Share

Snowboards

Salomon Pulse 2017-2018 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £245 / €300
  • Lengths: 142, 145, 149, 152, 156, 158W, 160, 162W, 163
  • Flex: 4
  • Profile: Hybrid Camber
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • salomon.com

The Salomon Pulse is a long-serving entry level board that has helped many a nervous proto-shredder reach the next stage. There have been some changes for the 2017/18 model, but it’s lost none of its leg-up qualities.

“For anyone looking to eventually embrace full camber but isn’t quite there yet, this is a great place to start…”

Gone is the flat base, and in its place comes a new profile consisting of three separate flat sections linked by short camber joints. The result is a board with a more pop and edge bite, and only a marginal increase in edge-catch risk. For anyone looking to eventually embrace full camber but isn’t quite there yet, this is a great place to start.

Risk of faceplant is further minimised by the fully detuned nose and tail. That’s no good when you’re traversing gnarly, icy faces, but for the progressing beginner it’s one less thing to worry about.

It’s right at the softest end of Salomon’s spectrum, so when you’re fine-tuning your riding it will respond to your every whim. It’ll feel a bit flimsy at high speeds, but for everything else it gives you control you can count on.

The Salomon Pulse also has an easy-to-maintain extruded base. That means less faff and more laps, so you’ll be flying through the learning process in no time.

Tester’s Verdict

Sam McMahon – whitelines.com

“It is true that the profile description of the Salomon Pulse reads ‘Flat Out Camber’ – they make a big deal out of the ‘flat’ bits – but when you actually look at it in real life it’s basically camber with some sharp corners.

“It rides like Salomon were trying to tick every combination of profile and flex in the catalogue…”

Which is fine actually; camber is great fun, and by now we should all know that’s it’s not there specifically to make you catch your edges every run. But when you have a board this soft it doesn’t really do much, no matter how many times you say ‘flat’.

It rides like Salomon were trying to tick every combination of profile and flex in the catalogue, a bit like a suspect Indian takeaway menu – this is what you get for choosing ‘pineapple jalfrezi’.”

Share

Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.

production