The Difference Between Sintered And Extruded Snowboard Bases?
When choosing a snowboard the base should be one of your considerations. The base will determine how fast you can go and how often you need to wax your board. Choosing whether to opt for a sintered or extruded base can come down to cost or the type of riding you like to do. The aim of this post is to provide you with the information needed to make the right decision on the base of your snowboard.
Ultimately there is no right or wrong answer to the question, ‘Which snowboard base is right for you?’ as it depends on your circumstances. You will want to consider the following; your budget, how often you snowboard, your ability, and where you spend the most time riding.
EXTRUDED VS SINTERED SNOWBOARD BASES
Let’s do a direct comparison between Extruded and Sintered snowboard bases.
PRICE
Extruded bases will always be cheaper than sintered bases. The manufacturing process is cheaper therefore the board overall is cheaper when using an extruded base. If budget is your main concern then definitely consider going for an extruded base. An extruded base is one of the reasons that the Yes Basic is such a popular board, as it makes an affordable all-mountain option.
Sintered bases are more expensive to make so tend to go into higher-end more costly snowboards. Sintered bases are graded with a higher grade of the base being more expensive. A low-grade sintered base will still be faster than an extruded base (both waxed and in the same conditions) which is why the Korua boards are proving popular. They allow you to access a sintered base at a much lower price. If you are looking for a top-end sintered base and don’t mind paying for it, then consider Jones. Jones snowboards use sintered bases right through their whole line-up.
MAINTENANCE AND DURABILITY
Sintered bases will require more maintenance than extruded bases and are more expensive to repair. Sintered bases will hold wax better than an extruded base but an extruded base requires waxing less often. Waxing both bases will help ensure the base stays in good condition for longer and will influence its speed.
Sintered bases are more durable than extruded bases but when damaged a sintered base will be more expensive to repair. This is one reason that Jib or Urban snowboards are regularly accompanied by an extruded base. Yes, the extruded base may get damaged on a rail but it will be easier and cheaper to fix.
SPEED
Linking to maintenance, a well-looked after sintered base will be faster than an extruded base. Similarly, a higher-grade sintered base will be faster than a lower-grade sintered base. This is because sintered bases are more porous than extruded bases so in effect hold more wax. You probably won't notice this if you are a beginner which is why most beginner boards have extruded bases with advanced boards normally having a sintered base.
ABILITY AND HOW OFTEN YOU SNOWBOARD
It is worth considering your ability when choosing which type of base for your snowboard. If you are a beginner you will not notice the difference and could save money buying an extruded base. As you progress you will want to go faster and that will mean looking for a sintered base snowboard.
Similarly, if you take a one-week holiday every year then opting for an extruded base could be a good option. They are easy and cheap to repair whilst requiring less maintenance. This means you can sling your board into a board bag and not worry about it until you next need it. If you snowboard more than a couple of times a year then a sintered base is going to offer you the most performance.
PARK OR PISTE
The type of riding you like to do the most could also be an important factor in determining whether you should ride an extruded or sintered base. If you enjoy riding rails then it is likely you are going to get some scratches on your base that will need repair. An extruded base will make this cheaper. On the other hand, if you stick to the pistes it is less likely you will damage your board so opting for a sintered base can offer you more performance.
SINTERED VS EXTRUDED SNOWBOARD BASES BY RIDING STYLE
FREERIDE
Snowboarders looking to charge pistes or slash pow lines will be better suited to a sintered base. It is rare for freeride boards not to have sintered bases as freeriders require the extra performance that comes with a sintered base. An extruded base would feel sluggish and hold you back.
FREESTYLE
Freestyle snowboarders have a little more choice when it comes to the sintered v extruded base. Freestyle boards are varied and will come with both sintered and extruded bases. If you ride rails an extruded base will allow you to repair damage more easily and for a lower cost. Alternatively, if you like to hit jumps than a sintered base will give you more speed on the run-in. Urban/Jib boards would normally have an extruded base, as would lower-end park boards. A number of high-end park boards will have sintered bases but these will incur higher purchase prices.
ALL MOUNTAIN
Depending on your all-mountain preferences you could be ok with either an extruded or sintered base. If your an all-mountain rider who likes to spend most of their time outside of the park but will occasionally ride through then a sintered base would work well. If your preference is park and you opt outside on some days then maybe an extruded base would be preferable. Ultimately for all-mountain riders, this choice could come down to budget. If you are worried about the cost then opt for extruded whereas if performance is your main concern then opt for sintered.
SINTERED VS EXTRUDED BASES BY ABILITY
BEGINNER
There really is little point in a beginner buying a sintered base. It will cost more money and you will not feel any benefit from it. Being a beginner you will also have had less experience when it comes to snowboard maintenance and waxing so having an extruded base means less hassle. The only reason a beginner should buy a sintered base is if they intend to keep that board for years. If this is the case the sintered base will not hold them back as they progress.
INTERMEDIATE
Intermediate riders will be looking to progress their riding and explore the mountain. It is likely that intermediate snowboarders will be looking to try new terrain and ride faster around the hill. If this sounds like you then opting for a sintered base would be best. If you are a more casual intermediate, happy to stick to the Green and Blue terrain then an extruded base would suffice.. just bear in mind that extra speed may help out on those flat sections.
EXPERT
Most top-end snowboards will come with a sintered base, even high-end park boards. Unless the only thing you are interested in is hitting rails in the park a sintered base really will be your best option.
FINAL THOUGHTS SINTERED VS EXTRUDED SNOWBOARD BASES
A sintered base will always be the best for speed and performance, as long as it is waxed! You will have to pay more for the privilege. An extruded base is pretty much the lazy person’s answer. They are great for people who ride only a couple of times a year or who can’t be bothered to regularly wax their board.
STILL UNSURE?
As always thanks for reading and if you are still unsure feel free to get in touch via the socials or the comment section. Make sure to check out our Snowboard Buyers Guide where you will find all the information regarding how to buy a snowboard.
