This top 12 has been updated for the 2016-17 season.
Depending on your foot size and your snowboard’s width, the best option for snowboard boots is sometimes to go for a low profile option.
This is particularly the case for anyone wanting to fit on a narrower snowboard than they otherwise could with a normal profile snowboard boot or if those who already have a snowboard that is too narrow for their boots and they are getting toe and/or heel drag in their normal profile boots.
Check out the end of this post for an explanation of what low profile means.
My Top 12
The boots below represent my top 12 low profile boots.
In order to give options for a variety of styles this list has been broken down into 4 different flex levels. The following also applies for this list:
- The list is dominated by a few brands as reduced footprint tech is typically focused on, and done well by, only a handful of brands
- There are 3 each for 4 different flex levels so you can find a low profile boot in a flex that suits you best
- I will highlight the best use for each boot
- This list certainly isn’t exhaustive and there some other great low profile boots out there. These are just the best of the best in my opinion. If you are considering any particular boots and want my opinion let me know. Also if you have a certain flex in mind and want more options within that flex range let me know in the comments below.
MEDIUM-SOFT FLEX OPTIONS
Low Profile Boot #12:
Boot: Burton Moto
Price: $199
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)
Lacing System: Speed Lacing
Best Uses: Beginners, Beginner Park Riders, Playful Park/Freestyle Riding
The first low profile option in this list is Burton’s Moto. The Moto is the softest flexing boot in this list and is great as a beginner boot or for playful freestyle riding.
The Moto’s are #4 in my list of the top 7 beginner boots.
Low Profile Boot #11:
Boot: Ride Orion
Price: $189
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Best Uses: Beginners, Beginner Park Riders, Playful Park/Freestyle Riding
The Orion is the cheapest in this list. Perhaps there are some better medium-soft options that I could have put in here instead but I wanted to include a low cost option for anyone on a tight budget.
Burton Invaders are another low cost option ($149) but I would consdier them to be soft (2/10) flexing rather than medium-soft.
Low Profile Boot #10:
Boot: Burton Rampant
Price: $219
Flex: Medium-soft (4/10)
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Best Uses: Beginners, Beginner Park Riders, Playful Park/Freestyle Riding
The last of our medium-soft low profile boots are Burton’s Rampant boots. Again these are great for beginners and for freestyle riding – particularly those who are into plenty of jibbing and want a soft playful feel.
MEDIUM FLEX OPTIONS
Low Profile Boot #9:
Boot: Ride The ’92
Price: $399
Flex: Medium (6/10)
Lacing System: Double Boa/Velcro wrap
Best Uses: Freestyle/Park, All-Mountain
The ’92s are new for the 2016-17 season. They are retro inspired but have all the modern tech that you could ever need. They come on the pricier side but also supposed to be really durable. Assuming that’s true then they pay for themselves for anyone who rides a lot in a season.
Low Profile Boot #8:
Boot: Burton AMB
Price: $299
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Best Uses: Freestyle/Park, All Mountain
Burton’s AMB boots are #3 on my top 5 freestyle boots list.
So if you need something low profile that will be great in the park but will also handle the rest of the mountain, then the AMB’s are a great option.
Low Profile Boot #7:
Boot: Adidas ZX-500
Price: $200
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Lacing System: Speed Lacing
Best Uses: Freestyle/Park, All Mountain
The first of our medium flexers are Adidas’s ZX-500 boots. These are great for freestyle but would also work well for those all-mountain riders that don’t like their riding too aggressive. And they come in at a really reasonable price too.
Not only that – but they made the #1 spot in my Top 5 Men’s Freestyle Boots for 2016-17.
MEDIUM-STIFF FLEX OPTIONS
Low Profile Boot #6:
Boot: Burton Ion
Price: $479
Flex: Medium-Stiff (7/10)
Lacing System: Speed Lace
Best Uses: All-Mountain, Aggressive-All-Mountain, Exterme Park/Freestyle, Freeride
The Ion’s are super responsive. A great all-mountain or aggressive all-mountain option or for freeriding if you prefer a bit of forgiveness.
The Ions are a little bit more forgiving for the 2016-17 than they were in previous years – but they’ve managed to retain their responsiveness so no complaints here.
They are my #4 boots on my top all mountain boots list.
Low Profile Boot #5:
Boot: Adidas Tactical ADV
Price: $350
Flex: Medium-stiff (7/10)
Lacing System: Traditional Lacing
Best Uses: All-Mountain, Aggressive-All-Mountain, Exterme Park/Freestyle, Freeride
If you’re after the ultimate in reduced outersole tech, then Adidas is your way to go this season. Adidas have upped their low profile game for 2016-17 and are now the smallest outersole (relative to foot size) in the market.
But reduced outersole isn’t the only thing that the Tactical ADVs have going for them. They’re also responsive, comfortable and absorb shock really
The ADVs made #3 on my top 5 all-mountain snowboard boots list.
Low Profile Boot #4:
Boot: Adidas Blauvelt
Price: $375
Flex: Medium Stiff (7/10)
Lacing System: Speed lacing
Best Uses: All-Mountain, Aggressive-All-Mountain, Exterme Park/Freestyle, Freeride
Adidas’ Blauvelts have the same awesome reduced outersole and same response as the Tactical ADVs. The differences – they use a speed lacing system to start with.
But they’re also a different style of boot. They don’t quite have the same amount of shock absorption as The ADVs but they have better traction and the heel-hold is a little better.
They were my #2 all-mountain boots for 2016-17 (see top 5 link above).
STIFF FLEX OPTIONS
Low Profile Boot #3:
Boot: Ride Trident
Price: $439
Flex: Medium-Stiff (8/10)
Lacing System: Triple-Boa
Best Uses: Aggressive-All-Mountain, Freeride
With a flex of 8/10 you could call these medium-stiff rather than stiff but whatever you want to label them, the Trident’s are a great low profile option for an aggressive all-mountain ride – or as freeride boots.
They are my #1 all mountain boots for 2016-17.
Low Profile Boot #2:
Boot: Ride Insano
Price: $359
Flex: Stiff (9/10)
Lacing System: Double Boa
Best Uses: Aggressive-All-Mountain, Freeride
The #2 boots on my top freeride boot list, the Ride Insano’s are practically the perfect low profile option for freeriding.
And if you like the boa system, then these are, in my opinion the best boa freeride boots going around.
Low Profile Boot #1:
Boot: Burton Driver X
Price: $399
Flex: Stiff (10/10)
Lacing System: Speed Lace
Best Uses: Aggressive-All-Mountain, Freeride
Finally we have Burton’s Driver X boots. Super stiff, super responsive and with awesome reduced footprint tech.
These are my number 1 freeride boots and my #1 low profile stiff-flexing boots.
What Does Low Profile Mean?
Low profile (aka reduced footprint or boot shrinkage) essentially means that the outer-sole of the boot is reduced for the same equivalent inner-sole.
So, that means if you usually fit into size 10 regular profile snowboard boot, then the lower profile boot would have the outer-sole size of a regular profile smaller size.
For example: If the lower profile reduces the outer-sole profile by a whole size then your size 10 lower profile boot would have the same outer-sole profile of a size 9 boot.
This means that essentially your boot is now a size 9 so you can fit on narrower snowboards.
Thanks for Reading
I hope this post has helped to narrow down some low profile snowboard boot options for you if you’re looking to pick up some past season or used boots. Check out the link below for the latest season’s top 12 low profile boots.
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