Board: Endeavor Archetype
Size: 158
Camber Option: Hovercamber. Directional cam rocker.
Bindings: Rome Black Label
Stance: 21.5 Wide 15 Negative 12 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 200lbs
Resort: Arapahoe Basin
Conditions: Overcast skies, colder temps, zero wind, fresh powder, chunder powder, rocks, and corduroy.
Flex: It has a true traditional directional flex. Softer nose into a stiffer tail with a fair amount of torsional flex. Overall it’s a pretty mellow predictable flex and nothing you have to worry about.
Stability: At high speeds you do get some flap in the nose and that slightly reverberates back under the front foot. The stability comes from the front insert back through the tail. In really rutted out terrain it can get bucked around.
Ollies/Pop: This board has snap from that set back camrocker. You don’t have to worry about loading it up to engage it as it’s mellow. This characteristic makes it easy to pop in powder or on a groomer.
Butterability: The nose is optimal for locking in a pow board and just has a smooth consistent flex that lets you press into it but not fight you. The tail is best suited to high speed wheelies.
Carving: This board on a groomer doesn’t suck for laying it over on edge. You do lose a little power out of the tail due to the swallow tail but you can compensate for that. It transitions smoothly from edge to edge and lets you leave a trench when you want to.
Rider in Mind: Resort powder rider that traverses groomers to get the goods.
Personal Thoughts: I own this board so I knew what I was getting into riding it. This is still my favorite pow board of all time and it does everything you want it to and more. It’s lively yet stable where it counts, has optimal float, and can still rip a turn.
Comparable Boards: Rome Stalefish, Jones Mind Expander, Spring Break Powder Racer
38 Comments
I mainly ride tight trees, bowls, and steeps (in interior BC). That being said, love ripping a good groomer. I’m 5’6″, 140 lbs, size 8 boots. Want to be super nimble in the trees but be able to handle big terrain and varied conditions.
Currently have a 155 Never Summer Cobra. Considering adding this (150) or the Orca (147 or 150). Would love your guidance!
You don’t want this in a 150, you want to bump up to the next size. But I’ll tell you right now since you were riding that hunk of shit Never Summer you’re going to be hung up on that crap camber profile so going with the Orca makes more sense.
Appreciate the updated review my dude. If you were more freestyle-minded and had to only keep one pow board, would you keep your Archetype or your Backslash?
From your reviews it sounds like the Backslash might be a little poppier, but the Backslash might be a little more versatile? Curious on which you think is more ‘fun’ (sorry, I know that’s subjective af)
I own both, I don’t choose one over the other.
Do you still own this board in 158?
If you’re going to ask if I’m going to sell it don’t even bother.
just wondering for size reference for myself 🙂
just got this deck cant believe how much i love slashing groomers, cuts like a short board and the flexy tail allows for awesome arc
180ish lbs 5’10” size 10.5 boots. Looking to pick one of these up for next season. Should I go 158 or 160w? I’m thinking the 158 but concerned about the taper on the back foot. Mostly ride east coast (trees, groomers, pow when lucky) but I take trips out west every season. Other boards I ride: Lib tech terrain wrecker 57, nidecker area 57, slush slasher. Thanks for all that you do.
That taper is tight with a size 10 for me, get the wide for sure. Just realize you’ll probably ride the other boards more back east but when heading west you’ll bust this thing out and slay it.
How far back do you set back in POW?
As far as you want.
Ok Avran, big sale on last year’s Alpha right now. We want to hear about it!
Yeah well they haven’t sent one to ride and as I’m done riding this season I don’t foresee it happening any time soon.
The board is on sale on the website for 275. Just got mine.
So I’ve been looking at japan snow surf boards lately, do you consider them a different type of snowboard then pow boards? If so what are the major differences? Grabbed a archetype last year and loved slashing groomers with it, trying to figure out if a snow surf deck would be the same as the archetype or if that style of a board would offer something different
It’s in the same realm.
Seeking sizing advice: 210 lbs 11.5 boot 6’2″. Stay angry!
You need the wide so what is it 60 or 62 or something like that.
Angry,
Another sizing recommendation ask. 6’1”, 227lbs – 160w or 164. Love the idea of 276 mm waist width float but 160 a little short for pow in a non-volume shifted ride. The 164 still gives me 264mm at the waist which is senough for my size 13s and longer in the deep stuff might be the better way to go. Kind of stuck here.
64. But be aware of the taper on this thing.
Hi Angry
154 or 158? I’m 5’9”, 165 to 170lbs, current boot size is 10, but my usual shoe size is 9 or 9.5. I’m buying for Japan powder days. I like the idea of 154 for manoeuvring trees but not sure if flory and wide enough. My all mountain boards are usually 156 or 157.
10’s going to be tight on that back foot on the 54. Since you’re buying for Japan I’d bump up to the 58 honestly.
Thanks. 158 ordered.
My current pow deck is a Mind Expander 54. Lots of tight trees where I ride pow in WY and MT. Love the surfy feel and nimble maneuvering. It falls short on carving groomers. When I lay it over to carve deep, I always boot out. (Granted, the ME is not designed for this) Can the Archetype solve this? If so, at 170 lb, size 9, do I want the Archetype in the 154 with a 257 waist or the 157W and never boot out? Would the 157W still be nimble in the trees?
Initially that 57 is going to feel stiff, it’ll break in after about 15 solid days and give you a little more torsional flex which will help you in the trees. It’s edge hold is FAR superior to the ME though.
Thanks for your rec. picked up the legacy archetype and was lucky to catch some pow out west over New Years. This thing is a beast and a real pleasure to ride in the deep. I ride this in 158 vs skeleton key x in 153, your recommendation to size up was v helpful. Considering trying this with the falcors because of the “3 degrees of cant” that enable your body mechanics to be more aligned. Feels like I’m being sold some nonsense regarding the “3 degrees of cant” on the falcors but I’m getting old and need all the right body mechanics I can get. Currently I ride with Burton x exts, got them after the malavitas which were too flexible. You think the falcors will be too flexible for someone who likes the exts? Thanks again, ideally you get rewarded with some great pow days this year for all the legit insights you give everyone here
Maybe?
Hi , if my boots size is 9 , can i ride a 146？ cuz i only find a 146 near by , pthers dont hv time for deilvery ,hope can get some advice from u ,thanks
Well what’s your weight. That kind of helps with determining length.
Thanks for reply , im around 148 lbs
I saw the board is from 100-155 lbs
But the biggest shoe size recommend is only 7.5
But i m 9 ,so i m wondering my toe would touch the ground when carving ？
Thanks for your help
You’ll boot out on that rear foot.
Thanks very much !! Got it !!
Love your reviews! I am 6′, 182 lbs, and have 11 US boots – what size would you recommend? The taper on this thing is throwing me off on sizing. Thanks!!
You’re going to be limited because of your boot size. I’d say go with the 60w to be safe.
Thanks for the advice!!
Hi Angry, looking at picking up a Archetype Legacy, I am 5,11 188 lbs and size 9 boots
Looking to ride it just in japan and want maximum help on the 2ft + mega deep days, would you go 158 or 162
Currently riding the k2 ultradream 161 and it struggles when it gets really deep, i had the sick stick before the ultradream and it was much better
62