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Snowboards

Nidecker Merc 2021-2022 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £350 / €350 / $370
  • Category: All-Mountain
  • Sizes: 149M, 152M, 152L, 156L, 156W, 159L, 159W, 162W
  • Flex: 6/10
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • Profile: Combo
  • 3D: No
  • Base: Extruded

These days, you don’t have to spend the earth to get a very capable snowboard. Witness the Nidecker Merc. It’s a great all-mountain deck with a grip of technology, manufactured to the same high standards as the Swiss brand’s premium offerings, but at an awesome price. Anyone looking for a board they can progress their skills on – but not outgrow – will be hard pressed to find a more compelling package.

“Anyone looking for a board they can progress their skills on – but not outgrow – will be hard pressed to find a more compelling package”

MORE INFO:
NIDECKER.COM

Who Is The Nidecker Merc For?

Beginners and intermediates are the primary market for the Merc, but to be honest even more advanced riders that appreciate a playful flex (and a little more spare cash for beers) will enjoy this quiver of one.

Shape, Profile and Sidecut

This is your classic go-anywhere design, so we’re looking at a directional twin that combines a mirror-image shape with a subtle, 1cm set back stance. It’s a breeze to ride switch and is thus very comfortable in the park, but the slightly longer nose will make it a touch easier to stay afloat in deep snow and help you drive through turns when charging the resort in your normal stance.

The profile combines camber in the middle – to provide edge control and ollie power – with rocker towards the tips. The rocker makes turn engagement a little more relaxed, and reduces the chances of hang-ups when dialling in tricks; it also helps lift the nose in deep snow, and keeps you surfing over bumpy sections back on the hardpack. On the Merc, everything just feels… easy. That’s an ideal recipe for building confidence and pushing yourself.

“On the Merc, everything just feels… easy”

Construction and Materials

The Merc must have one of the most technical cores on the market at such a competitive price point. It’s a combination of poplar, paulownia, spruce and beech that offers great strength to weight and is super lively, too. Together with triax glassing in the topsheet, and carbon fibre at the tip and tail, it delivers a surprisingly snappy flex. It’s nothing to be intimidated by, but it’s certainly no noodle. An Absorbnid layer has also been added to keep the ride feeling smooth and chatter-free at all times.

The extruded base is perhaps the one part of the board where you can see the cost-savings. It’s not as quick as sintered P-tex but then again, it can withstand plenty of abuse and doesn’t require much waxing. In our experience, most riders will find it fast enough.

“The Merc must have one of the most technical cores on the market at such a competitive price point”

Roundup

When it comes to bang-for-your-buck, the Merc is right up there with boards like the YES Basic. If you’ve been following our gear awards over the years, you’ll know that’s high praise indeed. Progression is at the heart of this design. That doesn’t just mean it’s easy to ride, but that it gets better the more you improve. And with its versatile shape and camber profile, you can shove one of these in your board bag and feel confident that, whatever nature throws at you, you’ve got the tool for the job.

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