Best Online Snowboard Shops

Here is a list of my favorite online shops, that I order from.

Dogfunk.com

These guys have everything, and thats probably why I find myself ordering from here all the time. They are quick with their shipping and handling time which is a huge plus and they generally have everything you would need in stock.

The House

The house boardshop rocks, they always send my gear super fast, they have never messed up on an order, and my boxes are always filled with stickers! (lets be honest who does not love free stickers) the house always has reasonable prices and this is why they have made it onto my list.

Snowboard Connection

An awesome place to find gear, and a stellar place to find deals on last years gear. I find most of the online boardshops have been pretty picked through when it comes to last years gear but I can always find what I am looking for here, I might have even picked up a skate banana from here for 350.00… truly a great Seattle based comapny

Edited: December 10th, 2009

Union Force – Binding Review

Binding: Union Force

Unoin Force

Now this is a binding worth taking about! The Union Force snowboard binding has not been around all that long but you are seeing it pop up everywhere. I was really happy to get my hands on a set of these, so I strapped them into my skate banana and off we went.  The most noticeable thing about these bindings was the response you got out of them but they are still soooo flexible.  I was amazed with these, I liked them better than my Rome 390’s. Through the park these bindings were hardly noticeable, it felt like my feet were directly attached to the board, and there were no pressure points anywhere. I didn’t really find anything I didnt like about these union force’s, you should definitely try them or pick them up for your next set of bindings.  I am going to shred these this year instead of the 390.

Grades:
Construction: A+
Flex: Medium – Soft
Weight: Light
Comfort: A
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: Park/Street/All Mountain
Overall: A

Edited: November 8th, 2009

Lib Tech Skate Banana Review – 09/10

Board: Lib Tech Skate Banana 152

Lib Tech Skate Banana 2010

Boots: 32 Lashed / Rome Libertine

Bindings: Rome 390 (Neon) / Union Force

Stance: 17 / -17,   25″

Mountain:

The skate banana always amazes me, although you would think riding a 152 for all mountain would be a little short for a 5′10 160lb guy but surprisingly its not. It performs like a 154 for all mountain and like 156 in the powder, this board is so versatile.  I love only having to take one board for everything from urban to back country kickers. The new skate banana rides just like the last one and when mine breaks I will be picking up another one. This board is definitely a favorite!

Park:

And now back  to the playground…. I love this board, have a mentioned that yet? The skate banana is just so much fun to ride in the park, from rails to kickers the board is so controllable. The swing-weight is low and the board spins so easily it makes 3’s effortless. I love the feel of this board on the rails, and it has given me m

ore confidence in the park. Check out the other review of the 2008/09 banana for a more in depth review.

Summary:

Don’t fix whats not broken… Innovation Of  The Year 2007 (SIA Snowpress), Good Wood Test Winner 2009, Good Wood Test Winner 2010 (Transworld Snowboarder Mag), Platinum Pick Excellence in Design (Snowboard Mag 2008) This board is just truly fun and amazing to ride.

Grades:

Steeps/Speed: C+/B- (for a freestyle deck)

Butter: A+

Jibs: A+

Spin-a-ability: A+

Jumps: A

Pipe: Unknown

Fun: A++++!!!

Edited: November 7th, 2009

Rome 390 Snowboard Binding – 09/10 Review

Binding: Rome 390

This is more of an update than a review, I tried the 2009/2010’s and they are virtually the exact same, enjoyed them just as much as my own, which are still living after 75 days of abuse. These bindings are great and I would recommend them to anyone.

Rome 390

Grades:
Construction: A+
Flex: Med-Soft
Weight: Light
Comfort: A
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: Park/Streets with a little all mountain
Overall: A+ Great binding

Edited: November 4th, 2009

Ride Contraband – Review

Ride Contraband

Binding: Ride Contraband

Truly as advertised the Ride Contraband is a very light binding that is quick to strap into. I got to ride them for a few days but, this was all after a fairly lengthy and apparently “worth it time to set up”.  Overall I found the contrabands a little uncomfortable but just incomparable to the rome 390’s  or the union force’s. The extra maybe 15 seconds it takes to do up the second strap on other bindings is worth it. For shredding around the mountain and in the park I found them sloppy and well unresponsive. This is all after being stoked to try these bindings and then maybe the contraband was not for me, but I do know I am going to stick with my 390’s.

Grades:
Construction: B-
Flex: Medium
Weight: Light
Comfort: B-
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: All mountain / Park
Overall: B -

Edited: November 4th, 2009

Rome Libertine – Review

Boot: Rome Libertine (size 10)

Rome Libertine

Want a snowboard boot that feels like a skate shoe? The Rome Libertine out of the box is one of the most comfy boots I have ever had on my feet! I got a set of these on recommendation from a really good friend who has had a set for a few years now. I am so glad I took his advice. The Rome Libertine is a light, well supportive,  comfortable, park boot that gives you the flexibility that all park riders demand. I had a great season on these boots and are very happy with their performance and durability. Once they were broken in, which took no time at all, these boots were phenomenal, I was floored.  The libertines were just as good on the rails as the jumps, I found they had the flex I was looking for, when trying to tweak off the jumps and rails, but the support I needed for cruising  around the mountain. On most sites these boots are listed as a medium but I would say after their break in period they turn out to be a med-soft to a soft boot with tonnes of flex. I would recommend these boots to anyone who loves doing laps in the park and will occasionally hit the mountain for some cruising. The Rome Libertine is one of the top park boots out there today!

Grades:
Construction: B+
Flex: Medium / Med-Soft
Weight: Light
Comfort: A-
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: All mountain / Park
Overall: A-

Edited: July 12th, 2009

Rome Targa – Review

Binding: Rome Targa

Rome Targa Black

The Rome Targa is a truly customizable binding; you get to choose how soft or firm the ankle strap can be. This is a handy binding if you find yourself riding everywhere on the mountain, from backcountry pow to the urban streets-this binding can do it all.  With the targa (over the 390) you get the extra AutoStrap on the toe strap, as well as more cushioning on the baseplate. The only downfall to this is that it makes it a little heavier, oh well! I liked this binding a lot. It was a very close call between these and the 390’s, but I liked the more cushion in the plush ankle strap and the weight of the 390’s better. One of my buddies liked the targa’s more… Bottom line: targa’s are sick!

Grades:
Construction: A+
Flex: Stiff to Soft, you chose
Weight: Light
Comfort: A
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: Park / Streets / All mountain
Overall: A

Edited: July 9th, 2009

Rome 390 (Neon) – Review

Rome 390 Neon

Binding: Rome 390 (Neon)

A great park binding with enough response to throw off those kickers, and flexible enough to throw down on jibs.  I rode this binding as well as many others this season and this one was one of my personal favorites, hence why I bought a pair This binding is tough, yet light and is an amazing all-round park binding.  Although you could use it for an all mountain binding if you like a little more flex its home is really the park, and that’s where Rome designed it for.  It held up to over 25 days of constant park abuse, by yours truly and my shred buddy, and still works awesome; never replaced a part. I love the AutoStrap that Rome developed. It’s this piece of rubber that holds the ankle (and toe on the targa) away from the binding so its easier to get in.  The only downfall to the 390 is that its only on the ankle (damn targa’s).  These have become my perfect binding – for this season at least.

Grades:
Construction: A+
Flex: Med-Soft
Weight: Light
Comfort: A
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: Park/Streets with a little all mountain
Overall: A+ Great binding

Edited: July 9th, 2009

Lib Tech Skate Banana – Review

Lib Tech Skate Banana 152

Boots: 32 Lashed / Rome Libertine

Bindings: Rome 390 (Neon) / Rome Targa

Stance: 17 / -17, 25″

Mountain:

I had been waiting to get my hands on this board for a long time;  truthfully, I was as excited as a kid in a candy store! I Went to the mountain, headed up the lift, and we’re off…  First thing I noticed was the firm grip and the strange feeling of the skate banana due to its shape… The board stuck to everything – it was amazing! Its like a snow magnet.  The banana shape was strange at first, but sweet after a few minutes of getting used too.  I was popping so high off of little lips and throwing 3’s effortlessly, and the board seemed catch free yet, grippy.  Down the runs it held up even with speed; it had a little chatter at high speeds, but it’s a 152 park board (so I wasn’t supprised).  The lib tech skate banana was smooth for carving, easy for butters,(especially after it broke in), and had so much pop.  Over the season, I de-tuned (and beat up) the edges for the park and the board was surprisingly still like griptape into the mountain. This board will make you laugh (or giggle like a little school girl) when you ride it. It’s so much fun.

Park:

And now to the playground…. After about 3 laps my jaw was on the gorund. I could not believe that the flexible banana could not only dominate on the rails and boxes but could still hold its own on the jumps.  I’ll start with rails: so much control, so much flex, and so light. Jibbing was so nice with this board; I would recommend any park rat to try this one. The skate banana’s performance on the jumps mirrored the rails and boxes. I loved how, it popped high, spun easily, and was solid on the landings; nothing to complain about. From day one to day 20 on this board the edges held even after the park abuse. After about 10 days this board becomes the butter machine, it’s a dream to ride. I am a fan!!

Summary:

Where do I even start with this one…? Good wood of the year, best of test, need I say more?  The board is sick, pick one up if you can find one!  I love mine

Grades:
Steeps/Speed: C+/B- (for a freestyle deck)
Butter: A+
Jibs: A+
Spin-a-ability: A+
Jumps: A
Pipe: Unknown
Fun: A++++!!!

Edited: July 9th, 2009

32 Lashed Boots – Review

Boot: 32 Lashed (size 10)

32 Lashed

I had always wanted to try a set of 32’s, so I picked up the lashed. First of all, I am impressed with how light and comfortable they are ( they feel lighter than my skate shoes). I wore them around my house for a week or so, to break them in a little, before taking them to the mountain. After about 4 to 5 times of riding on the 32 Lashed, and they were fully broken in! These boots are so light, I barely notice them at all. After the break-in period these boots are amazing. They feel well made, fit well, are comfortable, light, and fairly flexible. I took these boots all over the mountain, from backcountry to park to urban rails and they have been awesome! I am so stoked about these boots, they are amazing. I would say their only downfall is they are lacking a little in the cushioning department, but that’s why they are so light. Over all I would recommend these boots to anyone.

Grades:
Construction: B+
Flex: Medium / Med-Soft
Weight: Light
Comfort: A-
Size: Fits true to size
Usage: All mountain / Park
Overall: A-

Edited: July 9th, 2009