Burton: Men's Driver X Snowboard Boots

Developed for advanced and expert freeriders, the ultra-responsive Burton Driver X remains the stiffest boot ever designed by Burton. But keep this in mind: stiffest does not equate with discomfort--unless you size everything wrong. The Driver X is all about power transmission between your leg muscles to your snowboard edges, and when you have an exceptionally supportive boot like this one, you're talking about near-instantaneous transmissions between your brain and your board without feeling like you're mired in a couple of Medieval-era toe vices (which we personally think are probably worse than those old iron thumb screws). The Driver X also has a new and exclusive Dual Axis Power Spine backstay that cranks the response while matching this technical with amazing medial and lateral support. A notable and important side effect from this Dual Axis Power Spine backstay is it reinforces the Driver X. Anyone who uses ultra-stiff performance boots knows that the firmness tends to decline after a hard season or three of use, depending on how much you ride in a year. This new backstay design will help the Driver X maintain uniform support longer than a lot of other performance boots out there. This season the Driver X has Burton's proven and popular Speed Zone Lacing, which Burton claims (possibly quite rightly so) is the fastest and easiest lacing system currently available to snowboarders. While most high-end boot closures allow you to adjust independently the upper and lower (zonal) tension, Burton's Speed Zone Lacing can be adjusted in seconds while waiting in lift lines or for your friends to catch up. The Driver X also features Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology, which means that whatever boot size you choose, Burton reduced the exterior boot sole area on your board to better fit your snowboard. If that sounds like a tight fit around your feet, it really isn't. Your feet fit the same size boot, but the exterior footprint fits snowboards better, so the boot is lighter and has less bulk; and if you want to ride a board that might drag the toe on your existing boots, Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology might give you the solution that you need. Best of all, Burton used new Eco-Smart recycled materials on the upper mesh and Vibram sole, so you reduce the carbon footprint no matter which boot size you choose.

• Burton "support" rating: 10 on a scale of 1 to 10
• The stiffest Burton boot made and a perfect freeride design for discerning expert snowboarders
• Made with Burton's Shrinkage Footprint reduction technology
• Neat and clean Speed Zone lacing system with molded handle for zonal lacing control and improved support where you need it
• Imprint 3 Liner with Power Panel and new Focus Cuff Heel Hold system with Velcro liner closure
• Vibram EcoStep rubber outsole made from recycled rubber--includes rubber ice spikes
• New dual zone cushioning system with B3 gel in the heel and EVA in the toe
• Firm flex Thin Profile 3D Molded Tongue
• New Dual Axix Power Spine Backstay
• Level 2 molded EVA footbed with ESS support shank and treated with an Aegis antimicrobial coating