Burton Forager Snowboard Written Review Review by The Good Ride

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Thanks for checking the Burton Forager Snowboard Review from an average riders perspective in everything from groomers to pow. 

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews and this is our unfiltered opinion. We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

The Burton Forager Snowboard Review- How it rides and who it is for

How This Review Happened:

Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: 159
Days: 3
Conditions:  Some great late spring powder with early morning slackountry time with Drift Boards. Good groomers. Somewhat uneven but good spring conditions.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo and Burton Photon Step On Wide bindings.
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas, Clew Bindings, Burton Genesis Step On
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom Guide Jacket
Pant: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant, Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Swash Pant,
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Glove, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove

Similar Swallow Tails (but not the same): Korua Dart, Weston Japow, Season Forma, Soul Shift, Jones Storm Wolf, Lib Tech Lost Retro Ripper, Soul Pitch Wing,

Set-Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +18/-3, +24/+6. Close to Reference and Set all the way back.

Approximate Weight

The Burton Forager felt pretty middle ground for its weight and size. It’s clear they were thinking damp and stiff over light and easy to pop. (We don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores there is no consistency in a boards weight)

Sizing

The Burton Forager felt a bit big overall for me but doable. I really felt like I was at the bottom of the recommended range. I think I might be a little more into a 155 but then I’m at the upper end of the weight range but it better works with my boot size. If I have to choose between weight and boot size I usually choose boot size but I wish there wasn’t such a dramatic jump in recommended weight/flex from the size 155-160. I think I would have really liked the 160 if it was made for 150-210lbs or something like that. I’ve found this to be an issue with many boards as they get much wider and stiffer in just one size.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards. You can of course go bigger or smaller but these work best for not turning the board slower than it should be and not having the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag.
150: 9-10
155: 10-11
159: 11-12
165: 11.5-12.5

Keep it close to Burton’s recommended weight recommendations.

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

There is a lot of taper with the Burton Forager, 20mm and you feel it. The set back on sidecut isn’t much but the set back on board is a lot. This

The Burton Forager The Burton Forager has a directional camber but on snow it feels like full camber. I always felt tentative riding this. I think it is the way the swallow tail sinks into the snow and makes it feel more aggressive.

Flex Personality

Burton calls this a Medium flex but the board I had felt quite stiff unterfoot too the tail. The Nose was medium/soft but that’s it. Maybe the production model is softer than my demo. What is unique is the swallow tail is very stiff. Stiffer than most swallow this pronounced that I’ve tried.

Base Glide/Speed

The base of the Burton Forager is pretty good but not exceptional like some out there. I found that the newer Burton bases need really good wax and you should wax it twice before riding it. If it still feels slow give it a base grind at a competent shop.

Tapered, super set back swallow tails like this aren’t usually super fast but this it is very competent at speed.

Edge Hold

Burton doesn’t rule the edge hold world but this is pretty good compared to most burtons. It still isn’t what I want to use on a hard day though.

Turning Experience/Carving

The Burton Forager can carve really hard. Really hard. It had a great turning experience that was a little slow for my boot size but still medium to medium fast. With bigger boots it would be medium fast to fast. Once you get it on edge it likes a more turny type of rider. You can still make harder down the line almost straight line type of turns.

Powder

The Burton Forager can float with the best of them. It didn’t even feel like it was trying in shin to knee high powder. With a 22.5” stance width when set all the way back you have a 6.25” set back on board from the tail but -11.5 from the Swallow tail. That is a lot more than 12.5mm/.5” back from center of sidecut. 20mm of taper, a lot for Burton, a big ol Iron cut out in the tail and some early rise before the nose makes it an excellent pow board. I’d still prefer the Burton 3D Fish in a similar size but this is really good.

Conclusion

So I think I would prefer a 155 but getting on the 159 but I’ve tried a lot gnarlier. This won’t be for everyone but some will really like this stiff, hard carving and floaty swallow tail.

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