The Lo Fi Rocker has some new graphics this season (shown above), but as far as our discerning eyes can tell, the construction of this board remains the same as the version we tested.
October 2018The Lo-Fi Rocker is a park board with all-mountain versatility. This board is flat between the bindings, and has a rockered tip and tail. It is the lightest board among those tested and has a quick response, making it incredibly easy to maneuver. However, this board became washy at high speeds and takes some serious effort to keep up in powder.
The Lo-Fi Rocker is a super fun board to ride, although it doesn't hold up particularly well at speed or in powder. Poppy and responsive, it boosts confidence with flat ground, jumps, and jibs. This board is a great hybrid for the park-rat that wants to explore everything the mountain has to offer.
Receiving a 6/10, the Lo-Fi Rocker performed worse than we expected in this category. The board's rocker-flat-rocker profile is supposed to hold strong on icy runs, yet we felt it's edge hold had plenty of room for improvement. While this board can cruise groomers, it felt washy when trying to slash or stop at high speeds. The aggressive rocker shape removes contact near the bindings, so you have to put a little more weight into carving. If you're looking for a ride with more confident edge hold, check out one with Magnetraction edge tech, like the Gnu Ladies Choice, which scored a solid 9/10. Also consider the ultra-stiff but high performing Never Summer Aura, which got an unmatched 10/10 in this category.
With a score of 6/10 in this category, the Lo-Fi Rocker isn't the most powder-friendly board we tested. The rocker profile gives a surfy float in light snow, yet the true twin shape means your nose wont float the way a directional twin would in deeper powder. The Arbor Swoon Rocker scored top marks (10/10) in this category, combining blunted tips with a parabolic rocker profile to provide effortless surf in the deep stuff. The Jones Twin Sister scored an impressive 9/10, staying true to the infamous Jones name with its directional twin shape. We prefer a board that takes a little less effort to keep afloat, and the Lo-Fi Rocker had a hard time keeping up in deep snow.
Scoring only a 5/10 in this category, the Lo-Fi Rocker is super lightweight, causing it to feel unstable and flimsy when riding at higher speeds. Although we love how light this board is, stability is sacrificed in the name of weight reduction. Ladies that love to charge at speed might prefer the Never Summer Aura, which scored a perfect 10 in this category, or the Burton Lipstick, with a solid 9/10 rating.
With an impressive 9/10 in this category, the Lo-Fi Rocker is an ultra-playful, super-park-friendly board. The true-twin shape has an identical tip and tail, makes riding switch almost feel normal. Its dramatic rocker profile is practically begging to be spun around in circles, making rotations seem natural and effortless and edges almost uncatchable. This board dramatically outperformed the Never Summer Aura, which scored a 4/10 in this category, and is a stiff and unforgiving ride.
One of the more flexible boards among those tested, the Lo Fi makes presses easy yet can spring off jumps with style. From jib line to jump line, this board stomps every feature in the park. The Lo-Fi Rocker was surpassed only by the prolific Gnu Ladies Choice, which scored a perfect 10/10 in this category.
A cambered board naturally has more pop than a Rocker profile, but this board can still launch in the park. Scoring an admirable 9/10 in this category, this board is ultra-light and spring-loaded, made of both a lightweight blend and poplar wood. The Lo-Fi also has Rome's “HotRod” tech — two bamboo single-barrel rods milled into the boards core for added pop. This board outperformed almost every other in this category — save the Gnu Ladies' Choice with yet another perfect 10. The Lo-Fi easily beat out the stiff and cumbersome Never Summer Aura (6/10), and the Top Powder Pick Jones Twin Sister (7/10) in this category with its effortless lift and forgiving flexibility.
This board can take on the whole mountain, but is truly at home throwing jumps and hitting jibs. This is a great board for ladies who predominantly ride freestyle, but also like to explore the rest of the mountain. The Lo-Fi doesn't hold well in icy conditions, and loses stability at speed. Ladies looking for a board with more stability that will still perform in the park should check out the Editors' Choice award winning Gnu Ladies' Choice.
At only $480, The Lo-Fi is a great option for the park lady who's not afraid to charge all over the mountain. This board is ideal for spring park days and mellow conditions, and doesn't quite hold up to the “one-and-done” standard we're looking for in an all-mountain board.
