Board Top Pick
Capita Kazu Kokubo Pro

Kazu's pro model, and it rides like a freeride board hiding in an all-mountain shape. Stable when you open it up, still loose enough to play with. It’s a heritage Capita design, and one of the few boards people are buzzing about this year.

Boot Top Pick
Union Reset Pro

Heel hold is the thing nobody writes about and everybody feels, and this boot has it. Snug through the ankle without crushing your instep. The Inertia named it boot of the year and we don't disagree.

Binding Top Pick
Union Force

The all-mountain benchmark and the anchor of Union's lineup for good reason. Medium flex that complements a board instead of overpowering it.

Board Top Pick
Lib Tech Orca II

Travis Rice's shape, updated this season with a reworked nose and tail plus a cleaner build. The Whale Tail profile floats in deep snow at a length shorter than you'd expect, so size down from your usual.

Boot Top Pick
K2 Orton

Aggressive mid-stiff flex built for instant power transfer. If you ride fast and want the board to answer the moment you ask, this is the boot. A choice for hard-charging riders.

Binding Top Pick
Jones Mercury FASE

Fast-entry bindings usually ask you to give up the locked-in feel of two straps. FASE doesn't. Quicker in at the top of the run, same strapped-in ride. Mid-stiff, and not a beginner binding.

Board Top Pick
Jones Howler Splitboard

It started as a solid board and the descent shows it. Most splits feel like a compromise going down. This one doesn't, and at 6.6 to 7 lbs it isn't a chore going up.

Boot Top Pick
ThirtyTwo Jones MTB Lite

A ThirtyTwo and Jones collaboration built specifically for the skin track. Vibram mountaineering outsole for booting, a walk-mode collar for the climb, and a stiff flex you can tune. The priciest boot in the lineup, and worth it if you tour often.

Binding Top Pick
Spark R&D Arc ST

Still the industry standard and nobody has a real argument against it. The lightweight ST baseplate saves weight you'll notice by hour four. Splitboard-specific, so it won't mount to a solid board.

Board Top Pick
Burton Process

The definitive park twin and still the one to beat. Poppy true-twin flex means switch feels identical to regular. If you're building a park setup and want to stop researching, start here.

Boot Top Pick
Vans Aura Pro 2.0

Vans' do-everything boot, and reviewers keep pointing at how far its range goes, from rails to steep and deep. Dual-zone BOA lets you run the ankle tight and the shin loose.

Binding Top Pick
Burton Cartel Re:Flex

The park icon. Precise response, a rubber-winged highback and a hinge that lets your foot roll into an ollie. Re:Flex mounts to both standard patterns and Burton's Channel.