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Snowboards

Burton Custom 2019-2020 Snowboard Review

  • Sizes: 150, 154, 154W, 156, 158, 158W, 162, 162W, 166W, 170W
  • Flex: 6
  • Profile: Camber
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • Price: £510 / €600
  • BUY DIRECT FROM BURTON

The reason this board has been around for more than two decades is because it pleases a lot – A LOT – of people. Whether you were aiming to be the next carving king, backcountry baron, park prince or slope Caesar, the Burton Custom has got you covered. This is a board that can truly be ridden by anyone, anywhere.

Burton likes to claim that the Custom is backed by its own cult. This statement might be debatable but the Custom’s luminous performance as a board is not. Burton knows all about the “do not change a winning formula” idea, something that’s illustrated by the fact that the Custom’s tech for this season remains the same.

A traditional camber profile will make you pop until you drop, whilst still giving you loads of power and stability; all while the sintered base takes care of your speed and has you flashing by like the roadrunner. Despite the Custom taking the shape of a Directional board, you won’t find riding switch too much trouble.

“Whether you were aiming to be the next carving king, backcountry baron, park prince or slope Caesar, the Burton Custom has got you covered”

The benefits of a directional shape are there though, and once you set off for your backcountry conquest you’ll find that the surface area of the nose is a bit bigger –  meaning you can float your way through the white powder fields feeling lighter than air itself.

When you’re about to dive into a turn, the frostbite edges keep you firmly gripped to the snow and the long effective edge keeps you stable through all phases of the carve.

The Burton Custom is a ripper gripper, and one hell of an all-mountain board. In order to appreciate all the tech that’s gone into developing this love child you’ll need to be a good enough rider to acknowledge the finer aspects of the art of snowboarding. If you’re just about to begin your journey down the path to snowboarding greatness, you might want to give the Burton Custom Flying V a go – it’s a much more forgiving, beginner friendly, board.

Tester’s Verdict

Paul WoolProfessor

“What can be said about the Custom that hasn’t been said before? The old faithful is pretty much the perfect snowboard. It was already stalwart of the industry when I started snowboarding in the late 90s and it is still the king today. Genuinely, you can’t go wrong with a Burton Custom.

For me, the Custom is the benchmark to which I compare all other snowboards. If you’re freaking out and can’t decide which board to buy – just get one of these; a perfect all-rounder packed with plenty of magic. It is maybe guilty of being a bit ‘vanilla ice-cream’, but who cares everyone likes vanilla, and it’s a million miles away from ‘dogshit ice-cream’.

“There’s a certain stability the Custom offers that even some of its all-mountain peers can’t match”

Having owned two in the past, I’m pleased to say the 2019/20 Custom is still the boss. It has clearly kept up with tech and seems to be lighter and poppier than ever. I got a full day on a test board that had clearly done the rounds, it certainly wasn’t fresh out of the wrapper, but it still performed incredibly well. The classic camber gave some powerful turns supported by a reassuring edge that dug in on ice and groomers alike.

I had such a great day, and I can safely say that was down to the board. It has such a natural feel that seems to make me a better snowboarder. There’s a certain stability the Custom offers that even some of its all-mountain peers can’t match. This trust in the board meant it was particularly fun on kickers and side-hits; feeling stable on the snow and in the air. It’s easy to manage in and out of rails and boxes and has a great snap to it.

I didn’t get to test it on powder, but you know it isn’t going to let you down. I didn’t realise this thing was a directional board (until I read the specs 5 mins ago). You don’t feel this as its set up everywhere else as a twin, but can see how the marginally bigger nose will start to help out in the powder.

Overall, this is a solid all mountain warrior, that’s made for a good time. Maybe the true camber, above average stiffness and solid contact points will screw over some beginners, but ultimately, I think anyone could get into the Burton Camber after a bit of time. A legend of a snowboard.”

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Andrew Duthiewhitelines.com

“I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve reviewed the latest Burton Custom snowboard, but it’s never a chore. Granted, it’s never the highlight of any board test either, but you know what you’re getting with the Custom and sometimes that’s a good thing.

“You know what you’re getting with the Custom”

For those spending a ton of time in the mountains, but only want to use the one board (seasonaires, for example), this is a winner. It’s no trouble in powder – especially if you slide your bindings back on the Channel – and has plenty of park prowess too.

More experienced riders may find it a bit underwhelming, especially as it hasn’t been refreshed for 2018/19, but it doesn’t change the fact that this has a lot to offer. With the Custom you can truly be prepared for anything.”

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