Like your shoes should be the perfect size to give you the maximum performance and comfort, your boot size is equally important to your snowboarding experience. If your snowboard boot is not the right fit, then not only will you have an uncomfortable time riding the slopes, but you can cause a foot injury to yourself. So you may be wondering what snowboard boot size do you need.
Before you begin your quest for the right fit of snowboard boots, you should know when it is the right time to replace your boots.
When Should You Get New Snowboard Boots?
Before you rush off to your nearest store, take a thorough look at your boots and examine them for the following signs:
- You have a different binding.
- You want to experiment with a new boarding style or to try new boots
- Your padding or liner is in tatters
- Your boots are damaged from the back and are showing signs of wear and tear
- Your feet’ size and shape have changed, making your previous boots uncomfortable.
- Your snowboard boots’ life expectancy has neared its end.
Typically your snowboard boots should last you a maximum of days of snowboarding, but that varies depending on your aftercare for them and how much you’re walking in them. So if you incur any of these signs, you may need to get a new pair of snowboard boots.
3 Key Tips on What Snowboard Size Should You Be Getting
Just referring to a shoe size guide is not enough to get the right pair of boots for snowboarding. You must look at the size of your foot, shape, boot flex, and lace preference. In short, your boot size is a precursor to deciding on the binding size that you chose and the relationship that is formed between your board, boots, and the binding.
So here are three key tips to get you started on what size of snowboard do you need.
Tip 1: Know the Size and Shape of Your Foot.
This is the first and the most important tip on what size of snowboard boot to go for. Generally, you would look at a size chart for your boots which is not a bad idea but, that is not the only thing to be looking at. Here are four things to look at when deciding on your foot size.
Check the Length of the Boot’s Inner Sole
A boot size chart will only give you figures after standard measurement of the foot length. However, it is helpful when looking at boots for people of different genders.
But, be warned that you should glance at the country of manufacture because boots vary based on American or European size models. The size models are given in Mondo for snowboard boots, measuring the inner sole in centimeters. So make sure you wear your snowboard boots to know the right size.
Width of Your Feet
The width of your feet is an important aspect which decides your boot’s shape; people come with all sort of feet, narrow or wider. So your snowboard size should be addressing this aspect as well. This also varies based on the brand you are shopping from since some specialize in making wider-fit snowboard boots.
Ankles
Your snowboard boot should be going past your ankle. We recommend getting a wide calf snowboard boot for a comfy fit around your ankles while keeping your feet safe and warm as you ride.
Determine Your Arch and Instep
Depending on whether you have a flat foot, high or low arch, the level of support given by the boot can be determined. Now, this may seem a little too much, but it can help make your feet feel comfortable. This can also be customized by inserts giving you a wider range of options.
If you are unaware of an instep, it is present on the top of your foot in front of your arch. Having a lower in-step can make some boots feel much loose and can cause you to lose your balance while snowboarding.
Tip 2: Choose a Boot Flex According to Your Riding Style
Now you may be wondering what boot flex has to do with the type of riding experience you want to have. You see, a boot flex determines your riding routine. So look for softer flexes if you are into freestyle riding or all-mountain riding. A soft flex will allow you to maneuver the snowboard easily, especially when you stomp on the landing.
Stiff flex is perfect for freeride style or snowboarders experienced with this sport and wish to test the limits.
Tip 3: Know your Lace Preference
A lacing system is really important to pick the size of a snowboard boot. Although laces may not rectify a boot’s wrong size, they can help keep your feet safe and secure. So there are three main styles of lacing systems:
Traditional
You can choose the degree of tightness in these laces, but it can be difficult if your hands are freezing even while wearing gloves.
Boa
This is one of the best lacing systems because it gives you an accurate fit while being easy to alter with cold or gloved hands.
Quick Pull
This lacing system will provide you with different laces for your ankles and calves. We’d recommend it for you if you have a loose fit around your ankles.
Our Final Thoughts
By now, you’d be having a rough idea of what snowboard size do you need. Unfortunately, it can become a little complex and muddling to remember all these aspects about a simple boot size. But prevention is better than an accident, so being careful at this stage can make your snowboarding experience more enjoyable.
