developed a board called the ‘Gun’ with a pointed tip and straight sidewalls. They were almost there anyway…
To this day, many snowboard companies get Nidecker to develop and prototype snowboards for them and produce them before they wack their logo and topsheet design on ‘em. If you can nae beat ‘em, you might as well join them!
Whitelines Choice Winner: Best Carving Snowboard PRICE: £585, €630, $650
Of the three models in Nidecker’s ‘Snow Surf Quiver’, the Mosquito is our number one pick. It’s a great example of a modern volume-shift design that can be ridden around 10 centimetres shorter than your standard deck. An updated silhouette for 2022/23 sees slightly more angular corners but, honestly it’s more of a cosmetic change. Performance remains much the same – and that’s a good thing. With that stubby tail and extended nose it’s a dream to ride in powder, but the beauty of this one is just how well it carves and slashes across the whole mountain. Unleash your inner John John!
Who Is The Nidecker Mosquito For?
Riders who are happy to swerve the park and try something a bit different. They love greybird days in the trees, and agile turns on the piste. And they probably own a wetsuit.
Nidecker deliver a lot of bang for your buck, and nowhere is that better illustrated than with the Escape. This well specced quiver killer has been a staple of their line for a few years, but its twin outline was starting to look long in the tooth compared to the coolest kids. A subtle facelift has made us fall in love with it all over again – and by the looks of their latest team edits, we’re not alone. We’ve seen the likes of Sebi Konijnenberg chuck this thing over giant park booters, crank it through banked slalom berms and charge it down remote lines. And if it’s good enough for him, it’s good enough for you.
Who Is The Nidecker Escape For?
Anyone looking for a playful yet versatile board on which to get creative. Buy one of these and you probably won’t want or need a second deck. So that’s minimalists and bargain hunters too, then.
Nidecker might have a giant range of shapes these days, but when it comes to classic twin tips there are only two choices: the Sensor, and the Sensor Plus. While the regular Sensor boasts a pretty mellow flex and rocker towards the tips for a jib-friendly ride, the Plus is aimed squarely at more aggressive riders who know their way around the big jumps at their local park. With more carbon in the mix it’s a little stiffer, and a little pricier, but the reward is a deck that snaps off the lip and won’t buckle when you set the landing gear down.
Who Is The Nidecker Sensor Plus For?
Enjoy spinning 5’s and beyond? Then this might well be the park board for you. The responsive trad camber profile also makes it a solid choice for charging around the resort and beyond – while keeping an eye out for take-offs at all times.
A new addition to the Nidecker roster last season, the Thruster once again impressed the crew to come up trumps and make its way back into the Whitelines 100 for the second year running.
A mash-up of the now defunct Princess and Platinum models, everything about the Thruster screams ‘Premium’- from the top shelf tech and materials used to the sleek aesthetic, this isn’t a snowboard for the faint hearted or those pinching pennies. Advanced riders looking for something that’ll track like a ballistic missile, but that isn’t just limited to digging trenches on freshly groomed corduroy should definitely consider taking a closer look at the Thruster.
Who Is The Nidecker Thruster Pro For?
Who’s the Thruster for? Well, it’s easier to say who it’s not for: it’s one of the stiffest, most aggressive snowboards in the Nidecker line. A real wolf in wolf’s clothing. Inexperienced riders will likely find it a bit much to handle.
The bigger sibling to the 2022/23 Whitelines 100 winner, the Escape, the all-new Escape Plus is lighter, stronger and a wee bit stiffer. Its full camber profile and aggressive flex earmark it as a precise and powerful all-mountain freeride weapon that’s aimed at experienced riders who want to get out and explore across varied terrain.
Traditional camber might not be the most popular profile these days, but there’s no denying its utility. Sure, it’s a little more catchy around the contact points, but there’s nothing quite like it for stability, pop and precision. It’s rare these days to see a true camber that’s aimed at freeriders, but with some clever shape tech and setback inserts Nidecker have ensured you’ll still get the float you need when you encounter deeper snow. And while the Escape Plus’ profile might not be what you expect for a freeride board, it pays dividends when you’re slicing up groomers. Pair this with the Pop Carbon Plus layup, which sandwiches the core from tip to tail and you’ve got a board that’s reactive, responsive but still fun to ride.
Clue’s in the name here… The Mellow is a freeride board that’s designed for surfy turns, painting lines in open bowls and punching your ticket to the white room. It’s a firm team and fan favourite that blends modern shaping tech with a tried and tested profile to earn a ‘Good Vibes Only’ sticker when you’re out hunting for stashes and slashes.
Just looking at the Mellow you can see it’s built for pow days. That big ol’ elongated nose, setback stance and tapered outline are set to do the heavy lifting when you strike white gold, with the stubby cut out tail helping to sink the rear of the board down into the snow for max control underfoot. Despite its prowess in the fresh snow, the Mellow can certainly hold its own across other areas. The setback camber and advanced construction allow you to really lay out into carves on the hardpack, with a versatile flex that won’t restrict you to certain areas of the piste map.
Yowza, what a smokeshow! We’re fully aware you should never choose a snowboard based on aesthetic, buuuuut c’mon, the Nidecker Smoke is a full on box ticker. The Smoke definitely isn’t for everyone, it goes full 10/10 on Nidecker’s flex rating and the top-shelf construction will chew up and spit out a beginner faster than you can say ‘Jesus take the wheel’, but for confident and experienced riders who want a quiver deck that won’t sit in the locker when it hasn’t been dumping will find a premium playmate here.
As part of the ‘Snow Surf’ collection, the Smoke is one of the more traditional shapes at first glance. It’s directional, obviously, but Nidecker has made the most of the running length with a stubby tail that’ll sink into fresh snow and hold a carve like its life depends on it. The long, rockered nose and outline make for chill, surfy turns in fresh snow, whilst the midbody camber lends itself to deep carves on the hardpack. A double whammy, nice.
In surfing, if you need a board to charge heavy waves, you reach for a gun. Inspired by this classic big wave stick, Nidecker have rehauled their version from the archives for one reason: to surf the mountain. Grab this beast on a powder day and you’ll see what we mean. The cam-rock profile and setback stance provide plenty of float, whilst the long sidecut allows you to carve huge cut-back turns. Yes it’s fairly enormous in size, but the Gun is far from sluggish; the lightweight core and N-9000 base ensure a whip-fast ride. Not an everyday board, but when you wake up to 50cm of fresh stuff, it’ll be the first deck you grab.
We’ve all heard the old adage ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, but Nidecker isn’t trying to redesign the wheel here…just a binding. After the initial Quick-Entry binding fad faded into the ether, several brands brought their new and improved versions to market in recent seasons. Instead of rushing to keep up with the competition, Nidecker bided their time and spent years in the R&D lab fine tuning their own answer to speedy bindings.
Enter the Supermatic, a binding that combines the easy accessibility of automated closure, the versatility of dual-entry and the broad appeal of universal compatibility. Nidecker highlights that their Supermatic is the only binding currently on the market that ticks all three of these boxes, a triple threat that intersects at the heart of the binding Venn Diagram. So, while the traditional binding model wasn’t inherently broken, thus not requiring ‘fixing’ as such, Nidecker decided to throw their hat into the ring of innovation and came up trumps with the Supermatic.
Who are The Nidecker Supermatic For?
The whole point here is that they’re universal – literally for anyone, so there’s no target market as such. But for us, we can see them flying off the shelves when the rad dads come calling, those who don’t want to faff about strapping in, people who struggle with bending down, or folks who just love to have the latest innovation.
The most reactive offering in the Nidecker women’s line, the Kaon-W Plus is aimed squarely at intermediate and up riders who want a binding that’ll do it all. An upgrade to the OG Kaon, the Kaon-W Plus sits comfortably in the gap between freeride and freestyle, allowing for true all-mountain versatility.
There’s a lot to talk about here, but the straps are one of the star players on Team Kaon-W Plus. The toe strap uses snazzy AuxTech, a high-tech hinge system that evenly expands over your boot with no pressure points. Up top, Nidecker kit it out with their Exo Kush strap. T
hey’ve upped the ante by connecting the toe and ankle diagonally for a super locked in feel. The Kaon-W Plus are a supportive, responsive binding that bring power and comfort by the bucket load.
Brand-new for winter 22/23, the Nidecker Kita is a premium, performance-oriented all-mountain powerhouse of a boot. Nidecker have completely overhauled their boot line for this season, trimming the fat and updating their range to cement themselves as one of the big players in the boot game.
The Kita is the stiffest, most aggressive boot in the women’s line, sitting at a 9/10 flex it’s made for charging on piste, cranking locked in turns and stomping big landings. Utilising the very best materials that Nidecker has in their locker and bursting with innovative, rider refined features, the Kita is as fancy as it is functional.
Who are The Nidecker Kita For?
The Kita is a boot for advanced riders who want to attack the whole mountain, the aggressive flex earmarks them as an option for only those who are confident in their abilities.
For winter 2022/23 Nidecker have overhauled their boot range from the ground up, which means redesigned lasts and a bunch of all-new models. The Rift promises to be their most crowd-pleasing addition, matching clean looks with lightweight materials and a mid-soft flex that’s perfectly suited to the favourite riding style of snowboard marketers everywhere: all-mountain freestyle.
Who are The Nidecker Rift For?
Park shralpers and soul turners who appreciate a softer flex – as well as the convenience of BOA.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
