YES Typo Snowboard Review

Yes Typo 2019-2020 Snowboard Review

The Yes Typo has a lot of similarities to the Yes Basic but has a little bit stiffer/more mountain friendly flex and a tiny 5mm of set back on sidecut. So if you are looking for a good mountain freestyle to all-mountain ride with a little more emphasis on the mountain aspect this could work well for you. Especially if you see a lot of harder snow.

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.

The 2019-2020 Yes Typo has a slight change to the Camrock profile going from 4/4/4 (rocker/camber/rocker) to 2/4/2. What does that mean?  It means they mellowed out the rocker a bit but kept the camber the same. On comparing 2018 to 2019 & 2020 I didn’t really notice much of a difference and the ride is still very similar to past models. The 2019 and 2020 models are the same but the written portion of the review has been updated to reflect what’s happening in 2020. If the old vid contradicts what was written, go with the text.

How This Review Happened: It was borrowed this for an extended demo and then returned it. We also owned the older model.
Size: 158
Days:  4+
Conditions: We have had the Jackpot in all conditions over the years but the 2019 model in mainly good mid-winter PNW snow with a little powder.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV,
Insoles: Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Strata, Union Falcor, Union Superpro,

Similar Boards (but not the same) That We Compare To This: Lib Tech TRS HP,  Never Summer Proto Type Two, Nitro Fury,  Yes Greats, Rossignol Jibsaw, Lib Tech Box Knife, YES Not So Basic, YES Basic.

Set-Up: 22” to 22.5″ Wide. 15 front -15 back. Centered or on Reference stance and set all the way back in powder.

Approximate Weight

Feels pretty normal.

Sizing
The YES Typo comes in a lot of sizes but it can work with anything from a size 8 to a 12. For me, the 155 felt great for my size 9’s but the 158 feels a little better for my weight. Both are a good fit and handle size 9’s no problem The 158 is better for speed and powder but the 155 turns faster and is better in the park.

Flex/Buttering

YES boards aren’t as stiff as they say but their flex rating is consistent throughout the line. The YES Typo feels like it’s a little bump up flex wise than the YES Basic. You can still butter and play around super easy and the tip/tail butter much easier on snow than the flex would make you believe in the shop. It has this kind of flex that feels pretty unique. It feels a bit rubbery like it can keep bending more than your average board but it still has some pop to it.

On Snow Feel/Ability Level/Skidded Turns

The YES Typo one foots and flat-bases well but also doesn’t feel super catchy. Like the Basic,the Underbite indentions catch a touch more but it’s still much more forgiving than camber. You can skid turns really easy if you are off your game. It works well for any ability level while being forgiving for beginners/intermediates but not being too boring for advanced to expert riders.

Edge Hold

There is really strong edge hold and the Underbite tech does a great job and gripping into hard to icy snow. We really recommend it for those that want more grip or can have really hard conditions often in their winters.

Turn Initiation

Really quick edge to edge. The Typo, Not So Basic and Basic all move quickly edge to edge and all do well when riding in tight spots.

Turning Experience/Carving

The Yes Typo’s more mellow camber, offers up a pretty middle ground turning experience. It isn’t boring at all but not super dynamic or carvy either. That’s the compromise you make when you want a more forgiving ride though. The Typo will hold an edge on a more committed turn in harder snow than many other boards. So while it might not be a super carver it carves better when it’s harder.

Powder

The YES Typo doesn’t have a great set back on board.You can only get 1″ back at 22.5″. Also having 5×2 inserts per binding instead of 6×2 or 5×2 +1 set back keeps it pretty centered. So there isn’t much directional float. Still, It’s not bad for a pretty centered ride. If you like to ride switch in powder this can work.

Speed

A little more mountain speed than the YES Basic and it feels a little damper. It’s not bad but it’s not there with the YES Not So Basic. There is a little better base glide with the Typo over the Basic. You get more glide but it’s not like the Globe.

Uneven Terrain

I love the YES Typo when I have to weave in and out of moguls. Also, the rubbery feel underfoot helps absorb that micro bumpy hard uneven snow that can really chatter up into your joints hurt and riding not fun. It powers over chunder well enough too but it isn’t a super damp chunder buster.

Switch

So with a 5mm set back on sidecut, you aren’t too far off from center on this directional twin. If you slide your bindings 5mm forward when on reference, you are centered. Most bindings, except for Burton Re:Flex, will allow you  to center yourself on this board and ride it just like a true twin. However, 5mm back doesn’t feel much different than being centered so it’s a good board for riding switch.

Jumps

The pop is middle ground but you can generate your own air pretty well. It’s a pretty good board for those that want to go medium to small. If you want more pop and can swing the higher price, go with the Yes Globe

Jibbing

Pretty jib friendly and just a little behind the Basic in terms of being bucky.

Pipe

Such a great pipe board for average riders like myself. It’s got a grip for those hard to icy pipes, drives well enough wall to wall and offers up a quick turning forgiving feel underfoot. I could hike the pipe all day with this.

So all in all, the Yes Typo offers up a great low-cost mountain freestyle ride for those that see hard snow and has an even compromise fun wise across the mountain.

2018 Yes Typo Review

The 2018 Yes Typo is pretty much the same ride as the 2016-2017 models except the reference stance was narrowed 1″ per board and the board I have feels a bit stiffer like it’s on the medium side compared to med/soft.

2016-2018 Yes Typo Snowboard Review

Size: 155 and 158
Days:  5+
Conditions:  Hard PNW snow, good spring conditions in Mammoth and more conditions.
Riders: James
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Burton Fiend LTD
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Superpro with team ankle straps (similar to the contact but with taller straps), Burton Genesis, Burton Cartel, Salomon Defender,
Set Up: Centered and set back. 22.5″, 22.75″ and 23″ wide. 15 front -15 back and 15 front -9 back.

Approximate Weight: Felt like all YES boards did on the light side of normal.

On Snow Feel: Very stable like camber boards but not catchy like camber.  Very easy to one foot off a chair or make it down a long flat run like a cat track. The board is soft and forgiving while still being very lively underfoot. Sometimes the underbite tech can feel a touch hookey but overall it’s a great gripping ride with a very consistent feel across the spectrum of conditions you see on the mountain which is why we like this board so much.

Powder: The rocker in the nose combined with a minor set back on sidecut as well as a little more set back on board makes for better directional float in powder than the Yes Basic and almost as much float as 2015/2016 Yes Optimistic. When I set the 158 all the way back on board with traditional bindings on a 22.5″ stance width I can get 2.5″ back on board and with mini discs more like 3″ which isn’t bad but behind most all-mountain boards. I wouldn’t mind another set of inserts for each binding because it only has 5×2 per binding.  With 6×2 there would be a good chance you could set it back even further.  Or even better would be 1×2 or 2×2 per binding set back kind of like the slam backs on the Standard but minidisc friendly would really make the Yes Typo float well.  However, it has a pretty good directional float for what it is now.

Turn Initiation and Carving: Really quick and easy to turn when turning correct and the board is pretty fun to make short quick turns.  As the turns get wider they are still very fun and carving is pretty good too.  It holds in a turn and has spring out of a turn.  However, it’s softer flex doesn’t make it a day in day out carver but it can carve.

Speed: The 2016 and 2017 Yes Typo doesn’t have that bomber build and it can be chattery when you pick up speed.  It’s fine for mellow mountain riding but I’d like to see it a little better here.  The 2018 Yes Typo I have has a stiffer flex so maybe on average the 18’s are better when it comes to being damper at speed.  The base is nothing special to write about but it keeps it’s speed rather well on a long flat cat track or traverse.

Uneven Terrain: Really easy to ride from first to the last chair on a crowded Saturday.  It deals with messy resort snow really well. Even though the 18 seems a bit stiffer it still performs about the same.

Edge Hold: Just a hair shy of being as grippy as a Magnetraction board with the full Magnetraction but isn’t as grabby in softer snow. This is a great board for those that see icy conditions often.

Flex: The 2016 and 2017 Yes Typo felt really soft and buttery while still being poppy. I’d like to see the flex in the tip/tail stiffen up a little bit because it’s almost too easy to butter.  I’d say 3.5 out of 5 on Yes’ flex rating is very generous.  I would say it’s a 2 out of 5. The 2018 Yes Typo I own feels a little stiffer and it’s more like a true medium flex like a 2.75 or 3.

Switch: Very easy to ride switch when centered. It is a directional twin but it’s not super directional.

Jibbing: The flex between the feet isn’t super stiff either so it can lock into a more technical box or rail pretty easy. Not a bad jibber for an all mountain board.

Pipe: The edge hold makes this a better pipe board than you would think and it’s a great board to learn how to ride the pipe with.

Jumps: Nice pop and it ollies very well.  It’s also a great board for approaching kickers and it’s forgiving when landing too.

So all in all the Yes Typo offers a very consistent ride underfoot in all conditions and provides a great ride for those that want an all mountain board everywhere, it excels almost everywhere in the park.  If it’s between the 16 or 17 on sale and the 18 I would go 18 because the stiffer flex is a little better for mountain riding.

2016 Yes Typo Review