ISPO 2015 l Part 5: Splitboards, snowboards, boots and binding systems

The use of a crampon-compatible Vibram mountain sole has now become the standard for touring-oriented snowboard boots; next year, however, this will be in the integrated version, which will significantly reduce the sole lengths of the boots (in some cases by more than 1 cm) - a hope for all men and women who live on a large foot.

In terms of binding systems, there are mainly small but sensible improvements: Spark will also have a women-specific version of their bindings on offer next year (which won't please supporters of enlightened gender theory, as it cements the prevailing discourse, but that's another story).

Striking and therefore included as an add-on in this report is the new retro must-have from many snowboard brands - the powder board. Mostly classic in powder gun style without a swallowtail but with a long nose, almost every company now has a product for the light, white dream material on offer, which we are chasing after after Oracle's announcement

Splitboards

Rossignol

The XV Split remains the only splitboard in the Rossignol range. There are no major changes, only a suspension for attaching the pre-cut Pomoca skins has been added to the tail. In addition, the XV Split will be available in 164 cm as a wide "wide" version. In collaboration with Plum, there is an XV Splitboard binding with its own straps and highback.

Amplid

Amplid has two new products in its range: The Creamer is a real all-rounder. A balanced shape that works well in powder and also in hard snow. Camber under the bindings and a moderate nose rocker in combination with the tapered tail is the formula for a board that goes everywhere.
The Miligram is the logical continuation of the Carbon Lab. It has the same outline and camber profile as the Creamer. Radical weight savings (no topsheet) and generous use of carbon make it the lightest splitboard currently available on the market at 2.3 kg.
Also in the range is the Morning Split with a new color.

Venture

The Zelix has been given a deeper sidecut and a longer nose, resulting in a more playful board. The carbon version of the Zelix is available with the promising name "Black Magic".
The Euphoria is still the board for really deep snow, but with a normal sidecut it has now become a little more universal. The solid version has additional inserts so that it can be ridden with a pad as a snowsurferThe Odin remains the big mountain weapon in the Venture line-up. It should be noted that although the Odin has last year's outline, it has the stiffer core of previous years. Anyone who may have stumbled across this year's American reviews of the Odin, watch out!

Burton

Burton introduces the Fish Split, a splitboard for the really deep days. After the first prototypes and self-split fishs appeared more than ten years ago, Burton is now jumping on this sensible idea with a "slight" delay. There will also be the Custom Splitboard with camber and the promised strong edge hold. Both models are split versions of the corresponding solid boards.

The Landlord and the Anti-Social split will remain in the Burton splitboard range.

Elan

Elan has also discovered the splitboard market and will be offering a splitboard next season.

Plum

.....still has the Prems and Talps on offer.

Flow

is launching a split-ready snowboard with the Soltitude, which has an additional, central sidewall to make it easier to split the board.

Only K2, Libtech, Gnu and Arbor have made design updates.

Furberg

Furberg has added a slight camber to its Freeride this year, which should significantly improve climbing ability. Otherwise, the shape is the best thing that has happened to snowboarding in recent times in terms of innovation and consistency.

Boots

Deeluxe

After things went rather quiet around Deeluxe last year, this year's innovations are all the more impressive. Firstly, Deeluxe has succeeded in better integrating the Vibram sole into the shoe, resulting in a sole shortening of approx. 1 cm. Ladies and gentlemen with larger feet can now also take hold. Furthermore, there is a cover for the lacing system in the forefoot area, which is designed to protect the lacing system from getting caught in adverse conditions. The real highlight, however, is a kind of walking mechanism that Deeluxe has added to its top model, the Signature Boot by Xavier de le Rue. A simple slit on the back of the boot in combination with ankle stabilization through the BOA system promises a much more comfortable walk. The "conversion" to downhill mode works simply and effortlessly using the existing power strap. Deeluxe has done its homework!

ThirtyTwo

Now that freeride god (or already great -)father Jeremy Jones has been welcomed as a new team member, ThirtyTwo is not to be outdone and is launching the Jones Signature model, a top-notch touring boot. ThirtyTwo also manages to integrate the Vibram sole into the boot, and the lace cover also resembles an alpine mountaineering boot. The Jones boot also has a walk function, but this is closed with a BOA and is not as deeply cut as the Deeluxe boot. From a consumer perspective, it can only be seen as positive that ThirtyTwo is another competitor in the small but fine segment of touring boots.

Not represented at ISPO, but still worth a mention

Fitwell

The Italian mountain boot company Fitwell has also been active in the snowboard segment since 2012/2013 and launched the Backcountry, a very hard and torsion-resistant soft boot with a Vibram sole, at the same time as the Deeluxe XV. It should be well known to those video junkies who have watched Jeremy Jones' latest flicks. There, the gentleman also wears the Fitwell Backcountry. The newer versions now have a powerstrap compared to the first version.

Binding systems

As already mentioned above, there are small improvements to the binding systems rather than a big leap, which is not surprising given the system changes from Spark and Karakoram last year.

Spark R&D

Spark is saying goodbye to the Tesla series after just one year and is now calling its new line of bindings T1?! A pure marketing gag, because the Snapramps remain, the new bindings are called Surge (a.k.a Afterburner) and Arc (the former Magneto). The improvements here are in the details, but they make sense: Firstly, instead of two riser bars, there is now only one (T1), which can be locked in two positions. The baseplate has been adapted and there is also a new, simple heel lock mechanism. The old Heel-Lock has been slightly modified and will continue to be produced (for Afterburner- and Magneto- owners). New are two slimmer, smaller bindings for the light and small people among us - Spark brands them as specific women's bindings. The crampon has been stabilized at the former weak points and there is a new insertion angle (now 90 degrees) to prevent accidental shifting. Spark has also finally listened to users' requests and presented an easy-to-use highback setting called "Rip'n'Flip Highback". These can also be retrofitted to older bindings. The range also includes the Blaze and the Burner as classic pin bindings including the crampons.

There is also a real improvement for all splitboard owners outside the K2 and Burton world. Thanks to the newly designed pucks, the stance adjustment is much easier, faster and more precise.

A nice video about the news at Spark from the colleagues at Splitboardmag.

Spark R&D ISPO 2015 from Splitboard Magazine on Vimeo.