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 2019-20 season.
As per SnowboardingProfiles.com tradition I have rated each pair of boots out of 100.
Comparison Stats
Of the 33 boots that I rated as freestyle boots:
O.k. let’s get into the top 5!
FREESTYLE BOOT #5
Boot: Burton Swath Boa
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 87.8/100
Starting the list at #5, we have Burton’s Swath Boa boots.
The Swath Boa are an awesome boot for riding the whole mountain, riding the park, riding freestyle 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, if that's more your thing.
Learn more about the Swath Boa in the video below
Score Breakdown for the Swath Boa
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Shock Absorption | 3.5 | 14/20 |
Board Feel | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
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 | 87.8/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #4
Boot: Adidas Superstar ADV
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating: 87.8/100
The Superstars are comfortable, offer great shock absorption and have a nice skate like board feel to them.
And they have pretty good reduced footprint too. Though, note that these don't have as much of a reduced footprint as other Adidas boots - but still better than average.
Learn more about the Superstar in the video below
Score Breakdown for the Superstar
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Shock Absorption | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Board Feel | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Heel Hold | 3.0 | 6/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Traction | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 87.8/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #3
Boot: Vans Hi Standard Pro
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 90.1/100
In at #3 we have Vans Hi Standard Pro. In a lot of ways it's like a traditional lace version of the Vans Aura Pro (see #2 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 cheapest that made the top 5).
Learn more about the Hi Standard Pro in the video below
Score Breakdown for the Hi Standard Pro
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 #2
Boot: Vans Aura Pro
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 90.1/100
In at #2 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 #3) 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.
Check out the video for more on the Aura Pro
Score Breakdown for the Aura Pro
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
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 | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
Traction | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.1/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #1
Boot: Salomon Lo-Fi
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing with Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 91.3/100
And finally in the #1 spot, are Salomon's Lo Fi boots.
They are the most expensive on this list and quite a bit more pricey than the average price of the boots I looked at in this category. But if you're looking for a high performance freestyle boot and money isn't a factor, then the Lo Fi should be on your radar.
The Lo Fis are plush offering great heel hold with that Boa cranking down on an internal harness over the ankle and have great shock absorption. As well as being super comfortable (of course depending on fit for your foot) - all round just an awesome boot for those with the budget for it.
Learn more about the Lo Fi in the video below
Score Breakdown for the Lo Fi
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Shock Absorption | 4.5 | 18/20 |
Board Feel | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Heel Hold | 4.5 | 9/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Traction | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.3/100 |
Over to You….
So there you have my picks for the top 5 freestyle boots for the 2019/20 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 5/10 flex range.
What would be the best all mountain boot our of the Salomon Dialogue, Salomon launch sj, or the Salomon Hi fi.
Thanks
Hi Charlie
Thanks for your message.
I would say that the Dialogue are the most suited to all-mountain riding – it makes my top 10 all mountain boots list.
But the Hi-Fi could well be used as all-mountain boots (as could the lo-fi). But the Dialogue are just that little bit stiffer. Not by a huge amount, but just a little (6/10 by my feel for the Dialogue Boa). The Launch is a little softer flexing. I think they would be less suitable, IMO.
Hope this gives you more to go off
Hi Nate,
This year i want to buy my first pair of boots (i’m a beginner-intermediate rider, 4 seasons now) and this mid flex of 5 sure will help me advance more easily that a stiffer boot. But at the same time i want to think of the future and keep these boots for 4-5 years. Can the Salomon Lo Fi a good choice for me? I will ride mainly groomers and maybe a little off piste.
And in the spring i will buy a pair of bindings and a board. I was thinking of the Union Strata or Now x Yes bindings that i would like to pair with the Yes Standard. What do you think?
Have a good one,
M
Hi Mihai
Thanks for your message.
I think the Lo-Fi would be a good option for you. As a beginner/intermediate, I wouldn’t go too much stiffer than 5/10. You could go up to 6/10, if you wanted, but to get a good balance of better/faster progression, and something that can last you a long time, I think 7/10 would be out of balance on the too stiff side and 4/10 out of balance on the not last you long enough side. So either 5/10 or 6/10 flex is a good way to go, IMO. The Lo Fi are quality boots. I can’t say anything about longevity because I don’t ride boots long enough to comment on that, but they feel like good quality boots and should last a good while. If you’re riding like 100 days a year they won’t last 4-5 years (no boot will), but depending on how often you ride, they should last a good while – again just guessing, but they seem to be good quality.
The Strata and X Yes would both be good matches to the YES Standard. Personally I prefer the Strata, mostly because I’m quite fussy on board feel and the Strata have better board feel than the X Yes. Otherwise the X YES is a good binding, but mostly because of the board feel, I’d go Strata, personally.
Hope this helps with your decisions
Hi Nate,
Thank you for your feedback!
It helps me a lot :D, as a matter of fact tonight i will go and try on the boots, so excited.
Can you please recommend other all-mountain and powder boards that would be good for the set-up that i just told you? I follow your Top 10’s and it’s a good guidance for me, that’s how i ended up choosing the Yes Standard.
Thanks
Hi Mihai
Let me know how you go once you’ve tried them on.
If you’re looking for something to complement your Standard, then I would look at a more directional board, so you’ve got something different in your quiver. To go with the Lo-Fi and Strata/X YES, I wouldn’t go too stiff in the board, so something mid-flex, but more directional would be the call, I would say.
Something like the YES Hybrid, if you wanted to stick with YES and go for something a little short/wide, but not overly short/wide. The GNU Antigravity and Hyperkyarve are good mid-flexing options too or the Burton Family Tree Hometown Hero (if you went with the X YES bindings, you’d need a separate disc to make it compatible with the Channel mounting system used on Burton boards – the Strata’s mini-disc is already compatible with the channel). Jones Mind Expander is another that comes to mind. Or the Lib Tech Cold Brew. That’s all I can think of for now. Hopefully there’s a good option for you in there.
One more thing to mention that I just thought of, is that the Strata won’t work on the Standard’s slam back inserts because of the mini-disc. If you didn’t think you were going to use the Slam Back inserts, then it’s not an issue, but if you were going to, then you would need to get bindings without a mini-disc.
Hi Nate,
Bought the LoFi’s! Really happy with the fit without breaking them in. So much space for the toes to wiggle.
As for the board and bindings… the Standard would make a lot more sense for me right now because I would like to give it a try to riding switch (i’m goofy), I know that the board is a Directional Twin, but i will change the position of the bindings. And the slam back inserts don’t really interest me that much right now (with this in mind i will stick to Strata), if i will need a POW board i’ll go with a Mind Expander or Orca.
For the Standard can you help me with a size recommendation?
I’m 240 pounds (slimming down right now, aiming for 200) and 5’10” and Size 11 LoFi (29 cm). I was thinking to go with a 162 because of the waist width of 26.8, not taking into consideration my weight haha :)).
Thank you Nate!
Hi Mihai
Awesome that the Lo Fi’s fit well! So good to get boots sorted!
For the Standard, I would say the 162 is probably your best bet. If you were down to 200 pounds, I’d even consider the 159. Both the 159 and 162 are certainly wide enough for your boot size. Even a little on the wide side, but sizing down in length a little bit helps there. So, yeah I would say you’d be closer to 163, 164, but with that extra width, the 162 would be a good bet. Depending on how fast you though you would get down to 200, the 159 is also a consideration.
Nate, i really do appreciate your awesome advice! You’ve been of great help and have a great season! I know i will, now with my feet perfectly comfortable.
Sorry for the reply at this message, for the ones below i could not reply 😀
You’re very welcome Mihai. Hope you have an awesome season too!
Hi Nate – your advice is always spot on so thank you for that! My question is on boot flex as it relates to binding/board flex. I see you typically recommend to roughly match your boot/binding/board flex. I ride a mid-stiff board (jones explorer), with mid-stiff (k2 formula, maybe more mid than stiff) and northwave legend boots (on the soft to mid range – 4ish, I would say). Looking at new boots and my question is what will I lose in performance if I stick to a softer boot like the northwave vs what do I gain if I went to a stiffer flex boot? I like the comfort of the softer flex, so if I’m not missing out on much (maybe a bit of response?) I’d prefer to stay with a soft boot. I’m intermediate, mostly riding groomers and powder when available, but typically cruising blues and easier blacks. no park, and not what I’d call a bomber (but do like some speed). Thanks!
Hi dd
Thanks for your message.
Going with a stiffer boot will help to give you more response. And it will help to drive a stiffer board/binding setup. Softer flexing is typically better for riding at slower speeds, so going stiffer definitely helps for when riding fast and getting that response – and being able to push carves deeper and hold them for longer. I find some stiffer boots can still be really comfortable, but they typically take longer to get comfortable – longer to break in.
But yeah the main thing you loose by going softer is that response. Things just take that little bit longer to happen. I personally don’t like a softer boot on a stiffer board/binding setup, but everyone is different. I also don’t like overly stiff boots on a softer board/binding setup. Which is why I find it good to try to roughly match.
Since both your board and bindings are bordering on medium (Explorer I would say 6.5/10 and Formula 6/10) and since you like softer boots, then maybe going for something around 5/10 flex is a good compromise. Not going too soft, but not going too stiff, and being a relatively close match.
Excellent Nate, thank you for the response!
You’re very welcome dd.
Hi Nate
I wonder how you compare vans aura pro to adidas response adv in terms of sizing and fit? Auro pro fit me perfectly in 8.5, but I wonder if response adv performs better with all mountain ride.
Thanks for building such a wonderful site for all of us!
Hi Riley
Thanks for your message.
I find that Adidas and Vans boots typically fit me in the same size. Though I have heard for some that they can go half a size smaller for Adidas boots. Wasn’t the case for me, but some find that. The Response has a wider toe box (as typical of a lot of Adidas boots) vs the Aura Pro.
Aura Pro, definitely still good for all-mountain riding as well. Just that little bit softer flexing, and a touch less responsive than the Response, but not a huge difference. And the Response have a little more traction. The Aura Pros with a bit better board feel though.
Hope this helps
Hey Nate
Your comments are in line with all the reviews I could find on line. It sucks that there’s very limited snowboard gear selections that we can try on in my country. Most reviewers wear same size with aura and response. Auro pro had to be a blind buy but the toe box happens to fit me perfectly. So I’ll stick with it, thanks a lot!
Hi Riley
Awesome that they fit. Sometimes you have to buy a little blind when it comes to boots, if you don’t have the chance to try on. But there are some things that can help you narrow it down. Glad you managed to get a good fitting boot in the end.
Hello Nate,
I will probably go for the Hi-Standard Pro – will try both in the shop.
I have 1 month until i go to the mountains (meanwhile indoor) so i’m not in a hurry and maybe there are good deals during januari sales.
Thanks again for your advise
You’re very welcome Jurgen. Hope you have a great season!
Hello Nate, thank you for your excelent reviews and top x charts !
They helped me decide ordering the Union Strata binding.
For boots, I’m thinking about the Vans Aura Pro but i suspect that the different colour versions are not quite the same.
Maybe you can help me out ?
The grey boots have a rubber strip on the heel and toe, that will help locking into the bindings.
I do not see this in the brown and the black versions, which seems to be made entirely from leather.
As I do not care much about the colour or looks, maybe you can help me decide which is the better one out of the 3 ?
Also i have no experience with boa lacing – (maybe unfounded) but i think it is fragile and will break sooner than classic laces.
Maybe i will be better of with the Vans Hi Standard Pro or are there other features that stand out comparing to the Aura Pro ?
Thanks and greetings from Belgium 😉
Hi Jurgen
Thanks for your message.
First of all, I think the Aura Pro would be a great match with the Strata.
In terms of color ways, I wasn’t aware that the Khaki coloway was different, but now that you mention it, it does seem to have different materials. I wouldn’t imagine it would make much difference performance wise, to be honest. But potentially could make a difference durability-wise?
I haven’t personally broken BOA lacing before, so I wouldn’t say BOA was fragile. But it is harder to fix, if it does break. Whereas with Traditional lacing it’s usually easier to replace. But in my experience other parts of the boot have warn out before the lacing. Though this isn’t the experience of everyone as I have heard of people who have broken BOA lacing, Traditional Lacing and Speed lacing.
The Aura Pro and Hi-Standard Pro are very similar apart from the lacing. Not exact but very close. So, if you were concerned about BOA and would prefer Trad lacing, then the Hi-Standard Pro would be a good option, IMO.
Hope this helps
I read your review about Snowboard Boots. Snowboarding was one of my passionate areas and I didn’t know much about this field. I used to live in Canada and snow is very common there. During Winter, I used to buy snow boots – but I didn’t have much idea earlier. You clearly detail the different categories of Snowboard boots and it all makes sense to me now.
Hey Shivaram
Thanks for visiting. I’m glad this has helped you make more sense of choosing snowboard boots.
Yes we do get plenty of snow in Canada! Send me a message next time you’re in Canada (if you’re in BC) and we can hit on of the many mountains BC has.
This is sort of off topic, but your menus are great! Anyway, admittedly, I know very little about snowboarding, but I’ve always wanted to do it. This definitely helps because I can make sure I get the highest quality boot (which I hadn’t considered, but is extremely important) when I go shopping for them. Snowboarding 2016 here I come!
Hey Jay
Awesome that you are keen to get into snowboarding. Yeah good snowboarding boots are definitely important. You should start out with beginner boots – check out the link below to check out some great beginner boots.
Thanks for stopping by and I’m glad you like the menus – I try to make the site as easy to navigate as possible and appreciate the feedback.
Hey Nate,
Great review! My boyfriend is (or was) an avid boarder until he broke his leg a few years ago. He’s been talking about getting back at it this winter. His talking has become window shopping online, so I’m pretty sure he’s serious about it this year, haha.
His birthday is coming up and I think buying him new boots would be an awesome gift, but I know nothing about this stuff. He needs something that will offer stability and flexibility (he has screws in his thigh bone – his docs have said it was safe for him to get back on a board), and I’m guessing shock absorption.
With all this info, what boot would you recommend?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Catherine
Hey Catherine.
Thanks for visiting – glad you liked the review.
I can’t claim to be an expert when it comes to the best gear for someone with screws in the leg but my best guess would be that something with a bit of give (so some flexibility) would be good – so going with a really stiff flex may not be the right way to go because it won’t offer any give for his leg. Also, yeah shock absorption would help I imagine.
If he is a freestyle rider – which I’m guessing he is since you are checking out freestyle boots – then shock absorption and a mid to soft flex is a goo thing anyway so he’s covered there I would say (but again I am just guessing here).
Again assuming he is a freestyle rider then anything on this list would be suitable – assuming it fits right. You can check out my post on getting the right fitting snowboard boots at the link below to help you choose something that will fit right. It’s a little bit tricky when you are buying as a gift if he is unable to try them on – but doable – the more info you can get about his feet the better – check out the link below for more.
How to Size Snowboard Boots
Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi Nate, thanks for the great information and the in depth reviews. Seems like the Salomon F3.0 is definitely the best hands down all around freestyle boot. I’m living in Canada, can I ask what is the average price for those boots, is it better to get the best or go with something not quite as good and save a few bucks?
Hey Kurt
Thanks for checking out the review.
The recommended price for the F3.0 is USD$299 which would currently convert to roughly CAD$390 at the current exchange rate. But you are likely to be able to get them cheaper most times of the year (just maybe not right before the season starts) – the lowest I’ve seen them recently is USD$145 so that’s around half of their recommended price – though that would be an awesome deal.
Whether it’s better to go with the best or not quite as good to save money is done to your own personal budget and what you are willing to invest. That said, when it comes to boots I wouldn’t skimp on them to save cash – boots are going to make a big difference to your comfort and performance – as does other snowboarding gear, but I would sacrifice on board and bindings before I sacrificed on boots.
It should also be noted that the most expensive aren’t necessarily the best. Sometimes boots can be overpriced.
I hope this answers your questions.