Best Snowboard Boots

You’ve probably heard: The best boot is the one that fits your foot and your needs. 

This is truly the most important lesson for anyone looking to hit the slopes. What works for you might not work for me. Every member of my house has a different brand and style of boot, because it’s what works for them. Still, we’ve gone through several boot brands over the decades, so I am going to review the best snowboard boots in my opinion. 

Note: I strongly encourage everyone to pick the features that stand out to them the most, and try them on to see if they fit properly (both in terms of foot size and needs). 

When I finally bought a brand new pair of boots (“price be gosh darned” was my motto in my 30s), I tried on what I believe was every. Single. Boot. 

Not kidding. 

Every single boot in that store went on my foot. And I have to say, all those Disney characters who are trying on shoes all day like it’s a fun vacation are insane. The fun was sucked out of the process by about boot 37. But it was genuinely the last boot they had that felt like butter. Perfect for my (wide) feet, perfect for my stance, perfect for my needs. 

All that to say: don’t be disappointed if the first boots you try don’t work. Or even the second. Look for the things you prioritize and go from there. You’ll find the right ones eventually. 

So, what are the best snowboard boots to consider this season:

• Ride Insano (or any other Ride iteration from 2026)
• Vans Infuse Q
• K2 Thraxis
• Salomon Launch
• Burton

#1: Ride Insano

Ride boots are my absolute best recommendation. Ride is a relatively new purchase for me, three years old. However, I have zero complaints. I splurged on a not-so-popular brand, and it was worth every penny. 

When I say not so popular, I don’t mean that they are a bad brand or anything, I just mean that most people think of brand names like Burton long before they think of Ride. Still, Ride has a lot of stiff, locked-in options, and you can choose how much you are willing to spend based on the model. They produce a lot of new boots every year, so you can find cheaper options from the last few years and still get that proprietary lacing system.

They are incredibly lightweight. I walk around like I’m wearing marshmallows. I love the fit and the finish. Most important, though, is their proprietary wire lacing system. 

So, most of the boots I’ve had come with different lacing systems, and you can pull the laces tight where you want them and secure them in place. Some of the more advanced boots might have multiple lacing sections, and you can alter each of those sections.

The Ride boots have a wire lacing system that runs through everything, and instead of pulling on the laces with your hands to tighten or loosen certain areas, it has circular ratcheting systems where you turn the knobs to tighten or loosen the wire lacing. Then you just tuck it all in and hit the ground boarding. I can’t stress enough how easy that system is to both tighten and loosen, and the fact that it gives me a much more secure and precise fit, particularly around different areas of my feet. The control it offers is unparalleled.

That said, the price can be pretty high because of that proprietary design, and you may not need that level of control if you are relatively new or you don’t board that often. 

Still, you can find a lot of great Ride products like the Lasso snowboard boot on sale at places like Tactics. 

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Proprietary wire lacing system with ratchets for precise, secure fit

Cons:

• Not as well known
• Expensive 

#2: Vans Infuse Q

Like the Ride boots, these snowboard boots use a proprietary system for the lacing. It’s called the hybrid boa system, and it locks in your heel while still having laces. This design means you can adjust the stiffness, and you can loosen everything when and where you want it while still keeping your heel locked down. 

These are pretty durable, and they do have a pretty nice top-level liner, but it’s going to take you several days of boarding before you break them in, and until that time comes, it’s going to be murder on your feet. 

Vans has a lot of really good options, especially models from 2025 that aren’t nearly as expensive if you’re looking to save money.

Pros:

• Proprietary hybrid boa system that lets you lock in your heel
• Stiff and comfy (after you break them in)
• Hard to get any snow in them

Cons:

• The ankle strap can be a little uncomfortable, depending on where the pressure points sit
• Sizing can be a challenge

#3: K2 Thraxis

If the BOA lacing system is up your alley, but Vans are not, K2 Thraxis is a great snowboard boot. It has really good stiffness with a premium liner, so it’s great for free riding.

We have a pair of these as well, and what I like most is that the bottom is very rigid, so you can leave them a little loose on top and still get the ankle flexibility you need without compromising the response on the bottom of the boot.

I really like K2 as a brand in general, and this one is incredibly stiff, but it’s also really tight around the calf, so there’s no way to open up that part of the boot to allow for a better range of motion if you’re doing any type of backcountry boarding. 

Pros:

• Stiffest K2 you will find
• Durable
• Comfortable 

Cons:

• Sizes tend to run a half size long and wide

#4: Salomon Launch

Salomon has a few good boots from this season and last season. I used to ride with Salomon boots in college. 

This particular model is designed for freestyle snowboarding, so if that’s what you’re into, it might be the best snowboard boot for intermediate or advanced borders. Actually, even if you are a beginner, doing a bit more casual work on the mountain, this could be a good option for you.

I like the lacing system it has because it really holds your heel in place, so if you have a lot of issues with your heel lifting out of your boot, this might work well. It has medium flex with the double BOA lacing system, so you have one lacing system for the outer part of the boot and one for your ankle harness.

My issue, though, is that they are on the narrower side, so if you have wide feet at all, they might not be comfortable. Otherwise, they are true to size, but anyone with wide feet is going to need a different brand.

They also don’t provide a lot of shock absorption. If you’re doing a stomp test, you’ll pick up on that right away, so while they might feel good and they’re pretty responsive, the heel design leaves a lot to be desired, and you’re not going to get a lot of shock absorption.

Pros:

• Better for freestyle
• Medium flex
• Has a single BOA dial
• Comes with the straight jacket liner system

Cons:

• They aren’t much to look at
• The sole is kind of cheaply made compared to the rest of the boot

#5: Burton Ruler BOA

Okay, so I saved Burton for last, not because I think poorly of their quality, but just because they are a much broader boot in my opinion. Burton is incredibly well known, and they offer a wide range of snowboard boots, and they are pretty durable. I started with a pair of Burtons, and I wore them until they literally wore out.

However, I still think of them as the sort of general-purpose boot, the kind that can be used by anyone, no matter the terrain, skill level, or riding preference. Not a bad thing by any stretch, just something to consider.

The Burton Ruler BOA is best for all-mountain and freestyle boarders. It has a medium flex feel, but it’s very lightweight. Like Salomon, it has that double BOA lacing system. I wouldn’t go with these if you are a beginner, but if you are a more advanced beginner, it should be just fine. 

These are also a little bit wider than the average boot, so if you are like me and you have wide feet, this is a great option. It also fits pretty true to size.

As I said, Burton seems to come off as that sort of middle of the road all encompassing option so it has a good board feel, it’s pretty responsive and does an okay job with shock absorption but all of those things are basically middle of the road, to be expected so they aren’t anything to write home about but of course they aren’t bad. 

Pros:

• Kind of the standard, pretty big name among snowboarders
• Long-lasting and durable

Cons:

• Expensive, especially for being so generic

Where to Buy

Whether you are looking for Ride, Vans, K2, Burton, or Salomon, you can find a lot of options online. 

IF you are trying to buy your boots in person, wait until the times of year when they typically go on sale, like fall and April. I would still recommend trying boots on in a store to get a good feel before making a purchase online, though. 

IF you are buying online, there are a lot of good places to look, like Tactics Boardshop, REI, or Sun and Ski, or directly from the manufacturers. I prefer third-party places like Tactics because they specialize in snowboard equipment in particular, so you have a much better selection of boots at more affordable prices and year-round access to sales, unlike many of the manufacturers.

Summing Up

Remember that the best snowboard boot, whether it’s brand or model, is going to be the one that fits your needs and your feet, the type of boarding you do, and the type of foot you have. Be aware of things that you prefer, like shock absorption if you’re getting up there in years and you don’t want to come home with busted knees at the end of each trip, or wide boot designs to support a wider foot.

My top picks, though, are:

• Ride Insano (or any other Ride iteration from 2026)
• Vans Infuse Q
• K2 Thraxis
• Salomon Launch
• Burton