Gnu Head Space 2016-2021 Snowboard Review
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| Riding Style | Jib / Street |
| Riding Level | Advanced - Expert |
| Fits Boot size (US) | 8-10, 10-12 |
| Manufactured in | USA by Mervin |
| Shape | Asymmetrical Twin |
| Camber Profile | Mostly Camber |
| Stance | Centered |
| Approx. Weight | Feels Normal |
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Gnu Head Space 2021 - 2016 Review by The Good Ride
Gnu Head Space Video Review Markers: Summary 0:05, Sizing 1:02, Camber 1:42, Flex 2:02, Speed 2:52, Uneven Snow 3:14, Edge Hold 3:25, Turning 4:01, Powder 4:38, Switch/Park 4:48
Swipe Right: Super buttery and easily accessible ollie power. Asymmetrical shape is so easy to turn
Swipe Left: Amost floatless in powder. The more traditional narrow width can feel twitchy if you are used to the newer wider widths out there.
Summary
The Gnu Head Space is a super soft asymmetrical twin with a mellow but almost all camber profile. It is super easy to butter and when the edges aren’t de-tuned has exceptional edge hold. Even though its super soft it can still catch and edge pretty easy when you get off your game. This is a great call for advanced to expert jibbers that miss the full camber feel. It also turns pretty well for being such a little soft park ride. If you want something more forgiving, go with the Box Scratcher.
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.
The Gnu Head Space In Depth Review
How This Review Happened: A few laps at a demo.
Size: 152
Days: 1
Conditions: Everything from pretty hard semi-bumpy to soft n playful snow.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs), Zobel (Size 11.5, 6’ 180lbs),
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles, Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings:Nitro Team
Similar Boards (but not the same): Lib-Tech Box Knife, DWD Rat, Capita Horrorscope
Set-Up: 21.5” Wide. 15 front -15 back. Centered.
Approximate Weight: Feels pretty normal for a 152.
Sizing
The Gnu Head Space 152 worked for Peter and I but coming from riding so many of the trendy mid/wideish boards these days it felt a little small. Jimbo and Zobel needed the 152w or the 155w with their 11ish boots. Here is a break down of how we see it fits for most boot sizes because that is more important than weight and way more important than height.
149 Size 8-9 US
152 8-9 US
152w 10-11 US
155 8-10 US
155w 10-12 US
158 9-10 US
Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level
The Gnu Head Space’s pretty much full camber makes it pretty catchy for such an easy flexing ride. There is only a passive bend in the middle that needs a lot of weight on it to touch. The Asymmetrical sidecut tech tracks really well. It’s a good board for one footing and flat basing. This is mainly for advanced to expert jibbers that want a board that doesn’t feel like a total mess when they aren’t jibbing.
Flex/Pop/Buttering
The Gnu Head Space is so soft and buttery for C3/Mostly Camber. The tip/tail are pretty soft but then feel more med/soft near the bindings. It is such an easy board to flex but it also as an easily accessible pop to it on an Ollie. The way the camber snaps back after a butter or Ollie helps advanced to expert riders get more spring out of everything they do.
Speed
You don’t get The Gnu Head Space for speed. It’s got all the acceleration you need to get from jib to jib. The base is not fast but it isn’t slow either and it doesn’t need to be waxed all the time to still glide.
Uneven Terrain
Bouncy and bucky in messy snow but that is what soft poppy boards do in this terrain. It’s not terrible though. The chatter in the board doesn’t vibrate up into your joints and make them hurt. So you can ride the Gnu Head Space all day.
Edge Hold
Excellent grip when the Gnu Head Space isn’t detuned. This is a great board for those that see hard to icy snow.
Turn Initiation
For a board this width and length the Gnu Head Space doesn’t turn fast but it isn’t slow by any means.
Turning Experience/Carving
So the Gnu Head Space flexes/twists too easy to be a real competent carver but it’s way better than most jib or soft park boards.
Powder
Nope…just nope.
Switch
What we all love about Asym boards like the Gnu Head Space is how evenly they turn. That makes it better for average riders to ride switch. It’s more true than a true twin.
Getting Air/Park
The Gnu Head Space is all about jibbing and small to mediumish jumps. The way the board locks into a box or rail is pretty effortless. Well…if you are like Jimbo and Zobel who jib a lot. For Peter and I it can catch to easy when we get off our game on a landing. That is inevitable for us too. It tracks really well from feature to feature. If you keep the edges sharp it would even work pretty well in the pipe.
Conclusion
Great ride for those that know what they are doing in the park. If you live to butter and jib this is a great call.
Gnu Head Space Past Reviews
The Gnu Headspace is a soft almost full camber asymmetrical twin that is mainly a park ride but like most Gnu boards pretty fun everywhere except when it comes to powder. It’s got a competent grip that I think a lot of people that ride in hard places might appreciate, it butters well for a camber board, pops well and it can lay out a pretty hard carve on it’s way to the park.
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: 1
Conditions: Some good groomers but mainly harder snow with some flat lit ugly park riding.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs), Tim and Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Burton SLX,
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles, Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Bent Metal
Set Up: 22.5” Centered 15 front -15 back
The Gnu Headspace is a small buttery little jibber that’s got a confidence inspiring ride many will like. We liked it so much that it unseated the Box Scratcher as a favorite. The Box Scratcher is still a great board but the Asymmetrical tech got us off a little more.
Gnu Head Space Specs
Gnu Head Space Images
We try to get as many images of the Gnu Head Space, but forgive us if they're not all there.
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
Gnu Company Information
Gnu Head Space User Reviews
Had the 2017 Model. It's a good board if your looking for a park board that is good on rails and jumps. It has a "lock in" feel on the edge and pops very good. I only give it a 3 out of 5 rating because my board broke after 3 weeks of riding. I got the space case as a replacement which is much more stiffer and doesn't feel great on rails and jibs. The space case broke as well (no damage on the base due to rocks or other scratches) and I know other people who had similar problems with their Marvin Boards. So I hope not all people have issues with their GNU Boards, but keep in mind that these aren't the most durable boards on the market.
Gnu Head Space 155
I love this board for icy conditions and in the park. It did much better in powder then I thought. I prefer a board with more rocker and much bigger for my body size and wight in powder ( never summer proto hd or ripsaw 160 wide) I down size on my park boards. Super stable in icy condition which I ride alot in the Midwest. A little grabby toward tip and tail of the board but not too much, that is just how camber dominate boards are. Overall great board, good enough in all areas to be a quiver killer.
2018 Gnu Headspace 155cm - super stable at speed for a light rider
I demoed the 2018 155cm board for half an hour. I prefer a 154 board when I'm just messing around at low speeds and under these circumstances the Gnu felt just a little less manoeuvrable than I like. When I go it up to speed though, it was fantastic. Super stable and very friendly. I could carve this board all day and have fun doing it.
