Relative to their size, some snowboard boots have a outsole that is lower profile than others. Or in other words, a shorter "footprint" on the outside. This is sometimes known as a reduced footprint.
This comes in real handy for those who are trying to fit on a board that is borderline too narrow for their boot size. A lower profile boot can make the difference between being able to fit on that board without boot drag or not.
We measure the footprint of every boot that we test, and the list below features 12 boots that;
a. have a lower profile footprint than the average boot; and
b. score highly in our rating system for the particular type of boot
Why 12?
The reason this list is 12 is that we originally chose the 3 best low profile boots for 4 different flex levels (medium-soft, medium, medium-stiff and stiff). We have since changed how we select them (see below), but have chosen to stick with the number 12.
We now choose the best low profile boots for different flex levels (use the quick navigation menu below for a quick summary of the boots and their relative flexes) on a more progressive scale. It's still designed to include various flex levels as everyone have different preferences and are at different stages in their snowboarding progression.
OK, let's have a look at the top 12 for 2025!
Note that this list isn't ordered for how low profile they are, but rather ordered from softest to stiffest in flex.
#12: Ride Rook | 3/10 Flex
Flex: Soft (3/10)
Lacing System: Single BOA
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: Beginners, beginner park riders, low cost playful park/freestyle riding.
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.3cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
Our first low profile snowboard boots this year are the Ride Rook.
The Rook provide a good bit of footprint reduction (with the sole length being just 2.3cm longer than the mondo, on the size I measured, and average bevel).
They are a great options for beginners and those just starting out in the park, offering a forgiving flex. They rated #6 in our Top 10 Beginner Boots list.
#11: Burton Moto | 3/10 Flex
Flex: Soft (3/10)
Lacing System: Speed Lace (Single BOA model available too)
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: Beginners, beginner park riders, low cost playful park/freestyle riding.
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.5cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
Next up we have Burton’s Moto. The Moto is the equal softest flexing boot in this list (along with the Rook in #12 above). It's great as a beginner boot or for playful freestyle riding.
The Moto’s are #3 in our list of the top 10 beginner boots.
You can get the Moto in either a speed lace (shown above) or BOA version. The BOA version costs a little more.
#10: K2 Overdraft | 5/10 Flex
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Lacing System: Hybrid - Trad Lace with BOA
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: Freestyle/Park, Moderate to playful All-Mountain, All-Mountain-Freestyle
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.6cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
K2 haven't been known for having low profile snowboard boots. In fact often they tend to be longer than average. But the Overdraft bucks that trend. And in general K2's footprint has been reducing recently.
The Overdraft ranked #3 in our Top 10 Freestyle Snowboards Boots list this year.
>>See Full Review (review coming soon)
#9: Vans Aura/Hi-Standard Pro/Invado Pro | 5.5/10 Flex
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
Lacing System: Double BOA/Hybrid/Trad Lace
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
see full review links below for each boot
see full review links below for each boot
Best Uses: Freestyle/Park, Moderate to playful All-Mountain, All-Mountain-Freestyle
Length Longer Than Mondo: between 2.3 and 2.4
Toe/Heel Bevel:
We've lumped these 3 boots together this year. This is partly because there are more options to choose from now and partly because they are very similar boots, with their lacing system being the main things that differs between them.
They ranked #2, #4 and #5 in our Top 10 Freestyle Snowboards Boots list this year.
#8: DC Judge | 6.5/10 Flex
Flex: Medium (6.5/10)
Lacing System: Double BOA
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: All-Mountain, All-Mountain Freestyle.
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.5cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
As the flex starts to bump up a bit, the Judge are our next entry. They have a flex that is medium, but bordering on mid-stiff.
The Judge ranked #7 in our Top 10 All-Mountain Snowboard Boots list this year.
#7: Burton Photon | 6.5/10 Flex
Flex: Medium (6.5/10)
Lacing System: Speed Lace (Double BOA model available too)
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: All-Mountain, All-Mountain Freestyle.
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.2cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
Our next boots are another on the boundary of medium and mid-stiff, the Burton Photon.
The Photon come in both a speed lace version and a Double BOA version.
They took the #9 spot in our Top 10 All-Mountain Snowboard Boots list this year.
#6: ThirtyTwo TM-2 | 7/10 Flex
Flex: Mid-Stiff (7/10)
Lacing System: Trad Lace (Double BOA model available too)
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: All-Mountain, Aggressive-All-Mountain, Freeride, More Aggressive Park/Freestyle
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.4cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
Now we enter the mid-stiff boots, starting with the ThirtyTwo TM-2.
These boots come in both traditional lace and Double BOA lacing options.
They ranked #5 in our Top 10 All-Mountain Snowboard Boots.
#5: Vans Infuse/Hi-County & Hell Bound | 7/10 Flex
Flex: Mid-Stiff (7/10) - but adjustable with removable tongue stiffeners
Lacing System: Hybrid/Trad Lace
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
see full review links below for each boot
see full review links below for each boot
Best Uses: All-Mountain, Aggressive-All-Mountain, Freeride, More Aggressive Park/Freestyle
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.1cm to 2.3cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
Like the Aura Pro/Invado Pro/Hi-Standard Pro above, we've chosen to group these two together as well, given they are also very similar boots, with their lacing systems being the most significant differences.
They ranked #1 and #2 in our Top 10 All-Mountain Snowboard Boots list this year.
#4: Nitro Team BOA | 7.5/10 Flex
Flex: Mid-Stiff (7.5/10)
Lacing System: Double BOA
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: All-Mountain, Aggressive-All-Mountain, Freeride, High Speed Carving, Bombing
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.7cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
After measuring Nitro's Skylab and other Nitro boots in general, I didn't think I'd see one make this list. But the Team BOA manages a much lower profile than their other boots that I've measured.
While the length-longer-than-mondo is the longest on this list, the bevel is the largest on the list. This gives them that extra space to help prevent boot drag and therefore reduce their overall footprint.
Entering our Top 10 All-Mountain Snowboard Boots for the first time this year, they took out the #6 spot.
>>See Full Review (full review coming)
#3: Burton Ion | 7.5/10 Flex
Flex: Mid-Stiff (7.5/10)
Lacing System: Speed Lace (with a Double BOA model available too)
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: All-Mountain, Aggressive All-Mountain, Freeride, High Speed Carving, Bombing
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.3cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
Taking a step up in flex again, we next have the Burton Ion Boa.
The Ion’s are super responsive. A great all-mountain or aggressive all-mountain option or for freeriding if you prefer something that’s not mega-stiff – there’s a bit of forgiveness.
The Ion come in both a speed lace option and a Double BOA option.
They are the #4 boots in our Top 10 All-Mountain Snowboard Boots list this year.
#2: DC Phantom | 8/10 Flex
Flex: Stiff (8/10)
Lacing System: Double BOA
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: All-Mountain, Aggressive All-Mountain, Freeride, High Speed Carving, Bombing, More Extreme Freestyle
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.7cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
The DC Phantom are the least low profile boots in this list, but still qualified as low enough to make this list, courtesy of above average toe bevel. We actually measured them to have a smaller than average heel bevel, but the toe bevel was large enough to bring down their overall footprint.
The Phantom took out the #2 spot in our Top 5 Freeride Snowboard Boots list this year.
>>See Full Review (full review coming)
#1: Burton Driver X | 9.5/10 Flex
Flex: Stiff (9.5/10)
Lacing System: Speed Lace
Price: View More Info and Current Prices at the links in the tabs below.
Best Uses: Aggressive All-Mountain, Freeride, High Speed Carving, Bombing
Length Longer Than Mondo: 2.2cm
Toe/Heel Bevel:
Finally we have Burton’s Driver X boots. Super stiff, super responsive and one of the most reduced footprint boots we've measured. They are the stiffest boots in this list and not by a small margin.
The Driver X ranked #1 in our Top 5 Freeride Snowboard Boots list.
Thanks for Checking Out Our Top Rated Low Profile Snowboard Boots
Thanks for checking out our top rated low profile (reduced footprint) snowboard boots picks. I hope this has helped you to narrow down your options for your next pair of boots.
Check out the links in the where to buy boxes (the ones with the flags) for prices, availability and more info on the boots. And the full review links for more details on how we experienced each pair of boots.
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