Flow makes some real fun boards, the Era is always one on my list that rides consistently awesome and stands out as a board almost anyone could ride and enjoy. I wasn’t planning on bothering to review this again this year but when the opportunity presented itself I jumped on it.
Board: Flow Era
Size: 153
Camber Option: I-Rock. Reverse between the feet with a convex base and camber just before the insert packs.
Bindings: Raiden Phantoms
Stance: 22.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy
Boots: K2 UFO Size 10
My Weight: 165
Resort: A Basin
Conditions: Sunny bluebird slushy spring laps with a little mix of clouds in the skies and some high winds.
Flex: Just a hair under middle of the road with a bit more play in the tips and a fair amount of torsional give.
Stability: At speeds and in chop this board absorbs chatter and didn’t get bucked.
Ollies: Snap this board just has a ton of snap. Load up the tips and it’ll pop for you.
Pop On Jumps: It can hit a jump just fine and snap off of anything with a lip.
Butterability: The ever so slight flat spot out past the camber zones gives this board a nice sweet spot for pressing and playing in the snow. The flex is enough to let you do whatever you could want unless you’re some kind of light weight that can’t press a slightly soft board.
Jibbing: The sweet spot is great for locking into presses and the convex base elevates your edges so as to not cause that great scorpion of death. Although I did have this happen once I can’t blame the board but instead A basins inability to create a jib that somehow doesn’t cause death defying acts when jibbing.
Carving: Center flex that board and prepare to rail a carve. This board can turn on a dime or draw it out if you want it to.
Rider in Mind: Park guy that’s hitting everything from small to large features and wants a slightly below middle of the road flex.
Personal Thoughts: Flow can make a great board I’ve never denied that. The Era is one of their stand outs in my opinion. The convex base is great for preventing edge catches and helps roll the board over for easier initiation. The snap out of the tips is great for playing around on the mountain or in the park.
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31 Comments
[…] Era […]
So the Era is a true twin, a slightly softer version of the Drifter, right?
How does the Era compare with the Echelon Franken in these two – a) carving groomers and b) stability/dampness for all mountain charging
Two completely different boards. Flex patters change the stability and dampening, sidecuts are different, plus the camber profiles.
If I’m looking to take this all over the mountain from park to icy groomers (live in the Midwest), would a 155 be good or should I play it safe and go with a 158? 6′ , 11/11.5 boots, 170 lbs
55 if you’re not riding anything over 1000 feet of vertical 58 if say more in the UP area of Michigan.
Wondering what the weight of this board was, was it rather light or on the heavier side? I think i’m going to get his one, think 150cm for a 5’8” 140lbs would do ? thanks dude
It weighed like every other snowboard I’ve ever ridden.
I know you’re not big on rating flex but I am stuck between the era and the verve(wish u had rode the verve).
So my question is how would you compare the era’s flex to say the blacklist or evo which Ive used a lot the last couple seasons and I know you familiar with those too. (And I mean a broke in evo). I’ve read all their tech stuff on their site but as u know flex ratings differ. I love the snap in the blacklist but I know this is shaped more like the evo so that’s why I put that in there for comparison. I appreciate any feedback.
It’s softer flexing than the Blacklist that’s for sure. It’s got snap but it’s like on the softer side of middle of the road, consider it like a Blacklist that has like 50 days.
Sounds good thanks. That must mean the verve is hella soft. I’d just grab another blacklist if it wasn’t for the sweet deals from flow. Good luck on an early season.
I have no idea if you know this, but would the Flow Jewel be the women’s equivalent of the Era in terms of flex/riding style? Its nearly impossible to find decent girl board reviews but im looking for a twin womens freestyle with enough flex to handle the mountain and the Jewel caught my eye, and if it is anything like the Era it would be exactly what I am looking for
Short answer yes. Just an FYI adding women’s hard good reviews for next year so keep your eyes peeled.
How would you compare the Era to the Flow Shifty? I mostly ride groomers and go after some jumps. I want to have a board versatile enough for the park, but one that will excel carving and jumping. These two boards got similar reviews from you. Any recommendations? Thanks.
I would go Shifty over Era.
I appreciate the advice. I am 5’8″ 170, sz 11 boots. I’ve been told by some that with my boot size I need to be mindful of waist width. Would you go 154 or 157 (waist widths 25.1 and 25.4)? Thanks again.
you’re fine on anything in the 25 and up range.
How do you compare the era vs verve in flex? Big differences?
Not really a big difference more preference based.
I’m looking to get either an era or a verve. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to ride a 158 era, or if I’d have to go with the wide verve. Im 6’2 180lbs and have a boot size of 13. Advice would be very helpful. Thank you
Get a wide.
I’m either going to buy this, an Arbor Westmark, or Nitro Rook. In your opinion, which is the best board? I’m going to be in the park a lot but I also want to be able to take it everywhere on the mountain. I’m 5′ 9″, 145 pounds, and size 10.5 boot. Thanks for the help.
Probably the Rook will be the most versatile honestly.
How do flat boards compare to camber and rocker? I have heard that they feel less playful than other boards.
Really depends on how they’re built.
So I’m getting a new deck. I have a 2010/11 Era that is on its last legs. I absolutely loved the board as a 155 at 5’8” 160, with a 9.5 boot. I’m trying to step my freestyle up a bit this year(moving from the beginner park with max 25′ jumps to the mid park with 30-35′ jumps). would you recommend the Era 153, or the Shifty 151?
Why are you downsizing so much?
My 155 feels like its a little limiting on spins and presses; figured I would try something a bit smaller. For example I’ve been trying to throw down some 180 rewinds and it takes a fair bit of effort to stop the board and get it to swing back around. should I not downsize quite as much?
This might give you an idea of where my freestyle abilities are at on the 155. I’m the guy in the black jacket and camo pants…https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeV1CVeSsDQ
[…] With size 13 feet, I'd get a wide Flow Era 155, wide for $230 Brand New Discounted 2012 Men's Flow Era 155 Wide Snowboard | eBay Era review: 2013 Flow Era Used and Reviewed « […]
Thanks for testing and the review, just got my hands on this one which has only been used once by a beginner who went back to skiing after the first day on the board. (guess snowboarding wasn’t his thing…) Had my doubts, but after reading your review I immediatly called the guy. I think € 200,00 isn’t a bad deal! thanks again, can’t wait to try it out in two weeks!
[…] out the past reviews of the Era from 2015, 2013, 2010, and […]