Hello and welcome to my Ride Insano review.
In this review I will take a look at the Insano as freeride snowboard boots.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Insano a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other freeride boots.
Overall Rating
Boots: Ride Insano
Price: $449 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freeride
Flex Rating: Stiff (10/10)
Flex Feel: Stiff (10/10)
Rating Score: 89.4/100
Compared to other Freeride Boots
Out of the 22 freeride boots that I rated:
Overview of the Insano’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Insano's specs.
Specs
Style: | Freeride or hard charging all-mountain |
Price: | $449 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Weight: | Normal |
Lacing System: | Double Boa |
Who are the Insanos Most Suited to?
The Insanos are best suited to anyone who wants a seriously stiff boot. Those who prefer stiff boots, and want something to help drive their setup hard.
Best matched with stiffer boards and bindings, so if that's your setup and you're looking to compliment it, then the Insano are a good bet, IMO.
Only recommended for advanced to expert riders. Certainly not for beginners and not for most intermediate riders either, IMO.
The Insano in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Insano are capable of.
Demo Info
Boots: Ride Insano
Size: 10 (US Men's Sizing)
Date: February 14, 2020
Conditions: Hard packed. Definitely not icy though. Just nice.
Off groomer isn't ideal but certainly doable. Again firm, but not icy.
Sunny and perfect vis.
Supposed to be -4 and -10 with wind chill, but feels much warmer than that. Probably cause it's so sunny
Was fresh snow overnight but not obvious when actually riding. But still pretty darn good. Can't complain
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Board Demoed With: Rossignol One LF 2018
Bindings Demoed With: Burton Malavita
Outersole Length: 31cm (mondo 28cm)
Difference between Mondo & Outersole: 3cm
Backstay Height: 29.1cm
Weight: 1040 grams*
* Average of a sample of boots I weighed was 1006 grams, so a just a little heavier than the average, but pretty close to average. Heaviest were 1320 grams and lightest were 740 grams. Stiffer boots tend to be heavier, so for thei flex, they are quite light.
Flex
The Insano are some of the stiffer boots I've ridden. They are pretty much as stiff as they come in terms of soft boots.
Fit
Overall they fit my feet well. But of course every foot is different.
Width: Medium. They're not particularly wide, so not suitable for those with wide feet, I wouldn't say, but they're not overly narrow either.
True to Size?: For me they're true to size. I usually ride 10s, and I was a good fit in the 10.
High or Low Arch: A relatively low arch but pretty normal. I could feel it on the top of my right foot (which has a higher arch than my left foot). After heat molding and then riding for a bit, that went away though.
Responsiveness
The Insano is the type of boot that you've got to put energy into. But once you do, they reward you.
They made my overall ride less maneuverable at slower speeds vs my Vans Aura (control boots) and vs the Ride Trident and most other boots, but that typically comes with the territory with stiffer boots.
But they also enabled me to drive my carves harder and deeper and hold them for longer vs most boots out there. And they just felt better riding at speed.
So you trade off some maneuverability at slower speeds for some serious carving and speed.
Heel Hold
I got really good heel hold from the Insano. Sure, there are some boots that have given a little more, but not by much and the Insano's heel hold was more than enough.
Adjustability
The upper and lower boa sections are quite independent of one another, so you get that ability to tighten the lower and upper sections separately.
Other than that there's a pretty standard liner harness tightening system, but all round good adjustability.
Let’s Break up this text with a Video
Comfort
There's nothing that feels overly plush about these boots, but they're all round really comfortable.
I found no pressure points when riding or on the lift and there was no cramping or anything like that - which are the main things. I could have ridden them all day, which isn't always something you can say about new boots, especially stiff ones.
Of course, comfort is really dependent on the individual, but I found them nice and comfortable.
Shock Absorption
You can feel a bit of chatter in these boots, but overall they absorb shock and chatter pretty well.
Traction
The sole looks and feels sturdy and just really high quality and they felt grippy when walking in them. Plenty of good rubber in there, so they would likely last a good while too.
Reduced Footprint
They boots I rode in were about average in terms of reduced footprint. The outer boot is 3cm longer than the stated mondoprint for the boot. So not overly low profile, but certainly not long either.
Entry/Exit
Pretty easy overall to get in and out of.
You've got some velcro straps to deal with as well as the liner harness for the inner boot. But I like the feel of the velcro straps in there, so it's worth the few seconds of extra time to get those in place. And there's a little tab that the harness lacing connects to, which can take some getting used to, but otherwise easy.
The outer boot is super easy, with just the 2 boa coils to tighten. Sure, it's slower than one boa coil - but only by a tiny bit and that extra adjustability is well worth the time.
The only thing to be careful with, with the outer boot is that the tongue can ride over top of the shell of the boot. So, you've just got to make sure that's tucked in properly before cranking down those boas.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SLOW SPEED RESPONSE | 3.0 | 3/5 |
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 | 89.4/100 |
The Insano's are super stiff and highly responsive boots that aren't for casual riders beginner or anyone looking for a flexible boot.
But if you want to ride fast, aggressive and have the board and bindings to do it, then the Insanos are a great option, particularly if you're looking for a stiff boa boot that's good across all areas.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re interested in learning more about the Insano, are ready to buy or want to research current prices and sizing availability, check out the links below.
If you want to see how the Insano compared to other freeride, or want to check out some other options, check out the link below.
Hi – thanks for the reviews! I’m buying a new pair of boots for the first time in a while and wanted your advice. My old pair of Burtons died last season… they were way too soft for me anyway. Looking for a stiffer boot. Not interested in park anymore – just charging the mountain. Trying to decide between the Insanos and K2 Maysis. I’m 6’6″, 210lbs and have a size 14UK/15US foot, so options are limited!
Hi Max
Thanks for your message.
I would be leaning Insano, given you like to charge and given your specs.
The Maysis I felt at around a 7/10 flex. But that’s with a 6’0″, 180lb frame exerting force on them. You would likely feel them softer than I did, mostly because of the 30lbs you have on me, but also that extra height adds a little bit more leverage, which enables you to exert a bit more force again. Hard to say for sure what you would feel them at, but maybe more like a 6/10. For the way you describe your riding, I would say you’d want something stiffer than that. So yeah, long story short, I would go Insano.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hello!
I have been riding these boots for a year and they are for real stiff! Your foot is in there and it is not going anywhere! They hold a turn super super well. I have been loving them.
Only downside I have experienced is that they will cut off circulation in my foot if done up too tight. I have to do them up at an 8/10 tightness instead of 10/10 to keep the feeling in my feet:)
I am looking for a good binding to pair with these if anyone has an recommendations. The Flux XVs are what I’m thinking right now.
Hey Scott
Thanks for your message.
The XVs are sick bindings – and a good flex match to the Insanos, IMO. Depending on what board you’re pairing with, I think they could be a good match. Learn more in our Flux XV review here.
Hello Nate. I read your review and I was wondering if you had to choose between these and the Driver X…
In terms of heel hold and confort. i had a pair of Driver x for a few years and i was happy with them untill the one channel for the speedlaces broke. Did you have to tighten the Boas during the day?
Hi Andreeei
Thanks for your message.
I found the heel hold really good in these. It was OK in the Driver X, but definitely an improvement in these – for my feet anyway.
In terms of overall comfort, I found them pretty similar.
The Driver X have a smaller footprint, if that’s necessary for you and better shock absorption (but Ride typically isn’t great on that front), if that’s a factor.
I prefer BOA or Traditional Lacing over Speedlace as a system personally, but everyone’s different.
I did have to tighten the BOAs a little but I find that with every BOA boot. Good thing is that it’s pretty easy to do and a couple of twists when you’re strapping in, I don’t find a big effort. But whether it’s something that would annoy you or not, I couldn’t say. But I find pretty much with all BOA boots it comes with the territory.
Hope this helps with your decision