Editing Snowboard (section)

==Boots==
Snowboard boots are mostly considered soft boots, though alpine snowboarding uses a harder boot similar to a ski boot. A boot's primary function is to transfer the rider's energy into the board, protect the rider with support, and keep the rider's feet warm. A snowboarder shopping for boots is usually looking for a good fit, flex, and looks. Boots can have different features such as lacing styles, heat molding liners, and gel padding that the snowboarder also might be looking for. Tradeoffs include rigidity versus comfort, and built in forward lean, versus comfort.

There are three incompatible types:
* Standard (soft) boots fit "flow" and "strap" bindings and are by far the most common. No part of the boot specifically attaches to the board. Instead, the binding applies pressure in several places to achieve firm contact. Soft boots have a flexible outer boot and an inner bladder. The outer boot has a treaded sole. The inner bladder provides support and helps hold the heel of your foot in place.<ref name="Cobblehill Books">{{cite book|last1=photographs|first1=George Sullivan; illustrated with|title=Snowboarding: a complete guide for beginners|date=1997|publisher=Cobblehill Books|location=New York|isbn=0525652353|edition=1st|url=https://archive.org/details/snowboardingcomp00sull}}</ref>
* "Step in" boots have a metal clasp on the bottom to attach to "step in" bindings. The boot must match the binding.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://extremepedia.com/how-to-choose-snowboard-bindings/|title=HOW TO CHOOSE SNOWBOARD BINDINGS|website=Extremepedia|access-date=2018-02-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026052555/http://extremepedia.com/how-to-choose-snowboard-bindings/|archive-date=2017-10-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* Hard boots are used with special bindings. They are similar to skier's boots. Hard boots are heavier than soft boots, and also have an inner bladder.<ref name="Cobblehill Books"/>

[[File:ThirtyTwo snowboard boot.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Snowboard boot with two BOA lace tensioners]] There are 3 main lacing systems used in snowboarding boots: traditional laces, the BOA system (a thin metal cord that is tensioned by a ratcheting dial placed on the front or side of the boot), and the fast lock system (a thin cord that is pulled and slid into a locking hook). Boots may have a single lacing system, a single lacing system that tightens the foot and the leg separately, a single lacing system with some trick to pull down the front pad in the center as you tighten the boot, 2 combined lacing systems where one tightens the whole boot and the other tightens just the center (similar to the previous one) or 2 combined lacing systems where one tightens the lower part (your foot) and the other tightens the upper part (your leg).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://howtochooseasnowboard.info/boots.html|title=Snowboard BOOTS|website=how to choose a snowboard.info|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-01}}</ref>