Nidecker Tracer Snowboard Review

Nidecker Tracer Written Review Review by The Good Ride

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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 riders’ perspective.

A Breakdown Of How It Rides And Who Its For

How The Nidecker Tracer Review Happened:

Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: 157
Days: 8+
Conditions: Everything from summer slush to moderately deep pow.
Rider: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo, Nidecker Rift APX, Nidecker Rift Lace,
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Force
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom Guide Jacket, Burton Gore-Tex 3L Treeline Jacket, Jones Peak Bagger Jacket. Burton AK Helitak Gore-Tex 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 Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Clutch Glove, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove, CG Habitats Work Glove, Drop Tahoma Mitt,

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

James’s Set Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +18/-3, +18/+3, +24/+6. Close to Reference on groomers and Set as far back as possible for the stance width in pow.

How It Was Tested

On a lot of days I rode the Nidecker Tracer I also rode the Nidecker Smoke, Ultralight and Mellow to see how all compared to one another. On some days I rode the Orca and other boards as well.

Approximate Weight

(We don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores there is no consistency in a boards weight)

Sizing

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for the Nidecker Tracers. You can of course go bigger or smaller depending on your riding style and boot’s footprint, but these work best for not turning the board slower than it should be and not having the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag.
153: 8-9
157: 8.5-9.5
161s- 10-11

For weight I would let Nideckers recommended weight ranges come in second to what fits your boot best. 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

So the Nidecker Tracer has a very unique shape. Asymmetrical twins are pretty common but not Asymmetrical directional boards like the Tracer. This means you have to buy a model compatible with your stance direction. If you are goofy you can’t really ride the regular well and vice versa. The heel has a short radius and the toe has a shallow radius but both are directional so you cant set it up like an asym twin. The learning curve is super quick. A run or two and you get it. You don’t have to set it up in any particular way. It worked fine every way I set it up. You can drive a turn any way you would like (front footed to rear footed) with the Nidecker Tracer.

The camber only has a very mellow transiton before the nose/tail and it’s pretty much full camber. Very technical.

Flex Personality

The Nidecker Tracer if for sure on the stiff side of medium stiff and it takes some work to engage this flex/camber to get it to pop.

Uneven Terrain

The Nidecker Tracer can feel a touch cranky in hard micro bumpy snow but did pretty well in softer to wet uneven snow. Felt a little stiff in any situation but some like that feel.

Edge Hold

The Nidecker Tracer has pretty solid grip. Not full on disrupted sidecut grip but more than competent grip in hard snow.

Speed

The Nidecker Tracer has a pretty good base but nothing exceptional. It felt narrow and a little more on the turny side but it’s stiffer flex can point it well enough and stay damp.

Turning Experience/Carving

The turn initiation is pretty quick but that is expected due to to the narrowish overall width and feel in comparison to many alt freeride boards these days. When you get it on edge it has a very hard carve to it but you need to have to really engage to get this camber to spring back. You can make across the groomer and semi wide S-Turns super well. It’s not a super circle carver or a straight liner but it can make any kind of turn well enough.

Powder

The Nidecker Tracer was ok in powder for being tapered, directional and so set back. With a 21.25″ stance width set all the way back you can get -5.25″ back from center of board. That is a lot and I thought it would be more floaty than it was. Maybe it’s minimal rocker or the gumby style nose but it didn’t float well vs. how it looks it floats. All the other Nidecker boards I tried felt more floaty.

Conclusion

So theNidecker Tracer isn’t for everyone but it really does carve hard and has a very unique feel when turning.

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