How We Test and Review Gear

Board of the World, written as BoardoftheWorld, began in August of 2020 by author, digital marketer, and board sport enthusiast Steve Weber.

Board of the World’s goal is to help you find the right board sports gear for your needs. I (Steve) want you to find a board that works for you, so you can spend more time outside enjoying it and less time looking at your phone reading reviews. 


Our Standards & Commitment to Our Readers

People who visit this website make their buying choices based on my gear suggestions and the details I that share with them.

Readers rely on me to share accurate and unbiased reviews, and I work hard to uphold that standard.

I maintain independence from all brands, and I do my best to offer my straightforward, honest opinions on how each board felt to me as I rode it.

To keep my reviews consistent with each other, I’ve developed and maintained a weighted scoring system that scores every board I’ve ridden across 14 different considerations. That score updates depending on which riding style categories the board fits into, so if a board is built for both all-mountain and park riding, you’ll see two calculated scores for it to show which style it performs better in.

You can use this same scoring system to rank your own board in the Board of the World mobile app.

Here is a detailed description of that scoring system I use as my testing methodology here on Board of the World.

About Our Testing Methodology

I get to demo between 10 -30 snowboards and skateboards each year. Each item that I write a review about has been tested personally by me. As I ride each board, I take notes on its performance in a few key areas. I then use those notes to write out the review, and if I have footage of me riding it, I will also supplement the written review with a video review that I share on the Board of the World TikTok and YouTube profiles.

How Long Do I Ride Each Board Before Writing the Review? 

The honest answer is that it varies. There are two types of reviews you will read on this website.

My Longer “In-Depth Reviews” – The board was ridden for more than one full week.

If you see the words “In-Depth” in the titles or first paragraphs of any of my reviews, please know you are reading an in-depth review of a product that I have ridden and reviewed for more than one full week. In most cases, these are for boards that I have purchased myself and ridden for an entire season. 

To put it simply, the more notes that I have for a board, I will share them with you.

My Shorter Reviews – The board was ridden for less than one full week.

In some cases, I will write a review for a board that I rented for a few days or got to ride at a demo event. 

In most cases, these reviews will be on the shorter side because I will not have as many notes to share with you about the board. 

In each review, I will document how many days I got to ride the board in a section of the review called “Days I Rode.” 

My testing methodology enables me to push each piece of gear to its limits so I can uncover any potential weaknesses or shortcomings and highlight any standout features or benefits. 

It is worth noting that my approach is going to be different from board to board. This is because I tailor my tests to each specific board category, the intended use of the item, or any unique characteristics associated with the product compared to a similar one in its category.

In other words, there are several different types of snowboards and skateboards that have different purposes (strengths they are intended for), and I take that into consideration. I review and score each board to the main characteristics and buying considerations for the category the board is in.

So, with that in mind, let’s dive into how I conduct my scored tests in each category of the gear that I review.


How We Test And Review

How We Score Our Snowboard Reviews

I don’t just ride each snowboard and write the first details that come to mind. I thoroughly test each snowboard in the categories and conditions that it’s meant for.

To keep the scoring system simple, I break down our reviews with a scoring system that’s all about what matters to you.

Here’s the summary:

  • Each snowboard gets rated in different areas, from 0 to 5 stars (with 5 being perfection, for the category).
  • The importance of each area changes depending on the snowboard’s style. Think of it like grading a math test differently from an art project. They don’t evaluate the same things, and different types of snowboards aren’t meant for the same things.
    • For example, a powder board needs to float like a dream in deep snow, so the flotation score counts for more than that category. Who cares if it can’t jib rails? Rail skills aren’t a priority for a powder board, so those points don’t weigh as heavily on the final score.

Basically, I use the main buying considerations to weight certain sections higher than others depending on each board’s major intended use.

Here is how I am currently scoring each category that I review. (Please know that this is an ever-improving process, so I will update this section as it changes and include the latest date for each iteration of the change. )

Update (9/4/2026):

I now split Edge Hold out from Ice / Poor Conditions as its own scored category, matching how I already score it inside the Board of the World app. Edge grip on ice and overall poor-conditions performance aren’t technically the same thing, and separating them now lets me be more specific about where a board actually struggles or shines.

I also increased how much combined weight edge hold and poor-conditions performance carry across most categories, since East Coast riding means dealing with bad snow more often than not. The tables below reflect that.

I’ve went back and rescored every board to fit within the new scoring parameter and so they all align with their overall ranking score by category.


All Mountain Snowboard Rating Scores: As of 9/4/2026

ConsiderationsWeight / Importance to Score
Resort Riding / Versatility10
Pop / Power10
Powder4
Carving / Turns10
Responsiveness10
Speed10
Ice / Poor Conditions7.5
Edge Hold7.5
Switch5
Jibs5
Jumps10
Dampness5
Buttering5
Fun to ride1
Total100

Freestyle / Park Snowboard Rating Scores: As of 9/4/2026

ConsiderationsWeight / Importance to Score
Resort Riding / Versatility5
Pop / Power10
Powder0
Carving / Turns5
Responsiveness5
Speed10
Ice / Poor Conditions4
Edge Hold4
Switch10
Jibs15
Jumps15
Dampness5
Buttering10
Fun to ride2
Total100

Freeride Snowboard Rating Scores: As of 9/4/2026

ConsiderationsWeight / Importance to Score
Resort Riding / Versatility9
Pop / Power9
Powder10
Carving / Turns9
Responsiveness9
Speed9
Ice / Poor Conditions9
Edge Hold9
Switch2.5
Jibs2.5
Jumps9
Dampness9
Buttering3
Fun to ride1
Total100

Powder Snowboard Rating Scores: As of 9/4/2026

ConsiderationsWeight / Importance to Score
Resort Riding / Versatility10
Pop / Power5
Powder30
Carving / Turns10
Responsiveness5
Speed10
Ice / Poor Conditions5
Edge Hold5
Switch1
Jibs1
Jumps5
Dampness10
Buttering1
Fun to ride2
Total100

All-Mountain / Freestyle Snowboard Rating Scores: As of 9/4/2026

ConsiderationsWeight / Importance to Score
Resort Riding / Versatility5
Pop / Power10
Powder3
Carving / Turns10
Responsiveness5
Speed10
Ice / Poor Conditions9
Edge Hold9
Switch10
Jibs5
Jumps10
Dampness10
Buttering2
Fun to ride2
Total100

About Each Categorically Scored Section:

An explanation of the 14 scored areas for each of my reviews:

Resort Riding / Versatility:  How versatile is the board for riding all over the typical ski resort? A 5 in this category indicates that this board can go everywhere and do everything at your local ski resort. 

Pop / Power: Does this board have any additional pop to it? When you ollie does it give you what you load into it, or does it feel lifeless. When you connect your turns, does it feel like it offers some extra power transmission? A 5 in this category means that this board has some pop and power to offer you. 

Powder: How well does this board float in deep snow? A 5 would indicate that it can float with ease in powder or deep snow. 

Carving / Turns: How nice does it feel to make carves of all sizes with this board? This includes short, tight, wide, and skidded turns. A 5 in this category would mean that this board is a high performing carver. 

Responsiveness: Does this board feel like it gives you what you put into it quickly and intuitively, or does it feel sluggish or lagging? A 5 in this category would mean that there is a high degree of response in this board. 

Speed: How fast does the board’s base feel compared to the standard sintered base? A 5 would mean that this board is noticeably faster than the standard sintered base board. 

Ice / Poor Conditions: How does this board handle things when conditions turn bad, not just icy, but rutted out, crusty, or chopped up after a busy day on the hill? This is different from Edge Hold below. A board can grip an icy patch just fine and still feel harsh or unpredictable once the whole run gets beat up. A 5 in this category means the board stays composed and rideable no matter how ugly the snow gets.

Edge Hold: How well does this board’s edge actually bite and stay locked in? This comes down to the edge tech itself and its level of grip. A 5 in this category means the board holds a clean line and stays locked into its turns in all types of conditions. Typically for a board to get above an 80 in this category, it needs to offer something extra to its edge tech that allows me to grip bettter on firmer conditions. 

Switch: How well does this board ride switch stance? A 5 in this category means that this is a board that rides well from your opposite stance.  

Jibs: How well does this board jib? This score includes pressed jibs like nose presses as well as how well the board molds to the feature to help you balance on it. A 5 in this category means it’s an easy board to jib with.

Jumps: How well does this board work for popping off jumps of all sizes? How stable is it for landings? A 5 in this category means it is meant for jumps, and you can hit most jumps with it confidently. 

Dampness: How smooth of a ride does this board feel? A 5 in this category means that it is a damp feeling board where you will feel very little chatter. 

Buttering: How well does this board swivel around in butter? A 5 in this category would indicate this board is excellent for butter and flat ground tricks. 

Fun to ride: How much fun did I have on this board? A 5 would indicate that it was a lot of fun to ride for its primary intended purpose. 

Our goal is always to provide detailed and accurate information to help you find the best snowboard for your specific needs and style of riding. Keep in mind that the top snowboards can work well for any rider as long as they meet your requirements.

An excellent snowboard should perform well in various conditions and terrains, from smooth trails to deep powder to steep backcountry slopes. It should also be durable and dependable, capable of enduring regular use without breaking or degrading its performance. Finally, an excellent snowboard should be worth its price tag, meaning that it should be made with high-quality materials and construction and provide the rider with a good value for their money.

See all Snowboard Reviews

Steve Fronside 540ing a medium sized kicker

How We Test Skateboards

We don’t just ride each skateboard for a week; we put each deck through thorough testing tailored to its intended style of skating.

Our skateboard reviews revolve around six key aspects:

  1. The deck’s overall shape and feel.
  2. The deck’s overall strength.
  3. How well it slides and performs for ledge tricks.
  4. The amount of pop it offers.
  5. Its value for the money.
  6. The overall quality of the deck.

Our primary goal is to offer you detailed and accurate information to assist you in finding the perfect skateboard deck. Keep in mind that the finest skate decks can work well for any skater as long as they meet your specific needs.

A top-notch skateboard should be durable enough to endure the demands of street skating, including being dropped, stomped on, and scraped. Additionally, an outstanding should justify its price by offering a great value for your money.

See all Skateboard Reviews

Steve Weber skateboarding doing a backside tailslide

Our Team

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Affiliate Disclosure

Sometimes, when you make a purchase using the links on our website, we receive affiliate commissions from retailers. However, it’s important to note that if you buy a product and then decide to return it to the retailer, we won’t earn any commission on that transaction.

We want to make it clear that our recommendations are based on the quality of the products, and whether or not we have an affiliate relationship with a retailer does not influence our recommendations. Our primary commitment is always to our readers. We’ve communicated to all our retail partners that our top priority is providing trustworthy information to our audience.

Board of the World wouldn’t be where it is today without the trust our readers have in us. This trust enables us to do what we love every day, and we are dedicated to safeguarding that trust. You can read more about our affiliate disclosure here.

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About Board of the World

Board of the World is an online skateboard and snowboard shop specializing in writing gear reviews. We are dedicated to helping you find the perfect gear. Read our full about us page to learn more.

Why I Created Board of the World

I initially created Board of the World as my passion project brand. It allowed me to get better at writing and web development while allowing me to share my thoughts on how each skateboard and snowboard that I rode during the year felt under my feet.

This brand has evolved into something larger than I ever could have hoped, though. And thank you immensely for reading this and being part of its growth! However, the main difference from Board of the World then and now is that now I occasionally get invited to industry events and get to demo boards that I don’t always own.

I will make you the promise that even if I don’t own all of the gear that I am riding, I will continue to be as unbiased and objective as I can describing what each piece of gear felt like to me.