If you're on a tight budget, but still want snowboard boots of decent quality, then check out our selection of what we consider to the best cheap snowboard boots for 2023-2024.
Everyone has a different style, physique and ability level - so this list has been broken up into 4 different boot categories and the best value-for-money boot from each category has been selected (plus several alternatives from each category):
- Best cheap freestyle (mid-soft to mid flexing) boots
- Best cheap all-mountain (medium to mid-stiff flexing) boots
- Best cheap freeride (mid-stiff to stiff flexing) boots
- Best cheap beginner boots
How Each Boot was Chosen
The boots chosen for each category aren’t necessarily the cheapest, but instead offer the best value-for-money. But to make the list, they have to be at least cheaper than the average price of boots from that particular category.
Under each category I will show:
- the average cost of boots in that category
- the cheapest boot I found in that category;
- the reasons why I chose the boot I chose; and
- Some alternatives that are also good value for money
All prices shown in USD.
BEST CHEAP FREESTYLE BOOTS
FREESTYLE BOOTS CATEGORY STATS |
# of freestyle boots rated: | 26 | |
Cheapest boots rated: | $199 | |
Average price of freestyle boots: | $270 | |
Average Rating Score: | 81.3/100 | |
Why These Boots Were Chosen
The Light come in at $21 cheaper than the average boot in this category and score way above the average score. There are cheaper options (some you'll see in the alternatives below) but when it comes to value for money, the Light are top of the pile.
Part of that is because they use traditional lace. Traditional lace boots tend to be cheaper than speed lace or BOA boots. Personally I actually prefer traditional lace boots, as I find they offer the best adjustability. If you're the same, then you luck out when it comes to snowboard boots as they tend to be cheaper.
If not, I will list the cheaper BOA options in the alternatives - but often cheap BOA means single BOA, which aren't very adjustable.
Some other notable numbers:
- The average price for this category went up by $7 compared to last year.
- The average price for the top half (top 14) was $287, making the Light $38 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this list and was the #4 boot in the category.
- Of the 8 boots costing $249 or less, not named the Light, the average score was 78.0.
Alternatives
Vans Hi-Standard OG (Traditional Lace) ($199 | 84.5 points)
Vans Aura Pro (Double BOA) ($289 | 92.0 points)
Burton Ruler (Speed Lace) ($299 | 82.8 points)
BEST CHEAP ALL-MOUNTAIN BOOTS
ALL-MOUNTAIN BOOTS CATEGORY STATS |
# of all-mountain boots rated: | 31 | |
Cheapest boots rated: | $269 | |
Average price of all-mountain boots: | $406 | |
Average Rating Score: | 83.9/100 | |
Why These Boots Were Chosen
The Invado Pro are not only considerably cheaper than the average price in this list (by a whopping $137) but are also the cheapest in the whole category.
And yet they score a good bit above the average score despite this - and even made our Top 10 All-Mountain boots list - which doesn't take price into account.
Some other notable numbers:
- The average price for this category went up by $20 compared to last year.
- The average price for this category is $136 higher than the freestyle category (see above).
- The average price for the top half (top 15) was $411, making the Invado Pro $142 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this list!
- The Invado Pro was the cheapest in the whole category!
Alternatives
Nidecker Rift (Double BOA) ($339 | 91.3 points)
Salomon Dialogue Lace BOA (Hybrid Lace/BOA) ($369 | 89.7 points)
DC Judge BOA (Double BOA) ($379 | 87.0 points)
Salomon Dialogue (Speed Lace) ($319 | 84.2 points)
Burton Photon (Speed Lace) ($399 | 84.8 points)
Thirty Two TM-2 (Traditional Lace) ($379 | 84.2 points)
BEST CHEAP FREERIDE BOOTS
Boot: Vans Hi-Country & Hell Bound
Price: $349
Snowboarding Profiles' Freeride Rating Score : 88.8/100
FREERIDE BOOTS CATEGORY STATS |
# of freeride boots rated: | 22 | |
Cheapest boots rated: | $349 | |
Average price of freeride boots: | $457 | |
Average Rating Score: | 86.6/100 | |
Why These Boots Were Chosen
Whilst $349 may not sound like a low price for snowboard boots, for this category it is. In fact, it's the lowest priced boot in this category. So for the Hi-Country & Hell-Bound to equal the lowest price in the category, yet still score above the average score, and make our Top 5 freeride boots list, which doesn't take price into account, is pretty incredible.
They are a huge $108 cheaper than the average price in this category and $110 cheaper than the average price of the other boots in the Top 5.
Some other notable numbers:
- The average price for this category went up by $10 compared to last year.
- The average price for this category is the highest of all the categories - $51 higher than the next highest category (all-mountain), and $187 higher than the freestyle category (see above)!
- The average price for the top half (top 11) was $467, making the Hi-Country & Hell-Bound $118 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this list.
Alternatives
The Nidecker Rift (Double Boa) was a close second at $399 with 88.8 points. Other honorable mentions include:
Thirty Two TM-2 XLT (Traditional Lace) ($399 | 87.2 points)
Vans Verse (Double BOA) ($439 | 89.9 points)
Ride Insano (Double BOA) ($449 | 89.4 points)
BEST CHEAP BEGINNER BOOTS
BEGINNER BOOTS CATEGORY STATS |
# of beginner boots rated: | 22 | |
Cheapest boots rated: | $179 | |
Average price of beginner boots: | $243 | |
Average Rating Score: | 87.4/100 | |
Why These Boots Were Chosen
Note that the outcome here is somewhat skewed because price is taken into account for beginner boots scores - which it isn't in any of the other categories.
But that doesn't take away from the value-for-money of the Hi-Standard OG, if you're looking for an easy going beginner board to start out your snowboarding journey. They also work well as freestyle boots.
The Hi-Standard OG are $44 cheaper than the average price in this list and got the #1 position in our top 10 beginner boots list. Part of what makes them cheaper is being traditional lace. If you're not big on the idea of traditional lace, check out some others in the alternatives below. Everything in this list is dominated by traditional lace and that's because they do tend to come cheaper.
Some other notable numbers:
- The average price for this category went up by $9 compared to last year
- Price is taken into account for the scores for beginner boots – so this is somewhat skewed for this category.
- The average price for the top half (top 11) was $242, making the Hi-Standard OG $43 cheaper than those that scored in the top half of this list. The bottom half of the list had a an average price of $244 - so basically the same as the top half - because price in this case influenced the scores.
- The Hi-Standard were the equal 3rd cheapest in the whole category - and only $20 more than the cheapest in the category
- The average price for this category is the lowest of all the categories, naturally being a beginner list - and with those that are suited to this category being softer flexing boots. They are $27 cheaper on average than the next closest (freestyle category) and a whopping $214 cheaper on average vs the highest priced category (freeride).
Alternatives
Burton Moto (Speed Lace) ($229 | 94.8 points)
Ride Rook (Single BOA) ($229 | 89.5 points)
Thirty Two STW Double BOA (Double BOA) ($279 | 90.1 points) - They are actually one of the more pricey options in this category, but the only double BOA option - and for double BOA is reasonably priced - and Double BOAs also often don't come in this soft a flexing boot)
Also check out our top 10 beginner boots list for some great alternatives as they're all reasonably priced.
Over to You
Thanks for reading and I hope this has helped you to find the right snowboard boots for you and your budget.
Check out the links under each category for more info.
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