Two testers in US 10.5 boots chose the GNU Riders Choice in the 155 Wide, and its heelside turns needed noticeably less leg work, though it chatters in frozen ruts. It scores 84 out of 100 and ranks #7 in our best all-mountain snowboards guide as our best wide all-mountain snowboard.
What is the best wide all-mountain snowboard?
For bigger boots, the GNU Riders Choice is the best wide all-mountain snowboard we rode: Shaun and James chose the 155 Wide for boot-drag clearance, and it scored 9.0 for versatility.
GNU Riders Choice
- Length tested: 155 Wide
- Weight: 2,940 g
- Profile: Rocker/camber hybrid
- Shape: Asym twin
Bottom Line : Natural heelside turns, 9.0 versatility and a wide waist that suits big boots. It chatters in frozen ruts.
Pros
- Versatility 9.0: switch and park laps felt identical
- Natural heelside turn entry with less leg work
- The wide waist floated easily in wet slush and cleared boot drag
- Scored 84 in the budget price tier
Cons
- Chop damping 7.5: the hybrid rocker chattered through frozen ruts
- Tip-and-tail wobble tracking flat on long traverses
- Light cosmetic scuffs between the bindings
On the Mountain
Boot-drag clearance decided the size: the Riders Choice went into the test in the 155 Wide, not the 161.5 cm. They wanted agility and boot-drag clearance. On Horstman Glacier at Whistler Blackcomb, that decision paid off: the board turned smoothly and handled everyday riding without boot drag.
Its signature is the heelside turn. The asymmetric heelside sidecut works with serrated edges our testers noted, and heelside carves felt planted (Edge Hold on Hardpack 8.5). Heelside turn entry felt very natural, and slashes and quick speed checks needed noticeably less leg work (Turn Initiation & Slashing 8.5).
It's also a good twin. True twin geometry made switch riding and park laps feel identical to riding forward, and the wider waist gave easy float through wet slush. Versatility scored 9.0, tied for the best of the ten.
The board weighs 2,940 g in the 155 Wide. Our only damage was light cosmetic scuffs between the bindings, with the base and steel edges clean.
Where It Asks Something of You
Chop damping is the cost at 7.5. Compared with the full camber boards, the hybrid rocker chattered through frozen afternoon ruts, and the rockered center caused tip and tail wobble when we tracked it flat along long traverses. Ride it on soft, forgiving snow where the chatter fades.
The width is also a decision. Check your boot size before you choose. If you wear small boots, a standard-width board such as the Lib Tech T.Rice Pro posted the identical four scores. If rough snow fills your day, the Ride Shadowban damps chop at 9.0.
Spec Sheet vs Our Test
Asym twin shape. On the maker's sheet the shape comes first: an all-mountain, freestyle asym twin. Both halves showed up. The heelside turns were planted and natural, and the twin geometry made switch riding and park laps feel identical to forward riding (Versatility 9.0).
3-D Asym chip power platforms. The maker lists powerful 3-D chip platforms. We can't separate them from the rest of the shape, but the testers found heelside carves planted (8.5) and slashes lighter on the legs, which is the kind of result such platforms are supposed to give.
Intuitive Asym advantage. The maker says the asym advantage maximizes performance. In plain terms, heelside turn entry felt very natural and needed less leg work. We'd say the claim holds for heelside carving and, because the board is a twin, doesn't cost anything in the park.
Hybrid rocker center and serrated edges. The maker's text doesn't cover the center or the edges, so these come from our testers. They noted serrated edges that helped heelside bite, and a hybrid rocker center that chattered in frozen ruts (Chop Damping 7.5). The rocker is the reason for the soft-snow advice above.
Should You Buy the GNU Riders Choice?
If your boots are US 10.5 or bigger and you want a twin for park laps and everyday riding, the Riders Choice is the one to buy. It sits in the budget price tier and scored 84, level with two boards that cost more. For a big-footed rider who hates boot drag, it's our pick.
Frozen ruts and small boots are the two reasons to look elsewhere. The K2 Passport is also in the budget tier and damps chop at 9.0, 1.5 points better, as a freeride board. If you want the same four scores in a standard width, the Lib Tech T.Rice Pro is the answer.
Compare With
- Burton Custom Camber: our best overall all-mountain snowboard.
- Ride Shadowban: our best all-mountain snowboard for intermediate riders.
- Jones Mountain Twin: our best directional twin all-mountain snowboard.
- Lib Tech T.Rice Pro: our best value all-mountain snowboard.
- Never Summer Proto Type 3: our best durable all-mountain snowboard.
- K2 Passport: our best all-mountain freeride snowboard.
- CAPiTA DOA: our best all-mountain park snowboard.
- CAPiTA Mega Mercury: our best all-mountain snowboard for advanced riders.
- Arbor Element Camber: our best all-mountain snowboard for cruising.
See all ten, and how we tested them, in our best all-mountain snowboards of 2026 guide.
Ranked in our Best All-Mountain Snowboards guide. All our tested picks, guides and reviews are in our Best Snowboards hub.
Editor's Note, 12 November 2026: New review. In June and early July 2026 Shaun and James rode the GNU Riders Choice on Horstman Glacier at Whistler Blackcomb, weighed it, and scored it on edge hold on hardpack, turn initiation and slashing, chop damping and versatility.
Our Testers
This review was written from the field notes of Shaun Taylor and James Ward, who rode the GNU Riders Choice on Horstman Glacier at Whistler Blackcomb in June and early July 2026.
- Sean Williams, Editor-in-Chief. A former commercial outdoor copywriter and gear journalist who runs Top-Notch Outdoor as an independent publisher, with no brand-funded trips and no supplied ad copy.
- Shaun Taylor, Freeride Snowboard Tester. Raced banked slalom and halfpipe in the late 1980s and 1990s before turning to backcountry freeriding, and a finish carpenter by trade.
- James Ward, Alpine Ski & Fat Bike Tester. On skis since he was 3 and a former regional alpine racer, now a ski tuner and dryland fitness coach.
