When sizing snowboard boots, it can be a tricky thing to do, without trying them on first.
This is because every foot is different – and what feels good to one person, might be different for another.
But it’s not always the case that you will have the opportunity to try boots on – or your local shop might be very limited in terms of their options.
This post is going to outline how I find boots fit, from a few different brands, based on my experience with them and based on what others have said.
If you have no opportunity to try boots on, hopefully this can help you narrow down your options in terms of fit. Every foot is different so these thing won’t necessarily hold true for you, but if you can narrow it down, then you hopefully won’t have to send boots back and get different ones – or at least not too often.
Sizing
In my experience most, but not all brands that I cover, fit true-to-size. By that I mean that they fit in the same size as my normal shoes would fit me. This is different to what the Mondopoint of the boot says though.
The Mondopoint of a boot is supposed to determine the length of the foot that is best suited to that boot. E.g. a 28cm foot is best suite to a 28cm Mondopoint (sometimes measured in millimeters – i.e. 280mm). However, in real life, I have seldom seen that to be the case for snowboard boots.
My left foot (which is longer than my right) is 27.3cm. My right foot is 27.1cm. Which would suggest that a 27.5cm Mondopoint boot would be my best size. But I have never been able to fit into a 27.5cm (US Men’s 9.5 boot) boot, except with Adidas and Salomon boots (and can squeeze into a K2 9.5). For most brands I fit into a 10 (Mondo 28cm) or a 10.5 (Mondo 28.5cm).
And I have seen the same for most people that I have talked to. This is why I say that true-to-size, in my books, represents what your typical shoe size would be.
Again, like everything with boots and feet, this won’t be the same for everyone, but this is the case in my experience.
So, for the brands that I test, these are the sizes that fit me – fit according to these criteria.
- Adidas – US9.5 (27.5 Mondo)
- Burton – US10 (28 Mondo)
- DC – US10 (28.5 Mondo)
- K2 – US10 (28 Mondo) but I can squeeze a 9.5 (27.5 mondo) – I think 9.75 would be perfect!
- Nidecker – US10 (28 Mondo)
- Nitro – US10 (28 Mondo) – but feel I could possibly get into a 9.5
- Northwave – US10 (28 Mondo) – but feel I could possibly get into a 9.5
- Ride – US10 (28 Mondo)
- Salomon – US9.5 (27.5 Mondo)
- Thirty Two – US10 (28.5 Mondo) – at times bordering on a 10.5
- Vans – US10 (28 Mondo) – at times bordering on a 10.5
Said another way:
- Adidas – Run 1/2 Size Large
- Burton – True-to-Size
- DC – True-to-Size
- K2 – True-to-Size (but bordering on running 1/2 size large)
- Nidecker – True-to-Size
- Nitro – True-to-Size (but bordering on running 1/2 size large)
- Northwave – True-to-Size (but bordering on running 1/2 size large)
- Ride – True-to-Size
- Salomon – Run 1/2 Size Large
- Thirty Two – True-to-Size (but bordering on running 1/2 size small)
- Vans – True-to-Size (but bordering on running 1/2 size small)
Foot Width
Different brands tend to be better or worse fitting for different widths of feet. Some are better for narrow feet and some are better for wide feet.
I have completely averagely widthed feet – which is nice because most boots fit me fine. The width of the widest part of my foot is 4″, which is considered a “D“. Or medium. B or C are considered narrow and E and EE wide. Some of the information below is based on what others, with wide feet have said – see Snowboard Boots for Wide Feet for more.
- Adidas – Wide
- Burton – Mid-Wide
- DC – Mid-Wide
- K2 – Medium
- Nidecker – Medium but bordering on mid-wide
- Nitro – Mid-Wide
- Northwave – Narrow
- Ride – Medium
- Salomon – Narrow
- Thirty Two – Mid-Wide
- Vans – Medium
Summary
Hopefully this has helped you to find the right fitting boot, without having to try them on in store. Remember that fitting is only one part of choosing snowboard boots, and you should also consider other things like flex, the lacing system you prefer etc.
For more on how to choose snowboard boots, including getting the right fit if you have a chance to try on in person, check out the following:
>>Snowboard Boot Types (depending on skill level and style of riding)
>>Snowboard Boot Fit (if you get a chance to try on in store)
>>Snowboard Boot Lacing Systems
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