The Best Beginner Snowboard Boots (Men’s): Top 10

Boot: Salomon Launch Lace Boa SJ

Lacing System: Traditional Lace with Liner Boa

Flex: Medium (5/10)

Fit: Normal to narrow width feet

Rating: 86.6/100

Starting off the list at #10, we have the Launch Lace Boa SJ. 

Whilst not a boot I would typically call a beginner boot - both because of flex and price, but for those who are higher end beginner riders - or heavier/stronger riders, they can work really well as a beginner boot. If you're a lighter rider, I'd go something softer, but for some this a great option. 

Salomon's Launch range comes in 3 different lacing options - traditional lace, boa and lace boa. IMO, the lace boa is a great option that gives you the adjustability of traditional lacing with the heel hold advantage of boa - and not only that, gives you a really easy way to crank down that heel on the fly, without having to open up the outer boot. 

More on the Launch Lace Boa in the video below

Score Breakdown for the Launch Lace Boa

Boot: Thirty Two Shifty Lace

Lacing System: Traditional Lace

Flex: Soft (2/10)

Fit: Mid to Mid-wide feet

Rating: 87.8/100

Next up at #9 we have the Shifty Lace. 

This is the opposite end of the spectrum from #10 above and has the softest flex of all boots in this list - and the lowest price. 

So, these are ideal for those lighter riders - for those who even a 4/10 flex might feel on the stiffer side. 

The Shifty come in both a Lace and Boa version, so if you think the Boa is more your style, that's an option too - with the Boa version you gain easier Entry/Exit, but sacrifice adjustability. The Boa version costs a little more too, but still really reasonably priced.  

Learn more about the Shifty Lace in the video below

Score Breakdown for the Shifty Lace

Score Breakdown for the Shifty BOA

Boot: Ride Anthem

Lacing System: Single Boa

Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)

Fit: Average width feet

Rating: 89.0/100

In at #8, we have Ride's Anthem boots.

The Anthem hit what I think is a really nice flex for beginners, at around 4/10 - just a little softer than medium, but not too soft. Easy to ride, but still providing some stability and boots that will take you through a bit more progression-wise than super soft boots. 

They're also overall a decent quality boot for the price. 

More on the Anthem in the video below

Score Breakdown for the Anthem

Boot: Thirty Two STW Double Boa

Lacing System: Double Boa

Flex: Medium-Soft (3.5/10)

Fit: Normal width to mid-wide feet

Rating: 90.7/100

At #4, we have the STW Double Boa. 

The STW also comes in a sinlge Boa is also a good option (and comes in cheaper than the Double Boa version) for beginners, but the Double Boa just helps to give you more adjustability and better heel hold. 

More on the STW Double Boa in the video below

Score Breakdown for the STW Double Boa

Boot: K2 Rosko Lace

Lacing System: Traditional Lace

Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)

Fit: Average width feet

Rating: 90.7/100

Next up we have K2's Rosko.

The Rosko is low cost option, whilst still being of an OK quality. 

If you like the idea of the adjustability of traditional lacing and don't mind things taking a little longer getting into your boots, and have a small budget, the Rosko are worth a look. It also comes in a single BOA version if you prefer BOA (and happy to sacrifice adjustability for a quicker/easier entry exit).

Score Breakdown for the Rosko

Boot: Ride Rook

Lacing System: Single Boa

Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)

Fit: Normal width feet

Rating: 91.3/100

Next up at #5 are the Ride Rook.

The Rook are a nice simple single boa boot that's super easy to get in and out of and provides a nice forgiving, but not ultra-soft flex. 

Not great in terms of adjustability, but they come in at a really reasonable price tag and still with decent quality. 

More on the Rook in the video below

Score Breakdown for the Rook

Boot: Vans Aura OG

Lacing System: Single Boa

Flex: Medium-Soft (3.5/10)

Fit: Average width feet 

Rating: 91.9/100

At #4, we have the Vans Aura OG.

The Aura OG provide that nice flex level that's forgiving enough for beginners getting started and are of a decent enough quality that they're the kind of boots that can move with you while you progress. 

They're also nice and comfortable and super easy to get in and out of. 

More on the Aura OG in the video below

Score Breakdown for the Aura OG

Boot: K2 Raider

Lacing System: Single Boa

Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)

Fit: Normal width feet

Rating: 91.9/100

In at #3 are the K2 Raider.

The Raider are a no nonsense single Boa boot that's comfortable and are easy and quick to get in and out of. 

They lack adjustability, just the downside of being single Boa, but do provide good overall quality for the price-point.  

Overall a nice boot for a beginner and something that isn't so soft that you would grow out of it too quickly. 

More on the K2 Raider in the video below

Score Breakdown for the Raiders

Boot: Vans Hi Standard OG

Lacing System: Traditional Lacing

Flex: Medium-Soft (3.5/10)

Fit: Normal width feet (note also that those with high arches may not fit well)

Rating: 95.9/100

Coming in at #2 we have the Vans Hi Standard OG.

The Hi-Standard OG are a good low profile option, if you're needing to get into boots that will help you get on a narrower board. And they're quality belies their price-tag.

They're similar to #4 above (Aura OG). Get these if you want Traditional Lacing and get the Aura OG if you'd prefer Boa. 

Check out more about the Hi-Standard OG in the Video Below

Score Breakdown for the Hi-Standard OG

Boot: Burton Moto Lace

Lacing System: Speed Lacing

Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)

Fit: Normal width to Mid-wide feet

Rating: 96.5/100

And finally at #1, we have the Burton Moto Lace. 

The Moto’s are very popular beginner boots and it’s easy to see why. They have the right flex and the right price-tag.

They also have really good reduced footprint (which essentially means that the outside of the boot is smaller than what the inside of the boot is – so a boot that will fit a size 10 foot on the inside would have a size 9.5 footprint on the outside), so if you’ve got larger feet and are looking to get on a narrower width board than you otherwise could, these are also a great choice for that reason.

These also come in a Boa version and a speed lace version - which also make good beginner boots. Note that the Boa and speed lace version scores slightly differently. The price goes up a little for the speed lace version and then a little more for the Boa version.  

More on the Moto Lace in the video below

Score Breakdown for the Moto Lace

Score Breakdown for the Moto (speed lace)

Score Breakdown for the Moto BOA