K2 Cosmo Snowboard Boots Review

Tested and reviewed by Maya. 

Despite the Cosmo feeling like they didn't fit my feet overly well, they have plenty of redeeming factors and make for great freestyle boots or casual/beginner boots. 

In this review I will take you through my testing of the Cosmo aand assess them as freestyle snowboard boots.

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

Overall Rating

Boots: K2 Cosmo

Price: $279 (USD recommended retail)

Style: Freestyle

Other Uses: All-Mountain

Flex Rating: Medium-Soft (4/10)

Flex Feel: Medium-Soft (4/10)

Rating Score: 86.8/100

Compared to other Women's Freestyle Boots

Out of the 17 women's freestyle boots that I rated:

Overview of the Cosmo’s Specs

Check out the tables for the Cosmo’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Who are the Cosmo Most Suited to?

The Cosmo are best suited to someone looking for a dedicated park boot or for beginners or just those who prefer to ride slower/more casually. 

Because of their softer flex, they would also suit lighter weight or less physically strong intermediate to advanced riders who might find the flex of stiffer boots too much (flex is relative to the pressure you're able to apply to the boots). 

The Cosmo are best matched to softer flexing boards - something in the 2/10 to 4/10 range ideally, but would also work for a 5/10 flex board. 

The Cosmo in More Detail

On groomer: Hardpack with some icy patches higher up. Predominantly slushy with hard patches on lower mountain. 

Off groomer: Hard but doable up higher and pretty messy down lower with a mixture of slushy and crunchy broken ice areas. 

Setup 

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Board Demoed With: Ride Saturday

Bindings Demoed With: Ride DVA

Rider Height: 5'7" (170cm)

Rider Weight: 125lbs (56kg)

Rider Boot Size: Women's US8.0 (Ride Hera Control Boot)

Outersole Length:  28.6cm (mondo 25cm)

Difference between Mondo & Outersole: 3.6cm

Backstay Height: 9.4" (23.8cm)

Forward Lean: 6.2° 

Weight: 1lb 10oz (740 grams)*

* Average of a sample of  women's boots I've weighed was 1lbs 15oz (883g). Heaviest I've weighed were 2lbs 10oz (1200g) and lightest were 1lb 7oz (640g). On the scales the Cosmo came in at a lighter than average weight but on snow felt normal.

Foot to Boot Fit

Length Fit:

Right off the bat, these boots felt a bit snug. It wasn’t outright discomfort, though I could tell immediately they must run a hair short. When riding, the feeling of my toes being squished upfront became slightly more pronounced. It wasn’t painful, but it was noticeable.

Width Fit:

Similar to the length, I would call these smaller than average. The feeling of tightness was pretty consistent throughout the entirety of the boot. This resulted in some discomfort. I could feel the heat molding doing its thing as I rode, so they did start to open up a bit, but it wasn’t enough, in the time I had them, for me to consider these an overly comfortable boot option.

They would most likely break in nicely after a few uses though. However,  I wouldn’t recommend them for a wider foot. The toe box was particularly narrow and low volume. If your toes/forefoot are wider than average or your toes are splayed at all, the Cosmos should probably be ruled out.

In-Step:

I would call these fairly average in the way of volume for the top of the foot. Somewhat tight on top, but it wasn’t causing pressure or pinching. I think it would be pretty comfortable for someone with an average to low-average height in-step. May not be spacious enough for a particularly high in-step foot.

Around Ankles:

Like most of the boot, the area around the ankle was pretty snug. There was some slight pressure, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. This really is just one of those boots that’s going to take some break in time for optimal comfort.

I know there are plenty of ladies who struggle with heel lift because of the natural anatomy of the female foot, so I think in this aspect, the Cosmos is great. It definitely held me tight so it could be a great option for someone with a narrow foot and an even narrower heel.

True to Size?: 

In my opinion, the Cosmos run small. I could feel them starting to mold to my feet by the end of the day, so some of the pressure was released, but I still felt much more cramped than what I’d prefer for all-day riding. If the shape of this boot makes more sense for your foot than it did mine, it might be a good idea to size up a half size.

Boot to Binding Fit

The boots actually sat super well in my bindings. I did need to lengthen my ankle strap a little, but they weren’t overtly bulky in that area. Overall, they paired well together.

Carving

The Cosmos really aren’t built for hard carving. They just didn’t provide the support needed for high speeds or super technical riding. I could do some moderate, low angle carving without feeling like I was going to wash out, but they performed much better in more playful, buttery settings.

Slow Speed Response

At slower speeds, I felt they offered plenty of support and were much more at home with slower, skiddier turns. More relaxed riding was the sweet spot for these boots.

Heel Hold

The heel hold was definitely above average. I felt super locked in without having to crank down like crazy when lacing up. The BOA-controlled liner gave me the option to dial that in perfectly. They would be a great solution for a narrow healed rider who has a hard time finding that support. This could definitely be uncomfortable for a wider heel, though.

Adjustability

Even though these boots rock a standard lace-up style, I was able to adjust the liner and heel hold with the BOA. The adjustability of the traditional laces and the internal BOA, which made on-the-fly tweaks a lot quicker and more efficient, make this boot nice and adjustable, even if a bit slower to get laced up. 

Comfort

For me, these didn’t rank high on my “comfy” chart. I felt too cramped, and my toes weren’t happy. I do think they could be comfortable for a narrower foot, though. They have the fit of a more technical boot, which I didn't feel was necessary for a more flexy, park-oriented boot.

Shock Absorption

Fairly average shock absorption. They have a pretty good amount of padding through the sole which I did enjoy. They handled chatter fine but didn’t totally eliminate it.

Board Feel

I would say the connection to the board was above average. Because of the amount of padding in the sole, I felt like I lost just a little bit of that board feel but still overall good. 

Entry/Exit

Really easy entry and exit. The boots opened up quite well which made getting in and out a breeze. That BOA definitely sped up the process, but laces are laces, so take a bit more time than BOAs and speed laces.  

Admittedly, I was all too excited to pop that BOA on the way out after feeling cramped in them! So I was glad that didn't take too long. 

But overall getting in and out was pretty easy, even if not the quickest going around. 

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

Despite my comfort issues with the Cosmo, they are a pretty well made boot that offers a softer flex for getting more tweak and for ease of manipulating the board for jibs, ollies, grabs, spins, flat-ground tricks etc. 

They would make a great boot for a predominantly freestyle rider or as a dedicated park boot or for lighter weight or beginner riders.