Hello and welcome to my Vans Hi-Country & Hell-Bound review.
In this review I will take a look at the Hi-Country & Hell-Bound as freeride snowboard boots.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Hi-Country & Hell-Bound a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other freeride boots.
Overall Rating
Boots: Vans Hi-Country & Hell-Bound
Price: $349 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freeride
Flex Rating: Medium to Medium Stiff (5-8/10)
Flex Feel: Medium-Stiff (7.5/10)
Rating Score: 88.8/100
Compared to other Freeride Boots
Out of the 22 freeride boots that I rated:
Overview of the Hi-Country & Hell-Bound’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Hi-Country & Hell-Bound's specs.
Specs
Style: | Freeride |
Price: | $349 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Weight: | Heavier than normal |
Lacing System: | Traditional Lacing |
Who are the Hi-Country & Hell-Bounds Most Suited to?
The Hi-Country & Hell Bound are best suited to someone looking for a mid-stiff boot, that's highly adjustable and strikes a good balance between stability and response at high speeds, whilst also being a boot that rides slow well too.
Will suit a wide range of boards, particularly with the removable tongue stiffeners. Anything between a 5/10 flexing board, even 4/10 at a stretch, and an 8/10 flexing board, would work with these boots, IMO.
Not for beginners, too stiff for that, even with tongue stiffeners out. But good for anyone intermediate or above.
The Hi-Country & Hell-Bound in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Hi-Country & Hell-Bound are capable of.
Demo Info
Boots: Vans Hi-Country & Hell-Bound 2023
Size: 10 (US Men's Sizing)
Date: Main test January 19, 2023. But also rode them again February 7, 2023 and February 12, 2023.
Conditions
Cloudy mostly bit sun came out at times. Blue patches the whole time. Visibility excellent.
Temp: 27°F (-3°C). 21°F (-6°C) with wind in morning. Same in the afternoon, except wind chill was gone.
24 hour snow: 6" (15cm)
48 hour snow: 19" (49cm)
7 day snow: 40" (102cm)
On groomer: Well groomed and really fun. Hard packed for sure, but not really icy except in the odd patch.
Off groomer: Pretty crusty and icy in places. Was more of a groomer day, though not undoable and certainly not bullet proof or anything. With the recent snow was expecting a little better though.
Set Up
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Board Demoed With: YES Greats
Bindings Demoed With: Union Falcor
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 180lbs
Outersole Length: 30.3cm (mondo 28cm)
Difference between Mondo & Outersole: 2.3cm
Backstay Height: 11.4" (29cm)
Weight: 2lbs 15oz (1320 grams)*
* Average of a sample of around 50 boots I've weighed was 1028g (2lbs 4oz). Heaviest I've weighed were 2lbs 15oz (1320g) and lightest were 1lb 8oz (680g).
Flex
These boots have removable tongue stiffeners, which allow you to customize the flex to an extent. They rated 5-8 for stiffness, which presumably means they rated them for a flex feel of 5/10 with all the tongue stiffeners out and 8/10 when they're all in.
There are 4 tongue stiffeners in total, 2 per boot. So you can increase and reduce the lateral and medial side of the tongue as you see fit.
In reality, I found them to be more like 7.5/10 flex at most with tongue stiffeners in, bordering on 7/10. And without them in, more like 6/10 flex.
This review is based on having all the tongue stiffeners in the boot.
Fit
True to Size?: Overall these boots fit me really well in a 10. And I'm typically a 10, so I'd say true to size.
When I first tried them on my toes were touching the end with a bit of pressure. Quite cramped up in there. Nothing super painful but definitely closer than I’d prefer them. End of toes and top of toes. More pressure on the big toe side (medial side). First impressions, thinking this would fit better in a 10.5.
As I wore them though, even before heat molding, they got better for both toes and ankles.
After heat molding them, they were even better and the 10 felt just right. After a couple of laps they felt even better. Toes stiff touching the ends, but just brushing the end and no pressure on them.
Width: Felt really medium. Enough room there for me. Probably too narrow for those with wide feet. But fine for anyone with average width feet or narrower than average.
High or Low Arch: A bit of pressure on top of right foot, which is typical for 95% of boots when I first try them on my right foot. Eased a good bit with heat molding and even more with riding in them. Would say their average in terms of instep.
Around Ankles: A little uncomfortable around ankles on first try on, but even before heat molding it improved with a bit of time in them. Then after heat molding it felt better again. And by the time I'd finished testing them, hardly noticed it.
Fit in Bindings
Had to loosen the ankle strap a notch vs my control boots (Adidas Tactical ADV) as they were a bit bulkier around there. And same for toe strap. But my Tactical ADVs are 9.5s and super low profile, so no surprise there.
They are wide boots (on the outside) - the heel only just fit in my bindings (Burton Malavita, size M) width-wise.
Responsiveness
I felt like I could get my board to dig the edge in just a bit more and lay a slightly deeper carve more easily in these boots vs my control boots. But they didn't really loose anything for sharp, slow speed turns, so a great combination there, IMO.
Heel Hold
Better than average heel hold for sure. Some subtle lift in there, but not too much.
Adjustability
Really good adjustability. To start with having traditional lacing really helps with getting a custom fit - can keep it looser over certain parts of your feet and tighter in others if you like. I find I can get pressure on the top of my right foot, so I leave that a little looser, but a little tighter on my left foot on the lower part. Then try to get more tight around the ankles and shin - which traditional lacing is great for.
Then you have the power strap, which allows you to add extra support around the top of the boot if you want it, or keep it looser if you'd prefer a bit more give.
For the liner there's the typical lacing harness - and there's two velcro straps at the top to help keep the top of the liner in place and nice and snug, assuming you want it snug.
And finally you have the tongue stiffeners, which allow you to customize the flex of the boots, to an extent.
Comfort
These boots were not super comfortable when I first tried them on. But they got more and more comfortable the more I wore them (and heat molding helped too). To a point that by the time I was done with them, they were really comfortable. I got 2 extra days on these boots too and they only got more and more comfortable.
I didn't find them super comfortable out of the box, but the kind of boards that need a bit of time to break in. But not that much time.
Shock Absorption
These boots have great shock and chatter absorption. One of their best qualities for sure. They're not quite as shock absorbing as my Tactical ADVs, but those are the most shock absorbing boots I've tested - these were in that tier just underneath, so really good.
Traction
Looks and feels like a really nice sole. Not a heap of pattern variety but still looks and feels like it would grip well - and in the car park (all be it not super icy or anything) they felt like they had good grip. Tread depth a little more than medium I would say, particularly taking into account the little holes that go through to the cushier part of the sole.
Reduced Footprint
They're not super reduced, but they are lower profile than the average boot, in terms of length.
They are quite bulky width-wise - the heel is quite wide and they are quite bulky around the ankle, but in terms of length, they are quite low profile.
Entry/Exit
Nice and easy to get foot in and out of.
Time-wise, takes a little while to get them on and off with the lacing harness, velcro straps on the lacing harness, then trad lace (which takes a little longer, but worth it, IMO), then the power strip and the zipper shroud (though you don't necessarily have to have that done up unless you're going hiking).
So not super quick but sometimes that's the price you pay for all that adjustability.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
CARVING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SLOW SPEED RESPONSE | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TRACTION | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
HEEL HOLD | 4.0 | 8/10 |
ADJUSTABILITY | 4.5 | 9/10 |
SHOCK ABSORPTION | 4.5 | 9/10 |
REDUCED FOOTPRINT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
COMFORT | 4.0 | 8/10 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 88.8/100 |
The Hi Country & Hell Bound are high quality boots that, for me, got more and more comfortable as I wore/rode in them.
They have great adjustability, including their removable tongue stiffener system and really good carveability. But at the same time are still fine for short sharp turns at slower speeds.
And they have some of the better shock/chatter absorption going around.
All-in-all, very good boots that don't have any weaknesses and have some good strengths. Not as stiff/carvey as I was expecting, but still really good and you get that slow riding ability in them (was very close to putting these in all-mountain category).
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you’re interested in learning more about the Hi-Country & Hell-Bound, are ready to buy or want to research current prices and sizing availability, check out the links below.
If you want to see how the Hi-Country & Hell-Bound compared to other freeride boots, or want to check out some other options, check out the link below.
Dear Nate,
I want to express my gratitude for your excellent work, which is immensely helpful to us. I have a question regarding the boot: is it possible to remove the power strap? Can it be slipped out of the belt loops, or is it sewn into the belt loop? My intention is to replace it with a wider strap, such as Strapins or a similar option, only utilizing the loop on the back to increase the support. I am concerned that the lateral loops may not be wide enough to accommodate a 3.8 cm wide power strap, but this would not be an issue if I could slip out the original strap. I hope I have conveyed my idea.
Thank you and best regards.
Andrea.
Hi Andrea, thanks for your message, and yeah, I think I get what you’re wanting to do.
I didn’t pay that much attention to whether it was stitched in or not, but I’m pretty sure it was. You can definitely take the out of the belt loop though, and you could tuck it away, but I don’t think it comes right out.
Hi Nate I wanted to know if these boots could be right for me, I currently have the thirtytwo lashed and the Salomon dialogue which however feel sagging when I want to push more in the turns I feel a certain movement of the ankle so I wanted something more supported. I like to do a bit of everything, even entering the snow park. I currently use a Stratos 156 and a K2 Afterblack 154 with Union Force Team bindings size L. I was looking for a boot with a small shell given my size 280/285 to avoid buying a wide board. Among these, Burton Ion, Burton Photon, Ride Fuse, K2 Orton, what do you recommend? Are your adidas tactical boots discontinued? Do I also consider other brands?
Hi Davide, thanks for your message.
I think the Hi-Country and Hell-Bound would be a good option, if they fit your feet well. And they have the added advantage of being able to remove the tongue stiffeners, if you were wanting to soften them up for when you’re in the terrain park or just want to ride more casual.
But besides going with something stiffer and low profile, the most important thing is that they fit your feet well. So, I think the boots you listed would all work well, so I would go with the one that will fit your feet the best. If you’re unable to try them on first, check out this article to see which brand might be the most likely to fit your feet well.
Some notes on the boots you’ve mentioned:
Photon: These are only a little bit stiffer than the Dialogue, so if you want a subtle increase in stiffness, then these would be a good bet. If you want a more significant increase, then some of the other options would be better. They will likely start out to feel quite a bit stiffer than the Lashed and Dialogue, if you’ve had a lot of days in them, but once they are fully broken in, they will still feel stiffer, but more subtly, in my experience.
Ion: This is the stiffest boot in your list in my experience, followed by the Fuse, then the Orton. But all would give noticeably more stiffness than your current boots.
Tactical ADV: These (and all Adidas boots) have been discontinued unfortunately. But I think these wouldn’t have been stiff enough for your liking anyway. The Adidas Acerra would have been a good bet though, I think.
Other brands: You could look at some other 32 and Salomon boots, if they fit your feet well and if you’re unable to try on in person. If you know that those brands fit your feet well, then there’s less risk in ordering them, if you can’t try them on first. The Salomon Echo could be a good one to look at. Or if you wanted to go even stiffer, the Malamute, but I think that would be too stiff for your Afterblack. The Thirty Two TM-Two would be a good option from 32.
Hope this helps
Hi, thanks for your quick response. Let me start by saying that for the choice I relied on your article of low profile boots because being at the limit in size I am afraid of touching them but for now it has never happened. My feet measure 27.7 right and 27.9 left cm and the thirtytwo lashed are 28.5 cm but I feel they are a little big after about 30 rides. I recently tried the k2 orton and the ride fuse. k2 orton in size 280 cm I could even touch the tip with my fingers but no discomfort during the 5 minute test. I only tried the ride fuse in 285 because the 280 cm were finished, however there was little difference in the fit, perhaps because Orton has a wider fit? Vans Hi-Country I haven’t had the chance to try them but I like the idea of versatility and I saw that you talk about them very well, would I buy them in 285? . Burton ions are perhaps better quality? As far as robustness and durability are concerned, which ones to choose?
Hi Davide
Sounds like the Orton could work if it fit well in the 10. While they aren’t as low profile as the other choices, they are just as low profile or more than the others if you can get in the 280mm size and you can only fit the 285mm in the other boots. And if they felt comfortable on your feet, they could be a safe bet.
If you were just right in the K2 280mm, then I would guess that you’d likely be 285mm in the Hi-Country and Hell Bound.
For the Ion, it’s hard to say which would fit you best, the 280 or 285. I’d say probably 285 in that one, but it’s hard to say without trying them on.
Hi Nate, seeing the end-of-season discounts, I bought the Burton Ion in the 280 mm size. The Burton guides recommended staying as close as possible to your foot size and I trusted them. The first few times they weren’t comfortable at all but now after 5 days of snowboarding they’re much better and the pressure points have eased. On the track it was much better, it was what I was looking for but in the park when I make some mistakes my ankles hurt, are they too stiff? Is it better to use my old boots for the park?
Hi Davide
Yeah, I would personally wear your other boots for the park. The Ion aren’t a boot I enjoy much in the park. Too stiff for me for park and also they lack articulation, so just no real give. Great for carving, but personally if you have other more flexy choices for park, I would wear them. Or at least try the liner from one of your other pairs of boots, to see if that softens them up enough (you’d be surprised how much difference a liner can make sometimes).
Do these fit/feel generally the same as the Infuse? Seem to be the same boot, minus the boa heel system. Love the Infuse but could see these working well too! Thanks.
Hi DT
Yeah I would say they fit and feel quite similar to the Infuse. And overall quite similar boots. I found these to have a little better shock absorption but very little in it and I found the Infuse to have a smaller outsole (lower profile) but the last infuse I measured was 2018 model, so that might be different now.
Hope this helps