Choosing the right length size is important. Shoe sizes fluctuate and change among manufacturers. So there really is no fixed standard. You might be an 8 and a half in one pair of snowboard boots and a 9 in another.

Snowboard boots do not only reveal their traditional boot sizes, but also show it the “mondo-print” size. Mondo is basically the length of your foot in either millimeters or centimeters.

The mondo-print shows the foot size that the boot is meant to fit. So if you have a 25cm foot (250mm) and you see a boot with the same mondo size cm or mm, you can sure that the boot will take your foot length. All worldwide boot manufacturers recognize the Mondo Point Scale and use it in sizing all footwear.

However, there are exceptions where the mondo-print would not be exactly spot on. But all in all, it offers a more effective means of ensuring that you get a boot size that fits. You can measure your foot at home with a measuring tape or use a Brannock device which you can find in most outdoor sports stores.

When you are hunting for snowboarding boots, you need to know your riding style.

Freestylers
A soft or medium-soft flex boot is usually recommended for freestyle riders. This type of rider is mainly concerned about the shock-absorbent qualities of his boots.
Freestyle riders more than other riders require plenty of shock absorption because they do plenty of tricks, landing jumps and require sharp movement for butters and presses.
Freestylers need to choose boots that come with plenty of cushioning to absorb ground shock. These boots must come with EVA padding and airbags or gels that can complement the cushioning. The softer flex for freestylers ranges anywhere from 1 or 2 out of 10 to a medium-soft flex if you do a lot of large jumps.

Freeriders
These types of riders require a stiffer-flexing boot. This translates to a flex ranking of 8, 9, or 10 out of 10. Even though shock absorption is important to the free-rider, traction is equally more important.
The free-rider also does plenty of hiking and needs boots that can grip any terrain. It is important to have to cushion that can take impact. However, too much cushioning can make boots almost impossible to walk in. A smart way to strike a balance is to use bindings with a sizeable amount of shock absorption and go for boots with a maximum amount of traction.
Freeriders want a maximum response and need boots that will work well in powder, tight spaces and down quick slopes. They want boots that can handle any challenging terrain they encounter while riding backcountry.

All Mountaineers
Flex-wise mountaineers use boots anywhere from medium-soft to medium-stiff. This basically ranges anywhere from 4 out of 10 to 7 out of 10. In terms of the cushioning, a lot of it depends on your preferences.

For example, it will depend on the terrain you prefer to use and how much time you spend in the park and freestyle as a whole as compared to how much time you use in the backcountry. All-mountaineers looking for fun should make a play for a softer flexing boot. However, those looking for a challenging and aggressive terrain should settle for a stiffer flex.
Ready for tricks on the mountain or you want to do park laps without the daunting terrain? Medium-soft is what works here. This would be a 4 or 5 out of a 10. Alternatively, if you are looking to maneuver mazy slopes and zip around trees and enter backcountry, a stiffer side of the medium will work for you. A flex of 6 and 7 out of 10 sounds about right.

There are three lacing systems. They include the traditional lacing system, speed lacing system and Boa lacing system. Your lacing system is pre-determined by your riding style among other inclinations.

Traditional Lacing System
Traditional lacing systems are for those who like to keep things simple and are looking to customize the lacing to their foot. You can adjust the fitting here like you are tying your shoe and use wax coated boot laces to avoid them getting undone.
So if you are good with tightening your boot by hand and know a handful of lacing styles, this would work well for you. A major drawback of this system is that they are difficult to knot with gloves on or with bare hands in cold conditions.
If you are not used to tying your laces the traditional way, it takes quite an effort to get the tension right. Customary laces might take time and effort to tighten and adjust for the newbie. But they still offer the most customizable options when compared to other options.
Knowing how to tie your laces by hand comes in handy if the other lacing systems disappoint. When these lacing systems end up being faulty and you have no idea about lacing up the traditional way, you will need to buy another pair of boots.

Speed Lacing Systems
Speed lacing systems are faster than traditional lacing systems. This system uses the zonal lacing system that allows you to tighten your lower leg area, independently of your ankle or forefoot area.
They are designed to provide you with customizable tension and allow you to fasten your laces with gloves on. Even though these boots are convenient because they work with multiple lacing zones and can be adjusted by the yank of a handle, the tension does not release quickly when it’s time to get out of the boots.
Alternatively, some riders complain that this quick-lacing option does not give them the tightness that they want. Moreover, the laces are far from being fool-proof and have a tendency of loosening when not securely locked into place. A broken or worn out lace could bring a premature end to your day on the slopes. If you have a pair of extra laces, it could take you an additional 30 minutes to get them fixed.

Boa Lacing System
This lacing system is the most expensive and works with an ultra-suitable twist and tighten cable reel that releases tension in a matter of seconds. This lacing system comes in handy when you want to take a quick break (like lunch) and get them on again. Boa dials are glove-friendly and allow you to wear boots in the freezing temperatures without any hassles.
It is a one-dial system meaning that you can fit a whole foot in using just one hand. The traditional and speed lacing systems, on the other hand, concentrate more on specific areas on the foot.
One of the shortcomings of the Boa lacing system is the uneven pressure it places on the boot because of its inability to space out tension to different areas of the foot. However, there are top-dollar Boa boots that sort this problem out with lacing zones and multiple reels.
All in all, the Boa lacing system scores the highest mark among the three, but it will cost you more than a pretty penny.

Protective Liners
A liner is the inner portion of a snowboard boot made from moldable, lightweight material known as Ethylene Vinyl Acetate or EVA for short. It is crucial that your boot not be without this crucial component because it provides stability, cushioning and insulation for your feet.
Basically, liners fall into three different categories: non-moldable, thermoformable and custom moldable. Non-moldable provides basic padding and stability for your feet. This might seem alright at the beginning but the persistent pressure of your body weight will eventually cause it to lose effectiveness. Thermoformable liners use the heat generated from your feet to craft a custom fit that can break in a day or two on mountain slopes.
Custom-moldable liners use artificial heat to generate a custom fit for your whole foot. This heat molding process is the ultimate custom fit for your feet. It gives you a better closure system and a harness that keeps the ankle firmly in place.

Shock absorbent insoles help whittle down impact on the muscles. They also distribute body weight evenly, making your boots highly responsive to movement. Moreover, they align with your feet, knees, hips, and ankles against overuse injury.

Arch fatigue, pains in the balls of your feet and an inability to maintain sustained pressure in your edges are issues that can be rectified with a well-supported foot-bed.

You might need to fork out some extra cash for customized padding and cushioning if you are an air-bound powder hound. You need all the protection that you can get so that you do not make a jump and feel it in your knees.

Even if you do not experience pain with insoles, it is imperative that you provide additional support underneath your entire foot and not just the bottom of the boot. A customized pair offers more support, better comfort, and optimum performance. It will undoubtedly make you a better rider as well.