Summary

The Rossignol Krypto hasn't changed much over the years but it still has a strong appeal to those that like a board that can bomb, grips like a champ in super hard snow and likes to make big carves on wide open runs.

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Riding Style Freeride
Riding Level Advanced - Expert
Fits Boot size (US) 8-10, 10-12
Manufactured in China or Taiwan
Shape Tapered Directional
Camber Profile Hybrid Camber
Stance Setback -20mm
Approx. Weight Feels Normal
Split No
Powder Good
Base Glide
Carving Great
Speed Great
Uneven Terrain Average
Switch Average
Jumps Average
Jibbing Poor
Pipe Average
On Snow Feel

Semi-Locked In

Turn Initiation

Medium

Skidded Turns

Moderate

Flex

Medium/Stiff

Buttering

Semi-Hard

Edge Hold

Icy Snow

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Rossignol Krypto Snowboard Video and Written Review Review by The Good Ride

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.

Size: 163
Days: 3 with the 2017 and many other with older models.
Conditions: Everything from 2 feet of powder to pretty hard snow.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs), Zobel (Size 11.5, 6’ 180lbs),
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Burton SLX, Burton RoverBurton Imperial, Burton Ion,
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles,  Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Union AtlasBurton Genesis X, Burton Cartel, Union Force,
Set Up
: 23″-22.5” Near Reference stance to set all the way back 18 front -6 back to 18 front 0 back.

Approximate Weight: Feels normal for its size. Not too heavy or too light.

Flex/Buttering: The Rossignol Krypto is pretty stiff but not like super stiff like the old school freeride boards you would see in the 2000’s. It isn’t the kind of board you get if you like to butter.

Sizing: The 163 feels pretty big for me and my specs but not too big.  I think I would actually prefer the 159 instead of the 163 but both worked.  The 159 would be better in tight spots and be more maneuverable but the 163 is all about bombing steep runs.  Zobel would have been much better off with the 164mw for his size 11-11.5 boots.

On Snow Feel: The Rossignol Krypto feels like the kind of board that has more camber than it does and it borders on feeling semi-locked in.  It is very stable on a long flat cat track and it one foots very easy off a chair.  It has an aggressive feel to it while only being moderately unforgiving. It feels much more centered on board and doesn’t have that setback surfier feel that the XV does.

Edge Hold: Really strong almost overpowering edge hold that makes super icy snow feel like its way more fun than it is.  The Rossignol Krypto can grab a little too much in softer wetter snow though.  Some are ok with this feeling and some can’t get past all that grip.

Turn Initiation: It isn’t the kind of board that just flashes from edge to edge as the XV does.  It is more for those that like to make long drawn out S-Turns that are just shy of a straight-line.

Turning Experience: If you know what you are getting into the Rossignol Krypto is a very fun board to turn.  I found it most fun to make wider radius turns and the long drawn out s-turns I mentioned above.  The feeling underfoot is much different from the XV and because of the lesser taper, it doesn’t need all that weight on the back foot.  You can ride this much more centered weight wise like a double ender if you want or if the mood strikes you can lean way back and make more surfy turns.

Carving: The combination of the extra edge hold combined with a decent amount of camber makes the Rossignol Krypto very fun to carve and you can lay it out really hard in hard conditions that many boards could barely skid a turn on.

Skidded Turns: Not the easiest board to skid turns on but it works pretty well for what it is.  I think the 159 would be fine for me to skid my turns on.

Speed: The Rossignol Krypto can really bomb.  If you like to point it we actually prefer the Krypto over the XV.  It just feels more stable as you pick up speed.

Uneven Terrain: We prefer the XV over the Krypto here for sure.  It is much easier to weave in and out of bumps compared to the Krypto. However, the Krypto can hammer over tracked snow pretty well without bucking you around too much.

Powder: I have had the Krypto in some deep powder over the years and here is where I prefer the XV a little better.  It just has more float and more maneuverability in tight spots. Still, the Krypto had a pretty good directional float, a good bit of rocker in the nose and a set back on board of 4 inches with a 22″ stance width on the size 156 you see in the on the table review. It’s kind of on the lower side for the Freeride world of set back on board but its still more than most all-mountain rides. There might be more setback on board with the 159 and 163 but I’m not sure.

Switch:  Pretty doable switch but it is a long way from acting as a twin with a centered stance.

Jumps: The Rossignol Krypto is a very trustworthy board for getting air and it feels like it can go bigger than we would ever like to test.  There is a pretty stable platform underfoot that feels easy approaching and landing with the small to medium air we got. The pop is medium-ish but you can definitely feel the energy underfoot on an ollie.

Jibbing: no thanks!

Pipe: Maybe the 159 would feel more fun but the times I tried it with the 163 it felt like just too much board in the pipe. It gripped like a champ though.

So, all in all, the Rossignol Krypto is a nice change up from the XV that we love. If you want something that loves to bomb, grips hard snow and likes big wide open carves then you have the Krypto.

 
Rossignol Krypto Past Reviews

The Rossignol Krypto is a pretty aggressive freeride board with a hybrid camber profile that almost feels like camber.  It’s for those that like to point it, often see hard conditions but want to be ready when there is powder. The price is also quite exceptional for the board you get.

The Rossignol Krypto is pretty much the same ride as when I first starting riding this board a few years back. Very little to nothing has changed except now it no longer has the very similar Rossignol Experience as a brother but instead has the much more different Rossignol XV Magtek.  With the Experience gone, it’s arguably the most aggressive board in their line.

Size: 163

Days:  10+
Conditions: 3+ feet of good sierra powder to hard almost icy snow and everything in between.
Riders: James, Peter, Eli, Jimbo
Boots: Burton IonBurton SLXBurton ImperialNike Kaiju,
Bindings: Burton Cartel, Burton Cartel Limited, Burton Diode, Union ForceFlux DMCCFlux SF45Burton Genesis,
Set Up: Set Back some to all the way.  23″ Wide, 18 front -3 back

On Snow Feel: The Krypto is a strong stable between the feet mostly camber board that offers a ride that likes speed, straight lines and wide open terrain. It feels like there is more camber than Rossi states.  I’m not saying that Rossi is lying but just that this board feels pretty aggressive and the camber between the feet is pretty tall compared to other boards.  The Krypto seems to prefer open terrain to straight-line and wide turns. If you compare this to a board like the Arbor Steepwater it feels mellow but compared to most hybrid shape freeride boards out there these days it’s a shade on the aggressive side.

Powder:  It’s not the hit the trees tight turning tight spot kind of board.  It’s all about opening up on a wide-open face or straight lining a chute. The Krypto floats pretty well but it doesn’t have that effortless float that many powder or freeride boards have but its better than camber.

Turn Initiation: The Krypto doesn’t have the kind of quick edge to edge transitioning that some freeride boards deliver.  It’s more about long fast S turns or medium to wide radius turns on wide open steep terrain.  It isn’t off the tail super slashy but it’s not skate like either. It’s more like riding a longboard when surfing the powder.  It’s not a board that’s easy to turn and it’s not really for the rider that want’s to spend all day in the trees.

Turning Experience:

Carving:  When it comes to carving the Krypto is really fun to lay into a hard carve and it can handle harder snow than you would think. It’s not a quick carver like the XV but the more you commit to the carve and lean all your weight into it the more fun it is.  The XV can turn uphill very easy with a committed carve where this takes a lot more work to get it going back uphill.  It likes a wider run than the XV.

Speed: It feels like the fastest board in Rossignols line these days.  It’s just a shade faster than the XV and a really stable bomber.  You can feel the nose chatter a bit but it doesn’t seem to make it into the rest of the board with contact in the snow.  I think Peter one day on perfect groomers went scary fast.  I don’t want to say how fast because I don’t want people going out trying to beat the speed but let’s just say that he would of had a reckless driving ticket if he was caught driving that speed on most freeways.

Uneven Terrain: You know it’s not bad for its shape and flex but it’s not a great board to be riding around in mid to late day snow on a crowded Saturday.  It’s more for busting through a chundery section off-piste on a powder day than negotiating an end of the day emerging moguls.

Approximate Weight: Not heavy or light.  Feels pretty middle ground.

Edge Hold: If you ride in icy conditions the Krypto has amazing edge hold. The grip felt limitless in almost any terrain. As usual with this kind of sidecut it felt overly grippy when it came to softer thicker snow but it’s something you get used to.

Flex: This is a slightly softer flex than the old Experience but it’s still not soft…..especially edge to edge. Both boards are very close and I’d say that it’s a little bit stiffer than the XV across the board but especially so in the tip/tail.

Switch: We have all ridden the Krypto switch and it’s not terrible but it’s really different.

Jumps: Decent pop if you are a strong rider and it can ollie off natural terrain well. Very stable for landing big drops.

Jibbing- No fucking way you will get me in the Jib park with this board.

Pipe: I’ve taken this through the pipe on occasion and it feels like I’m taking a big ass slow turning board through a place it shouldn’t go.  It holds an edge like a champ but for me it felt sketchy.

 

 

 
Rossignol Krypto Specs

 
Rossignol Krypto Images

We try to get as many images of the Rossignol Krypto, but forgive us if they're not all there.

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2012

Rossignol Krypto User Reviews

Rossignol Krypto 2012-2019 Snowboard Review SKU UPC Model

A hot knife for spring conditions

Sep 08, 2015 by Lee
Ability Level: Advanced • 
Riding Style: Freeride • 
Days You Ride A Year: 20 • 
Height, Weight And Boot Size (for Boards, Boots & Bindings): 6', 165lbs, size 12 

I'll start by saying that I absolutely *love* this board. For someone who spends their winter days dreaming of hitting hard carves at very high speeds, this is a phenomenal stick to own. Don't expect to take it to the park, and be ready to commit like hell if you want to hold a tail or nose press. This board is pretty darn stiff, with great snappy response and excellent high speed stability.

The edges on this board are insane. My first outing was quite a shock. The snow was fairly soft and I wasn't ready for the magnetraction edges... my first couple turns, the board felt like it was DIVING into the snow. While it's fairly good in powder due to a bit of a setback stance, it takes some getting used to for any conditions that people would typically associate as "good". The edges can be a little touchy if you're not riding hard pack, but it only takes a day or so to figure it out.

Where I feel this board really excels is in spring conditions. Some people prefer powder days, but I love that heavy, damp hard pack. The unique edges on this board combined with the stiffness allow you to really commit hard in the kind of snow you can dig your edge on without concern that you'll "plow out". I love riding this board in Colorado... I only wish that I had owned one 20 years ago when I was growing up in the east. It would be a dream for eastern conditions.

I will say that this board made me a little *too* confident last year. On a particularly icy day, I was convinced that this board could still handle it... and I was right, save one run. I hit a patch of SOLID ice in full commit on a hard carve. At the apex of the turn, I lost edge and slammed my tailbone. Had a nice purple bruise for the next few weeks. But my point is that I'd never have gotten that aggressive on any other board I've owned in my 20 years of riding. I usually back off a little on ice days and save my butt for better conditions. This board inspires that kind of confidence even in terrible conditions.

Sizing for me was perfect - 6'/165 with sz 12 shoe. I went with standard width, 163cm length. I set my bindings both steep forward +22/+15. If you like a flatter stance and have big feet, you might consider the mid-wide. Pair it with some good stiff bindings and you're good to go!


A cornering demon, and eats up chunder and pow!

Dec 04, 2014 by scott
Ability Level: Advanced • 
Riding Style: All mountain fun - not really into jumps anymore • 
Days You Ride A Year: I've been boarding since 1997 

I've been boarding a long time and have always gravitated towards bigger boards that can handle pow, yet not let me down when the going gets tight in the trees. I'm not into groomers, and use them to get to the fun snow in between runs. The Goodride guy's video reviews are spot on for this board. One GR reviewer mentioned it's a bit of a handful in the trees, but I've not noticed any hindrance - if you know how to board, you'll love it in the trees, especially if it's fresh n' deep. My favorite thing is to get into the trees n' powder, so if this board sucked in that, you'd definitely hear me complain loudly! The board really makes you feel like you could roll over anything - chunder, chunk, etc. it laughs at it (or was it me who was laughing?). One aspect that truly surprised me was how tenaciously the edge will hold on questionable snow/ice. I've never ridden a board that grips so well - yet it doesn't make turning/transitioning a grabby affair - well sorted out. The GR guys mention in a video how stable it is bombing groomers - I tested this out and was astounded. My previous board (burton malolo) was a bit skatey at higher speeds - it lacked edge hold too, so I never really 'went there'. This board feels like a MotoGP bike at full throttle - I never thought groomers could be so fun (this stable speed & edge grip is an intoxicating combo). Sure, this is not a board that you'll want to hit the half pipe on, but for blasting around, getting off trail, and feeling invincible on the mountain are where you're at, this board is hard to beat. I'm clearly smitten! I have the Mid-wide version, since my 10.5 boots were old school moon boot size. I've gotten new boots this year and they're considerably smaller, so toe/heel drag issues are negligible. If you're on the fence regarding getting the MW version or the standard version, you might be fine with the standard width board via the new small size boots out these days. Still, the MW ain't that wide, not anywhere near like a true wide/pow board. You'll be fine with either.


5.0 5.0 2 2 I'll start by saying that I absolutely *love* this board. For someone who spends their winter days dreaming of hitting hard carves at very high speeds, this is a phenomenal stick t Rossignol Krypto 2012-2019 Snowboard Review

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