2020-2022 Burton Hometown Hero Review

The Burton Hometown Hero isn’t the best in hard snow, but it has a very lively all-condition flex personality and does a lot for a tapered directional ride.

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

An Honest and Objective Break Down of How it rides and who it is for

How This Review Happened:

Precious Good Ride dollars were spent to buy this and review it.
Size: 156
Days:   6-10
Conditions: Everutjomg from hard snow to pretty good pow, and an early morning slackountry time with Drift Boards & Union Rovers
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs), Clint and others
Boots: Burton Kendo
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom TDF Infuse 3L Gore-Tex Jacket, Burton Banshee Gore-Tex Jacket
Pant: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant, Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Swash Pant, Burton Gore-Tex Ballast Pant
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith IO Mag, Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Guide Glove, Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Clutch Glove, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove, Burton AK Tech Glove, CG Habitats Glove, CG Habitats Work Glove, Drop Tahoma Mitt, Drop Cascade Glove, Drop Web Glove,

Similar Boards (but not the same): Lib Tech Lost Quiver Killer, Yes Pick Your Line,  Burton Flight Attendant, Jones Flagship, Burton Cartographer, Burton Instigator
Korua Otto

Set-Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +18/-3, +18/+3, +18/-9, Close to Reference and Set all the way back.

Approximate Weight

The Burton Hometown Hero feels right on the edge between being ultra-light and a normal weight. (We don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores there is no consistency in a boards weight)

Sizing

The 156 Felt just right for my specs. Just like the 159 Flight Attendant it felt like an almost perfect fit for my size 9 boots but also didn’t feel like my 180-190lbs were too much for it either.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for the Burton Hometown Hero.  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.
144: 6-7
148: 6.5-7.5
152: 8-9
156: 8.5-9.5
160: 9.5-10.5
156w- 10-11
160w- 11-12
165w- 11.5-12.5

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The Burton Hometown Hero has a shape that is tapered and directional but doesn’t really feel that way unless you are in powder. There is definitely a directional feel too it but you don’t feel as much of the washiness on the back foot as you do in comparison to most tapered directional boards out there. It is a unique feel for a board like this and it requires less back foot weight. It is actually the same width over each foot and it makes it feel more like a non-tapered board as a result. Some will love this and others might like more of a tapered feel.

The directional camber is mostly camber with a little early rise before the long nose is pretty locked in and technical. Not for those who skid their turns but it sure does track well.

Flex Personality

Burton always gives you a great flex personality. The Burton Hometown Hero has a well-thought-out flex pattern that is a little more mellow than the Flight Attendant but not quite as mellow as the 3D Daily Driver or even more so the Skeleton Key. There is a really lively spring to it, and despite its medium/stiff flex, it’s pretty easy to access, not for butter. That takes a little work, but definitely for an ollie.

Uneven Terrain

This flex is special when it comes to dealing with all types of conditions you want to ride in. It doesn’t power over bumps at high speeds as well as the Deep Thinker or Flight Attendant, but it is competent. It’s best for slowing down and turning through hard, uneven snow as well as soft, messy end-of-resort snow. It doesn’t grip well in hard, micro-bumpy snow, but it keeps all that chatter from coming up into your joints.

Speed

It’s not 100% on the 2022 model, but the 2021 Burton Hometown Hero had base issues. I had to give this a base grind to get the base to glide well, and so did many of my friends who also had 2021 Burton snowboards. You can point this pretty well for a 156. Again, if you want more speed, get the Flight Attendant, Deep Thinker, or Leaderboard.

Edge Hold

I wish Burton had better edge hold. Not magnatraction edge hold but just a little more competent grip in harder snow. Even with a good tune it grips better but feels too catchy/locked in. Out of the factory it lets go pretty quick in harder snow.

Turn Initiation

It’s pretty quick and easy. I love how quickly it pops from edge to edge.

Turning Experience/Carving

When the conditions are good, and I can sink that edge into the snow, it has a very rewarding turning experience. I love the spring out of the turn and it feels like it’s setting you up for the next turn. The turning experience is pretty balanced for all kinds of turns but leans a little on the turny side of things.

Powder

There is a setback of 3.875” at a 23” stance width set back and 2.375” at a 22” stance width on reference. So, there is a good setback from the center of the board vs. the setback on the sidecut. Factors in the taper in the tail that come alive in powder, the bigger nose, and the early rise. You have a good float. I got this in about 1.5’ of powder and it did well. I felt a little better about the size vs. the flight attendant, but I felt about the same because I would normally ride a 159 FA vs. 156 HTH. It isn’t quite there with the Skeleton key, but it has more float than the 3D Daily Driver. The DD did have a better turning experience, though, with the 3D nose.

Conclusion

So, other than edge hold, the Burton Hometown Hero does a lot of things right for those who want a more directional daily driver

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Burton Hometown Hero 2021 Snowboard Video Review

Swipe Right: Energetic turner, great pop. It’s a slightly mellow version of the Flight Attendant we really like.
Swipe Left: Edges let go a little too easy for our taste in hard snow.

Summary

While the Burton Hometown Hero doesn’t have the edge hold we would want in harder snow, there aren’t many complaints about how the rest of this board rides. It is a dynamic, fun-turning ride that really likes getting air. The 2021 model seems pretty similar to the 2020, but now there are a lot more sizing options, especially for mid to wide-footed riders.

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews, which 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 rider’s perspective.

Burton Hometown Hero 2021 Snowboard Review- How it Rides and who it is for

How This Review Happened: We liked this a lot at the demos, so we spent our precious Good Ride dollars on it.
Size: 160
Days: 1, but I rode the 152 in the past and now own the 156, so more days are coming.
Conditions: It was pretty hard old snow that was hard to get a good rhythm going.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs),
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles,  F.I.T. Gameghangers Low Profile , F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Burton Genesis EST

Similar Boards (but not the same): Yes Pick Your Line,  Burton Flight Attendant, Jones Flagship, Never Summer West Bound, Korua Otto, Jones Frontier

Set-Up: 22” Wide. 18 front -3 back. On Reference

Sizing

Getting the right size really makes a difference. The 156 is a great fit for Peter and my specs (reference above), and the 156 matches up more like the 159 Flight Attendant. So you can ride it a little shorter like you would an all-mountain board. Jimbo needs a similar size in wide. So keep the regular width Burton Hometown Hero to size 10 and under, and after 10.5, go with the Wide sizes. It’s good to stay close to Burton’s recommended weight, or the board’s personality will change a lot.

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The camber in the Burton Hometown Hero has a pretty catchy feel to it. It isn’t as bad as full camber, but it isn’t easy for an intermediate that skids their turns. It sure does track well one footing or flat basing.

Flex/Pop/Buttering

When we rode the 152 Burton Hometown Hero, it was so buttery and bent so easily between the feet. It was really uncommon. The 160 felt more like the Flight Attendant but just a little bit softer. The 156 I own feels a little softer. You can butter, but it takes a little more work. There is so much pop and ollie power with all the boards. Burton knows how to make a board spring underfoot.

Speed

The Burton Hometown Hero can point it. It isn’t a super bomber like the Straight Chuter, but it has a fast base and a damp overall ride.

Uneven Terrain

Going over the hard, micro-bumpy snow with the Burton Hometown Hero was very doable, and this is definitely an all-day ride. You won’t feel the need to put it away mid-day when the groomers get messy.

Edge Hold

This is one area where the Burton Hometown Hero is lacking compared to many of its peers. There just isn’t as much grip when you hit a hard patch, and it lets go pretty easily.

Turn Initiation

Nice and snappy edge to edge. If you need to turn in tight spots like trees or bumps the Burton Hometown Hero will do really well.

Turning Experience/Carving

This is such a fun carver, and there is so much spring out of a turn if the snow is good. Burton just knows how to make a board fun to turn, and the Hometown Hero is no exception.

Powder

We had some powder with the 152 last year, and it floated well, especially for a board that size.  If the season is functional, we hope to get the 156 we own in powder this year. If you want to set it back, there is an almost 3.75″ setback from the center of the board at a 23″ stance width. That is a little better than the Flight Attendant. So add 12mm of taper and a big nose with early rise happening. There is good directional float. Pairing the Burton Hometown Hero up with non-EST Burton bindings allows you to set it back further, but we stay within the marked area in the channels.

Conclusion

What we like is that it has a very tapered directional feel in powder but more of a non-tapered feel on groomers than most freeride boards. Even though there is a pretty decent setback on the sidecut and board, it can still act a lot like an all-mountain daily driver. So, if that calls to you and you don’t see much hard snow, the Burton Hometown Hero will shine.

The Burton Hometown Hero combines many elements we like from the many Family Tree boards we tried into a unique package. It likes quick turns, is pretty easy to butter for directional camber, and has a ride that can work with a wide variety of riders.

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.

How This Review Happened:  We had a couple of laps at a frantic, manic demo day.
Size: 152
Days: 1
Conditions: Really good snow with about 1′ to 1.5′ of pretty decent PNW powder.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles,  Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Burton Cartel EST

Similar Boards (but not the same) That We Referenced This To: 
Burton Skeleton Key, Gentemstick Mantaray 156, Burton Flight Attendant,

Set-Up: 22” Wide. 21 front -6 back. Set all the way back.

Approximate Weight: Feels normal.

Sizing

The 152 was a little small for us, but the 156 would be perfect.  One of the things we like about the Burton Hometown Hero is how it’s spec’d in between the Burton Skeleton Key and Flight Attendant to fit us pretty well. With the Skeleton Key, the 154 was a little small, and the 158 a little too big.  We always wished they had a 156. The 159 Flight Attendant fits us perfectly. So, having a mellow version of the Flight Attendant in a slightly shorter, softer, quicker turning package with only a little less surface area. But to summarize the sizes, keep it between 8-10 for the 152 and 156, and you can dabble with a little over size 10 for the 160, but depending on the footprint of the boot you have, I wouldn’t feel comfortable recommending anything over size 11.

Flex/Buttering

So this has a really easy flex that is kind of like the Skeleton Key but feels even a little softer in the middle. It really breaks nicely in the middle kind of like a hybrid rocker board does but then has lot’s of energy and pop in the tip and tail. Burton has a really refined flex that is a great balance of being pretty buttery for a board like this while still having a ton of energy.

On Snow Feel/Ability Level/Skidded Turns

The Directional Camber profile has a mellower flex than most Family Tree boards we tried. However, the camber profile is the same, so while it’s easier to control and ride, it is still pretty catchy because it’s full camber from the tail to a good bit past the front binding. That gives it a very camber-like feel that is only a touch less locked in/unforgiving, so skidding a turn isn’t that easy. So best for advanced to expert riders that know how to turn. If you are a strong intermediate getting close to an advanced rider, it might work but could make you fall more than you would on a more forgiving ride.

Edge Hold

It felt like a typical Burton edge hold that doesn’t quite grip as hard as some of its peers in the industry when the snow gets harder.

Turn Initiation

It was really fast edge to edge, and we loved taking this into tight spots. It felt to us like it turned faster than the 159 Flight Attendant I own and just as fast as the 154 Skeleton Key I have owned. If I were on the 156, I think the turn initiation would slow down a touch but still be super fast, like the 154 Skeleton Key.

Turning Experience/Carving

For super technical carvers who like a super-stiff board to carve, the Burton Hometown Hero might not be as appealing. However, Peter and I felt it allowed average riders like us to access all that this board could offer in a carve, making us look better doing it. The 12mm of taper doesn’t make the ride feel super washy, either. You need more weight on the back foot, but it feels much more double-ender than you would think.

Powder

For a little 152, the Burton Hometown Hero had some pretty good float. If we had the 156, it would be in the same general range of float as the Flight Attendant and Skeleton Key. In the 1-1.5″ of powder we had, it did a great job, and this was an excellent tree board.

Speed

It’s not a real bomber, and this medium-ish flex will start to chatter if you really point it down in the long run. It’s more than competent for a straight line or two, but it’s not what this board is for. If you are more into that, get the Flight attendant, One Hitter, Deep Thinker, or Leaderboard if you like to straight line all the time. The base has a good glide, and even though it had a Demo Tune (AKA no tune and some neglect), it kept its speed really good.

Uneven Terrain

Such a great board to ride all day on a Saturday. It weaved in and out of bumps like a champ and powered over them with a nice rubbery feel that wasn’t super bucky for a 152… well as long as you didn’t charge too hard. If you are someone that likes to power through chunder and semi tracked snow there are better boards but the Burton Hometown Hero creates a nice layer of protection between what you are riding on and your feet.

Switch

The Burton Hometown Hero’s balanced freeride geometry makes it ride way better on the switch than you would think for such a tapered directional board. It’s far from perfect, but it’s very doable if you ride more on the reference stance.

Jumps

The Burton Hometown Hero has lot’s of pop in the tip and tail and average riders like ourselves could easily access all this energy and make it pop well compared to many of the stiffer Family Tree boards from Burton. You don’t have to be a strong rider to make this spring into the air which is really cool.

Jibbing

Soft enough in the middle to make a jib or two happen and while it’s not perfect it does better than any Family Tree ride.

Pipe

We would love a little more edge hold but if we had a pipe at the demo’s we would not hesitate to go there with this ride as long as the walls weren’t super icy.

So, all in all, I’m usually not as inspired to write this much after a short demo, but it really matched up well with how we ride, and we felt right at home with the Burton Hometown Hero. We would love to get a hold of the 156 and spend a lot of time comparing it against some of our favorites, but as it stands, it’s a very recommendable board.  It’s a great board for those who like that tapered directional, slashy, carvy, surfy kind of alternative freeride shape but also wants to ride switch play around/butter around the mountain too like you can with many all-mountain boards.