Do I Need A Wide Snowboard?

Do I Need A Wide Snowboard?

AVOID GETTING YOUR FACE ROCKED: Our Tips For Eliminating Toe and Heel Drag

Width is an important factor when choosing a snowboard. Too wide of a board will lack responsiveness. Too narrow and you run the risk of toe and heel drag which can easily throw you on your face, especially if you enjoy steeper terrain or laying down a hard carve (looking at you dudes with boot sizes 11.5 and up!)

If you wear a size 11 or smaller snowboard boot, congrats you are in the clear. Feel free to skip the rest of this.

1.) Get a "WIDE" snowboard 

Typically, snowboard boot sizes 11.5 and up will need a "wide" specific model which will have a waist width of 260 mm or more. Check the chart to determine appropriate sizing for your boots. 


For many riders out there, finding a wide model can often be a frustrating operation. Luckily for our larger footed friends, Weston snowboards are amongst the widest on the market with the 167 Wide Backwoods coming in at a monster waist width of 28.1cm and accommodating up to a size 15 US Men's boot. 

If you're more of a freestyle rider or just prefer the feeling of a twin shape under you feet, you can still enjoy the nimble, playful ride of twin board without the fear of toe or heel drag. The Range is available up to a 164 Wide (waist width = 27cm). This directional twin has a 20mm set back to keep you afloat in the deep stuff while still maneuverable enough to ride switch. 

Even the non-wide specific models in our lineup fare more as mid-widths. 
Team favorite, The Logger, is a true twin designed to tackle all types of freestyle features. Available as a mid-width up to a size 158cm (waist-width 25.9cm) which will still have you covered up to an 11.5 US Men's boot. 

For those with a US Women's 9+ snowboard boot, our Ladies' board models are on the wider side of the spectrum as well. The 155 Riva measures at a 25cm waist width with the 152 Riva coming in at a 25.2cm. This accommodates for a wider range of riders who don't necessarily want to jump up a board size or wind up with something too stiff or clunky to turn. 


2.) Adjust snowboard binding stance width and angles

Play around with widening your stance and ducking your angles more than than 18 degrees. Boot sizes bigger than 13 should be rocking angles closer to 30 degrees.


3.) Purchase low profile boots

Not all boots are created equal. Some manufacturers and models have a larger profile on the board than others. Consider looking at a boots with outer sole lengths that run smaller or shorter which can allow you to ride a narrower board. Also, never a bad idea to get a professional boot fit and double check your size. In many cases, people are riding in boots that are too big if they haven't ever been properly measured. Newer boots also have much slimmer and sleeker designs than models of the past (RIP early 2000's moon boot phase). 


4.) Adjust the heel cup on your snowboard bindings

Many snowboarding bindings have heel cup adjustments that allow you to set the binding back towards the heel edge or move it closer to the toe. Make these minor tweaks so that your boot is properly centered over the footbed. 



 

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3 comments

I recently bought the Ridgeline 162 cm split. I wear a size 29/29.5 hardboot or 12/12.5 soft boot. Do I need the wide option or is the standard 26.2 cm waist width fine?

Dylan Weber

Hey Andrea.

What really matters is your shoesize and what for you wanna use it. But depending on what you just said, I would recomend something like 165 to 175 and widness about 27.5 and more

Greetings from Switzerland ;)

J

Good afternoon,

I am contacting you because i have some trouble to find the beard for my size.
I am 90km and 193 tall, this is the snowboard that i am looking for: 

length 170 or 174 or 177
Ultra wide 28
All mountain
Camber Zero
Twin 

I await your kind reply.

Greetings.

andrea

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