About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard, which I purchased with my own money in December of 2021.

My take

The K2 Instrument Snowboard is great for deep days and days where I want to make turn after turn. It’s a board for intermediate to advanced riders. The 2021 and 2022 models are the same except for their graphics.

About the snowboard I own

• Model: 2021 K2 Instrument
• Size: 154cm

About me

• Height: 5’5”
• Weight: 155lbs
• Experience: 15 years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought this: December 2021
• Days tested: 20
• Mount position: Center mount
• Boots: 2021 Burton Photon StepOn
• Boot Size: 8
• Bindings: Burton StepOn Reflex
• Where I’ve used it: White pass and Crystal, WA; Schweitzer, ID; Winter Park, CO
• Terrain Groomers, powder, tree runs, off piste.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I actually wasn't on the hunt for this type of board but was able to win a special edition graphic through a K2 sales contest they had for ski shops all over the US.

Why I chose this gear

I won this board in a K2 sales contest and was super happy once I got it out to the slopes. I had not heard anything about it prior to winning it, making it a fun surprise once I got to ride it.

What I love about it

• Speed: The stiffness from the middle to the rear of the board along with the camber profile allows me to cruise at very high speeds without any issue. I can straight bomb down most terrain without fear.
• Edge hold: The camber profile and weight allow for excellent edge hold for me, even on icy days.
• Turns: This board has amazing entry and exit front turns. I find it to be an excellent turning board from small, sharp curves to long, swooping carves.
• Groomers: Edge hold and turn capability make this a blast for groomer days, where I can just carve; and it carves just as well as for high-speed bombing runs.
• Powder: The wideness of the board along with the rocker tip lets me easily float in powder. Just sitting back on my rear leg lets me cruise through even deep powder.
• Durability: This board has had excellent durability through the use I've made of it. I have gone over rough terrain and had friends hit the top of my board with theirs and there is barely a scratch on it.
• Weight: While it feels a little on the heavier side compared to my other boards, that doesn't affect the board much in a negative manner. I find the extra weight feels great underfoot in rougher terrain,
• Switch riding: While this board is directional, I find no issues riding it switch. It engages well even when going in the “wrong direction,” at least for short periods of time
• Stability: The camber provides good pop while the extra weight feels like it dampens a lot of the rougher terrain.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Trees: While an excellent turner, it does take a tad bit more to engage the turn, which makes it just a bit tougher to ride in tight-packed trees.
• Moguls: The extra stiffness and weight underfoot helps with charging through moguls, but if I want to carve around them, it takes a bit more effort to engage the turn—which can make moguls a pain.
• Park: I found the board to be fine with straight air jumps, but spins and rails would not be ideal on this board.

Favorite moment with this gear

One of my favorite moments on this board was hitting my top speed record while flying down one of the main faces of Crystal Mountain. I believe strava caught me at about 65 mph. I felt super stable and safe during the whole charge.

Value for the money vs. other options

I enjoy this board for rougher terrain, powder days, and the days where I just want to carve the day away. This price point is a tough one, as there are so many good options, such as the Burton Skeleton Key. I feel the Skeleton Key outperforms this board in most all aspects, from turn initiation to edge control as well as lighter weight and more options for mounting my bindings with the Channel. It really just depends on what one wants the board for. This board has not been my main board, but it is part of my quiver.

Final verdict

I found this board to be excellent in certain conditions and on certain terrains. While it is not the number one board in my quiver, I still find it to be a great source of fun with excellent stability and great turning.