Hello and welcome to my list of the best beginner snowboard Boots for men.
Below are what I consider to be the top 7 for the 2017/18 season.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com each board is rated and receives a score out of 100. This is definitely not an exact science care has been taken to give points to various areas depending on their importance for beginner riders.
O.k. let’s get into the top 7!
Comparison Stats
Just quickly, to give you a reference for the scores below;
Out of 32 of beginner boots that I rated:
- The average score was 85.7
- The highest score was 91.9/100
- The lowest score was 75.6/100
- The average price was $210
Beginner Snowboard Boot #7
Boot: Burton Invader
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Soft (2/10)
Rating: 89.5/100
Starting out at #7, we have the softest and lowest priced bindings on this list, the Burton Invaders.
These boots will help to make riding easier from the get go whilst still being of a decent quality – and they won’t break the bank!
They’re strictly beginner boots and once you become more advanced you’ll want to upgrade – but they will help you to advance super-quickly.
If you’re fine with traditional lacing and have a modest budget, the Invaders are a great choice.
Check out more about the Invaders in the Video Below
The Invader’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Comfort: | 3.5 | 14/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Price: | 5.0 | 10/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 89.5/100 |
Beginner Snowboard Boot #6
Boot: Vans Aura
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (4.5/10)
Rating: 89.5/100
The Aura’s are the kind of boots that can take you over the whole mountain and are something that you can ride as a more advanced rider for freestyle or all-mountain riding – so they’re a great choice if you want something that will last you a good few seasons.
The Aura’s use a double boa system which allows you to adjust the top and bottom sections of the boots separately, which is especially good if you are prone to pressure points or want have good heel crank but want to have the top part of the boot looser or tighter depending on what you’re doing.
They are comfortable, adjustable, and score well in just about all of the important beginner specs.
They have a stiffer flex than most of the beginner boots I rated but I’d say they are the stiffer side of medium-soft or the softer side of medium. Either way their flex is still suitable for beginners, especially for heavier and more athletic beginners.
Learn more about the Auras in the video below
Aura Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Price: | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 89.5/100 |
Beginner Snowboard Boot #5
Boot: Thirty Two 86FT
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Lacing System: Speed Lacing
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)
Rating: 90.7/100
In at #5, we have the second lowest priced boots on this list , the Thirty Two 86FT.
The 86FTs are really comfortable and have (like most on this list) a nice forgiving medium-soft flex.
This flex is ideal for beginners because it offers a good amount of forgiveness and helps with control at lower speeds – but isn’t too soft – so you can progress to a more advanced level without having to buy new boots straight away.
Check out more on the 86FT in the video below
86FT Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Adjustability: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Price: | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 90.7/100 |
Beginner Snowboard Boot #4
Boot: Burton Moto
Price (US): View More Info and Current Prices Here
Price (Canada): View More Info and Current Prices Here
Lacing System: Speed Lacing
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)
Rating: 90.7/100
The Moto’s are very popular beginner boots and it’s easy to see why. They have the right flex, the right price-tag and are super easy to get in and out of (once you learn the speed lacing system).
They also have great 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 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.
More on the Moto’s in the video below
Moto’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Comfort: | 4.0 | 16/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Adjustability: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Price: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 90.7/100 |
Beginner Snowboard Boot #3
Boot: Adidas Tenzca
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Lacing System: Single Boa
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating: 90.7/100
The Tenzcas are new in Adidas’ line for the 2017-18 season. This is the first year that Adidas have offered the Boa system with their boots – the Tenzca’s are their entry level Boas and are great for beginners.
If you want a no-nonsense boot that’s easy to get in and out of and is super-easy to adjust on the fly or tighten up in cold conditions – or if you have trouble getting speed lace and traditional laced boots tight enough – then the Tenzca’s might be your boots.
They’re also super comfortable and, like the Moto’s above, have awesome reduced footprint for those larger feet, trying to fit on a narrower board.
Learn more about the Tenzca’s in the video below
Score Breakdown for the Tenzca’s
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Adjustability: | 1.0 | 2/10 |
| Price: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 90.7/100 |
Beginner Snowboard Boot #2
Boot: Thirty Two Lashed Double Boa
Price: View More Info and Current Prices Here
Lacing System: Standard Lacing
Flex: Medium (4.5/10)
Rating: 91.3/100
Thirty Two’s Lashed boots come in three lacing varieties. You can get them with Tradtional lacing, speed lacing (Lashed XFT) or a Boa version (Lashed Double Boa).
They are all priced slightly differently and are slightly different boots because of their lacing system. I have included scores for all 3 varieties of the Lashed below, but this position is earned by the Boa versions.
The Boa version are double boas this season (were previously single Boa) so they are now way more adjustable for a more customized fit.
Like the Vans Auras (see #6 above), the Lashed are the kind of boots that are good for anyone from beginners to advanced riders – so they can last you longer as you progress. They are closer to medium than medium-soft flexing so they’re best suited to larger or more athletic beginners but they offer that little bit more response too. Also great for anyone who is a beginner but not a complete beginner – if you’ve been riding a couple of seasons but have just been using hire gear, for example.
Check out more on the Lashed in the video below
Lashed Boa’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Price: | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 91.3/100 |
Lashed XFT’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Adjustability: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Price: | 2.5 | 5/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 84.9/100 |
Lashed Lace’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Price: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 86.6/100 |
Beginner Snowboard Boot #1
Boot: Vans Hi Standard
Price (US): View More Info and Current Prices Here
Price (Canada): View More Info and Current Prices Here
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)
Rating: 91.9/100
And coming in at #1 we have the Vans Hi Standard.
In my opinion the best looking boot in this list (in the eye of the beholder and looks weren’t taken into account when rating the boots).
But it’s not just looks that the Hi-Standard have going for them. They are also super comfortable and have the perfect flex for beginners.
And if your looking to get something at a great price, then the Hi Standard are a great option and are $21 lower than the average beginner boot price (of those that I rated) and the 3rd lowest on this list.
Check out more about the Hi-Standard in the Video Below
The Hi-Standard’s Score Breakdown
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| Flex: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 3.0 | 9/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Price: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 91.9/100 |
Thanks for Reading
Thanks for reading and I hope this list has helped give you some options for beginner snowboard boots.
Check out the links for each boot above for more info and for current prices and availability.
Often models don’t change that much from year to year so if you can find a 2016 model, it will likely be close enough to the 2017 model but you can get it cheaper, if available. For the latest model check out the links above for each boot. For past year’s models check out the links below to see if they still have any left in your size.
>>Discount Mens Snowboard Boots at evo.com
>>Discount Mens Snowboard Boots at backcountry.com
Thanks for another helpful review article Nate!
As I’ve said on other pages, I bought the Burton Moto even before I bought a board or bindings. I’m glad to see it made your list. I tried on some beginner boots from Thirty-Two and DC, but nothing was as comfortable for me as the Moto. I have two questions:
1. Do you know what sort of ankle/feet shapes are the most problematic when it comes to heel hold? If I find this is a problem with the Moto, how do I resolve it?
2. The last time I checked, Vans didn’t have any new snowboard boots for sale until 9/1/15. Are these Vans models something you’ve reviewed from past model years, or did you get some advance demo items? I’ve heard other people tell me they loved Vans boots, but technically nothing is “available” from Vans at the moment.
Thanks,
John
Hey John
Sorry for late reply – have been on vacation.
1. Usually heel hold in snowboard boots is an issue for people with thinner ankles or thinner heels. You could try getting j-bars – these guys do j-bars – Shred Sole J Bars – they basically fill out the heels to help reduce heel lift. You should try to reduce heel lift to a maximum of around 1cm (0.4 inches). J bars are pretty easy to install (check out the video below.
2. The Vans boots reviewed here are 2015 models. The boots available for sale September 2015 will be their 2016 models. As far as I know all snowboading gear is released in the 1st half of the season but they label it for the second half. E.g. something released before the 2015/2016 season will always be labelled the 2016 model. I guess it just makes them sound more recent.
Hope this answers your questions. Thanks again for stopping by.
Hi Nate! Again thanks for all your help so far on board and bindings. I’ve now moved to boots.. Since the finickiness of boots and fitting I definitely am going through a store with good return policies so I’m doing it at REI! I tried on all sorts of boots today, and I found that the Burton Moto fit me the best. It just snugged my ankle and felt very comfortable. The one thing I did find that it was just super duper flexible, almost a bit too flexible.
I was wondering what you thought of the Burton Ruler? They only had it online, so I wasn’t able to try it on, but it seemed like it’s the moto with comfortability improvements and a little stiffer? Right now I have the Yes Basic with Union ST bindings.
Thanks!
Hi Victor.
If you’re worried about the flex of the Moto being too soft, then the Ruler is probably a good step up. Burton boots tend to fit fairly similarly so if the Moto fit well, then the Ruler should too. It will be more of a medium flex (Moto medium-soft). The Ruler is a better boot but also a bit stiffer. Normally I’d say medium-soft for anything beginner but the one piece of gear that I’m most willing to compromise on is boots – some people just like a slightly stiffer boot.
The other option is the Burton Highline Boa (if you were open to going Boa) – it’s medium soft but I’d say it’s more of a 4/10 whereas the Moto is more of a 3/10.
Definitely a good idea to try boots on in person so you made a good call there.
Thanks Nate! I’ll order a pair of Highline boas as well from REI to give them a try. I did like the ease of the boa system like the Binary Boa that I tried on.
Hi nate, have just found all of your reviews for beginners and have to say what a great help they are.
I am looking for a pair of boots to start out with but local stores are fairly limited so makes trying them on quite hard. I did try a couple of brands and found the ride boots to be a good fit for me, do you think the ride jackson boots are to stiff to start out with ?
Also looking at your board review i was pleasantly surprised to see your top pick the Salomon sight on clearance but unfortunately the only size left is a 159 which im thinking is abit big for me being 5″10 160-165 without gear
Thanks
Dave
Hi Dave
Thanks for your message.
The Jackson’s are a little bit stiffer than ideal for a beginner – more of an intermediate and up boot. But it’s not the worst option. It’s medium flexing (6/10 by Ride’s scale but maybe more like 5/10) rather than stiff flexing. Ideally I think something more around the 3/10 or 4/10 mark is best for a beginner. But they would do the job for a beginner – not quite ideal, but doable.
The Rook or Anthem are probably your best choices if you want to go for a Boa boot or the Triad is you want traditional lacing. Or the Orion, if you want a cheaper option. But if you only have the option of the Jackson, they would be doable for you.
But yeah, if Ride fits your feet well, probably a good idea to go with Ride boots – and they are well made boots too.
Yeah, unfortunately I think the 159 Sight is a bit long for you. I think the 156 or 155W (depending on your boot size) would be a better size for that board for you at the moment.
Hope this helps
Would the vans hi standard be good for all mountain freestyle? I’m thinking of pairing it with the doa.
Hi Brandon
I think the HI-Standard would be too soft flexing for the DOA. The DOA would work best with minimum medium flexing boots. Even medium-stiff would be a good match for the DOA. Even though it’s flex is medium (5/10), it’s quite an aggressive board so it needs a bit of oomph to run it, if that makes sense. Also, if you’re a beginner, the DOA wouldn’t be the best board, IMO – just because it’s not that forgiving a ride.
The Outerspace Living would be a better option for a beginner. The Hi-Standards would work better with the Outerspace Living too – even though the Outerspace Living is also a medium flex, it’s a more forgiving ride and doesn’t need the same oomph from a boot that the DOA does. That said, I think a slightly stiffer flexing boot would work better with the Outerspace Living too – but if you were going Hi-Standard, then the Outerspace Living would be a better match than the DOA – and a much better option if you’re a beginner.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Thanks for your absolutely fantastic website! I’d like to ask you for advice too, if you have time.
I live in Poland and I’ve looked up the in my local stores but I couldn’t find any boots that you listed. I would like to buy a beginner boots that could last a while. Do you have an opinion on “Head Scout Pro Boa 2017”? I have tested them and they were very comfortable but I’m not sure If flex isn’t too soft.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi Jack
I don’t test Head gear unfortunately so I couldn’t say for sure, but based on the specs, it does look they are a very soft boot. That would be perfectly fine for learning on, especially if you know they fit your feet well – but you would likely want to upgrade them for something a little stiffer relatively quickly. This is of course assuming that they’re rating of 1/5 for flex is accurate. I usually like something 3/10 or 4/10 as a good beginner boot that will last a little bit into the future. In my head they’re 1/5 translates to a 2/10. This will be good for progressing quickly on but it’s likely that you’ll feel the need for something more responsive well before these boots are worn out.
So, you could definitely get them, and they’d be great for learning in by the sounds of it – just know that you’d likely want to upgrade relatively soon – but this is only assuming that they’re flex rating is accurate – they might be stiffer than that in reality but without having tried them it’s hard to say.
In terms of some other boots that would work for a beginner (but brands that aren’t on this list), I would say that the following would be good. Not sure if you have any of these brands in store.
~ K2 Raider (4/10 flex)
~ Ride Anthem (4/10 flex)
~ Ride Rook (4/10 flex)
~ DC Phase (3/10 flex)
There are some others from some of the brands from this top 7 that would be suitable too – but it sounds like you don’t have these brands in store?
Hope this helps
Thank you very much for your insightful explanation. Just bought Ride Rook boots that you recommended in my local store. I can’t wait to try them instead of those rental ones!
Could I ask you my last question because I’m also planning on buying my first snowboard. Do you think that Salomon Sight 162W or Pulse 162W will be okey for me? I’m 6’0″(183 cm), 205lbs (93 kg), 30 cm boots size (12 US or 46 EU). I’m definitely between beginner to intermediate, more likely a beginner. Those are the the only boards I found above 160 cm and wide that I can easily buy and aren’t very expensive.
Hi Jack
Glad you found some boots and I hope they work well for you.
The Sight and Pulse would both be good beginner options for you. In terms of length, I’d say something around 163cm for you as an advanced rider. As a beginner, it’s usually a good idea to take off a little bit of length – just makes the learning process easier – so something around 159, 160 would be ideal. 162 would be fine, as these boards are good for beginners, but just want quite be as easy to learn on as something a little shorter.
In terms of width, with US12s, you would want to be at least 260mm at the waist, and only that if you have binding angles like +15/-15. If you have a straighter back foot, then going a little wider than that is a good idea. But as a beginner you can get away with a little bit narrower as you aren’t likely to be getting right up on your edges like a more advanced rider would.
So for the Sight, the 162W is the only size that would be appropriate width-wise.
For the Pulse, you could go shorter, down to the 158W if you wanted, especially if you have +15/-15 angles typically. You could still go 162W with that board. That size would last you longer, but it will be a slightly harder learning curve.
Hope this makes sense and helps with your decision
Hey I just picked up some vans hi standard. The store I bought them at also had burton moto but came only in a 14 the question that I have is will the high standards be good for my k2 fat bob. Its a wide board and I wear a 13 size in the high standards I like them but I haven’t riden in a couple years will they work. Or should I go back and get the moto. I am intermediate aggressive downhill rider.
Hi Ant
Vans have actually really improved their reduced footprint for their 2018 line-up. So I think they will work well in that respect. I haven’t updated the scores for reduced footprint for the Vans options in this list yet, so that’s why they haven’t scored that well (they haven’t been as good in the past).
In terms of being an intermediate aggressive downhill rider, I would say something stiffer than the Hi Standard would be a better option – something stiffer than most in this list, to be honest, (maybe apart from the Aura which could work) so I don’t think the Moto would offer much more in that respect. But you could check out something from the following list if you wanted something stiffer, which would be more suited to more aggressive riding.
>>My Top All Mountain (medium-stiff flex) Snowboard Boots
Hope this helps