Finding the right snowboard for your child can be a challenge. Because you know you need to get them quality snowboard gear. However, you don’t want to break the bank doing it because you are unsure if they will enjoy snowboarding or not.
Every snowboard on this list is pro-quality, durable, and beginner-friendly. These are the best snowboard for kids because they all have a few specific features.
- They are very simple to ride. Each of these boards has a softer, more forgiving flex pattern.
- The bases are very easy to repair.
- The profile curvature of the board keeps the contact points out of the snow for an easy and fun learning experience.
- Lastly, each of these boards is inexpensive. In most cases, renting gear a few times would cost you more than buying a board with bindings on this list would cost you more.
So let’s get right to it.
The 2024 Best Snowboards for Kids
- Best for Toddlers: Burton After School Special 2024 Snowboard for Toddlers
- Best for Boys 3 to 6 Yeas Old: K2 Lil Mini Snowboard 2024
- Best for Girls 3 to 6 Yeas Old: K2 Lil Kat Snowboard 2024
- Best for Kids 6 to 8 Yeas Old: Capita Micro Mini Snowboard 2024
- Best for Kids 8 to 10 Years Old: Burton Grom Kids Snowboard 2024
- Best for Teens 11 to 13 Years Old: Gnu Young Money Snowboard 2024
- Best Park Snowboard for Teens 13 & 14 Years Old: Bataleon Stuntwood Snowboard 2024
- Best Kids Snowboard Under $250: Nitro Ripper Little Kids Snowboard 2024
- Best Toddler Snowboard With Built-in Leash for Learning: Burton Riglet
Best Snowboards for Toddlers and Little Kids
Toddlers’ Burton After School Special Package Snowboard With Burton Mini Grom Bindings
The Burton After School Special is an excellent option for kids of all sizes who want to learn to snowboard. This snowboard has the right features to help your child progress while lasting multiple years. Best of all, it is an inexpensive package that would cost you less to buy than it would be to rent twice.
The After School Special is an all-mountain true twin snowboard. Its stance is centered, so it will feel the same riding in either direction whether your child wants to experiment riding with their back foot in the front. Additionally, it has a softer, more forgiving twin flex. A softer flexing board makes the snowboard easier to snowboard and balance on.
.The board profile is flat between the bindings with an early rise in the nose and tail. The shape will make the board stable while preventing it from catching its edges while your child learns to carve.
Just like the other Burton snowboards on this list, the After School Special is one of the best snowboards to learn on because of its beveled edges. The edges of this snowboard are uplifted slightly off the snow. It looks like this.
The benefit here is that the edges will stay out of the way when your child doesn’t need them. They will not catch an edge in the snow that will trip them up as they learn. The beveled edges are the primary feature that makes this snowboard perfect for them to learn on.
The Burton After School Special has a durable FSC™ Certified Fly Core. It is a wood core that is lightweight and durable. The base on the After School Special is an extruded base. You won’t need to wax it often to keep it fast, and it will be durable and fast enough to learn on. It also is extremely simple to repair if your child happens to run over a rock and gouge the base.
This snowboard package is paired with the Mini Grom Snowboard bindings. These are the perfect bindings for kids because of their softer flex, lightweight, and size range.
If you’re looking for the perfect snowboard for your child to learn on, stop researching. You just found it. Get the Burton After School Special.
Pros
- Very easy to ride – The beveled edges that make the board catch free
- Excellent price – It would cost more to rent a board 2-3 times
- Softer forgiving flex to help your child balance
Cons
Sizes: 80, 90, 100
See the Right Size Burton After School Special for You
Size (cm) | Rider Weight (lbs) |
---|---|
80 | 25-50 |
90 | 25-50 |
100 | 40-55 |
Bindings to Pair With It: Burton Grom Bindings – This package already comes with them, so you won’t need to buy them separately.
Flex: Soft (2 out of 10)
Pro Tip:There is another graphic available for this same board under a different product name. Also check out the Burton Mini Grom.
Best Snowboards for 3 to 6 Year Old Boys and Girls
K2 Lil Mini Boys Snowboard 2024 & K2 Lil Kat Girl’s Snowboard 2024
The K2 Lil Mini and Lil Kat are the perfect snowboards for kids who want a very easy board to learn on that is also capable of riding the entire resort. These snowboards have features that make them easy to learn, fun to ride, and durable.
Here is a quick overview of the K2 Lil Kat’s Highlights.
The K2 Lil Mini and Lil Kat are directional twin all-mountain snowboards with K2’s catch-free rocker baseline. Looking at these board profiles from the side, they would look like this.
The Lil Mini and Lil Kat have a wooden core made entirely of Aspen. K2 used a single type of wood to give these boards a playful, easy-to-ride flex while making them durable.
K2 also uses a durable biax fiberglass in their kid’s snowboards. The glass is woven in a specific way to make it very flexible and easier to maneuver while still being a pro-level quality snowboard. The Lil Kat and Lil Mini both have an extruded base that will be easy to repair if it gets scratched or gouged, and it won’t require a lot of waxing to maintain it.
If you’re looking for a kid’s snowboard that can do it all while still being simple to ride, buy K2 Lil Kat or Lil Mini.
Pros
- Very simple to learn on / Beginner friendly
- Directional twin all-mountain shape – this will be good for all resort runs as well as some light powder
- Catch-free board profile with playful feel
Cons
- Extruded base will be easy to repair, it isn’t the fastest
- Once your son or daughter has been riding for a few seasons, it will be time to get them a mid flexing snowboard so they get a little more response for connecting their turns faster.
Sizes: 75, 90, 100, 110, 120
See the Right Size K2 Lil Mini or Lil Kat for You
Size (cm) | Rider Weight (lbs) |
---|---|
75 | <90 |
90 | <100 |
100 | <110 |
110 | <120 |
120 | <120 |
Bindings to Pair With It: Boys K2 Mini Turbo Snowboard Bindings or Girls K2 Lil Kat Snowboard Bindings
Flex: Soft (2 out of 10)
Best Snowboards for Kids 6 to 8 Years Old
Capita Micro Mini
The Capita Micro Mini is a true twin all-mountain freestyle snowboard that is very easy to learn to snowboard with. There a features in this board that makes it durable, easy to maintain, and very simple to carve with. It is the perfect snowboard to handle all resort conditions as your son or daughter learns to ride.
Here is an overview of the features found in this snowboard.
Capita gave the Micro Mini the Park Mini Profile to make this snowboard very simple to ride. If you were to look at this snowboard from the side, it would look like this.
The profile has a flat section between the feet with an uplifted rocker profile under foot through both the nose and tail. The result is a snowboard that is easy to turn with its contact points out of the way, so your son or daughter won’t catch their edge.
This board can turn with very little effort. Capita gave the Micro Mini a traditional radial sidecut. A radial sidecut means there is only one angled radius in this snowboard’s turning edge. The design allows the snowboard to begin and finish a turn, all on the same arc.
For the 2024 season, Capita added new EVA foam pads to surround your child’s bindings. These pads dampen vibrations making the board feel easier to ride than ever before. Additionally, this snowboard is very lightweight. For the 2024 season, Capita has updated its core to the new FSC® CERTIFIED SELECT 2.0 CORE™. This is made out of poplar wood. To ensure the board stays intact from side impacts and help the rider carve, Capita added in 360-degree steel edges and full ABS durable plastic sidewalls. The Capita Micro Mini features a biax fiberglass and a glossy PAM16000™ printed topsheet.
The base in the Capita Micro Mini is a triple extruded base. It is designed to be a faster version of a normal extruded base, while maintaining it requires very little wax or attention. Additionally, it is simple to repair if your son or daughter were to get a deep scratch in the base.
Pros
- Easy to learn on All-Mountain / Freestyle snowboard
- Twin Shape – Can ride eaither direction
- Catch-free board profile with beveled edges
Cons
- Extruded base will be a little slower – It will be easy to repair, and won’t require wax often, though.
Sizes: 95, 105, 115
See the Right Size Capita Micro Mini for You
Size (cm) | Rider Weight (lbs) |
---|---|
80 | 35-50 |
90 | 40-55 |
100 | 45-60 |
110 | 50-65 |
Bindings to Pair With It: Union Cadet Snowboard Bindings
Flex: Soft (3 out of 10)
Best Snowboards for Kids 8 Through 10 Years Old
Burton Grom Kids Snowboard 2024
For the 2024 season, Burton added the Grom deck to its kids snowboard line up. This is the right snowboard for a child between fifty and one hundred pounds who wants to learn to snowboard. This snowboard is for both boys and girls. It comes in either purple or red colored options. The Burton Grom snowboard is built to be durable and easy for your child to ride. Like the other beginner Burton boards on this list, the Grom was designed to be inexpensive, so it will cost you less to buy this package than if you rent a snowboard and bindings a few times at your local resort.
The Grom is an all-mountain true twin snowboard with a centered stance. This snowboard will ride the same in either direction, so as your child learns their dominant stance, you won’t have to remove their bindings and swap their direction.
The Grom is a softer flexing board that is simple to learn to ride. Additionally, the softer flex will make doing tricks like nose presses on boxes easier.
.The Burton Grom’s profile is flat between the bindings with an early rise in the nose and tail. The profile makes the board virtually catch-free and easy to learn to carve with.
The primary reason the Burton Grom snowboard is the best option for kids is because of its beveled edges. The edges of this snowboard are lifted slightly off the snow. The edges look like this.
These edges are what make this snowboard so easy to learn on. They stay out of the way when they are not in use. As your child rides, the edges won’t trip them up by catching them in the snow. This makes the board easier to learn to carve and balance on.
The Burton Grom has a durable FSC™ Certified Fly Core. Its core is durable and lightweight. The base on the Grom is an extruded base. It will not require a lot of maintenance or wax to keep it fast. Additionally, the base will be simple to repair if it gets a gouge or deep scratch.
If you’re looking for the perfect snowboard for your child to learn on, this is it. Get the Burton Grom.
PS here is a pro tip. There are a few larger sizes available if you get the board and the grom bindings separately.
Pros
- Very easy to ride – The beveled edges that make the board catch free
- Excellent price – It would cost more to rent a board 2-3 times
- Softer forgiving flex to help your child balance
Cons
Sizes: 110, 120, 130
See the Right Size Burton Grom for You
Size (cm) | Rider Weight (lbs) |
---|---|
110 | 40-55 |
120 | 50-80 |
130 | 70-100 |
Bindings to Pair With It: Burton Grom Bindings
Flex: Soft / Medium (3 out of 10)
Best All Mountain / Freestyle Snowboards for Teens (11 Through 13 Year Olds)
Gnu Young Money
The Gnu Young Money is the perfect snowboard for kids and teens who want to begin riding in the terrain park and still have a versatile board to ride all over the rest of the resort. This durable, lightweight board with specific features that help it grip all types of terrain while still being easy to ride and learn to hit park features.
Here is a quick overview video of the Gnu Young Money.
The Gnu Young Money snowboard has a true twin shape. That means the stance is centered so it can be ridden equally as strong with either foot forward. This snowboard has a hybrid profile shape that looks like this.
The profile has a rocker (a lower case ‘u’ ) shaped section between the feet with two camber (lower case ‘n’) shaped sections underneath the feet. The result is an easy-to-ride board where the contact points are lifted off the snow and out of the way. This profile makes for a more playful ride in the park. The upward-lifted nose and tail also help this board float in powder.
The Gnu Young Money is an excellent choice for east coast riders because it can hold an edge even on ice. If you were to look at the edges of this board, you would see they look like serrated steak knives. Gnu calls this feature its Magne Traction edges. This image does a great job showing the wavy, Magne Traction serrated edges and highlights their benefit.
The Young Money is durable and simple to maintain. The base in the Young Money is an extruded base. It will be fast and durable for hitting boxes while being easy to repair if you ever have to fill any deep scratches. The sidewalls of the snowboard are lined with a high-impact absorbing Ultra High Molecular Weight (UHMW) polyethylene. The UHMW sidewalls will prevent the board from breaking if it accidentally slams into the side of a rail. Additionally, the sidewalls dampen vibrations to make the snowboard ride smoother.
If you’re looking for an easy-to-ride, durable park board that won’t break the bank, get the Gnu Young Money.
Pros
- An easy to ride All Mountain / Freestyle snowboard
- Durable and ready for the park / UHMW sidewalls that can take impact and absorb shock
- Magne Traction edges – can grip all types of snow including ice
- An excellent board for the money
Cons
- Extruded base isn’t the fastest base material you can buy. It is easy to maintain, durable and fast enough to have fun at the resort.
Sizes: 130, 135, 140
See the Right Size Gnu Young Money for You
Size (cm) | Rider Weight (lbs) |
---|---|
130 | 50 – 130 |
135 | 50 – 130 |
140 | 60 – 140 |
Bindings to Pair With It: Union Cadet Snowboard Bindings
Flex: Medium (5 out of 10)
Best Park Snowboard for Teens 13 & 14 Years Old
Bataleon Stuntwood Snowboard 2024
The Bataleon Stuntwood is based on the best-selling Bataleon board, the Evil Twin. The Stuntwood is a true twin-shape freestyle board perfect for riding any trail at the resort. This board has a full camber profile with Bataleon’s 3BT™ (Triple Base Technology). This video does an excellent job of describing what that means and covering this snowboard’s call-out features.
The Stuntwood’s camber profile gives the deck stability for carving and hitting jumps. However, what makes this board truly unique from others on freestyle boards, is its 3BT™ with SideKick™ technology. That means the deck has an uplifted side base. If you were riding the Stuntwood flat on its base, its side edges would curve upwards towards you. The benefit of the upward curvature is that it makes it board stable yet surfy and extremely catch-free. You will notice the 3BT™ makes this board easier to carve, butter, and hit rails. The balance of the camber’s stability mixed with the catch-free playfulness of 3BT™ makes this an excellent freestyle board for your quiver.
The core of the Stuntwood is made of poplar wood with beech stringers. The core’s construction gives it a balanced strength-to-weight ratio, making this snowboard durable, with loads of pop to spring the rider off of jumps. The base in the Stuntwood is a sintered base. It is a faster base than most of the other boards on this list. It will require the occasional wax job to keep it gliding fast.
If you are looking for the perfect park / all-mountain snowboard for a younger or small rider, check out the Bataleon Stuntwood.
Pros
- 3d spoon like nose and tail makes this board easy and forgiving to ride. This features gives the board better turn initiation, better float in deeper snow, and a catch free ride.
- Stable all mountain board while still being playful and perfect for park riding
- Soft flex makes it easier to press and butter
- Light and durable
Cons
- It can take a few runs to get used to 3BT 3d shaping
Sizes: 130, 135, 140, 140 Wide
See the Right Size Bataleon Stuntwood for You
Size (cm) | Rider Weight (lbs) |
---|---|
130 | 79-112 |
135 | 90-123 |
140 | 101-134 |
140 Wide | 106-139 |
Bindings to Pair With It: Bataleon Stuntwood Bindings Snowboard Bindings
Flex: Soft (3 out of 10)
Best Snowboard for Little Kids Under $250
Nitro Ripper Little Kids Snowboard 2024
The Nitro Ripper comes in many sizes, making it the perfect budget-friendly option for little kids who want to learn to snowboard. This board is made easy to ride, durable, and ready to take all over the resort.
Here is an overview video of all of the features found in the 2024 Nitro Ripper.
The 2024 Ripper features Nitro’s Flatout board profile. If you were to look at the snowboard from the side, it would look like this.
The profile is flat between the rider’s feet with an early lifted nose and tail. The benefit of the profile is that the rider can easily connect their turns while the contact points are lifted off the snow to stay out of the way when they are not needed. This profile is perfect for riding anywhere at the resort while also having features that help it accel in the terrain park.
For the 2024 version, Nitro made this board lighter and easier to ride by making its width slightly narrow on its smallest sizes (86cm through 106cm). For example, the 86cm has now reduced its width by 1.9cm and measures 18 cm across. Here is a chart that shows the full-width reduction from last year. You will notice that some of the larger sizes were left unchanged.Size | 2024 Nitro Ripper Waist Width (MM) | 2024 Nitro Ripper Waist Width (MM) | Difference in MM |
---|---|---|---|
86 | 199 | 180 | 19 |
96 | 205 | 190 | 15 |
106 | 210 | 200 | 10 |
116 | 214 | 208 | 6 |
121 | 216 | 216 | 0 |
126 | 218 | 218 | 0 |
132 | 224 | 224 | 0 |
137 | 232 | 232 | 0 |
The slightly narrower width pairs well with the radial sidecut Nitro designed into the Ripper. A radial sidecut means that there is one arc that runs from each contact point of the board. A radial sidecut is perfect for young riders because it makes it easy to make larger round turns. It will help your child get the fundamentals of carving down.
The Nitro Ripper features a durable biax fiberglass and poplar wood core. The combination of the fiberglass and polar give this board its lighter weight, durable strength, and the perfect flex pattern to give your child a responsive yet playful feel.
The base in the Ripper features Nitro’s Premium Extruded FH Base. This base is designed to be harder and more durable than the standard extruded base while still being easy to maintain. This base will not require much wax to maintain, and it is simple to repair should it ever get a deep scratch.
If you’re looking for the perfect all-mountain kids’ board for under $250, check out the Nitro Ripper.
Pros
- Easy to learn on while being a great park board as your child progresses to jumps and rails
- Durable – hard extruded base and urethane sidewalls will keep this board from getting damaged
- Excellent value board – it is one of the less expensive boards on the list and offers a fantastic vale
Cons
- Extruded bases aren’t the fastest base type – they’re easy to repair and perfect for younger riders
Sizes: 86, 96, 106, 116, 121, 126
There is also a bigger kids version with a 132 and 137 here.
See the Right Size Nitro Ripper for You
Size (cm) | Rider Weight (lbs) |
---|---|
86 | 25 – 55 |
96 | 30 – 65 |
106 | 35 – 75 |
116 | 45 – 90 |
121 | 45 – 90 |
126 | 55 – 100 |
Bindings to Pair With It: Nitro Mini Charger Snowboard Bindings
Flex: Soft (2 out of 10)
Best Toddler Snowboard With Leash for Learning
Burton Riglet
The Burton Riglet is the perfect introductory snowboard for a toddler or child interested in snowboarding. This board is intended for backyard and indoor practice use to help your child learn to balance and have fun while learning to snowboard. The Riglet snowboard has a soft, grippy foam padding that your child can stand on while you pull them using the retractable leash built into the board. The process looks like this.
Pros
- Snowboard with a built in retractable leash for learning
- Very easy to learn on
- Comfortable to stand on (even barefoot)
- 1 Year Warranty
Cons
- While this can be used on a bunny hill at the resort, you will want to upgrade to a board with sharper edges when your child is ready to go to a resort.
Sizes: 90cm
Flex: Soft (1 out of 10)
Looking for the best beginner snowboards? Check out the best beginner snowboard packages of 2024 list. It is filled with solid board packages to help you learn to ride.
What Size Snowboard Should I buy for My Child?
Snowboard sizes can vary based on the manufacturer and construction of the board. The best thing you can do is look at the specs for the individual board itself.
Here is a general kids’ snowboard size chart to get you started in your search.
Kids Snowboard Size Chart
Age of Snowboarder | Weight in lbs | Height in Feet and Inches | Ideal Snowboard Size in cm |
---|---|---|---|
2 Years Old | 26.5 | 2′ 8″ | 70-75 |
3 Years Old | 31.5 | 3′ 1″ | 75-80 |
4 Years Old | 34 | 3′ 3″ | 80-85 |
5 Years Old | 39.5 | 3′ 5″ | 85-90 |
6 Years Old | 44 | 3′ 8″ | 95-100 |
7 Years Old | 49.5 | 4′ | 95-105 |
8 Years Old | 57 | 4′ 2″ | 100-110 |
9 Years Old | 62 | 4′ 4″ | 105-120 |
10 Years Old | 70.5 | 4′ 6″ | 110-125 |
11 Years Old | 81.5 | 4′ 7″ | 115-130 |
12 Years Old | 91.5 | 4.’ 9″ | 125-135 |
13 Years Old | 100 | 5′ | 135-145 |
14 Years Old | 112 | 5′ 1″ | 145-150 |
The main parameter you’ll want to be closest to is your child’s weight. Each board has a specific flex pattern designed to support the rider that will stand on top of it. If the rider is too light, they can have a more challenging time getting used to their snowboard because it can be too heavy for them to turn comfortably. If the rider is too heavy for their board, it will turn and react differently than intended and possibly break.
Lastly, use the child’s age as an extremely loose consideration. It is in this chart as a rough starting point because that is how many parents begin to shop for their child’s first snowboard.
In summary, find a snowboard close to the child’s weight range.
What if My Child’s Weight is Between Those Listed on the Size Chart?
If your child’s exact weight isn’t listed, find the next weight up, and go with the size in the range that is the smallest.
These are the 2023 – 2024 best kids snowboards. |
Also read our guide to the different types of snowboards and their benefits to learn which board will ride best for you.
Related Posts:
- The Best Carving Snowboards
- Best Women’s Snowboards
- The Best Snowboards for Powder
- 10 Excellent Park Snowboards
- The Best Snowboards for All Mountain Resort Riding
- Snowboard Size Calculator: Find What Size Board Should You Get
- 10 Excellent Beginner Snowboard Packages
- The Best Park / Freestyle Snowboard Bindings
Steve Weber is an avid snowboarder and skateboarder. He has been snowboarding for 26 years, skateboarding for 20, and is always looking for a new board sport to try out. When he is not riding or skating, he runs a marketing agency. Board of the World is Steve’s blog for skateboard and snowboard gear reviews. The blog’s goal is to help people find the right board for them and encourage people to have fun outside.