Ice isn’t the best thing for a snowboarder unless you put it in a drink. Ice makes turning, holding an edge, and stopping pretty tricky or even impossible. However, this is something that we have to deal with as cold temperatures bring icy conditions. But adjusting your technique and using the right snowboard allows you to ride in icy conditions more confidently.
To ride in icy conditions, having a snowboard with a medium to stiff flex rating would be best. It also needs a good edge hold to help you stay on your feet. Therefore we recommend the Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro HP if you want something reliable and perhaps the best value for your money.
With this in mind, we have put together a list of the best snowboards for ice. We have based this list on edge hold stiffness, durability, features, and price.
The Best Snowboards For Ice
- GNU Head Space Snowboard
- Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro HP (Top Pick)
- Ride Berzerker Snowboard
- Burton Custom Camber (High End)
- Capita Mercury
Compare Top Snowboards For Ice
| Snowboard | Overall Score | Bottom Line | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 GNU Head Space | 74 | Ideal if you want to a feature-rich snowboard | Check Out On Amazon |
 Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro HP | 78 | 
Luxury and awesomeness | Check Out On Amazon |
 Ride Berzerker | 72 | An all-mountain slayer | Check Out On Amazon |
 Burton Custom Camber | 70 | 
High-performing and lots of fun | Check Out On Amazon |
 Capita Mercury | 69 | Incredible value for money and extremely grippy on ice | Check Out On Amazon |
Detailed Analysis Of The Best Snowboards For Ice
These snowboards are the best for helping you cope with icy conditions and allow you to get down the mountain safely while having as much fun as possible. So, let’s take a look at these ice-busting weapons.
1. GNU Head Space Snowboard
Overall Score: 74
Advantages
- Lots of edge grip on hardpacked snow and ice
- Easy to initiate turns
- A fast and robust base
Disadvantages
- It is not a cheap snowboard
Edge Hold
The Gnu Head Space has the C3 hybrid profile, which gives it excellent traction when you’re on an edge. The C3 is rockered between the bindings and has a slight camber at the nose and tail.
This means you can put lots of pressure on the edges, so they cut into the ice.
If you look along the edge of the board, you’ll notice they are wavy.
This is Gnu’s Magne-Traction, and the raised points dig into hard surfaces while you carve or come to a halt on hard surfaces. The result is excellent traction on hard-packed snow and ice.
Stiffness
The Head Space’s medium flex rating means it is well-balanced when it comes to edge hold and forgiveness.
This means turn initiation is super easy, but the board doesn’t chatter when riding hard and fast on choppy snow.
The stiffness also makes the Head Space suitable for intermediate and advanced riders rather than beginners.
Durability
You can be confident that your Gnu Head Space is well made. Gnu’s snowboards are built in the Mervin Manufacturing facility, which is also where Lib Tech and Roxy products are made.
The company is well-renowned for its quality and for producing durable, eco-friendly snowboards.
Features
The Gnu Head Space is a feature-rich snowboard packed full of tech. This snowboard is built around an Aspen and Paulownia core, which makes it lightweight and robust.
But it also has lots of pop, ideal for boosting off jumps. Thanks to the sintered base, you can expect lots of speed; it also holds wax within its pores very well, so you don’t have to service it every week.
One of the more interesting features of the Gnu Head Space is its asymmetrical design. This design makes the heel side edge shorter than the toe side edge.
The idea is to compensate for the differences riders experience when transitioning between edges due to the differences in our bodies.
Price
With all this tech, you have to expect to pay for it. Therefore, the Gnu Head Space is quite pricey, but you get what you pay for.
If you tend to ride in icy conditions or want to boost your confidence, the Head Space is an excellent choice.
2. Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro HP Snowboard
Overall Score: 78
Advantages
- A dreamy high-performing snowboard
- Epic edge hold even on the slipperiest ice
- It looks fantastic
Disadvantages
- It is another expensive snowboard
Edge Hold
There are quite a few snowboards with Travis Rice’s name on the top sheet. This one is the high-end Horse Power version with Lib Tech’s C2X hybrid camber profile.
The C2X has a cambered section under the bindings and a mild rocker. This profile provides incredibly easy turn initiation and smooth ride characteristics.
But it is also great for riding in icy conditions, as it has exceptional edge hold. Magne-Traction enhances edge grip, so you can rail carves and have confidence when scratching across ice patches.
It also gives you a good platform for scoping out lines while balancing on a precarious bit of mountain before dropping in.
Stiffness
The medium to stiff flex rating makes the Travis Rice Pro Horse Power a good snowboard for intermediate and advanced riders.
The nose and tail are stiffer than the section between the bindings, this, combined with the profile, makes this snowboard one of the grippiest on ice.
If you want to check out more intermediate level snowboards for regular conditions, do check out my article best snowboards for intermediate riders.
Durability
As we mentioned earlier, Mervin-Manufacturing makes durable snowboards.
This is an expensive snowboard and a signature model of one of the most prominent snowboarders ever; therefore, it has to be durable.
It is especially durable when you consider the environments in which it is designed to be used.
We are impressed by how the base stands the test of time and constantly astonished at how it still looks flawless after a rock-bashing session.
Features
We’ve discussed the profile, base, and edge tech, but the Travis Rice Pro HP also has Lib Tech’s Horsepower Construction, which uses environmentally-friendly materials such as basalt and bio-resins to create a robust and lightweight board.
Price
With all the tech and provenance of this snowboard, you can’t expect it to be cheap.
However, if you can see past the eye-watering price, you’ll have a luxury, high-end snowboard that will stand the test of time and make you feel like a hero.
3. Ride Berzerker Snowboard
Overall Score: 72
Advantages
- Excellent edge hold in all conditions
- One of the poppiest snowboards you can buy
- Lightweight and durable
Disadvantages
- Approaching jumps takes getting used to
Edge Hold
The Ride Berzerker is designed to perform exceptionally anywhere on the mountain. It has a tip rocker profile with a mild taper in the tail, which makes going from edge to edge incredibly fast.
However, the tapered quadratic sidecut allows you to hold an edge with a high level of stability, even when the conditions are particularly icy.
Stiffness
Due to the Berzerker’s stiffness, it is not a snowboard for beginners or the faint-hearted. It has a high stiffness rating better suited to intermediate and advanced snowboarders.
If you are up to it, you can exploit the Ride Berzerker’s phenomenal traction when on an edge.
Before buying a Ride Berzerker, you must look at the two options, as Ride has equipped the Berzerker with their Slimerods.
These carbon and urethane rods are embedded into the construction, but there are two levels to choose from. One version is snappier, so you need to consider what you want from your new snowboard.
Durability
Ride has equipped the Berzerker with its 3D structure that utilizes urethane Slimewall sidewalls. This design makes the Berzerker a robust snowboard without being too heavy and reduces chatter at speed.
The rugged top sheet will keep your Berzerker looking fresh for many seasons to come, too. This snowboard is built around a lightweight Paulownia and Aspen wood core.
This is sandwiched between biaxial and triaxial fiberglass, which gives it added robustness and lots of snap for riding hard.
Features
We have mentioned a lot of the tech Ride has squeezed into the Berzerker. But the main things you need to note are the directional shape, hybrid rocker profile, vibration damping, and snappy core.
It also has a sintered base for speed and added durability. However, this snowboard doesn’t have any fancy edge technology like Magne-Traction.
But not everyone likes it, so this could be the snowboard for you.
Price
This snowboard was designed by Jake Blauvelt, and it features lots of tech and quality construction.
Therefore, it is not a cheap snowboard but appropriately priced. You’ll love it, and it will last you a long time.
4. Burton Custom Camber Snowboard
Overall Score: 70
Advantages
- Forgiving on landings and when turning
- A great choice if you want to ride switch
- Effortless turn initiation
- You get peace of mind from Burton’s guarantee
Disadvantages
- Not a great choice for novice snowboarders
- There are better-performing snowboards in powder
Edge Hold
The Cambered version of the legendary Burton Custom has Burton’s DualZone EGD engineered wood grain in the edges.
This technology provides a high level of responsiveness and exceptional edge hold while carving and riding on ice. The edges are also slightly serrated to provide added bite and traction.
Stiffness
The Burton Custom Camber has a medium flex rating that runs throughout the entire length of the board. This means you get predictable handling, control, and a good level of playfulness.
On top of this, you will find that riding and landing switch is much more manageable, even though it has a directional shape.
Durability
Burton has been around since the 1970s, so they have had time to perfect their manufacturing processes. Therefore, you can expect excellent build quality in your new Custom Camber.
And for extra peace of mind, you get the backup of Burton’s superb warranty if something goes wrong with your snowboard.
Features
The cambered profile of this version of the Burton Custom allows you to rail turns and hold an edge on the ice.
You also get predictable handling thanks to the constant flex pattern and the way your weight is evenly distributed.
This snowboard has a directional shape, so the nose is longer than the tail, meaning you get a more versatile snowboard that can cope with multiple terrain types and snow conditions.
My article on advantages and disadvantages of a directional snowboard will educate you more on these types of snowboards.
Burton has given the Custom Camber its Super Fly II 700G Core. This is lightweight and provides lots of pop, making it great for hitting kickers.
You can also ride this board pretty fast as it has Burton’s WFO sintered base, which absorbs and retains wax very well.
As this is a Burton snowboard, you also get the channel binding mount system. Therefore, you can have endless stance options to suit your preferences.
Price
It’s a Burton snowboard, so don’t expect the Custom Camber to be cheap. However, you get what you pay for: a high-performing snowboard with a three-year warranty.
Its versatility also means that it will do the job of several snowboards, saving you money in the long run.
5. Capita Mercury Snowboard
Overall Score: 69
Advantages
- You can ride it anywhere
- Speedy base
- Easy to turn
- Ridiculous amounts of edge hold
Disadvantages
- Not ideal for beginners
Edge Hold
The Capita Mercury has long, cambered effective edges. This design means you have a ridiculous amount of grip when on an edge, even in icy conditions.
Capita has equipped the Mercury with its Death Grip technology to enhance this traction further.
This puts an additional contact point between the bindings, giving you even more edge-hold when carving or riding on ice and hard-packed snow.
Stiffness
Mercury’s medium to stiff flex is great for riders with an aggressive riding style. It also makes it a good snowboard for intermediate riders who want to progress.
Capita has incorporated a directional flex into the Mercury. This makes the nose softer than the tail, providing more carving stability, even when you encounter icy conditions.
Durability
The Capita Mercury is a well-made snowboard with an outstanding level of durability.
The reinforced sidewalls, durable top sheet, and bombproof bonding ensure a robust snowboard that will keep you shredding for several seasons.
Features
Capita has made the Mercury a feature-rich snowboard. Over the years, this snowboard has won several awards for its versatility on all types of terrain.
The 2022/23 model has the all-new Hover Core and Amplitex V-Tech Amplifiers. These features add to the Mercury’s versatility and add more pop.
It also has a high-end sintered base with special additives that allow it to hold wax longer and produce more speed.
Price
Capita makes their snowboards more affordable than most brands. The Mercury still isn’t cheap, but it is fun to ride, high-performing, and versatile.
With this in mind, it is excellent value for money and will be the one you grab on your way out the door.
Final Thoughts
These snowboards will perform well in most conditions. But they will have you covered if you tend to ride in places with unfavorable weather and icy conditions.
We chose them for their edge hold and flex ratings, as these are what matters when riding ice.