About this review This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard, which I bought with my own money in February 2019.

My take

The Burton Custom (Camber) is a good option for intermediate to advanced riders who are looking for a board that can do it all. It is a great all-mountain board with the pop and responsiveness needed for a rider looking to get the most out of an old-school camber snowboard.

About the gear

• Model: 2019 Burton Custom - Camber
• Size: 156

About me

• Height: 5’10
• Weight: 163 lbs
• Experience: 6 years

Test conditions

• When I bought these: February 2019
• Days tested: 60
• Mount position: +/-15
• Boots: 2018 Burton Imperials
• Boot Size: 10
• Bindings: 2018 Burton Cartel EST
• Where I’ve used it: Vermont, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Colorado, California, Utah, and Japan
• Terrain: Groomers, powder, park, side country, and trees

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for an all-mountain board with quick toe-to-heel response and good stability at higher speeds. I also wanted a board versatile enough to handle anything.

Why I chose this gear

I wanted a board that would be stable at high speeds but soft enough to do butters. The Custom’s medium-stiff flex coupled with the camber profile gave me the best of both worlds. I also considered the Capital DOA, Burton Deep Thinker, and Rome Stale Mod. Ultimately, I ended up choosing the 2019 Custom because I really liked its design and features. Another perk was that Burton has so many stores around the US, which makes it easy to get repairs if needed.

What I love about it

• Speed: The Custom is a fast board for most riders, and the Custom X is available for those looking for even more speed. Burton positions the wood grain of the board in two continuous zones along the heel and toe edge. This gave the board added strength and stability - thus allowing the board to stabilize well at high speeds.
• Turns: Quick turn initiation that has a springy feel as I transition from edge to edge. If you’re not yet super comfortable with turn initiation, it could be a little challenging on the Custom. But if you do, this board is so much fun.
• Groomers: The Burton Custom was built for groomers. I am able to glide effortlessly on groomed runs and the camber profile locks you into the snow. Definitely maintain good form during the turns or it will catch an edge.
• Trees: The quick edge-to-edge transition of the board makes the Custom fun in the trees. Boards with a shorter tail may be easier to ride through the trees, but the Custom still holds up well on these runs.
• Moguls: Burton did a good job balancing the flex on this board. With it being a medium flex and not too stiff, I am able to absorb the shock from the uneven terrain well.
• Park: This board is great for jumps in the park. I can still take it off rails and jibbs – but just note that it’s more prone to edge catches due to its camber profile. It will have a more aggressive feel than other park boards. Some issues I have encountered are that it is not the easiest to jibb with and also not the greatest with more technical features. For those specific tricks, I would still prefer a softer board.
• Durability: The Burton Custom has a durable core, profile, and base. From out of the box until now, the ride has remained the same and it does not feel like there have been any changes in the flex of the board. Additionally, the sintered base is strong and can handle the occasional tree root/stump. I’ve rode over bumpy ice, branches, and the occasional tree stump and the base of the board is still in really good condition. Additionally, I’ve had some accidental run-ins with other riders on the mountain where our boards hit at higher speeds, and again, no damage to the structure of the board. The topsheet of the board is not as durable as the rest of the board. The topsheet is where most of the wear and tear can be seen. An example of that is after my first ride on my Custom, the graphics under where my bindings were mounted were worn.
• Weight: The Custom feels light on the feet and pretty average for all-mountain snowboards.
• Switch riding: The Custom has a twin flex between the contact points making it a balanced ride for both normal and switch. The board does have a 0.5" setback at its stance reference points, shifting your stance forward by 0.5" will make it feel like a true twin.
• Stability: The Custom has a lot of energy and pop. I am able to get up to speed quickly without feeling the underfoot chatter. The board will help keep you in control when riding fast or coming off of a larger feature. It’s a great all-mountain charger.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Edge hold: The board has Burton’s Frostbite technology so in the medium to soft snow, the Custom holds an edge well. It does start to slide out a lot easier on the harder-packed and icy runs. The camber profile definitely holds the edge better than the Flying V, but it definitely can be better.
• Powder: The Custom struggles a little bit in powder compared to other all-mountain boards. The nature of the camber profile just isn’t the best in deep snow. I am still able to power through the powder by leaning back on my back leg.
• Backcountry: The custom is not the most ideal board for backcountry. Though it has the stiffness to handle higher speeds, the camber profile makes it so it does not float as well in thick snow. You can get around this by leaning more on the back foot, but there are all-mountain boards out there that would be better suited for backcountry riding when compared to the Burton Custom.

Favorite moment with this gear

The Burton Custom really helped me hone in my turning and jumping ability. In particular, I remember one of the first few times I used the board. I felt like as I picked up speed and began to carve, the board was helping me initiate my turns and locking me on the edges. This helped me build that confidence in the stability of the board. The stability and pop that the board provides allowed me to pop off of sidehits much easier. This led to increased comfort in constantly seeking out side-hits and trying larger jumps!

Value for the money vs. other options

I have not tested many other boards similar to Custom other than the Custom X. Custom X is the Custom’s big brother. More aggressive, stiffer, and has great pop. Based on my research, the Burton Custom is comparable to Capita DOA, Bataleon Goliath, and Rome Stale Cruiser. Overall the price of the Burton Custom is pretty average for boards in its performance range.

Final verdict

Overall the Burton Custom is a versatile, all-mountain board. It has great stability and loads of pop for side hits and jumps. If you’re a rider who is looking for a versatile board that can tear it up, then this could be a great choice!