Snowboarding boots needed?

size 13


161 wideboard


k2 bindings


all-mountain riding





what do you suggest?

Snowboarding boots needed?
You really need to go try stuff on yourself. With a board and bindings and some outerwear you can buy it and usually hope that they will work, but with boots you don't want to take a chance.





Generally speaking you'll want to get a boot that is a bit smaller than you'd usually wear. You want it to be a snug fit but not overly tight. A good tip when trying on boots is to make sure you wear the same socks that you would board with, not some ankle socks, etc.





Now I've heard DC is pretty good, but I have heard of the BOA systems snapping on some boots from people over-tightening them, but usually they're still under warranty.





I personally ride K2 T1's. I think they are some of the most inovative and well designed boots out there that still have a decent price tag. They have a BOA lacing system on the inner boot and the normal lacing on the outer layer. It makes it really nice because you can adjust the inner BOA very slightly, and you don't end up over-tightening like you would with DC boots. I would at least check them out.





When it comes down to it though, don't limit yourself by what brands you think are cool and which ones aren't when looking for boots. Work on finding the right boot that works well with your type of feet. I had a friend that got Burton Shawn White's that usually hates Burton but found it was one of the only boots that worked well with his big but narrow feet.





I would check out K2, just because I've had a good experience, but try on a bunch of different stuff.





Looks like thats all I can say since Andrea E wrote a damn novel in her answer.





Good luck!
Reply:Buying snowboard boots is a very personal thing what other people recommend may be entriely the wrong boot for you, as different makes of boots suit different people depending on the width and shape of there foot. Basically when buying boots you want them to be a tight but comfortable fit, your toes should brush against the end of your boot, and when you raise your heel the base of your boot should move with your foot. A good way to pick the best boots for you is to go down your local shop and try one brand of boot on one foot, and one on the other foot and keep eliminating the one you like the least, once you have tryed on all the boots the one left on your foot will be the right one for you. The best boots i have ever ridden are Northwave i find them really comfortable to ride and an overall good quality good value brand, but if your feet are on the wide side they probably wont be the best ones for you. Other brands worth checking out are DC, Thirty Two, Vans, Salomon, Good Luck.
Reply:boards and bindings dont really matter when picking boots. Be very picky about boots. though most people think your board is the most important piece of gear, its not. its actually your boots, followed by your bindings, then the board. For all-mountain riding Its best to get a boot thats a bit stiff, but not super stiff. 32 and DC make the best boots. 32 boots actually have heat molded liners in all boots that mold to your feet as you ride. Im not a big fan of boots with a boa system(cable system) but some people really love them. the best thing you can do is actually go out to a shop, and try on the boots, feel the fit, feel the stiffness. Boots are so important. Dont settle. Basically you want a mildly stiff boot, with the best possible fit.
Reply:the most important thing to look for in a boot is the fit and how much you think that fit is going to change. all boots pack in (packing in is when the foam around your foot compresses) and this makes the boot loosen up as you wear them. also just like shoes the outer materials and inserts that create the boot stiffness soften and softens the feel of the boot. usually it takes new boots about of week a more of solid riding before they are are worn in.





So to find a boot that you will enjoy riding for long term you want to buy a boot slightly smaller and slightly stiffer than what you want to end up with. Be carefull with this because some boots pack in more than others. You will have to make an educated guess with this but a good thing to look at is the amount of foam in the liner, what the boots is made out of and if there is extra padding or inserts to stop the boot from loosening up much. Also ask the person that is selling them to you. hopefully they will be able to assist. usually iif your toe is up against the end of the boot but not crunched up the size should be ok. if the boot is loose when you try it in the shop it will only get worse. Never buy new boots that feel loose!!





Here some stuff i have learnt just from experience and talking to other riders..... remember this is quite general and every model within a brand will differ.





Burton boots tend to pack in and wear in really quickly but also tend to fall apart quickly. they are however readily available and relatively cheap.





DC boots are really good quality and last for a long time (i had a pair that lasted well for 4 seasons) but they tend to quite heavy and expensive.





Northwave boots (which i use now) dont seem to pack in much at all and i have found they have kept they're stiffness really well. even after 1.5 seasons (140+ days riding) the stitching is fine and they are still quite stiff. the thing i found annoying about them is that the liner tends to rub on the top of the foot and i know a few guys who have bone spurs from them. hasnt been bad for me tho.





32 boots are solely a boot company so they know their stuff. the only model that i know has a problem is the 06 and 07 lashed (they may have made it better in the 08 model). i think they have a slight design fault and the lace rubs hard on an important line of stiching causing is the come undone. they are however really good at replacing them on warranty if you take them back.





ok thats enough from me. hope that helps some



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