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K2 Playback Snowboard Review

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K2 Playback Snowboard Review

Playback-Snowboard-_-K2-Snowboarding-2011-12-1

2012 K2 Playback - $399
Intermediate to Expert All Mountain Freestyle to Freestyle
2012 K2 Playback - Flat Camber Twin

More flat or zero camber from K2. This to us seems very much like a lower cost version of the old K2 Believer but it's a little softer and more freestyle focused. Flat camber is hard to do right and while we found the K2 Protohype, K2 Slayblade and K2 Lifelike to perform well we found the Playback and many of the more all mountain freestyle focused boards to be missing something important.  We would of rather seen K2 make this board with All Mountain Rocker or one of their other flat/rocker designs. On the positive side Playback is stable and easy to make quick turns.  Something is off when it comes to wide radius turns.  It is not like camber or any other hybrid or flat/rocker shape.  Most of us found this to be not our style but we can't say for sure that you wont.  If you know you like flat camber and are on a budget this might not be a bad call.

How It Rides
Groomers Average
Speed Average
Flex Soft
Rails/Jibbing Good
Powder Average Weight Medium
Carving
Average
Pipe Average
Turn Initiation
Easy
Edge Hold Average Switch Excellent Jumps Good

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The Good Ride Take

A Quick Look At The K2 Playback

                              

The Good Ride Take On Flat Camber
Flat Camber is a byproduct of Reverse Camber.  There are many types of Flat Camber with many shapes.  Some have flat camber between the feet and then bend the board up after the bindings.   Some have a nose and tail like a regular board but it just goes completely flat between them.   It has a lot of positive qualities.  One is the ability to float well in powder.  It doesn’t have that leg burn free feeling like rocker but some say it floats and performs better.  It is also very stable at high speeds and doesn’t have the issues that rocker and rocker/camber boards have.  Generally most rocker/camber and pure rocker boards don’t ride well in the flats due to the bend in the center of the board.  The bend can sometimes be the only contact on the snow and that makes the board unstable in the flats and it can be a bit squirly at high speeds or on hard pack snow.  Flat Camber eliminates this issue.  It’s also very fun to jib and is very catch free. The biggest drawback is the lack of pop these boards have.  It is very hard to generate any spring to Ollie.  If pop is important then Flat Camber isn’t for you.  If you like to carve, stay close to the ground and want the same benefits that reverse camber offers in powder this might be a good choice over a cambered snowboard.

 

The Good Ride Take on K2
K2 is a big company that makes a lot of ski and snowboard gear. K2 chose Flat Camber and variations of flat/rocker for their snowboards in the post camber revolution. Their flat camber has a mixed take but their flat/rocker shapes seem to be well liked and some are Good Ride Favorites. When it comes to Bindings K2 spends a lot of time working on the quick strap/release side of things and they have 2 quick release designs. Some like this but others would rather see them work on improved turn initiation, comfort and better board flex under foot. We’d at least like to see them switch to only one quick release and develop their normal bindings more. Their boots are well made, long lasting and comfortable but some don’t have the adjustability that some boots have. Their customer support is very good but there is no phone # on their site so you must contact them via email. All in all K2 does a pretty good job when it comes to making snowboard gear for a wide variety of riders.

 

Company Information

K2 Playback 2012

$329.95

NO NONSENSE FREESTYLE

The all-new 2011-2012 K2 Playback Snowboard is the twin tip freestyle board for those looking for all the fun with a tiny price tag. Flatline® makes it a great choice for the progressing rider and Hybritaper™ Construction brings the best of K2 durability and lightweight performance.

 

A Better Video from K2 on the Playback

                 


Flatline

Flatline Snowboards Technology

The Perfect Balance

Demanded by the K2 International Pro Team and proven through multiple awards, K2 pioneered the Flatline base profile. Preloaded, stable, and turn-ready, Flatline creates a supremely balanced, smooth ride for both aspiring and accomplished pros

Flatline Snowboards Technology

Hybritaper

Hybritaper Snowboards Technology

Lightweight & Strong

Hybritaper takes our Hybritech Construction, and tapers out the core at the tip and tail to reduce the swing weight. We blend the tips from a cap into a thin sandwich removing material where you don’t need it.

Hybritaper Snowboards Technology

W1 Core

W1 Core Snowboards Technology

Lightweight Core Technology

Our W1 core is characterized by a single species of pure wood with proven flex, durability, and snap. This is our standard core for entry to mid level boards.

Biaxial Glass

Biaxial Glass Snowboards Technology

The classic structure laminate, biax glass provides the smooth all-purpose performance.

Hyper Progressive

Hyper Progressive Snowboards Technology

An infinite number of different radius are blended together flawlessly from mellow in the tips, to more aggressive in the center. The result is a super predictable feel that never hooks. Responsive at high speeds and smooth enough to butter your way from the peak to park.

2000 Extruded

2000 Extruded Snowboards Technology

• Fast & durable• Easy to tune & repair




Specs

K2 Playback 2012

playback

Pictures

K2 Playback 2012


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