The Best Women’s Freestyle Snowboard Boots: My Top 5

Comments

1. Alexandra says

   March 7, 2022 at 6:43 am

   Hi Nate!

   I’m about to buy my 2nd pair of boots. But I hesitate between rebuy again the Burton Ritual or to try the Vans Encore Pro.
   The only issue I had with my Burton Ritual is a little heel lift and that my front foot can twist in my boot if I force against it because I have a narrow feet. Except thoses things I love my boots, them are really comfortables, lights and no breaking period.
   With the Encore Pro (I put my feet and walk with them during more than 2 hours) I feel some pain over my heel due to the harness but my heels don’t move, I don’t know if this pain will stay or not after the breaking period. Anorher possible issue is that they are wider and fit really snug in my bindings Burton Scribe ( I can lift my board without strapping the boots). Except this, they are comfortable and my feet stay in place even if I force against it. But I don’t know if this will stay the same thing after the breaking period. (With the Ritual I had no heel lift when they were brand news).

   Note that I ride at least 3 days by week, I don’t tight my bindings I prefer to keep them loose. And I will probably buy the Burton Felix too for my other setup when I want to ride more agressive.

   Hope you can help me with this dilemma!

   Reply

   • Nate says

     March 7, 2022 at 12:07 pm

     Hi Alexandra

     Thanks for your message.

     If you’re able to lift your board up without strapping in in the Encore, then my concern would be that you wear away the boots over time, if they’re rubbing on the sides of the bindings, if you’re having to kind of force them in – and also whether or not it’s so tight that you may not get them right back fully into the binding every time – or if the effort of doing so will become too annoying after a while. My experience with heel pain on new boots is that it lessens as you break them in. Certainly is a plus if your foot isn’t moving around inside – and Vans boots do tend to be a little narrower (on the inside) than Burton, so no surprises there, that things are a little more snug.

     Heel lift does tend to increase a little as you break boots in. It’s hard to say how the Encore will feel after broken in compared to the Ritual.

     If you did go with the Rituals again, you could look into getting some J bars for them, which should help with the heel lift – and might even help a little with the foot moving around. Ideally your foot wouldn’t be twisting inside your boot. You could even try sizing down 1/2 size, if you are able to try on before buying.

     Hope this helps

     Reply

     • Alexandra says

       March 8, 2022 at 8:56 pm

       Thank for your help Nate, I will try the J bars in my Rituals. I don’t think I can down 1/2 size, my feet fit exactly like the insole in my actual Rituals (like them were sized for me) so if I down size them will be probably too small. But if I have the chance I will try them in smaller size if the J bars don’t work.

       Thanks again!

       Reply

       • Nate says

         March 9, 2022 at 10:57 am

         You’re very welcome Alexandra. Sounds like J-bars are the best bet, if you think you’re sized correctly already. Hope it works for you.

         Reply

2. Ted says

   March 28, 2018 at 2:24 pm

   How’s it going. So my friend is really getting into snowboarding now. This would be her second season and she’s very adventurous following me into many different terrain parks, trying all the small features, small jumps, and enjoys some speed on the rest of the mountain as well. I would say her skill level is between beginner/intermediate. She’s 5’3 and weighs 115. I would like to surprise her with a new board, bindings, and boots. The setup I had in mind would be a GNU Ladies Choice for the magne-traction edges for better carves, especially dealing with east coast conditions and being a medium flexing board for her riding style either the 142.5 size for her height and weight or the next size up being 145.5 (I was wondering what you would rather reccomend) Bent Metal Upshot Bindings or something better, and Van’s Women’s Aura Boots or something better?

   Reply

   • Nate says

     March 28, 2018 at 4:15 pm

     Hi Ted

     Thanks for your message.

     I think that sounds like a sweet setup (and what an awesome surprise!). For the Ladies Choice, the 142.5 would be my recommendation for sure. I think the 145.5 would be too long for her specs and ability level. Even the 142.5 is longer than what I would normally recommend for her specs and being a beginner/intermediate level, but it sounds like she is progressing well, so should be fine on it. Do you know what length she’s riding currently?

     The Auras will be a good match for the Ladies Choice, in my opinion – and as long as they fit her well are great boots in general.

     The only question mark would be the Upshots and the only reason I question those really is that they’re a 4/10 flex and the Ladies Choice is a little stiffer than that. I usually try to go as least as stiff with bindings as board, or if I have to a little stiffer. I prefer to go slightly stiffer bindings-wise than slightly softer, in comparison to the board. So that would be my only thing there. They’re certainly not way off and would work, but if you wanted to look at some other options, check out the following:

     >>Top Women’s All-Mountain Bindings

     The Burton Scribe and Union Milan would also work.

     Hope this helps

     P.S. You’re a good friend!

     Reply