Categorized as an all-mountain freestyle snowboard boot by Burton, the Ion is the stiffest and most supportive all-terrain design made by the company. It's also a favorite among pros who need the ATV-like versatility coupled the precision response. The Ion has Burton's proven and popular Speed Zone Lacing, which Burton claims (possibly quite rightly so) is the fastest and easiest lacing system currently available to snowboarders. While most high-end boot closures allow you to adjust independently the upper and lower (zonal) tension, Burton's Speed Zone Lacing can be adjusted in seconds while waiting in lift lines or for your friends to catch up. The Ion also offers Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology, which means that whatever boot size you choose, Burton reduced the exterior boot sole area on your board to better fit your snowboard. If that sounds like a tight fit around your feet, it really isn't. Your feet fit the same size boot, but the exterior footprint fits snowboards better, so the boot is lighter and has less bulk; and if you want to ride a board that might drag the toe on your existing boots, Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology might give you the solution that you need. This version of the Burton Ion also features a low profile EST Optimized midsole that is lower and lighter than previous Ion boots, and that brings you closer to your EST bindings (you can use other bindings with this boot) for a better connection and feel for the terrain beneath your snowboard. To keep it comfortable, the EST Optimized midsole also has B3 Gel inserts to minimize vibrations and improve overall comfort. If you insist on optimal response in any terrain and all snow conditions, the Burton Ion is a big step up from mainstream middle-of-the-mountain snowboard boots.

Developed for advanced and expert freeriders, the ultra-responsive Burton Driver X remains the stiffest boot ever designed by Burton. But keep this in mind: stiffest does not equate with discomfort--unless you size everything wrong. The Driver X is all about power transmission between your leg muscles to your snowboard edges, and when you have an exceptionally supportive boot like this one, you're talking about near-instantaneous transmissions between your brain and your board without feeling like you're mired in a couple of Medieval-era toe vices (which we personally think are probably worse than those old iron thumb screws). The Driver X also has a new and exclusive Dual Axis Power Spine backstay that cranks the response while matching this technical with amazing medial and lateral support. A notable and important side effect from this Dual Axis Power Spine backstay is it reinforces the Driver X. Anyone who uses ultra-stiff performance boots knows that the firmness tends to decline after a hard season or three of use, depending on how much you ride in a year. This new backstay design will help the Driver X maintain uniform support longer than a lot of other performance boots out there. This season the Driver X has Burton's proven and popular Speed Zone Lacing, which Burton claims (possibly quite rightly so) is the fastest and easiest lacing system currently available to snowboarders. While most high-end boot closures allow you to adjust independently the upper and lower (zonal) tension, Burton's Speed Zone Lacing can be adjusted in seconds while waiting in lift lines or for your friends to catch up. The Driver X also features Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology, which means that whatever boot size you choose, Burton reduced the exterior boot sole area on your board to better fit your snowboard. If that sounds like a tight fit around your feet, it really isn't. Your feet fit the same size boot, but the exterior footprint fits snowboards better, so the boot is lighter and has less bulk; and if you want to ride a board that might drag the toe on your existing boots, Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology might give you the solution that you need. Best of all, Burton used new Eco-Smart recycled materials on the upper mesh and Vibram sole, so you reduce the carbon footprint no matter which boot size you choose.

Utilized by more riders than any other, the Burton Men's Grail Snowboard Boots have easily been shown on more mag covers than any other. These boots are engineered to adapt and annihilate. Chuck full with all new attributes, this year's boot is all-new and entirely upgraded. They set in motion the standard of what's possible from an all-mountain boot. In Colorado, more riders rock the Men's Grail Snowboard Boots than any other boot on the planet. Simple, secure, and built to last forever these snowboard boots are all about keeping you out there till the lifts stop spinning. The clever lacing arrangement holds your feet into an outstanding heel hold within a completely improved inside. A slimmer profile reduces toe drag and bulk, while the upper lets you pull off frontside grabs in ways that will make pro riders impressed. Worried about the "Holy Crap" landing cutting off your reality? Your sole is saved with the most highly developed cushioning system ever designed. Riders Professional riders worldwide call upon this boot for leadership and clarity. And for riders in love with the vibrations of jacket-flapping speed, there is no substitute. Burton snowboard boots pair up well with Burton snowboards, and they'll definitely fit well with any piece of existing gear you already board with. Combining with other bindings from brands like Arbor won't be an issue.

Redesigned with new BOA Focus Closure coil refinements, the Cirro remains the class leader among all Vans freeride snowboard boots, but now you'll enjoy more performance over last year. This Cirro is stiffer than previous Vans incarnations, but that doesn't mean you'll endure an uncompromising vice-like grip while ripping down the mountain. The BOA Focus Closure System on the Cirro gives riders a zonal fit closure that allows you to tighten or loosen up the fit around your foot in three separate areas: upper, instep and forefoot. The Cirro is stiffer than most Vans boots but it still won't lock you into something that feels completely inflexible. It remains a smart choice among serious rail and ledge riders. The best features in last year's model remain intact, including the tongue guide system on the BOA Closure that fine-tunes the tightening throughout the instep and forefoot so you can set up the fit and not fiddle with it after every run (that's what happens with some competitor boots). The proven Quadfit Custom thermal liner conforms better to the individual contours of your feet and features interchangeable fit-bars that you can slip into the boot to customize the fit around your ankle and add more support. If you do backcountry or ride in sketchy snow conditions, the advanced frequency doubling radar technology in the RECCO Rescue Reflectors gives you the improved safety potential. Just above the sole is a blended cork/EVA footbed with anatomically-placed metatarsal and heel impact pads and dual density cushion for comfort going up and down the mountain. These footbeds also have an over molded support cage that can be customized to conform to the bottom of your feet.

To make a boot this light, most companies compromise durability and ride-ability in exchange for mere ounces. With the Men's Ozone Snowboard Boots Burton didn't think you should have to suffer. From the start, team riders Mason, Mikkel, and Downing demanded that the Men's Ozone Snowboard Boots be soft yet supportive, with a shorter footprint, tons of cushioning, and stupid-simple lacing. We gave them all that, then added an EST™ optimized midsole to bring you even closer to your bindings. They demand, we design, you benefit.

5 out of 5 on stiffness. That's why the Men's T1 tops the list for all-terrain performance among K2's snowboard boot collection--and it's also one of the reasons that this boot is one of our favorite picks this season. The other reasons center on comfort, adjustability and excellent value, especially when compared to other snowboarding boots at the same price. K2 balanced all that pro-level rigidity with comfort features like a Control Foam 3D Intuition liner made from high-density, thermo-forming Ultralon foam. This insulating material is flexible and durable, but what Ultralon does better than other competitor liners is resist packing out--that's the ever-expanding phenomena where repeated use stretches the sizing of your boot liners until nothing fits as well as it did when you wore the boots for the first time on the mountain. This season K2 optimized the heel hold systems in all their boots and the T1 snowboard boot offers the newest internal and external J bar configurations for full body reinforcement. The 3D formed tongue is made from similar materials, but has a micro articulated cuff. The liner uses the K2 Boa CONDA closure adjustment system that gives you near-infinite adjustment settings. On the outer shell you'll find a standard lace closure, giving you the freedom to cinch up the liner or the shell--or both at once when complete precision and power transmission matter most. Beneath everything you'll find a Vibram Super Light sole with K2's Harshmellow padding. Clever marketing names aside, this is a practical, shock-absorbing cushion in the heel and forefoot regions that helps soften hard landings without robbing you of the tactile feedback from the snow surface beneath your snowboard. If you're looking for great performance at a reasonable price, the K2 Men's T1 snowboard boot should be at the top of this season's shopping list.

For the record, we think these Burton Shaun White snowboarding boots are about at least a billion times better than the Shaun White snowboard video game, but that's probably because we spend more of our time on the mountain and less of it in the virtual world. This season Shaun White revised his Burton signature boot dramatically but stuck to the same weight-reduction emphasis that he applied to his previous snowboarding boot. Simply put, this new Shaun White fits more boards than ever before. That's because it features Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology, which means that whatever boot size you choose, Burton reduced the exterior boot sole area on your board to better fit your snowboard. If that sounds like a tight fit around your feet, it really isn't. Your feet fit the same size boot, but the exterior footprint fits snowboards better, so the boot is lighter and has less bulk; and if you want to ride a board that might drag the toe on your existing boots, Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology might give you the solution that you need. Another nice touch is the Hybrid Cushioning in the outsole. It dampens vibrations with pockets of Burton B3 gel and an air pocket in the heel, but Burton added extra PSI to the pocket, so you enjoy more cushion with better board feel. Like other seasons this Shaun White has a upper-middle Burton "support" ranking (because that's Shaun's style) but they did add great fit features like a new articulating cuff that creates a smooth forward flex. It also has a new Burton Level 2 molded EVA footbed with an ESS shank for comfort and support. Like other Shaun White boots, this model retains the traditional lace closure, although the new Speed Hooks make it easier to cinch things up when you're ready to drop the video game controller and get outside and ride.

Featuring science's greatest secrets mixed with a little Burton magic'the Burton Supreme™ Snowboard Boots for women give gold-medal prodigies like Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark the power to push the envelope of what's possible on a snowboard. Every single stitch and detail of the Supreme has been examined to combine slipper-like comfort with shit-kicking performance. Heat-ready with the NEW Therm-ic pre-wired liner'the Supreme truly is the hottest boot to hit snow.

Hailed by hardcore park riders who live and work to ride through the season, the Burton Hail snowboard boot packs a ton of features into a compact and surprisingly lightweight performance package. The Hail features Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology, which means that whatever boot size you choose, Burton reduced the exterior boot sole area on your board to better fit your snowboard. If that sounds like a tight fit around your feet, it really isn't. Your feet fit the same size boot, but the exterior footprint fits snowboards better, so the boot is lighter and has less bulk; and if you want to ride a board that might drag the toe on your existing boots, Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology might give you the solution that you need. This season Burton gave the Hail a new Park 2 Footbed that's optimized to create more comfort along the toes, heels and arches on your feet. That extra under-arch support and dual density cushioning is ideal for riders who launch and land throughout their day on the mountain. Another park-oriented enhancement is the clear window on the back of the boot. That's the Burton Flex Spine Backstay with Stay Puft Calf Capsule. It's a pocket of air that cushions your calf against the Hi-Back on your binding, so you can crank moves without feeling the pain (at least until you land wrong and crash). Up front you'll find a Soft Edge tongue with a progressive flex that feels better than conventional one-piece tongues in other snowboard boots. Whether you go big for the entire season or want one of the best combinations of performance features, comfort and park-oriented versatility, the Burton Hail is a smart (and even practical) pick with an excellent feature-to-value ratio.

The jeweled park counterpart to the all-mountain Emerald, Burton's Women's Sapphire features a smooth flex with a skate-like sole. The Thermic Heat Pre-Wired liner isn't new this season, but the feature does make this boot exceptionally popular among riders who don't want to chill their toes while chilling in the park or pipe. This season Burton will offer a slimmed-down Basix battery pack (sold separately) that lightens the load around your feet while warming the liner to as much as 104F--if you can stand cranking the boot thermostat that much. Burton expects a battery life of up to nine hours from a single charge. What Burton did add to the Sapphire this season is a new lightweight outsole with oversized 270-degree Airbag cushioning along the heel area. The cushion helps dampen vibrations so you enjoy more comfort with potentially better board feel. The Airbag is paired with a new Park 2 Molded footbed that consists of a three-layer design with ESS Support shank. The pairing is ideal for women who like to launch and land all day but don't like the jolts and shocks that sometimes linger under arches, heels and toes after a long day in the park. Burton also added a more even (and predictable) flex to the Sapphire with a new Flex Cuff heel hold system and a flex spine. Whether you go big for the entire season or want one of the best combinations of performance features, comfort and park-oriented versatility, the Burton Sapphire is a smart (and even practical) pick with an excellent feature-to-value ratio.

Utilized by more consumers than any other, the Thirtytwo Men's TM 2 Snowboard Boots have easily claimed more mag covers than any other. These foot soldiers are built to amend, obliterate. Layered with totally new features, this year's boot is all-new and totally upgraded. They create the standard of what's possible from an all-mountain boot. In Lake Tahoe, more snowboarders rock the Men's TM 2 Snowboard Boots than any other boot on the planet. Simple, comfortable, and built to last these snowboard boots are all about keeping you out there till the lifts call it quits. The intelligent lacing design secures you into a superior heel hold within a fully improved inside. A tapered profile eradicates toe drag and weight, while the upper lets you achieve mule kicks in ways that will make pro snowboarders envious. Nervous about the "Ohhh Nooo" landing cutting off your life? Your sole is saved with the most advanced cushioning system ever developed. Pro snowboarders from coast to coast call upon this boot for guidance and direction. And for riders in love with the sound of jacket-flapping speed, there is no substitute. Thirtytwo snowboard boots pair up well with Thirtytwo snowboards, and they'll certainly fit well with any piece of existing gear you already own. Mixing and matching with other bindings from brands like Vans won't be a problem.

Take a step in an environmentally-conscious direction this season with Salomon's Dialogue GIFT snowboard boots. This season Salomon refined their popular, easy-fitting Dialogue snowboard boots with their G.I.F.T. (Green Initiative For Tomorrow) program that uses 100% recycled goods in the construction without sacrificing boot performance. If you're keeping score on the Salomon Flex index chart, this season's Dialogue is just a little stiffer than previous incarnations, but it's still a great freestyle design for pipe, park and groomers. It features Salomon's proven Custom Fit Perf liner with heat moldable foam so you can customize the fit around the distinct shape of your forefoot, shin, heel and ankle areas. The result is a better foothold. Beneath your toes is a plush and eco-friendly pre-shaped bamboo footbed that's naturally comfortable. Outside the liner you'll find the proven Powerlace Pro closure system, which allows you to adjust the tension in two zones across your feet. It's easy to adjust and can be tightened with a quick and simple tug. Along the bottom you'll find a lightweight Dolby outsole made with Salomon's exclusive ADIPRENE soft compound to help you absorb landing impacts and remain balanced. If you're looking for a great-fitting and functional freestyle boot that's also better for the environment, Salomon's Dialogue GIFT is a step above traditional snowboard boot designs.