Nidecker Mellow Snowboard Review

2023-2024 Nidecker Mellow Snowboard Review

We tested the Nidecker Mellow for a full season against many of our favorites and its turny, floaty personality really shined in all conditions. Its really changed up from the older Mellow we tried.

Update 2024: Nothing changed from 2023-2024 so this 2023 Nidecker Mellow review still stands. 

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

Nidecker Mellow 2023-2024- How it rides and who it is for

How This Review Happened:

I borrowed this for an extended demo and liked it so much that we asked to keep it. We only do that with favorites.

Size: 155
Days: 20+
Conditions: We got the Nidecker Mellow in everything from rain, summer snow, spring snow, mid-winter pow, decent groomers, and varied spring groomers, as well as an early morning slackountry time with Drift Boards
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs),Davey (Size 12, 240lbs 6’4”)
Boots: Burton Kendo, Burton Ion
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Force, Nidecker Kayon X, Nidecker Supermatic, and a lot of other bindings.
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom Guide Jacket, Burton Gore-Tex 3L Treeline Jacket, Jones Peak Bagger 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 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 Work Glove, Drop Tahoma Mitt,

Similar Boards (but not the same): Gentemstick Mantaray 156, Yes Hybrid, Jones Hovercraft, Lib Tech Orca, Never Summer Harpoon, Yes Hybrid,  Gnu Gremlin, Ride Psychocandy, Telos Backslash, Korua Transition Finder, Salomon Dancehaul, K2 Excavator

Set-Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +18/-3, +18/+3, +24/+6. Close to Reference and Set all the way back.

How It Was Tested

We rode this in many same-day samplers with the same boots/bindings on, but we also just took it riding. I compared this to so many different boards. There are too many to mention.

Approximate Weight

The Nidecker Mellow felt on the light side of normal. (We don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores, there is no consistency in a board weight)

Sizing

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for the Nidecker Mellow. 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.
150: 9-10
155: 10.5-11.5
160- 12-13

For weight, I would stay close to the brand’s recommended weight ranges, but we went over by a good bit, and the Nidecker Mellow could handle it with no problem without feeling bucky/bouncy. If it comes down to boot size or weight, I would make sure it fits your boot first and then your weight a close second.

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The Nidecker Mellow doesn’t have much taper but has a very directional setback shape. I personally like this setup because it likes back foot weight on a turn, but you don’t have to put a lot of weight there to keep it from washing.

When it comes to the camber profile the Nidecker Mellow has a set back camber starting from almost the tail and then ending at about the front insert. From there, you have a mellow early rise leading up to a big ass nose. It makes for a very stable and forgiving ride that tracks really well one footing or flat basing. Pretty easy to skid a turn even though the 155 was a bit wide for my size 9’s. This is a good board for most ability levels.

Flex Personality

The flex between the bindings of the Nidecker Mellow is pretty stiff, the tail is a little softer but not by much, and the nose is a good bit softer but not super soft. Overall it has a very medium/stiff flex going. Pretty standard for this type of board. There is a little of that wood top sheet dampness in the nose, but the spring of the tail is more lively on an ollie. So you think the board will feel dead on an ollie, but it pops pretty well. I could butter pretty well off the tail and pretty easily off the nose.

Speed

The Mellow is damper than you would think for having so much rocker and such a long nose after. You can point it and have a good time, but it isn’t a board you get if you want to straight-line everything. Get the Jones Hovercraft if you want that kind of board.

When it comes to base glide the Nidecker Mellow is for sure above average. Not quite as fast as the fastest of fast but pretty good.

Edge Hold

I really thought there was a disrupted sidecut by the way it griped snowment patches bordering on being icy when I was unlucky enough to ride in them. The Nidecker Mellow does very well, and it is a competent hard snowboard for sure.

Turning Experience/Carving

The overall turning experience of the Nidecker Mellow is on the turny side of balanced. You can circle carve and across the groomer carve with no problem but you also make turns that are just shy of straight-lining, and it won’t fight you as some tiny boards can. I could even drive a little off the front foot and the Mellow wouldn’t wash on the tail. It shines, though, if you really lean into that back seat camber and there is an above-average spring out of the turn. I don’t know how to describe it except to say Davey and I both had a lot of fun turning this board.

Powder

We got the Nidecker Mellow in everything from a little bit of powder to 2+ Feet of powder, and it never felt like it was trying. Even without a lot of taper, it has such an easy setback float happening. That early rise into that super sized nose makes this on par with many dedicated pow boards. With a 22.5” stance width, you can get -6.125” back from the center of the board. That is really far back. Even on Reference, you can get -4.875” back from the center of the board, which is further back than most boards in this peer group.

Conclusion

So the 2022 and 2023 Nidecker Mellow was one of the highlights of our tests last season (we test a year ahead) and I can’t wait to get back out on this when there is enough snow not to damage it.

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2018 Nidecker Mellow Snowboard Review

Size: 155
Days:  1
Conditions:  Spring conditions and it was starting to warm up.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs), Zobel (Size 11.5, 6’ 180lbs, Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Burton SLX, Burton Rover,
Insoles:  Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Set Up: 22” Pretty far out 18 front -9 back

The Nidecker Mellow is kind of an oxymoron just like my last name might be too.  It’s Biesty (pronounced Beasty).  Regardless it’s a lively, set back semi-surfy, carvy, wideish board that we had a pretty good time on. It’s got a nice well-rounded ride for those that like to make good set back, directional turns and we’d like more time on it than the quick taste at the demo’s we had. It would be great to put on bindings we know, compare it to some of our favorites and really put it through its paces.

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.