Best Snowboard Brands – 25 Best Snowboard Brands You’ve Never Heard Of
 

Have you ever wondered what the best snowboard brands you’ve never heard of are? At RY Outfitters it’s kind of our mission to showcase and help outdoor enthusiasts discover new innovative startups and small business in the outdoor space.

Which obviously includes snowboarding.

So… Below you will find the 25 snowboard brands that we think should be on your radar. Enjoy 🙂

Gilson Snow (http://www.gilsonsnow.com/) Gilson Snowboards offers some of the most unique handmade snowboards on the market. “We believe in the value of American artisan manufacturing.  Our wood-cores are shaped from locally-grown and sustainably-harvested Pennsylvania Poplar trees.  From start-to-finish, our boards and skis are crafted under one roof at The Gilson Snowboard & Ski Farm, located in the Appalachian foothills” What makes Gilson So unique is that they use a technology which they call the “Soft Edge” What this means is that the base of the snowboard is curved up to meet the steel, forming a soft edge that allows you to make drifty and floaty maneuvers. I had the chance to build a board at the Gilson Snowboard & Ski Farm and I got to tell you, their boards are on another level, which is exactly why we included them on our list of the best snowboard brands.

Ovan Eyewear (https://www.ovaneyewear.com/) Finding a great pair of snowboard goggles is really hard. Let alone a pair that look awesome. Ovan Eyewear nails both, which is why we included them on our list of the best snowboard brands. “Improvement through adversity, reward through adventure. From massive mountains to the rabid sea, voyages define you. Ovan is a stylistic voyage, a visionary optic brand dedicated to luxury design, quality, and a higher level of thinking with founding members from all over the globe, bonded by our passion for fashion, action sports, and the science of the good life.”

Deviation Ski & Snowboard (http://deviationusa.com/) “We are engineers, craftsmen, and artists seeking to break free from stagnant industry standards.” Handmade snowboards in Oregon and built from locally sourced materials, Deviation was founded in the summer of 2012 by a handful of friends that wanted to challenge the status quo in the snow sports manufacturing world. Deviation offers a number of models, along with custom and build your own workshop options. Deviation is among some of the best snowboard brands in the world as they use a pretty unique wood called purple heart, which allows them to increase the dampening of their snowboards significantly.

Rat Cheese Wax (http://www.ratcheesewax.com/) Who does not smear does not go. We included these guys on our list of the best snowboard brands because every snowboarder needs reliable wax and that is exactly what Rat Cheese offers. “Quality skate, surf, and snow wax that is 100% made in California. Looking like a classic cheese wedge full of holes, yet elegantly packaged and smelling like paradise, Rat Cheese is and immediate eye catcher.”

Tribe Snowboards (http://www.tribesnowboards.com/) One of the lesser known brands on the list of the best snowboard brands. We are a small batch snowboard manufacturer, based out of Mammoth Lakes, CA. We do everything in-house, from printing and sublimating graphics to designing and pressing our own boards. Our team is made up entirely of riders that have a passion for crafting better made snowboards, and keeping manufacturing in the USA.” If you are in the market for a new snowboard they are definitely worth checking out.

Notice Snowboards (http://www.noticesnowboards.com/) We included Notice Snowboards on our list of the best snowboard brands because of their attention to quality. “Notice boards are designed and handcrafted in our shop in Whitefish, Montana, using only high quality materials, sourced in the USA.  All boards are made to order and ship within a 3 week time frame. We can tweak any of our shop designs to make you a board that is perfect for your riding style.  Or you can design your very own custom, you pick the shape, profile, materials and artwork- the possibilities are endless.” If Notice, catches your attention you can get 15% off all their boards or 10% off their custom snowboards here.

Niche Snowboards (https://nichesnowboards.com/) “Niche is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah and crafted in a small town in Austria. Founded by a fusion of skilled craftsmanship and a passion for design, our focus is on high quality and environmentally friendly snowboards”  Niche’s mission is to build the best snowboards while creating the smallest footprint and building awareness around issues affecting our environment.

Dolfinpack (https://dolfinpack.com/) If you are an avid skier, snowboarder or outdoor enthusiast, then you probably own a version of a Camelbak, right? Well even if you don’t, you should check out the DolfinPack which is perfect for all of you outdoor adventures. DolfinPack made the list of best Snowboard brands because they made a more versatile hydration pack. You can take it in the water and it won’t bounce up and down on your back. It is so form-fitting that you forget it was there. You can literally do anything with this hydration pack. Founded in 2014 by two friends who wanted to be able to bring water on all of their adventures without it being a hassle. Get your hands on one for your next adventure! You can also gain 20% off all of their packs through the RY Outfitters Membership.

Pallas Snowboards (https://pallassnowboards.com/) “Pallas Snowboards is an independent women’s snowboard and splitboard company with roots in Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. We’re a crew of ladies who love the snow, chase adventure, and make the outdoors our home sweet home.” Pallas Snowboards is one of the few snowboards brands that handmake snowboards specifically for women, which is why we included them in our list of the best snowboard brands.

Igneous Snowboards (http://www.igneousskis.com/snowboards) “Igneous is one of the first custom ski companies, founded in Jackson, Wyoming since 1993. Igneous has handmade custom snowboards in Jackson, Wyoming for over 20 years. We set out to make the perfect big mountain freeride powder board that could withstand an entire season of hard-charging in Jackson Hole, a place notorious for devouring boards. That mission remains.” Founded by Mike Parris who was originally from PA and was studying to become a robotics engineer at Carnegie Mellon when he realized his true calling was to build the best snownoards and skis. Check out their full story here. 

Give’r Lifestyle (http://www.give-r.com/) There are few companies out there, that have an overwhelming amount of soul and character/culture. Give’r is without a doubt one of them! Give’r was founded on the principle of giving it your all, giving a 120% effort towards anything you are doing. We included Give’r on our list of the best snowboard brands because of the quality of product they create, which is a direct result of the passion and effort they put into Give’r. Their product line consists of hats, beanies, shirts all the way to mid-layers and the best damn glove ever: the 4-season gloves.  Based in Jackson WY, they are a company filled with passion, working to spread the philosophy of Give’r. Get 15% Give’r’s entire product line through the RY Outfitters Membership.

Donek Snowboards (https://www.donek.com/) Handmade snowboards in Colorado. With the Rockie in their backyard they have the ability to test and improve on all their snowboards shapes and design. “We offer an unparalleled level of consultation and customization. As a family business with a passion and appreciation for snowboarding and skiing, we take our craftsmanship seriously, and express that passion in each and every detail of our work. AT Donek, their focus is on getting to know each rider really well so that when they build their snowboard it’s the best it possibly can be. If you are looking to get your hands on a handmade snowboard from Donek you can get a discount through the RY Outfitters Membership.

Zion Snowboards (https://zionsnowboards.com/) Handmade snowboards with a social mission! Not only does Zion make some dope snowboards! They have also started the POP Program (People of the Planet). Which is exactly why they are on our list of the best snowboard brands. “We believe in offering products that will put a smile on your face…and someone else’s! We donate a portion of sales to charities that are battling some really dark social issues in our world. We believe in being different and making a difference.” So if you are in the market for a quality handmade snowboard from a company that gives a crap, then check out Zion. You can even get 20% off their boards here.

Bearded Brothers (http://www.beardedbros.com/) Next on our list of the best snowboard brands involves food. Now I know food isn’t gear, but the food you bring on your snowboarding adventure is super important. That is why we included Bearded Brothers. Founded in 2011, they make their bars with an average of seven ingredients per bar. Their organic, non-gmo energy bars will Fuel Your Adventure. Not only do they taste great, but they are gluten & soy free, low glycemic, and are a great source of fiber and protein. Founders Chris and Caleb created Bearded Brothers because they were looking for a 100% organic energy bar with pure raw ingredients that would keep up with their lifestyle. Get 15% off all the Bearded Brother bars you can eat here.

Spring Break Snowboards (https://springbreakshop.com/) Founded in 2010 by  artist/snowboarder Corey Smith. “Our vision was to create an art project in the form of a fictional snowboard company with zero creative boundaries. At the height of homogenized twin-tip snowboard design, Spring Break set out to deconstruct modern snowboarding and re-introduce the beauty of the sport through its surf style roots.” These are some of the most beautiful handmade snowboards on the market, which is among one of the many reasons we included them on our list of the best snowboard brands.

Glade Optics (https://www.shopglade.com/) If only you could get a pair of Smith Optic I/O goggles for $80 buchs… Ohh wait, that’s exactly what Glade Optics offers. Quality snowboard goggles at a fraction of the cost. This is exactly why we included them in our list of the best snowboard brands. “We’re a group of skiers and riders that were fed up with paying exorbitant prices for our gear season after season. We found a better way to source quality gear at reasonable prices, and we think our customers deserve the same.” If you’d like to hear their full story, then check out our interview with their founder Curt Nicholes. You can even get an extra 20% off their goggles through the RY Outfitters Membership.

Powe Snowboards (https://powesnowboards.com/) One of the best snowboard brands based in Burlington VT with a mission to make the snowboarding industry greener by using sustainable practices. “The inspiration behind it; mah nature and her beautiful environments, and the unprecedented desire to create. In 2014, that inspiration lead us to found Powe. Snowboards to change the way we think about snowboarding and the snowsports industry.” Outside of their models you can also opt for a custom snowboard, which are made with the most sustainable materials in the industry.  

WOO Sports (https://woosports.com/) Have you ever thought about turning your snowboard runs into a Tony Hawk like video game? Well with the creation of the WOO Sport it is now possible. “The WOO app will highlight your top jump height, max airtime, hardest landing, and give you a jump for jump breakdown from your sessions. You can upload a photo from each session, mark the spot, and create a log history from your snowboard season. New sessions are always rolling in. Like, comment and share, be part of Snowboarding biggest online game.” WOO is the first of its kind in the realm of snowboarding, which is why we included them among the best snowboard brands. If you’d like to give this a try, you can get 25% off your WOO through the RY Outfitters Membership.

Adventure Mat (https://adventuremat.com/) Probably one of the most innovative outdoor sports brands, Adventure Mat was founded by Ralph Kuhlmeier in 2015. Their mission was to solve the issue of standing on your shoes or car mat while changing out of your ski, snowboard, hiking, camping, or other outdoor gear. Its innovative design allows it to fold on itself, never letting the dirty side touch the clean side. It is a compact, clean, grippy, reusable, simple and quick-drying mat that you can store in the back of your car. While the Adventure Mat may not be a snowboarding specific brand, we included them on our list of the best snowboard brands because of the problem they solve for all snowboarders who change in an out of their boots at the trail head. Get your own Adventure Mat for 20% off through the RY Outfitters Membership.

SnoPlanks (https://www.snoplanks.com/) Handmade snowboards in Bend Oregon. “SnoPlanks is a pacific northwest snowboard, splitboard, and ski manufacturer. Produced entirely in the U.S.A., we take pride in handcrafting and shaping our own bamboo snowboards and skis. Designed for the ultimate snow riding experience, our snowboards and skis are tested throughout the Central Oregon Cascades. By riders, for riders.” SnoPlanks use wood veneers as the graphics for all their snowboards and I have to tell you they are pretty incredible looking. Guaranteed to get people asking what kind of board you got.  

Point6 Socks (https://point6.com/)  Having cold or uncomfortable feet while snowboarding sucks! Which is exactly why we included Point6 on our list of the best snowboard brands. Some may not consider them a startup, as they were founded in 2008 by the creators of SmartWool, Patty and Peter Duke. But with only 12 employees and such a high quality product, we couldn’t exclude them. Point6, which is named after 98.6 degrees F, utilizes only compact-spun Merino wool yarn — a much tighter yarn than ring-spun yarn — making for a much more comfortable and warmer sock. The wool is woven into a “matrix, or tic-tac-toe box,” says Peter, to create a form-fitting product. Through the RY Outfitters Membership you can get 25% off of all the socks you could ever need from Point6.

Marhar Snowboards (https://www.marharsnowboards.com/) Handmade snowboards build right here in the USA. Founded by Nathan Morse and Josh Skiles in 2008, they have build one of the leading snowboard brands in the world. They offer a wide variety of snowboards that can handle all kinds of terrain and any weather condition. They believe that “Dreams are built from passion. Passion creates the driving force to fight for what makes us happy and inspire others. Founders Nathan Morse and Josh Skiles, “We aren’t just another snowboard company. We have ambition to be one of the best. Life should be more about chasing positive experiences in the snow. Simply put snowboarding is fun. We Build Fun. We Ride Fun.””

Truck Gloves (https://www.truckgloves.com/) We included Truck Gloves on our list of the best snowboard brands because they offer top of the line snowboard gloves at half the price. They are able to do this because they have cut the middle man out, which drastically cuts down their costs and they forward those savings to the consumer. “We started TRUCK because we want to provide our friends, family, and customers with top-quality gear. AND, we also think you deserve top-quality gear at what we call ‘disruptively’ competitive pricing.” You can even get 15% off any of Trucks gloves through the RY Outfitters Membership.

Prospect Snowboards (http://prospectsnowboards.com/) Founded in 2008 in Northern California. Prospect is a handcrafted, artisan ski shop that offers their signature line skis, snowboards, and wakeboards. They build the Prospect line from local, premium, and responsibly sourced materials. WIth more than 30 years of riding experience. The Prospect team brings all of their knowledge and skill together to make the best snowboards, skis and wakeboards on the market.

Prior Snow (https://www.priorsnow.com/) Prior has been building handmade snowboards since 1990. “Our aim over the last two decades is to consistently produce boards and skis that stand up to the test of time, as well as the rigorous performance needs of the most dedicated riders and elite athletes.” Offering a wide variety of snowboards, Prior has spent close to 30 years developing some of the best snowboards models on the market.  

That concludes our list of Best Snowboard Brands – 25 Best Snowboard Brands You’ve Never Heard Of. We hope that you found a couple new snowboard brands to try. If you liked this list and you’d like to discover other lesser known brands/startups in the outdoor industry and gain discounts on their products then check out the RY Outfitters Membership.

 

You can also hear the stories of many of these startups from the voices of the founders on the RY Outfitters Podcast.