18 Best Cheap Snowboards For Beginners

Choosing your first snowboard can be a daunting task, but one can ace this task with the right knowledge, trust me, it is worth it in the long run. If you are a beginner, it’s important to stick to your budget and know which features and performance you need when buying your first snowboard.

Snowboarding is generally regarded as an expensive winter sport. Still, there are many low budget snowboards for both men and women, for example from the brands GNU Carbon Credit Asym, Burton Ripcord, K2 Raygun,  Burton Instigator, K2 Standard, Arbor Foundation, and many more. 

In this guide, you will find the 18 best cheap snowboards for beginners highlighting their board type, flex, and styles. So let’s get started with the list!

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18 Best Cheap Snowboards For Beginners

There are few things that every beginner should keep in mind before making a final decision to buy a snowboard. Many boards in the snowboarding industry are suitable for beginners, but they may differ in many ways, from the width, flex, length, and general design. Let’s begin with the first one.

1. Salomon Pulse

The Salomon Pulse snowboard is one of the cheapest snowboards for beginners. It is a reliable option as this board offers a soft flex that is great for beginners paired to a directional twin shape.

This snowboard has an effortless Flat Out chamber that makes it versatile and a bite-free board that you can take everywhere. It is best and comfortable for any beginner who wants to explore all terrain freestyle riding. It features a flat out chamber and bite-free edges for low consequences creative riding.

Features

Salomon Pulse snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 152cm to 163cm. Other great features are:

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Soft (3/10)
• Style of Board: All-Mountain
• Shape: Directional Twin
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding

The snowboard’s directional twin shape puts just a little more volume in the nose but keeps the rider centered over the board. It’s a good position for a beginner rider to practice 180 degrees across the piste or get some time up in the air in the park.

The only con of Salmon Pulse is that there is no rocker to speak of in the camber profile, and its edges are slightly turned up at the contact points. However, it is an excellent option for versatile all-mountain riders that want to go for a traditional camber board down the line. Check evo for availability

2. Arbor Formula Rocker

Arbor Formula Rocker has a timeless shape that speaks to snowboarding roots and delivers all the ingredients that a snowboard rider needs for a fantastic snowboarding experience. It is sustainably built with quality materials on Arbor’s proprietary system platform.

This snowboard is available in two technologies; the Rocker system and system chamber technology both provide a surfy ride with a natural float. The Arbor Formula Rocker is stiffer than the other snowboards listed in this guide.

Features

The Arbor Formula Rocker snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 148cm to 162MW. Other features are:

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Soft (4/10)
• Style of Board: All-Mountain
• Sidewall type: Fully wrapped
• Core: FSC certified highland
• Base: An extruded base that provides a user-friendly experience with ease of repair
• Bioplastic top sheet
• Highland core
• Biax glassing
• Recycled steel edges
• Grip tech
• Bio resin
• Wend natural wax
• Recycled ABS

An Arbor Formula snowboard is made with a fun, budget-friendly design that provides unmatched value and versatility for snowboard beginners who want to explore different terrain. It has 360 degrees fully wrapped sidewalls that reduce the need for tip fill and effectively tie the whole snowboard together. It delivers an improved boarding experience and durability. Check evo for availability.

3. GNU Carbon Credit Asym

The GNU Carbon Credit Asym snowboard is a perfect snowboard for beginners who want fun, easy, and unreal technology. It has serrated edges for effortless edge hold. If a snowboarder wants a loose feeling board, then this is the best option.

This snowboard favors those snowboard beginner riders who want a freestyle ride. It is an excellent investment for such riders.

With floaty, curvy, catch-free hybrid contours, GNU Carbon Credit Asym has intuitive naturally balanced asymmetrical geometries.

Features

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Soft (3/10)
• Style of Board: Freestyle
• Shape: Directional Twin
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Eco-Sublimated Co-Ex Base – Fast, challenging, and easy to maintain.
• Topsheet: Eco-sublimated poly top.
• Sidewalls: UHMW – UHMW sidewalls are super tough and environmentally friendly.
• Core: G1 Asym Eco Core | Aspen / Paulownia I / II – Sustainably harvested, light, healthy, and poppy.
• Edges: Magne-Traction – Unreal edge hold; 7 strategically located and sized edge serrations provide unreal edge hold and control in all conditions.

The GNU Carbon Credit Asym is a technologically advanced snowboard with easy riding freestyle. With a fast, low maintenance eco-sublimated base, this snowboard has rapid progression all over the mountain.

4. Rossignol Sawblade

The Rossignol Sawblade snowboard offers an easy-going ride to beginners due to an Auto-Turn” camber profile feature, which provides both ease of turn initiation and enough stability. This board is a park oriented board, so it is an excellent investment for beginners.

Features

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
• Style of Board: Freestyle
• Shape: True Twin – It is a perfectly symmetrical snowboard with a consistent flex pattern. Real twins make for a versatile ride that is just as maneuverable and stable when riding switch, so it’s great for freestyle.
• Core: FSC certified
• Laminates: Wood
• Profile: Hybrid Camber
• Setback stance: Centered
• Base: Sintered
• Weight: Normal – just on the heavier side of average (2900 grams for the 155)
• Turn Initiation: Fast
• Fast Progression

The Rossignol Sawblade snowboard is suitable for those riders who spend most of the time in the park by hitting jibs, small jumps, and natural hits. But it is not very suitable to use as a jump board.

5. Burton Ripcord Flat Top Snowboard

The Burton Ripcord Flat Top snowboard is specially designed for beginners to accelerate them and intermediates to provide them with advanced riding situations. It has a directional shape that makes it easy to ride on any terrain or snow condition. However, its flat top with easy bevel adds stability and a catch-free feel.

Features

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Soft (2/10)
• Style of Board: Freeride
• Shape: It has a directional shape with a slightly longer nose than tail to concentrate pop in the bottom.
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding
• Edges: Easy Bevel
• Core: Fly 900G core
• Laminates: Biax Fiberglass
• Terrain: All-Mountain
• Rocker Type: Soft
• Super Sap Epoxy: it is a resin produced with bio-based materials that reduce the carbon footprint.
• The Burton Ripcord Flat Top snowboard has forgiving flex, Flat Top profile, and Easy Bevel edges.

6. K2 Raygun

The K2 Raygun is a versatile snowboard that is great for beginners. This board offers a great combination of stability and ease of turning with a nice medium-soft flex. It has an excellent price and an excellent reputation in the snowboarding industry – one of the best hybrid shaped snowboards at a reasonable price.

Features

The K2 Raygun snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 150cm to 164cm. Other features are:

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
• Style of Board: All-Mountain
• Shape: Directional Twin and traditional shaped board
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding
• Sidewalls: Hybritech – it is the most effective way to manufacture a snowboard without compromising on performance.
• Laminates: Biaxial Glass that provides smooth all-purpose performance with a no-frills design.
• Core/laminates: carbon, wood
• Terrain: All mountain, Freeride

This snowboard is flat between the feet and turns up after the bindings giving a lot of rocker going on every terrain. It provides an option to set the stance back so a rider can stay afloat, which is a nice bonus for beginners. With featuring sidewalls, the running surface flows into the nose and tail and provides low swing weight.

For any beginner snowboarder who has a tight budget and looking for one deck for doing a bit of everything – the K2 Raygun snowboard is the best option. Currently available on evo.

7. Capita Outerspace Living

The Capita Outerspace Living snowboard has excellent reviews and can hold its own when carving aggressively. This board is a significant confidence booster that facilitates progression and guarantees a good time anywhere in the snow.

It has a positive camber that lives right under your feet, locks in and out with ease, torsionally flexes well in the center, and allows powerful and dexterous carves.

Features

Capita Outerspace Living snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 150cm to 158cm. Following are the other features:

• Category: All-Mountain
• Ability Level: Intermediate
• Size: 150, 152, 154, 155w, 156, 157w, 158cm
• Flex: 5/10
• Shape: True Twin
• Profile: CamRock
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding
• Laminates: Carbon Kevlar Struts – Mixed material-technical weave yields an optimal blend of performance and strength
• Sidewalls: Full ABS1000 Sidewalls
• Topsheet: PLT Topsheet Technology – PLT™ technology is exclusive to CAPiTA MFG and magically bonds the top sheet to an already pressed snowboard.
• Core: FSC Certified Dual Core

This snowboard is inspired by the award-winning Mercury series, with positive camber underfoot for power and a high nose and tail to help the board swim through powder. Lot of sizes and colors to pick from (link to evo).

8. Dinosaurs Will Die Wizard Stick

The Dinosaurs Will Die Wizard Stick is another cheap snowboard that has been carefully crafted with camber, a predictable and smooth flex, and directional twin shape. This snowboard has a lovely pointy nose with a fair bit of rocker and set back for directional powder float.

Features

The Dinosaur Will Die Wizard Stick snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 150cm to 164cm. Following are some other features:

• Profile: Crossbreed Camber
• Core: Poplar Core
• Edges: ABS Sidewalls
• Ability Level: Intermediate
• Size: ranges from 150, 152, 154, 155w, 156, 157w, 158, 159w, 160
• Flex: Soft (5/10)
• Shape: Twin shape
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding

With a poplar core, it has springy and snappy wood with legally effective damping qualities. It gives beginners a smooth, fast ride. Poplar is the most popular wood core that is used in snowboards.

9. Capita Defenders of Awesome

Capita Defenders of Awesome snowboards are one of the cheapest boards in all the Capita series. CAPITA DOA is suited for anyone who likes to charge down the mountain and freestyle riding. This board has a hybrid camber design delivering a cambered board’s pop with reverse camber predictability.

It is available in an extended range of wide sizes.

Features

Capita Defenders of Awesome snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 150cm to 164cm. Here are some more features:

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Twin Flex (5.5/10)
• Flex rating: Medium
• Style of Board: All-Mountain
• Shape: True twin shape
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding
• Sidewalls: Fortress Kevlar Bound Sidewalls bonded by a Kevlar “S” wrap from the top of the sidewall to the core’s underside. This lightweight technology binds the sidewall and core material together like no other.
• Laminates: Carbon fiber boosters – to save wood core weight by increasing resin performance
• Edges: 360 degrees HRC48 steel edges
• Core/laminates: Aramid (Kevlar), carbon, wood
• Terrain: All mountain, Freeride

It is a fun board to carve with and super fast when it comes to speed. It also feels comfortable on uneven terrain.

10. Jones Frontier

The Jones Frontier snowboard is one of the cheapest and affordable Jones options. It has a medium flex base contour and set back stance that makes it suitable for any terrain type.

Features

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Directional Flex (6/10)
• Directional Rocker – a hybrid profile with camber between feet, a little bit of rocker on the tail, and a larger rocker nose.
• Style of Board: Freestyle
• Shape: True Twin – It is a perfectly symmetrical snowboard with a consistent flex pattern. Real twins make for a versatile ride that is just as maneuverable and stable when riding switch, so it’s great for freestyle.
• Core: FSC certified – A poplar wood core that gives snowboarders good pop and even flexes and durability.
• Laminates: Wood
• Profile: Hybrid Camber
• Setback stance: Centered
• Base: Sintered flip flop base
• Weight: Normal – just on the heavier side of average (2900 grams for the 155)
• Turn Initiation: Fast
• Progressive sidecut
• Recycled ABS sidewalls
• Eco Plastic Topsheet

The Jones Frontier snowboard has a small amount (2mm) of spoon or base shaping that lifts the edges on the board’s nose and tail, giving it a looser and more forgiving ride and adding to the float in deep snow. Check evo for prices.

11. Burton Flight Attendant

The Burton Flight Attendant is great for a beginner who likes to carve up groomers and like it steep and deep. And also best for those riders who want freestyle rides. This snowboard is a tapered directional snowboard that has a double-ender feel.

Features

Burton Flight Attendant snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 152 cm to 168 cm. Other features are:

• Ability level: Beginner to advanced – expert
• Flex: Stiff Directional Flex (6/10)
• Core: FSC certified
• Style of Board: All-Mountain
• Shape: Directional Twin and traditional shaped board
• Profile: Backseat Camber
• Base: Sintered WFO
• Sidewalls: Hybritech – it is the most effective way to manufacture a snowboard without compromising on performance.
• Laminates: Triax with carbon
• Core/laminates: carbon, wood
• Terrain: All mountain, Freeride

One of the cons of the Burton Flight Attendant snowboard is that it does not have an edge grip technology. However, this feature is not essential for a camber profile snowboard because they usually give a good grip on hardpack. Check for prices.

12. YES Basic

The YES Basic snowboard is a fantastic freestyle board that works well for beginners at an affordable price. It has a forgiving medium-soft flex that is easy to turn on but still feels very stable underfoot. It is an excellent option for those that often ride in harder or icy conditions. With its versatility, riders who spend most of their time on powder will find this board to be a solid performer.

Features

YES Basic snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 152 cm to 168 cm. Following are the other features:

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Soft (2/10)
• Style of Board: Freeride
• Shape: Classic shape designed to be ridden with a slightly longer nose than tail to concentrate pop in the bottom.
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding
• Edges: Easy Bevel
• Core: Fly 900G core
• Laminates: Biax Fiberglass
• Terrain: All-Mountain
• Rocker Type: Soft
• Super Sap Epoxy: it is a resin produced with bio-based materials that reduce the carbon footprint.

13. Nitro Prime

The Nitro Prime Snowboard is made for snow riders who prefer to be outside in the snow, ride the mountains, and not worry about their board’s technical and practical stuff. It has a directional shape that welcomes progression, and this board is fun no matter where you ride it. This particular model is dicontinued but perhaps you can get a used snowboard for cheap.

A slightly set back stance and Nitro catch-free Flat-Out Rocker profile will give you confidence when riding and will help you practice and improve your skills every time to step on this board. This snowboard is excellent for starting a snowboarding career, but it is not just for beginners. It is an all-mountain snowboard for a fun and predictable ride.

Features

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
• Style of Board: Freeride
• Shape: It has a directional shape with a slightly longer nose than tail to concentrate pop in the rear.
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding
• Edges: Easy Bevel
• Core: Fly 900G core
• Laminates: Bi-lite laminates that are engineered for a powerful riding style and a refined board feel
• Terrain: All-Mountain
• Rocker Type: Soft
• Super Sap Epoxy: it is a resin produced with bio-based materials that reduce the carbon footprint.

14. K2 Standard

The K2 Standard snowboard is one of the best and affordable choice for beginners. It is excellent for rookies or intermediate riders who want to build up their skill level.

Features

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Soft and Stiff (4/10)
• Style of Board: Freestyle
• Shape: Directional Twin
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Eco-Sublimated Co-Ex Base – Fast, challenging, and easy to maintain
• Topsheet: Eco-sublimated poly top
• Sidewalls: UHMW – UHMW sidewalls are super tough and environmentally friendly
• Core: G1 Asym Eco Core | Aspen / Paulownia I / II – Sustainably harvested, light, healthy, and poppy.
• Edges: Magne-Traction – Unreal edge hold; 7 strategically located and sized edge serrations provide unreal edge hold and control in all conditions
• Laminates: Biaxial Glass that provides smooth all-purpose performance with a no-frills design.
• Fibers are woven together at 0 degrees that make for a more responsive ride longitudinally and torsionally.

The K2 Standard is a technologically advanced snowboard for easy, freestyle riding. With a fast, low maintenance eco-sublimated base, this snowboard has quick progression all over the mountain. Check Amazon for availabillity.

15. Capita Navigator

The Capita Navigator snowboard floats effortlessly in deep snow. The tapered directional shape and 1-inch setback, and rockered nose are excellent for all types of terrains. The Capita Navigator snowboard has a fun, budget-friendly design that provides unmatched value and versatility for snowboard beginners who want to explore the different landscapes.

It has 360 degrees fully wrapped sidewalls that reduce the need for tip fill and effectively tie the whole snowboard together. It delivers an improved boarding experience and durability.

Features

Capita Navigator snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 156 cm to 162 cm. Other features are:

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Soft (2/10)
• Style of Board: Freeride
• Shape: Classic shape designed to be ridden with a slightly longer nose than tail to concentrate pop in the bottom.
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding
• Edges: Easy Bevel
• Core: Fly 900G core
• Laminates: Biax Fiberglass
• Terrain: All-Mountain
• Rocker Type: Soft
• Super Sap Epoxy: it is a resin produced with bio-based materials that reduce the carbon footprint by 50%.

Check out the Capita navigator on evo.

16. Capita Space Metal Fantasy

The is one of the most affordable snowboards. It has forgiving camber shapes that provide a fun experience for beginners and intermediate snowboard riders to take their riding experience on a different level.

This snowboard is fun for carving around the slopes and playing on features in the park.

Features

Capita Space Metal Fantasy snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 152 cm to 168 cm. Following are the other features:

• Ability level: Beginner to advanced – expert
• Flex: Stiff Directional Flex (4/10)
• Core: FSC certified
• Style of Board: All-Mountain
• Shape: Directional Twin and traditional shaped board
• Profile: Backseat Camber
• Base: Sintered WFO
• Sidewalls: Hybritech – it is the most effective way to manufacture a snowboard without compromising on performance.
• Laminates: Triax with carbon
• Core/laminates: carbon, wood
• Terrain: All mountain, Freeride

17. Capita Paradise

The Capita Paradise is another cheaper option for women’s snowboards. It is designed to replicate the outer space series in geometrics engineered for women. This snowboard is perfectly balanced in all terrains.

Features

Capita Paradise snowboards come in different lengths, varying from 141 cm to 149 cm. Following are the other features:

• Ability level: Beginner to Intermediate
• Flex: Soft (5/10)
• Style of Board: Freeride
• Shape: It has a directional shape with a slightly longer nose than tail to concentrate pop in the bottom.
• Profile: Flat out Chamber
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding
• Edges: Easy Bevel
• Core: Fly 900G core
• Laminates: Biax Fiberglass
• Terrain: All-Mountain
• Rocker Type: Soft
• Super Sap Epoxy: it is a resin produced with bio-based materials that reduce the carbon footprint.

18. YES Hello

YES Hello is a snowboard with a playful all-mountain maverick that provides unmatched value and versatility for snowboard beginner riders who want to explore different terrain. It has 360 degrees fully wrapped sidewalls that reduce the need for tip fill and effectively tie the whole snowboard together. It delivers an improved boarding experience and durability.

Features

• Category: All-Mountain
• Ability Level: Intermediate
• Size: 150, 152, 154, 155w, 156, 157w, 158cm
• Flex: 5/10
• Shape: True Twin
• Profile: CamRock
• Base: Extruded – and most comfortable base material to repair and maintain in snowboarding
• Laminates: Carbon Kevlar Struts – Mixed material-technical weave yields an optimal blend of performance and strength
• Sidewalls: Full ABS1000 Sidewalls
• Topsheet: PLT Topsheet Technology – PLT™ technology is exclusive to CAPiTA MFG and magically bonds the top sheet to an already pressed snowboard.
• Core: FSC Certified Dual Core

Snowboard Buyers Guide

All the snowboards mentioned above are the best of the best low-budget boards for the beginner, but there are a few things that every snowboard rider should consider before buying a snowboard:

• Camber profile
• Flex
• Size of the snowboard
• Manufacturer’s label
• Versatility
• Price

Considering camber profile is crucial because it affects the following two factors for beginners:

• A feeling of stability underfoot
• Ease of turn initiation

A snowboard with the best camber profile for both stability and easy freeriding is flat to the rocker and has hybrid camber. A snowboard with a hybrid camber profile gives stability and a feel free ride. However, beginners should avoid traditional and completely flat camber.

Flex is equally essential as the camber profile of the snowboard. The best flex for beginners is soft or medium ranges from 1 to 4 out of 10. Other important things like the snowboard’s size and versatility should also be considered before choosing your new board.

Conclusion

Snowboarding is known for being a fun but expensive sport, and it can be tough for beginners to know where to begin when searching for their first-ever snowboard to start their snowboarding career. This article has covered the 18 best cheap snowboards for beginners to help you research the most affordable and best available options that suit your riding style and awesome future snowboarding adventure plans. Enjoy the ride!