• Sizes: 132, 137, 142, 145W, 148W
• Flex: 2
• Profile: Flat
• Shape: True Twin
• Price: £179 / €199

One of the biggest concerns for a keen grom’s parent, especially one that only gets a couple of trips to the mountains every year, is buying gear that their young charges won’t outgrow. With the K2 Vandal kids’ snowboard, there’ll be less need to pay the rental shop a visit.

The K2 Vandal sails pretty closely to the most popular specs for grom boards; it’s got a flat profile, which is low on hang-up risk without being hard to control, and a true twin shape that anticipates a progressing grom’s desire to get tricks dialled as soon as possible. There’s an ever-growing contingent of frothing freeride kids, but they’re still hugely outnumbered.

“Whatever magic dust they have at the K2 factory appears to be working”

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An extruded base means less maintenance required, and a single-wood core with biax fibreglass translates to a mellow, predictable ride. It’s also got cap construction, which these days only tends to crop up on boards designed for dinkier riders.

So far, so pedestrian – but whatever magic dust they have at the K2 factory appears to be working, as our test team were massively impressed with this one. Lightweight and versatile, it got some heavy thumbs up.