Firstly, the K2 Stealth Eldorado differs from the standard Eldorado in three ways:

1) Stealth has a graphite Electra 4000 base versus the standard ptex UHMW 2000 base in the standard Eldo.

2) There is a steel grommet in the tail (for backcountry towing).

3) Stealth Eldo comes in black w/grey stripes in sizes 159, 164, and 169 only. Standard Eldo has the "red, white, & blue" color scheme.

For the purposes of gauging this review, I'm 5'10, 190 lbs, size 11 feet. I ride Clicker HB Pro bindings.

I have been riding a Stealth Eldo 164 for 2 seasons and I love it. It was made for backcountry freeriding, which is exactly what I like to do with it if I'm not powderhunting in-bounds. It isn't twin tip, so I guess it wouldn't be great for freestyle.

For me, the one thing that sets this board apart from others that I've ridden is the exceptional holding power that this board has in the turns, both in powder and pack. People have told me that it's because the board is stiff, which makes it great for freeriding, but tougher to maneuver in moguls. I agree somewhat, but I think moguls suck on any board, and the Eldo isn't hampering me to any significant degree in the bumps.

When I bought this board, I was almost bought the 169, but bought the 164 because I figured that it would offset any difficulty I would have in the moguls. Moguls really aren't an issue and I wish I had bought the 169 for even more stability.

The tow hole is nice. Most times you'll have a board-compatible backpack if you're hiking a board, but for short hikes out of bounds, the hole is great. I carry a bit of light rope in my parka for this. Even if you have a pack, towing is quicker to get going. Of course, it also comes in handy for the undignified times when you're stuck in the deeps.

Not sure how I feel about the graphite base vs ptex. I honestly don't think there's that much difference in performance, although people always say that graphite is faster. I've also heard that graphite is easier to ding on rocks and branches. I haven't found that to be true either. My base is in great shape after 2 seasons. The only verifiable thing that I've seen with graphite is that it takes more maintenance. I rode this board heavily once for 4 full days, and the base became slightly whitish in spots, apparently from abrasion. When I brought the board in for wax/sharpening, the guy said: "Dude, you need to keep this baby waxed up better." When I was waxed up again, the spots went away and everything was fine. The graphite doesn't seem to hold wax as long as ptex, which is a pain. When I look at the big picture though, I figure that the graphite factors into the juju of why this board feels so good, so I just wax more. Plus, the black base looks good (c'mon, this is the most important thing) and is very effective in absorbing radar emissions (hence "Stealth").

Recommended: Yes