Hello and welcome to my list of the top 5 women’s freestyle snowboard boots for the 2020/21 season.
As per SnowboardingProfiles.com tradition I have rated each pair of boots out of 100.
Comparison Stats
Of the 17 boots that I rated as women’s freestyle boots:
O.k. let’s get into the top 5.
WOMEN'S FREESTYLE BOOT #5
Boot: Vans Women's Hi-Standard OG
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Traditional Lace
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating: 83.3/100
Starting off the list in #5, we have the Vans Women's Hi-Standard OG.
This is the softest equal, and least expensive boot on this list. It's a great option for anyone looking for a playful, softer boot, but not too soft, for casual riding and playful freestyle riding. And anyone on a smaller budget.
Check out the video below to learn more
Score Breakdown for the Women's Hi-Standard OG
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 14/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
RESPONSE | 2.5 | 7.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 3.0 | 9/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
TRACTION | 2.0 | 2/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 83.3/100 |
WOMEN'S FREESTYLE BOOT #4
Boot: K2 Cosmo
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing with internal Boa
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating: 84.5/100
Coming in at #4, we have K2's Cosmo snowboard boots.
The Cosmo are new from K2 for 2021. They feature great adjustability through their traditional lacing and great heel hold from the Boa, which works on an internal harness which wraps around your ankle and locks the heel into the boot.
More on the Cosmo in the video below
Score Breakdown for the Cosmo
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 14/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 3.0 | 9/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.0 | 9/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
TRACTION | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.5/100 |
WOMEN'S FREESTYLE BOOT #3
Boot: Ride Hera
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Single Boa with the second Boa working on the internal ankle harness
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 84.5/100
Next up, at #3, we have the Ride Hera boots.
The Hera provide a great combination of feel, response and shock absorption – that and providing great heel hold and comfort, they are a great option for freestyle or all-mountain-freestyle riding and have virtually no weaknesses across the board (or should I say across the boot! – sorry bad joke 😉 )
The Hera features an internal ankle harness that is controlled by the boa on the side of the boot. This is super convenient for locking that heel down on the go, without having to open your boot up to do it.
More on the Hera in the video below
Score Breakdown for the Hera
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 14/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 5.0 | 15/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 2.0 | 6/15 |
TRACTION | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.5/100 |
WOMEN'S FREESTYLE BOOT #2
Boot: Burton Ritual LTD Boa
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Rating: 91.7/100
Coming in at #2 are Burton’s Ritual LTD Boa snowboard boots.
The Ritual LTD Boa are the most pricey boots on this list – but they are also designed to last a long time, and retain their flex for longer, so might end up being a better financial investment in the long run.
But if you are interested in these boots but don’t want to spend this much in one chunk, then the slightly cheaper Burton Ritual (non-LTD version and in speed lace rather than BOA) are almost as good and still scored 88.1/100 on this rating system.
They're also the most comfortable in this list (assuming they fit your feet well) and are super light.
Check out the video for more
Score Breakdown for the Ritual LTD
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 3.5 | 14/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 12/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
TRACTION | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.7/100 |
WOMEN'S FREESTYLE BOOT #1
Boot: Vans Encore Pro
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Lacing System: Double Boa
Flex: Medium (5 out of 10)
Rating: 91.7/100
Grabbing the #1 spot are the Vans Encore Pro.
The Encore Pro achieve a great balance between board feel and shock absorption, making them a great option for riding the park. But they also have great response, especially for their flex, so you can ride them all over the mountain (and of course ride them freestyle over the whole mountain).
They also benefit from some great heel hold and have enough traction to let you the hike the park (or even the backcountry), and stay upright in an icy car park.
If you're looking for a boot that's awesome for the park but also versatile enough to be the only boot you need, then the Encore Pro should be on your radar.
Check out the video below for more on the Encore Pro
Score Breakdown for the Encore Pro
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.0 | 16/20 |
BOARD FEEL | 4.0 | 12/15 |
RESPONSE | 3.5 | 10.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 12/15 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 12/15 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.0 | 12/15 |
TRACTION | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.7/100 |
Over to You….
Thanks for reading and I hope this post has helped you to choose the right boots for you.
Check out the links for each boot for more info and for current prices.
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?
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!