What is the Burton Ronin collection?

Like its namesake masterless Samurai, the 2002-2009 Burton Ronin outerwear collection was characterized by non-conformity and unapologetic individuality. With baggy fits, loud fabric prints, and zany accessories, Ronin was a big middle finger to the snowsports clothing status-quo. However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise because non-conformity, flipping the bird, and snowboarding tend to go hand in hand at Burton.

Jump in the Delorian with us for a trip back to the 2000’s and a drive down memory lane. It’s time to learn everything there is to know about the discontinued (but never forgotten) Burton Ronin outerwear collection.

A Brief History of Burton Ronin

When Burton Ronin debuted in 2002, the rider catalog summed up the new collection perfectly:

“There came a point in time when we felt comfortable enough with our ability to make clothes that worked in all environments that we were able to let our designers run...we had no idea where they would run to, though. They pulled together people and influences from cultural centers, progressive thinkers, avant-garde ideas and stylings, and mixed all these components and more to create the Style group. While we would never put form before function, the result of putting them next to each other has resulted in some of the most unique clothing ever.”

The term “Style group” referred to the three-tiered outerwear lineup that year, which included Style, Loaded, and Minimalism categories.

2002 Burton Outerwear Product Groups:

• Style: Ronin
• Loaded: Tactic
• Minimalism: [ak]

Essentially, the Burton Ronin line was the product team’s style lab, an opportunity to experiment with unique prints, styles, and out-of-the-box features. In many ways, Ronin was similar to Analog, although it was a little bit closer to the core Burton brand.

Ronin was prominent in Burton’s outerwear from 2002 through 2009 before evolving into the Burton Restricted line. And while Ronin is no longer in production, if you are determined to get your hands on some items from this iconic Burton outerwear line, you can occasionally find them on various online auction websites.

Burton Ronin Line: A Style Lab for Experimentation

Experimentation is a big part of progression, something Burton wholeheartedly embraces in our approach to snowboarding. Keeping true to that ethos, the Burton Ronin line exemplified our designers’ willingness to take chances with both aesthetics and technical features.

Despite incorporating many out-of-the-box ideas, Burton never compromised on the performance of the Ronin line for the sake of appearance. Even when throwing restraint out the window of the design lab, the core functionality of protection from the elements was always a foundational starting point. That said, Ronin was primarily designed for front-country resort riding, where snowboarders could put their style on display for the whole mountain to see.

A Blast from the Past: Burton Ronin Time Capsule

Reading about the history of Burton’s Ronin line can only provide so much context, so let’s take a look at some memorable pieces of Ronin kit that have been carefully preserved in the Burton Archives.

2004 Burton Ronin Katana Jacket

The unassuming Burton Ronin Katana Jacket wasn’t a huge departure from previous Burton styling, at least not from the outside. But there was something unique built into its removable liner: Spaceloft aerogel insulation. This innovative material, which was developed by Aspen Aerogels and used in NASA space vehicles, was strategically placed where it would insulate the core and vital organs. Essentially, the Katana provided insulation that was on par with much bulkier down jackets, all while retaining the mobility and range of motion needed for snowboarding. However, along with its promise of incredible warmth was a price tag that made every other jacket that season seem like a bargain.

From the Burton Catalog: We reached far outside of the snowboarding industry to bring you the latest in lightweight insulation technology. Straight from NASA to you, Spaceloft by Aspen Aerogels Insulation is considered by leading technology experts as the best insulation material known to man because it’s 10 times warmer than your typical insulation and lighter than air. Used in NASA’s launch vehicles, Spaceloft can hold up under temperatures of minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit – where you would turn to ice in a damn hurry.

2006 Burton Ronin Biker Jacket

The 2006 Burton Ronin Biker Jacket was a doppelganger for a classic motorcycle jacket. It had an oversized collar and lapels, metal zippers, vertical entry pockets, and buckled side adjusters.

From the Burton Catalog: Chopper sold separately. Storm-lite 1.0-E fabric, mesh-lined pit zips, 2 synthetic suede colorways, metal zipper on pockets and cuffs, fully taped seams, sidearm hem adjustment, Thermacore insulation, quilted satin lining.

2006 Burton Ronin Espionage Jacket

The 2006 Burton Ronin Espionage Jacket was a unique piece of outerwear built with many premium features and included a removable 2L insulated vest. Perhaps the most memorable feature of this jacket was the custom digital camera that was included with it and was marketed as a way to document your crew’s antics on the mountain.

From the Burton Catalog: La Cosa Nostra – our influences, backgrounds, and beliefs – we are each unique. But snowboarding, this thing of ours, is where we all meet. Straight from the Q-lab to you, the Ronin Espionage Jacket, complete with a low-profile custom digital camera, acts as the eyes for all of your crew’s clandestine operations. From decoding rails to infiltrating secret stashes, the Espionage is the stealth solution for winter warfare.

The fully taped 3L shell comes equipped with a removable 2L insulation vest. With a couple quick snaps, remove the vest and run with just the essentials. When stakes are higher, there are no retakes, no second chances. This is survival of the fittest. Your missions – document the destruction.

2009 Burton Ronin Love Jacket

At Burton, we love to stir things up, and that’s just what our Love snowboards did back in the 2000’s. These cheeky decks, which were designed in collaboration with Playboy, featured quite a bit of skin, enough so that protestors showed up at Burton Snowboards HQ on multiple occasions, to express their...unhappiness with us. However, we’re incorrigible and continued manufacturing Love boards into 2011.

Alongside the 2008/09 Love snowboards, the Burton Ronin Love Jacket was also a big hit. However, unlike the in-your-face art on the Love snowboards, the Love jacket was more covert, with the nudie pics adorning the inner satin liner. This meant that from the outside, no one could tell that you had a whole bunch of centerfolds keeping you company on the slopes, that is, not until you hit the lodge and unzipped your jacket.

From the Burton Catalog: Baby’s got your back. Dryride Durashell 2-Layer coated tech pinstriped fabric, fulltime Contour hood, fully-taped seams, printed satin LOVE lining system, Team relaxed fit, extended-length sport coat style.

2007 Burton Ronin Button Down Jacket (“The Couch Jacket”)

The Burton Ronin Button Down Jacket looked just like your grandparents’ comfy old couch, with buttons spaced evenly all over it.

From the Burton Catalog: Couch surfing takes on new meaning. Storm-lite 3.0-D fabric, fully taped seams, 650 goose down fill, satin lining, pit zips, fulltime Contour hood, custom sound pocket with retractable ear buds, zippered chest pockets, pass pocket, waist gaiter with jacket-to-pant interface, lifetime warranty.

2009 Burton Ronin Audio Stroll Down Jacket

By 2009, the Burton Ronin line had really hit its stride in terms of flamboyant designs. The Burton Ronin Audio Stroll Down Jacket wasn’t the loudest, in terms of its appearance, although it did have a fur trim on the hood, and an asymmetrical color panel on one shoulder. But this jacket did stand out in terms of actual volume: it had speakers built into the hood, allowing riders to hook up their Discman and bump their favorite tunes for the world to hear.

From the Burton Catalog: Bump what’s good in the hood. Dryride Durashell 2-layer laminated fabric, removable ASSystem with Amp and weather-resistant speakers and carrying case, compatible with 3.5mm headphone jack, team relaxed fit, 550 fill-power down, fulltime Contour hood with removable speakers and fur trim, critically taped seams, Link Zip jacket-to-pant interface, life-time warranty.

2009 Burton Ronin One Piece (Forest Print)

One-piece snowsports outerwear wasn't anything new, but the way Burton outerwear designers took a single photograph of a backlit forest and applied the image onto the Burton Ronin One Piece was. Pulling off the engineered print was technically demanding, and it proved that one-piece outerwear kits could be functional and stylish. Who knew?

From the Burton Catalog: Put him in a body bag, Johnny. Dryride Durashell 2-layer laminated fabric, full-time contour hood, fully-taped seams, cargo pockets, Team relaxed fit, ALS lining, head-to-toe engineered sublimation print, life-time warranty.

Burton Ronin Outerwear Collection: Final Thoughts

When it comes to style, it’s hard to top the flamboyance, fun, and funkiness of Burton’s Ronin outerwear line. Whether it was a crazy snakeskin pattern, an integrated pair of speakers, or enough extra fabric that you could fit a second person in your pants, Ronin let riders stand out on the mountain in a very big way. This iconic collection may no longer be in production, but its impact on snowboarding style remains.

And who knows what the future holds - the legend of Ronin foretells the return of the samurai without a master when the time is right – only time will tell.