Snowboarding is an awesome experience, but it takes a little preparation to be ready for the slopes. The first and most important piece of gear that you need to purchase is your snowboarding boots. Finding the right pair of boots is imperative, as your boots can be essentially what makes or breaks your experience on the mountain. If your feet are uncomfortable, your day will be miserable, so your goal is to find a pair of boots that fits both your needs and your style. Let’s start by narrowing down the options by pinpointing some characteristics that will help you zero in on the perfect snowboarding boots for you.
Riding Style
What’s your riding style? The type of boots that you select will depend on it, especially if your movements require a more responsive type of boot. Here are some of the different snowboarding ride styles that may be a determining factor in which boots you choose:
- All Mountain – An all mountain riding style means that you snowboard on any location possible. Most snowboarders who favor this style like to have boots that are on the softer side, unless speed is their aim.
- Freestyle – This style includes half pipes, slides, jumps, and tricks, which requires a bit of flexibility in your boots.
- Freeride – This style of snowboarding typically focuses on speed, so a stiffer boot is preferred.
Flex and Support Level
The amount of support your boots give you on the slopes is important to the type of snowboarding that you want to do. Your skill level will also affect the flex rating on your boots. Here is a breakdown to help you decide which is best for you:
- Stiff – This level of support is great for advanced snowboarders. Landing tricks is easier on your ankles and you will have a higher degree of response from the boots.
- Medium – Anyone who needs a responsive boot that is still flexible should shoot for a medium flex.
- Soft – This support level is great for beginners, but it is also the perfect option for someone who needs a lot of flexibility to perform tricks in the park. These are not great for impact, but they are perfect for rail maneuvers.
Comfort and Fit
Can you imagine riding down the slopes with boots that are too tight and crush your toes and cramp your feet? How about boots that are too lose; ones that will give you sore heels because they rub as you walk? Of course not, but a common mistake that novice snowboarders learn quickly is that the size of your snowboarding boot is not the same size as the sneakers that you wear on the street. To ensure that your boots fit properly after a day on the slopes, you should purchase them in a half size smaller than you are accustomed to wearing. Don’t forget to take the type of socks you wear out in the snow into consideration.
Lacing Systems
The lacing of your boot is important. If you do not have a snug and securely laced up boot, then your foot can move around and blisters can easily form. Typically, there are three types of lacings that is utilized on snowboarding boots, which are traditional laces, quick pull laces, and Boa lacing. Each system has its positives and negatives, so let’s take a look at them each to figure out which lacing system will be best for you. Here is a breakdown of each:
- Traditional Laces – Traditional style laces are great. They can be adjusted by hand to give you the perfect amount of tightness around your ankles, but if you do not double tie them, they could untie at the most inconvenient time. If you are wearing gloves, that can make retying the boot an annoyance.
- Quick Pull Laces – This type of lacing allows you to tighten each area of your foot independently, which can be useful for some. These laces can easily be tightened while wearing gloves, but they can also become loose at any point. If one area is looser than the others, then pressure points can form, which can cause blisters to form.
- Boa Laces – A Boa system is one that uses two dials and small diameter cables to create a snug fit. Adjusting the tightness of you boots will be fast and convenient, but the snugness affects your entire foot, which could leave pressure points. In addition, if this system breaks on the slopes, replacing the laces will be difficult.
Liners
Liners are the interior part of the boot that actually has a lot to do with how comfortable the boots are. Some liners are moldable, so they contour to the curves of your feet. Others may have features that are actually designed to lock your feet in place. On feature that should be considered is whether the liner is removable or not. If you plan to get out on the mountain for several days in a row, purchasing snowboarding boots that have removable liners is advisable to make sure the interior of your boots are dry in the morning when you are ready to hit the slopes.
Top Snowboarding Boot Picks
1. DC Men’s Mutiny Snowboard Boots
These DC Mutiny snowboard boots are lightweight footwear that are designed with a level six flex, which means that they will be great for most terrains. The lacing on this pair of boots is a traditional style, but as you get closer to the upper portion of the boot, you will notice locking lace hook hardware being utilized. This gives you a more custom fit where the laces have less of a chance to slip or become untied.
The liner is designed from a combination of memory foam and a heat moldable material that will conform to the shape of your foot. A J-bar and a power strap inside the boot are included to provide you with additional support. Impact S insoles are used in these boots to add a layer of comfort and support that cradles your foot in an effort to reduce your foot fatigue throughout the day. In addition, it features a material that will keep your feet dry from morning until night.
A one year warranty is included with the purchase of the DC Mutiny snowboard boots, so if for some reason you need to return them, you have plenty of time to do so. In addition, DC footwear is known for its style, so you will have your pick of designs.
2. Thirty Two Lashed Snowboard Boots
Thirty Two is a company that has created quality snowboarding boots for years. The Lashed model is a lightweight pair of boots that is even lighter than past variations. This is because the evolution foam outsole is designed to be one of the lightest soles on the market. The foam liners are designed to mould to your feet to provide you with a comfortable day on the slopes.
These Lashed snowboard boots have a flex level of six, which means that it is right about in the middle when it comes to firmness and flexibility. These snow boots will be great on powdery slopes, straight pistons that prioritize speed, and for maneuvering rail tricks in the park. The lacing starts at the bottom with a traditional style, but as you make your way to the upper section of the boots, hooks are utilized to lock the laces into place and give you more of a custom tightening option.
Thirty Two has been making stylish boots for snowboarding enthusiasts year after year, so there is no surprise that they try to add a bit of personality and style points to their footwear. These boots can be purchased in a plethora of color options, which range from plain colors like black or blue to more vivid selections like red tie die.
3. Adidas Men’s Samba Snowboard Boots
The Samba, which was manufactured from Adidas this year, has a stylish look that would look great on the mountain. Style is not the most important aspect of snowboarding boots, but if you are looking for style points, then the burgundy and white variation is right up your alley. It features the Adidas serrated three stripes on a synthetic leather material.
This pair of boots is designed with a medium flex level so you will be easily able to maneuver on many different types of terrain. The soles are designed to provide an optimal grip on the snow and ice, and the liner is designed to provide you with a comfortable fit. They are heat moldable to contour to your feet and prevent blisters from forming, and they can be removed from the boots to aid in the drying process.
If you have ever worn a soccer shoe, then you know that the lacing system is capable of being tightened to each individual foot. This lacing system is very similar. It starts with a traditional lace that is hidden inside the boots, and then it moves upwards into the hooked lacing style to ensure the laces remain in place.
4. Burton Sapphire Women’s Snowboard Boots
The Burton Sapphire snowboard boots are great for almost any level of snowboarder. Aesthetically, they are designed to look as stylish as possible while still maintaining the functionality that Burton has become known for. Firstly, they have a much softer flex level, so that you’ll be able to move with relative ease. At level four, even with the liner in you should be able to walk comfortably in these.
The external shoe has traditional lacing, which really helps make these snowboard boots look like standard boots. This stylish appearance definitely hides the fact that there is a great Burton lining in these shoes. To keep them tightly secured, these shoes use a “Speed Zone Lock and Load” system that provides tension across the midstep. Simply pull the cable and your heel will also press deeply into the heel pocket of the boot.
In addition to these features, this boot also utilizes a sleeping bag reflective foil on the inside of the boot. This feature takes your body’s natural radiant heat and reflects it back to your body, allowing you to have a longer, warmer snowboard session.
The soles of these boots are also designed with high tech features that make snowboarding much easier. Firstly they are incredibly light due to the D3 gel in the sole. Secondly, they are remarkably thin due to EST optimization, which gives you a more natural gait when not boarding.
5. Salomon Pearl BOA Woman’s Snowboard Boots
These are a great pair of entry level snowboard boots. The liner of the Salomon Pearl BOA interlaces very comfortably and is coated with a soft fur that is positioned above a layer of memory foam. This snowboard boot utilizes a BOA system. This system allows for you to manually turn a dial that directly affects the snugness of the snowboard boot. The dial is also large enough to easily be turned, even if you have gloves on.
These boots have a flex rating of four, which means that these have a medium to soft flexibility level. As a result, these boots have a great combination of support and responsiveness and are perfect for freestyle snowboarders who like to take to the half pipes and perform a few Ollies or Nollies.
When it comes to style, this Salomon Pearl boot has quite a few design choices that work with any snowboarding ensemble. Salomon provides a full year warranty for these boots, so if they get damaged, they will be replaced.
The key to finding the right snowboarding boot is trying them on. Your feet will tell you if you’ve made a promising selection. If your feet feel uncomfortable in the boots before the bindings and the board are attached, be assured that they will only be more uncomfortable afterwards. Hopefully this guide has helped you climb the mountain, now all you need to do is make the purchase and enjoy the ride. If our picks are not your style, then don’t be afraid to dig in and do some research to help you find the perfect pair.
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