Burton Grails: Y2K Futurism Meets the Mountains

Long before "techwear" was trending, Burton was strapping speakers into jackets, wiring up coolers, and packing Bluetooth into the backcountry.

In the early 2000s, we weren’t just thinking about the future—we were riding straight into it. Call it Y2K Futurism: a wild era where snowboarding collided with emerging technology, and style didn’t just meet function—it partied with it.

From outerwear that doubled as mobile sound systems to hoodies with hidden pillows and bags built to blast your playlist, this was the golden age of Burton’s most experimental designs. Some were ahead of their time. Some bent the rules. All of them pushed the limits of what snowboard gear could be.

Here’s a closer look at a few of our favorites from the archives:

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Released in collaboration with Apple, this was the industry’s very first electronic, wearable jacket complete with an integrated iPod control system.

Working in conjunction with the original iPod (anyone still have theirs?), the AMP gave riders the ability to toggle through music and adjust volume accordingly via a control panel on the sleeve.

Wrapped up in a performance-driven GORE-TEX construction, the limited-edition AMP was a stylish piece of outerwear complete with high-tech features through and through.

No headphones, no problem. Whether you accidentally left them at home, or were just sick of a tangled mess of cords (this was the mid-00s — AirPods were a long ways away), our 2006 Audex Cargo Jacket had your ears covered. Literally.

One of our many collabs with Motorola, this high-performance piece of outerwear didn’t just protect you from the elements, but kept you in your element, too. Featuring an integrated Audex Motorola Bluetooth system with speakers in the hood and a control panel on the sleeve, this coat was a wearable stereo system. And yes, it was all removable — meaning you could still wash it after a few weeks of listening to your dirty rap.

Disturbing the peace was never cooler. Bringing two of our favorite pastimes together — cold beverages and loud music — 2009’s introduction of the Lil Buddy provided an instant upgrade to all of our post-ride lot sessions.

Featuring an insulated main compartment with a capacity for 12 cold ones, this proprietary bag was equipped to bring the party from said lot back to the crib. With an integrated amp and speaker system that was compatible with everything from an iPod to 8-tracks, it was capable of keeping the party going the entire journey, too. And yes, the zipper pull was obviously a bottle opener. Duh.

As snowboarders, we’re inclined to travel great lengths in search of good conditions. And when we’re reclined — in the seat of an airplane or in the backseat of a van — we see it as a good opportunity to catch up on some much-needed Z’s. But who wants a stiff neck as a result? Enter 2008I’s Sleeper Hoodie. Aside from being an extremely cozy zip-up for daily adventures, it had one specific feature that truly made it a must-have for travel: an integrated pillow.

Featuring an inflatable pillow incorporated into its hood, the Sleeper Hoodie was a groundbreaking design for the jet setting boarders — no matter if they were logging air miles or dirtbagging it across the country.

2009’s Strapped Down Jacket made every lift ride an after party. Featuring our removable ASSystem — an integrated amp and weather-resistant speakers — this fashionable down jacket was capable of getting down from the mountain to the club. Complete with a carrying case to take your music out of the jacket and on the go, and compatible with everything from 8-tracks to iPods, this was truly a go anywhere, do anything piece of fine fashion wear.

Speaking of fashion, we of course had to incorporate a removable faux fur hood (all the rage in the 00s). And what really set this particular colorway off was its Cosmic Madness Jacquard fabric — meaning the outside graphic was actually woven, not printed. It doesn’t get any more high fashion than this.

Audio integration aside, 2009 was also a big year for us in terms of overall performance engineering. Case in point? Our 3L Hybrid jacket. At first glance, it looks like a pretty standard offering in terms of outerwear. But, like most things, there’s much more than meets the eye.

Featuring our proprietary Engineered Lining System with Welded Insulating Body Panels, the Hybrid maximized warmth and breathability. To this day, it’s a design that has been mimicked by other competitors across industry. Sticking true to our history, this jacket was yet another example of Burton’s commitment to innovation.

Aside from being our first reversible 3L jacket, 2009’s Porter Patrol also managed to piss off a few people along the way (hmm, I wonder why?). Featuring a red and black colorway with white crosses on the chest and arms, this jacket was a perfect way to blend in with the local authorities (sorry, ski patrol). Unopened terrain? Check. No pass? No worries. But not that we were ever condoning that behavior.

And when you didn’t want to be associated with the boys in red, the flipside of the Porter Patrol was a classic, stealthy black color. A perfect combo for evading the heat and blending in with the civilians.

While the National Ski Patrol — and a long list of resorts — weren’t the biggest fan of this jacket, it will forever hold a special place in both our archives and Burton history books. Sorry, skiers.

We weren’t waiting around for the future to show up, we were building it into jackets, bags, and hoodies with zero hesitation and maximum imagination. Some of those ideas were wild. Some were weird. And some—like Bluetooth outerwear and engineered insulation—still influence how we ride today.

At Burton, innovation has never been about playing it safe. It's about riding the edge, having fun, and doing things no one else dares to try. And if that means pissing off a few ski patrollers or blowing out some speakers in the process? Even better.

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