About Women's Snowboard Boots

About Women's Snowboard Boots
Photo Credit David J Spurdens/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Snowboarding refers to an extreme winter sport that takes place on both human-made and natural riding terrain. Men and women actively participate in snowboarding as a competitive sport, and snowboarding gear manufacturers produce equipment to accommodate the body shapes of male and female riders. Snowboarding boots refer to a vital component of your snowboarding setup.

Identification

The calf muscle for a women sits lower on the leg than the male calf muscle. According to the Snowboard.net Buying Guide, snowboarding boots for women have a lower cuff to compensate for the position of the calf muscles. The cuff refers to the part of the snowboard boot that covers your ankle bones.

Function

Snowboarding boots for women and men serve the same function. The snowboard boots enable your foot to stay fastened onto the top of the snowboard. The bindings of the snowboard keep your boots secured in place. The snowboard boots allow you carve forward and backward to maneuver down snow-covered riding terrain. Women's snowboarding boots also function as snowshoes. The inner lining of the snowboard boots helps keep your feet warm as you walk through deep snow.

Types

The types of women's snowboarding boots help to satisfy the needs of novice to expert riders. Boots for beginner snowboarders feature a lacing system similar to a conventional shoe. Entry level boots also have a flexible construction. According to the Snowboard.net Buying Guide, midlevel snowboard boots have a stiffer construction that offers increased board control. The expert level women's boot have a draw string lacing system that allows you to tighten your boots by pulling a single string.

Features

Snowboarding boots for women feature an inner boot known as the lining. Depending on the level of boot, the materials of the lining differ. According to REI, a common boot lining material called ethylene vinyl acetate has a similar feel to foam rubber. Entry level boot liners, referred to as nonmoldable liners, will mold to the shape of your foot after significant use. Top quality boots for women feature a moldable liner. These liners use your own body heat to conform around the shape of your foot.

Size

In the United States, snowboarding boots for women follow the conventional shoe sizing chart. Compared with boots for men, snowboard boots for women are sized differently. According to Brannock, a female snowboarding boot with a size of 10 would fit a male snowboarder with a size 9 foot. Women also tend to have a smaller and more slender foot than men. Snowboard boots for women feature a narrower fit than the men's models.

References

Article reviewed by Kirk Ericson Last updated on: Jun 14, 2011

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