Reviewing the Proteus Snowboards Adjustable Camber Technology: Does the New Tech Deliver?

How Does the Proteus Snowboard Feel to Ride?

The Proteus board surprised me with how high end it felt in the way that it rides. It’s a damp feeling board with a ton of pop. The edge hold (in flat and camber settings) felt locked, and I was in control at all times. 

So far with a few hours of riding in, I would use these adjectives to describe the feel of a Proteus Snowboard.

1. Snappy / Poppy 
2. Damp
3. Locked-in / Controlled
4. Mid-Stiff
5. High End / Durable

The level of pop in this board is what surprised me the most. Knuckles of jumps I thought I wouldn’t be able to clear, I did easily.  

I was also worried I wouldn’t get used to the feel of the board with it having extra tech built into its topsheet, and it wound up being easy to adapt to after a few runs. The only thing to note is the board comes with a wrench that alows you to adjust the profile, and you will need to keep your wrench on you if you want to adjust your profile.

It isn’t something you can adjust by hand. You need the tool that comes with your board. 

One side of the wrench is tuned for loosening your board to its camber profile, and the other side is for tightening the profile to rocker. The wrench’s sides are labeled to help you easily know which direction you’re going.

Carving Performance

When carving with the Proteus snowboard, the first detail I noticed was how locked in the level edge hold felt. This board has an extra level of grip that makes it perform well on ice and hard pack.

Next, the board has a shorter sidecut radius of only 7 meters (in the 154 that I reviewed). It felt better at making shorter, tighter, and medium-sized turns than it did for really long, drawn-out, longer carves. Sure, the board is capable of making wider carves, too. It just wasn’t its strong suit. 

Overall, the Proteus snowboard carves with the confidence you would expect from a versatile all mountain twin board. It’s stable, predictable, and handles various types of terrain with no performance issues. 

That said, if carving is your main focus and you are looking to dig extremely deep trenches in the snow, you might want to look for a more dedicated freeride board. The carving experience in the Proteus snowboard is meant more for the all mountain rider who wants to do a little bit of everything. 

Jumping Performance

This is where the Proteus board shined for me. With the board in a higher camber setting, this board has a very above average level of pop to it. The pop is intuitive to load up and it will launch you when you need it to.

Spinning with the board felt just like spinning with any other board. There’s no added swing weight or anything you need to adapt how you spin. 

I found landing spins to be easier than normal, though. I have a tendency to over-rotate spins and unintentionally revert when I land. The additional contact points built into the edges of this snowboard helped me lock into my landings, allowing me to ride away clean.

Jibbing Performance

This board is excellent for jibbing. It’s easy to balance on and press into any feature that you’re hitting. 

It’s really helpful to be able to fine-tune your camber profile so that you can press your board more easily. I liked the mid and flat camber profile positions the most. I found that a mid-camber offered the perfect balance between pop and flex for hitting features.  

Powder Performance

I haven’t had a chance to review it in deep snow yet. However, based on its ability to adjust its camber profile to an S-rocker position to prevent snow buildup, I would imagine it will outperform most other camber, all-mountain freestyle snowboards in its ability to float.

I’ll update this section with more information once I’ve had a chance to review it more.

Where the Adjustable Camber System Interfered With My Riding

So far I only encountered one area where the tech got in the way of how I like to ride.

• The Adjustable Camber System adds some rigidity to the center of the board which gives it an usual feeling flex pattern.   

The Adjustable Camber System adds some additional resistance to the center of your board’s flex pattern. This can be jarring when you’re doing something and need the center of your board to flex in the opposite direction. In other words, the flex between your bindings feels very different than the tips of the board.   

So, where did this stiffer flex point become a challenge for me? 

• Hitting wall ride features in the park

I only noticed the flex pattern getting in the way while trying to rock to fakie on a wall ride feature in the park. The board felt great going up the wall’s transition with some speed. However, coming back down felt unusual because the board couldn’t bend easily, or smoothly, enough to match the curvature of the transition at slower speed. It was jarring enough to send me flying to the flat every time I tried it.

I’m sure with practice or putting the board in a more rocker profile setting, it would feel smoother. However, I noted it here because it’s the only instance riding where the Adjustable Camber System itself interfered with my riding. 

Everything else felt just like riding an all mountain twin snowboard as you usually would. 

Other Comparable Snowboards to Consider

At this time, there are no direct one-to-one comparison boards to share because no other snowboard has the ability to change its profile on the fly. 

How many days do I have logged on this board?

Only two so far. 

At the time of reviewing this board, our season has long since ended in Pennsylvania. So far, my riding of this snowboard has been at the indoor park at Big Snow in NJ. 

I will continue to update this review next season as I get more time to ride it in powder and ice. I will also note, make use of the board’s various profile configurations, and report back with anything note-worthy.  

How is the Long-Term Performance of the Proteus Snowboard?

This is still to be determined. I’ll have to update this article next season and let you know. 

This was a late season review for me, so I’ll have to update this section next season as I put the board to the test in all types of conditions. So far the board and base are still in pristine condition after hitting all of the jib features at Big Snow in NJ for a couple of hours.

What is the Durability Like So Far After Two Sessions? 

After two riding sessions, there are no major noticeable signs of wear. The Adjustable Camber System still works exactly as it should. There is no loss of tension in my adjustments. 

I am also following Proteus’ recommendation to put the board back in its full camber position after every use. According to Proteus, this relieves the board’s tension and prolongs its lifespan. 

I have one minor durability detail to note, though 

– The adjustable camber system arrived with a clear tape or sticker over it that started to come off once it got wet from the snow.

I am not sure if that needs to stay on there to prevent moisture from getting into the system, so I am going to retape it to ensure it stays covered. That minor detail is the only issue I’ve encountered at the time of writing. 

2 Year Warranty

Proteus snowboards have a two year warranty from the original purchase date. If your board breaks, the Proteus team will repair or replace any snowboard with manufacturer’s defects.

Noting: Proteus Has Excellent Customer Service
The Proteus customer service team has been incredibly fast with answering all of my questions and concerns. 

I’d like to give a shoutout to Drew who even helped me design my board. I am not a graphic designer by any means, and he helped me get my custom topsheet’s graphic in a workable manner to meet Proteus’ graphic specs. The fact that he went above and beyond for me, really meant a lot.

Will I Actually Use the Adjustable Camber System?

My initial feeling when I first heard about the Adjustable Camber System. 

“When am I actually going to use the adjustable feature?” 

When I first heard about Proteus I thought it sounded nice, but I didn’t think adjusting my profile would be a feature I would actually make use of very often.

I enjoy having multiple boards in a quiver for different styles of riding. I didn’t think I’d take the time to stop snowboarding to adjust the profile in the board. It’s nice in theory, but I just wasn’t sure how often would you actually need to use it.

After riding the board, I have a better feel for that answer. 

It takes less than one minute to adjust the profile in this board. The process of using the Adjustable Camber System is basically just tightening or loosening two screws. Because it’s so quick to adjust, I wound up using the mechanism to adjust the board in the middle of my session to help get the board to a more pressable flex to ride features in the park. 

All in all, I used it once or twice per session.

• I use the adjustable profile feature only as I need it. 
  • That’s likely how you will make use of it, too. You will use it around once per session as you switch between two types of riding (i.e., from cruising to park riding).  

Being on the East Coast, I usually only get to do two styles of riding on any given day. I either hit the park or take groomed runs out of the park. 

I use the adjustable camber system to either make the board flat for jibbing or a mild camber for carving and hitting jumps. In other words, I use the Adjustable Camber System to modify the snap and flex of the board more than trying to get the profile perfect. 

I imagine that most of you reading this will be the same as me. You’ll adjust your board once or twice per session based on the conditions or the style of riding you want to do. 

You will have two profile settings you enjoy based on the styles of snowboarding you do most often, and you will use your profile adjustments once or twice per session to bounce between these settings.  

Your primary setting will match the style of riding you do most often, and your secondary setting will match your second favorite style of riding. 

So, if you enjoy carving all over the mountain, you’ll likely only adjust to your secondary profile setting as you switch it up to take runs in the park (if you’re living somewhere that actually gets powder).   

My initial observation was when I started riding the Proteus board in the park. 

“Holy hell, this has a ton of pop!” 

I enjoy riding camber dominant boards, so I put the Adjustable Camber System in a mild camber position to hit the indoor park at Big Snow in East Rutherford, NJ. 

The first detail I noticed was how much pop the board had. Even with minimal camber settings, the board just wanted to launch me into the air. Its level of pop felt snappier than usual, and I really think that is because it’s the first time I am riding a board with an active tension line running through it. The tension line gave the board a level of springiness that I wasn’t expecting from a mild arc of camber.  

My initial observation was when I first tried to nose press the Proteus board on a box. 

“It’s pretty stiff in its full camber setting.” 

When I first tried to nose press this board in a camber setting, I nearly got thrown to the ground because of the board’s tension trying to fight me. 

If you enjoy jibbing and do a lot of presses, you’ll want to put the board in a flatter setting. I found that even with a little bit of camber, the board was stiffer than you’d expect for its settings. 

In fairness, when you buy a Proteus board, they let you customize its overall stiffness level, and I could have chosen the softer option they call “flex”. I chose the flex pattern that was closer to a medium flex pattern (they call it “soft”). I noticed that decision when the board was in its camber profile position and it was more challenging to nose press than I thought it would have been.

The good news is you can fix this simply by using the adjustable Camber System to make the board flat or rocker. The moment I toned down the camber profile, I was able to get the board to flex significantly easier. The balance is trying to find a profile with enough tension and pop to hit jumps with enough flex to hit rails, too. For me, that is flat with the slightest little bit of camber. 

What I Like About This Board

• I can now have both a flat park board and a camber all mountain board all in one board. 

Being on the East Coast, our conditions are rarely ideal. Even though I usually ride in the park the most often, I always bring two boards with me to the mountain and run to my car to switch between them.

The Proteus snowboard sounded excellent for someone like me because I could leave its profile adjustments close to flat for jibbing and dial it up to camber if it gets icy or I decide to take a few non-park runs with my friends. So far, it has been working for me, so I’ve been able to take one board with me to the mountain rather than two. This saves me a few trips to my car throughout the day.  

Did I Buy This Board? 

No, this deck was built for me to try out the tech. 

In full transparency, the Proteus team reached out about me trying this board. Prior to them reaching out, this wasn’t a technology I was familiar with. 

Who Is the Proteus Snowboard a Good Fit For?

• This board is great for the resort rider who wants one single board that allows them to do most types of riding very well.
  
  • This board is for the rider who wants to be prepared for anything and is open to adopting a new riding technology if it can help them progress their riding. 

With this board’s ability to switch between camber, flat, and rocker profiles, it is a great option for someone looking for an all mountain board and they aren’t sure which type of profile they want. This options allows them to get the benefits of all of them in one single board.

So, who is this snowboard not for?

1. The rider who already knows what they like and is skeptical about trying a new snowboard technology.
2. The freerider / eurocarver.

Being that the Proteus snowboard includes an innovative way to adjust your board’s profile, it won’t be for everyone. Some snowboarders like what they like and don’t want to try a new technology. If that sounds like you, just keep running whatever type of board works for you. 

Additionally, there will be riders who simply like owning multiple boards as part of a quiver. If that’s you, there is no harm in that. I, too, own multiple boards that I still ride because, beyond the profile, different boards have other characteristics that contribute to how they feel under your feet.   

It’s worth noting the carving performance in this board is the same performance you would find in an all mountain board. If you’re looking to eurocarve or dig really deep trenches with wide carves, you will likely want a more carving focused, freeride board.

An Important Note Regarding The Proteus Snowboard’s Weight

• I was surprised to learn this tech doesn’t add any additional weight to the snowboard.
  • My Proteus and Capita setups weigh the exact same 9.8lbs.

I need to be honest in saying that I rode the Proteus board before I actually weighed it, and I went into this review with a preconceived notion that a con was going to be that it was heavier than my actual setup. I even wrote a note as I was riding it that said, “you actually get used to the extra weight right away.” However, the truth is that it doesn’t add any extra weight at all. 

I weighed my current daily driver, the 154 Capita Spring Break Resort Twin with Union Ultra Bindings, and then my 154 Proteus custom board with Union Ultra Bindings, and both weighed the exact same amount at 9.8lbs or 4.44kg.

So the weight is actually not an issue at all. 

How much does the Adjustable Camber System itself weight?

According to Proteus, the Adjustable Camber System itself weighs only 6 ounces (or .375 lbs). 

To keep the overall weight of the board down, the team strategically laid paulownia (which is a lighter-weight wood) in the outer sections of the core to make up for the added six ounces of the additional tech in the center of the board.

The result is a board that doesn’t have any extra swing weight and has an overall weight that compares to the average snowboard you would find a board shop.

Does the Adjustable Camber System Benefit Riding Progression?

I don’t believe the adjustable camber system has improved my riding in any direct way yet. It’s nice to be able to adjust the profile based on the features I am hitting in the park. For example, it is a lot easier to nose press a feature when your nose is already pointed upward in a rocker position. 

However, the Adjustable Camber System has probably impacted my riding more in an indirect way. 

Having the ability to not have to walk over to my car to get my dedicated park board, saves me a few minutes which allows me to get an extra 2-3 runs in per day. Getting more time on the board will allow me to progress faster by allowing me to spend more time riding and less walking to my car or the board rack to change boards.

Now, if you’re someone who has only ever owned one snowboard and never had the benefit of having the right camber profile for the type of riding you’re doing, then you’re in for a treat.

A great example would be the resort rider who has never owned a flat or rocker park board and now wants to start progressing their park riding. The Proteus board can serve as both your all mountain resort carver and your park board.

Having the ability to set your board profile for the type of terrain you’re riding in will certainly help you level up your progression.

And for those of us lucky enough to have multiple boards already, it is more about the convivence of not needing to swap boards than getting a direct progression benefit.

Proteus Snowboard 2024-2025 Specs

Board Length (cm)	Rider Weight	Effective Edge (cm)	Sidecut Radius (m)	Waist Width (cm)	Stance Width (cm)
148	110 – 150	112	7	24.5	46.5 – 58.5
151	125 – 165	115	7	24.8	49 – 61
154	130 – 170	118	7	25.2	49 -61
157	140 – 180	121	7.5	25.3	50.5 – 62.5
157 Wide	140 – 180	121	7.5	25.8	50.5 – 62.5
159	150 – 190	123	8	25.5	47 – 64
159 Wide	150 – 190	123	8	25.9	48 – 64
161	160 – 200	125	8	25.6	49 – 64
161 Wide	160 – 200	125	8	25.9	50 – 64
163 Wide	165 – 205	126	8	26.1	51 – 64
165 Wide	170 – 210	128	8	26.2	52 – 64

Conclusion

This board rips for the right type of rider.

If you’re looking for one adaptable board that can do most types of riding very well, you will love it. However, if you’re the type of rider who relies on having a specialized quiver board for each type of riding you do, this likely won’t get you to stop using your specialized board.

You can buy a Proteus Snowboard right from Proteussnowboards.com.

If you like the look of the board that I rode for this review, you can get it right here.  

About the Reviewer

Rider Name: Steve Weber

Where I rode this board: Big Snow in East Rutherford, NJ

Conditions rode in: It was the typical indoor day. The snow was dirty and dry making it a little slow. The right side of the slope where you carve, was chopped up. The park was soft and well taken care of.

Size / Model: I rode the 154 Proteus board with the “Soft” flex pattern.

Rider Weight: 142lbs

Rider Height: 5′ 6″

Camber Settings Used: Full camber, mid camber, and flat

Bindings Used: 2024 Union Ultra Bindings in a men’s size medium.

Boots Used: DC Phase Snowboard Boots

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• Comparing the Most Versatile All Mountain / Freestyle Boards
• Jones Tweaker Pro Review
• Capita DOA Review
• Bataleon Evil Twin Plus Review

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