If you are shopping for snowboard boots, the first aspect you should consider is fit. No matter how flashy, highly-reviewed, or expensive a pair of boots is, they need to fit your fit for you to comfortably ride all day. Choose a brand that works well with your feet, whether they are short and wide, long and narrow, or if you have a tiny heel compared to your forefoot.

After fit, consider the flex and responsiveness of the boots. Most manufacturers provide a flex rating of some kind, but these ratings are not consistent over brands, so try on different brands. In general, the stiffer a boot, the more responsive it is, which is better for high-speed, precise turns and big mountain riding. Softer boots are generally preferred by park riders who demand a little more flexibility for hitting features. Riders who want to do a little bit of everything – which is most riders – will likely want a medium flex to get them through fluffy powder, down icy groomers and flying over jumps.

Lastly, consider the lace system. Do you want traditional laces, speed laces, or a Boa system? Traditional laces can achieve the perfect fit, but only after some fussing. Speed laces are easy to use but we often find the fit doesn’t feel as secure as it could. They also tend to slip more often. We like the tightening dials of the Boa system, but we definitely prefer when there are two Boa knobs for adjustment around both the instep and around the upper cuff. This is definitely the easiest lace system to micro adjust throughout the day as well.