How To Choose A Snowboard Setup

Finding a Snowboard Setup That's Right For You

Snowboarding is a lot of fun and finding a set up that fits you well is key.  What follows are some guidelines to help you make a sound decision in your choice of gear.  If you have the opportunity, stop by your local snowboard shop and talk to a friendly salesperson to get some advice, or call EXIT toll free at 1-877-585-3948 to talk to a fellow snowboarder about what’s right for you.

Boots (women's & mens)

When looking for a new set up, we suggest starting with boots.  No other piece of your equipment has more to do with your comfort, because other than boots, no other piece of your setup is actually touching your body.  Many people size their boots too big when first looking for a snowboard boot.  boot.  A boot should fit more snug than a shoe and offer good ankle support, but not allow the heel to lift easily, while still being comfortable.

A new boot will stretch up to half a size in the first 5-15 days it is ridden, so if you plan on riding every weekend or more, you should size the boot with your toes just barely brushing the front of the boot when it is fully laced while your knee is bent.  Size the boots with a little toe wiggle room if you plan to ride less than 15 days, or have problems with cold feet.

Here’s where the socks come in too. You want to try on the boots with the weight sock you will be riding in.  Snowboard socks come in different weights to fit different needs, but none of them should be made of cotton.  Snowboard socks, can be unisex, but also sometimes are designed more for a women and some more for men.

Once you know how a boot should fit, the next step is figuring out what kind of riding you are going to be doing most.  As a beginner, out a softer flexing boot will be easier to learn with but, after you have been riding for a while you can use your riding style to help you pick out a flex and feature list that will suit your needs.  A softer flex pattern and a good amount of cushioning will be better for freestyle riding, while a more supportive boot will handle the speed of freeriding better.  If you’re unsure, get something in the middle of the flex range.  Companies offer a wide variety of technologies like speed laces and heat moldable liners to increase comfort and convenience on the hill. Regardless of the technologies you choose, try on your boots before you plan to go riding, so you can exchange them if they don’t fit well.

*Note: If you happen to use custom orthodics in your shoes, it is a good idea to put them in your snowboard boots too. If you use the kind that go in place of the foot bed in most shoes call EXIT (1-877-585-3948) to make sure you get a boot with a removable foot bed.

Bindings (men's & women's)

Bindings come in a variety of flexes and padding options as well as different sizes (depending on the boot) and levels of adjustability. How well your boots and bindings fit together will have a large impact on your comfort and how your equipment performs. Follow the manufacturers’ guidelines for sizing, and in most cases boots and bindings of the same brand are designed around each other for a superior fit. Softer flexes are going to be better suited to beginners and freestyle riders, while a stiffer binding will be more supportive and responsive at higher speeds. The more adjustable the binding, the easier it is to customize the fit and improve the performance. If you have your board already, make sure your bindings come with a disc compatible with the insert pattern of your board, as hole patterns vary from model to model.

Boards (men's & women's)

Boards come in varying widths, lengths, shapes and flexes to accommodate riders of different sizes, styles and ability levels.  If you’re just starting out, a softer flex is going to be easier to learn on.  A stiffer board will be better for higher speeds and bigger riders.  Now, since you started with the boots and bindings, you can pick out a board that is the right width and that has a hole pattern that will fit your bindings.  Women’s boards typically have a waist width somewhere around 24 cm that will fit a women’s 6-9 size boot (see the explanation of women’s specific equipment lower down the page).  A normal width board is around 25 cm at the waist (the narrowest point in the board) and fits a mens 7 to 10 size boot, depending on the rider preference.  A mid-wide board has around a 26 cm waist and fits a mens 10-12 size boot.  A wide model, a board with a 26.5 waist or bigger will accommodate anything size 12 or bigger. Getting a board that is the right width keeps the proper amount of toe and heel overhang necessary to turn the board while still giving you enough clearance so your toes don’t drag in the snow and mess with your turn. From there look at where you fall in the weight range of the board. Many people tend to size a board based on length vs. height of the person, but weight actually plays a bigger role in what length board you should end up riding as well as the flex of that board.

Women’s Specific Equipment

Many women ask us if there is a difference in ladies specific equipment. The answer is a definitive, "yes."  Womens' feet and calves are very different than those of mens and that requires some different designs in the boots and bindings.  Since womens' calves sit lower on their legs, the boots and bindings are designed to help eliminate pressure points, as well as offering a size range better suited to women’s feet.  Women’s boards are designed with narrower waist widths and softer flex patterns to accommodate lighter riders with smaller feet.  All of this translates to a larger selection of products to fit womens' needs, allowing the opportunity to dial in a set up and get the most out of your experience on the mountain.