Reviews You Can Rely On

Burton Custom Flying V Review

A great option for someone getting into snowboarding, or the occasional weekend warrior
gearlab tested logo
Burton Custom Flying V Review (Burton Custom Flying V)
Burton Custom Flying V
Credit: Burton
Price:  $680 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   Burton
By Chris Edmands ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 20, 2017
75
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Edging - 25% 7.0
  • Float in Powder - 20% 8.0
  • Stability at Speed - 20% 7.0
  • Playfulness - 20% 9.0
  • Pop and Jumping - 15% 6.0

Our Verdict

Burton has updated the Custom Flying V since we tested it.
REASONS TO BUY
Nimble and fun at slower speeds
Not too heavy
Flashy base graphic
Slider track (channel) mounting for bindings
REASONS TO AVOID
Not as stable with speed
Narrow for a wide
Too soft and rockered which compromised pop
High end price not equal to performance
If you are a beginner snowboarder or someone who likes to just get out on weekends for no pressure fun, consider the Burton Custom Flying V. We found this board to be soft, forgiving, and delightfully playful - perfect if you don't plan to push the limits too far. This does not mean that the Flying V can't handle more technical use, it was just the friendliest of all the boards we tested. The combination of reverse camber, directional shape, softer flex, and middle of the road sidecut make for a very pleasing ride. It is, however, the only board our tester slipped out on during a turn, due to having the narrowest waist width of any board tested. The downside: it didn't feel stable enough at speed or hold its edge quite as well as other competitors tested while mashing through turns.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Hands-On Review of the Custom Flying V


When compared to the rest, the Custom Flying-V was simply too soft and rockered to qualify for one of the best all-mountain boards. No big deal for Burton, though. They have so many different styles of snowboards, we bet you could find one that suits you. This board was fun and playful while going slower and it floated well in deeper snow. But, when pushed to excel on high speed turns while popping, and while tracking straight down the mountain, it faltered.

burton custom flying v - skateboard-style frontside air by kurt wastell
Skateboard-style Frontside air by Kurt Wastell
Credit: Tim Peare

Edging and Carving


Although its rocker helped it go from edge to edge easily, it just couldn't hold on to bigger and faster carves. At slow speeds it was a real treat as it was extremely agile. However, you're unlikely to want to go slow all the time — only when you're new to riding or pushing 90 years of age. Scoring 7 out of 10 puts it at the bottom of the barrel in this category. If edging and carving are of particular importance to you, we'd recommend the Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro, which scored the only 10 out of 10 in this metric, or the Jones Explorer or Burton Flight Attendant, which both were trailing closely behind.

burton custom flying v - showing the edging details on the custom flying v.
Showing the edging details on the Custom Flying V.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Float in Powder


Ahh, now we're talking. Again, rocker takes credit for helping to keep you on top with this board, but its narrower waist took a little float from it, putting it at 8 out of 10 when most of its rockered competitors, such as the Never Summer Proto Type Two, Lib Tech Travis Rice Pro, Arbor Wasteland, and Rossignol One LF, got 9s.

Stability at Speed


burton custom flying v - burton flying v during a slash spray. kurt wastell (rider).
Burton Flying V during a slash spray. Kurt Wastell (rider).
Credit: Tim Pearse

Put this board on your hardwood floor at home and you could play “spin the bottle” with it. Its generous amount of rocker made it feel quite loose at speed while flat on the base. It did better up on its edges though, but overall not a contender for top stable boards. 7 out of 10. The Burton Flight Attendant scored the only 10 out of 10 in this metric, maintaining optimal stability at speed and doubling as a military tank.

Playfulness


Nine out of 10 is awesome! This contender was such great fun to ride — as long as you don't ride really fast. Our tester was impressed with how quickly it went from edge to edge, but it just felt too squirrelly off jumps. It felt loose at high speed, too, but fast and loose can be fun sometimes. It's up to you what you're comfortable with. Just try and stay in control with this one while hauling.

burton custom flying v - kurt wastell getting to know the flying-v.
Kurt Wastell getting to know the Flying-V.
Credit: Tim Peare

Pop


Forget about it; it's soft and banana'd. You'd likely get more response out of a 2x4. Six out of 10 — the lowest scoring in pop. We'd recommend the Never Summer Proto Type Two, Burton Flight Attendant, or Rome Agent if exceptional pop if something that you just can't live without.

Best Applications


A super friendly board for those just starting out.

Value


Ride-ability comes nowhere close to the $600 price tag for this one.

Conclusion


Some riders might like everything about this board that this tester found lacking. We'd recommend purchasing this board only if you are new and under average weight.

burton custom flying v - highlighting the base and edge of the custom flying v.
Highlighting the base and edge of the Custom Flying V.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Chris Edmands