Burton Root Review And Buying Advice
Price US $449
Burton Root 2013 Review by The Good Ride
The Burton Root is the evolution of the Directional Nug and has a very similar ride. It’s super easy to throw around and super easy to butter. They make great boards but they just don’t have the edge hold that many do when conditions are less than ideal. Still this is a very fun and playful board that can be more than a quiver ride.
Burton came out with the Nug a few years ago which was a pretty fun but very quiver focused idea. They actually call it Raduction tech and each year they keep adding Nug style boards. This year they added more than ever and the Root kind of took over for the as the directional all mountain Nug in Burtons line. For me the concept of a nug like directional board is hard for me to grasp. I like the idea of a twin but a directional set back small board is really pushing the quiver concept. Even though I prefer the Nug this is a pretty fun board.
On Snow Feel: This is pretty good for a small flat to rocker board and provides a mostly stable ride. It’s not going to blow minds but it’s going to flat base and one foot pretty well. It’s pretty stable in any kind of groomer you want to ride but it’s so small that it can feel a bit on the loose side between the feet.
Powder: It’s definitely a different way to ride powder. It’s short but has a setback, decent amount of surface area and the board naturally stays afloat due to the rocker. Still it’s not for everyone. It can make quick turns very easy . If you ride in light fluffy pow it won’t be an issue but if you ride in areas with thick wet coastal snow you might find it a little more challenging than a traditional board.
Turn Initiation/carving– Carves are good for a flat to rocker board but it’s still a little bit washy and doesnt really have a spring out of the end of a carve. Short radius turns are not as twitchy as you would think and it’s pretty fun making quick edge to edge turns and not bad when you go a little wider.
Speed: Pretty stable but not a bomber board by any means. You don’t expect a lot so it’s a bit of a surprise when it holds at moderate to even good speeds.
Uneven Terrain: So easy when it comes to riding all kinds of rough terrain you will encounter. It’s small, easily maneuverable and offers pretty good shock absorption.
Edge Hold: In good conditions this board is really fun but when the snow gets hard it gets a little sketchy. This is on the good side of average but it’s still not ideal compared to the other side cuts we ride out there.
Flex: Medium but still very easy to butter. A very playful all mountain board.
Switch: This is different riding switch bur it’s very doable.
Rails/Jibs- It’s short but the medium flex makes it a little off.
Pipe: More edge hold and this could be a really fun pipe board.
Jumps: There is some decent spring on this board and it’s very easy to spin but I’d rather be on the twin shaped nug here.
Burton Root Images
2013
User Reviews of the Burton Root
Burton Root
I'm riding the Root 148 with Burton Cartel bindings. This is an East Coast woods rider's dream. It's very lightweight and super short, which helps you execute the tightest turns in the thickest trees in the thinnest cover (stumps, logs, rocks, ice), or the gnarliest giant moguls. All the while it's stable enough for high speed straight-lining. Yes, the Root handles high speed in a confidence inspiring way because 1) it's very easy to balance on edge, e.g. when you have to negotiate a 1000 yards of snowment on your heel side, this board helps you not fall on your behind; 2) the flat top to rocker profile design ensures no accidental catches. People who say the Root turns on thought are not exaggerating. You need only begin to think about turning or whatever thought and the Root has already responded; the event is over before you can process it. That's why I love this board in the woods of New England: You'll make every turn, and if you can't, it rides switch (despite being a bit directional with some taper) very easily. This board is your best friend when riding gnarly stuff. And it seems to float my heft in pow (not that we've had much of that). That said, I'd like to see more spring off the tail for better ollies and there's not a lot of backseat available. But, again, this board handles East Coast gnar very well. It makes my other boards seem like heavy, slow turning trailer trucks. I sometimes ride my other boards, but after a run or two, I always go back to the car and get my Root. It just plain works better in more places than any other board I've ridden. I wish Burton would resume its production.
I AGREE WITH EVERYTHING IN THE ABOVE REVIEW. THIS BOARD IS AWESOME. IT REALLY WORKS, THE NUG REDUCTION, AND ALLOWS ME TO RIDE A 152 WHEN I SHOULD BE ON 158-160 EASILY. IM 5'9" AND 190 LBS. THE 152 ROOT FEELS PERFECT. I NOW HAVE NEW CARTELS ON THERE AND IT TURNS SO SIMPLE ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY. I WAS IN MAMMOTH LAST WEEK AND IT WAS VERY ICY IN THE AM, IT HANDLES ITS EDGES GREAT. IVE BEEN TO BRECK, MAMMOTH, BEAR MTN, AND SUNDAY LEAVING FOR WHISTLER THIS YEAR WITH THIS BOARD AND HAVE EXTREMELY IMPROVED MY RIDING. IM NOT IN THE PARK AT ALL AND SPEND ALL DAY ON BLUE AND MELLOW BLACK GROOMERS SURFING DOWN THE HILL. GREAT BOARD AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FUN ALL RESORT BOARD.
Love this board!
Don\'t look at specs to rate this board! After 7 days on it I LOVE it! (I actually loved it within a few seconds of hopping off the first lift...) It has a bizarre mind-reading ability. In trees and moguls it turns as fast as I want it too, but when straight lining groomers as fast as possible its super stable. I came from a Venture Zephyr 161 and this is just as stable, and unbelievably it floats BETTER in the powder than that board. Steep powder big mountain Colorado lines? no problem. Flat spot in the pow? You\'ll coast through it.
This is rated as a 4/10 by burton for flex but it is definitely on the soft side - NOT medium! Very buttery.
Enough pop for me on kickers, maybe not if all you do is ride the park.
Edge hold was surprisingly awesome on everything except pure ice. ...But I don\'t think any board holds well on ice, at least not without sacrificing ride quality in other conditions.
Again with the mind reading - you CANNOT catch an edge with this board. It has me trying things I never have before... kind of feels like cheating.
I makes chop really easy to ride, strangely enough. Used to be at the end of a pow day I hated getting beat up by all the chop but this is no problem now.
FYI I\'m 6\', 180 pounds. Still can\'t believe I\'m riding a 152 but this \"nug raduction\" stuff is no joke. This setup (with Burton Cartels) has to be 5 pounds lighter than my Venture setup with unions.
These boards are cheap right now and I hear they aren\'t making it for the 13/14 run. Get it while you can cuz this is gonna be a classic board!
Riding Style
All Mountain
Riding Level
Beginner - Expert
Available Widths
Regular
Manufactured in
China
Shape
Tapered Directional
Camber Profile
Flat to Rocker
Stance
Setback -12.5mm
Approx. Weight
Feels Light
On Snow Feel
Stable
Turn Initiation
Fast
Flex
Medium
Edge Hold
Medium/Soft Snow
Powder
Good
Carving
Average
Speed
Average
Uneven Terrain
Excellent
Switch
Average
Jumps
Good
Jibbing
Good
Pipe
Average
