United Shapes Snowboards F/W 2026/27 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Snowboards F/W 2026/27 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: UNITED SHAPES
Interviewee: Marketing Team

What major trends are shaping the snowboard market (pricing, consumer preferences, rider demographics, retail shifts)?
We’re seeing slight increases in prices across the market due to global economics, while consumers may be tightening their spending habits a bit.

BRAND FOCUS

What is your brand’s core mission or philosophy, and how does it influence snowboard design and development?
Our philosophy is rooted in simplicity and refinement. We believe that the power of subtraction can elevate our experiences in life, but more specifically in snowboarding. We take this approach to our snowboard design – stripping away everything unnecessary and leaning into only the technologies and materials that enrich the riding experience.

How has your brand’s role in the snowboard market evolved in recent years?
In a time of increased product experimentation, progression and influence, our role has become more clear – to continue to uphold and refine the ethos of freeriding and the personal enjoyment, fulfillment and expression that reverberates.

Who is your target rider for the 26/27 season, and how has this profile changed compared to the past?
We are widening our view to more and more freeriders of all ability levels – welcoming them in to share their perspectives and love for self expression, connection with the natural world and appreciation for simplicity.

Which product ranges or categories do you expect to drive the most growth in 26/27?
We are expecting a focus on all-mountain freeride, daily driver type boards as well as a renewed focus on splitboarding.

SNOWBOARD SPECIFIC

What trends or developments in construction, shapes, and innovation are guiding your 26/27 snowboard range?
Simple, premium quality, adaptable and versatile shapes.

What new materials or material innovations are you using — inserts, edges, cores, sidewalls, resin, glues, base material, top sheet, wax, or others?
We continue to lean into honest materials that perform at the highest level, manufactured as sustainably as possible. We view refinement as performance and innovation.

How are you incorporating sustainability and ethical production into your boards (materials, processes, lifecycle, packaging)?
We’ve partnered with a new factory in Austria that is on the leading edge of sustainable manufacturing. From closed loop production processes to FSC certified wood cores, bio-based resins and sourcing as locally as possible, our 2627 collection is a positive step forward.

What design directions are you taking — graphics, patterns, collabs, or signature editions?
We are bringing more color back into our collection as well as exploring a more graphic forward approach. We’ve worked closely with our team on the redevelopment of our line and we couldn’t be more excited about where we’ve landed.

Are you focusing on particular rider groups (freeride, freestyle, all-mountain, women’s-specific, youth, beginner) for 26/27?
We are really leaning into Freeride as a whole, it’s not only our DNA but where we see the most opportunity for snowboarding. We are also focusing on our space within Splitboarding, as we introduce our new Deep Reach Splitboard.

Key Products:

Horizon:
The Horizon is built for the everyday rider who wants one board to do it all. Blending freestyle versatility with freeride precision, it’s designed for the real conditions most riders encounter at the resort – groomers, side hits, natural and unnatural terrain, and the occasional powder day. Smooth and responsive, it balances stability with playfulness, giving you the confidence to carve, press, and pop your way across the mountain. Handcrafted in Austria with premium materials and a focus on sustainability, the Horizon is a modern take on all-mountain riding – versatile, predictable and built to interact.

UtdS_2627_Horizon

Covert:
From the highest peaks on this planet to your local tree run, the Covert Splitboard is built for all mountain versatility in the backcountry. The tapered, directional shape with positive camber provides touring stability and confident edge hold, while early rise in the nose ensures reliable float when the snow gets deep. A classic kick-tail brings freestyle inspired maneuverability whether threading technical terrain, riding switch, or adding creativity to your descent. Approachable yet capable, the Covert is equal parts tool and toy: efficient on the skin track, expressive on the ride down, and ready for whatever line lies ahead. Handcrafted in Austria, the Covert Split is designed for riders who want one board to handle it all – versatile, dependable, and rooted in freeride progression.

UtdS_2627_Covert

Deep Reach Split:
The Deep Reach Splitboard brings playfulness and dependable float to the backcountry. Its wider platform, tapered shape, and early-rise nose keep you floating effortlessly through deep snow, while a medium flex profile balances responsiveness with forgiveness across variable terrain. Designed for efficient touring and dreamy descents, the Deep Reach Split is approachable yet capable, equally at home navigating long skin tracks as it is drawing clean lines through untouched powder. Handcrafted in Austria, the Deep Reach Split is a backcountry tool that embodies simplicity, balance, and the pure freedom of riding beyond the resort.

Deep Reach