Most snowboard manufacturers make different boards, boots and bindings for men and women. As your choice of bindings can affect how secure and comfortable your boots fasten to your board, it is important to know which bindings will fit your boots. Although there are design differences between the two, most men's bindings can securely, if not comfortably, accommodate a woman's boot.
Size Differences
Both men's and women's snowboard bindings tend to come in sizes ranging from small to extra large, with approximate boot size equivalents to help you make a choice. For example, a large men's binding can accommodate a men's boot ranging from size 11 to 13. Although these boot-binding size combinations are appropriate for men, women using men's bindings need to adjust for their smaller boot sizes by subtracting 1 to 1.5 sizes from their boots. As such, a woman who wears size 9 boot should use a men's binding that fits men's boots between sizes 7.5 and 8.
Design
Although this rule of thumb can help you to find a binding that will securely hold your boot to the board, you may not find men's bindings as comfortable as women's. To accommodate their generally narrower feet and boots, women's bindings tend to fit more snugly at the sides than men's. An additional design difference is that of the highback, or the back portion of the binding that runs from your heel up to the bottom of your calf. As men's calves tend to sit higher than women's, the highbacks on men's bindings run higher than those on women's. As such, you may find that men's bindings dig into your calves, potentially making for an uncomfortable ride.
Snug Fit
Due to the wider fit and taller highback of men's bindings, you might feel the temptation to use bindings a size smaller than recommended. Although these smaller bindings might not dig into your calves and will provide a snugger fit, wearing bindings that are too small for your boots can be risky. Due to the amount of pressure that your boot places on a small binding, your bindings can become unbuckled and may break during a run, potentially leading you to fall and lose your board.
Fit Test
The best way to ensure that a men's binding fits your boots is to bring your boots to a fitting and, if possible, test your boots on a board with those bindings. If you are unable to bring your boots to a fitting, record the size, brand and make of your boots so that a professional can help you to determine which bindings will fit your boots. Do not buy any bindings without consulting an expert or performing a fit test, as binding sizes and fits change with brands, makes and manufacturing years.
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