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Choosing a splitboard involves most of the same decisions as choosing a regular snowboard — shape, length, width, camber profile — with additional considerations around weight, uphill performance and the specific demands of touring rather than lift-served riding. Here is how to think through it for Australian terrain.
Does Size Change for a Splitboard vs a Regular Snowboard?
Mostly no. The standard advice is to size your splitboard the same as you would size a regular snowboard for your weight and riding style. The split construction adds some weight and changes the flex characteristics slightly — the board generally feels slightly stiffer than an equivalent solid board at the same length — but this does not change the sizing calculation significantly for most riders.
The one scenario where sizing up makes sense: if you are regularly carrying a heavy pack — camera gear, overnight camping equipment — the additional weight can make a slightly longer board float better in soft snow. For a standard day touring pack of 15 to 25 kilos, stay at your regular snowboard length.
Width matters on a splitboard the same as on a regular snowboard — you need to avoid boot overhang, which causes toe and heel drag on hard snow. If your boot size requires a wide regular snowboard, you need a wide splitboard. Check this before buying.
Shape — All-Mountain vs Powder-Specific
Australian backcountry terrain is varied. A board that only excels in deep powder is a compromise on the variable Australian conditions — hard pack, wind-affected snow, breakable crust and occasional genuine powder days all happen in the same season. An all-mountain splitboard shape handles this range more successfully than a specialist powder shape.
Directional all-mountain shapes are the right call for most Australian conditions. A setback stance, some taper toward the tail, camber underfoot for edge hold on firm snow with rocker in the tip for float in soft snow. The Jones Solution Split and Hovercraft Split are built on this logic. They perform on the firm groomed descent back to the resort boundary as confidently as they perform on a powder day in the backcountry.
Powder-specific shapes — wide nose, heavy taper, aggressive setback — are genuinely better in deep snow but noticeably worse in everything else. If you are accessing terrain where deep powder is a consistent reality (a very good year at Kosciuszko, a specific zone that holds snow well) they are worth considering. For general Australian touring they are a compromise.
Camber Profile for Touring
Traditional camber underfoot gives the best edge hold on firm snow — important in the Australian context where morning conditions in the backcountry are often hard and icy before the sun works on them. Rocker in the tip and tail aids float in soft snow and makes the board more forgiving in variable terrain.
A hybrid profile — camber underfoot, rocker in tip and tail — is the most versatile choice for Australian conditions. This is the profile on most quality all-mountain splitboards including the Jones Solution Split.
Weight — Why It Matters More on a Splitboard
A splitboard is heavier than an equivalent solid snowboard. The split hardware, the interface plates and the additional construction required add weight that you carry uphill for every tour. Over a four-hour skin, the difference between a 3.5kg splitboard and a 2.8kg splitboard is felt.
Premium splitboards use materials specifically chosen to reduce weight — lighter wood core blends, carbon reinforcement instead of heavier fibreglass, lighter hardware. Jones's Flagship Split uses carbon and lighter construction to reduce weight while maintaining descent performance. The weight saving is worth the price premium for riders doing regular multi-day tours.
For occasional day tourers in Victoria, the weight difference between a standard and premium splitboard is less significant. Save the budget and put it toward a quality beacon or a better pack.
Splitboard Brands for Australian Riders
Jones: the most credible splitboard brand available and the one we stock and recommend. Jeremy Jones built his whole brand around backcountry snowboarding. The splitboard range — Solution Split, Hovercraft Split, Flagship Split, Mind Expander Split — covers all terrain types and ability levels. Jones's Re-Up Tech is now used in select splitboard models, meaning your previous split gets recycled into new boards. As Jones authorised dealers in Australia, we carry the full splitboard range and can fit you with the right model for your touring intentions.
Nitro: solid mid-range splitboard options. The Nomad Split is a well-regarded all-mountain touring option at a more accessible price point than Jones's premium models.
Lib Tech: the Split BRD and variants use Magne-Traction serrated edges which perform well on the firm Australian backcountry snow conditions common in the morning and on wind-affected aspects.
What to Bring When You Come In
Your snowboard boots. Splitboard binding sizing and compatibility needs to be checked against your specific boot. Bring them when you come in so we can confirm the system works together before you order. Splitboard bindings, board and boot compatibility varies between systems — this is not a purchase to make without checking.
If you already own a solid snowboard and are considering going splitboard, bring that too. We can advise whether converting your current board is possible with a conversion kit or whether a purpose-built splitboard is the better investment.
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