Technical information
Sintered base
20 mm Poplar wooden core
Number of inserts: 2 x 12 (for the bindings) + 2x5 (for the other fixed parts)
DIRECTIONAL
Setback: 35 mm
Size 151 cm
Front width 288 mm, centre 242 mm, rear 274 mm
Radius 7.9 m
Recommended stance: 530 mm.
Size 157 cm
Front width 297 mm, centre 252 mm, rear 284 mm
Radius 8.5 m
Recommended stance: 560 mm.
Size 163 cm MidWide
Front width 305 mm, centre 260 mm, rear 292 mm
Radius 9.2 m
Recommended stance:
Which splitboard size should I choose?
Generally, a splitboard is 15 to 20 cm less than your height.
_ choosing a slightly smaller board (20 cm to 25 cm less) will give you a lightweight board on the climb and manoeuvrable downhill. It will be slightly easier.
_ choosing a slightly larger board (15 to 10 cm less) will provide greater stability at high speed, and more buoyancy on powder.
151 cm (50-70 kg) => from 1.55 m to 1.7 m
157 cm (65-80 kg) => from 1.69 m to 1.77 m
163 cm (75-95 kg) => 1.76 m to 1.9 m
Programme/terrain
We wanted to develop a reliable splitboard that looks like a freeride snowboard downhill without the need for oversized muscles to steer it.
_ on the climb, it is light underfoot (3.25 kg + 0.52 kg pair of skins) and reliable in transfers even when the slope becomes steep,
_ downhill, it floats above the snow while still being manoeuvrable among the fir trees.
It suits intermediate snowboarders.
Directional snowboard
The shape of the board is directional, that is to say that the board has a front and a rear. It is not symmetrical. the rear of the board is slightly narrower than the front and the bindings, as well as the contact points of the snowboard, are set back slightly. A directional shape gives better edge grip when turning, better control of the trajectory and more acceleration on exiting turns.
Standard camber + rocker
All the advantages of both the standard camber (thanks to the board's elasticity, a standard camber serves as a spring to provide grip on all types of snow, edge-to-edge dynamism and recoil when coming out of turns) and the rocker (under constraint, the board's points of contact with the snow come closer together, making the board more manageable). The rocker elongates and raises the nose so that it can glide better over powder.
Medium and versatile flex (6/10)
Flex is the stiffness of the board between the front and rear. The flex of the Split 500 is about 6/10, which is an all-round medium flex. It is reliable in carved turns while also being forgiving of edge mistakes.
35 mm setback
The setback is when the board's compression points with the snow are not symmetrical in relation to the centre of the board, but set back towards the rear. The bindings are also set back towards the rear by the same distance.
35 mm setback = significant setback for directional boards. It gives better stability in turns and lift in powder snow because the weight is at the rear of the board which naturally makes the front rise.
Glide quality: sintered base
The bases are made from polyethylene using 2 different technical processes:
_ extruded base, with a certain density of polyethylene,
_ sintered base, with a higher density of polyethylene (fewer holes, more PE).
A sintered base is the Rolls Royce of bases. The glide is really fantastic.
Which splitboard binding should I choose?
Any splitboard binding fits our Decathlon splitboard as the number of inserts and position are the same for all splitboards, regardless of brand.
It is also compatible with the Voilé split kit (a connector that goes between the splitboard and traditional bindings so you can equip yourself for less).
4 bindings tested for you (1/2)
During tests, we used 4 good bindings that we recommend:
_ Union - Expedition: very easy to attach/adjust; very easy to change from climb/descent mode; ride feeling very close to a standard binding. The heel lift only has one position.
_ SparkR&D - Arc T1: very lightweight; very easy to change from climb/descent mode. Slightly fragile screws.
_ Karakoram - Connect reccon: very solid; very easy to change from climb/descent mode. A little heavy.
4 bindings tested for you (2/2)
_ Plum Feyan Carbon: very light, very nice finish, very good rigidity. The lever for switching between the uphill/downhill position is a bit hard to unlock.
We also tested the Voilé Kit, which lets you start with any snowboard bindings (excluding splitboard bindings!), making the discipline very affordable.
However, it elevates the binding and makes the whole thing heavier, but it’s still a lot better than snowshoes.
What to do if I have to change my splitboard skins?
SKI TOURING CUT TO SIZE SEAL SKINS - 130 MM (8521279) from Decathlon fit perfectly.
There is a mini angle between the skin clip and the metal plate of the splitboard, on the back tip, but with a little tension on the elastic so nothing moves.
What to do if the Union hooks come loose?
If you notice a little daylight between the 2 skis on your split don't worry, the Union hooks have come a little loose and we have the model to resolve it. You just need to:
_ Get a PZ2 cross-headed screwdriver
_ Unscrew the 8 screws that hold the 4 Union metal hooks,
_ Glue the 2 skis of your split back together again,
_ Clip on the Union plastic hooks at the 2 ends (check the alignment of the 2 skis),
_ Tighten up the 8 screws.
What can I do if the Union clips (nose & tail) come loose?
If you feel that the Union clips at the ends of your splitboard are becoming easier to clip, or even if they don't clip anymore, then you need to tighten the male and female parts on either side of the ski.
This is important, because otherwise, on the way down, they can become unclipped and you end up with two spatulas that vibrate and live independently. It's very uncomfortable to steer.
How to set up your position with your splitboard?
_ take off the 2 bindings and unclip the plastic hooks on the ends
_ swap over the 2 “skis” (right becomes left and left becomes right) so that the hooks don’t rub against each other on the climb
_ glue the skins
_ replace the bindings in the centre (Be careful: make sure the binding buckles are on the outside otherwise the same will happen, they will rub on the climb!)
How to set your descent position with your splitboard?
_ remove the bindings without getting snow under them,
_ remove the skins then attach them on the mesh so they don't get dirty,
_ clean the snow off the 4 hooks, 4 pucks and 2 plastic clips, otherwise it will be difficult to put them back and that could force the hooks,
_ replace the plastic clips while checking the alignment of the 2 “skis”,
_ replace the bindings (Be careful: the buckles must still be on the outside)
_ shift the spoiler to the downhill position.
Poles recommendation
When it comes to poles, we recommend a pair of Forclaz MT 500 as this pole is very compact (36 cm folded) and fits in many ski touring or snowboarding backpacks. It's so much better not to have anything overshooting the bag for the descent.
Buy large baskets as well (2 HIKING POLE WINTER BASKETS KIT).
Snowboard boots recommendations
Splitboard boots are available that let you bend your leg further back to lengthen your step on the climb.
Standard boots also do the job but don’t have them too stiff, and ideally with different tightening between the foot arch and shin.
From our Decathlon snowboard boots range, we recommend:
_ men's: All Road 500 / Endzone 500
_ women's: Serenity 500 / Endzone 500
Snowboard case
To care for your beautiful splitboard (and your car covers), we also recommend the Decathlon snowboard storage case for regular use.
Board weight
151 cm: 3.00 kg +/- 6%
157 cm: 3.25 kg +/- 6%
163 cm MW: 3.40 kg +/- 6%
