.. are pretty much all boots compatible with all bindings?

This.

It's just that rental bindings can be pretty crap n uncomfortable (I still see rentals without toe caps) compared with "real" gear, but the boots will fit.

Have fun! And welcome to the addiction

 

Thank you for the warm welcome

And the rentals I used last time has toe caps, but in the case I rent from a place without them would they possibly damage the boots? Or would that only pertain to positioning/comfort of the strap?

And I can't wait to go boot shopping now!

Thank you

 

Nop, they wouldn't cause any damage. Many of us had to use then for many years cos toe caps weren't invented yet (with some things one wonders why it take "them" so long to come up with something so simple but yet soooo much better ), they're just uncomfy cus they squeeze the forefoot.

 

You're starting off on the right foot. (Pun intended!)>
Most NooBs,.. are sooo gung-ho to rush out and buy a shiny new board first they skimp or neglect the most important piece of gear. Good fitting boots!

Good fitting boots are the foundation for having a good time on the hill! You might want to check a few of the Boot Fitting threads here before making any decisions!

Once you've learned & got the basics down, you will be better equipped to make a decision on your first board purchase! (…it will probably be sooner than you think!)

In the meantime,.. Good luck and good shredding!

 

Thank you for your replies!

I'm happy to hear that it won't do any damage, so I feel a bit better about plopping down a bit more money than I was initially thinking.

And I've been reading a lot of the posts on this forum about boots and which types to go with, but am still lost in all of the options. It could easily make its own thread discussion, but if there are any bits of advice what to specifically look for in a boot (in the case of snarky salesmen just telling me that more expensive is always better) for how they should feel (tightness wise), or small tests I could do in the store with them on to get a slightly better sense about any possible future discomfort?

Also, I seem to have the impression that single boa isn't the way to go, so my main options should be lace, speed lace, or double boa? Or should I stay away from boa as a newbie?

Thank you all so much!

 

Also, I seem to have the impression that single boa isn't the way to go, so my main options should be lace, speed lace, or double boa? Or should I stay away from boa as a newbie?

Careful... if you'd order a double boa you'd still get a boot without separated upper/lower adjustment. 'Double boa' is used by K2 for their boots which do have two boas, but instead of upper/lower, there is one for the outer shell and one for the liner. No good system IMO.
Those which have upper/lower boot boas are called "dual boa" IIRC.

 

As a beginner I'd avoid boa if for nothing else but to keep the cost down. Typically it's a more expensive addition to the boot, and as you've read single boas can cause issues with tightening all sections of the boot rather than upper/lower adjustability.

If you're over 180lb or so, I'd suggest a medium flex boot as well, stay away from anything marketed as soft. You'll advance past the soft boot quickly, and if you're heavier they turn to mush fast. They provide less support and more risk of injury to your ankles etc. Anything rated medium or 4-6 is still forgiving enough to learn with but will stay with you when/if you decide to invest in your own board and bindings.

 

Okay, I may lean more now to lace/speed lace in that case.

Also, I'm 6'1 and 165 lbs. Would you still recommend the 4-6 range for me? Or maybe the upper or lower end of that scale?

Thank you!

 

Every companies scale will be slightly different, a 5 from one manufacturer won't be exactly the same stiffness as a 5 from another. If you go for 'medium' or 'moderate' you can't go wrong really, as long as it fits your foot well of course.

 

read the boot faq sticky

try on lots of boots, at least 25+ pair first

spare no expense...price doesn't matter...fit matters first, comfort will come when they break in

get quality aftermarket insoles that match your arch

then get the boot fitted and liners modded (repeat a few times)

then ride...they will likely be abit painful for a few days until they are molded to your foot

you will likely buy several pairs before finding the magical and happy slippers...yes they will cradle your tootsies like slippers

 

try on lots of boots, at least 25+ pair first

Or - if ur a girl - try the 3 models the local shop has and go with the least painful :laugh:

Fun aside, OP, Wrath mentions an important point. Try as many as you can. Find a good local shop where ppl actually DO snowboard and can answer your questions, make a reliable impression, and where they DO actually know and can heat mold.

 

Alright thank you for your replies everyone!

I'm going to hit up a store, possibly sometime this upcoming week, to try on a few boots. Maybe even buy a pair if the quality of the rentals will be horrendous. Can't wait to check it out!