Ride Benchwarmer 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 This Review Happened:

Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: 159
Days: 2
Conditions: Good but still varied spring conditions.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo, Ride Fuse,
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas
Jacket: Jones Mtn Surf Anorak, Jones Shralpinist Stretch 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: Jones Mountain Surf Bib, Jones Shralpinist Stretch Bib,  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 Tech Leather Glove, Drop Tahoma Mitt,

Similar Boards (but not the same): Never Summer Protosynthesis, Yes Greats, Stone Message, Prior Wildcard, Marhar Darkside, Lib Tech Box Knife, Capita Outerspace Living, Yes Basic, Stone Message,
Rossignol Jibsaw, Yes Jackpot, Never Summer Protoslinger, Ride TwinPig, Signal Park, Yes Dicey,

James’s Set Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +15/-15. Centered and as close to reference as I could get with a 21.5” stance width.

Approximate Weight

The Ride Benchwarmer is a normal weight for a 159. Maybe a touch on the heavy side of middle but I’ll take that every day with the kind of dampness the board offers. (I don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores there is no consistency in a boards weight)

Sizing

The Ride Benchwarmer was a bit big overall for my size 9 boots, 185lbs and 5’10” frame. I felt too light and a little too small in the boot to properly unlock the boards personality. If I was going to own this I’d go 155 as these boards feel like they can handle heavier people.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for the Ride Benchwarmer boards. 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.
142: 5-6
147: 6.5-7.5
151: 7.5-8.5
155: 8.5-9.5
159: 9.5-10.5
154w: 10-10.5
157w: 10.5-11
161w: 11-12

For weight I would stay close to Ride’s recommended weight ranges. 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

You have an asym twin but without the asym tip/tail. I love that. The asymmetry combined with a perfectly centered/duck stance makes this more symmetrical than a true twin when turning. You can weight your turns however you please and the Ride Benchwarmer will respond.

The Ride Bench warmer is almost full camber and only has a touch of early rise before the tip/tail. That makes for a very catchy but satisfying ride for advanced to expert riders that appreciate a lot of camber. It tracks very well and doesn’t feel too hooky despite having a deeper sidecut.

Flex Personality

The flex of the Ride Benchwarmer feels more like a medium flex all mountain board but in the shape of an asym twin. It was a lot of work to butter the 159. The 155 would be easier but still far from being easy.

The way this pops is pretty exceptional. This is a very damp board for a twin but it still pops really well and isn’t to hard to access it.

Uneven Terrain

What I love about the Ride Benchwarmer was its dampness in all conditions but it never felt dead when you wanted to ollie. This is a great all day ride.

Edge Hold

Pretty competent in some semi-hard spring conditions I experienced. It didn’t grip as hard as some rides I’ve tried but it never sketched me out either. It’s very surprice friendly as long as you aren’t too committed to the edge when it happens.

Speed/Base Glide

The damp feel in uneven terrain transfers over to speed but the sidecut isn’t the best for pointing it. It tracks well enough and doesn’t feel hooky but it also doesn’t invite you to really open up on a long wide open groomer.

Base glide was good with the Ride Benchwarmer but nothing exceptional. If I owned this I would stay consistent with waxing.

Turning Experience/Carving

The Ride Benchwarmer initiates a turn quickly and even being a little too big for me at a 159 it did a great job. When I got it on edge and played around with different radius turns it felt pretty turny but not hooky like the Ride Berzerker or Peacemaker. It didn’t want to always be turning and I appreciated that. There is such a satisfying spring out of the turn as well so if you want a twin that you can carve regular or switch here you go.

Powder

Nofuckingway. I’m not an almost full camber twin pow kinda guy. Don’t even want to try this. If you are a camber twin kind of pow rider maybe it can work for you but not me. I have cartwheeled enough in the 2000’s riding twins in pow.

Switch/Pipe/Jumps

The ride Benchwarmer was a delight to ride switch and this is a great pipe board. It doesn’t track super well into a kicker like some Asym Twins do but I think most will be fine going big with it. I’d pass on jibbing.

Conclusion

So the Ride Benchwarmer isn’t the easiest when you are off your game but when I was feeling good this lit it up. It gave me some memories of the old DH’s that ride used to have in their line. It was a pleasure to go out and carve regular and try to carve switch.

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