What Snowboard Boots To Choose.

Wearing the correct snowboard boots means that your riding movements will be easy to do, your effort transferring well from your feet through to your board. Feet that get cold, wet and sore whilst out in the snow can easily ruin a day, possibly even a whole week's winter holiday. Boots that you should purchase are those that are most suited to the snowboarding style you think you will adopt.

Three varieties of snowboard boots are available: the hard boot, the soft boot and the hybrid boot. What typically changes the most is the exterior part of the boots, inner linings remain virtually the same between each boot type. Inner bladders are the liners found on the inside of all snowboard boot. These bladders cushion and support your feet. Sweat produced by your feet during snowboarding is efficiently wicked away, into the fabric, helping to maintain dry skin. The inner bladder usually has its own laces incorporated which function to tightly wrap the liner securely about your feet. This ensures no movements/ rubbing which could damage skin. Additionally it allows the wearer to adopt the tightness of fit to their desired comfort levels.

Hard snowboard boots, as the name implies, have a generally less flexible tough/ rigid outer layer(s) that seeks to promote improved control with relation to body movement and boot performance. These boots are typically only used on-piste in events like slalom and sometimes boardercross where small movements of the participants feet translate into greater edge performance/ board responsiveness than would be achieved in softer snow offpiste conditions. Snowboard boots such as these additionally support your ankle, foot and lower leg well, with the outer shell typically made from hard plastic. A small quantity of flexibility is usually supplied via hinges, many found on the ankle sections. As can be imagined, ski boots have had a large influence in hard snowboard boot design. Hard snowboard boots tend to have toe and heel clamps to secure the boot to the board.

At the other end of the snowboard boot spectrum are the soft boots. These are by far the most comfortable boots available, numerous forms in existance. Soft boots can be used in conjunction with binding highbacks for increased control on your heel edge. Flow-in bindings are available, where the boot (often very lightweight and slim) is secured by a large cushioned plate placed over the top, ratcheted down. Another type of soft boot allows the wearer to step in or out of the binding with relative ease, small but strong plastic gripping points existing about the arch (or other area) which the bindings click and grip on to when stepped on. A simple release mechanism lets go of the boot. Since the boots are soft they allow the wearers feet to move more naturally and in comfort, therefore are best suited to freestyle riding. Heavy landings on hardpack require the body to bend and absorb, something not entirely possible with harder boots. The majority of snowboarders choose this boot type, other daily movements like walking and even quick trips out in the car are possible with them on.

Hybrid snowboard boots contain elements from both the hard and soft boot technology to provide a characteristic sturdy hard sole and softer upper boot. A mix of flexibility and comfort as well as a good deal of control characteristic of hard boots is achieved.

When in shops trying on boots (by far the best way to asses fit) it is a good idea to take with you the footwear and leggings that you will be wearing on the slopes. This enables the correct sized boot to be fitted, lowering the chances of purchasing a boot that could be too small. Small boots can have painful problems such as making leggings pinch your skin or crunching up your toes which can be painful when landing tricks. Walk around the shop in the boots, run, jump, crouch, do all the moves you can imagine are required when snowboarding to see if they are comfortable and how much support is offered. Remember, tiny problems at this point may become a far larger problem on the ski slopes, or even worse the far backcountry. Finding a pair of similar boots in a ski resort is often difficult and can be pricey. If all these basic points are adhered to many days of snowboarding bliss await! Many boots today have various so called 'enhancements' like air cushions, gel/ heat moulding inner liners (can be very good, especially for unusual shaped feet). Try on as many boots as possibly to see how they fit. Ask people who have done the same, basically build up a good idea before you buy. Boots are the most important aspect of a boarders hardware, get them right and you'll be able to improve your riding in leaps and bounds.