I鈥檝e had the same pair of snowboarding boots鈥攖he Ride Cadence鈥攆or ten years. I鈥檝e loved them for their soft, fleecy liner, their stiffness that gives me control of my turns, and mostly, because of the double BOA system that provides a seriously precise fit.

When I started snowboarding over 20 years ago, I found it impossible to tie my boots tight enough, even first thing in the morning. And throughout the day, the laces would loosen, requiring me to take off my mittens and retie them. I could never get them as snug as I wanted, especially over the top of my foot.

My Ride Cadence boots fixed all that with their double BOA lace systems, one tightening the boot around my foot, and one tightening around my ankle and lower leg.

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I鈥檝e always liked REI for its generous return policy and Co-op rewards. But honestly? It hasn鈥檛 always been my go-to for ski and snowboard gear. Other retailers that specialize in snow sports equipment tend to have more extensive selections, and sometimes, more competitive prices. Not this year.

After personally testing more than 100 skis last winter and editing every review in 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 and SKI鈥檚 2026 Winter Gear Guides, I can tell you that REI鈥檚 current lineup is stacked with our top-rated skis, snowboards, boots, and . The prices might not always be rock-bottom, but between member dividends and good customer service, it鈥檚 a retailer worth sticking with. Here鈥檚 my curated list of the best ski and snowboard gear available at REI this season.

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When putting together your snowboard kit, no piece of the puzzle is more critical than your boots. The best snowboard boots don鈥檛 just connect your body to your board; they鈥檙e also the key to on-hill comfort. The wrong boots can cause hot spots, blisters, heel lift, toe bang, or swamp foot鈥攁ll potential day-ruiners. The right boots, however, can make previously torturous bell-to-bell days no big deal. Not to mention, they can significantly improve your performance on the slopes.

To help point you toward the right pair, we tested 24 boots for the 2025/2026 season during our annual snowboard test, which went down this past spring at Kirkwood Mountain Resort (and beyond). We cross-referenced tester favorites from this year with top models from previous years before putting together this guide to the best snowboard boots. No matter if you鈥檙e an all-mountain freestyler or a hard-charging freerider, chances are you鈥檒l find a good fit for you below.

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We tested a lot of snowboard gear last season. Over 30 testers put 100-plus products through the ringer over the course of the winter, plus a four day test-a-thon at Sugar Bowl in epic conditions. The best of the best ended up in our snowboards and snowboard accessories coverage in our 2023 Winter Gear Guide. But there were a lot of very, very good products that didn鈥檛 quite make it into those reviews. Here, we present you the best of the rest.

Snowboards

Arbor Westmark Camber ($550)

A few members of the park crew joined our test squad last winter, and they wouldn鈥檛 take their eyes鈥搊r bindings鈥搊ff the Arbor Westmark. Designed with input from Quebecois street legend Frank April, the deck isn鈥檛 just easy to look at鈥攊t鈥檚 easy to rip, too. The twin shape sports a classic combo of trustworthy camber and a medium-flexing FSC-certified poplar and paulownia core, allowing intermediate riders to progress and advanced freestylers to throw tricks with confidence. A dramatically upturned nose and tail foster buttery presses, smooth fakie take-offs, and catch-free nollies. All told, the Westmark is a solid choice for riders who frequent the park, bring a freestyle approach to the entire resort, and may even dip into the streets.

Cabin Mountain Tools Northern Light ($699)

It鈥檚 hard to beat the surfy handling, reliable carving, and powder-gobbling buoyancy of Cabin Mountain Tools鈥� Northern Light splitboard at any price, but at $699, it鈥檚 damn near impossible. While the price is a bargain, Vermont鈥檚 Cabin doesn鈥檛 cut corners, but utilizes a direct-to-consumer business model, minimalistic graphics, and zero marketing BS. With a softer, rockered nose, tapering to a subtle, stiffer swallowtail, camber underfoot, and a progressive sidecut throughout, the Northern Light rails turns and floats through pow. It鈥檚 all sandwiched between a classy forest-green topsheet and a speedy sintered base for a well-executed iteration of 鈥渆verything you need, nothing you don鈥檛.鈥� Whether you鈥檙e looking for your first split or a replacement for a well-loved steed, you can鈥檛 go wrong with the Northern Light.

Chimera Sceptre ($835)

The flagship splitboard from Chimera, a boutique, Wasatch-based board builder, the Sceptre is a quiver-killing, do-it-all split that advanced riders will appreciate across all conditions. Thanks to a blunt, rockered nose, minimal moontail, and flat, torsionally stiff body, the deck can hang in everything from deep and dreamy to steep and spicy. A Tahoe tester and hardcore freerider appreciated that stiffness, which is provided by an aspen and poplar core and a triaxial glass job. He gave it the highest possible compliment: 鈥淚t rides just like a solid.鈥� For big mountain crushers and splitters who tour regardless of conditions, pass the Sceptre.

Looking for more splitboards and splitboard gear? Check out the winners of our annual splitboard test.

Lib Tech BRD ($630)

Lib Tech鈥檚 BRD is the instrument of choice for PNW powderhound , an improvisational virtuoso who bounces through pillow fields like a tuned-up, red-faced trumpet player navigating thumping bass lines and purring snare drums. (If you haven鈥檛 seen his new film, “Blur,” take a detour from gear hunting and enjoy the backcountry jazz 鈥搃t鈥檚 one of our favorite films of the year).

A plus-sized nose, stalwart tail, touch of taper, camber-dominant profile (with a mellow rocker zone between the feet), and Lib鈥檚 signature serrated edges give the board the chops in any conditions. But it really shines when freeriding fast. After slashing surfy windlips, snaking through a mogul field, tossing a three off a cat track, and straight-lining back to the chair, a breathless tester with an ear-to-ear grin reported, 鈥淚t鈥檚 the exact combo of fun and trustworthy that I鈥檓 looking for.鈥�

Jones Airheart 2.0 ($600)

A top choice amongst our contingent of all-terrain-slaying female testers, the Jones Airheart 2.0 is a directional twin that can ride switch, pop and spin with precision, all while still hanging off-piste. Switch skills come courtesy of a taper-free shape and classic camber underfoot, while a setback stance aids float in powder. A space-age Koroyd insert (made thermally molded co-polymer tubes) at the nose reduces weight and dampens chop. On groomers, crud, and powder alike, the three-dimensionally contoured nose and tail initiate turns with surfy fluidity. Powerful and confidence-inspiring, the Airheart 2.0 is a ticket all-mountain freestylers will happily take lap after lap.

Ride Shadowban ($500)

Ride鈥檚 new Shadowban is an all-mountain freestyle hog鈥揳nd we鈥檙e not just saying that because the Harley-worthy spray job looks like it鈥檚 still dripping wet. It鈥檚 a directional twin that slays the switch game, while being soft and poppy, which makes it a dream to press, butter, and jib. That said, it鈥檚 still built to take a beatdown, with impact plates under the inserts to reduce snapping, precisely rolled edges to reduce chipping, and urethane sidewalls to absorb bumps in the road. It鈥檚 a park-ready ripper, but thanks to the quadratic sidecut, it still banks into turns well鈥搈ore like a Moto Grand Prix race bike than an ape-hanger Harley.

Looking for more snowboards? Check out the winners of our annual snowboard test.

Snowboard Accessories

Aleck 006 ($130)

Designed to fit audio-compatible helmets, the Aleck 006 headphones sport intuitive, oversized controls, enabling riders to punch pause on the chair or hit play mid-run without slowing down or shedding gloves. The Aleck app was still a work in progress during our testing last spring, although the brand recently launched an update that鈥檚 currently available on the . While we haven鈥檛 had a chance to put it under the microscope, the app turns the headphones into walkie-talkies and even tracks friends via GPS, purportedly improving communication and chances of linking up on the slopes. That said, testers claimed audio quality was reason enough to rock the 006: the headphones deliver surprisingly primo sound through dual 40-millimeter titanium drivers, and audiophiles can adjust audio levels via the app鈥檚 built-in EQ controller.

K眉at Grip 6 ($498)

Forget stepping on seats and heel-hooking wheel wells to hoist boards onto the roof rack. K眉at鈥檚 Grip 6 is an innovative rack that multiple testers dubbed 鈥渞evolutionary鈥� thanks to its slide-out trays that make loading boards easier than getting on chairlifts. Sizeable handles facilitate breezy extension of the rack beyond the body of your vehicle, grippy rubber teeth lock boards in place without damaging topsheets and bases, and the rack easily accommodates four boards. Factor in an effortless locking mechanism and the striking white powdercoat and this rack is an all-time favorite that we鈥檒l be rocking for years to come. Our only complaint? On heavy powder days, the slide-out mechanism can ice up.

GearDryer Wall Mount 12 ($899)

GearDryer鈥檚 Wall Mount 12 boot dryer has enough room to dry the whole family鈥檚 kit: This shop-grade beast hits up to twelve boots, gloves, or helmets with 200 CFM of heated or ambient air. It runs off a standard outlet, mounts easily to wall studs, and can be programmed for overnight use or shorter, pre-shred intervals down to 15 minutes.

Not enough real estate? Check out GearDryer鈥檚 latest launch: the ($2000), capable of drying damn near the whole neighborhood鈥檚 boots at once. Need a smaller solution? Grab one or two of the portable ($199), which can dry one pair of boots, a pair of gloves, and a helmet.

Rocky Talkie ($110)

A durable, compact, and capable lithium-ion radio, the Rocky Talkie is a smart addition to any backcountry kit. It sports a one- to five-mile range, straightforward interface, decent battery life in freezing temps, backup leash (with carabiner), and minimalist build that makes it more attractive than bulkier options. All told, these radios give splitboarders and backcountry boarders a chance to communicate on out-of-earshot approaches and descents, encouraging intelligent and potentially life-saving decision-making in avalanche terrain.

Arva Calgary 18 Reactor Airbag ($610)

A highly adjustable avalanche airbag stitched from rugged, recycled polyester, the Arva Calgary 18 is well-suited for sidecountry hikes, mechanized backcountry days, and quick-hit tours. Arva kept bulk to a minimum, incorporating traditionally cumbersome airbag storage into a flat heat-moldable back panel. The result? A pack that鈥檚 slim enough for pedal-to-the-metal freeriding that accommodates more gear than expected at this size. Factor in an ice axe loop and dual carry options (A-frame for ski mode and vertical carry for snowboard) and this lightweight airbag is ready to crush the bootpack. Note: Arva鈥檚 Reactor airbags require a compressed air cylinder for deployment, sold (from $75).

Arva Reactor 15 Vest ($710)

The low-profile yet feature-rich Reactor 15 Vest Airbag is our snowboard test director鈥檚 go-to for sidecountry riding. With 15 liters of packable volume partitioned between six front pockets and three rear compartments (the biggest of which stows shovel and probe in designated slots), a variety of ice axe and gear loops, plus a vertical snowboard carry system, the vest encourages smart on-the-hill organization. His favorite aspects, however, were the overall fit and weight. 鈥淭he vest wraps around the body and adjusts easily. I can wear it on lifts without feeling like I鈥檓 going to fall off the chair, and throw tricks I might not try in a backpack,鈥� he says. 鈥淔or lift-accessed sidecountry, snowmobiling, cat-skiing, or heli days, this Arva vest is unbeatable.鈥�

Now Bindings Select Pro X Kowalchuk ($400)

A collaboration with OG skate and snow illustrator Mark Kowalchuk, this special edition of Now鈥檚 best-selling, mid-stiff Select Pro is a functional work of art. The snow-white canvas of the highbacks is festooned with a slime-oozing heart and skull鈥搖napologetic, heavy metal graphics for a binding built for heavy metal riding. Now鈥檚 proprietary SkateTech鈥揳 pivoting design that funnels energy from boots to bushings located at the board edges鈥損rovides stellar response and curtails ankle aches and foot exhaustion during bell-to-bell sessions. The hinging ankle and boot-locking toe straps balance comfort and performance, while the freestyle-friendly highback and canted foot pillow encourage tweaked grabs and gnarly cliff drops.

Salomon Echo Lace SJ BOA ($400)

Between a heel-wrapping BOA harness, good old-fashioned laces (a favorite of backcountry riders, since they鈥檙e fixable in the field), and a Velcro power strap across the cuff, Salomon鈥檚 new, all-mountain Echo Lace SJ BOA boot gives riders everything they need to fine-tune their boots and hit the gas. A rugged, lugged outsole provides in-bound hikers, sidecountry explorers, and backcountry bootpackers secure purchase on slippery scrambles. And unlike many boots that require a lengthy break-in, one tester reported that the mid-stiff Echo was immediately comfortable and ready to rip out of the box.

Looking for more boots, bindings, and accessories? Check out the top-rated essentials from our annual snowboard test.

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Lots of听snowboard boots are ugly and utilitarian.听($420) from the style geniuses at Danner and Burton is not. The look听is classic听Danner, with a mix of leather and听100-denier听Cordura听on the upper. The performance is all Burton,听with rubber ice spikes built into the sole for extra traction ultra-grippy and a reflective foil lining to keep your feet warm on the coldest days.听

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Rawlings鈥攜eah, the听maker of听baseball gloves鈥攑artnered with Ride听to make these听leather snowboard boots ($350). Not only do they look good, they also come packed with slick features like a comfy听Intuition liner and Boa lacing system.

听

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Vans Infuse Snowboard Boots

BEST DURABILITY AND SUPPORT

The key to the 鈥檚 secure feel is a three-part closure system that includes traditional laces, a BOA dial, and a removable power strap up top. It was easily the most supportive boot we tested. The only downside: a sturdy leather boot like this takes longer to break in.

Nike Zoom ITES Snowboard Boots

BEST CUSTOMIZATION

By swapping out boomerang-shaped stiffeners in the liner, riders can adjust flex. Which means the can ride the pipe in the morning (our freestyle testers loved these boots), then stiffen up for steeps in the afternoon. Bonus: a space-blanket-like liner in the insole reflects your foot鈥檚 heat.

Rome Libertine PureFlex Snowboard Boots

BEST FAST-AND-TIGHT LACING

Of all of the lacing systems we tried, Rome鈥檚 , which tightens four separate zones with one lace pull, earned the highest praise from testers. It simply never came loose. Board feel and shock absorption on the all-mountain Libertine were also superb. Our one (major) gripe: the locking mechanism that cinches down the laces is so grippy it frays them.

Ride Triad Snowboard Boots

BEST ALL-DAY COMFORT

Traditional lacing still has its perks: you can snug 鈥檈m in the upper and lower, independently, to your liking. The 鈥檚 medium flex was ideal for groomers and pipe walls, but this wouldn鈥檛 be our first choice for challenging, choppy terrain. Prefer Boa? Upgrade to freestyler Seb Toutant鈥檚 signature model ($220).

ThirtyTwo JP Walker Light Snowboard Boots

BEST FREESTYLE

The softest-flexing boot we tested earned high marks in the park and on naturally jibby terrain. The articulating cuff made for easy grabs and responsive board feel, improving balance on rails. At 1.7 pounds, the featherweight 听 felt great on our feet and in the air but a bit outmatched in the steeps and deeps.

Burton Ion Snowboard Boots

BEST SOLE TRACTION

This gets a new snow-tire-inspired outsole through a design collaboration with Pirelli. Testers reported no-slip grip on icy boot-packs and rinklike parking lots and touted the perfect mid-to-stiff flex and out-of-box comfort. But Burton, we鈥檙e curious: why are the laces so absurdly long?

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Never Summer SL Splitboard

A poplar, aspen, and carbon core makes Never Summer鈥檚 7.8-pound among the lightest of the dozen splits we tested. But the board was still damping enough to suck up 25-foot cornice drops in the B.C. backcountry and stiff enough to power through a blissful 18-inch April dump in Colorado鈥檚 San Juans.

AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH: Can’t afford a new splitboard setup with all the necessary backcountry fixings? A company called MTN Approach offers four-pound collapsible approach skis that, when you’re ready to board down, fold up into the size of a hardcover book and slide into your pack. They’re sold in a package with skins, shovel, probe, and poles for $950.

K2 Speed Link Poles

Collapsible (and therefore packable) poles are mandatory for the backcountry. K2’s four-piece Speed Links weigh just one pound and shrink from four feet to just one and a half.

Voile Climbing Skins

There鈥檚 nothing fancy about ; they鈥檙e just incredibly reliable, with steel tip loops that never break, water-resistant nylon bases that climb extremely well, and incredibly adhesive reusable glue. Make them extra secure with a set of Black Diamond split clips.

Black Diamond Equipment Split Clips

Unlike most ski skins, splitboard skins don鈥檛 come with tail clips鈥攆ine, until snow creeps under the unattached tail, saturating the glue and causing the skins to fall off your board. Avoid that problem with these , which can be affixed to any climbing skins on the market.

Karakoram SL Splitboard Bindings

Backcountry boarders owe Karakoram a debt of gratitude for its . They鈥檙e the first to feature a latch on the riser so the free heel can be locked down鈥攍ike an AT binding鈥攁llowing boarders to skate, pole, or ski across low-angle terrain.

Patagonia PowSlayer Bibs

Bibs are better than pants in the backcountry, where the fundamental mission of every trip is to find powder higher than your waistline. Enter Patagonia鈥檚 鈥攍ightweight, three-layer Gore-Tex bibs with coverage to your nipples and gaiters around the ankles to keep snow out.

Deeluxe Spark XV Boots

Deeluxe鈥檚 44-ounce snowboarding boot functions like a mountaineering-snowboarding hybrid. The features a Vibram lug sole that鈥檚 stiff enough to take crampons, a toe bumper burly enough to kick steps into the hardpack of couloirs, and heat-moldable linings that are soft enough to ride in.

Mammut Ride R.A.S. Pack

Mammut鈥檚 air-bag-compatible includes a four-pocket design with homes for all your traditional snow-safety gear鈥攕hovel, probe, first-aid kit. And at 30 liters, it still has room for extra layers, lunch, and a camera.

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Ride Sash Boa Coiler Snowboard Boots

鈥淟ike riding in slippers with support,鈥� one tester said. The is extra comfy thanks to the women-specific calf, soft flex, and low weight (it was noticeably lighter than other test boots). All of that adds up to a stellar park boot鈥攐r your go-to for backcountry tours. Nubby tread gripped ice patches, but you might want something stiffer when descending serious steeps.

Vans Ferra Snowboard Boots

The main reason we loved the : the triple-lacing system (Boa, traditional laces, and an internal fastener) kept us locked in all day. The low-profile, skate-shoe look scored compliments from onlookers, while the supportive insole nabbed thumbs-ups from high-arched testers. Bummer: the sole was too slick for hike-to terrain.

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Salomon F4.0 Snowboard Boots

A single lace draws tight three independent panels that wrap the foot, eliminating pressure points and creating a uniform, moderately stiff flex. The only downside: micro-adjustments are difficult to make. Great for big-footed riders, as the integrated liner and shell reduce the profile of the boot, diminishing overhang on your board.

TAGS: LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW-PROFILE

DC Gizmo Snowboard Boots

The softest boot we tested, the Gizmo is geared toward all-mountain riding. A Boa closure keeps your forefoot nice and snug, while traditional lacing up top allows you to ride loose or cinched down. Bonus: a slimmer profile means they pair well with many binding designs.

TAGS: BOA, MIDRANGE FLEX

Flow HyLite Snowboard Boots

The freestyle-focused HyLite offers the best of both worlds in fit and flex. Dual Boa systems control foot and ankle tautness independently, so you can customize stiffness, while an articulating cuff allows the boot to flex with you. Our crew happily reported that this combo resulted in noticeably better board control.

TAGS: DUAL BOAS, COMFORT

Ride Hi-Phy Boa Coiler Snowboard Boots

By building the Hi-Phy’s injection-molded foam frame in one piece (compared with some two dozen pieces in traditional boots), Ride reduced the seams, glue, and thus overall weight of this all-mountain freestyle boot. Testers praised its midrange flex for freeride but found it a bit stiff for tricks.

TAGS: STIFF, SOLID ANKLE SUPPORT

Vans Cirro x POW Snowboard Boots

Vans collaborated with pro-sustainability nonprofit Protect Our Winters to revamp this top-of-the-line men’s boot with recycled materials, cork footbeds, and nontoxic, water-based solvents. Sustainability aside, the Cirro earned high marks for out-of-the-box comfort, ankle support, and micro-adjustability (the Boa Focus dial lets you customize three different closure zones).

TAGS: ECO, CUSTOMIZED FIT

Burton Rampant Snowboard Boots

To keep the freestyle Rampant ultralight and maintain long-term pop and rebound, Burton built thin carbon inserts into the lateral side of the uppers. Testers liked the resulting high level of support and spring. A consistent but cushy flex (second in softness to the Gizmos) and the traditional lacing system were also well-received.

TAGS: FREESTYLE, SMALL BOOTPRINT

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