K2 Simple Pleasures 2020 Snowboard Review

K2 Simple Pleasures 2020 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.

How This Review Happened:  We had a couple of laps at a frantic manic demo day.
Size: 156
Days:  1
Conditions: Decent CO snow with enough soft snow on a block of snowment to make some fun turns.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs), Zobel (Size 11.5, 6’ 180lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Adidas Response
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles,  Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: K2 Lineup

Similar Boards (but not the same): Gentemstick Mantaray 156, Korua Dart, Yes Optimistic, Rome Pow Division MT, Endeavor Scout, Jones Hovercraft,

Set-Up: 22” Wide. 21 front -3 back.

Approximate Weight: Feels normal.

Sizing: The 156 fit all of us pretty well. Didn’t feel too wide for Peter and I but didn’t cause toe/heel drag for Zobel either.  Probably the 151 is better for Peter and I but the 156 was all Zobel.

Flex/Buttering: Pretty med/stiff but still a moderately easy board to butter off the tail.

On Snow Feel/Ability Level/Skidded Turns: Stable but somewhat locked in. The camber is mellower than it looks in the vid as we shot it with a fisheye lens. More for advanced to expert riders.

Edge Hold: borders on holding well in hard snow.

Turn Initiation: Mediumish but fun, smooth and predictable. The 151 seems like it would be faster.

Turning Experience/Carving: Pretty fun board to carve and all of us felt it had good spring out of the turn. It likes a wide to medium radius turn but can turn tighter turns for us too.

Powder:  None to speak of but it looks like it would have a lot of easy directional float.

Speed: Not bad and this could bomb.

Uneven Terrain: doable for sure but might be a little slow and wide for tight turns through a bump line.