Hi.
Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures and travel with a focus on getting into the mountains. If there is snow I am going to go.
Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures and travel with a focus on getting into the mountains. If there is snow I am going to go.
Snowboard boots are the most important aspect of your snowboard set-up and therefore choosing a pair should take time and patience. Not only do snowboard boots play a key role in allowing you to drive and manoeuvre your snowboard, but they will also keep you comfortable. Snowboard boots can be the difference between a great day on the hill and a pretty painful one.
Choosing your snowboard boots should not be rushed. Although we encourage you to read this guide in full, before purchasing a pair of boots it is smart to head into your local snowboard shop. In-store you will be able to get your foot accurately measured as well as try a range of boots from different brands. This is an important factor as size fluctuates massively between snowboard brands.
When in the store it is important to know a bit about your feet. Are they narrow or wide? Do you currently wear insoles? Do you have a high or flat arch? No worries if you are unsure as in store they will be able to assess/measure your feet. You should also have an idea of your ability level and the type of snowboarding you like to do?
If you are on a budget it is important to broach this straight off the bat. Ask the sales advisor to recommend boots within your price range. Although the price is important, we would recommend not buying too cheap at the expense of comfort. Better to save a bit more and come back for the right boot.
Knowing what type of terrain you like to ride ask the sales advisor which boots are best suited for that type of riding. If you like hitting jumps and buttering then make sure to point that out so you do not get a boot that is too stiff.
Ask for a boot that is suited to your ability level. This is important but I think potentially beginners can ignore this. We would advise getting snowboard boots that will at least be good for intermediate riders. This is because beginner boots are very soft and you will soon be better than the boot.
Most of all, ask for the sales advisor advice. They work with the boots and the brands so they will know which ones are durable and which ones get returned with problems.
The shell is the outside of the boot. The shell will determine the boot’s flex rating and therefore the type of riding or ability level the boot is suitable for.
The liner is the inner boot that sits inside the boots shell and determines the comfort of the boot. As with most things the more you spend on your boots the better quality the liner will be.
The backstay runs up the rear of the boot and will influence the boot’s ability to flex. A stiffer backstay will reduce flexion and therefore suit freeride snowboarders who want precision. A softer backstay would allow more flexion and would be suited to jib or beginner boots.
The tongue of the boot is another contributing factor to the boot’s flex pattern. A stiffer tongue will result in a stiffer and more freeride focussed boot. For a more beginner-friendly boot look for a softer tongue.
The outsole helps to provide shock absorption from the vibrations that travel through the snowboard. Normally made of rubber this cushioning helps reduce vibration and impact.
The lacing system will determine how the boot is tied. There is more information on lacing systems near the end of this page.
The sole of the snowboard boot is just as important as the sole of a shoe or walking boot. The sole will allow the board to grip to the board whilst one footing or to the snow whilst hiking. The sole will often help to dampen vibrations from your board or from landing with the use of cushioning.
If there is one thing other than comfort that can make you love or hate a pair of snowboard boots, it’s the lacing system. How you tie your boots can either be super easy or a right pain. Ultimately, lacing systems come down to personal preference so let’s take a look at the most popular methods.
A traditional lacing system refers to that thing you have been doing since you first mastered the double knot. Traditional laces are popular as they have a proven track record of just working and are easy to adjust. A traditional lacing system allows the rider to determine how tight they want each section of their boot to be. If the lace breaks no problem, just like with shoes the lace is easy and inexpensive to replace.
One potential con of the traditional lacing system in snowboard boots is they take time to do. There are faster and easier systems available.
BOA systems have been around for years and have improved a lot. The BOA is essentially a ratchet system where the rider turns the dials until the boot is at the required tightness. There are some boots with one BOA but the best systems have two BOA systems. The two BOA snowboard boots allow the rider to tighten the upper and lower separately to ensure a tight fit. Using a BOA lacing system allows the rider not only to be able to tighten their boots quickly in the morning but also are great for adjusting throughout the day. The BOA system is so fast and easy they are becoming popular with all brands.
A potential con of the BOA system is replacing the wire lacing if they break. It has never happened to me personally, but I could see it being a pain.
There are a few varieties of speed lacing systems but each of them has one thing in common… they are quick to fasten. Similar to traditional lacing, a speed lacing system allows you to adjust the tightness at different parts of the boot but within a much quicker system. Normally, a speed lacing system will have two handles (one for the upper laces and one for the lower laces) that are pulled and locked to keep the boot tight.
A setback of speed lacing is that it can break due to the pressure on the laces over time. If you use this system you need to be careful with how hard you tighten the boots.
A good snowboard boot sales advisor will recommend insoles to go in your boots. This may come across as a sales tactic but finding the right insole is well worth the extra money. The insoles that come with your boots will be flat and offer very little support, especially to riders with a high arch.
When it comes to insoles you will have a couple of choices. Trim-to-fit insoles from brands like Superfeet will be a cheaper insole option. These insoles come in a range of moulds and you choose the one that is best for your feet. You may find a perfect match, in which case you have just improved the comfort of your boots and saved some money… if you can’t find a good fit consider option two.
Option two is fully custom insoles made from a mould of your feet. A custom insole will work perfectly for your feet and will provide the support you need. A custom insole will normally cost around £80-£100 but they help keep your knees and ankles aligned which will reduce fatigue and injuries.
In most cases, if a boot and a binding are the correct size they will be compatible regardless of brand. A large boot would not fit with a small binding so make sure to check the relevant size guides to help with this decision.
Snowboard boots are important for the following reasons, comfort and performance. For anybody out there who has put a rental ski boot on their feet, you will appreciate a good pair of snowboard boots. A well-fitted snowboard boot will keep your feet warm and dry whilst being the link between your body and your snowboard.
If your boots are too tight you will spend the day complaining about the pain in your toes. If your boots are too loose then you will complain that you can’t control your snowboard. It is best to avoid both of these scenarios and just get it right!
Like with shoes in all parts of the market, there will be a difference in fit between brands. Generally speaking, Vans has always produced wide-fitting boots whereas ThirtyTwo has produced narrower boots. This can change slightly year on year but for me personally, I ride Salomon boots, not necessarily because they are the boots I want but because they are the boots that fit my feet.
With the snowboard boot laced up and with the rider standing upright the rider’s toes should brush the end of the boot. This should not be a cramping sensation it should be a brushing at the end of the toes. The first time you put on a boot will be the tightest it ever is so over time you will not feel this brushing.
It is important to bend your knee down over your toe to check the following two things happen;
Your foot slides back in the boot meaning your toes are no longer brushing the end.
Your ankle doesn’t lift and your heel doesn’t slide up the back of the boot.
If both of these things happen with your knee bent over your toes then you have a good-fitting boot. If your toes stay at the end of the boot or there is movement in your heel KEEP LOOKING!
Similar to boards and bindings boots are rated on a scale of 1-10. Boots rated with a flex of 1 are soft and boots rated a 10 are stiff. Depending on your ability and the type of snowboarding you want you will need to find the right flex.
As someone new to snowboarding or still within your first few weeks of riding, it is important to be comfortable on snow. Beginner snowboard boots will be softer and as a result, feel great to wear all day. The softer flex will help you perform movements essential for turning whilst not being responsive.
Intermediate snowboarders will be looking to get more from their boots as they progress their riding. As an intermediate, you will be exploring new terrain by heading into the trees and the terrain park, as well as riding faster on the groomers. To help you achieve this it’s best to find a mid-flexing boot. Your boots will need to be stiffer than a beginner’s boot to allow you to control your board with faster more responsive movements. I would recommend a flex rating anywhere between 5-7 for intermediate boots.
As an advanced or expert snowboarder, it is time to dial down your snowboard boot choice. By this stage, you will have a number of weeks of riding under your belt and you will know where you like to spend your time. Your riding style will influence your boot decision at this stage.
If you like to spend the majority of your time in the park then you should buy a freestyle focussed boot. These can vary on whether they are best for jibs or jumps.
A boot designed for hitting big booters should be towards the stiffer end of the flex pattern. A stiffer boot will help; when riding fast approaching a jump, with responsiveness when turning and for stability on landing. Look for boots with good shock absorption for those landings.
A good rail or jib boot will be softer than a jump boot. A softer boot will allow you as the rider to press further over your board. A softer boot will allow for extended presses, smooth butters and will help you tweak those grabs.
Freeride boots are designed to handle everything that the mountain could possibly throw at you. Freeride boots offer responsiveness and stability to the rider. True freeride boots are stiff and uncompromising, look for a flex rating of 7+. Also, look out for reinforced and extra grippy soles to help out when you are hiking that line.
Snowboard boot liners are in the inner part of the boot which makes the boot comfortable. Your snowboard boots liner will mould to your feet over time regardless of whether they are heat moulded. Essentially the more you snowboard or wear your boots around the house the more comfortable they become. This process just uses the heat produced by your movements to mould the liner over time, however, if you want a more precise fit sooner consider heat moulding your boots.
Heat moulding requires your snowboard boot liners to be placed into a special oven. In the oven the liners are heated to an optimal temperature. Once removed from the oven you should get into your boots and tighten them as if you were about to snowboard. Standing in your riding position as they cool will help to mould the liner to your foot and will make the boot comfortable from the outset.
With any snowboard boot, you will find it more comfortable to wear snowboard-specific socks. You should make sure to wear your snowboard socks when shopping for boots as this will give the best indication of comfort. A snowboard sock is longer so that it can sit above the top of the boot eliminating pressure points.
A snowboard-specific sock will have padding where it is needed on the; toes, heels, shin, and calves but will be thinner elsewhere. This design will allow your foot to breathe better whilst providing comfort where it is needed. Consider a Merino sock to wick sweat away from the foot whilst remaining warm and odour free.
As always thanks for reading and if you are still unsure feel free to get in touch via the socials or the comment section. If you would like advice on buying your next pair of snowboard boots consider booking a call where we can discuss the best options for you.
Make sure to check out our Snowboard Buyers Guide where you will find all the information regarding how to buy a snowboard.
