Snowboarding offers a delightful way to savor your time on the snow-covered mountain landscapes, injecting thrill into your winter adventures. However, similar to all adventurous pursuits, snowboarding necessitates the proper equipment and gear, including snowboard boots.
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Even though the best snowboard boots aren’t that hard to choose from compared to the snowboards themselves, you still have to consider several key factors that will either make or break your snowboarding experience.
Keep in mind that quality snowboard boots will keep you properly connected to your board. As such, they need to have all the right features to keep you safe and secure throughout the ride, especially if you’re a beginner.
For that, we have created this list of the snowboard boots which we believe are among the best on the market. We also have a list of some of the frequently asked questions to help you make an informed buying decision. Let’s get started.
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The Mint Boa is designed for women as the Moto Boa is for men. It features a strong yet low-profile design that will give any women snowboarders the response and control they need on the slopes.
In a sense, it’s the ideal pair of boots for beginner women snowboarders. It also comes with a speed lacing system that will remove all the hassles of frustrating laces.
Just like the Moto Boa, the Mint Boa features a DynoLITE Outsole for superior durability and very comfortable construction. It has an Imprint 1 Liner to ensure your feet are properly insulated and protected from the harsh winter temperature.
Lastly, it comes with plush cushioning to provide you with all the support you need for a full-day snowboarding activity.
- Easy-to-use speed lacing system
- Provides better control and quick response
- Low-profile design
- Sizing runs small according to some customers
Designed for serious snowboarders, the DC Phase comes with a simple yet sophisticated look. Don’t be fooled by design – these boots are packed with all the features you need for that ultimate snowboarding experience.
For starters, they’re made of 100% Uni-Lite outsole for excellent durability, cushioning, and shock dampening functionality while being fairly lightweight. Additionally, the outsole has snow-shedding traction to help you ascend and descend slopes securely without any problems.
Inside the boots is the Die-cut EVA insole that’s made to provide you with superior comfort. It’s covered in a moisture-wicking cloth that will keep your foot fresh, dry, and comfortable throughout your entire snowboarding session. Additionally, it features a thermal-regulating fleece lining to keep your feet warm all day long.
- Hassle-free traditional lacing system
- Durable and properly cushioned
- Offers all-day support and comfort
- There are some issues with the accuracy of the boots’ color
Another quality snowboarding boot from Burton that’s designed for women, the Coco comes with the True Fit design to make sure it can provide you with the perfect fit for your feet. It features a soft flex rating intended to provide women snowboarders with the comfort they need for their snowboarding activities.
Additionally, it has an Imprint 1 Liner thermo-moldable, so it can conform to the shape of your feet and keep you comfortable all day long. It also has a molded EVA footbed that provides excellent cushioning and absorbs vibrations from impact.
Like the other Burton snowboard boots, it also features a DynoLITE Outsole for that lightweight yet durable construction.
- A great blend of comfort and durability
- Very soft flex rating
- Excellent cushion and shock-absorbent functionality
Yet another quality product for snowboarding newbies, the Burton Moto, features an easy-to-use design which is very convenient for beginners and intermediate users alike. It uses the traditional lacing system to ensure you enjoy a secure and custom fit without the annoyances provided by handles or wires.
Apart from that, it also comes with a DynoLITE outsole alongside a shrinkage footprint reduction technology that helps prevent snowboarders from tripping over their toes while snowboarding on very steep terrains. This can be particularly useful for beginner snowboarders as it helps keep them firmly planted on the snow.
To make it even more beginner-friendly, the Moto features a total comfort construction that removes any need for a break-in period. This allows you to immediately enjoy its comfort and keep you comfortable for long periods.
- Beginner-friendly and easy to use
- Keeps your feet warm and dry
- Features a smaller footprint
- Might be painful at times when strapped into bindings
Whether you just need all-mountain snowboarding boots or for park riding, the DC Lynx will surely make for an excellent choice. With a flex rating of 8, the Lynx can be considered the best snowboard boots for intermediate and advanced users alike.
It also features additional support in the form of lateral support beams and ankle harnesses that keep your feet firmly secured and locked into place.
Apart from that, the Lynx uses the traditional lacing system to adjust the laces fairly quickly and easily. In terms of comfort, the Lynx has a lot of features designed just for that.
The Aerotech Ventilation system is made to keep your feet dry and warm all day long. There’s also a combination of thermo-moldable EVA foam and EVA memory foam to ensure that it can conform to the shape of your feet.
In terms of durability, the DC Lynx is durable enough to last for several years. However, if you encounter some issues with durability, you can avail of the manufacturer’s 1-year warranty on this product.
- Keeps your feet warm and dry thanks to its Aerotech Ventilation system
- Provides extra stability and support
- Comes in a wide range of sizes to choose from
- Ideal for intermediate and advanced snowboarders
- Not true to size
With a flex rating of 6, the Men’s Mutiny from DC is ideal for beginners who are still in the process of learning how to snowboard. It’s also reasonably priced, so you don’t have to break the bank just to get quality and reliable snowboard boots for your first snowboarding adventure.
As a lace-up boot, the Mutiny can provide excellent performance on the slopes, thanks to its multi-layer construction. This features a thermal-regulating fleece that will keep your feet insulated in the snow alongside an EVA memory foam designed to provide you with excellent support and comfort.
Its multi-layer construction can provide you with a custom fit that you can easily loosen or tighten due to its traditional lacing system. All in all, the Mutiny is one of the best snowboard boots that are made to be supportive and safe for your feet with the ability to absorb impact.
- Comfortable and highly supportive
- Multi-layer construction
- Offers excellent performance
- Some complained that it’s too narrow for their feet
The Maysis can be considered high-end snowboarding boots in terms of the price alone. However, the features you can get for that higher price tag are absolutely worth it!
For starters, it features an excellent balance of durability, style, and performance. It has a low flex rating, making it fairly stiff, though it emphasises the heel for more control while snowboarding. This might not be ideal for beginners, but for the more advanced snowboarders, it’s definitely a huge boost to their performance.
When it comes to appearance, the Maysis is certainly clean and rather basic with only two color options to choose from: gray and black. Compared to most of the boots on this list, this one uses a boa lace system instead of the traditional lacing system.
You’ll have to turn the dial to loosen or tighten the fit. Fortunately, since these tension laces, you don’t have to worry about slack.
Meanwhile, the Maysis liner is made of both medium and high-density Control Foam for added comfort. You can even adjust it with the use of a dial that’s located on the sides of your boots, thereby removing the need to take them off. In addition to that, it’s fitted with the Vibram Pro Light Outsole which makes it quite durable yet fairly lightweight.
- Allows liner adjustments via the dial
- Durable yet quite lightweight
- Can be loosened or tighten with ease, thanks to its Boa lacing system
- Might tend to loosen and require constant tightening
If you’re looking for reliable beginner snowboard boots without spending too much of your budget, then you might want to consider the STW from ThirtyTwo. It’s a high-quality choice for a snowboarding boot that’s designed for freestyle snowboarding.
There’s no information about its specific flex rating, but it does have a very soft flex rating which makes it ideal for beginners and intermediate users alike.
Apart from being lightweight, it also comes with several features that will keep you comfortable for long periods. Its liner uses a Dual Density Intuition Foam capable of conforming to the shape of your feet while still providing the right amount of support. Moreover, it has the STI Evolution Foam outsole for even further comfort.
Like the Maysis, it also uses the boa lacing system for easy loosening and tightening. Therefore, you can easily adjust it while you’re out there snowboarding. The best part about the STW is that it’s affordable without compromising its overall quality.
- Durable 50% synthetic and 50% textile construction
- Available in a wide range of sizes
- Can provide you with a lot of support
- The sizing runs small
Just like any other Burton boots we’ve included in this list, the Ruler BOA offers superior durability and comfort which is exactly what you need for the ultimate snowboarding experience.
It comes with a dual-zone coiler spool for its lacing system, allowing you to adjust its fit easily. It works just like a dial to have a secure and comfortable fit. You can also twist it to loosen the boots easily.
Additionally, it features the Total Comfort design so you don’t have to spend time breaking in the boots. This means that you can get the most out of the comfort and performance it has to offer immediately after wearing it. It also has a low-profile design alongside an Imprint 2 Liner for the right amount of support on the slopes.
Lastly, with its reinforced soles, you can stay strong underfoot as it can absorb all sorts of impacts which you can feel during aggressive snowboarding.
The last on the list is quite different from the other snowboard boots we’ve talked about so far. It’s basically an all-in-one snowboarding package that includes all the essential snowboarding components you need, including the snowboard boots, MTN snowboard, APX bindings, and APX boots.
This is the perfect package for you if you’re on a budget and looking for a complete snowboarding package without spending $500 upwards. The MTN snowboard is durable and reliable enough to power through trees and even allow you to handle park laps without any issues.
Meanwhile, the APX bindings are fairly lightweight and offer excellent performance. Lastly, the APX boots come with a simple and classic style that doesn’t skimp on quality and performance. As it’s fitted with a heat-moldable liner, you can expect it to provide you with just the right amount of comfort and support you need.
- Highly affordable
- Comes with all the components you need
- Features a 3-year warranty for each component
- There were some complaints regarding the board being too thin
- Not designed for intermediate and advanced users
Frequently Asked Question
How should snowboard boots fit?
You might be wondering how tight should snowboard boots be. As a general rule of thumb, they should be pretty tight so they won’t come off while you’re out there snowboarding. However, it shouldn’t be too tight to the point that you’ll be uncomfortable while wearing them.
There’s no specific tightness required, but you just have to make sure that they remain tight and can keep your feet secure without you feeling pain or discomfort due to the tightness.
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How do I choose the right boots for me?
You’d want to consider several factors to figure out which is the right snowboard boots for you. Generally, it all boils down to personal preference, but these factors should help you decide which one to go for:
Fit – you’d want to go for snowboarding boots that feel snug and are reasonably tight enough without creating any discomfort on your feet. Your preferred boots should provide your toes with enough wiggle room when worn. Also, as you bend your knees, your heel should be in place when you move your toes slightly away from the toe cap.
Flex rating – another important factor to consider is the boot’s flex rating. For beginners, it’s highly recommended to go for boots with a soft flex rating as they offer a higher level of comfort than stiffer ones. However, if you’re a more advanced user, going for boots with less flex will allow you to take on harsher landings and hard-hitting turns with ease.
Lacing system – there are basically three types of lacing systems on the market: quick pull, boa, and traditional. So far, the boots we’ve included in the list only have traditional or boa systems. Traditional laces allow you to enjoy the best comfort fit, though they can be annoying during harsh winter conditions.
Boa laces offer the simplest form of lace adjustments but are less comfortable than traditional laces. Lastly, quick pull laces are very quick and easy to adjust, though your boots might not be as snug as you would expect.
Liners – lastly, you want to consider the boots’ liner for added support and comfort. You can either choose from moldable, thermo-moldable, or stock. Stock liners come alongside the boots themselves and can be considered average.
Meanwhile, moldable liners use body heat so that they can conform to the shape of your feet. However, the thermo-moldable (or heat moldable) version has the same shape-conforming feature as its moldable counterpart minus the break-in requirement.
How to break in snowboard boots?
Some snowboard boots don’t require a break-in period. However, for those that do, simply follow these steps:
1. Wear thick socks over your feet.
2. After that, put on your boots. If they use a traditional lacing system, tighten them around the toe.
3. Start walking around your house with the boots on. If possible, use them for several hours, even when doing your usual daily activities.
4. After a few hours, place the boots on the bindings. Press their soles firmly as you start leaning forward on your board. Make sure to keep your heels down and stay in the forward lean position for 30 seconds.
5. Return to the normal stance and repeat the entire steps until you feel comfortable.
How do you tie snowboard boots?
The way you tie your snowboard boots will depend on their lacing system. The traditional lacing system involves simply tightening the lace as you would with your shoes. However, boots that use the Boa lacing system will require turning the knob at the boots’ tongue to loosen or tighten them.
When tying your boots, you should make sure to keep them tight while you’re still standing up and your knees are bent slightly. After that, make sure your boots’ heels are against the ground. This will cause your heels to push to the heel cup of your boots. You can confirm whether the laces are tight enough or not when your heel slides.
Final Verdict
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced snowboarder, picking the best snowboard boots is absolutely essential to make the most out of your snowboarding experience. Just make sure to consider all the important factors to help you figure out the right pair of boots for you.
We hope this guide can help you decide on the best boots you can use for all your snowboarding adventures. Have fun!
