Should I Get A Snowboard With Magne Traction Or Any Other Edge Tech?

    When you are leafing through the snowboard rack in a shop, you'll notice that some snowboards have serrated edges. This design is called Magne-traction and was pioneered by Lib-Tech, but a few other snowboard brands have adopted the idea with their own spin on it. Let’s take a close look at Magne-Traction, so you can decide if you should buy a snowboard with Magne-Traction or other edge-tech designs.

What Is Magne-Traction

While you're carving on an edge, most traditional snowboards have two points in contact with the snow. These points are at the nose and tail and take all of the pressure you put into your turns or traverses. The serreated design of Magne-Traction snowboards increases the number of contact points with the snow. These extra contact points cut into the snow, giving you more grip. The original Lib-Tech design has 7 bumps, with the largest ones placed between your feet, where the least amount of force goes into the board. You'll notice other brands' serrated edges have 5 to 7 bumps, and they will have their own name for their versions of the tech. Brands with similar edge-tech include:

• Burton - Frostbite Edges
• Salomon - Equalizer
• Arbor - Griptech
• Rome - QuickRip
• Never Summer - Vario Power Grip

How Does Magne-Traction Benefit Your Riding

When you ride hard-packed snow and ice, you'll really notice the extra grip Magne-Traction gives you. As those bumps cut into the snow, you'll stand less chance of washing out on icy patches. This is especially the case if you ride a rocker snowboard, as they tend to have weaker edge hold than other profiles. Magne-Traction also benefits park riders. For example, riders who spend a lot of time riding rails and boxes prefer to detune their edges. This reduces the likelihood of catching an edge, but if you do this on a snowboard with regular edges, you lose grip for other aspects of riding. However, detuned Magne-Traction edges still provide grip while protecting you from edge catches. You may notice that some splitboards have serrated edges. This may seem odd, as they are primarily used in powder, where the extra bumps won't make a difference. However, Magne-Traction helps you during your ascent, as the serrated inside edge gives you lots of grip when making tricky kick turns.

Should I Get A Snowboard With Magne-Traction?

Most snowboarders who have tried Magne-Traction boards have positive experiences with them. They love the extra control and grip the tech provides while cutting through the snow. If you're lucky enough to spend most of your time riding powder, you won't benefit from serrated edges at all, but these boards aren't aimed at you. As with many things, whether you buy a snowboard with Magne Traction or not depends on personal taste. Some people prefer the feeling and performance of traditional snowboard edges. But others love the extra security of Magne-Traction when riding on ice and the added precision when riding aggressively. So I wouldn't say that Magne-Traction is essential for everyone, but many people can benefit from it. After riding a Magne-Traction snowboard, you may struggle to go back to a snowboard with traditional-style edges.