Snowboard Width Explained
Snowboard width is a measurement that is often overlooked as riders tend to focus more on the length of their snowboard. Get the width wrong though and you will have all kinds of trouble, and you may not be able to perform certain techniques, such as carving accurately. The width of your snowboard may vary depending on the type of riding you do and the conditions you are riding in, but the biggest indicator is your foot size.
HOW TO JUDGE SNOWBOARD WIDTH
The width of your snowboard should allow your toes and heels to overhang the edge of your board by around 1/2 an inch. By having this slight overhang, your toes and heels will be directly placed above the edges of your snowboard. This foot placement will allow you to quickly transfer the power from your movements to your edges to turn your board.
When in the store finding your next snowboard, ask the salesperson to let you place the snowboard on the floor. This is common practice in snowboard stores so should not be an issue. When on the floor you can stand on the board in your stance, without shoes, to see where your feet lay in relation to the edges. Remember that snowboard boots will add a few CMs to your feet so if you are already over the edge it is likely the board you are standing on will have too narrow a waist.
Even better if you bring your actual boots and bindings to the store with you. Most stores will allow you to attach your bindings to their demo board so you can see what the width is like when using your gear. This will give you the best idea of whether the board is the right width for you.
Really important to stand on the board using your riding angles! This will give you the most accurate results.
IS SNOWBOARD WIDTH REALLY IMPORTANT?
If your toes/heels overhang the board by over 1/2 an inch it is likely that you will experience some kind of toe or heel drag in the snow when turning. Toe or heel drag indicates that your snowboard width is too narrow and will result in reduced snowboard performance. The drag can cause your board to slip out during turns and you could end up falling regularly. This will be a particular problem during carving.
Having a board that is too narrow will negatively affect your snowboarding however some people choose to ride with a wider snowboard. Wide snowboards are designed for those with bigger feet, ergo bigger boots, and should help prevent toe/heel drag in the snow. The same 1/2 inch rule should apply to big booted riders only that they will achieve this by riding a wider board.
CAN I RIDE A WIDE IF I DONT NEED TO?
In short, the answer is yes… here are some of the reasons why you may or may not want to do that.
One guy who absolutely swears by riding a wider board is Ryan Knapton. Ryan is probably one of the best carvers you will ever see and he rides an extra wide board to allow him to fully lay trenches. By having a wider board Ryan demonstrates that you can lean further into your turns without getting any drag. If you have not heard of Ryan Knapton make sure to check out his Youtube here where this point will be fully demonstrated. Or watch the below video.
Riding a wider board will add stability and increase your float in pow, so for freeriders going wider could be a better idea.
Why may you not want to ride a wider snowboard than you need to… well due to the extra width a wider board can take longer to go from edge to edge. This can influence your turn size and shape. By watching the video above I hope it proves that going wider doesn’t stop you from being able to snowboard well… but you will need experience to handle that width on your snowboard.
POWDER BOARDS
Powder boards may be the exception to every rule where you will want to look for a wider board. In recent years, powder shapes are getting wider as this adds surface area and will increase float in the deep stuff. On a powder board, don’t worry if your feet are a little narrower than the board’s width. If your intention is to only use this board when its dumped you will thank yourself for getting the extra width.
FREESTYLE BOARDS
Pay extra attention to waist width when choosing a freestyle snowboard. Generally speaking, freestyle boards are designed to improve manoeuvrability and as such will have narrower waists. The narrower waist will help reduce swing weight and allow the rider to turn on a dime but if your feet are overhanging then this could cause you issues.
ARE SIZING CHARTS RELIABLE?
Snowboard width sizing charts do exist but honestly, in our opinion, the best thing to do is to get into the store and stand on the board. Even better if you can bring your boots and bindings to the store to get a proper feel. Most shops now have a demo fleet and I would recommend a demo day if you are still unsure of width.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR SNOWBOARD IS TOO NARROW
Assuming that it is too late to return the snowboard and that nobody wants to buy it off you for a reasonable price…. all is not lost. If your snowboard is too narrow you can add risers to your bindings. Risers will lift your bindings higher off the board allowing you to lean but reducing toe/heel drag in the process. Yes, you would have to buy them but its a damn lot cheaper than a new board!
Another purchase you could make is a new pair of snowboard boots. You will find that different brands or models of boots can be longer or shorter even if they are the same shoe size. Ask your local snowboard store about low profile boots that may reduce your foot length on the snowboard. By reducing the space your boots take on the board you may even be able to fit into a smaller pair of bindings.
ABILITY AND SNOWBOARD WIDTH
For beginners, it is unlikely that snowboard width will affect your ability to learn. In the formative stages of snowboarding, you are not going to be doing any extreme inclination or angulation with your board. This means if you are given a rental board and your boots overhang it should not pose a massive issue. If however, you are buying your own board to learn, make the effort to find the correct width snowboard as if it is too narrow this could hold you back later on.
Advanced snowboarders who like to spend their time carving aggressively should ensure they get the width right. Having a board that is too narrow will prohibit your ability to get further up onto your edges. You should aim to get a lower profile boot to accompany your snowboard to make the perfect combination for carving. If carving is your main riding style then going wider will help ensure there is less drag through your turns.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Getting the width of your snowboard right is important and shouldn’t be a rushed decision. Make sure to go to your local snowboard store and try out a number of boards. By standing on the boards you will have a better idea of whether you will need a wider board in that model.
STILL UNSURE?
As always thanks for reading and if you are still unsure feel free to get in touch via the socials or the comment section. Make sure to check out the Snowboard Buyers Guide where you will find all the information regarding how to buy a snowboard.
