Arguably the most important part of your snowboard gear, snowboard boots can make or break your day on the mountain. Snowboard boots must fit comfortably, correctly, and work well with your bindings. Don’t skimp here; snowboard boots are where it pays to spend a little more money and time getting the right fit.
Let’s begin with the most important distinctions and characteristics to consider when buying snowboard boots:
Fit
Snowboard boots should fit snug, but not to the point where they cause pain. Most boots need several days of riding for them to pack out and form to their true size, as a result they will be tighter when you are first trying them on.
In a good fitting boot your toes will gently graze the boot’s toecap and you should be able to wiggle your toes inside the boots. Heel hold is another important factor to notice in your boot’s fit. When your knee is driven forward your heel should hold in place; this is important for board control in toeside turns. Remember socks also play a large part in boot fit. There is a fine line between a boot that is too tight or uncomfortable and one that is too loose and gives heel lift. So make sure you are always comfortable in your boots and you should always consult our fit experts if you ever have any questions.
Snowboard boots have different flex ratings from soft to stiff. Boot flex is a personal preference but generally a softer flex is chosen by park and beginner riders. For advanced, all mountain riders and freeriders, a stiffer flexing boot is often favored. Boot flex ratings are not necessarily standardized across manufacturers, so the flex may vary from brand to brand. Many manufacturers will give a number rating ranging from 1-10, 1 being softest and 10 being stiffest. Here at evo we have standardized the manufacturers' number ratings to a feel rating ranging from soft to very stiff. Generally you will find flex ratings of 1-2 as soft, 3-5 as medium, 6-8 as stiff, and 9-10 as very stiff. Flex ratings and feel may ultimately vary from boot to boot.
Traditional Lacing
Tried and true, traditional lacing systems allow you to tighten your boots by hand and are
easily replaceable. Although easy to use, traditional laces can be difficult because they are hard to tie when your hands are cold and they often loosen throughout a day on the mountain. Therefore, many manufacturers have developed different lacing systems to accomodate for a quick and easy lace up. Some riders may have issues getting their boots tightened properly with traditional laces, but many snowboarders still stick to this classic do-it-yourself way.
Quick-Pull Lacing
Faster than traditional lacing systems. Many quick-pull lacing systems allow the forefoot and ankle/lower leg to tighten independently from each other, this is called zonal lacing. This type of lacing system is fast, easy, and can be tightened while wearing gloves. There are many different types of quick-pull lacing systems that vary from company to company.
Boa® Lacing
Boa® lacing systems offer fast and easy micro adjustability to your boot fit. Inside the dial, the teeth turn, pulling the Boa® lace and locking it firmly in place. The turning and locking can be done with one hand and also with gloves on. The Boa® system offers uniform tightness throughout the boot, so if you are a rider who wants different pressure in your forefoot than in higher parts of your boot this system may not satisfy. The stainless steel Boa® lace will not snap, but will also not flex the same way a traditional lace or quick pull lace does, which also plays into the occurrence of unexpected pressure points.
Types of Boa® lacing systems:
|
Boa® Coiler |
central, fast Boa® on the boot tongue |
|
Double Boa® |
Boa® at the sides of the boot for upper and lower zone tightening |
|
Triple Boa® |
2 external for upper and lower zone tightening and a third reel adjusts the liner |
Hybrid Lacing Systems exist often with the combination of traditional lacing, and Boa®. These hybrid systems can effectively hold your fit for longer with the most customization.
A liner is the inner boot within the snowboard boot and is most commonly made of a lightweight, moldable material called EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate). The liner is an important aspect of the boot construction because it provides the cushioning, stability and insulation you need to ensure fresh feet on the mountain after long days of ripping. Some liners are removable, while others are permanently attached to the boot; for fresh boots removable liners can be taken out after a day of riding to air out and dry out.
Types of Liners
|
Stock liners |
Provide base-level padding and stability and over time will conform to your foot’s shape. |
|
Moldable liners |
A step up from stock in price and materials; they are built to mold to your foot shape by your body heat. |
|
Heat-moldable liners |
A premium in the boot world and provide a true custom fit for your feet.
We recommend doing the heat-molding process at our Seattle store |
Liners Lacing to ensure the best fitting boot experience:
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Boa®
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Traditional
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Quick Pull
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Velcro
Orthopedic footbeds or insoles can be used to increase your foot’s comfort level in your snowboard boots. To choose a proper footbed for both your foot shape and boot see a boot fitter.
Snowboard boots use traditional number sizing, but actual boot sizes can vary by manufacturer and even by model within a single manufacturer's line. For example, the outsole of manufacturer A's size 11 might be slightly longer than the outsole of manufacturer B's size 11. Similarly, there are some boots specifically built with a low profile. The shorter outsoles of a low profile boot allow a rider to ride a narrower snowboard. Additionally, the ramp angle on snowboard bindings also partially determines how large of a boot you can put on a particular snowboard.
When it comes to compatibility with your snowboard, the size of your boot is an important thing to take into consideration. People with larger (11.5+) and smaller (<7) boot sizes should purchase wider and narrower boards, respectively.
Snowboard Width and Boot Size Chart
|
Boot Size (US Men’s) |
<7 |
8-9.5 |
10-11.5 |
11.5+ |
|
Width (mm) |
240-245 |
246-254 |
255-259 |
260+ |
|
Snowboard Width |
Narrow |
Regular |
Mid-Wide |
Wide |
Although they may seem trivial, snowboard socks make a big difference in your snowboard boot and riding experience.
Snowboard specific socks, made of synthetic materials that keep you warm and wick moisture away from your body should be standard. Along with synthetic sock materials, wool is an excellent conductor of heat and keeps your feet extremely dry and warm.
Wool socks also keep your feet warm should they get wet. Cotton socks are not preferred because they are unable to moderate your body temperature and do not wick moisture from your body. Thicker socks are also not recommended because they disrupt the fit of the boot creating a space between your boot and foot; with today’s advanced liners and insulation in boots a thinner snowboard-specific sock will work with your boot fit and not against it. NEVER wear 2 pairs of socks!
Shop Snowboard Socks
Common Mistakes
- Buying boots that are too big.
See fit section.
- Taking advice from friends about boot fit/size. Often friends give us what they think is great advice about boots that work for them. While we aren’t saying you should call your friend a liar, you should take into account that their foot size and shape is different from yours. Thus, boots that work great for them may not necessarily work for you.
- Snowboarders often spend the majority of their budget on the board and bindings while letting their boot considerations go to the wayside. Finding the right boot shouldn’t necessarily be about price, but instead should emphasize fit and comfort most of all. Buying a boot because it is cheap above all will most likely leave you with sore, bruised and blistered feet at the end of the day. Not fun. You don’t necessarily need to buy the most expensive boot to have a good boot, see our outlet for great boots at a great value, but making sure you have the best fit should be the top consideration.
- Buying a boot based on looks alone and not fit.
Still have questions? Please give our customer care team a call at 866-386-1590, Customer Care Hours. They can help you find the right snowboard boots to fit your needs.
