How to choose and equip yourself for splitboard?

Previously, snowboard hiking was a nightmare. Snowboard on your back, climbing on foot with snowshoes or mini approach skis that you have to lug around on your bag for the descent. You really had to be motivated. At that time (thankfully now over), many snowboarders wanting to hike put on touring skis!

Then came the splitboard - literal translation: split board - lets you climb in skis and descend by snowboard. This invention doesn’t stop you sweating on the climb but it has revolutionised snowboard hiking. Practically, the board splits in two (or three or four) by removing the bindings to convert it into skis. Put the bindings on a gear and the seal skins under each ski for the climb, just like ski touring. Once you reach the top, put the two (three or four) parts together with the bindings (back in snow position), clips (heel and tip) and hooks that pull it all together to become a real snowboard. It's quick to do and on the descent there is practically no difference between a splitboard and a so-called “solid” board.

The first splitboard produced dates back to last century, to 1992, and was a Nitro with its own binding system but it was barely finished. It gradually evolved into the early 2000s, particularly with the American brand Voilé that created a standard for bindings. Jeremy Jones then did the sport and its visibility a great service by saying goodbye to his helicopter interests and launching his Jones Snowboards brand in 2011.

When it comes to innovation, the binding/connector systems in particular have made the different by improving comfort, handling and weight. The rise in splitboarding began in earnest at the beginning of the last decade, and last winter without ski lifts saw such a surge in splitboarding that all production stock was sold.

You no longer need to wait for the ski lifts to open to ride as splitboarding extends the season and the enjoyment.

Second hand splitboards are rare and sought-after. Be careful not to buy an old dud with a totally outdated system. As with a solid snowboard, but even more so, it’s important to check the base (look out for holes that can compromise the core) and edges (check for dents, even cracks!).
Find out how it has been used by the owner, how many times and its year of manufacture. If it comes with skins, check that they still stick together well.

Look out for “homemade” splitboards: no inner edges, pierced bases for inserts, etc.
This might have worked well for whoever did it for their personal use but when reselling it could mean you don't enjoy the climb or the descent.

Xavier de Le Rue began hiking with his solid pro-model (the Rossignol XV) that his supplier had cut with a sabre saw. Some cores in Salomon snowboards were designed to be cut in two to make a splitboard, and the manufacturer Voilé has sold a high number of its splitboard kits that are still current.
However, making your own splitboard is a risky business and requires some experience and equipment.

Tutorials can be found easily online for the more handy among you and fans of exciting adventures.

The Voilé Kit created in the 1990s, offers a connector system and a sliding panel that screws onto a pair of standard bindings. For a long time, this fairly heavy solution (the bindings are heavier than the panel...) had no competition. Fortunately, systems have moved on significantly: quick, lightweight and functional, they go from climb to descent position in no time.

Spark picked up the Voilé and incorporated its Tesla system, a built-in rail under the binding baseplate and a cover system under the toes to unlock it. The binding is proven, lightweight and affordable. Burton and Nitro use the Spark system.

SP Binding used the Voilé rail on its double entry (front and rear) binding baseplate, when K2, recently came to the splitboard bindings market incorporating the new Voilé pin-free system on its binding.

Karakoram offers its own two systems (incompatible between themselves) with lightweight, accurate bindings: the SL with a side lever locking system, and the Prime system that locks with a hoop under the heel.

The manufacturer Plum from Haute-Savoie, has developed an intuitive system that stands out with its centre binding (that tightens the two parts) and its 4 mobile corners, which doesn’t disturb the board’s flex. The brand offers bindings for all splitboard activities, from the carbon spoiler (Feyan) or plastic (Eterlou) binding, rear entry binding (Dari - with the SP Bindings rear entry system), to the hardboot binding (Sok).

Phantom and Spark also offer panels specifically for hardboots (to be stored in the bag on the climb, unlike Plum).

Union has developed its own system with a half-disc connector, a pin locking system and a completely plastic moulded or carbon injected binding (other brands are all aluminium) for more of a freestyle feeling.

You don’t mess with safety in the mountains and splitboard is a learning environment that isn't totally obvious for those who haven't practised in a resort.
To review the basics, refer to our series of articles below on skiing and snowboarding.

At the end of the day, we are not born a splitboarder, we become one.