Hello and welcome to my Vans Aura review.
In this review I will take a look at the Auras as beginner snowboard boots.
That’s not to say that they are just for beginners. These boots are also awesome as freestyle boots and even all mountain boots – but for the purpose of this review I am rating them as beginner boots.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Auras a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other men’s beginner boots.
Overall Rating
Boots: Vans Aura
Price: $249 (USD recommended retail)
Riding Style: Beginner
Other Uses: Freestyle, All Mountain
Lacing Type: Double Boa
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating Score: 83/100
Compared to other Men’s Beginner Boots
Out of all the men’s beginner boots that I rated:
- I analyzed 44 different men’s boots and rated them as beginner boots
- The average price was $194 (USD)
- The average score was 73/100
- The highest score was 83/100
- The lowest score was 61/100
- The Aura’s ranked 1st out of 44!
Who are the Aura’s Most Suited to?
The Aura’s are suited to a wide range of riders. They are particularly good for beginners and freestyle riders.
And they would work well for anyone who likes to ride freestyle but wants to explore the mountain outside the park too.
Probably don’t have the response for freeriders or anyone who wants extreme response and likes to ride aggressive.
I bought these boots as my freestyle/freestyle-all-mountain boots and they’ve done the job really well so far.
The Aura’s in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Auras are capable of.
Demo Info
Boots: Vans Aura 2016, size 10
Date: Numerous (I own them)
Conditions: Various
Bindings paired with: Various
Board Paired with: Various
Flex
These have the ideal flex for beginners – they’ve got enough forgiveness that they are forgiving of errors and work to help the new rider progress, but they’re not so soft that they lack response. They’ve got the perfect balance for beginner boots.
I’ve seen these rated a 5/10 elsewhere in terms of flex but they definitely feel on the softer side of medium so I would say 4/10 is more accurate – 4.5/10 at a stretch.
Comfort
These boots are really comfortable. This is partly down to some really nice cushioning in the sole – there’s plenty of EVA padding there.
And partly down to the fit and construction. Obviously the fit will partly depend on your foot shape. That’s why you should always try snowboard boots on before buying – whether that means ordering online and making sure the store has a return policy or trying in store.
Another thing that makes these boots so comfortable is the V-Corked footbed. This footbed helps with dampening and arch support.
Learn more about the Aura’s Tech in the Video below
Heel Hold
The Aura’s have really great heel hold. This is really important for riders of all styles and ability and for beginners it’s no exception.
I was really impressed with the heel hold of the Auras. My heels don’t lift at all. This means that response is always even and predictable when making turns. Something that the beginner (and any other rider) will be thankful for.
Of course this will partly depend on your foot shape and ankles but I have pretty skinny ankles and they get well held in this boot.
Shock Absorption
As I mentioned in the comfort section above, there is plenty of cushioning in these boots. And you really notice that going over larger jumps and landing tricks.
But you’ll also notice it just riding the mountain. It’s much nicer to stand on something soft and cushiony all day than it is to stand on something hard and unforgiving.
Adjustability
You can get a good bit of adjustability out of the Auras. They use a speed lace pull in the insert to tighten that around your foot.
Then the outer boot has a double boa system. This means that you can adjust the lower and upper sections of the boots independently.
Entry/Exit
These are pretty snug fitting boots. So it takes a little bit to get in and out of. Whilst they’re not the easiest boots that I’ve tried for getting in and out of, you get the performance benefits of a really snug fit.
Reduced Footprint
They don’t have a lot of reduced footprint tech going on. So if you’re looking to get a low profile boot that you can use to get on a narrower board or on smaller sized bindings then the Auras probably aren’t your choice.
Price
They are priced above the average beginner boot. That’s because they are so awesome as freestyle/all mountain boots.
But if you’re willing to invest just a little more then you’ll get a quality boot that can stay with you. And you’ll get a much better experience and progress much faster than you would with some of the cheaper options.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Flex: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Comfort: | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Heel Hold: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Shock Absorption: | 4.0 | 12/15 |
| Adjustability: | 4.0 | 8/10 |
| Price: | 3.0 | 6/10 |
| Reduced Footprint: | 2.0 | 2/5 |
| Entry/Exit: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL after normalizing | 93.0/100 |
I’m not a beginner but I love these boots for riding freestyle and riding the groomers.
But they do have the perfect specs for a beginner. And they would rate even higher as beginner boots if they were cheaper. However, if they were cheaper they likely wouldn’t be as good – catch 22!
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re interested in the Aura’s then check out the links below to get some more info, user reviews and current prices or if you’re ready to buy.
If you want to check out some other men’s beginner boot options check out the link below for my list of the top 7 men’s beginner snowboard boots currently on the market.
>>My Top 7 Men’s Beginner Boots
