Snowboard Review: 09-10 Burton Feelgood V-Rocker

17 Dec, 2009


Location: Loveland, CO

Snow Conditions: Hardpacked to icy conditions on the mountain.

Setup: I rode the Burton Feelgood V-rocker with my Burton Lexa bindings and Bonfire Geo boots.

Size: 154cm.

First Impression: The Feelgood and V-rocker go hand in hand, this board is better from it.

Weight: Average

Flex: The Feelgood had a softer tail flex with a tad stiffer nose and middle of the road for flex between the bindings, it was easy to torsionally flex the board and the Carbon I-beam gave it more snap and stability.  From previous years, the feelgood felt tad softer in the overall flex but that could have been the addition of the rocker that gave it that feeling.  It’s still that all mountain freestyle board that I think any rider could ride.

Turning: The feelgood was one of those boards that it can ride as good as the rider, if you need easy turns it’ll do them without catching but if you want to rally on a carve and go faster, it can hold them as well.  Despite the slightly wider shape, I didn’t find that being an issue with the edge to edge response on the board. It was a good surprise to see that it could handle the freeriding portion (even though I consider it more all mountain freestyle now).  With V-rocker you have center rocker and then tail and tail rocker, it’s not as insane noticeable rocker as you might think but just enough to give the board a playful factor but also when you carve with it, the rocker isn’t going to hurt the riding.

Stable: The slightly wider shape (which I don’t think is that wide) helps with stability, despite riding a 154cm I felt pretty comfortable on the stability of the feelgood.  It handled the mountain, rode through choppy areas and held on edge on the icy spots that day.

Pop: The Feelgood had a lot more pop than I was expecting and I just made sure I landed on my bindings when popping off the rollers than in the backseat.  In the park, no catching and it was relatively easy to tail press and butter, nose was a little harder.

Switch: Despite it being directional, I didn’t have an issue with going into switch riding from it catching or from how it handled.

Overall Impression: I didn’t have any complaints with the Feelgood V-rocker and it definitely suits the all mountain female rider with a board that can freeride and go into the park.  I wasn’t able to try the V-rocker in powder conditions but rocker always helps when it comes to floating better.  This was definitely a board I had a hard time giving back to the demo and could have kept riding it all day.

Shay’s Honesty Box: I was impressed with the feelgood on the all mountain factor and it was definitely a board I could ride all the time.  I rode the lipstick right after this board which was even more fun to ride but with the park focus (which is what I’ve been trying to do more often).  When it came to stability, carving and freeriding the feelgood was the better choice of those two, but when it came to park the lipstick was the more fun option.

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the 2011 version of the Burton Feelgood V-Rocker or shop their full line of Burton snowboards

On Snow Photo

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Burton Feelgood V-Rocker description

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Review Disclosure: I rode this board at a demo day.

13 comments

About the author

Shay

From the beginning of time, I was Shannon. From the beginning of snowboarding, I was Shay. From the beginning of online communities, I was Shayboarder. In the end, I’m the writer, photographer, editor, publisher, guru of sorts, product tester, curvy girl, and most importantly the snowboarder behind it all. Follow me on this journey through snowboarding, mountain biking, traveling and fun experiences!

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13 Comments

  1. Jenny
    February 18, 2010

    Hey! I’m trying to decide between the Burton Feelgood V-Rocker and the Never Summer Infinity-R. I bought my last board in 2003 – it’s a Burton Indie (so I’m definitely due for a new board!!). I would consider myself an intermediate rider… I would like an all-mountain board that isn’t too focused on the park, but I don’t want to rule out park riding. I’m just looking for something that has the rocker technology and is loads of fun to ride. I’m 5’4 and 117 pounds… I ride a 146 right now and am trying to decide between 145 or 147 if i get the Never Summer and probably 144 if I go Feelgood. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!

    reply
  2. Shay
    February 18, 2010

    Jenny, great to hear on picking out a new board and you’ll be amazed at the improvements since 2003!

    I think between the two boards you have the Feelgood V-rocker has a more playful feel and the Infinity-R has a more stable charging feel in comparison. It’s the reverse camber versus rocker. Both in my opinion are solid boards that either way you’ll be getting a good deal. The size on the feelgood is on the small size for you so I think you would be better on going bigger than 144.

    reply
  3. Kay
    March 01, 2010

    Hi Shay,
    this is a great review on the feelgood v-rocker, and im convinced. I usually ride a feelgood 144, do you recommend to go bigger size – im thinking 148 for the v-rocker? I am 5’4 , and 120 lbs.

    reply
  4. Shay
    March 02, 2010

    Kay,
    Awesome you are considering the Feelgood V-rocker. Size depends on what you want to do with the board, are you looking for more stable, freeriding or more playful park? Even if you size up, you are still good with your weight for the 148.

    reply
  5. angel
    March 05, 2010

    Hi Shay:
    Thanks for the detail review. I can’t decide if I should get V-rocker 151 or 154. I’m 5’5″ and 130lb. Currently I ride Troop 151 and also have a Ride Kashmir 153 (I like stiffness for response). I did demo a Feelgood v-rocker 151. Fun on bumps, but a little too “turn-y” for my liking. I am considering 154, but afraid that it might take the fun out of going to steep bump runs. Any advise?

    reply
  6. Brandi
    March 10, 2010

    I’m new to boarding and trying to pick a good board to get started. I have rented the feelgood 154 and found it to be an amazing ride. However I have read such great things about the neversummer infitiy-r that I keep wondering if I should consider buying it instead. Turning and control are still a challenge for me, I found it to be much easier on the feelgood than anything else I’ve tried. The ride was smooth and easy. If I buy the infinity instead of the feelgood it would be without ever trying it, well it makes me nervous. I like your comment above about stability on the infinity.

    reply
  7. Rosie
    March 13, 2010

    Hi Shay,

    I went ahead and purchased the Feelgood V-Rocker last week. I am super excited to go out and ride. But I tend to keep researching and second guessing myself. I am 5’4″ and 125lbs. I was riding a 2003 Nitro Glide 147. The board is super stiff and I was finding myself lacking responsiveness to turns. I went ahead and bought the v-rocker 144 thinking that I’d really enjoy playing with it on the side of the mountains and taking it through the trees. I ride mostly in the northeast where the trails are icy/groomed. Am I crazy for second guessing myself? I didn’t want to go for a bigger board then the one I already have which is why I went for the 144.

    reply
  8. Shay
    March 21, 2010

    Angel, great you were able to demo the board already. The size difference will make it less turn-y but might be be as fun in the bumps. Are you able to demo the bigger size, that might help you decide better.

    Brandi, Awesome on getting into boarding! Between the feelgood and infinity, you are getting two solid snowboards. The feelgood you already love and enjoy so that’s the safe bet. I’d say get that and keep enjoying the above, then demo the infinity later on to see how you like it in comparison. it’s a good board but you already know you love the feelgood.

    Rosie, Awesome on the feelgood! Definitely excited to hear how you like it, it’s always nervewracking when you buy something and first take it to snow. I think you’ll find the 144 really playful and easy to ride, way easier than your nitro.

    reply
  9. Annie
    July 27, 2010

    Hey Shay!
    I’m an intermediate snowboarder, and my old snowboard is done for. I live in an area that has a small snowboarding/skiing hill, with a huge park. It’s call C.O.P if you’ve ever heard of it haha. Anyway, my friends and I go there after school almost everyday in the winter time and hit jumps, rails, boxes, and as time goes on we keep trying new things; but on weekends we always go up to the mountains and ride all the runs, but we always end up hitting park for about 3 hours each time haha.

    So I was wondering which board would be best for me?
    I’m trying to decided between the Burton Feelgood V-Rocker, and the Technine Dime.
    Also, if you have any other suggestions for me I’d appreciate it. Thanks so much!

    Oh by the way, I’m 5’1 weigh 116 pounds and I’m looking for anything, don’t care much for price.

    reply
  10. Shay
    July 28, 2010

    Annie, Well sweet on the upgrade to a new board! Definitely heard of where you ride! Both boards are directional, the feelgood is more mountain in my opinion and the dime I haven’t ridden but looks more freestyle. Do you want a board for more straight up park riding or something that can do it all?

    reply
  11. Annie
    July 31, 2010

    I ride park ALL the time, but like I think that even if I get something like the technine dime, I’ll probably be able to ride it fine in backcountry and stuff… maybe haha. Also another board I’m looking at is the endeavor boyfriend. Ahh.. I can’t decide, thanks so much for responding though :D

    reply
  12. Gary
    January 31, 2011

    Hi,

    I’m looking at the Feelgood V-Rocker for my girlfriend. She’s 5’1″, 117lbs., and wears a size 6 boot. Should I go with the 149 or a size smaller?

    reply
  13. Shay
    February 06, 2011

    Gary, what’s your girlfriend’s ability level and riding style?

    reply

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