G3 Axle Review
Cons: Expensive to use standard hook clips
Manufacturer: G3
Our Verdict
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 This Product
G3 Axle | |||||
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| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $850 List | $899 List | $900 List | $650 List | $799 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Lightweight, responsive, carbon layup, durable topsheet | Durable topsheet, great powder floatation, excellent climbing, snappy turn experience, bolt-less base | Stable, stiff, lightweight, solid, predictable, reliable, supports diverse riding objectives | Durable, affordable, versatile, easy to adjust stance | Durable topsheet, versatile, responsive, good offering of sizes |
| Cons | Expensive to use standard hook clips | Expensive, switch riding | Expensive, narrow waist width, shallow nose rise | Generalist, soft for aggressive riding or heavy snow | Challenging to smear turns in firm snow at slow speeds |
| Bottom Line | User-friendly performance in a backcountry specific design | Climbs like a bird in thermals, rides like your trusted solid board | Provides versatile performance to support daily or ambitious backcountry objectives, the Solution is a satisfying ride | A minimalist board that has everything that you need and nothing that you don't | Freeride, freestyle, or powder specific; now you don't have to choose |
| Rating Categories | G3 Axle | Backwoods | Jones Solution Spli... | Voile Spartan Ascent | United Shapes Covert |
| Powder (26%) | |||||
| Firm Snow (26%) | |||||
| Climbing (28%) | |||||
| Binding Adjustability (5%) | |||||
| Playfulness (15%) | |||||
| Specs | G3 Axle | Backwoods | Jones Solution Spli... | Voile Spartan Ascent | United Shapes Covert |
| Weight | 7.15 lbs | 7.33 lbs | 7.38 lbs | 6.08 lbs | 7.45 lbs |
| Tested Length | 162 | 157 | 158 | 158 | 158 |
| Flex | Stiff | Medium - stiff | Stiff | Soft | Medium |
| Weight in grams | 3245 g | 3325 g | 3346 g | 2794 g | 3382 g |
| Weight Per Surface Area | 0.7 | 0.74 | 0.74 | 0.62 | 0.75 |
| Available Lengths | 154, 158, 162, 166 | 152, 157, 160, 163, 163 (w) | 154, 158, 159W, 161, 162W, 164, 165W, 166, 169W | 154, 158, 162, 166 | 149,152,158,161,166 |
| Construction Type | Sandwich | Sandwich | Sandwich | Cap | Sandwich |
| Core Material | Wood | Wood/ bamboo | Wood | paulownia, carbon | Blended wood |
| Waist Width | 25.7cm | 25.6cm | 24.7cm | 25.7cm | 25.7cm |
| Shape | Directional | Directional | Directional | Directional twin | Directional |
| Radius | 9.8m | 7.3/6.5/7.5m | 8.5m | 7.7m | 7.5m |
| Camber/Rocker | Rocker/ Camber/ Rocker | Rock camber rocker | Directional rocker | Freeride camber | Rocker/ Camber/ Rocker |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The G3 Axle is specifically engineered to be a splitboard. Often, splitboards take the design of a solid board and then cut it in half. Usually, this works, and other times it leaves a board that excels on the downhill but is limited in its uphill efficiency. This model is a well-blended board that displays the benefits of its attributes without too many sacrifices. The Axle has a light camber profile in between the bindings and rocker in both the tip and tail for stability and floatation. It has an inlaid carbon matrix within the fiberglass for additional torsional stability without a large weight penalty.
Performance Comparison
Firm Snow
The Axle is a beast in firm snow. The security, edge hold, and responsiveness impressed us. The predominant camber profile has an early rise tip and tail, which encourages strong edge hold and stability at speed. We never encountered a speed threshold infirm or corn snow that was set by the board; just our sense of self-preservation. When speed control is critical, the AXLE is easy to perform small radius smeared turns. The ability to smear turns becomes critical in tight areas and or icy conditions. Additionally, it makes the board easier to manage for riders of different ability levels.
The Axle provides a damp and mostly chatter-free ride, thanks to the flex and amount of damping materials used. Overall, it's easy to turn and get on edge, and the torsional stiffness makes this model very responsive and secure on edge.
Powder
The Axle is purpose-built to excel in many conditions, and powder is no exception. This board was fit for all types of powder riding, whether you need to wiggle through trees or make big open turns in powder.
The tail reduces its surface area through an 8mm taper and set back profile. This increases the floatation and agility of the board by encouraging the tail to sit in the snow. The tail is driven down by rider weight and positioning rather than effort. In tight trees, the rider can pivot off the back foot for impressive maneuverability. The long rockered nose planes well over the snow to give confidence-inspiring floatation at high speeds in any terrain.
Climbing
G3 designed the Axle to perform equally on the way up and the way down. So far in our testing, this seems pretty accurate. The Axle is a lightweight splitboard. In our surface area per gram calculations, it boasted one of the lightest number values.
Its torsional flex provides solid sidehilling capability, and its mostly cambered profile offers additional security. We appreciated the nylon-based top sheet for its durable qualities, which provides impressive resistance to damage caused by the edges scraping the top sheet.
Binding Adjustability
The Axle utilizes the standard splitboard mounting pattern. This requires the pucks or mounting plates to be shifted for micro-adjustments or be reattached for major changes to the stance.
Playfulness
The Axle is stiff; it's not necessarily playful in its flex. However, it can be used by a variety of skill levels due to its maneuverable and smearable turning character. It's very versatile and user-friendly, and its turns can be driven or smeared. You don't have to force the board to do either one; it is designed for both styles.
Value
The Axle clocks in at a comparable price when we look at other premium high-end splitboards. We were impressed with the overall performance; the construction looks good, and with features like a thicker base and nylon-based top sheet, it is designed to last season after season.
Conclusion
The G3 Axle isn't just a solid board cut in half. It's a splitboard by design. It's lightweight yet doesn't compromise the stability and performance on the down. We appreciate its secure and responsive performance on hard snow, and it can handle the objectives of advanced splitboarders. The Axle is an excellent choice for dedicated backcountry enthusiasts who demand performance and reliability on the up and down.
— Isaac Laredo