Ride Hera Pro Snowboard Boots Review

Hello and welcome to my Ride Hera Pro snowboard boots review.

In this review I will take a look at the Hera Pro as all-mountain snowboard boots.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Hera  Pro a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other women's all-mountain boots.

Overall Rating

Boots: Ride Hera Pro

Price: $439 (USD recommended retail)

Style: All-Mountain 

Flex Rating: Medium-Stiff (7/10)

Flex Feel: Medium (6.5/10)

Rating Score: 85.0/100

Compared to other Women's All-Mountain Boots

Overview of the Hera Pro’s Specs

Who are the Hera Pro Most Suited to?

The Hera Pro are best suited to riders who like to carve and ride fast and need plenty of support to perform when under the extra pressure that comes from really leaning into carves and turning/stopping/carving at/from high speeds. 

They're not so crazy stiff that you can't enjoy them at slower speeds, but they definitely performed better when being driven harder - so if you predominantly ride at slow to moderate speeds, they probably aren't your best bet. 

They are best matched to boards in the 5/10 to 7/10 flex range.

Too stiff for beginners and lower intermediate riders, but solid intermediate riders shouldn't have any troubles with them. 

THE Hera Pro IN MORE DETAIL

Foot to Boot Fit

Length Fit:

Initially, the length felt pretty much perfect, but as I rode, I started to be very aware of my toes at the end of the boot. This wasn’t uncomfortable necessarily, but it did become more noticeable throughout the day.

I think this feeling may have been exacerbated by the slightly low-volume toe box. The length itself was pretty spot on, and what I would expect for a more performance-oriented boot option.

Width Fit:

The width of these boots increased my thought that the Hera Pros offer a more controlled fit than average. They were snug, but not in a tight way so much as a secure way.

There was no extra room, but it didn’t result in any pressure points or discomfort.

In-Step:

Very much like the length and width, the in-step area was snug without being too tight. I did feel a little bit of pressure here, but I got the sense this would open up pretty nicely after more wear. 

Around Ankles:

The ankle area was actually the only spot that I didn’t have that snugness. Don’t get me wrong, the heel hold was pretty dang good.

Walking around before strapping in, I noticed the slightest bit of heel lift, and because of that (little bit) looser feeling in this area, I was worried this was going to be an issue on the slopes. To my surprise, I felt super stable and locked in on the downhill. Kind of a Goldilocks fit.

True to Size?: 

Definitely, yes. I was pretty impressed with the fit of the Hera Pros. I think it’s important to keep in mind that this is a slightly beefed-up model from Ride, so it’s supposed to have that snugger feel. If you’re someone who doesn’t like a more technical type of fit, you may not love it, but does it fit true to size? Absolutely.

Boot to Binding Fit

I had to tighten my toe strap a couple of notches, but not the ankle strap. So, it may not be a low-profile boot, but it did sit a bit shorter in the binding. It fit perfectly into the heel cup, giving me even more security overall.

Carving

The Hera Pros proved to be extremely capable while carving and doing hard turns. It is on the stiffer side, and that support really shone through when leaning into either edge.

Slow Speed Response

Like I said, this is a stiffer boot. Going slow wasn’t really its strong suit. The same stiffness that gave me awesome stability at speed lacked the agility to be a top performer on slower runs.

Heel Hold

I honestly loved the heel hold in these boots. Tight and fitted enough to keep me from sliding around with enough space to keep them extremely comfortable. This is exactly what I want in any boot, and it is a non-negotiable in a boot meant for harder, faster riding.

Adjustability

The adjustability in these was really good, but not great. It does have 2 BOAs- one for controlling the heel lock and one for the outer. I would love to be able to control the upper and lower individually from one another for a slightly more customized fit. That being said, I still enjoyed the dual-BOA system.

Comfort

I was pretty pleased with the comfortability of the Hera Pros. Pretty comfortable overall, though the tightness around my toes dropped it a little for me. I think this space would push out after a longer break-in period, so for a more advanced boot, these were quite comfy.

Shock Absorption

The shock absorption wasn’t bad in these ones. Slightly more than I’m used to in my daily drivers, but still nothing to write home about. My feet didn’t feel beat up by the end of the day, which was a good sign.

Board Feel

Fairly average boot-to-board feel. The increased padding through the sole reduces this slightly, but they still had decent energy transfer.

Entry/Exit

Thanks to the double BOAs that controlled the inner and outer sections of the boots, I felt like I could get in and out of them faster than usual. It was really nice to be able to pop both BOAs and open up the liner and the shell in one fell swoop.

Liner:

I definitely loved the BOA on the liner. Not only did it make for quick adjustments and entry/exit, but it also kept the interior of the boot tidy. It all just lays clean and doesn’t result in the bulk of a separate lace-up system on the inside.

Outer boot:

A single BOA for the outer is always fast and simple. It is a little deceiving at first glance, as 2 BOAS often represent an independently adjusting upper and lower. The beauty of one BOA to control the whole boot is the speed, and in that sense, I have no complaints!

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.

The Hera Pros are the kind of boot that help you to lean deeper into carves and can take the kind of punishment boots get when you're charging hard and carving deep. 

They lack a little in adjustability but if they're a good fit for your feet, that shouldn't be an issue. 

They're not the best at slow speeds. Not terrible, but they come into their own when you get at least moderate speed under them.