How to choose your snowboard boots?

Before hitting the slopes, it is important to choose your snowboard boots well. So that your boots meet all your expectations, we explain how to find the right size, the ideal flex and the tightening system that will offer you comfort and precision on your board.

How do I choose the right size for my snowboard boots?

To standardize the sizes of glide sports shoes throughout the world, the Mondopoint system has been developed. It's about finding an international shoe size that allows you to buy your snowboard boots anywhere. To find your Mondopoint size, all you have to do is measure your feet (the Mondopoint is actually the length of your foot in centimetres) using a pedometer. With your stronger foot on it, bend your leg slightly forward as if you were on your board. You can also choose your snowboard boot size by referring to the snowboard size chart.

Shoesize	Mondopoint
25	15
26	16
27	17
28	17.5
29	18.5
30	19
31	20
32	20.5
33	21
34	21.5
35	22
36	22.5
37	23.5
38	24
38.5	24.5
39	25
40	25.5
40.5	26
41	26.5
42	27
42.5	27.5
43	28
44	28.5
44.5	29
45	29.5
45.5	30
46	30.5
47	31
47.5	31.5
48	32
48.5	32.5
49	33
50	33.5
51	34

Snowboard boots

What stiffness should you choose for your snowboard boots?

To suit all levels, but also all snowboarding practices, there are different stiffnesses (called "flex"). The flex of the snowboard boots indeed plays a major role in the rider's comfort, but also in his progress.

Soft flex: Whether you're freestyle, freeride or all-mountain, this is the ideal flex for beginners. Comfortable and forgiving, it gives you more latitude in your movements. The soft snowboard boots are also very maneuverable, which is why they are favored by freestylers even when they are at the top of their game.
Medium flex: Freestyle enthusiasts of an advanced level will be able to try out this flex of a certain requirement, but it is above all the aficionados of the slopes and powder who will take pleasure in choosing these snowboard boots that offer good precision thanks to their optimal support.
Stiff flex: Freeride and all-mountain snowboarding experts will be delighted in these boots with their impeccable support and therefore high responsiveness, even at high speeds. On the other hand, this flex will have no interest for the freestylers, even the best.

Before choosing your snowboard boots, don't forget to also consider the flex of your bindings and that of your board. Indeed, the three stiffness values must be in harmony to allow you to exploit your equipment to the maximum of it's performance. On the other hand, if you are heavy, a medium flex, even for a beginner, may be more comfortable and more efficient in transmitting your energy to your board.

Good to know: insoles for freestyle

To add a tad of comfort when landing after freestyle jumps & grabs, there are specific insoles for your snowboard boots in order to get a better cushioning.

The different tightening systems for snowboard boots

Now that you know your size of snowboard boots, but also the flex that suits your style and level of practice, let's move on to the fastening system / lacing. There are indeed different lacing systems that will allow you to perfectly tighten your boots for a precise and safe glide.

Classic lacing: nothing could be simpler here as the laces allow you to tighten your snowboard boots exactly as you want. While this tightening is accurate, it is slow and can show signs of weakness after a few hours on the slopes. However, it has the advantage of being very easy to change in case of breakage.
Quick lacing: the thin laces are adjusted with a tightening system at the top of the shoe. Support is assured.
Cable lock: laces are replaced by cables that are adjusted by a knob.
The BOA coiler: thanks to it's cable and roller system, this snowboard boot tightening system is very powerful and also precise.
Dissociated tightening: some snowboard boots allow tightening according to the foot area. This is often a scratch added on the shin part to reinforce the support of the top and thus offer more rigidity and therefore precision. This can also be interesting for freestylers who want to bring a little more rigidity to their snowboard boots with a soft flex and offer themselves a little more challenge. By tightening the bottom more, your foot will be better supported, which can reassure beginners. Be careful not to over tighten, however, as this can affect the comfort of the boot.

How do you know if you've made the right choice of snowboard boots?

When choosing your snowboard boots, it's important to try them on to make sure they will meet all your expectations once you're on your board. Here are the different steps for a proper fitting:

Put on your snowboard socks. They are thicker and offer anti-friction reinforcements, which can greatly change your feeling.
Remove one insole from your boots and place it on the ground. Place your foot on it and press forward as if you were on the slopes. Your foot should cover the entire surface of the insole, this is how you will most easily see if you have the right size of snowboard boot.
Once the insole is back in the boot, put it on, stand up and tighten it's boot. It should fit snugly without being too tight either. This would not give you more support, but may cause discomfort. You should feel your foot well wrapped.
Now it's time to lace your snowboard boots. You should tighten it as hard as possible, as if you were heading out on the slopes and you should feel your foot going backwards. Ideally, your toes should slightely touch at the front of the boot. When you lean forward, your foot should no longer feel the front of the boot. If you lightly touch the toe when you are leaning forward, it may pass. As you walk around, the foam will settle, so this is not so serious. On the other hand, you should never feel your toes get stuck when standing. Also, if your toes are very far from the boot's front, it's better to try smaller boots, as you might not have enough hold once on your board.
When you hold your stance, putting your weight on your toes, your heel should not come off the insole. This will help avoid friction and heating of the heel and foot arch.

Are thermoformed boots necessary?

Snowboard boot liners are made from a material specially designed to fit the foot. Over time, the liner will therefore fit your foot perfectly as long as it is the right size. However, you can opt for a thermoformed liner that will ideally fit the shape of your foot. To carry out this operation, you will need to go to a specialised sport shop.

The inside of your boots will be heated on a specific machine to activate the foam. You will then need to put your boots on, tighten them as if you were about to hit the slopes and take the same stance as on your snowboard. You should not move for about 5 minutes, as this is when the most important part of the moulding takes place. You can then walk around while the boots cool down a bit.

Choosing the right snowboard boots will allow you to ride comfortably and safely. Choosing the right size, flex and tightening system will be key for optimal support and a board with 100% responsiveness.

The three key points to remember when choosing your snowboard boots:

To find the right size of snowboard boots, you must find the correspondence between your shoe size and your Mondopoint size;
To choose your snowboard boots, you have to find the flex that suits your level and practice;
There are different fastening systems for snowboard boots which each offer a more or less adjusted tightening according to the zones of the boot.

snowboard boots