You can toggle (by clicking the "+" sign) each year below to see the lists from past season's.
Of the 27 boots that I rated as freestyle boots:
FREESTYLE BOOT #5
Boot: DC Mutiny
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
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.
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
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing with Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 89.0/100
In at #4 are 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 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
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
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 rated, 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).
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
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 90.1/100
In at #2 we have the 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 important 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
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 91.3/100
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 are great in terms of board feel.
They also have a nice and low profile outer-sole 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 | 4.5 | 9/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TRACTION | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.3/100 |
Of the 28 boots that I rated as freestyle boots:
FREESTYLE BOOT #5
Boot: DC Mutiny
- US
- CA
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.
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
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
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.
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
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
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.
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
- US
- CA
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
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
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.
Of the 35 boots that I rated as freestyle boots:
FREESTYLE BOOT #5
Boot: Adidas Superstar ADV
Price: $300
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating: 87.8/100
Starting the list at #5, we have the Adidas Superstar.
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.
Score Breakdown for the Superstar
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
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 #4
Boot: Burton Swath Boa
Price: $349
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 89.5/100
Nest 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, if that's more your thing.
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 #3
Boot: Vans Hi Standard Pro
Price: $249
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).
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 #2
Boot: Vans Aura Pro
Price: $279
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.
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 | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TRACTION | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.1/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #1
Boot: Salomon Lo-Fi
Price: $399
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing with Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 93.0/100
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-Fi's are plush and offer 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.
Score Breakdown for the Lo Fi
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 18/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
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 | 93.0/100 |
Over to You….
So there you have my picks for the top 5 freestyle boots for the 2020/21 season.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 5. For the latest season's Top 5 Freestyle Snowboard Boots list, check out the link below:
>>TOP 5 FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD BOOTS (Latest Season)
Of the 33 boots that I rated as freestyle boots:
FREESTYLE BOOT #5
Boot: Burton Swath Boa
Price: $349
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.
Score Breakdown for the Swath Boa
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
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: $299
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.
Score Breakdown for the Superstar
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
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: $249
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).
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 #2
Boot: Vans Aura Pro
Price: $279
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.
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 | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TRACTION | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.1/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #1
Boot: Salomon Lo-Fi
Price: $399
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.
Score Breakdown for the Lo Fi
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
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.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 5. For the latest season's Top 5 Freestyle Snowboard Boots list, check out the link below:
>>TOP 5 FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD BOOTS (Latest Season)
Of the 39 boots that I rated as freestyle boots:
FREESTYLE BOOT #5=
Boot: Salomon Lo-Fi
Price: $399
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing with Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 86.6/100
Starting off the list in #5 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 Fi are also more low profile than most other Salomon boots, so you actually get a reasonably small outersole. Not up there with the likes of Adidas, Burton, Vans but better than I expected.
Score Breakdown for the Lo Fi
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Shock Absorption | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Board Feel | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Heel Hold | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
Traction | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 86.6/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #5=
Boot: Thirty Two Lo-Cut
Price: $209
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating: 86.6/100
Going from the most expensive to lowest priced boot, we now have the 32 Lo-Cut
With a super flat sole, the Lo-Cut is the most skate-like boot in this list and has the best board feel.
Thirty Two’s 86FT uses the same sole, but the Lo-Cut offers better response and more comfort.
Overall it’s a very comfortable boot that offers great board feel and flex for playful freestyle riding.
Score Breakdown for the Lo-Cut
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Shock Absorption | 3.0 | 12/20 |
Board Feel | 5.0 | 15/15 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Comfort | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Heel Hold | 3.0 | 6/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
Traction | 2.0 | 2/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 86.6/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #5=
Boot: Burton Swath Boa
Price: $349
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 86.6/100
Burton’s Swath boots, #4 on this list, are an awesome boot for riding the whole mountain, riding the park, riding freestyle or combining all of the above.
They are the emergence of the Concord Boa and Almighty of 2018, which are no longer in the line for 2019 and this is no bad thing. With a nicer price-tag than the Almighty and better performance than the Concord, 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.
Score Breakdown for the Swath Boa
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Shock Absorption | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Board Feel | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
Response | 3.0 | 9/15 |
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 | 86.6/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #3
Boot: Vans Hi Standard Pro
Price: $239
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 87.8/100
In at #3 we have Vans Hi Standard Pro. It's a new model this season and adds some extra performance compared to the Hi Standard OG. In a lot of ways it's like a traditional lace version of the Vans Aura Pro (see #1).
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 (and under the average of the boots I rated in this category).
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 | 3.0 | 9/15 |
Adjustability | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
Comfort | 4.0 | 12/15 |
Heel Hold | 3.0 | 6/10 |
Reduced Footprint | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
Traction | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 87.8/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #2
Boot: Adidas Superstar ADV
Price: $299
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.
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 | 5.0 | 4/5 |
Traction | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 87.8/100 |
FREESTYLE BOOT #1
Boot: Vans Aura Pro
Price: $259
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 90.1/100
And coming in at #1 we have the Vans Aura Pro.
The Aura Pro are a continuation of the Vans Aura from 2018 (with the Aura OG actually being the different boot - a more budget friendly 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.
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 |
Over to You….
So there you have my picks for the top 5 freestyle boots for the 2018/19 season.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 5. For the latest season's Top 5 Freestyle Snowboard Boots list, check out the link below:
>>Top 5 Freestyle Snowboard Boots (Latest Season)
Of the 46 boots that I rated as freestyle boots:
- The average score was 79.5/100
- The highest score was 90.2/100 (see #1 below)
- The lowest score was 64.9/100
- The average price was $259
Freestyle Boot #5
Boot: Thirty Two Lo-Cut
Price: $209
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating: 86.2/100
Starting off the list in #5 are Thirty Two’s Lo-Cut boots.
With a super flat sole, the Lo-Cut is the most skate-like boot in this list.
Thirty Two’s 86FT uses the same sole, but the Lo-Cut offers better response and more comfort.
Overall it’s a very comfortable boot that offers great board feel and flex for freestyle riding.
Score Breakdown for the Lo-Cut
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.0 | 12/20 |
| Board Feel: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Response: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Traction: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 86.2/100 |
Freestyle Boot #4
Boot: K2 Renin
Price: $349
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 86.2/100
The stiffest equal boots on this list (along with the Almighty’s), the Renin offer great heel hold in a comfortable and shock absorbing boot.
They’ve got a pretty big outersole compared to some others on this list, but if that’s not an issue for you, then they are a great option for all-mountain-freestyle or freestyle riding.
The Renin’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Board Feel: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Response: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Flex: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 1.0 | 1/5 |
| Traction: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 86.2/100 |
Freestyle Boot #3
Boot: Burton Almighty
Price: $449
Lacing System: Speed Lace
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 86.8/100
Burton’s Almighty boots, #3 on this list, are an awesome boot for riding the whole mountain, riding the park, riding freestyle or combining all of the above.
There are no weaknesses here and they’re also a great option for those looking for a reduced footprint.
Score Breakdown for the Almighty
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Board Feel: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Response: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Flex: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| Traction: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 86.8/100 |
Freestyle Boot #2
Boot: Adidas Superstar ADV
Price: $299
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating: 87.9/100
The Superstars are comfortable, offer great shock absorption and have pretty good board feel.
And they’re the lowest profile boots on this list, so if you really need something that’s going to reduce the size of the outersole of your boot, then these are great options for that reason and many others.
The Super star’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Board Feel: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Response: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Traction: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 87.9/100 |
Freestyle Boot #1
Boot: Vans Aura
Price: $259
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (On the soft side of medium – 4.5/10)
Rating: 90.2/100
And coming in at #1 we have the Vans Auras.
The Aura’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.
Aura Boots Score Breakdown
| 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: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| Traction: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 90.2/100 |
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.
Over to You….
So there you have my picks for the top 5 freestyle boots for the 2017/18 season.
NOTE: This list was for the 2017-18 season. For the latest Top 5 Freestyle Boots List, check out the link below:
>>Latest Season’s Top 5 Men’s Freestyle Boots
Of the 52 boots that I rated as freestyle boots:
- The average score was 77.3/100
- The highest score was 94.3/100 (see #1 below)
- The lowest score was 60.8/100
- The average price was $258
Freestyle Boot #5
Boot: Vans Aura
Price: $249
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (On the soft side of medium – 4.5/10)
Rating: 88.1/100
Starting off the list at #5 we have the Vans Auras.
They are the softest flexing boots in this list – even so, the Aura’s will still do a great job as all-mountain boots too.
The Aura’s are super comfortable, have great shock absorption and have really good heel hold. So if you want to get out of the park and attack the rest of the mountain (even the backcountry) the Aura’s will be able to handle that as well (depending on your board and bindings).
Aura Boots Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Response: | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Flex: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| Traction: | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 88.1/100 |
Freestyle Boot #4
Boot: Thirty Two Binary BOA
Price: $305
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium
Rating: 88.1/100
In at # 4 we have Thirty Two’s Binary Boa boots. Like the Auras, these boots have a double boa system so that you can adjust the upper and lower sections of the boot independently.
The Binary Boas are really responsive especially if you dial them in tight – so these are great for riding the whole mountain freestyle as well as doing laps in the park. They also have awesome heel hold (check out the video below for more details) that helps with that responsiveness and holding your heel down nice and snug.
Besides that they are also super comfortable and super shock absorbent so you can land those tricks, jumps and jibs all day long in comfort.
Binary Boa Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.5 | 17.5/25 |
| Response: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Adjustability: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Flex: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Traction: | 1.0 | 1/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 88.1/100 |
Freestyle Boot #3
Boot: Burton AMB
Price: $299
Lacing System: Speed Lacing (Speed Zone)
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 88.1/100
Coming in at #3, we have Burton’s AMB boots.
These boots are super comfortable for lapping the park all day, are really adjustable so you can really loosen up that upper section for more tweakability or tighten it down if you want a bit more response.
They also have the best traction of any of the boots on this list – so if you like to hike the park, then the AMB will help you to get back to the top as quickly as possible.
AMB Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.5 | 17.5/25 |
| Response: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Flex: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| Traction: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 88.1/100 |
Freestyle Boot #2
Boot: DC Control
Price: $249
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (6/10)
Rating: 89.2/100
Featuring a double boa lacing system for independent upper and lower boot adjustments, DC’s Control boots offer great adjustability. Not only that, they also have some awesome shock absorption and great heal hold.
On top of all of that they have reasonable response – so it’s no problem if you feel the urge to get out of the park and bomb some groomers or ride freestyle over the rest of the mountain.
For all of this it’s no surprise they made it into my top 5 freestyle boots list.
DC Control Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Response: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Adjustability: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Flex: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Comfort: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| Traction: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 89.2/100 |
Freestyle Boot #1
Boot: Adidas ZX 500
Price: $200
Lacing System: Speed Lacing (dual zone)
Flex: Medium
Rating: 94.3/100
And finally, in at #1, we have the Adidas ZX 500.
The ZX 500’s have great shock absorption, are super comfortable and really adjustable so you can dial in the best feel for you, whether you’re lapping the park or want to bomb some groomers etc or ride freestyle over the rest of the mountain.
They have great heel hold too and if you’re looking for something with a reduced footprint so that you can fit on smaller sized bindings or a narrower snowboard, then the ZX 500 are a great option for this. Adidas are leading the way in reduced footprint tech this year.
ZX 500 Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Response: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Adjustability: | 5.0 | 15/15 |
| Flex: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Comfort: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Traction: | 1.5 | 1.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 94.3/100 |
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.
Over to You….
So there you have my picks for the top 5 freestyle boots for the 2016/17 season.
If you’re interested in any of these boots check out the links below for availability in the past season.
Check out the link below for the latest season’s top freestyle snowboard boots.
>>My Top Freestyle Snowboard Boots (Latest Season)
For the latest season's list, check out the link below.
>>TOP 5 FREESTYLE 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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