I am buying my first snowboard and bindings and l need a little advice. I've been snowboarding for three years and have already bought my own boots (a size 10 Northwave boot) but now I am about to splash out on my first snowboard and bindings. I am 5'10'' and just over 15 stone. I've got a budget of £400-£450 for the package and I am an all-mountain boarder- l do not spend ANY time in the parks. Thanks for all your help.
Many thanks Mikey. Unfortunately l kinda understand the tech but l can not physically test a large number of boards and bindings because of work restraints and therefore l was looking for a few 'stand-out' boards and bindings to look at.

Also, with reference to the exchange rate, although there is something like $1.8 to £1 the board prices do not reflect that exchange rate. A Burton Custom is $399 or £399, a Ride Antic is $400 or £300.

Hope that helps everybody out.

You do not need a wide board with size 10 boots, & and all-mountain board will be fine for you, although u could also get a free-ride board if u r more inclined towards a stiffer, faster board. l do not know what boards sell for in the UK, but considering the Pound-dollar ratio I'd bet that you're not going to run into many budget constraints. l can do metric to imperial conversions, but l am afraid many american have no clue what stone actually means. so l look3ed it up, & it appears that it is roughly 210 lbs, correct? for that weight I'd be looking into a board that was 162-166, & probably on the longer end of that ratio.

As for bindings, I'd be looking at the stiffer all mountain or free-ride ones as well. They will be a lot more responsive than the more forgiving freestyle binders. Look for a good pair of intermediate level bindings. You get a lot of the proven tech trickling down form the high end, without the latest gimmicks or experiments, & the price tag is a lot more palatable.

If l were you, l would have a board shipped from the US so that u could take advantage of the exchange rate.

If u r looking at free ride, riding trees & groomed runs & general all mountain riding l would really suggest a Ride or K2 board. My favorite is the Ride Control & the Ride EX binding (the Ride LX binding is OK too, just not as nice). These can be found at 50% off clearance, but u have missed most of those for the year (Aug - Sept).

Check these boards / bindings:

Ride Control ($350)
http://sierrasnowboard.com/Ride-Control-42358.asp

Ride Fleetwood ($175 clearance - Wide version of Control)
http://sierrasnowboard.com/Ride-Fleetwood-1966.asp

Ride EX ($150)
http://sierrasnowboard.com/Ride-EX-42498.asp

Ride RX ($60 clearance, reg $120)
http://sierrasnowboard.com/Ride-LX-Womens-1981.asp

Good Luck