Positives

  • Great On Groomers For A Split
  • Nice Forward Spring On The Up
  • Nice Pop Out of a Turn On The Down
  • Very Damp/Chatter Absorbent

Negatives

  • Medium-Heavy For A Split

Summary

The Soul Zen is a little heavy but has a unique split because you can mount solid and split bindings. Most Splits suck on resorts, but this is great for those that have a local man with a good uphill policy, like Mt. Bachelor. 

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Riding Style Freeride
Riding Level Advanced - Expert
Fits Boot size (US) 8-10, 10-12
Manufactured in China
Shape Tapered Directional
Camber Profile Directional Camber
Stance
Approx. Weight Feels Normal
Split Only in split
Powder Great
Base Glide Great
Carving Good
Speed Good
Uneven Snow Great
Switch Average
Jumps Good
Jibbing Poor
Pipe Good
On Snow Feel

Stable

Turn Initiation

Medium/Fast

Skidded Turns

Moderate

Flex

Medium/Stiff

Buttering

Moderate

Edge Hold

Hard Snow

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Soul Zen Written Snowboard Review Review by The Good Ride

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 It Is For

Ethics Statement: This review has zero brand oversight. This is our best effort at an honest, objective review to help you, the consumer. If this review helped, we’d appreciate it if you:

How This Review Happened:

I borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size:
Days:
Conditions:  and an early morning slackountry time with Drift Boards & Union Rovers
Riders:
 James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs), Davey (Size 12, 240lbs, 6’4”)
Boots: Ride Torrent, Ride Fuse, Nidecker Rift Lace, Ride Deadbolt, Burton Tourist, Burton Ion
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas & a Spark with Surge Highback and straps
Redundancy: Strapins in case boots or bindings break.
Jacket: Jones Mtn Surf Anorak
Pant: Jones Mountain Surf Bib
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt

Similar Boards We Like (but not the same):  Gentemstick Mantaray 156Weston Backwoods, Cardiff Powgoda, Jones Mind Expander

James’s Set Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +18/-3, +18/+3. Close to Reference on groomers and Set all the way back in powder.

How It Was Tested

This is a unique ride and I didn’t have much to test it against.

Approximate Weight

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

Sizing

Soul Zen Sizing

Sizing is all about balancing what fits your boot size and your weight for how you like to ride. Boot size is most important because if it’s too wide, you can’t turn it. If it’s too narrow, you get the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag. Weight is a close second and you should size up for more speed/float or down for more control. Height comes in a distant 3rd.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards.
158: 9-10
164: 11-12

Shape

Soul Zen Shape

Tapered and directional but definitely on the more set back side of the freeride spectrum. You feel the taper but it feels about what most do for -15 mm of taper.

Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

Soul Zen Camber

There is a decent amount of camber but a little bit of early rise before the long nose.

Flex Personality

Soul Zen Flex

There is a medium-stiff flex with the Zen, and it has good pop. It was easy to butter for this flex and popped pretty easily on an ollie as well.

About the Up

When in split mode, I felt this was a little heavier, but the spring on each step from the camber underfoot/flex tech made it much easier. I haven’t felt this spring out of most splits I’ve tried, and I’m at about 20+ splits now. The only one I felt that had a good bit more spring in the step was the Telos DST, but that had much more camber and had much less float.

Having Split and Resort Binding Mounts

Soul Zen Solid and Split Mounts

I’ve never seen a board with dual mounts like this. If you want to stiffen up the ride and just ride lifts put on normal bindings. If you want to split, put on split bindings, and it will act like a split.

Uneven Snow

The Soul Zen is very damp and capable for riding all day. If you want to split up your local resort in the afternoon, this can handle it very well.

Edge Hold

Very competent edge hold. Sould does this very well.

Speed

The Sidecut feels more on the tiny side, but it does allow you to go straight with no problem.

Base Glide

Pretty good but not super fast. When well waxed, it will keep its speed and get you through long traverses.

Turning Experience/Carving

Soul Zen Carving Groomers

I really enjoyed how the Soul Zen Turned with Union Atlas mounted on them. It stiffened up the board and made it feel much more competent than a split. Turn Initiation was quick, and when I got the edge engaged, it had a very tiny but springy feel to it.

Powder

Soul Zen Powder

The Soul Zen has a really good float to it, and it felt very set back. I forgot to get the set back on board, but it felt more than most freeride boards. I would think it’s close to Tree D and is about 6″ back from the center of the board. You can do a lot worse here, and I really liked how this turned and slashed in pow.

Final Thoughts

The Soul Zen isn’t for everyone but it is pretty cool for those that can only afford one board and want to split. It’s pretty unique too. The only other alternative is going with Drift Boards or Union Rovers with split bindings or Drift Board Bindings. With those, you get to ride a solid, but you don’t have a board that is as good for long tours or for more technical ups. It’s great to see this option because those who are more split-oriented will appreciate this over the approach skis out there.

 
Soul Zen Specs

 
Soul Zen Images

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

2024

Soul Zen User Reviews

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