Burton Free Thinker 2019-2024 Snowboard Video and Written Review Review by The Good Ride

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Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  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.

Size: 155
Days:
Conditions:
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles,  Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings:  Burton Malavita
Set Up: 22.5” Centered 15 front -15 back

Size: 157
Days: 1
Conditions: Wet, semi-messy snow
Riders: James, Jimbo, Tim, Peter
Boots: Burton Almighty, Adidas Tactical ADV
Bindings: Burton Cartel
Set Up:  Centered, almost 23″ 15 front -15 back

Approximate Weight

Felt normal and maybe a touch heavy for its size but weight varies from board to board in the same model/size.

Flex

The Burton Free Thinker is very stiff for a twin and it really likes a strong rider underfoot.

Buttering

Not very easy. None of us could butter it well except for Jimbo. Even Jimbo couldn’t bend the board like he could most other twins though.

Sizing

The 157 felt the right size for Peter and I.  Jimbo and Tim would be much better off with the 157w or 160w

Camber/On Snow Feel

It’s a locked in, mean aggressive old school camber twin made for riders who are very technical but also like to go big.  It doesn’t like being mellow or cruising and wants to make you pay if you get off your game.  It prefers an aggressive expert but can tolerate an advanced aggressive rider most of the time without hurting them.

Here is a pic of the Burton Free Thinker camber profile to see how high this full camber board arcs in the center.

Edge Hold

Even Burton Camber boards don’t have the strongest grip game these days but the Burton Free Thinker seems like it will grip a touch better than most camber rides in their line. We didn’t have much hard snow to test with so can’t say for sure though.

Turn Initiation

The Burton Free Thinker is very quick slapping it back and forth edge to edge but then it slows down when you are engaged in the turn.  It seems to like long narrow S turns and straight lines best.  Once on edge, it doesn’t like to turn a tight radius.

Turning Experience

It’s camber so it pops well and it’s pretty fun to turn but it felt so stiff for a twin that it didn’t really have an amazing turning experience. Burton makes a ton of great turning boards so it’s up against really high expectations though.  I’d say it’s more for straight lining than making good turns.

Carving

The Burton Free Thinker is a pretty good carver because it’s camber but it felt like it didn’t carve in a tighter radius turn the way we wanted it to.

Skidded Turns

If you aren’t a good rider and skid your turns a lot the Burton Free Thinker could fuck you up like a closed minded bigot.

Speed

It’s a fast twin and right on par with the Deep Thinker for its size.

Uneven Terrain

Not super forgiving in uneven terrain and I wouldn’t like to go riding in messy resort snow with this on a Saturday.

Powder

It would be scary.  Get the Deep Thinker for that.

Switch

It’s a true twin so it’s great both ways.

Jibbing

One of the last Twin’s I’d personally like to jib with.

Pipe

Could be a good pipe board but we didn’t try it.

Jumps

The Burton Free Thinker requires some strength to pop this. However, if you give this some strong ollie power it will respond in kind and give you some big air.  It doesn’t like riders who aren’t strong and it acts plankish and dead if you aren’t.

All in all the Burton Free Thinker isn’t free and easy like the name but instead encourages aggressive free thinking for that mountain freestyle rider. So not for everyone but some would like it if they want a bomber twin from Burton.

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