Stone Message 2020 Snowboard Review
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Instagram| Riding Style | All Mountain Freestyle |
| Riding Level | Advanced - Expert |
| Fits Boot size (US) | 8-10 |
| Manufactured in | Europe |
| Shape | True Twin |
| Camber Profile | Traditional Camber |
| Stance | Centered |
| Approx. Weight | Feels Normal |
| Split | No |
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| On Snow Feel |
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| Turn Initiation |
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| Skidded Turns |
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| Flex |
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| Buttering |
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| Edge Hold |
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| evo Women's Volcom Vol Stone Dress | $34.99 | Buy it |
| evo Picture Organic Stone Jacket 2 | $299.95 | Buy it |
| Stone International Store - Message | $349 | Buy it |
Stone Message 2020 Review by The Good Ride
The Stone Message is an old school full camber aggressive/technical kind of ride that isn’t for people who skid their turns. However, all of us had a time on this ride and it brought back a lot of great memories we had from the 2000’s. It’s a great aggressive mountain freestyle ride for those who like to carve reg/switch, get air and ride pipe.
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.
How This Review Happened: We liked it so much we asked to keep it (we only do this with our favorites)
Size: 156
Days: 5+ and more to come.
Conditions: Some mid-spring conditions with hard snow, some softer snow and lots of in-between depending on the day.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Zobel (Size 11.5, 6’ 180lbs), Nick (Size 10, 160lbs, 5’8”), Jimbo (Size 11, 5’11” 160lbs),
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Burton Imperial, Adidas Response
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles, Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Strata
Similar Boards (but not the same): Nitro Fury, Lib Tech Hot Knife, Signal Disruptor
Set-Up: 22” Wide. 15 front -15 back. Centered.
Approximate Weight: Feels normal and maybe a touch on the heavy side of normal.
Sizing: The 156 felt just right for my weight and boot size. Great fit. Nick might like the 154 a little better. I think that’s it for their sizing.
Flex/Buttering: The flex is pretty medium/stiff between the feet but it mellows out in the tip/tail just enough to not make it impossible to butter. It takes a heavier rider or a stronger rider to butter this easy but it’s doable for many average riders.
On Snow Feel/Ability Level/Skidded Turns: The Stone Message is pretty locked in and while it’s not super catchy for camber, it’s pretty catchy in comparison to most hybrid shapes out these days. It tracks super well one footing off the chair and when flat basing though. Advanced to expert riders who don’t skid turns is best here.
Edge Hold: Really competent grip and although you do have to dial back your turns a bit in harder snow compared to some disrupted sidecuts out there the Stone Message never takes any confidence out of you.
Turn Initiation: Very quick and springy edge to edge and it just wants to spring you into the next turn. If you like jump turning this is a fun board.
Turning Experience/Carving: The Stone Message is a powerful carver and it has a great turning experience for those that ride duck and keep it centered. Quick, powerful and springy is the best way to describe it.
Powder: Nah…this is only for those old school super technical riders that know how to rip powder on camber from the old days.
Speed: The base had good glide to it and kept it’s speed pretty well. Nothing great but nothing bad either. The Stone Message
Uneven Terrain: Great for weaving in and out of bumps and not bad when it comes to powering over them as well. It did well with hard microbumpy snow and some soft messy snow. The Stone Message is a good board for those that see crowded resort snow.
Switch: Pretty much perfect either way.
Getting Air/Park: So get a good insurance policy and go big with this…I dare you! It had more than I could ever dream of doing in the park but it didn’t get cranky when I went small on it. The bottom line is the Stone Message can launch. It’s also a great pipe board for those technical park riders. Didn’t really whisper in our ear and say let’s go to the jib park though.
So overall the Stone Message is one really fun camber board that we had a hell of a time on. It just turns soo well for a twin and we couldn’t part with it. It’s now in the quiver and we all can’t wait to spend more time on it.
Stone Message Specs
Stone Message Images
We try to get as many images of the Stone Message, but forgive us if they're not all there.
2020
Stone Company Information
Stone Message User Reviews
It has camber, it's a twin and it doesn't turn.
Hype: I got this board because I was looking for a true twin that could go fast and bomb, going at it leaving behind huge trenchs. From the review, it seems like it could a decent contender.
Initial feel: This thing is snappy! It's stiff, medium stiff, but still pretty stiff, goes fast, but it just wouldn't turn! It tracked so well in snow it just won't let you turn! I've never rode a board like this. It just sucks so much! As the review said, my base felt like an old vinyl record.
After purchased support: I contacted STONE about this and they sent me a video of someone doing a 1080. They probably didn't understand when I said the board didn't turn. I explained that the board was just not turning on the snow. They replied with "everyone turns on that board and they have no issue. I said I was looking for a solution, since I can't be the only one having this issue and they replied with "You need to ride it more and yuour legs needs to be in better shape, there's nothing else that can be done." I replied with a semi-condescending reply that it almost looked like they were laughing at me with those replies, to which they said "We sold this board worldwide and we have never had a bad review or a return. We'll repeat what we just said, you need to ride it, adjust your bindings and it'll be good." I've since sold the board. I don't know, STONE just doesn't really care?
I have the full transcript in my facebook messages (it's all in french but I can translate the whole thing).
I'm bummed out.
Awesome old school camber twin
Having read your review of the Message I just had tog get it! Rad looking, old school camber specs and for only around €300!!
I actually liked it so much I just had tog get another one. So I now have both the 153 and the 156 of the 2020 Message. It is a true carver with the best edgehold I have experienced this far. And it is super-poppy! As it is an old school true camber it is not very forgiving and you have to ride it actively. The more aggressively you ride it, the more fun it is, and the more you will fly!
With US 9 boots and around 75 kgs I prefer the 153 in the park as it feels perfect sizewise, easier to press and get to airborne with. The 156 is still great but for my size it feels a bit too wide and stiff to be the perfect park board for me. It fits better as an all mountain freestyle carver board tog bomb thw whole mountain with. It rides well (for a twin) in pow with setback and turns superquick between the trees.
I think Stone did it right to make the newer Message a little softer as it will be easier to press and play with even with the 156.
I really recommend this board!
Great board for carving. Edge holds better than I expected.
