Spark R&D

Before every tour of the splitboard group of my DAV section, we check whether all participants have crampons with them - the right ones for their own bindings. This is not so trivial for some and requires support here and there. In this article, I would like to briefly explain why crampons are not a nice-to-have for us splitboarders, but an absolute must-have. You will also get a comprehensive overview of the current splitboard bindings and their corresponding crampons.

The search for the right splitboard and the corresponding binding has probably already taken a lot of time and nerves. The new treasures are quickly unpacked and want to be admired, but you soon realize: It doesn't look anything like a snowboard! But there's no need to panic, despite the many individual parts, a screwdriver is enough to assemble everything before the first tour. Here are a few helpful tips.

Splitboard manufacturers such as Voile, Jones and Furberg have developed different systems, but they are all based on the same principle: Clips on the tip and tail hold the board halves together, while hooks in the centre provide additional stability. There are clear differences between the systems, especially when it comes to the hooks and clips. Only Furberg uses an innovative tongue-and-groove system on the inside edges. Despite technical differences, all manufacturers use the Voile standard for the drill holes. In recent years, hooks, clips and bindings have been continuously optimised - three of the best systems are presented and compared below.

Compared to a snowboard, the visual differences are barely noticeable and the basic requirement of connecting rider and board are the same. However, there are big differences between the manufacturers when it comes to the "how". The following is an overview of the various manufacturers and models, expressly without a purchase recommendation, as everyone has different requirements for the equipment they use.

After about 50 touring days, the 4-piece splitboard has proven itself completely. 4-piece? Yes, during the ascent you carry the two centre sections on your backpack and therefore have two narrow ascent skis on your feet. Such concepts have existed for more than 15 years, and since 2014/15 Salomon has ventured into the 4-piece splitboard market with the Premiere. For me, it's my first 4-piece and there's no way around it on long tours ...

Anyone who thinks they can simply go splitboarding with hard-shell boots is mistaken. A functioning AT setup, as it is called in modern German, still requires a lot of trial and error as well as a certain amount of motivation to tinker in order to find the individually functional settings.

True to the motto "carbon instead of fitness", the S-One Carbon Splitboard saves energy both uphill and downhill. This may not make you better, but it means you can go longer!

Three days at the end of the season at the Amberger Hütte in May paired with the opportunity to test pretty much everything that is currently available on the splitboard market, that sounded quite tempting when the offer fluttered into the house in April...

The splitboard trend, which was already apparent at ISPO 2014, is continuing in winter 2015/16. Every brand, no matter how small, now has at least one splitboard in its product portfolio. Product differentiation continues to make inroads among established brands - more or less in line with Porter's business management textbook and the competition matrix it contains. Roughly speaking, the motto is more and for all groups and budgets.

For a long time, splitboards were frowned upon by touring snowboarders in Europe. A splitboard was said to be too heavy and therefore too sluggish on the descent. Far too much weight per foot had to be dragged up the mountain compared to a touring ski setup. And then there are the problems caused by the wide skis and soft boots when traversing on hard ground. The European solution of choice was short skis plus a normal freeride board.