Board: Capita Navigator
Size: 158
Camber Option: Alpine V1 Profile. Rocker in the nose, camber through the middle to a flat section before a micro rocker in the tail.
Bindings: Rome Black Label
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 200lbs
Resort: Copper Mountain
Conditions: Overcast skies, snow falling at times, a couple inches of spring pow which had a little moisture in it, super cold temps, chop, chunder, and crunchy groomers.
Flex: Here’s the thing this isn’t an overly stiff board it’s more or less just past middle of the road. It is directional in nature so you end up with a softer nose that progressively stiffens back up to the tail and a noticeable amount of torsional flex that lets you twist it.
Stability: With the cork diecuts in the topsheet they dampen the ride from the nose back through the front insert. You really notice this when riding in lightly rutted out terrain as any flap that the nose has the kinetic energy is killed off before it hits the front foot or the middle of the board. This makes for a damp ride yet from the middle of the board back it remains lively so you can get weird if you need to. Overall it’s a smooth ride that doesn’t falter when you push it to the limit.
Ollies/Pop: This board has super snap off the tail. It just wants to pop out of fresh pow, off poppers, sidehits, and launchers. It’s easy to engage and becomes so effortless that you don’t even realize you’re boosting.
Butterability: While the nose does have rocker you want to press a little harder than you think to flex that camber section and get it to lock in when doing a pow butter and even then it’s going to want to whip right around. On the tail you’re basically doing wheelies but it will hold them exceptionally well.
Carving: The edge to edge power transmission as a smooth roll to it that just feels precise but familiar as if you’ve turned this board a 1000 times whether it’s your first run or 100th. It grips on edge and locks in and holds the carve. You can lay it over when you want and all it takes is a minimal amount of driving the knee into the camber section and pushing down on the tail. Short tight quick carves, methodical long drawn out ones, or deep and hard Euro-carves it has you covered.
Rider in Mind: Resort ripping powder hound that has to carve on a groomer.
Personal Thoughts: I’ve never actually ridden this board until this years model came out. This thing was awesome. It floats well, carves great, and has enough pop to make over any rocks or features in your way. It’s a board you can be calculated with if you want or laid back. It’s just a good all around pow board.
Comparable Boards: Endeavor Archetype, K2 Passport
Recommended Bindings: Union Ultra, K2 Lien AT, Jones Mercury
31 Comments
Hey Avran,
I got the mtnpig a few weeks ago and on my first day out on it, I realized it was way more board than I bargained for/wanted. Now I have the chance to swap it for a Capita Navigator, do you think that it’s the right board for me? I’m looking for something that’s nimble in the trees and can handle itself in technical terrain, but isn’t a noodle down steeps. Thanks man.
So is this more in the Powder than Freeride category? Is it too soft for some hard charging? Flex is rated a 5.5 but I hear conflicting things about its speed limit. TJ from Board Archive seemed to say it can handle that but I wonder. The Capita freeride boards don’t seem to vary all that much in flex ratings.
Yes. It can handle some stuff to an extent those cork dampeners help with micro vibrations, but real choppy terrain you’re going to get bucked around. Flex ratings really mean fuckall it’s for the most part a made up number.
All Mountain Freeride, quiver of one in Lake Tahoe. Some powder, some ice, I like a board with pop and that can carve…high intermediate
Navigator or K2 Passport?
Passport.
Bindings? I have Stratas but get the feeling I should sell and get Katanas?
You’re fine.
Hi,
Thanks for making the review, thinking about purchasing. I am 6 foot weighing 75kg (165lbs). I’m stuck between the 155 and 158. I want to use it as a daily driver but will take it into semi deep powder as well. Which size do you recommend?
55.
Sizing question…
I’m 235-240lb and wear a size 11 boot (prefer 0° on my back foot for freeride setups)–would it be crazy to snag the 167? I’ve never ridden a board that big before, but I’m looking for maximum float in powder and maximum stability at speed / in chop. Ride almost exclusively in the PNW so wetter, heavier snow is a given. The 164 is my natural instinct, but can’t help but wonder if going for the big gun would be my best bet.
Thanks a bunch.
I’d go 67 for riding PNW at that size.
I’m in doubt between the K2 passport 160 or Capita Navigator 158 or 161. I don’t like freestyle and don’t go in a park. I like powder and off piste but there is less and less of that in the alps. So most of the time I board on the slopes. I am 57 years old, advanced rider, 6 ft 2 an 175 lbs Which board do you recommend?
Passport.
Why?
Because I said so.
What size please? 6,1, 225-235 LBS Intermediate.11.5 boots. Jackson hole.
Thanks. Love your reviews.
Going to need one of the big boy sizes in wide.
Im 5’9 and 68-70kg I ride a 150 dc HR but now they dont make them any more iv been looking for a new directional board what size would you recommend for me 151? or bigger? also wondering if these are pretty similar boards? as they made at the same place.
Bigger.
I’m currently riding a Ride Algorhythm 157. Is it worth adding the Navigator for powder days (mix between in and out of bounds) or just move my bindings back?
Going to ride it more than 5 days a year? Very good idea. Going to ride it 5 days in 5 years? Smash those bindings back.
Thanks for review avran!
195lbs size9 boot
Would you recommend 158cm or 161cm?
It’s kind of your call. Tighter trees lower angle go with the 58, more wide open steeper terrain 61.
Awesome thanks for the reply!!
Considering that capita is changing the profile for next years navigator, what do you predict the boards performance will be like in comparison to this years? Would this years have better powder float? There seems to be less setback and less nose for next years.
I already rode it. It’s a little easier to sink the tail now as there’s a new flex point right in front of the rear binding. Float is still the same overall.
Would you recommend waiting for next years version or just grab this seasons?
Is there a huge performance increase between the two?
Just buy it.
Hey Angry,
Mostly I carve on groomers, get some side hits, small jumps at the park, and riding double blacks. But I also love riding side banks surf style. Navigator or Passport?
Thanks,
Shemps
Dealers choice.
Been riding Burton Custom 167w last 13 years but getting older, now only go if powder/ or with kids to do groomers and side hits. Only jump if soft landing (bad knees). Would you recommend this board or more powder specific board for new board? Tired of moving bindings back on custom and back leg burn…
I’d go with this.