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PTO Review
We skied them. Here's how they stack up.
Women's Stratos — intermediate-and-up directional riders who put deep snow first and want a board that changes direction fast — trees, gullies, tight all-mountain lines — while still holding an edge on the groomer home. Mercury — riders who want a one-board quiver that excels at carving and all-mountain riding but can still hit park features. Check the radar chart below to see where each one wins.
Each row compares all boards on one dimension. 🏆 marks the highest score.
| Dimension | Women's Stratos | Mercury |
|---|---|---|
| Carving | 7 | 9🏆 |
| Park | 3 | 6🏆 |
| Playfulness | 8🏆 | 7 |
| Forgiveness | 6🏆 | 6🏆 |
| Stability | 5 | 7🏆 |
| Powder | 9🏆 | 5 |
Intermediate-and-up directional riders who put deep snow first and want a board that changes direction fast — trees, gullies, tight all-mountain lines — while still holding an edge on the groomer home. Riders who want the Stratos platform in a length, waist and radius cut for a lighter body and a smaller boot.
Park and switch riders — Jones scores it Freestyle 4 and the outline is tapered and directional; the true-twin Tweaker 2.0 is the tool for that. Hardpack-only riders who want to trench long carves on firm snow, where a full-camber twin like the Rally Cat or Airheart 2.0 grips truer. Riders chasing camber pop and precision on steep technical faces, which is the Howler's job. First-season beginners, since a medium flex still asks to be worked. And anyone in a bigger boot or carrying more weight — this model has no wide width and the run stops at 155.
Riders who want a one-board quiver that excels at carving and all-mountain riding but can still hit park features. Speed lovers who want edge hold and stability.
Beginners still learning to link turns. Dedicated park/jib riders — too stiff and directional. Deep powder specialists.
The Women's Stratos is best for intermediate-and-up directional riders who put deep snow first and want a board that changes direction fast — trees,. The Mercury is best for riders who want a one-board quiver that excels at carving and all-mountain riding but can still hit park features. The right choice depends on your primary terrain, ability level, and riding style.
The CAPiTA Mercury scores highest in Stability at 7/10, making it the strongest all-mountain option. It handles groomers, chop, and variable conditions without losing composure, so it's the best single-snowboard choice for riders who want one board for the whole mountain.
The CAPiTA Mercury leads in Carving with a PTO score of 9/10. Its edge grip on hard snow and groomed runs is the strongest in this comparison.
The Jones Women's Stratos is the most forgiving option with a Forgiveness score of 6/10. It doesn't punish imperfect technique, making it the easiest snowboard to progress on among these.
Not sure? Ask us.