The 5 boots featured below are what I consider to be the best freestyle snowboard boots currently on the market.
This post has been updated for the 2021-22 season.
As per SnowboardingProfiles.com tradition I have rated each pair of boots out of 100.
Comparison Stats
Of the 28 boots that I rated as freestyle boots:
O.k. let’s get into the top 5!
FREESTYLE BOOT #5
Boot: DC Mutiny
- CAN
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium-Soft (3.5/10)
Rating: 87.8/100
Starting the list at #5, we have the DC Mutiny.
The Mutiny are the softest flexing in this list. Whilst DC rate them 6/10, I felt them no more than 4/10. At first I was thinking 3/10 after trying them on, but could get them to 3.5/10 on snow - the biggest discrepancy between the flex rating and my flex feel I've had with boots.
As well as being the softest, they are also the lowest price.
Just really fun boots to surf/slash/butter etc with. Great option for really playful riding, particularly with a board of 4/10 flex or less. Just provided such great board feel, whilst at the same time really good shock absorption (which is an elusive mix) - and for how soft they felt, they were more responsive than I would have thought.
Learn more about the Mutiny in the video below
Score Breakdown for the Mutiny
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 16/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 8/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TRACTION | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 87.8/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #4
Boot: Salomon Launch Lace BOA SJ
- CAN
- UK
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing with Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 89.0/100
Next up we have the Salomon Launch Lace BOA SJ.
With a combined traditional lace and BOA system (traditional lace for full adjustability of the outerboot and a BOA for activating the harness around the liner of the boot - for on the fly re-tightening of the liner), you've got so much adjustability - fast becoming my favorite lacing system.
That really helps with the heel hold. But of course, there's more to this boot than just the adjustability and heel hold - they provide great board feel, are nice and comfortable (though this depends on your foot of course) and had really decent response for a 5/10 flexing boot.
Score Breakdown for the Launch Lace BOA SJ
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.0 | 12/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 12/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 5.0 | 15/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.5 | 9/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TRACTION | 2.0 | 2/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 89.0/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #3
Boot: Burton Swath Boa
- CAN
- UK
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 89.5/100
Next up we have Burton’s Swath Boa boots.
The Swath Boa are an awesome boot for riding the whole mountain, riding the park, riding freestyle over the whole mountain or combining all of the above.
With great performance across all areas I looked at, they strike a great balance for freestyle/all-mountain-freestyle riding.
The Swath also come in a speed zone version (which costs a little less), if that's more your thing.
Learn more about the Swath Boa in the video below
Score Breakdown for the Swath Boa
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 14/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 12/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 8/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TRACTION | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 89.5/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #2
Boot: Vans Hi Standard Pro
- CAN
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 90.1/100
In at #2 we have Vans Hi Standard Pro. In a lot of ways it's like a traditional lace version of the Vans Aura Pro (see #1 below).
The Hi-Standards achieve a great balance between shock absorption and board feel - both highly sort after qualities for freestyle riding, IMO.
And they also offer great comfort and a low profile outersole, all for a really reasonable price-tag for what you get (around the average of the boots I rated in this category and the 2nd lowest price of those that made the top 5).
Score Breakdown for the Hi Standard Pro
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 16/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 12/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 3.5 | 7/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TRACTION | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.1/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #1
Boot: Vans Aura Pro
- CAN
- UK
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 90.1/100
Finally at #1 we have the Vans Aura Pro.
The Aura Pro are not to be confused with the Aura "OG" - a more budget friendly, softer flexing, single boa version.
Like the Hi Standard Pro (see #2) they have that great combination of both shock absorption and board feel - they are in a lot of ways Double Boa versions of the Hi Standard Pro.
The Aura Pro’s are super comfortable, have great shock absorption, really good heel hold and great in terms of board feel.
They also have a really low profile outersole and are just overall a well rounded boot for freestyle or all-mountain-freestyle riding.
Score Breakdown for the Aura Pro
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 16/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 12/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 8/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TRACTION | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.1/100 |
Over to You….
So there you have my picks for the top 5 freestyle boots for the 2021/22 season.
If you’re interested in any of these boots check out the links for each boot above for more information.
Quick Note
This is by no means an exact science – but the ratings should give you a quick reference as to the performance of these boots.
Also note that some freestylers who are into really big air are likely to want a stiffer flexing boot. This post is aimed at your average freestyler who enjoys small to medium jumps, butters, grabs, 360s, jibs, ollies etc. Or just any intermediate to advanced rider that wants a boot around that 4/10 to 5/10 flex range.
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