Review: Burton Skeleton Key Snowboard · 2024
By Snowboarding Expert
Nathan Goodson
13 photos
The Curated Take
3.6/5
The Burton Skeleton Key Snowboard is ideal for confident intermediate to advanced riders who enjoy high-speed stability, precision carving, and smooth turning on groomers and hardpack snow. Its directional design, featuring a setback stance, elongated nose for powder flotation, and setback camber, ensures stability and predictable performance. While it's not suited for switch riding or playful boarding due to its swallow tail, it provides a stable, confident ride, especially in choppy conditions. Its camber profile between bindings aids in easy turning and carving.
Ideal for
- Stable and grounded at high speeds
- Carves with precision and predictability
- Confidence inspiring with how smooth it turns on groomers and hardpack snow
Not ideal for
- Not a board to ride switch on, although possible, but very uncomfortable
- With the swallow tail and setback stance and camber, this is not really a playful board
Turn Ease
I am pleasantly surprised at how well the board responds on the harder-packed groomers with the longer nose, but due to the camber that rests between the setback binding positions,...Read more
Playfulness
The board has some great pop and is lively; however, with such a setback stance, it's not really a board to butter on or do much as far as the...Read more
Durability
Nothing about my riding on the Burton Skeleton Key lends itself to not being a durable board for the long run. The board feels very comfortable and solid while carving...Read more
High Speed Stability
I have a run at my local resort that allows for fast, somewhat safe riding with little consequence, so I wanted to test the stability with speed. I got over...Read more
Carving
The carving relies on the camber portion of the board, which is positioned well between the bindings, while the extended rocker shape exists beyond the front binding. Before getting on...Read more
Versatility
The Skeleton Key is not a versatile board, nor was it designed to be. It is ideal for going in one direction on powder, groomers, and on-piste. I would not...Read more
Flotation
This board has an elongated nose beyond the front binding, making it ideal for flotation. This keeps the board afloat and relieves the back leg from fatigue with the pronounced...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Nathan Goodson
About the snowboard gear
- Model: Burton Skeleton Key Snowboard · 2024
Test conditions
- When I bought this: November 15, 2023
- Where I’ve used it: Afton Alps, Afton, Minnesota
- How many times I've used it: 7
Expert Reviews of the Burton Skeleton Key Snowboard
Nathan Goodson The Burton Skeleton Key is best suited for a confident higher intermediate to advanced level rider since this board is ideal for going fast, slashing groomers and pow, and quick turns between trees. This board is very directional and not good for riding switch since it has a setback stance, extended nose for floating in pow, and setback camber. I am pleasantly surprised with how stable it was when bombing downhill on some choppy groomers. The carving ability was really on point and as expected. It kept my confidence high as I made high-speed turns. This board exceeded my expectations because it didn't get kicked around with some of the choppy conditions. I attempted to ride this switch even though it's not designed for it. It is possible to ride switch, but there is very little real estate with the shortened tail, so it would be easy to crash, especially if I get into variable conditions like off-piste or powder. This is an excellent option if riders are looking for a fast, confident, stable board with great carving and easy maneuvering.
Product Specs
| Age Group | Adult |
| Gender | Men's |
| Model year | 2024 |
| Snowboard type | All Mountain, Freeride |
| Skill level | Intermediate, Advanced |
| Rocker profile | Rocker/Camber |
Review Ratings
Turn Ease
4/5
Nathan Goodson gave 4 of 5 stars. I am pleasantly surprised at how well the board responds on the harder-packed groomers with the longer nose, but due to the camber that rests between the setback binding positions, it holds an edge very well.
Playfulness
3/5
Nathan Goodson gave 3 of 5 stars. The board has some great pop and is lively; however, with such a setback stance, it's not really a board to butter on or do much as far as the park goes. This board can be ridden switch, but it's kind of a mind game I have to fight with due to almost no nose in the opposite direction. The board might not work if riders get in the deep stuff, but it works on groomers.
Durability
4/5
Nathan Goodson gave 4 of 5 stars. Nothing about my riding on the Burton Skeleton Key lends itself to not being a durable board for the long run. The board feels very comfortable and solid while carving and cruising down the slopes. I have not had issues with any of the components of the inserts, edges, base, or topsheet construction.
High Speed Stability
4/5
Nathan Goodson gave 4 of 5 stars. I have a run at my local resort that allows for fast, somewhat safe riding with little consequence, so I wanted to test the stability with speed. I got over 40mph, tracked by one of my fitness apps (Strava) that I use for riding bikes, and I felt comfortable and stable, so this handles really well at higher speeds.
Carving
4/5
Nathan Goodson gave 4 of 5 stars. The carving relies on the camber portion of the board, which is positioned well between the bindings, while the extended rocker shape exists beyond the front binding. Before getting on the board, I was curious how this would work with Midwest conditions I deal with most of the time, but after the first run, I realized this would be a great board for the slopes here, even if we only get a few powder days a year.
Versatility
2/5
Nathan Goodson gave 2 of 5 stars. The Skeleton Key is not a versatile board, nor was it designed to be. It is ideal for going in one direction on powder, groomers, and on-piste. I would not recommend riding this switch as there is not really any board in front. Also, it would be pretty sketchy to ride off-piste with this board without much of a tail to provide stability.
Flotation
4/5
Nathan Goodson gave 4 of 5 stars. This board has an elongated nose beyond the front binding, making it ideal for flotation. This keeps the board afloat and relieves the back leg from fatigue with the pronounced setback stance. The Skeleton Key is a great board for powder and flotation with a wider nose and tapered tail.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Nathan Goodson The Burton Skeleton Key has features that really cater to both groomers and powder, featuring a setback camber profile with an elongated rocker nose for float. The camber gives a predictable feel to groomers and packed powder, making for a very stable ride and enabling confidence even at high speeds. The early-rise rocker nose and a slightly tapered tail provide great float in powder and soft snow.
This is a very versatile board ideal for multiple terrain types and works well in those different parts of the slopes.
Why did you choose this product?
Nathan Goodson The Burton Skeleton Key is a board I've had my eye on for the last couple of seasons because of its unique shape, flex, and camber/rocker profile. It's a directional board, but I also like testing the limits on how well it will ride switch. It was cheaper or similarly priced to other comparable powder boards, and I was also drawn to the graphic.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Nathan Goodson The Burton Skeleton Key is somewhat similar to other boards I've been on and tested like the Lib Tech Golden Orca and Orca minus the Magne-Traction edges the Lib Tech offers. The Skeleton Key isn't quite as volume-shifted, but besides that, it's a similar concept with rocker and camber and a setback stance at a lower price point than both the Lib Tech options mentioned above. It doesn't have quite the grip on icier/hardpack conditions that the Lib Tech boards offer. However, with the camber between the bindings, the hold is sufficient in most cases, and the early float nose will give riders everything they need to stay on the powder, so this is a great alternative compared to one of the pricier options.
