Burton Imperial Review: Snowboard Boots Reviews

Hello and welcome to my Burton Imperial review.

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

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

NOTE: The 2021 model was the last model of the Imperial, so this review will no longer be updated. The Imperial has essentially been renamed the Photon - the Imperial was always basically the speed lace version of the Photon Boa, so this makes sense. The 2022 Photon has a couple of changes from the 2021 Imperial, but nothing major. 

Overall Rating

Boots: Burton Imperial

Price: $339 (USD recommended retail)

Style: All-Mountain 

Flex Rating: Medium

Flex Feel: Medium (6.5/10)

Rating Score: 85.3/100

Compared to other All-Mountain Boots

Out of the 37 all-mountain boots that I rated:

Who are the Imperial Most Suited to?

The Imperial are best for anyone looking for a speed lace boot that want something on the stiffer side of medium (6.5/10). 

Would work best with boards with around a 4-7 flex, ideally 5 or 6.  

Board Demoed With: Rossignol One LF 2018

Bindings Demoed With: Burton Malavita 2017

Outersole Length: 31.1cm (mondo 28.5cm)

Difference between Mondo & Outersole: 2.6cm

Backstay Height: 30.4cm

Weight: 940 grams*

* Average of a sample of boots I weighed was 1006 grams, so a good bit lighter than average. Heaviest were 1320 grams and lightest were 740 grams. 

Flex

Burton rate their "support" as medium, but with a firm flex tongue.  They feel just on the stiffer side of medium. I would say around 6, pushing 6.5.  

Fit

Width: Mid-wide. If you've got super wide feet, you'll probably want a wide-specific boot, but for those with just wider than normal feet, these should accommodate well. 

True to Size?: Yeah, I would say true to size. I rode the 10.5, when I'm typically a 10, and whilst the 10.5 was fine for demoing purposes, I think the 10 would be the better bet in the long run for me, so I'd say true to size. 

High or Low Arch: Felt like the arch was quite low to begin with. There was pressure on the top of my right foot. But once I heat molded that settled down a lot. And then after the first lap I didn't notice it at all. So, I'd say normal arch. 

Responsiveness

Good overall response. Maneuverability at slow speeds was still decent vs my test boots - maybe half a step down, but my test boots (Vans Aura) are a little softer and easier to maneuver in at slower speeds. 

The Imperial did give a bit more on a carve vs the Auras. I felt like I could hold a carve a little deeper and for a little longer. 

Heel Hold

It's not epic hold, but it's decent enough. There's not a lot of lift but there is some there. Wasn't bad enough lift to bother me. 

Adjustability

There's some good separation between the upper and lower zone speed laces, so you can get a different tightness for each section if you wish. 

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Comfort

Very comfortable feeling boots for me. No cramping, no pressure points (a tiny bit on the top of the right metatarsal, but I get that with almost every boot and it died down the more I rode in them, and a lot after heat molding). Felt good all round - shins, calves, heels, ankles, toes, all very comfortable. 

Shock Absorption

There's some decent shock absorption in these boots, without it being epic. But enough for me personally. 

Board Feel

Decent board feel. Half a step down from my test boots, but pretty good none-the-less. 

Traction

Looks and feels like a quality sole. Decent tread. Felt fine walking in car park and on snow. There's a good bit of rubber in the sole, so it should last a good while. 

Reduced Footprint

Really decent reduced outer sole. The 2.6cm difference between mondo and outersole length is better than average and on top of that the Imperial (typical of Burton boots) has a good amount of toe bevel, more than any other boot that I measured the toe bevel on. 

Entry/Exit

I'm not a big fan of the feel of doing up speed lace boots. They can feel a bit cumbersome. But it is a little faster than double boa or traditional lace. And once you get them in they do feel as tight as you want them, so it's all good. There's just something that I find less satisfying than when tightening traditional lace and boa. 

The liner has velcro and a typical lace harness. The velcro feels nice - it offers a nice snug fit around the top of the liner, with the harness more focused lower down the liner. 

The Imperial are an all-round good quality boot, offering a great mix of comfort and response in a low profile outer sole. 

Great option for anyone looking for a mid flexing boot that's just on the stiffer side of medium.