Behind the Scenes of Our Kirkwood Snowboard Test

Testing snowboards sounds like a blast—and it is. But the truth is that running a snowboard test is no simple task. To successfully pull off an objective, thorough test, you need heaps of snowboard gear from brands big and small and a diverse crew of diehard riders to test it. Last but not least, you need a radical resort with varied terrain that allows testers to truly put gear on the chopping block. This past spring, that resort was Kirkwood: a storied freeride hub just south of Lake Tahoe.

We had arguably our best snowboard test in the last decade at this under-the-radar resort, which is home to puckering cliffs, corridor-like chutes, and steep, technical terrain that demands respect. Throughout our test week, the crew lapped pristine groomers and fun, empty terrain parks, too. Not to mention, our splitboarders were frothing over Kirkwood’s stellar sidecountry access. Factor in the overall vibe of the resort—old-school and refreshingly unpretentious—and the test was one for the books.

Here, we pull back the curtain to share how we pick the best unisex snowboards, women’s snowboards, splitboards, snowboard boots, and snowboard bindings. We’ll break down the test process, shine the spotlight on our talented rider roster, and showcase why Kirkwood was an ideal test venue.

If nothing else, it’s evidence that we did indeed have a blast.

Meet the Test Crew

Thirty-one riders lent their expertise to our snowboard test this year. Some traveled from as far as Utah’s Wasatch, but the vast majority of riders were local to the Sierra. A few were even Kirkwood employees who joined the fray on their days off. Testers ranged from avalanche instructors and forecasters to park rats and snowboard coaches. A common thread? A deep love for sliding sideways.

A Day in the Life of a Tester

After rolling out of bed in cozy slopeside condos, testers gathered each morning at our shredquarters in Kirkwood’s unassuming base area to set up boards. Generally, testers rode each board for two or three laps, returned to shredquarters, then filled out detailed review forms before swapping decks and starting the process over. Ride, review, wrench, repeat—that’s the program. However, if a board merited a deeper dive (say, a tester fell in love with a certain shape and wanted to elope), longer testing was par for the course.

In our review forms, I (test director Drew Zieff) first ask testers to score boards quantitatively on aspects like pop, flex, performance at speed, butter skills, and overall performance, among others. These scales range from one to seven, and paint a broad picture of a board’s basic characteristics. For instance, if a tester gives a board a six or a seven for an overall score, it means they’re stoked as hell. A one or two? They couldn’t figure the shape out.

Then, testers respond to a series of questions that help provide qualitative feedback on everything from carving chops to ollie power. A key question: Would you spend your hard-earned money on this board? Why or why not? If testers are willing to swipe plastic on a certain snowboard, it means the board has a place in their quiver, or it might be their new daily driver. When we zoom out at the end of the season and read through all of the review forms, we can then better determine what types of rider each board is best for.

When all was said and done, we tested 59 snowboards, 13 splitboards, 24 snowboard boots, and 28 snowboard bindings, resulting in over 506 detailed review forms. After the Kirkwood test week, we sent top-performing gear home with testers for extended testing at their home resorts and backcountry zones. Once the snow melted and those testers reported their final thoughts, I sifted through the data before writing the gear reviews you’ll find in Outside’s 2026 Winter Gear Guide. 

Sampling the Snowboards

When we claim Kirkwood has stellar freeride terrain, we’re not being hyperbolic. Far from it. Above, South Lake Tahoe ripper Emma Dayberry bombs through Kirkwood’s fabled Finger chutes, a quick traverse off of the Cornice Express six-pack chairlift. Cornice Express, also known as Chair 6, was our go-to lift for testing: It’s lightning fast and comfy, has room for a mega-squad of testers, and provides access to a smorgasbord of terrain types.

As we’ve mentioned above, snowboard testing requires a variety of terrain, and Kirkwood has that in spades. In addition to pushing boards to their limit in technical steeps, testers got a feel for carving chops and playfulness on mellow groomers.

The Jones Howler, a directional ripper, was our top-scoring board of the test for both male and female testers, our Editors’ Choice award winner, and perhaps (and this is a heavy claim) our favorite snowboard of all time.

Also, a quick shoutout to Kirkwood’s cat operators—the groomers were immaculate!

Longtime board tester John Lauer has touched hundreds of snowboarders’ feet. He’s touched my feet. Not in a weird way—he’s a bootfitting savant at Tahoe Sports Hub, helping pros and average joes alike to dial in their setups. But when it comes down to board test week, Lauer puts out a PSA: He’s not there to punch your fucking boots.

He’s there to center punch couloirs, straightline tech-gnar, lay into Euro carves, throw backflips, and put a dent in our mammoth cache of Fat Tire. If you look closely, you can see dewy drops of froth and New Belgium’s classic ale collected on that museum-worthy mustache.

Perfect Conditions at Kirkwood

Our Kirkwood test event was blessed with a range of weather and snow conditions—exactly what we’re looking for during a snowboard test. From squalls to spring slush, we had it all. There’s nothing better than slushy park laps with the homies. Kirkwood’s park was virtually empty except for our squad, and we had the run of the place.

Salivating Over Splitboards

If you care more about touring in National Parks than sessioning terrain parks, fear not: We’ll be diving into our splitboard testing from here on out.

Chris Cloyd, an Eastern Sierra avalanche course instructor and radministrator for Blackbird Guides, is one of our chief splitboard testers. This alpine addict has been testing splits for a decade now, and comes from a background of endurance sports, so he’s not afraid of racking up vert in pursuit of dream lines. Pictured below, this knob required just a quick tour from the top of Kirkwood, but it gave Cloyd an opportunity to put gear to the test in real-world backcountry conditions. Plus, the photo is pretty damn rad.

Kirkwood’s backcountry gate system allows powder-seeking patrons to exit the resort boundaries and explore boundless terrain in neighboring U.S. Forest Service land. We barely scratched the surface of this zone during our test week, but the terrain is saliva-inducing to say the least. However, it’s important to recognize that out-of-bounds terrain is unpatrolled.

If you do decide to venture out of bounds, abide by Kirkwood’s signage. Check in with ski patrol if you’re unsure about access. Also, be sure to read the avalanche forecast and ride with a partner. Of course, it’s critical that all of your party members carry beacons, shovels, and probes, and know how to use them. If you’re unprepared or uncomfortable, don’t listen to the siren song, and enjoy Kirkwood’s ample in-bounds terrain.

Don’t Forget Boots and Bindings

Speaking of boot testing, we encourage boot and binding testers to ride each pair for at least a half-day. First off, we want to reduce as many variables as possible for board testing. It’s tough to get a feel for a board if you’re simultaneously testing boots or bindings for the first time. Secondly, we want testers to have time to break in boots or experiment with binding strap and heelcup positioning, highback rotation, so on and so forth.

As such, many testers found a pair of boots or bindings they loved and rode them all week before submitting more thorough reviews. In fact, we continued to test top-performing boots and bindings all spring long after our test week concluded. Testers then reported their final thoughts at the end of the season before we made our top boot and binding picks.

When I’m not herding cats (I mean, gear testers) to make sure we’re on track for a successful test, I get a chance to analyze boards as well. Here I’m riding the Burton Fish 3D splitboard, a surfy, spooned-out deck that was heaps of fun. The gig isn’t without its perks.

Calling it a Day

After a long day of shredding, testers chill out in the cozy Kirkwood condos. What’s on the silver screen? A Mack Dawg Production, of course. Then it’s off to bed to rest up for another day of bell-to-bell board testing come morning.