Vans Invado Pro Snowboard Boots Review

Hello and welcome to my Vans Invado Pro snowboard boots review.

In this review I will take a look at the Invado Pro as all-mountain snowboard boots.

As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Invado Pro a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how they compare with other all-mountain boots.

Overall Rating

Boots: Vans Invado Pro 2024

Price: $269 (USD recommended retail)

Style: All-Mountain 

Flex Rating: Medium (5-7/10)

Flex Feel: Medium (6/10)

Rating Score: 84.8/100

Compared to other All-Mountain Boots

Out of the 31 all-mountain boots that I rated:

Overview of the Invado Pro’s Specs

Check out the tables for the Invado Pro's specs and available sizes.

Specs

Sizes

Who are the Invado Pro Most Suited to?

The Vans Invado Pro are best suited to anyone looking for that middle of the spectrum flex to strike that balance between good slow speed riding but also being able to lay down a pretty heavy carve and stay stable at fairly high speeds. 

Also a great choice for those who tend to have trouble getting a good fit in snowboard boots, particularly issues with heel-hold. The Invado Pro's are super adjustable, so should be able to dial in almost anyone's feet. 

They're not particularly unforgiving boots or anything, but not quite beginner friendly. 

Best matches with boards in the 4/10 to 7/10 flex range and most optimal for 5/10 to 6/10 flexing boards. 

THE Invado Pro IN MORE DETAIL

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Board Tested With: Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker

Bindings Tested With: Burton Malavita

Control Boots: Adidas Response ADV, size 9.5

Rider Height: 6'0"

Rider Weight: 180lbs

Outersole Length:  30.3cm (mondo 28cm)

Difference between Mondo & Outersole: 2.3cm

Backstay Height: 11.0" (28cm)

Forward Lean: 8.7°

Weight: 2lbs 7oz (1100 grams)*

* Average of a sample of around 60 boots I've weighed was 1035g (2lbs 5oz). Heaviest I've weighed were 2lbs 15oz (1320g) and lightest were 1lb 8oz (680g). 

Foot to Boot Fit

Length Fit:

My toes touched the fronts of the boots but weren’t bent over or scrunched. The toe room was, well, not very roomy with some pressure all around, but also not painful or cramped.

The perfect amount of toe room can be a very personal feel, and these boots will make your toes feel either secure or claustrophobic depending on your preference.

Width Fit:

Initially the Invado Pro's felt narrow because of the overall tight fit, but after wearing them for a while it’s probably more accurate to say they’re normal/medium.

In-Step:

The in-step fit me really well. Although overall this boot is snugger than normal, this aspect hit me just right. Snug but no pressure points. 

Around Ankles:

The ankle Boa allowed me to get a nice snug adjustment around my ankles, but I without getting any hot spots.

True to Size?: 

These definitely fit tight. The whole time I was testing I kept assessing if they were just too small or if they would break in after some riding and be true to size.

After combining all my notes from both indoor and outdoor time I think I’d say they’re about ¼ size off. I tested a size 10/Mondo 28, and I think a 10 ¼ would be perfect for me. Yes, that’s picky, but if you struggle with fit and sizing, it’s nice to know ahead of time.

Boot to Binding Fit

I had to adjust the heel strap on notch bigger (so just a little bulkier around the ankle area than my control boots), but after that the heel hold scored among the highest of any boots tested. The toe strap was fine without any adjustment.

Carving & Slow Speed Response

During my in-house testing, the Invado’s flex felt a little on the soft side, but after riding them I shifted their rating to a just above average stiffness.

They had a really good balance between solid response for carving and still being able to manage the board well at slower speeds. Conditions were soft and a little slushy/sticky, so I wasn’t able to really put them through their paces for hard-snow carving response but I feel like they would have held up to a degree, but wouldn't be hard chargers based on feel/flex. 

Heel Hold

As noted in the section on boot to binding fit, these score quite high for heel hold. Barely any lift, even when trying to raise the heel consciously both during in-house testing and on snow. When just naturally turning, didn't notice any lift. 

Adjustability

This boot has all the things needed for good adjustability. Velcro on both sides of the upper liner, good tightening on liner lacing, power strap, heel hold that’s operated with a Boa, and traditional lacing to top it all off.

However, all this adjustability comes at the price of being slow and difficult to get into and all dialed in.

Comfort

While the Invado’s do have a very snug fit, they wrapped my foot in very even pressure with no hot spots or pressure points. Assuming that this evenness continues through the break in period, I would actually expect them to be very comfortable for the long haul.

Shock Absorption & Board Feel

Shock absorption and board feel are both a little above average. During the stomp test they felt pretty damp and cushy, in a good way.

The sole is pretty flexible in the toes and then gets progressively stiffer as it moves to the heel - which is typical of a snowboard boot's sole. Overall they had really decent board feel that was balanced with really decent shock absorption.  

Traction/Sole Quality

Nothing fancy here. The tread appeared medium deep, and the material is grippy, so they should handle parking lots and basic hiking fairly well.

Reduced Footprint

The Invado Pro's, typical of Vans boots were quite a bit more low profile than the average boot, coming in at 2.3cm longer on the outersole, versus the mondopoint of the boot. Of course, if you have to go 1/2 a size up, then a lot of that is cancelled out, but would still remain a touch shorter than average. 

Entry/Exit

As you might expect from a boot that received a lot of comments about its snug fit, the Invado’s are no picnic to get in and out of. It’s both important and tedious to fully open the traditional laces to create space to slide/cram your foot in.

There’s definitely a sequence to loosening and opening straps, laces, Boa, etc., so plan ahead on a powder day in order to not get left behind.

The liner lacing tightener does feel cheap but it seems to do its job just fine. I was also happy to find that the laces are just the right length; they tie well without too much left over. 

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

The Invado Pro were a little bit on the too snug side for me in my typical snowboard boot size. But as I rode in them they started to feel better and I think, after a toughing out period they would have broken in nicely, particularly with the amount of adjustability they have. Though, if they were a 1/4 of size bigger, I think they would have broken in to be a good size too and without as much of breaking in period. 

Overall, they strike a really good balance between fast and slow speed riding, shock absorption and board feel , are super adjustable with great heel hold and offer a nice level of reduced footprint for those looking to minimize the chances of boot drag.