Niche Crux 2020 Snowboard Review

Niche Crux 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 borrowed this for an extended demo and then returned it.
Size: 156
Days: 4
Conditions: Mostly good spring conditions
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Zobel (Size 11.5, 6’ 180lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs),
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV,  Adidas Response
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles,  Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Strata, Union Contact Pro,

Similar Boards (but not the same): Lib Tech TRS HP,  Never Summer Proto Type Two, Nitro Fury,  Yes Greats, Lib Tech Hot Knife, Stone Message, Prior Wildcard, Marhar Darkside,

Set-Up:  22” Wide. 15 front -15 back.  Centered.

Approximate Weight: Feels normal

Sizing: The 156 felt about right for my size 9’s but not as much for Zobel and Jimbo with their 11ish boots. They would like something a little more wider.

Flex/Buttering: The Niche Crux has the same flex in the shop as the Aether but not on snow. The Crux took more work to butter than the Aether. The pop is more accessible with the Aether with less effort but with more effort you can really feel the Crux pop hard.

On Snow Feel/Ability Level/Skidded Turns: This is a mostly camber profile with just a touch of early rise in the tip tail. It has a pretty locked-in feel to it. It makes the Niche Crux more for an advanced to expert rider. It can catch an edge pretty easy compared to many hybrid camber shapes and is just a touch more forgiving than hybrid camber. It really tracks well when one footing or flat basing.

Edge Hold: The mellow 2 bump tech holds well enough but coming off the Aether you really feel a lot less grip.  The Niche Crux does about the same though in comparison to a lot of other boards with a mellow disrupted sidecut. It’s good enough for hard snow.

Turn Initiation: Pretty medium to medium-fast when getting the board to respond to a turn.

Turning Experience/Carving: The Niche Crux is a pretty dynamic turner in good conditions and it really springs out of a turn. The

Powder: Not our first choice for sure. We like a setback board but even for a centered stance board, it isn’t what we would choose. There just isn’t much early rise for our taste. If you rip powder on a camber twin though you will love the Niche Crux.

Speed: Pretty competent mountain speed and the base has good glide to it.

Uneven Terrain: It was a touch slow for me weaving in and out of bumps but nothing to shy me away from following a friend who has a broner for bumps. What we all liked is how it absorbed chatter in softer messy snow to harder micro bumpy snow.

Switch: Really easy either way.

Getting Air/Park: If you like to get big air the Niche Aether is a good choice. It has a stable approach to a kicker. Not bad for pipe either but get the Wraith if you like to jib a lot.