7 Best Snowboard Boots of 2024

The Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles Lab has tested more than 180 different fitness products over the past year, including winter boots, hiking boots, all-weather running jackets, sports bras, yoga mats and hiking socks. Just this year, we tested slope-specific gear like ski goggles and ski gloves — and GH experts have been testing all types of outdoor gear for decades.

To select the best snowboard boots, our experts vet each pair for comfort, riding style, flex rating and lacing systems. Though we haven't tested these specific picks in the Lab, we considered top-performing brands, our personal favorites and popular styles with positive online consumer reviews.

Not only did we evaluate each pair on this list for design, materials and construction, but our analysts also met with brands firsthand and evaluated snowboard boots at this year's Outdoor Retailer Snow Show, North America's largest outdoor industry trade show.

Keep these tips in mind as you're picking out the right snowboard boots for you:

✔️ Try them on first: If you can invest in one piece of snowboarding equipment this season, snowboard boots should be at the very top of your list. Nothing can ruin your time on the slopes like a pair of boots that are ill-fitting or cause pain. "Finding the right pair of boots for you is as important, if not more, than any other part of your snowboard setup,” says Devon Gilbert, Gearhead at Backcountry. "If your feet aren't happy on the mountain, there's a high chance you won't be either." Most outdoor gear experts strongly urge shoppers to try on snowboard boots in person with the socks you plan on wearing before committing to a pair. "Boot fitting is complicated, and it is hard to recommend a boot without assessing a user's foot,” says Anthony Staples, snowboard category buyer for the Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington, Vermont. If you're able to make it into a shop, start by trying on a few pairs. "Boots will have a slightly different fit with each brand, so compare boots from multiple brands to find the best fit for your foot shape," Gilbert says.

✔️ Find a comfortable fit: Follow the steps below as you're trying on boots.

• A general rule is to go down half a size from your street shoe — but it can vary. You may need a full size smaller while someone else might need the same size.
• Once it's on your foot, the boot should feel comfortable, without any pain points, but don't be alarmed if it feels tight at first. "Your boots will progressively get looser over time as the padding packs out," Gilbert says. He recommends purchasing snowboard boots with a snug fit, which helps create control. "Once the liner and outer lacing system are firmly secured, the boot should feel snug around your whole foot, with your toes touching the end of the liner. Go up a half size if they are jammed and down a half size if they aren't touching at all.
• Make sure your heels are securely held inside the boot. They should not lift off the footbeds of the boot when moving around. You can test this by rocking back and forth from your heels to your toes." It's essential to find the right fit, as it can have a huge impact on your experience. "If your boots are too tight, you will reduce circulation, causing pain and very cold toes," says Joanne Bienskie, owner of women's outdoor brand Alpinistas and the Alpinistas Collective guide service. "You'll also want to ensure that your heel stays firmly on the bottom of your footbed, as too much play with your heel rising in the boot lessens the reactivity and power driving to your board when making turns. If there is too much room in the ankle area, you will not have great stability and support when riding," she suggests.
• Finally, ensure the boots you choose will fit the bindings you already own or those that you plan to get. "Consult the binding manufacturer's size chart to verify which range of boot sizes will fit in the various binding sizes," Gilbert says.

✔️ Get the right flex: The amount of flexibility you need in your snowboard boots is largely determined by your experience level and how you plan on using your snowboard. For the most part, beginners will opt for a softer boot, while intermediate to advanced riders will want a boot with medium to high stiffness. Most brands indicate a boot's level of flex on a 1–10 flex rating system, with 1 being the softest and 10 the stiffest. "This will vary across brands, since boot flexibility is mostly a subjective assessment, so keep in mind that a 5 in K2 boots may not feel the same as a 5 in Vans boots," Gilbert explains. When deciding whether you want a softer or stiffer boot, here's what you need to know: "Soft boots are comfortable, forgiving and offer a lot of maneuverability, which are great features for beginners learning to turn their snowboard. Medium boots offer a good balance of support for control at high speeds and all-day comfort for all types of terrain. Stiff boots are the least forgiving and ultra-responsive, with extra support for secure edge hold to ride the steepest, most challenging terrain," Gilbert says.

✔️ Don't overlook the lacing system: A great lacing system is key to securing your boots and easily adjusting them throughout the day. Here's a rundown from the experts:

• "If you opt for some of the newer lacing systems, such as BOA or Speed Zone, you'll have a greater ability to fine-tune the tightness of the boot fit," Bienskie says. "Plus, they help to lock the lace in place so that your boots do not loosen up over the day, while traditional laces can easily loosen up or come untied.”
• Though traditional laces are typically budget-friendly and easy to replace, BOA and speed laces are the easiest to work with. "Speed laces consist of two reinforced nylon cords with handles designed for easy adjustability throughout the day and a 'speedy' entry and exit," Gilbert says. "One lace is designated to tighten across the top of the foot and the other above the ankle. BOA is similar to a speed lace but utilizes a dial to easily adjust the tightness of the boot by rotating the dial clockwise, then popping the dial out to release the coiled tension. I've found these boots the easiest to adjust when wearing gloves or mittens, or even while riding."
• Also keep in mind that you can opt for single BOA boots, which feature one dial that uniformly tightens the entire foot or dual and triple BOA systems. "These will have independent customizability that focuses on securing different areas of the foot," Gilbert says. You can also choose to do a mix with a hybrid system, which "combines two or more of the lacing systems above to create a fine-tuned fit."
• Finally, Gilbert points out that the cords in speed lace and cables and dial-in BOA systems will likely last you a long time: "While they’re difficult to replace and will likely require a professional for repair, these components are very strong and unlikely to fail.”

✔️ Get the best grip: Consider rubber soles if you want added grip when carrying your snowboard over ice. "Not only do these add grip so you don't slip and fall in the parking lot, but they add longevity, and that adds value," Staples says.

When shopping for snowboard boots, you'll notice that they're often labeled as "all-mountain boots," "freestyle boots" or something else entirely. Our experts interviewed Devon Gilbert, Gearhead at Backcountry, to help explain which type of boot is right for you:

• "All-mountain boots are for riders who dabble in a little bit of everything and are generally medium-flexing to provide ample responsiveness while allowing for tweakability."
• "Park and freestyle boots are for the rider that spends most of their time in terrain parks. They are designed to allow a greater range of motion for buttering, pressing features and tweaking grabs. The softer the boot, the greater the tweak- and press-ability. If you're hitting larger features, a stiffer boot may be warranted."
• "Freeride and powder boots are typically stiff with high-performance features, allowing for responsive energy transfer and stability when charging steep runs, dropping cliffs and high-speed carving."
• "Splitboarding boots are becoming more popular as the technology advances. You don't need a splitboard-specific boot to partake, but they will come with features that improve the experience. Some of these features are a walk mode, aggressive tread for improved traction when hiking on variable snow, a zipper shroud to keep snow out and crampon compatibility."

For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert reviews and advice on the best equipment you can buy for your mountainside adventures, whether you're going skiing, snowboarding, camping or hiking.

Media & Tech Reviews Analyst Olivia Lipski, who covers everything from travel to outdoor gear to fitness to consumer electronics and more, recently attended the 2023 Outdoor Retailer Snow Show to meet with various brands and evaluate ski and snow equipment and accessories firsthand. Though she's not a snowboarder, she's an avid skier who knows that having the right pair of boots is paramount to a great day on the slopes.

To address the criteria consumers should consider when shopping for snowboard boots, Olivia interviewed professionals and experts in the field who live and breathe snow gear: Devon Gilbert, Gearhead at Backcountry; Joanne Bienskie, owner of women’s outdoor brand Alpinistas and the Alpinistas Collective guide service; and Anthony Staples, snowboard category buyer for Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington, Vermont.