When I first started snowboarding around 13 years ago, it was on a dinged up rental board from Burton. When I was finally confident enough to invest in my own board, I graduated from rentals to a brand new Burton Custom—a right of passage for many of us that choose to slide sideways on snow.

In those days, my cousin and I would make a pit stop at the Soho Burton Flagship on Friday nights before our five hour ride to Killington. We’d drop off a case of beer to the homies there, chop it up about new gear, and maybe pick up a few last minute items before the journey to the mountain. For a born-and-bred city kid who’d grown up far away from the slopes, it was amazing to find that kind of connection. It was more than just a hobby—it was a culture.

These days, I’ve stepped out of the Burton box and now ride a couple of other brands, but I still have the utmost respect for the products Burton makes. From bindings, to boots, to boards, Burton knows snowboarding. They consistently use their legacy and standing in the sport to innovate where it matters most: their boards. So, with 2024 upon us and a new season of gear already available, I recently stopped by the Burton Flagship in Soho to relive those old times. I chatted with the Burton reps about which boards they’re excited about, the tech they showcase, and which ones are best for specific riding styles.

Here’s a brief breakdown of the selections I feature in this article:

• Burton Blossom
• Burton Process
• Burton Custom
• Burton Good Company
• Burton Hometown Hero
• Burton Fish 3D
• Burton Pow Wrench
• Burton Talent Scout
• Burton Storyboard
• Burton YeaSayer

Who Is Burton Snowboards?

Started in 1977 in Londonderry, Vermont, Burton Snowboards is the godfather of East Coast snowboarding. With more than 40 years dedicated to pushing the sport forward through competition and experimentation, Burton has become a snowsports empire, with some of the best riders in the world strapping into their snowboards.

That kind of success has allowed the brand to build an incredibly comprehensive line of snowboards, boots, and bindings. Simply put, Burton has more boards to suit a greater range of riding styles, keeping riders covered wherever they choose to get their turns on the mountain. There might be brands with better craftsmanship or that excel more in a specific discipline of snowboarding, but when it comes to quality options, it’s hard to beat the big B.

Features to Look Out for When Buying a Burton Snowboard

Before we get into the boards, let’s break down some of the features and technology that you’ll have to consider when deciding which board is right for you.

The Channel System

The Channel is Burton’s patented binding mounting system. Rather than a bulky four-screw disc plate to attach the binding to the board, Burton uses two hollow vertical channels underneath each foot, along with two screws. Not only does this setup enhance board feel by alleviating the “dead spot” created by the plate underfoot, but the bindings can also be oriented anywhere along the channel for an unprecedented range of stance widths and angles.

Step-On Bindings

As opposed to the traditional strap in, Step-On bindings allow riders to simply step into their bindings for added convenience and speed. Rather than using straps that lock your foot in place to transfer energy to the board, Step-Ons achieve security and responsiveness by using a three-point lock system in the heel and both sides of the toe to clip riders into their bindings—no straps needed. However, a compatible Step-On boot is required.

3D Contour

A “3D snowboard” is Burton’s term for a snowboard that has a contoured shape. Traditionally, regardless of whether a board's profile is camber, or rocker, or a hybrid, if you look across the base, it is flat. 3D snowboards take inspiration from their surfboard brethren and introduce contours along the base that serve to funnel snow more efficiently, resulting in improved float and better responsiveness.

FrostBite Edges

On icy days or on more technical terrain, edgehold is crucial. Burton’s FrostBite Edges protrude more beneath the bindings to give riders extra edgehold in the place where energy transfer is highest.

PurePop Camber

As a hybrid profile, the PurePop camber shape increases camber in between the binding, while utilizing a flat profile underfoot. Boards that utilize PurePop are less likely to catch an edge while turning or buttering, without sacrificing the springiness needed for jumps.

Methlon Base

Snowboards have historically been divided into two categories: those with extruded bases and those with sintered bases. Extruded are cheaper to manufacture, which drives down the overall cost of the board, making it great for a beginner purchase. Sintered bases are more expensive and hold wax better, making them faster than their extruded counterparts. Burton’s Methlon base, is made of higher density polyethylene base material which makes it more durable than extruded or sintered bases. Better wax retention makes it faster as well.

Carbon Strands

Carbon strands, also called stringers, are small sheets of carbon inserted at strategic points between the fiberglass layers of a board—usually the tail—to provide extra stability and pop for jumps.

So, now that we’ve covered what goes into the best boards, let’s get into which ones make the cut.

The Best Burton Snowboards of 2024

The Burton Blossom

The Blossom features a stiffer flex, oriented towards more advanced riders that want to hit more than just the park and groomers. This medium flex is somewhat countered by an extended side cut, which puts more edge in contact with the snow. This allows the Blossom to be ridden a few centimeters shorter than your normal board—meaning that not only do you get increased edge hold when lining up jumps, but the smaller size also makes the board easier to whip around in the air. Throw in some carbon stringers for increased pop and a full camber profile, and you’ve got a board that can turn the entire mountain into your playground.

The Burton Process

A long time staple in Burton’s lineup, the Process is a softer-flexing all-mountain board. More on the playful side, it features Burton’s PurePop Camber profile, making the board less likely to catch an edge without sacrificing the pop needed for jumps and side hits. The Process also comes with about 12 mm of setback, so while not ideal for deep powder, it can handle a couple inches of fresh really well—and a true twin means it can do it regular or while riding switch.

Burton Custom

Legends never die, and that’s exactly what the Burton Custom is. This full camber board has been responsible for the first real turns of many a rider, and has now received an update to keep it lockstep with the rest of Burton’s lineup. The new 2024 model continues the Custom’s evolution from a beginner board to an all-mountain slayer with a directional shape, twin flex, and carbon highlights. This makes the Custom a jack-of-all-trades, which doesn’t excel in only one particular area but can handle just about anything you throw at it.

Burton Mystery Hometown Hero

Burton’s Hometown Hero, the face of the Burton family tree line, comes in a few different variations this year—but none more premium than the Mystery. While Burton keeps much of the tech that goes into their Mystery series a secret, this season’s Hometown Hero boasts a rocker nose for additional float, 12mm of setback, and is incredibly lightweight. A brand-new methlon base addresses one of the biggest criticisms about the OG Hometown Hero: its slower speed. However, all of that new tech is going to cost you, as the Mystery Hometown Hero is Burton’s most expensive board of the season.

Burton Good Company

Where the Blossom occupies the intermediate/advanced park entry in Burton’s lineup, the Good Company is aimed more at beginners looking to step up to intermediate level riding. A full camber profile paired with a softer flex means that this board is snappy, and holds a decent edge without being too aggressive. The camber also means that riders looking to branch out from green trails and explore more of the resort can do so with relative security. Just don’t push it too fast, as the mellower flex isn’t the best when it comes to high speed stability.

Burton Fish 3D

As Burton’s dedicated powder surfer, The Fish has a wider profile that helps with float in deep pow, meaning it can be ridden a few centimeters shorter than most boards. For the past few seasons, Burton has also given the Fish the 3D treatment, making it even more surfy—perfect for deep days and soul surfing slashes. However, with a swallow tail and directional taper, we wouldn’t take it anywhere near the terrain park.

Check out a more in-depth Expert review here.

Burton Pow Wrench

If you’re looking for a powder specialist, but don’t want to foot the bill for the Fish 3D, the Pow Wrench is a great option. Packing a swallow tail and more carbon for better pop, this full rocker profile board also has 20mm of taper, making the tail easy to whip around for surfy turns. The stiffer profile also makes it slightly better than the Fish at handling corduroy or icier terrain.

Burton Talent Scout

When it comes to women’s boards, it’s hard to beat the Talent Scout. Currently flying off the shelves, the Talent Scout is aimed at intermediate to advanced riders, with a stiffer flex and a full camber bend. It’s true twin shape means that it’s as great in the terrain park as it is launching off natural side hits. It’s a great board for freestyle-oriented riders looking to explore the whole mountain on one board—and just check out that graphic.

Burton Story Board

For the more freeride-focused ladies, the Story Board is a slight step up from the Talent Scout. While you lose the park versatility, you gain the extra float and responsiveness to tackle more technical terrain with a directional shape and rockered nose. And while it’s technically classified as a women’s board, the range of sizes available makes it great for both lighter men or women looking to head off-piste.

Burton Yeasayer

For beginner/intermediate riders looking for an all-mountain board, the Yeasayer is Burton’s women’s lineup entry-level board. It is available in two profile variations—Flying V and Flat Top—which both offer pretty mellow, soft rides. The Flat Top is more forgiving due to its flat profile, while the Flying V has slightly more float in the deep stuff. However, both are true twin shapes, which when combined with the softer flex makes them great for flat-land tricks like butters.

How to Choose the Right Burton Snowboard

That wraps our top picks for Burton’s 2024 lineup. However, remember that the right board for you is the one that you feel most comfortable with, and should correlate pretty closely with your riding style. Not sure about what your riding style is just yet? Here's a quick recap of styles and the boards that pair best with each:

Mellow Riders

If you’re a mellow rider, resort groomers are your thing. While there are definitely expert riders that like to throw out big, long turns and take it easy, most beginners and intermediate riders fall into this category.

Recommended Boards: Burton Yeasayer, Burton Good Company, Burton Pow Wrench

Park Riders

Park riders are the more freestyle-oriented set. If you can see yourself spending more time working on your boardslides or cripplers than carving down the mountain, a dedicated park setup is the one for you.

Recommended Boards: Burton Blossom, Burton Process

All-Mountain Riders

All-mountain riders are comfortable anywhere on the mountain and usually occupy skill ranges between intermediate and expert. Medium stiffness boards are the best way to go, letting you tackle technical terrain while still feeling playful on groomers and versatile in the park.

Recommended Boards: Burton Talent Scout, Burton Custom

Freeriders

Those in pursuit of powder, on or off-piste, freeriders are typically expert snowboarders with styles that range from aggressive to surfy, changing the way they ride to best match the terrain they encounter in the backcountry.

Recommended Boards: Burton Mystery Hometown Hero, Burton Story Board, Burton Fish 3D

Find the Best Burton Snowboard For You

Have any lingering questions? Heart set on a board that wasn’t mentioned here? Don’t know what gear pairs best with the board you want? Chat with a Curated Winter Sports Expert for free, personalized advice. Once you’ve found the board for you, an Expert can help round out your selection with boots and bindings to help you make the most out of your time on the hill.

Happy shredding!