You can toggle (by clicking the "+" sign) each year below to see the lists from past season's.
Of 19 boots that I rated:
FREERIDE BOOT #5
Boot: Thirty Two TM-TWO XLT
- US
- CA
- 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.
Score Breakdown for the TM-TWO XLT
RATING | 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
Boot: Ride Insano
- US
- CA
- 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.
Score Breakdown for the Insano
RATING | 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
Boot: Vans Verse
- US
- CA
- 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 | 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
Boot: Burton Driver X
- US
- CA
- 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.
Score Breakdown for the Driver X
RATING | 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
Boot: K2 Thraxis
- US
- CA
- 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.
Score Breakdown for the Thraxis
RATING | 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 |
Of 17 boots that I rated:
FREERIDE BOOT #5
Boot: Ride Insano
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (10 out of 10)
Rating: 90.5/100
Starting off the list at #5, 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.
Score Breakdown for the Insano
RATING | 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 #4
Boot: Vans Verse
- US
- CA
- 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 | 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 #3
Boot: Burton Driver X
- US
- CA
- 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 #5 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.
Score Breakdown for the Driver X
RATING | 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 #2
Boot: Adidas Acerra 3ST ADV
- US
- CA
- uK/EU
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (8 out of 10)
Rating: 91.6/100
At # 2, we have the Adidas Acerra.
The Acerra are the softest flexing in this list (along with the Vans Verse when you take the tongue stiffeners out) – but still really quite stiff. They’ve just got that little bit more give.
If you’re after more stiffness, then there are stiffer options on this list, but if you want a boot that has just a little more forgiviness, but still provides awesome response, then the Accera should be high on your list.
They’re also super shock-absorbing (thanks to the boost tech in their sole), have a really reduced outersole footprint (the best in the business) and are super comfortable.
Score Breakdown for the Acerra
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
RESPONSE | 4.5 | 31.5/35 |
TRACTION | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 10/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 5.0 | 10/10 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.6/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #1
Boot: K2 Thraxis
- US
- CA
- 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), the Thraxis boast everything you need in a hard charging, take no prisoners boot. Perfect paired with stiff/aggressive boards.
Score Breakdown for the Thraxis
RATING | 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 2021/22 season. I hope this has helped to make your decision easier.
Of 14 boots that I rated:
FREERIDE BOOT #5
Boot: Ride Insano
Price: $399
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (10 out of 10)
Rating: 90.5/100
The Insanos are the equal cheapest boots on this list but this by no means compromises their performance (and by no means, means they're cheap either - just in comparison to the average boot price for this category).
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.
Score Breakdown for the Insano
RATING | 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 #4
Boot: Vans Verse
Price: $399
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 91.1/100
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 - at the end of the day or for more casual riding with mates in the resort, then the Verse have you covered without needing another pair of boots.
Score Breakdown for the Verse
RATING | 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 #3
Boot: Burton Driver X
Price: $439
Lacing System: Speed Lace (Speed Zone™)
Flex: Stiff (9.5 out of 10)
Rating: 91.6/100
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 #5 above) and there's not much difference there.
But they also offer great shock absorption and some awesome 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, and you’ve just about got yourself the perfect freeride/aggressive all-mountain snowboard boots.
Score Breakdown for the Driver X
RATING | 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 #2
Boot: Adidas Acerra 3ST ADV
Price: $420
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (8 out of 10)
Rating: 91.6/100
The Acerra are the softest flexing in this list (along with the Vans Verse when you take the tongue stiffeners out) – but still really quite stiff. They’ve just got that little bit more give, which I like. If you’re after more stiffness, then there are stiffer options on this list, but if you want a boot that has just a little more give, but still provides awesome response, then the Accera should be high on your list.
They’re also super shock-absorbing (thanks to the boost tech in their sole), have a really reduced outersole footprint (the best in the business) and are super comfortable.
Score Breakdown for the Acerra
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
RESPONSE | 4.5 | 31.5/35 |
TRACTION | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 10/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 5.0 | 10/10 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.6/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #1
Boot: K2 Thraxis
Price: $439
Lacing System: Triple Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 93.2/100
And in 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 are pretty close to 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), the Thraxis boast everything you need in hard charging, take no prisoner boots - perfect paired with stiff/aggressive boards.
Learn more about the Thraxis in the Video Below
Score Breakdown for the Thraxis
RATING | 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 2020/21 season. I hope this has helped to make your decision easier.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 5. For the latest season's Top 5 Freeride Snowboard Boots list, check out the link below:
>>TOP 5 FREERIDE SNOWBOARD BOOTS (Latest Season)
Of 14 boots that I rated:
FREERIDE BOOT #5=
Boot: Thirty Two TM-2 XLT
Price: $349
Lacing System: Traditional Lace with velcro cuff
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 90.0/100
Thirty Two's TM-2 XLT are the stiffer, tougher, big bro of the TM-Two. With a stiffer flex and velcro cuff for increased response and a more grippy Vibram outsole for better traction, the XLT version of the TM-Two is the real deal hard charging, big mountain boot.
And whilst it's a little more expensive than that standard TM-Two, it's the cheapest boot on this list and a good $70 cheaper than the average price for all the boots I rated for this category.
Score Breakdown for the TM-Two XLT
RATING | 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 #5=
Boot: Vans Verse
Price: $399
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 90.0/100
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 - at the end of the day or for more casual riding with mates in the resort, then the Verse have you covered without needing another pair of boots.
Score Breakdown for the Verse
RATING | 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 | 4.0 | 8/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 3.5 | 7/10 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.0/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #4
Boot: Burton Driver X
Price: $429
Lacing System: Speed Lace (Speed Zone™)
Flex: Stiff (10 out of 10)
Rating: 90.5/100
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 these bad boys rate 10 out of 10 on the stiffness scale!
But they also offer great shock absorption and some awesome 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, and you’ve just about got yourself the perfect freeride/aggressive all-mountain snowboard boots.
Score Breakdown for the Driver X
RATING | 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 | 3.5 | 7/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.5/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #3
Boot: Ride Insano
Price: $399
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 91.6/100
The Insanos are the 2nd equal cheapest boots on this list but this by no means compromises their performance (as you can see it made #3!).
What can I say, these boots perform well in every factor that I assessed them on. Just awesome across the board – responsive, great heel hold, comfortable, good shock absorption and plenty of traction for hiking.
Score Breakdown for the Insano
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
RESPONSE | 5.0 | 35/35 |
TRACTION | 4.0 | 12/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.5 | 9/10 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 8/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 3.0 | 6/10 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.6/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #2
Boot: Adidas Acerra 3ST ADV
Price: $420
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (8 out of 10)
Rating: 91.6/100
The Acerra are the softest flexing in this list (along with the Vans Verse when you take the tongue stiffeners out) – but still really quite stiff. They’ve just got that little bit more give, which I like. If you’re after more stiffness, then there are stiffer options (on this list and some others too), but if you want a boot that gives just a little bit more, but still provides awesome response, then the Accera should be high on your list.
They’re also super shock-absorbing (thanks to the boost tech in their sole), have a really reduced outersole footprint (the best in the business) and are super comfortable.
Score Breakdown for the Acerra
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
RESPONSE | 4.5 | 31.5/35 |
TRACTION | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 8/10 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 5.0 | 10/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 5.0 | 10/10 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 9/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.6/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #1
Boot: K2 Thraxis
Price: $429
Lacing System: Triple Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 92.1/100
And in 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 are pretty close to 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), the Thraxis boast everything you need in hard charging, take no prisoner boots, perfect paired with stiff/aggressive boards.
Score Breakdown for the Thraxis
RATING | 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 | 3.5 | 7/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 3.0 | 6/10 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92.1/100 |
Over to You…
Well there you have my list of the top freeride boots for the 2019/20 season. I hope this has helped to make your decision easier.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 5. For the latest season's Top 5 Freeride Snowboard Boots list, check out the link below:
>>TOP 5 FREERIDE SNOWBOARD BOOTS (Latest Season)
Of 15 boots that I rated:
FREERIDE BOOT #5=
Boot: Thirty Two TM-2 XLT
Price: $349
Lacing System: Traditional Lace with velcro cuff
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 88.1/100
Thirty Two's TM-2 XLT are the stiffer, tougher, big bro of the TM-Two. With a stiffer flex and velcro cuff for increased response and a more grippy Vibram outsole for better traction, the XLT version of the TM-Two is the real deal hard charging, big mountain boot.
And whilst it's a little more expensive than that standard TM-Two, it's the cheapest boot on this list and a good $70 cheaper than the average price for all the boots I rated for this category.
Score Breakdown for the TM-Two XLT
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Response | 5.0 | 35/35 |
Traction | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Heel Hold | 3.0 | 6/10 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 9/10 |
Shock Absorption | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 8/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 88.1/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #5=
Boot: Vans Verse
Price: $389
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (8 out of 10)
Rating: 88.1/100
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 - at the end of the day or for more casual riding with mates in the resort, then the Verse have you covered without needing another pair of boots.
Score Breakdown for the Verse
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Response | 4.5 | 31.5/35 |
Traction | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Heel Hold | 4.5 | 9/10 |
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 | 88.1/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #4
Boot: Ride Insano
Price: $369
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 89.7/100
The Insanos are the 2nd cheapest boots on this list but this by no means compromises their performance (as you can see it made #4!).
What can I say, these boots perform well in every factor that I assessed them on. Just awesome across the board – responsive, great heel hold, comfortable, good shock absorption, great reduced footprint and plenty of traction for hiking.
Score Breakdown for the Insano
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Response | 5.0 | 35/35 |
Traction | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Heel Hold | 4.5 | 9/10 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Shock Absorption | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 8/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 89.7/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #3
Boot: Adidas Acerra
Price: $420
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (8 out of 10)
Rating: 89.7/100
Last year was the debut season for the Acerra and it's the same boot for 2019.
These are the softest flexing in this list (along with the Vans Verse) – but still really quite stiff. They’ve just got that little bit more give, which I like. If you’re after more stiffness, then there are stiffer options (on this list and some others too), but if you want a boot that gives just a little bit more, but still provides awesome response, then the Accera should be high on your list.
They’re also super shock-absorbing (thanks to the boost tech in their sole), have a really reduced outersole footprint and are really comfortable.
Score Breakdown for the Acerra
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Response | 4.5 | 31.5/35 |
Traction | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
Heel Hold | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Shock Absorption | 5.0 | 10/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 5.0 | 10/10 |
Comfort | 4.5 | 9/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 89.7/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #2
Boot: Burton Driver X
Price: $429
Lacing System: Speed Lace (Speed Zone™)
Flex: Stiff (10 out of 10)
Rating: 90.2/100
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 these bad boys rate 10 out of 10 on the stiffness scale!
But they also offer superb comfort, shock absorption and some awesome 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, and you’ve just about got yourself the perfect freeride/aggressive all-mountain snowboard boots.
Score Breakdown for the Driver X
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Response | 5.0 | 35/35 |
Traction | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Heel Hold | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Shock Absorption | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Comfort | 4.5 | 9/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.2/100 |
FREERIDE BOOT #1
Boot: K2 Thraxis
Price: $419
Lacing System: Triple Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 91.8/100
And in 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 are 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), the Thraxis boast everything you need in hard charging, take no prisoner boots, perfect paired with stiff/aggressive boards.
Score Breakdown for the Thraxis
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Response | 5.0 | 35/35 |
Traction | 5.0 | 15/15 |
Heel Hold | 5.0 | 10/10 |
Adjustability | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Shock Absorption | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 2.0 | 4/10 |
Comfort | 4.5 | 9/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.8/100 |
Over to You…
Well there you have my list of the top freeride boots for the 2018/19 season. I hope this has helped to make your decision easier.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 5. For the latest season's Top 5 Freeride Snowboard Boots list, check out the link below:
>>Top 5 Freeride Snowboard Boots (Latest Season)
Of 15 boots that I rated:
- The average score was 85.9
- The lowest score was 69.1
- The highest score was 92.3 (see #1 below)
- The average price was $414 (USD)
Men’s Freeride Boot #5
Boot: DC Travis Rice
Price: $399
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 88.1/100
Super-stiff and super responsive is what the DC Travis Rice boots are all about.
They also have some awesome traction for hiking in the backcountry and have some decent reduced footprint so you can crank the hard carve without fear of catching a boot (given that you have the right sized board of course!).
They could be more comfortable – but this is often just a personal thing. Everyone’s feet are different so you may find these boots perfectly comfortable.
They’ve also recently adding in some tech to help keep your feet dry, particularly on those backcountry expeditions, so that’s a nice bonus.
Overall if you are a freerider/aggressive all mountain rider, who likes stiff boots with awesome response, then these boots are definitely worth checking out.
DC Travis Rice Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Comfort: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 88.1/100 |
Men’s Freeride Boot #4
Boot: K2 Thraxis
Price: $419
Lacing System: Triple Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 89.2/100
K2’s Thraxis boots are bursting with tech and their performance reflects this. You do pay for it though. So if money is no object and you’re main concern is performance then the Thraxis are an option worth checking out.
But if you’re more budget conscious but like the sound of the Thraxis but just not their price tag you might want to check out the K2 T1 – they’re considerably cheaper and whilst you do have to sacrifice slightly on performance they’re still great freeride boots.
About the only complaint with the Thraxis is the lack of a reduced footprint. But if this isn’t a big thing for you then they are virtually the ideal freeride boot, boasting super responsiveness, awesome traction for hiking – and they’re super comfortable.
And as for heel hold? Well you shouldn’t have any issues there, even if you have thin ankles or heels. The Thraxis features a triple Boa system. The first boa works on the liner of the boot to pull and hold your heel in place. The 2 outer boas are like other double boa systems with the second boa controlling the bottom section of the boot and the third the top section.
K2 Thraxis Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 1.0 | 2/10 |
| Comfort: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 89.2/100 |
Men’s Freeride Boot #3
Boot: Ride Insano
Price: $349
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 89.7/100
The Insanos are the cheapest boots on this list but this by no means compromises their performance (as you can see it made #3!).
What can I say, these boots perform well in every factor that I assessed them on. Just awesome across the board – responsive, great heel hold, comfortable, good shock absorption, great reduced footprint and plenty of traction for hiking.
Taylor made to bomb the mountain hard and to bomb it all day!
Ride Insano Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 89.7/100 |
Men’s Freeride Boot #2
Boot: Burton Driver X
Price: $429
Lacing System: Speed Lace (Speed Zone™)
Flex: Stiff (10 out of 10)
Rating: 90.2/100
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 then these are the boots for you. In fact these bad boys rate 10 out of 10 on the stiffness scale!
But they also offer superb comfort, shock absorption and some awesome traction to help you out when hiking the backcountry.
Add to all of that, some awesome 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, and you’ve just about got yourself the perfect freeride/aggressive all-mountain snowboard boots.
Driver X Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 90.2/100 |
Men’s Freeride Boot #1
Boot: Adidas Acerra
Price: $500
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (8 out of 10)
Rating: 92.3/100
This is the debut season for the Acerra and the debut season for Adidas using boa. But they’ve done it pretty darn well if you ask me.
These are the softest flexing in this list – but still really stiff. They’ve just got that little bit more give, which I like. If you’re after more stiffness, then there are stiffer options (on this list and some others too), but if you want a boot that gives just a little bit more, but still provides awesome response, then the Accera should be high on your list.
They’re also super shock-absorbing (thanks to the boost tech in their sole), have a really reduced outersole footprint and are really comfortable. Apart from if you’re looking for the stiffest of the stiff (or if you don’t like boa), the Acerra are pretty much the ideal freeride boot.
Adidas Acerra Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 92.3/100 |
Over to You…
Well there you have my list of the top freeride boots for the 2017/18 season. I hope this has helped to make your decision easier.
NOTE: This list was for the 2017-18 season. For the latest Top 5 Freeride Boots List, check out the link below:
>>Latest Season’s Top 5 Men’s Freeride Boots
Of 18 boots that I rated:
- The average score was 80.9
- The lowest score was 69.3
- The highest score was 92.7 (see #1 below)
- The average price was $388 (USD)
Men’s Freeride Boot #5
Boot: Salomon Malamute
Price: $349
Lacing System: Speed Lace (Powerlock)
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 85.9/100
If you’re looking for a Freeride boot but don’t want to pay as much as you normally would for this category of boot, but still want a great quality freeride boot, then the Malamute should be high on your list.
It’s a good bit less than the average price of the boots that I looked at but it still performs great.
There’s not much reduced footpring tech to speak of (but there’s some) but if that’s not an issue, then this is a great option for someone on a lower budget, who still wants all the response and performance that you get from a good freeride boot.
Salomon Malamute Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Adjustability: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 2.0 | 4/10 |
| Comfort: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 85.9/100 |
Men’s Freeride Boot #4
Boot: DC Travis Rice
Price: $399
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 85.9/100
Super-stiff and super responsive is what the DC Travis Rice boots are all about.
They also have some awesome traction for hiking in the backcountry and have some decent reduced footprint so you can crank the hard carve without fear of catching a boot (given that you have the right sized board of course!).
They could be more comfortable – but this is often just a personal thing. Everyone’s feet are different so you may find these boots perfectly comfortable.
They’ve also recently adding in some tech to help keep your feet dry, particularly on those backcountry expeditions, so that’s a nice bonus.
Overall if you are a freerider/aggressive all mountain rider, who likes stiff boots with awesome response, then these boots are definitely worth checking out.
DC Travis Rice Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Adjustability: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Comfort: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 85.9/100 |
Men’s Freeride Boot #3
Boot: K2 Thraxis
Price: $419
Lacing System: Triple Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 87.0/100
K2’s Thraxis boots are bursting with tech and their performance reflects this. You do pay for it though. So if money is no object and you’re main concern is performance then the Thraxis are an option worth checking out.
But if you’re more budget conscious but like the sound of the Thraxis but just not their price tag you might want to check out the K2 T1 – they’re considerably cheaper and whilst you do have to sacrifice slightly on performance they’re still great freeride boots and you don’t lose too much performance-wise.
About the only complaint with the Thraxis is the lack of a reduced footprint. But if this isn’t a big thing for you then they are virtually the ideal freeride boot, boasting super responsiveness, awesome traction for hiking – and they’re super comfortable.
And as for heel hold? Well you shouldn’t have any issues there, even if you have thin ankles or heels. The Thraxis features a triple Boa system. The first boa works on the liner of the boot to pull and hold your heel in place. The 2 outer boas are like other double boa systems with the second boa controlling the bottom section of the boot and the third the top section.
K2 Thraxis Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Adjustability: | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 1.0 | 2/10 |
| Comfort: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 87.0/100 |
Men’s Freeride Boot #2
Boot: Ride Insano
Price: $349
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Stiff (9 out of 10)
Rating: 91.7/100
The Insanos are the 2nd cheapest boots on this list but this by no means compromises their performance (as you can see it made #2!).
What can I say, these boots perform well in every factor that I assessed them on. Just awesome across the board – responsive, great heel hold, comfortable, good shock absorption, great reduced footprint and plenty of traction for hiking.
Taylor made to bomb the mountain hard and to bomb it all day!
Ride Insano Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Adjustability: | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 91.7/100 |
Men’s Freeride Boot #1
Boot: Burton Driver X
Price: $419
Lacing System: Speed Lace (Speed Zone™)
Flex: Stiff (10 out of 10)
Rating: 92.7/100
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 then these are the boots for you. In fact these bad boys rate 10 out of 10 on the stiffness scale!
But they also offer superb comfort, shock absorption and some awesome traction to help you out when hiking the backcountry.
Add to all of that, some awesome 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, and you’ve just about got yourself the perfect freeride/aggressive all-mountain snowboard boots.
Driver X Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Response: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Traction: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 92.7/100 |
Over to You…
Well there you have my list of the top freeride boots for the 2016/17 season. I hope this has helped to make your decision easier.
If you’re interested in any of these boots check out the links below for availability in the past season.
For the latest season’s top men’s freeride boots, check out the link below:
>>My Top 5 Men’s Freeride Boots (latest season)
For the latest season's list, check out the link below.
>>TOP 5 FREERIDE SNOWBOARD BOOTS (LATEST SEASON)
Buying Past Season Models
Often models don't change that much from year to year so if you can find a past season model, it will likely be close enough to the latest model but you can get it cheaper, if available and in a suitable size for you. For past year's models check out the links below to see if they still have any left.
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