Snowboard Boots

It is impossible to experience the true pleasure of conquering snowy peaks, if snowboarding shoes cause a feeling of discomfort. Incorrectly selected shoes will make it difficult to perform complex pirouettes and can lead to injuries.

Footwear for a snowboarder is the most important component of equipment. The design of the shoes (all kinds of linings) is designed to provide an appropriate level of rigidity and a good projection of pressure on the board. Poor-quality shoes negate all the advantages of expensive boards, because they do not allow her to fully manage.

Shoes should have a small weight and a two-layer sole, where the first layer is hard, and the second is damping, necessary for smoothing shocks and vibrations arising in the process of rolling.

A big plus for shoes will be plastic reinforcements in the sole and heel. Thanks to this, the shoes will definitely sit in the mount and will not jump out during the ride, it will be longer in use (up to six months).

A good snowboard shoe is equipped with two boots: an outer one and an inner one.

The first ensures the safety of the foot, the second - the necessary level of comfort. If you are a professional rider, you should choose the inside of the polymer (molding). This type of boot is lighter in weight and has an increased level of rigidity. The inner liner of synthetic - soft and very comfortable, it is chosen by fans.

The best models of boots for a snowboard have an internal boot with thermoforming.

In order for the product to take the shape of your foot, you must:

• heat it in the oven for 7-10 minutes (or using a special dryer) at 90 ° C;
• Insert the inside of the boot, put on socks for riding, and then shoes.
• while the boot is hot, try to imitate movements that are familiar to snowboarding: attacks, squats;
• then you have to wait a couple of minutes until the boot cools down. Such thermoforming will make riding as comfortable as possible.

The variety of existing boots for snowboarding can be divided into two large groups: soft and hard. The first is somewhat reminiscent of casual shoes. They can walk on foot without experiencing great discomfort. Models of this type, with certain restrictions, but still can bend.

Hard shoes are needed for tight fixation of the legs, required on hard tracks and speedy descents. Like ski boots made of plastic and have a clip-clips.

Alternatively, the external shoe can be laced in the boa system, where instead of laces there are thin metal cables with a wheel, which are tightened with a special handle in the upper part of the shoe. Shoes of this type are used by professionals for carving on the prepared slopes.

In order to make skiing even more comfortable and safe, snowboarders resort to a procedure called boot-fitting.This technology makes it possible to change the shape of the boot (plastic part) and adjust the girth of the leg with the inner part. As a result, footwear anatomically duplicates the shape of the foot, protecting it while riding from excessive load and possible injuries.

The feeling of comfort during the ride and the ability to improve their sports performance depend on the degree of stiffness of the shoes.

For those who stand on the board confidently, suitable boots of medium hardness. They are intended for the development of any styles of riding on the tracks of any type. In them the rider will be very comfortable, and such shoes will last for many years. High rigidity of the boots will be relevant for those who love speed skating and has a quick response.

Soft shoes are ideal for beginners, as they allow you to control every movement, providing good maneuverability when performing various tricks. In boots of this type, the pressure on the snowboard does not occur immediately, so they are comfortable, and the board control is relatively safe.

Women's and men's shoes differ not only in everyday life, but also in such a sport as snowboarding. The main difference is not the design of the boot, but its height. The calf muscle in women is lower than in men, so female models have a special fit - a wide and low ankle, a lower degree of rigidity and are designed for a lighter weight of the owner.

As for snowboard boots for children, they are made soft, since the weight of the child is much less than that of an adult and the likelihood that the younger generation will immediately begin to perform dizzying stunts is minimal. In soft models it is easier to learn to ride, legs feel at ease, less tired, touchdown occurs more smoothly.

Children's snowboarding boots are universal, suitable for all styles of riding: freeride, freestyle, slalom. The goal of this shoe is to help a beginner snowboarder learn the basics of skiing. The main criterion that you need to pay attention to when buying children's shoes is the presence of an internal heat-forming shoe.

A significant advantage when buying children's shoes is that they can be taken "for growth", but not more than half a centimeter. If you take the stock more, then the leg will be poorly fixed, which can lead to injury.

When you face the question of how to choose shoes for the board, remember the basic rule - the legs in it should feel comfortable, regardless of the type of shoes and the material from which they are made.

Before you buy a board for snowboarding and attachment to it, you must buy shoes.

To understand whether this model is suitable for you, do a little testing: transfer the weight of your body to the toe. The leg inside the boot remains motionless - this indicates its good fixation, and, accordingly, that the shoe suits you. If the heel rises - this is not your option.

Before going to the store, do not forget to take with you socks that are as close as possible to the ones you plan to take on skating. If you try on a shoe and feel that your fingers run into a sock, this means that your shoes fit you perfectly.

With regard to the choice of material for shoes, modern synthetics is the most optimal, although it has a significant drawback - it is short-lived.

Leather shoes are also not the best option, as over time, their shape deforms, and the appearance is disappointing. The main disadvantage of leather shoes - it quickly absorbs moisture and by the end of the ride becomes very heavy.

To answer the question of novice snowboarders about how to correctly determine the desired boot size, it is not enough to rely on elementary parameters:

• leg comfortable, it does not numb;
• shoes are easy to put on and take off;
• nowhere is too tight.

Pay attention to how much shoes cost. A good couple can't be cheap. If you buy shoes in a sporting goods retail store, then finding the right option will be easy - by fitting. But when ordering via the Internet may have problems. To avoid them, you must measure the length of your foot with a ruler or centimeter and report this length to the seller. The insole length of the shoes must strictly comply with your individual parameters, the allowable range of variation is + - 0.5-1 according to the European standard.

To make sure that the shoes are not small in size, do the following procedure: insert your foot into the shoe (without internal one) and hold your thumb with your thumb, without bending it, into the toe. If the fifth and first fingers are removed in the sides of the shoe, such shoes are 100% small.

Despite the fact that each manufacturer sharpens the entire range of products under its own shoe, the main rules when buying:

• easy to put on;
• they should sit tight, not hanging out either in the toe or in the heel.

Before using the shoes, it is better to distribute the shoes so that the foot can get comfortable in unusual shoes. If your legs go numb, you should know that this size is small and your shoes need to be urgently changed, since not all models can stretch the inner boot, this privilege is available only for thermo-formed inner ones.

If you do not know how best to lace up snowboard boots, check out the existing systems, evaluate the pros and cons and choose the option that is most suitable for you.

There are 4 types of lacing:

• traditional;
• fast;
• cable;
• clips.

Let us dwell on each of these.

The advantages of traditional lacing are:

• good fixation of the leg;
• the ability to adjust the degree of tightening;
• quick replacement of laces as needed;
• price.

The main drawbacks of the system are: the length of the lacing and the difficulty of its implementation in the cold (it is uncomfortable in gloves, it is cold with bare hands).

• Fast lacing makes it easy to carry out the lacing of the boot using self-locking clips, even without removing gloves. The disadvantages include expensive repairs if the system is broken.

• the cable with the wheel allows you to quickly and simply lace up the shoe, even with one hand, but the fixation along the entire length will be uneven. In addition, this lacing system is not unreliable enough, it often breaks down (especially under heavy loads), and its repair will cost a pretty penny.

• Clips are a quick and very convenient lacing option, but it is suitable only for carving boards.

To snowboarding shoes pleased you for a long time, you need to properly care for them and store. After riding, remove the inner boots and dry-air them overnight. You can not dry your shoes on the battery and near other strong sources of heat. This procedure will adversely affect the interior, will lead to its deformation and, as a result, the boots will no longer be comfortable for you.

As for accessories for snowboard boots, the choice here is truly great. If we say that it is better to choose, shoelaces or cable, then there is no definite answer to this question. Every athlete and amateur chooses the option that is closer to him.Ordinary shoelaces are the most versatile option, since they can always be tied up if they tear, or they can buy new ones: they are in any store and are quite affordable.

Now a little about the insoles. For snowboard boots, they are of two types: anatomical and standard. Again, the choice for each is individual. The classical insole is made of an elastic material, and the anatomical completely duplicates the relief of the foot, supporting it well.

No less relevant accessory for shoes will be an electric dryer. It will allow you to gently but effectively dry your shoes in just a few hours. Thanks to the flow of warm air, moisture evaporates, without adversely affecting the properties of materials. A big plus will be the presence of ultraviolet equipment in the equipment, which will neutralize most of the microbes and remove odors.

A bag for snowboarding shoes is an essential accessory for any rider, since, in addition to shoes, it can also contain other elements of equipment (protection, helmet). Numerous pockets will be useful for all sorts of small things, and a shoulder strap that is adjustable in length will help free your hands.

Such bags are made of Cordun, impregnated with a layer of vinyl, which provides resistance to mechanical damage and wetting. The bottom is additionally reinforced and, if necessary, folded. Due to its compact size, the bag can be taken in the cabin or handed in the luggage.

In order not to burden yourself with numerous bags for this or that equipment, it is possible that it will be more convenient for you to get a case in which the board, shoes and other equipment fit.

When moving or traveling over long distances, the cover will be a winning option, since everything will be in one place, protected from mechanical damage. Covers, as a rule, have wide straps that are comfortable to wear on the shoulder or behind the back. You can choose the option on wheels.

The adidas company relatively recently appeared on the snowboard boot market and has already managed to become the universal favorite.

Instead of ethylene-vinyl acetate, foam is used as the base of the sole, which ensures better sensitivity and controllability of the board. In addition, the shoes are equipped with Recco technology (in case of avalanches), a double lacing system, an unusual insole of recycled coffee that protects feet from soaking, and warm waterproof material - merino wool.

The company selling sportswear and footwear nike has proven itself for many years. A characteristic feature of this manufacturer is the constant updating of production equipment, the inclusion of new technologies, stylish design solutions corresponding to the latest fashion trends among young people, as well as high quality products.

The brand black fire is widely known in the field of extreme sports, famous for its unsurpassed quality and the use of the most modern technologies. The company produces more than 10,000 models designed for a particular riding style and level of training. Among other brands, this manufacturer stands out because the shoes are equipped with increased protection against injury.

The company thirtytwo since its inception (1995) is a leader in the manufacture of snowboard boots. Each model is worked out in detail in a research institute that studies the functioning of the human leg during extreme sports. In the snowboard market, shoes of this brand are considered the most technologically advanced, lightweight, comfortable and safe.

The advantage of shoes brand Bone - versatility.Such boots will suit both beginner snowboarders and venerable athletes thanks to a modern and functional design, as well as a bright design. All new products are tested in the laboratory before being available on the market. Despite the high quality, the prices of this snowboard footwear are quite affordable.

Deeluxe is an Austrian company, established in 1996 as a subsidiary of the company Raichle to promote a series of soft snowboard boots. After 6 years, the company separated and began to independently produce a full range of snowboard equipment. Among its main achievements are the manufacture of the ThermoFlex’s internal boot, which allowed it to adapt to the shape of the foot in a short time and the invention of the TPS technology — changing the rigidity of the boot individually due to plastic rods.

Brand Forum is founded by the world's best riders: JP Walker, Joni Malmi, Cheryl Maas ... The brand’s boots are primarily for freestyle, although they can be used for backcountry and jibbing.

The Italian company Northwave started making snowboarding shoes almost 40 years ago. All products of this company, which has a somewhat aggressive design, have been carefully designed, fitted to the foot and tested by renowned athletes.

Brand Nitro when creating their shoes uses only high-quality materials, and this is due to their considerable cost. A huge model range, an insulator made of thermo-insulating material (provides the foot with warmth and comfort), a quick lacing system allow you to spend a whole day on a snowboard, which is exactly what every rider dreams of.

Reviews about manufacturers of snowboarding shoes are controversial. adidas and nike are unconditionally at the top of the rankings, followed by the deluxe, forum, northwave and nitro brands, which users like in terms of price-performance ratio and because their models are suitable both for beginners and professionals, which cannot be said about black fire and thirtytwo. Beginner riders are more or less satisfied with these shoes, but no advanced ones. None of the snowboarders recommends to buy shoes from the company bone because of their poor quality.

The range of snowboard boots is quite large. Their price depends on the level of preparation, the material from which they are made, the internal and external bells and whistles.