snowboarding profiles logo mountain

Snowboarding Profiles

  • SNOWBOARDS
    • Top Snowboard Picks 2022-2023
    • Snowboard Reviews
    • Snowboard Buying Guide
    • Snowboard Length Sizing
    • Snowboard Width Sizing
    • For Beginners
    • Setup/Maintenance
  • BINDINGS
    • Top Bindings Picks 2022-2023
    • Binding Reviews
    • Binding Buying Guides
    • Binding Sizing
    • Binding and Board Compatbility
    • For Beginners
    • Bindings Setup
  • SNOWBOARD BOOTS
    • Top Boots Picks 2022-2023
    • Boot Reviews
    • Boot Buying Guides
    • Sizing and Fit
    • Boot Fit by Brand
    • For Beginners
    • More
  • OUTERWEAR
    • Top Jacket Picks 2022-2023
    • Top Pants Picks 2022-2023
    • Jacket Buying Guide
    • Pants Buying Guide
    • Goggles Buying Guide
    • Helmet Buying Guide
    • Base Layers Buying Guide
    • More
  • About
    • About SP
    • Shop Merch

Best Freeride Snowboard Boots (Mens) 2022-2023

Last Updated: November 19, 2022 by Nate 97 Comments

Best Freeride Snowboard Boots

Hello and welcome to my list of the best freeride snowboard boots for the 2022/23 season. This list covers what I consider to be the best 5 men’s freeride boot choices.

Each pair of boots in this list has been rated on a number of factors that are important for boots that will serve the freerider/big mountain rider and, as always here at SnowboardingProfiles.com, given a total score out of 100.

Some Quick Stats Before We Start the List

Of 19 boots that I rated:

  • The average score was 87.0/100
  • The highest score was 93.2/100 (see below)
  • The lowest score was 79.5/100
  • The average price was $447

O.k. let’s get into the top 5!


FREERIDE BOOT #5

ThirtyTwo TM-Two XLT review

Boot: Thirty Two TM-TWO XLT

  • US
  • CA
  • uK/EU

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here (UK/EU)

Lacing System: Traditional Lace

Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)

Rating: 90.0/100

Starting off the list at #5, we have Thirty Two's TM-2 XLT. 

Not to be mistaken for it's younger brother, the TM-2, the TM-2 XLT features a much stiffer flex and an upgrade in sole for better traction. 

These boots are stiff, responsive and highly adjustable with their traditional laces.

Learn more about the TM-2 XLT in the Video Below

Score Breakdown for the TM-TWO XLT

RATING
(out of 5)

SCORE WEIGHTING

RESPONSE

5.0

35/35

TRACTION

4.5

13.5/15

HEEL HOLD

3.5

7/10

ADJUSTABILITY

4.5

9/10

SHOCK ABSORPTION

3.5

7/10

REDUCED FOOTPRINT

4.0

8/10

COMFORT

3.0

6/10

TOTAL after normalizing

90.0/100


FREERIDE BOOT #4

Ride Insano snowboard boots review

Boot: Ride Insano

  • US
  • CA
  • UK/EU

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here (CA)

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here (UK/EU)

Lacing System: Double Boa

Flex: Stiff (10 out of 10)

Rating: 90.5/100

In at #4, we have the Ride Insano.

What can I say, these boots perform well in every factor that I assessed them on. Just awesome across the board – super responsive, great heel hold, comfortable, good shock absorption and plenty of traction for hiking.

And these are the stiffest boots I've ridden - so if you like 'em stiff, these are right up there, without going into hard boots.  

Learn more about the Insanos in the Video Below

Score Breakdown for the Insano

RATING
(out of 5)

SCORE WEIGHTING

RESPONSE

5.0

35/35

TRACTION

4.0

12/15

HEEL HOLD

4.5

9/10

ADJUSTABILITY

4.5

9/10

SHOCK ABSORPTION

3.5

7/10

REDUCED FOOTPRINT

3.0

6/10

COMFORT

4.0

8/10

TOTAL after normalizing

90.5/100


FREERIDE BOOT #3

Vans Verse Snowboard boots review

Boot: Vans Verse

  • US
  • CA
  • UK/EU

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here (UK/EU)

Lacing System: Double Boa

Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)

Rating: 91.1/100

Next up are the Vans Verse. 

The Vans Verse are a rugged, responsive boot, built for hard charging and big mountain missions. 

Featuring TNF Flashdry™ to wick away moisture from your feet and a waterproof zipper cover, the Verse will help to keep your feet warm and dry no matter what the conditions. 

The other great feature of these boots is that they use Vans' removable tongue stiffeners, which means, if you want, you can remove those for a softer flexing boot. So on those days where you want a bit more forgiveness. That might be at the end of the day or for more casual riding with mates in the resort or if you want to ride them with a softer flexing board.

Score Breakdown for the Verse

RATING
(out of 5)

SCORE WEIGHTING

RESPONSE

5.0

35/35

TRACTION

3.5

10.5/15

HEEL HOLD

4.5

9/10

ADJUSTABILITY

4.0

8/10

SHOCK ABSORPTION

4.5

9/10

REDUCED FOOTPRINT

3.5

7/10

COMFORT

4.0

8/10

TOTAL after normalizing

91.1/100


FREERIDE BOOT #2

Burton Driver X review

Boot: Burton Driver X

  • US
  • CA
  • UK/EU

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here (CA)

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here (UK/EU)

Lacing System: Speed Lace (Speed Zone™)

Flex: Stiff (9.5 out of 10)

Rating: 91.6/100

In at #3, we have the Driver X. A true freeride boot in every sense of the word.

Stiff as hell, responsive as hell and aggressive as hell.

The Driver X will do just what it suggests – help to drive you hard down the mountain. If you like your boots super aggressive and have a stiff/aggressive board (s), then these just might be the boots for you. In fact the only boots I've ridden that are stiffer are the Ride Insanos (see #4 above) and there's not much difference between them. 

But they also offer great shock absorption and traction to help you out when hiking the backcountry.

Add to all of that some great footprint reduction, allowing you to ride a narrower board for more precision and reducing the risk of catching a boot in the snow on those hard carves.

Learn more about the Driver X in the Video Below

Score Breakdown for the Driver X

RATING
(out of 5)

SCORE WEIGHTING

RESPONSE

5.0

35/35

TRACTION

4.0

12/15

HEEL HOLD

3.5

7/10

ADJUSTABILITY

4.0

8/10

SHOCK ABSORPTION

4.0

8/10

REDUCED FOOTPRINT

4.5

9/10

COMFORT

4.0

8/10

TOTAL after normalizing

91.6/100


FREERIDE BOOT #1

K2 Thraxis snowboard boots review

Boot: K2 Thraxis

  • US
  • CA
  • UK/EU

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here

Price: View More Info and Current Price Here (UK/EU)

Lacing System: Triple Boa

Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)

Rating: 93.2/100

And finally at #1, we have K2's Thraxis boots. 

The Thraxis are bursting with tech and their performance reflects this. You do pay for it though (but in saying that, they aren't really that far off the average price of boots on this list - freeride boots are just expensive!). 

With all the response you could ask for, great traction for those hiking missions and a locked down, yet comfortable fit (fit is different for everyone though of course, depending on your own feet, ankles and calves but with the amount of adjustbility in these boots they should accommodate most), the Thraxis boast everything you need in a hard charging, take no prisoners boot. Perfect paired with stiff/aggressive boards. 

Learn more about the Thraxis in the Video Below

Score Breakdown for the Thraxis

RATING
(out of 5)

SCORE WEIGHTING

RESPONSE

5.0

35/35

TRACTION

4.5

13.5/15

HEEL HOLD

4.5

9/10

ADJUSTABILITY

4.5

9/10

SHOCK ABSORPTION

4.0

8/10

REDUCED FOOTPRINT

3.0

6/10

COMFORT

4.0

8/10

TOTAL after normalizing

93.2/100

Over to You…

Well there you have my list of the top freeride boots for the 2022/23 season. I hope this has helped to make your decision easier.

If you are interested in any of the boots in this list check out the links for each boot above to learn more and to check prices.

If you think you would prefer something with just a bit of a softer flex – but still want something that is responsive and performance oriented, check out the link below.

Top 10 Men's All-Mountain Boots

Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin 0

Filed Under: 2022 Snowboard Boot Reviews, 2023 Snowboard Boot Reviews, Boot Top 10's, Men's Freeride Snowboard Boot Reviews Tagged With: Best Freeride Snowboard Boots, best freeride snowboard boots 2020-21, best freeride snowboard boots 2021-22, best freeride snowboard boots 2022-23, best freeride snowboard boots 2023, mens freeride snowboard boots, top freeride snobwoard boots

About Nate

Nate is passionate about and loves learning new things everyday about snowboarding, particularly the technical aspects of snowboarding gear. That, and becoming a better rider and just enjoying and getting the most out of life.

Follow Snowboarding Profiles

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Comments

  • Nate on YES Standard Uninc Review
  • Nate on Burton Hometown Hero Review
  • Nate on Lib Tech Dynamo Review

Snowboardingprofiles.com participates in affiliate programs and may earn commissions on products linked to on this site.  More Details

Snowboardingprofiles.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2014-2023 · SnowboardingProfiles.com ·

  • Home
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact