Your snowboard boots are essential pieces of equipment. Without them, you cannot snowboard at all. Snowboard boots are getting more expensive, so when something happens to them, it’s understandable that you will want to fix them, so you don’t need to buy a new pair just yet.
To fix snowboard boots, you first need to work out what the problem is to determine if they are repairable or if you have to replace them. If they are fixable, you need to get the appropriate materials. For example, new laces, liners, other hardware, or glue. However, it may be best to buy new ones.
Being able to fix your snowboard boots can save you a lot of money or at least keep the riding for a few more weeks until you get around to buying some new ones. In this article, I will go through a few common problems and tell you how to fix them.
How To Fix Common Snowboard Boots Problems?
Encountering issues with your snowboard boots is fairly common, and fixing them can be easy, depending on the problem.
But before you try to repair your boots, it’s important to consider if the time and effort needed for the repair are worth it, as some issues may not be fixable.
If you manage to repair your boots, the repair may not be good enough to be secure and safe enough to ride with.
In these cases, buying new snowboard boots is best, as you will be confident that your boots won’t fail on the mountain.
To help you out, here are some common snowboard boot problems you may encounter, along with their corresponding solutions.
1. Worn Out Liners
The liners inside your snowboard boots are made from heavy-duty foam; over time, the liners can become compressed and lose shape.
This leads to discomfort, reduced performance, and reduced control. You will know your liners are worn out when you feel your feet are moving around inside them, and they feel less supported.
Fortunately, you don’t always have to replace your boots when this happens. In some cases, you can buy new snowboard boot liners from the manufacturer.
Your snowboard boot liners simply slot into your snowboard boots, so you can easily remove them and replace them with new ones.
However, if your snowboard boot liners are worn out, there’s a good chance other parts of your snowboard boots are in the same condition.
With this in mind, inspecting your snowboard boots for further damage is best to see if buying new ones is a much better option than just replacing the liners.
2. Broken Lacing System
Your snowboard boots lace up in various ways. Some use traditional laces, which are easy to replace if they break or become frayed.
In this case, all you need to do is re-lace them like a pair of regular shoes, although it can be tricky.
Broken Boa
Some snowboard boots use a boa system. These days, boa boots are generally reliable and unlikely to break easily. But if the cable system breaks, you can be completely stranded with unusable boots.
However, some boa-equipped snowboard boots have a backup system.
For example, Nidecker snowboard boots have loops hidden behind the tongue, so you can use a traditional lace until you get around to replacing the broken cable.
Another potential problem with a boa-lacing system is that the dial can pop out if you catch it on a rock.
If this happens with no damage, all you need to do is spool the cable back into the dial and press it firmly back into place, and you’re ready to go.
If the dial breaks, you will need to order a new one from the manufacturer and replace it.
Broken Speed Laces
You may have snowboard boots with a speed lacing system. These laces are unlikely to snap, but it can occasionally happen, especially when your boots are pretty old.
The good news is that you can buy new speed lace systems from the snowboard boot manufacturer. The bad news is that replacing them can be a real pain, but not impossible.
Broken Lace Loops
While we are talking about lacing systems, the laces have to pass through loops to tighten your boots up. Over time, these loops can become damaged, making your snowboard boots ill-fitting.
You may be able to repair them yourself in some cases, but you’re likely better off buying new snowboard boots for safety.
3. Soles And Other Parts Peeling Off
Your snowboard boots are constantly wet and under a lot of pressure. This kind of punishment means there’s a good chance that the panels or the soles will start peeling off.
This will begin to let water into your boots, making your feet wet, especially in slushy conditions. This is a good sign that you need to replace your snowboard boots.
But you may buy yourself some time by re-gluing the panels back on. To do this, you will need appropriate glue, such as urethane adhesive.
Urethane adhesive is flexible once dry, can withstand sub-zero temperatures, and maintain your snowboard boot’s waterproofing.
But before you apply the adhesive, you need to remove any traces of the old glue, or you will compromise the integrity of the new seal. You can do this with alcohol or acetone.
Acetone is probably the best solution, but be careful, as it may dissolve the other parts of your boot.
How to fix a peeled off sole?
To fix this issue, apply the adhesive sparingly on the inside of the sole or panel coming off your snowboard boot with a plastic glue spreader.
For the glue to do its job, you must ensure the glued surfaces are tightly secured until it cures.
An excellent way to do this is to wrap several rubber bands around the boot to hold the sole or panel in place.
Alternatively, tightly wrap it in duct tape, but be aware this can be pretty messy, as the tape will leave a sticky residue when removed.
Once you have glued your boot, you need to let the glue do its job by leaving it to set properly.
Don’t be tempted to rush out on the mountain before the glue has set or the repair won’t work. It is best to leave the glue for 24 hours to set.
4. Loose Or Damaged Hardware
Snowboard boots are a crucial part of your snowboarding gear. They can significantly impact your performance and comfort on the mountain.
To ensure the best experience, snowboard boot manufacturers employ different techniques to provide support and security, such as buckles and straps.
This is undoubtedly the case with a more modern step on type bindings.
Despite their sturdy construction, these pieces of hardware can get damaged over time, leading to difficulty in fine-tuning the fit of your boots.
This can be frustrating and lead to a bad day on the mountain.
If you’re lucky, you can replace these damaged parts with relative ease, such as replacing a broken buckle or strap, by finding replacement parts online or at your local snowboard shop.
Unfortunately, some damages may require more significant repairs, and sending the boots back to the manufacturer may be necessary.
Final Thoughts
Riding with damaged snowboard boots is not only unsafe, but it’s also incredibly uncomfortable, especially when you have wet feet.
Therefore it is best to address any issues with your snowboard boots sooner rather than later.
By doing this, you may get to ride them for a few months longer or finish your snowboard trip without needing to buy new ones.
If you feel you have less control or your feet move around inside your snowboard boots, I recommend buying new ones.
This is not just a severe safety issue; it affects your performance and fun.
If you replace old snowboard boots with brand-new ones, you will be surprised at how good they feel and how much control they provide.