Home » 2027 All-Mountain Favorite Snowboards – A Best Of List

2027 All-Mountain Favorite Snowboards

Welcome to The Good Ride, and it’s time for the 2027 All-Mountain Favorites list. Just so you know, I’ll have another list of more reasonably priced all-mountain boards coming next, and Davey will be doing a Big Guy Favorites list.

Why You Should Trust The Good Ride All-Mountain Favorite List

This Is Not A Pay-to-Play List

No one can buy their way into this list. These boards earned their spot here solely by how they ride. These are the boards I recommend the most, and I’d love to have in my quiver.

About James Biesty

I’m an average rider, but I’ve ridden around 1,000 snowboards. I also extensively test and compare each board over several days in various conditions.  So, if you’re an average rider like me, this is the list you want to see.

What Is An All-Mountain Board To The Good Ride

For a detailed breakdown, check this Snowboard Riding Styles article. For a quick summary, an All-Mountain board sits between a tapered, directional, set-back Freeride and a centered twin Mountain Freestyle board. It’s the most compromised but most versatile board made.

Capita Matriarch – $729

Ability Level: Committed Intermediates to Experts

Shape: Directional With Mild Taper

Camber: Mostly Camber With Rocker Before The Nose/Tail

The Capita Matriarch can get a little Bucky and bouncy in uneven snow, but it’s better than many Capita boards. The grip isn’t the best either, but I love how it springs out of a turn and pops on an ollie. It’s a really special board. It favors more directional riding with pretty easy float for an all-mountain board, but you can still throw this around switch. It also has a very fast base, and I haven’t been this excited about a Capita board in a long time. I’d love to see this camber profile in the Black Snowboard of Death and Mega Death because, in same-day tests, this Matriarch outshone both boards. Full Capita Matriarch Review

Borealis Artefact – $679

Ability Level: Committed Aggressive Intermediates to Experts

Shape:

Camber:

The Artefact has a fast base, very competent grip, and a damp, composed flex that loves to charge. It takes more work to access this pop than a lot of boards, but there is solid pop if you put the effort in. Also never shuts down on you at slower speeds. Better boards exist for those who like to set it back and get easy directional float, but it shines for those who want a more centered feel on a directional board, making high speeds and big airs more fun. Full Borealis Artefact Review

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Borealis Tundra – $639

Ability Level: Committed Beginners up to Experts

Shape: Directional Twin with Moderate Setback On Board
Camber: Camber Past The Inserts With Rocker

Why The Borealis Tundra Might Be For You

This is the polar opposite of the Artefact. It’s almost a true twin that gives you a very forgiving yet poppy, versatile mountain freestyle ride when set up on Reference on groomers. But then it has a pretty good setback on board for easier directional float in powder. It also has a fast base and very competent grip in everything but really icy snow. There aren’t many sizes, but if one fits and what I said appeals to you, it’s worth it. It’s better than a lot of popular directional twins out there right now. You can start with it as a beginner, but even as an expert, you still won’t get bored. Full Borealis Tundra Review

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Burton Time Thief – $729

Ability Level: Committed Intermediates to Experts

 

Shape: Slightly Tapered and Directional

Camber:

The Time Thief has a top sheet that scuffs super easily and a middling base for this price point, but the turn is so special it feels like cheating. It’s also a great board for any kind of jump. It rides switch pretty easily for a directional board, and it’s got decent float for an all-mountain board. While this isn’t a hard snow specialist, I felt it gripped a little better than many Family Tree Rides I’ve tried. Full Burton Time Thief Review

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Armada Sicko – $599

Ability Level: Advanced to Expert

Shape: Slightly Tapered and Directional
Camber: Directional Camber From Tail to A Little Before The Nose

Why The Armada Sicko Might Be For You

This is Armada’s first year making snowboards, and while they aren’t bringing much innovation, they’re making a really good snowboard. It’s not that great in hard snow, but it still has a satisfying turn and a nice balance between being poppy while still having some dampness. It has a very comfortable feel, loves a quick turn, and has a very easy, poppy ollie. There’s a decent amount of setback on board and a little bit of early rise before the nose, making it a decent floater for an all-mountain board. Other than hard snow, this is a very well-rounded board for doing a little bit of everything. Full Armada Sicko Review

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Weston Dream Machine – $599

Ability Level: Advanced to Expert

Shape: Slightly Tapered and Directional

Camber:

Why The Weston Dream Machine Might Be For You

The Weston Dream Machine is for riders who love a chargy directional twin. While this doesn’t have the best float and powder compared to many boards on this list, the turning experience and dampness of the Flex was so fun I couldn’t stop riding it. It’s got a fast base, very competent grip, very good pop, and it could just hold itself on a turn so much better than I thought it would for being such a directional twin. If you have another board for powder, this could be amazing, and I loved going out and making the best turns I could, regular and switch. Full Weston Dream Machine Review

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United Shapes Horizon – $650

Ability Level: Intermediate to Expert

Shape: Slightly Tapered and Directional

Camber: Camber with Rocker Before The Nose and Tail

Why The United Shapes Horizon Might Be For You

The United Shapes Horizon has a more centered feel on groomer days, similar to many of the boards on this list that have very good pop and spring out of the turn. But with these setback inserts, it’s the best directional floater on this list. It’s better than many Freeride boards. Of all the boards on the list, this feels the most like you’re getting two boards for the price of one. The grip isn’t as strong in hard snow as some boards, but this is an amazing board. For 2027, United Shapes switched factories. As a result, this now has a faster base, better construction, and a new core, giving this a more dynamic flex personality. Full United Shapes Horizon Review

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Ride Moderator – $649

Ability Level: committed beginners up to experts

Shape:

Camber:

Why The Ride Moderator Might Be For You

You get this board if you want a super quick-turning ride that’s forgiving yet poppy, fun to ollie and fun to turn. This is a more traditional width, so it is great for people with smaller boot sizes. But they also have wides that are pretty easy to turn for 10 to 12 boots. The base is on the slower side, but it retains wax well. This also floats pretty well when set all the way back. I just couldn’t stop riding this board when I got it for demo. If you want the same shape but much stiffer and more aggressive at high speeds, go with the Ride Deep Fake. Full Ride Moderator Review

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Nitro Alternator – $599

Ability Level: committed beginners up to experts

Shape:

Camber:

Why The Nitro Alternator Might Be For You

Next up is the Nitro Alternator. This is best for Advanced to expert riders who love true old-school full camber but still is a well-rounded, fun board to ride. This has such a good turn to it; it has great pop, and it’s very competent in terms of dampness. What surprised me is how well this floats if you set it all the way back in powder for a board with this much camber. It’s technical and catchy, but old-school riders who love true camber, not all these hybrid variations these days that are called true camber, will love this. Full Nitro Alternator Review

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Never Summer Proto Type 3 – $709

Ability Level:

Shape:
Camber:

Why The Never Summer Proto Type 3 Might Be For You

Next up is the Never Summer Proto Type 3. This is best for committed beginners up to experts. It has what they call recurve camber: camber that goes a little past each insert, with passive bends throughout. Then it has rocker before the nose/tail. It’s not a very poppy board, but it gives you more pop than other boards with the same amount of camber. It also grips like a champ, which is why it is a hard-snow favorite. It’s also very forgiving and handles all kinds of uneven snow well for this flex. Then it also has setback inserts, so on a powder day you can get easier directional float. Full Never Summer Proto Type 3 Review

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Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra $699

Ability Level: Committed Intermediates To Experts

Shape: Twin
Camber: Camber Underfoot With Passive Bends. Then Rocker Before The Nose/Tail

Why The Never Summer Proto T3 Ultra Might Be For You

It is a lot like the Proto Type 3, but with a mid-wide/carving-friendly shape, more pop, more camber, more drive out of the turn, and a little more grip. The great part is it still has early rise at the nose and tail, so it’s not a very unforgiving ride. This has the same setback inserts and handles uneven snow very well. It’s just more fun to turn and get air with. It can be a little grabby in some porous, firm snow, but a slight detune makes it go away. My only complaint with the Proto Type 3 Ultra is that it only comes in a mid-wide size. I’d love to see it with sizing similar to the Proto Type 3, which comes in regular and wide. Full Never Summer PT3 Ultra Review

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Gnu Banked Country – $629

Ability Level: Advanced To Expert

Shape: Almost No Taper & Directional
Camber: Full Camber Tip To Tail

Why The Gnu Banked Country Might Be For You

Last up is the Gnu Banked Country, a more directional hard-snow favorite. riders. You get this if you want a little more directional feel and you don’t ride switch as much as you do with the Proto Type 3s that I mentioned above. Now this is on the technical/catchy side and doesn’t have the best base. It dries out quickly and needs frequent waxing. But aside from that, it’s an excellent board for those who see hard snow because of its aggressive sidecut, especially under the back foot. Full Gnu Banked Country Review

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If Your Board Didn’t Make This All-Mountain Favorite’s List

If your board isn’t on this list, don’t get pissed. Check my reviews, see how we categorize boards, and read what I say about them before asking why your board didn’t make the list. So many great boards fit different riding preferences, so your board could still be the best choice for you.

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