Burton Custom Camber vs Burton Process: Which Board Fits Your Riding Style?
Choosing between the Burton Custom vs Process can be surprisingly difficult. Both are popular camber-based Burton snowboards, both can handle the whole resort, and both provide enough pop and response for experienced riders.
But they do not feel the same on snow.
The Burton Custom Camber is the more powerful, directional, and carving-focused option. It rewards stronger inputs, feels composed when speed increases, and works well for riders who want one board for aggressive all-mountain riding.
The Burton Process Camber is the more freestyle-oriented choice. Its twin shape and PurePop Camber profile make it better suited to switch riding, spins, side hits, jumps, and playful resort laps.
One important clarification: both boards sit in Burton's medium personality range. This is not simply a soft-board-versus-stiff-board comparison. The bigger differences come from shape, camber profile, construction, and how each board delivers its flex.
Table of Contents
Burton Custom vs Process: Quick Answer
Burton Custom Camber
- Stronger carving performance
- Better stability at speed
- More power through uneven snow
- Directional all-mountain riding
- Faster Sintered WFO base
- Powerful whole-mountain daily driver
Burton Process Camber
- Freestyle riding
- Side hits and jumps
- Frequent switch riding
- Easier presses, butters, and spins
- More playful resort feel
- Intermediate-friendly progression
The Custom is the better choice for riders who want to drive the board. The Process is the better choice for riders who want to play with the mountain.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Category | Burton Custom Camber | Burton Process Camber |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Directional with twin flex | True twin with twin flex |
| Camber | Traditional camber | PurePop Camber |
| Personality | Medium, powerful, and precise | Medium, playful, and freestyle-focused |
| Best terrain | All-mountain, carving, speed | Park, side hits, switch, resort freestyle |
| Fiberglass | 45° Carbon Highlights | Triax fiberglass |
| Base | Sintered WFO | Sintered |
| Riding level | Strong intermediate to expert | Intermediate and above |
| Best rider | Strong all-mountain rider | Freestyle-focused resort rider |
1. Flex and Overall Feel
Burton Custom Camber
The Custom feels more powerful and committed underfoot. Traditional camber and carbon-enhanced fiberglass give it an energetic, connected feel. Load the tail through a turn or compress it before an ollie, and it returns a stronger response.
It does not need to feel dramatically stiffer to feel more demanding. Strong rebound, continuous edge engagement, and a directional platform encourage purposeful riding and accurate pressure control.
Burton Process Camber
The Process feels more neutral and easier to manipulate. PurePop Camber adds subtle flat zones around the camber section, keeping the board lively while making it easier to release into spins, flex during presses, and redirect through freestyle terrain.
It is not a soft beginner board, but it bends and responds with less precision required than the Custom.
2. Speed and Stability
If your riding includes fast groomers, steep terrain, chopped afternoon snow, or long carving lines, the Custom has the advantage.
Why the Custom Feels More Stable
Traditional camber maintains consistent pressure along the edge. As speed increases, that continuous engagement creates a planted, predictable feel. The directional shape helps the board track naturally, while 45° Carbon Highlights tune torsional response and the Sintered WFO base supports sustained speed when maintained properly.
How the Process Handles Speed
The Process can ride fast on clean groomers. Its sintered base, Triax fiberglass, and camber provide enough stability for normal resort riding. However, the true-twin freestyle design feels more neutral and less directional. At higher speeds, it rewards a lighter, more centered stance rather than aggressive front-foot pressure.
Speed winner: Burton Custom Camber. The Process is capable, but the Custom is better for sustained speed, stronger riders, and rougher snow.
3. Carving and Edge Hold
This is where the Custom creates the clearest performance gap.
Burton Custom Carving Performance
The Custom's traditional camber loads smoothly through the entire turn. As you tip it onto edge, pressure builds progressively from contact point to contact point.
- Stronger edge hold
- More energy exiting the turn
- Better support through deep carves
- More confidence on steeper groomers
- More precise response to front-foot pressure
Its Dualzone EGD core construction reinforces the toe and heel edges for additional response, strength, and edge hold. The more edge angle you create, the more rewarding the board feels.
Burton Process Carving Performance
The Process still carves well for a freestyle board. PurePop Camber supplies real edge control, while Triax fiberglass keeps it responsive across varied terrain. It is well suited to quick, energetic resort turns between park laps, but it does not feel as continuously loaded or powerful as the Custom through long, aggressive carves.
Carving winner: Burton Custom Camber. Choose the Process when carving supports your freestyle riding rather than serving as the main event.
4. Freestyle, Park, and Switch Riding
The Process is the stronger freestyle board. Its perfectly symmetrical twin shape keeps the nose and tail consistent whether you ride regular or switch.
Where the Process Excels
- Side hits
- Medium and large jumps
- Spins
- Switch riding
- Butters
- Presses
- Creative resort laps
- Park riding without sacrificing the mountain
Can the Custom Ride Freestyle?
Absolutely. Twin flex, strong pop, carbon-enhanced response, and a supportive platform make it excellent for jumps and powerful side hits. Strong riders may even prefer it for fast approaches and heavy landings. Where it loses is low-speed freestyle: butters, presses, and frequent switch riding require more effort than on the Process.
Freestyle winner: Burton Process Camber. The Custom can handle freestyle, but the Process makes freestyle movements easier and more intuitive.
5. Which Is the Better Daily Driver?
Custom as a Powerful Daily Driver
Choose the Custom when your average day includes fast groomers, steeper terrain, carving, trees, natural side hits, mixed snow, occasional park laps, and some powder.
Its weakness is that it can feel more demanding when you are tired, riding slowly, or cruising with less experienced friends.
Process as a Playful Daily Driver
Choose the Process when the entire resort is your freestyle playground: switch laps, side hits, park runs, butters, spins, rollers, and slower creative riding.
It is also the friendlier option for an intermediate rider who wants camber response without immediately stepping into the Custom's stronger personality.
6. Powder and Variable Snow
Neither board is a powder specialist, but the Custom has the advantage. Its directional shape uses a slightly longer nose than tail, improving flow and control through mixed conditions. The Process can ride powder with the stance set back through Burton's Channel system, but its twin shape requires more rear-leg effort in deeper snow.
7. Skill Level and Progression
Who Should Choose the Process?
- Intermediate riders
- Freestyle-focused riders
- Park riders
- Riders learning switch
- Riders who prefer a playful resort feel
- Anyone who jumps and spins more than they carve aggressively
It is not the ideal first board for a complete beginner, but it is a strong progression board once basic edge control is consistent.
Who Should Choose the Custom?
- Strong intermediate riders
- Advanced and expert riders
- Carving-focused riders
- Faster all-mountain riders
- Riders who prefer response over forgiveness
- Riders seeking one board for demanding resort terrain
A cautious intermediate can ride it, but the Custom will not hide poor technique as readily as a softer or more rockered board.
What About the Burton Custom X?
The Custom X is not simply a more expensive regular Custom. It is a substantially more aggressive board intended for riders who want maximum precision, speed, and response.
Most riders deciding between the Process and regular Custom do not need to include the Custom X unless they already know they prefer stiff, demanding snowboards. The regular Custom is the more realistic quiver-of-one; the Custom X is the specialist choice for advanced and expert riders.
Burton Custom vs Process: Final Recommendation
Choose the Custom if you want the board to feel powerful beneath you.
Choose the Process if you want the board to feel playful around you.
Neither is universally better. The right choice depends on whether you spend more of your day driving turns or creating tricks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Burton Custom stiffer than the Burton Process?
The Custom generally feels stronger, more responsive, and more demanding, even though both sit in Burton's medium personality category. Its traditional camber, directional shape, carbon-enhanced fiberglass, and faster base create a more powerful ride.
Is the Burton Process good for all-mountain riding?
Yes. The Process handles groomers, side hits, park laps, and general resort terrain well. Its strongest advantage remains freestyle riding rather than aggressive carving or high-speed freeriding.
Is the Burton Custom good for the park?
Yes, especially for jumps and powerful side hits. Its twin flex and strong pop make it capable in the park, but it is less natural for presses, butters, and frequent switch riding than the Process.
Which board is better for intermediate riders?
The Process is the easier recommendation for a typical intermediate. The Custom better suits a strong intermediate who already rides confidently and wants to progress toward faster carving and more aggressive terrain.
Which is better for riding switch?
The Process is better for frequent switch riding because it uses a true-twin shape and symmetrical twin flex. The Custom rides switch well, but its directional shape still favors forward riding.
Complete Your All-Mountain Setup
Once you have chosen the right snowboard, finish your setup with performance-focused snow gear from Snowears. Explore baggy snow jackets, snow pants, goggles, gloves, and snowboard socks built for long resort days.
Baggy Snow Jackets
Roomy outerwear designed for layering, movement, and changing mountain weather.
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Baggy Snow Pants
Relaxed-fit snow pants built for freestyle movement and long resort days.
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Gloves & Socks
Warm essentials that help keep hands and feet comfortable from first chair to last lap.
Shop AccessoriesCarve harder or ride more creatively—the right board should match how you see the mountain. 🏂