Curated Snowboarding Experts Everett Pelkey & Yuri Czmola got their hands on the 2024 Nidecker Merc Snowboard this spring. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, but consider the fact that each and every rider is different; if you have any questions about the Merc or need recommendations on which board would be best for you, reach out to a Snowboarding Expert here on Curated.

Before we get started, it's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does Nidecker claim about this board? [Everett] Nidecker claims it as that middle-of-the-road, ideal sweet spot for having fun at a great value.

[Yuri] Nidecker claims this is an awesome all-mountain answer, phenomenal bang for buck, and it definitely lives up to that bill.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of this board? [Everett] This board was one of the most fun boards I’ve ridden in a while. It was insane how much I wanted to ride this and didn’t want to get off it. It is a fantastic resort ripper and East Coast running board that you can do way more than you would expect on it. It’s at a ridiculously affordable price point. I would keep this one in my quiver for just an everyday shredding kind of ride.

[Yuri] This might have been one of my favorite rides this year. I was blown away by the price of this one. Nidecker has this listed at 400 bucks, which makes no sense. It has a directional twin with a rocker in the nose and tail and camber underfoot. This board was awesome for carving and allowed me to enjoy Belleayre. It has a great, broken-in feeling. Overall, this is a great snowboard anywhere from your first snowboard to quiver-killing snowboard.

Carving

How does it turn? [Yuri] It’s very inviting because it’s softer in the nose and stiffens up as you ride through. This is the one snowboard to answer them all, and I think this is a great answer, if you feel you’ve finally begun to link turns and you are moving on to carving.

What is the edge hold like? [Everett] The edge hold was great. These icy East Coast conditions are all over the place and are never the easiest to handle, but the Merc could hold its own on this.

How does it perform at speed? [Yuri] It has an amazing flex rating. It is defined as a medium flex, but honestly, as I began pushing it harder and harder at higher speeds, it still held me down. For someone who normally loves camber a little bit too much, this was a great experience.

Freestyle

How is it for freestyle snowboarding? [Everett] I like to mess around and have fun wherever I can go, hit every sidehit possible and every other feature out there. I’m going for it. This board could keep up with me, pack a little bit more, punch it like that all-mountain, more aggressive, freestyle board, but yet wasn’t too much, wasn’t too intimidating, wasn’t going to kick me back.

[Yuri] Even on a rainy day, this thing held me down, from carving corduroy to riding in the park.

Could you speak about playfulness and pop? [Everett] I didn’t get a lot of kickback off this board, but it still had pop. It is a well-balanced board that felt great underneath my feet all day. It’s definitely geared for intermediate riders, and with its mid-stiffness, this thing was so playful, fun, and stable.

Is it good for riding switch? [Yuri] Riding switch, this board is a touch set back. I did not even feel it.

How is it for buttering? [Yuri] This is a great and inviting medium flex. I think expert enthusiasts or even rad dads looking to have that right cruiser feel, this medium flex is a great way to have some fun or tap back into those presses if you want to get a little buttery.

How is it on jumps? [Yuri] In terms of jibbing, I had a great time putting this thing sideways, riding boxes, rails, and spinning. It has a very locked-in feel underfoot.

Freeride

How is it for freeride snowboarding? [Everett] I definitely wouldn’t say it is one of the most aggressive freeriding boards.

[Yuri] I think this directional twin is great. I think it could help you ride steeper lines on bigger mountains.

How is it in uneven terrain and chunder? [Everett] If you're looking to ride steeps and bumps, this will definitely hold you down.

How is it riding in the trees? How is its maneuverability? [Everett] I could take the ski bumps, trees, powder, and the park all in a few runs, and I could link all that up without feeling scared or timid in any of those spots. It was confidence inspiring the whole time.

[Yuri] I got in a woods lap or two, and I had a great time riding some snow softener.

What terrain is this board good for? [Everett] You can take it in the park. You can go up a bit higher. You can rip those corduroy runs in the morning.

[Yuri] I could see this being a great answer for someone looking to buy a more park-experienced board.

What kind of terrain should riders avoid with it? [Everett] It is not the most intense, best edge-catching board for really severe, icy, or very technical terrain.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this board to? [Everett] If you are very good at boards, athletic, and want to jump on the first board, that will feel a little bit more than your first beginner-friendly board, that you want it to last for years — this board could honestly hit that sweet spot.

[Yuri] This is a great answer if you’re looking for a first board or one board to do it all. This is one that everyone should consider, and people should pay a lot more attention to. I recommend this to someone who wants to ride both ways and not be too concerned about the word “directional” in front. Look no further for those looking for a simple snowboard to upgrade from that Craigslist option.

Who should avoid this board, there are other better options out there for them? [Everett] I wouldn’t recommend this board for a more advanced rider looking for more technically advanced, steeper terrain, cliff droppings, or trees. There are specific boards for specific styles out there, and that’s where we can find better higher-end brands they make out of this Nidecker lineup that will fit those sweet spots specifically. I would not give it to a true beginner, either. If you need something more forgiving, a little more confidence inspiring, you can look at the Score or the Play to get you going.

Snowboards work differently for different types of riders. If you want help finding the right board for you, reach out to Everett, Yuri, or any other Snowboarding Expert here on Curated for free, personalized recommendations on the best board for you.