Expert Review: Burton Photon BOA Snowboard Boots · 2023
This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard boots, which I purchased with my own money in November of 2021.
All photos courtesy of Kelson Gillett
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard boots, which I purchased with my own money in November of 2021.
My take
The Burton Photon BOA Snowboard Boots are meant for all types of terrain from the steep and deep to the park. It’s a stiffer boot meant for intermediate to advanced riders.
About the boots I own
- Model: 2023 Burton Photon
- Size: US 11
- Lacing type: BOA
About me
- Weight: 165lbs
- Street shoe size: US 10
- Foot shape: Regular
- Experience: 15+ years of snowboarding
Test conditions
- When I bought these: November 2021
- Days tested: 20+
- Board: Arbor Shiloh
- Bindings: Arbor cypress
- Where I’ve used it: Northwestern resorts
- Terrain: All mountain from backcountry to park
How they perform
What I was looking for
I was on the hunt for some new boots because my old Burton Motos had fallen apart. I was looking for a do-it-all boot that was comfortable but still had the stiffness/responsiveness to match my riding style.
Why I chose these boots
I loved that these had the BOA lacing system. I tried them on and they were very comfortable. I also looked at the Moto BOA from Burton, but I decided to go with the Photon because it was a medium-to-stiff boot. I didn’t choose the Moto because it was too soft.
What I love about it
- Comfort: Easily the most comfortable boot I have ever owned. After a full day on the mountain, I didn’t have any soreness in my feet. With the total comfort construction they feel broken in from the start.I didn’t have to do anything but wear them to get them to mold to my feet.
- Warmth: Burton uses their Imprint™ 3 Liner and a sleeping bag reflective foil that holds plenty of heat. There were multiple below-zero-degree days that I had this past season, and my feet were always kept warm.
- Heel hold: I felt locked in at all times with the dual BOA system. This makes the boot very responsive and easier to make turns.
- Shock absorption: With these boots,** **I had no issues dropping from 15+ft cliffs.
- Responsiveness: These boots have a gripLITE backstay that snugs up between the boot and the high back for direct energy transfer—making them super responsive and easy to initiate turns.
- Grip: This boot uses a vibram outsole, which reduces vibration, but also has great traction when walking up ice.
- Ease of use: BOA lacing system makes this boot very easy to use. I just twist to tighten and open them when I need to loosen them.
- Durability: I used them on 20+ days this season and they show minimal wear. They still perform as good as the first use.
- Weight: They are very light weight in my opinion. When jumping, I don’t even notice they’re even there.
- Versatility: I used them in all terrain and I felt zero performance flaws.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Size: I found that they tend to run a little small, so I had to size up a full size. So for those who are a size nine, I recommend a 10.
Favorite moment with this gear
My favorite moment with this gear would have to be the day we had a huge storm roll through on our way down Magic Mountain. There were at least 10+ cars stuck off the road. So I just put my Burton Photon boots back on and helped these cars get unstuck. My feet stayed warm and comfy the entire time.
Value for the money vs. other options
Depending on one’s budget, or how often they ride, $420 for a pair of boots can either be a bit steep or a steal. I found that spending the extra money was worth it for me due to how often I was using these boots. Compared to the Ride Insano boot, which has the same BOA system for the same price, the Burton Photon is more durable.
Final verdict
I chose these boots because they fit all of my needs. They're medium-stiff boots that are very comfortable and equipped with the ease of the BOA lace system.
