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Nitro Mountain Review

A board built for for all mountain charging.
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Price:  $560 List | $559.95 at Backcountry
Compare prices at 2 resellers
Pros:  Stability at speed, pop, mid wide waist width
Cons:  Hard to butter, stiff for lighter users
Manufacturer:   Nitro
By Isaac Laredo ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 20, 2019
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76
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#9 of 17
  • Edging - 25% 8
  • Float in Powder - 20% 7
  • Stability at Speed - 20% 9
  • Playfulness - 20% 6
  • Pop and Jumping - 15% 8

Our Verdict

The Nitro Mountain has a strong feel and ability that is fit for all-mountain ripping. This board could be a quiver of one based on its ability to rip groomers and blast through crud. Based on its shape, we wouldn't be shy to take it out on a powder day either, and it has a stiff flex that provides all the stability and pop you will likely need. Its flex, however, limits the board's ability to play. This board is best for advanced riders looking for all-mountain everyday performance.


Compare to Similar Products

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This Product
Nitro Mountain
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Top Pick Award Top Pick Award Best Buy Award 
Price $559.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers		$669.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$589.95 at Amazon
Compare at 2 sellers		$570 List$479.95 at REI
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Pros Stability at speed, pop, mid wide waist widthFloaty, precise edging, good construction, playfulLightweight, well-made, fun, responsive, user-friendly, made in the USAUser friendly, turning experience, versatile, playfulGreat value, versatile, stable, beautiful graphic
Cons Hard to butter, stiff for lighter usersTricky to size, unappealing graphicBelow average floatTop sheet scratches easyCan slip on hardback
Bottom Line A board built for for all mountain charging."That was totally wicked." -The IncrediblesSnowboarding can be hard; help lower the learning curve with this model.Has a playful merit to its high-performance abilities.Porsche performance at Honda prices.
Rating Categories Nitro Mountain Yes. Optimistic Never Summer Proto Type Two United Shapes Cadet Jones Explorer
Edging (25%)
10
0
8
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
9
10
0
8
Float In Powder (20%)
10
0
7
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
7
10
0
8
Stability At Speed (20%)
10
0
9
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
8
10
0
9
Playfulness (20%)
10
0
6
10
0
8
10
0
10
10
0
9
10
0
7
Pop And Jumping (15%)
10
0
8
10
0
7
10
0
7
10
0
8
10
0
8
Specs Nitro Mountain Yes. Optimistic Never Summer Proto... United Shapes Cadet Jones Explorer
Shape Tapered Directional Directional Asymetrical-Twin Directional Directional
Camber/Rocker CAM-OUT Camber Hybrid-Rocker/Camber Hybrid-Rocker/Camber Camber Hybrid-Rocker/Camber
Flex Medium Stiff Stiff Soft-Medium Medium Stiff
Weight N/A 6.2 (lb) 6.2 (lb) 6.22 (lb) 6.44 (lb)
Tested Length 160cm 151cm 157 156cm 159cm
Available Lengths 157, 160, 163cm 151, 154, 157cm 152,154,157,160,153X,155X,158X,161X,164X 144, 152.5, 156, 159, 162cm 152,156,158W,159,161W,162,164W cm
Construction Type Sandwich Sandwich Sandwich Sandwich Sandwich
Core Material Powercore II Carbon-wrapped wood Wood A11x (poplar, bamboo) Wood
Waist Width 25.6cm 26.6cm 26.3 25.6cm 25.4cm
Radius 8.2/7.4m 6.5m 7.6 toe/7.3 heel 7.5m 7.5m
Taper 8mm 6m 0 20mm 0mm

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Nitro Mountain is built for charging all over the mountain; it likes to go fast and make long arcing turns. We enjoyed this board. It isn't for someone looking to refine their technique but for a hard charger looking to move fast whether it's smooth or choppy.

Performance Comparison


The Griffen Siebert Pro Model version of the Nitro Mountain.
The Griffen Siebert Pro Model version of the Nitro Mountain.

Edging


The Mountain is a fairly stiff board that features a mostly camber profile, with rocker starting just before the contact points. The stiffer camber profile provides a stable and consistent platform to make high speed arcing turns. The stiff flex requires strength to influence the board to drive short radius turns and maintain secure edge hold on the spring frozen corduroy.

Fortunately, this board has a mid-length waist to give a larger margin before being taken down by our arch-enemy of heel drag. The flex and width of this board make it a secure ride for high speed edging and riding through the chunder. The MTN takes a little more effort to get on edge and prefers to be ridden at high speed, making long and beautiful long arcing turns.

The Nitro Mountain is designed for all-mountain charging in all snow conditions.
The Nitro Mountain is designed for all-mountain charging in all snow conditions.

Float in Powder


We didn't get a chance to use this board hard in powder, but we expect it to be a contender in this metric. Good powder flotation is indicated via the shape of the board. Plenty of surface area is provided, with a long nose with rocker, and a tapered tail, which promotes float.

Stability at Speed


This thing has stability written all over it. A mostly camber profile with a directional shape and plenty of tail allows the Mountain to have virtually no chatter and blast through the chunder. When we were straight-lining or ripping high speed carves, we felt we were in total control. Because this board is stiff, it requires technique and strength and may be difficult to control for beginners and some intermediate riders.

The stiffer camber profile provides stability at speed whether flat-based or on edge.
The stiffer camber profile provides stability at speed whether flat-based or on edge.

Playfulness


The Mountain is similar to other stiff boards designed to ride at high speeds and will require a certain amount of technique to be able to enjoy the benefit. For a rider in its targeted skill level, this board is easy to hop on and start ripping. If you are newer to snowboarding, it might be more then you can chew. Its gently rockered contact points and longer nose allow you to slash the tail at medium and higher speeds to obtain a surf style or more playful style of riding. Playfulness and riding at high speeds are polarized concepts and some find the balance very well. We found the MTN hard to butter. We were able to initiate butter but found them very hard to maintain. This board is better suited for popping and jumping rather than buttering around.

Popping and Jumping


Phew! We consistently went large and popped higher than expected on this beast. Thanks to the camber and stiff tail, we were able to go to the moon and pull off the landings when we needed to. This board has plenty of pop and is there when you need it to be.

The Nitro Mountain provided amble pop off quarterpipes jumps and side hits.
The Nitro Mountain provided amble pop off quarterpipes, jumps, and side hits.

Value


The Mountain comes in at the standard market price for performance snowboards. It performed well and for the proper rider, can be riden every day.

Conclusion


The Nitro Mountain is a stiff, mostly cambered board built for charging in whatever conditions. Its edging style favors, higher speed, long arcing turns, and is less intuitive to make shorter arcing turns. Its stiff camber profile provides ample opportunity for airtime and incredible stability at speed or landings. This board is great for the advanced rider who likes to go fast and big no matter the conditions. If you are pushing yourself, this board has your back.

The Griffen Siebert Pro Model has a southwestern feel with a unique flair.
The Griffen Siebert Pro Model has a southwestern feel with a unique flair.


— Isaac Laredo