Snowboard Boots: The Most Essential Piece of Gear
Snowboard boots are what I like to argue as the most essential piece of snowboard gear. Although we can’t ride without a snowboard and bindings, snowboard boots are what will determine how long you last on the slopes. Having a pair of well-fitted and comfortable boots can help increase control, comfort, and safety. This guide will break down snowboard boots into the basic components, different boot types, sizing and fit, flex, lacing systems, boot liners, selecting a make and model, and even how to care for the boots. All this to ensure you get the most out of your season.
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Boot Brand and Model Recommendations
In my own community of snowboarders, the most popular tried and true brand is ThirtyTwo. Offering a wide array of boot styles for every rider along with sick colorways, outer shell designs, and longevity, you can’t go wrong with a good pair of ThirtyTwo snowboard boots.
Outside of ThirtyTwos, I can also confidently recommend K2, Ride, Burton, and Solomon boots. In fact, my favorite pair of boa lace-up boots came from K2 back in the day and they were ranked as “the most comfortable snowboard boots for women.”
There are a few important things to mention regarding brand fits and notable differences. Salomon, Burton, and Vans tend to be more narrow. DC and K2 tend to be on the wider end, with DC being extra wide. ThirtyTwo and Ride are around the most standard/common fit.
Remember, what works for your buddies may not work for you. This is why it is important to try on boots for yourself to get a good idea of what feels good for you and your style.
Best Beginner Women’s Snowboard Boots
Best Intermediate Women’s Snowboard Boots
Best Women’s Freeride Snowboard Boots
Best Women’s Freestyle Snowboard Boots
How to Choose: The Different Types of Snowboard Boots
To start off, let’s get a basic understanding of the three main types of snowboard boots; soft, medium, and stiff. Matching the right type of boot to your riding style (backcountry, freestyle/park, etc…) will make a huge difference. From how well you are able to control the board and your level of fatigue throughout the day. To get the perfect snowboard and boot match, make sure you check out our guide on the different types of snowboards.
Soft Snowboard Boots
Soft boots are best for freestyle/park riders and beginners. I know this sounds wonky, but here’s why. A soft boot offers maximum mobility in the ankles, making jibbing and spinning easier for park rats. For beginners though, a soft boot offers a more forgiving feel on the hill. However, the tradeoff may be having more impact on the ankles and legs through powder, off-trail rides, and heavy drops.
Medium Snowboard Boots
Best for intermediate to advanced riders is the medium-rated boot. These would be perfect for a rider who does a bit of everything from shredding deep powder to jibbing their way through the park. It offers more control and responsiveness than a soft boot while still offering some mobility in the ankles.
Stiff Snowboard Boots
Stiff boots are usually labeled as “backcountry” or “freeride” boots. These boots are usually worn by advanced riders looking for the most control and responsiveness under their feet. Boots like this can help take the impact of cliff drops and trudging through deep powder with their lack of side-to-side flex.
Sizing and fitting Snowboard Boots
First and foremost, never buy your snowboard boots online without trying a pair at a local shop. Even if the shop you go to doesn’t have the exact model, try on a pair that is the same brand. To add to this, make sure you wear a pair of socks specifically designed for snowboarding.
Next, snowboard boots should fit snugly around your entire foot. Your toes should just barely be touching the tips of the boot. Your boot should not fit like your favorite pair of shoes. By falling into this trap, the boot will quickly feel sloppy on your foot and you’ll lose the control and comfort you went searching for. You want your toes to touch the boot without them feeling pinched, crushed, or lost circulation.
When trying on the snowboard boots, ensure your heel is sitting all the way back into the heel cup. Without trying to pull your heel out of the cup, initiate some typical movements you pull on your board such as heelside and toeside turns, leaning backward and forwards, and bending your knees. This will give you an idea of if the boot matches your style, and of course, if they fit right. When leaning into your “turns” your foot should stay firmly in place. There should be no pain or numbness. If any of this happens, it’s time to try on a different boot.
Snowboard Boot Lacing Systems
When it comes to the lacing systems of snowboard boots, they can be broken down into three main types. Traditional lace-up snowboard boots, Quick-pull lacing boots, and boa-lacing boots. Each brand and boot may offer slight variations and micro-adjustment options. Keep that in mind with each boot you consider to make sure you get the exact fit you want. Let’s break down each lacing type and its benefits and potential drawbacks.
Traditional Lace-up Snowboard Boots
A traditional lace up boot is the oldest dating lacing technology for snowboard boots, it’s tried and true! Many snowboarders from beginners to pros stick to this lacing system for the ease of creating a custom fit with the laces.
Pros:
- Ease of use
- Replacement of laces
- Most affordable option
Cons:
- Can be difficult for beginners and children to get the right fit
- Can’t lace up with gloves
- Might loosen up over the day
Quick-Pull Lacing Snowboard Boots
Quick-pull lacing is a fan favorite amongst beginners and those with small children. Offering the quickest method of custom tightening up a boot on foot, ankle and shin separately from each other.
Pros:
- Fastest lace-up method
- Easy for beginners and children
- Can tighten with gloves
Cons:
- Tendency for cables to break
- Struggle to get tight
- Hard to replace
Boa Lacing Snowboard Boots
The boa lacing system uses a ratcheting dial and cable to tighten and loosen the boots. You can ensure the top of your boot fits just as well as the ankle and foot. There are more boa systems out there like the double boa which adds ratchets to each side of the top of the boot.
Pros:
- Great for beginners and children
- Can be done with one hand and with gloves on
- Offers micro-adjustments
Cons:
- Cables and ratchets may break
- If it gets busted during your ride, the day is over
- Typically more expensive
Best Snowboard Boot Lacing System
After all my years of snowboarding, I have tried each type of lacing system and have to say I have the highest recommendation for the traditional lace-up snowboard boots. I’ve found that I have the most control over the fit of the boot. I also love how easy it is to loosen them up while in the lodge or getting dressed down in the parking lot after a long day. I’ve been rocking my ThirtyTwo Lashed boots for a few years now.
Snowboard Boot Liners, Insulation, and Molding
The liners of a boot are what hold your foot into place, cushion it,and keep it warm. Not all liners are created equal though. For example, some liners come with quick-pull lacing to enhance the fit of the boot and hold your foot exactly where it needs to be. Others come with a velcro strap up top to help secure the hold. Liners may come in basic insulating foam or specialized heat-moldable, insulating, and comfortable materials like ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA).
Having the right boot for your riding style is important, but making sure you get a boot with a custom-fitting, warm liner is essential. Moldable liners can come in two different versions, ones that mold with the feet of your foot in a couple of days, or machine heat moldable liners. These are molded by machine usually in a local ski shop that has dedicated snowboard boot experts.
To make your ride that much better, be sure to check out snowboard boot insoles. These decrease the impact on the feet and ankles, and offers added cushioning, along with added response. Heated insoles offer extra warmth on those icy days and are especially helpful if you’re prone to cold toes.
Snowboard Boot Maintenance and Care
Proper snowboard boot care is essential for prolonging their lifespan and ensuring you stay comfortable each time you ride. It would be a shame to drop some cash on a nice pair of boots only to have them wear out sooner than you expected. To avoid this ensure you dry your boots after EVERY ride with a boot dryer like the one shown on the right that doubles as a glove dryer. Not only will this decrease the likelihood of your boots stinking, but it will keep the liners in shape and help the materials’ longevity. Some liners can be thrown into the washing machine but make sure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations so you don’t accidentally ruin them.
If you have a leather outer shell be sure to pick up some leather conditioner to keep the leather looking its best and hold up its integrity for years to come. Like most other shoes though, your boot can be washed with a shoe cleaning kit.
Having a snowboot bag to transport them around will help them stay protected. Eliminate the worry of the laces getting caught up on something and ripping, or the material ripping from a random sharp corner or edge you walk by. Always store your boots out of the car and in a climate-controlled dry space.
To top all of this off, always check your boots before you ride for any wear or damage. A busted cord or lace throwing you off balance is a great way to invite injury.
Conclusion: Boots All Laced Up
Choosing the right boots can be overwhelming with all of the options and terminology out there. In this guide, we discussed the different boot types and how they match your riding style, sizing and fitting guides, lacing systems, liners, brand recommendations, and how to care for the boot. I hope it helped you gain a better understanding of how to confidently choose the best snowboarding boots for you.
Helpful Resource: https://artemissnowboarding.com
