How to Choose a Snowboard & Snowboard Size Chart

There is a ton of information floating around in the world of snowboarding, between rocker, effective edge to sidecuts and shapes - finding the right snowboard can sometimes be a little overwhelming. Thankfully evo has all you need to know to make the right decision. So whether you’re about to grab your first snowboard or your 15th, the essentials of finding the right snowboard for you boil down to the right width, the right length, and knowing which type of terrain you plan to be riding on. The rest can help you dial in the perfect board that will help you take your riding to a whole new level.

Anatomy of a Snowboard

What Size Snowboard Should I Get?

How do you pick the correct snowboard length? The length of your snowboard will vary depending on your body weight and the type of riding you plan to do. Back in the day, traditional snowboard sizing meant you stand next to the snowboard and if the top hits your chin, great, it fits! While that may be a good place to start, things like ability level, weight, and construction of the board are also important factors in determining the appropriate board length.

So, for example, if you are going to be mostly freeriding consider getting a slightly longer board for more stability and speed, unless you’re looking at a volume shifted board. If it's a freestyle snowboard you are looking for, consider smaller sizes that will be easier to spin and maneuver in the terrain park or half-pipe.

On each evo snowboard product detail page, you'll find individual size charts for each of the snowboards we sell. Remember, the length is as much personal preference as anything, so don’t get too hung up on the recommendations if you ride a longer or shorter board and are happy with it. Use our Snowboard Size Chart below for a starting point:

Additionally, consider the following factors when deciding on a snowboard size:

• If you're riding primarily in the park or freestyle, pick a board on the shorter end of the size range.
• If you're riding is mostly all mountain, powder or freeriding, consider a snowboard on the longer end of the size range or grabbing a volume shifted board.
• If you are above average weight consider a longer snowboard.
• If you are a beginner, aim for a shorter board in your size range.

Snowboard Size Chart

Click your snowboard size to shop

Rider Height (in)	Rider Height (cm)	Rider Weight (lb)	Snowboard Size (cm)
4'10"	147	110 - 120	128 - 136
5'	152	115-130	133 - 141
5'2"	158	125-135	139 - 147
5'4"	163	135-145	144 -152
5'6"	168	140-155	149 -157
5'8"	173	150-165	154 -162
5'10"	178	160-175	159 -167
6'	183	170-185	160+
6'2"	188	180-195	160+
6'4"	193	190-205	160+

Shop Snowboards by Length

How Wide Should My Snowboard Be?

When a snowboard waist width is sized correctly your snowboard boots will hang over the edges of the snowboard just slightly but not so much as to hit the snow when the board is on edge (see the images below). Extending the toes and heels slightly over the edges of the snowboard allows you to apply leverage to the board and modulate pressure with your ankles. If your boots extend too far over the edge, they’ll hit the snow during hard turns and cause you to fall. To determine the proper snowboard waist width for your snowboard boot size view the chart below.

Snowboard Width & Boot Size Chart

Snowboard boot sizes vary by manufacturer and even by model within a single manufacturer's line, so the outer sole of manufacturer A's size 11 might be slightly longer than the outer sole of manufacturer B's size 11. Similarly, some boots are specifically built with a low profile. The shorter outsoles of a low profile boot allow a rider to ride a narrower snowboard. Additionally, the ramp angle on snowboard bindings partially determines how large of a boot you can put on a particular snowboard - more ramp angle means a boot will sit higher and fit on a narrower board.

What Type of Snowboard Should I Get?

What type of terrain will you be riding in? What is your ability level? What is your own personal preference? While you can ride any type of snowboard on any terrain, many boards are designed for you to get the most out of your session. It's easy to get lost in the plethora of options, so checking out this basic breakdown of board styles will help you find a board that works for you.

Ability Level

What is your ability level? There are snowboards designed for every ability level, each addressing specific rider needs. Flex, shape, length, construction, materials, design, and intended use are all important when crafting a snowboard for a particular ability level. Be realistic in assessing your own ability when researching and selecting a new snowboard. Finding the right snowboard for your personal attributes, including your ability will help make your riding experience more enjoyable and help speed your progression.

Snowboard Shapes

There are many shapes floating around the snowboard world these days. While some snowboards will work nearly anywhere, there are a variety of shapes that are dialed in for making the most out of specific conditions. Check out our snowboard shape guide for more information!

Rocker Type

Brands are consistently evolving and experimenting with their boards and offer new profiles nearly every year. Which profile you choose is entirely up to your personal preference and many people have different boards for the different types of riding they will do. For more information, check out our rocker guide.

Snowboard Flex

The amount a snowboard flexes varies significantly between boards. Snowboard flex ratings are not necessarily standardized across the industry, so a "medium" flex may vary from brand to brand. Many manufacturers will give a number rating ranging from 1-10, 1 being softest and 10 being stiffest. Here at evo we have standardized the manufacturers' number ratings as a feel rating ranging from soft to very stiff. Generally we classify flex ratings of 1-2 as soft, 3-5 as medium, 6-8 as stiff, and 9-10 as very stiff. Flex ratings and feel may ultimately vary from snowboard to snowboard.

Softer Flex

Softer flexing snowboards (typically freestyle and some all mountain snowboards) are going to be more forgiving and easier to turn. A soft flex is good for beginners, riders with lower body weights and park riders. Soft snowboards tend to be a bit looser at higher speeds but can also provide a soft buttery feel at slower speeds.

Stiffer Flex

Stiffer flexing snowboards are usually built for freeride or backcountry use. They provide better edge hold and are more stable at high speeds. Stiff boards can be great for riders laying down high speed turns but tough for lightweight riders to flex properly.

Sintered Snowboard Base vs Extruded Base 

Extruded snowboard bases are made from polyethylene (often called P-Tex). The term extruded refers to the process of heating and forming the material into sheets in the manufacturing process. Extruded P-Tex is relatively inexpensive. These bases do not hold wax as well as sintered bases, and so they can be slower than a well-tuned sintered base. However, an extruded base can perform better than an unwaxed sintered base and are very durable.

Sintered snowboard bases are designed for super-fast glide. Like extruded bases, sintered bases are made from polyethylene (P-Tex). But unlike extruded bases, sintered bases are produced by compressing tiny pellets of polyethylene rather than melting and pushing it out in a sheet. Sintered bases are very porous and absorb wax well. When waxed and maintained properly, they are much faster than extruded bases. Often additional materials such as Gallium, graphite or Indium are added to the bases to provide increased impact resistance, durability and glide. Sintered bases are typically more expensive and can be more difficult to repair than extruded bases.

Snowboard Hole Patterns and Binding Compatability

There are four different snowboard hole patterns that you will find on conventional snowboards. The patterns include: 4x4, 2x4, Burton 3D and Burton Channel. 3D and Channel technology are specific to Burton Snowboards, although some board makers have begun licensing Channel technology from Burton. 2x4 is a variation of 4x4 that gives the rider more mounting options.

Women's Snowboards

For years snowboard companies simply sized down men’s snowboards and applied pretty pink graphics featuring flowers and animals to them. Not anymore! Companies have created women-specific focus groups, beefed up their women’s pro teams and created snowboards specifically for women based on their feedback. Women’s bodies and turn mechanics are different than men. Since women tend to have less body mass and smaller feet than men of the same height, women’s snowboards tend to have narrower waist widths, thinner profiles, and softer flexes.

Kids' Snowboards

As much as you want to buy a snowboard your child can grow into, it is important to find a snowboard that will work for him or her now. Do you want your kid to love the sport? We thought so. The correct size snowboard will help your child progress faster and have a lot more fun in the process. Kids’ snowboards are typically softer than adult snowboards making it easier for kids to initiate turns and learn to ride. For more information, check out our kids snowboard size guide.

Testing & Renting Skis & Snowboards

It’s easy to obsess over every measurement and material of different ski and snowboard models when looking at them on a computer screen, but there is absolutely no substitute for some real-time on the snow. So, once you’ve narrowed down the candidates and you’re ready to choose your next model, it’s time to get on snow. Renting or demoing skis and snowboards is the only true way to get a feel for how they ride, and if they suit you.

Check out evoRentals, our industry-leading ski and snowboard rental experience at our locations, which offers a wide variety of the latest models.

• Seattle Ski & Snowboard Rentals
• Portland Ski & Snowboard Rentals
• Denver Ski & Snowboard Rentals
• Salt Lake City Ski & Snowboard Rentals
• Snoqualmie Pass Ski & Snowboard Rentals

Learn More With Our Other Snowboard Guides:

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This is evo. We are a ski, snowboard, wake, skate, bike, surf, camp, and clothing online retailer with physical stores in Seattle, Portland, Denver, Salt Lake City, Whistler, and Snoqualmie Pass. Our goal is to provide you with great information to make both your purchase and upkeep easy.

evo also likes to travel to remote places across the globe in search of world-class powder turns, epic waves, or legendary mountain biking locations through evoTrip Adventure Travel Trips. Or, if you prefer to travel on your own, check out our ski & snowboard resort travel guides and mountain bike trail guides.

Still have questions? Please call our customer care team at 1.866.386.1590 during Customer Care Hours. They can help you find the right setup to fit your needs.