Low profile snowboard boots can come in useful if you want to ride on a narrower board or reduce the amount of weight you are lugging around in the backcountry. You don’t always need big and bulky options to get outstanding performance.
I’m an avid snowboarder who has been on the slopes for most of my life. I’ve also been a certified snowboarding instructor for the last decade. I’ve used several low profile boots over the years and know what to look for in a high-quality option.
The Burton Swath BOA is my pick for the best low profile snowboarding boots. This option features a medium flex that will give you good all-around performance as well as a comfortable fit that every rider can appreciate.
I’ll show you several of the best options in this post so you can make an informed decision and get a set of low profile boots that work best for your individual needs or preferences.
Let’s step in and get started.
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Top Low Profile Snowboarding Boots
Here are my picks for the best low profile snowboarding boots. All of these will give you solid performance while being just a little bit smaller in size and profile than the average boot.
1. Burton Swath BOA
- Best for: Overall
- Key features: Low profile, articulating cuff, total comfort construction, Imprint 3 liner, GripLITE backstay
- Lacing: BOA
- Flex: Medium
- Cost: $$$
The Burton Swath BOA is my pick for the best overall low profile snowboarding boots. These are a solid pair that will work well for many different styles of riding and ability levels of riders.
They have a medium flex that gives them versatile performance in a range of conditions. They are forgiving enough to work for newcomers to the sport and have enough performance to work for more advanced riders.
You’ll also get a solid fit that will hold your foot in place without too much extra material in the way. A PowerUP tongue utilizes dual-density material to give you a little cushioning and bounce back.
The Imprint 3 Liner gives you a very secure fit that will form around the shape of your foot. You’ll have little break-in time and can expect to be riding effectively very quickly after taking these out of the box.
The Swath also comes with a DryRide Heat Cycle lining which helps keep your feet warm and dry when you ride. The BOA lacing system allows you to get a solid fit that won’t loosen up as you ride.
These aren’t the most minimal-designed low profile option, but I think they provide the best combination of a smaller build and performance.
==> You can also get it on Burton or Evo or Buckman’s.
2. Vans Hi-Standard
- Best for: Beginners
- Key features: Powercuff strap, tongue lock down system, V2 Ultracush liner, V2 boot harness
- Lacing: Traditional
- Flex: Medium-Soft
- Cost: $$
The Vans Hi-Standard (review) is an excellent low profile option for beginners. This is a boot that won’t be too big or bulky to get in your way when you are first learning how to ride.
They come with a medium-soft flex that is ideal for helping you learn the basics of the sport. The Hi-Standard is forgiving, so your feet won’t get tired or worn out. They still have enough stiffness to allow you to push your limits when you are ready to.
A Powercuff strap gives you extra support on the upper portion of the boots without adding too much bulk. This lets you get a secure fit, which you can pull as tight as you want. You can loosen this up if you don’t want a tight fit.
The Hi-Standard also has a V2 Ultracush liner that adds a lot of comfort and warmth. It has a layer of Merino wool built-in, which helps keep you warm while also eliminating odors. A V2 boot harness helps keep your heel in place as well.
Traditional laces help keep the weight down, and a Waffle Pro sole provides plenty of traction and grip when you are walking around the resort.
These might be too soft for intermediate riders or beginners who have learned the basics already.
==> You can also get it on Vans or Evo or Backcountry.
3. Burton Moto
- Best for: Freestyle
- Key features: Soft flex, lightweight, comfortable, Total Comfort Construction, Imprint 1 Liner, DynoLITE outsole
- Lacing: Speed Zone
- Flex: Soft
- Cost: $$
Park rats and freestyle fanatics will appreciate all that the Burton Moto (review) has to offer. This is another high-quality, low profile option that provides you with many performance and comfort characteristics.
Total Comfort Construction means that these boots will have a great fit right out of the box. This is designed by Burton to nearly eliminate the break-in period and is a pretty sweet design.
A soft flex is ideal for the park, and the Moto has a playful and forgiving feel that allows you to stomp big airs or hit a new feature with ease.
An Imprint 1 liner provides a ton of comfort that is heat-moldable for a customized fit. It also has a level 1 EVA footbed for additional comfort considerations.
Speed zone lacing helps reduce weight and gives you a solid fit that won’t loosen when you are charging through the park. A DynoLITE outsole gives you added cushioning and great grip while also being 1/5th lighter than the average outsole.
These might be too soft for any other type of riding other than freestyle.
==> You can also get it on Burton or Evo or Buckman’s.
4. Adidas Tactical
- Best for: All-mountain
- Key features: Versatile performance, natural fit, heat-moldable liner, inner ankle harness
- Lacing: Traditional
- Flex: Medium-Stiff
- Cost: $$$
The Adidas Tactical (review) is the best low profile boot for all-mountain riding. These boots will give you versatile performance to handle nearly all types of terrains and conditions on the mountain.
They have a medium-stiff flex which is ideal for all-mountain snowboarding. They are stiff enough to give you serious performance when you need it but still fun to play around in the park.
The Tactical also has a natural fit thanks to an articulated cuff design and a 3D molded tongue. They are easy to wear and very comfortable. An Ultralon heat-moldable foam liner helps increase comfort to another level.
Traditional laces help keep the weight down, and a lightweight footbed provides quality comfort without being too thick. They also have good traction, thanks to grippy soles.
These are on the larger side of what I would consider a low profile boot, so they aren’t the smallest option around.
==> You can also get it on Adidas or Saint Bernard.
5. ThirtyTwo TM-2 XLT
- Best for: Freeride
- Key features: Stiff flex, high-performance, 3D molded tongue, heel hold kit, heat-moldable liner
- Lacing: Traditional
- Flex: Stiff
- Cost: $$$
The ThirtyTwo TM-2 XLT is a great low profile snowboard boot for freeriding. It has a stiff flex which gives you outstanding performance in more challenging conditions.
These are a well-built pair of boots that will hold up well under the stress and demands of freeriding. They have a 3D molded tongue to give you excellent response throughout the entire length of the boot.
They also come with a heel hold kit that effectively keeps your heel in place when you are out there riding tough. A performance liner is heat-moldable for a customized fit to give you long-lasting, customized comfort.
Traditional lacing helps keep the boots low profile while still giving you a secure fit under demanding conditions. They also have a power strap for a little extra support up top.
These will be far too stiff for anyone but advanced riders.
==> You can also get it on ThirtyTwo or Evo or Backcountry.
Best Low Profile Snowboarding Boots: What to Look For
Here are some essential factors to keep in mind when looking for the best low profile snowboarding boots.
Flex
The flex of any snowboarding boot relates to its stiffness. So you’ll want to match the flex with any preferences you have as a rider or to the type of terrain and style of snowboarding you like to do the most.
Medium flex is a good all-around rating. This will work for all-mountain riders and is suitable for intermediate skill levels. A soft flex is good for beginners and freestyle riding. Finally, stiff flex is best for freeriding and snowboarders with advanced skills.
Lacing
Lacing is another thing to keep in mind when looking for a low profile boot. Lacing systems can add bulk to your boots, so you’ll want to keep it simple and just go with traditional lacing with a lighter weight in mind.
BOA lacing can often work with low profile boots as well. This adds a little bit of weight but not too much to get in your way on a narrower board. Just try to limit it to a single BOA adjustment instead of multiple.
Additional Features
You will probably want to keep additional features limited when looking for a low profile boot option. While features such as power straps, extra buckles, and thicker heals can come in handy, they all add bulk and weight.
Just try to get a basic boot instead of including all of the bells and whistles. It’s a tradeoff, but these low profile options still give you solid performance.
My Verdict
My choice for the best low profile snowboarding boots is the Burton Swath BOA. These boots will give you excellent performance in various conditions while still coming in at a lighter weight. They are also super comfortable.
All of the boots you see on this list come highly recommended as low profile options. If you want to have a lighter and slimmed-down boot without compromising any performance or comfort, you can’t beat the items mentioned here.
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