About this review: This review is my honest opinion of the boots which I purchased with my own money in January of 2021.

My take

The Ride Sage Snowboard Boots are highly durable and comfortable boots with a mid-flex design. They are great for any beginner to advanced rider who is focused on long days of comfort.

About this gear

• Model: 2021 Ride Sage Snowboard Boots
• Size: 9
• Lacing type: Single Boa

About me

• Height: 5’7”
• Weight: 130 lbs
• Street shoe size: 8.5
• Foot shape: Regular to narrow
• Experience: 23 years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought these: January 2021
• Days tested: 80+ days
• Board: Never Summer Harpoon, Burton Feelgood, Pallas Epiphany Splitboard
• Bindings: Now Conda, Union Juliet, Union Explorer Split Bindings
• Where I’ve used it: Oregon, California, Utah, France
• Terrain: Powder, Ice, Groomers, Chop, Trees, Terrain Park, Backcountry touring.

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was on the hunt for a medium-flex boot that was responsive enough for holding high speeds and making quick turns in trees while still being playful off-kickers and on small jumps in the terrain park. I was looking for a boot that would be comfortable for long days in the backcountry as well.

Why I chose this gear

I did a lot of research and decided on these boots because of their mid-flex design and simplicity. I ride a lot of trees and steeps with a freestyle flair, so I personally wanted something flexible and forgiving to be my one quiver boot. I like that they have the quick-pull inner lacing as well, just in case of a BOA malfunction in the backcountry. I bought Burton boots first, but they squeezed my heel too much and were uncomfortable, so I sent them back.

What I love about them

• Size: These boots run true to size, or a little bit small. I went a half size up from my running shoe size and I don’t regret it. I have a slightly narrow foot, and they fit great.
• Comfort: I have spent so many hours in these boots, and they have been very kind to my feet. The soft liners provide great comfort for long days. I have never once had an issue at a resort with sore feet or blisters. Only after a 13-hour ski tour on Mt. Shasta rubbed my heels, which is seriously impressive to me for being snowboard boots.
• Warmth: I find these boots to be very plush inside and haven’t had issues with cold feet. I generally wear one layer of midweight Smartwool socks and feel great all day.
• Shock absorption: The shock absorption of these boots is quite good. They are very well cushioned, so they are comfortable when landing jumps or going over chop and chunder. I also generally use them with damp bindings.
• Grip (outsoles): I have had good success with the grip of these boots. I have hiked through dirt to get to snow, I have skinned on my splitboard, and I have spent countless days in resorts. These boots grip well in all conditions for the sole they have, and fit crampons very well if you want extra grip.
• Ease of use: These boots are very simple and easy to use. They have one quick-pull inner lace, and they have one BOA on the front of the boot. Both of these adjust very quickly and simply. I get in and out of these boots very fast.
• Durability: As previously stated, I have used these boots many days in almost every imaginable condition. They have held up remarkably well for their price point. After hiking through dirt for many miles, the edges started to wear a little bit as expected, but just riding in a resort, I think they’d last many years.
• Versatility: Being a mid-flex boot, they are very versatile. They hold up on steeps, quick turns in trees, jumps, fast groomers, and everything in between.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Heel hold: I have fairly narrow ankles, so if I have any issue with these boots, it is simply getting them tight enough around my heel, but after a few days, I got it dialed in.
• Responsiveness: Being that they are not overly stiff boots, they are not as responsive as some boots are. They do not have the double BOA, so it’s harder to adjust them to be tight in particular areas to get an extra responsive ride.
• Hot spots (points of pain caused by the boot): When spending long days in the backcountry, I have gotten a few blisters right below my ankle bone. I have never once had an issue at a resort in these, though.

Favorite moment with this gear

My absolute favorite moment in these boots combined a little bit of everything I love. We rode the summit lift to the top of Mt. Bachelor and did a long run of big turns down the backside. When we reached the bottom, we continued out of bounds instead of heading back towards the lift and had a cruisy run through trees for about another mile. We quickly changed over to skins and hiked our way up Kwolh Butte, which opened up untouched powder in every direction. We jumped into the caldera and did a few awesome runs before heading back to the resort. This is the perfect example of how versatile these boots are. They held up for a steep backside black diamond run, cruisy tree runs, skinning, and tail grabs into fresh powder.

Value for the money vs. other options

I would say these boots are comparable to the Salomon Ivy in specs and cost, but the comfort of the Ride Sage is unmatched. If foot pain and fatigue are a problem, there are definitely some slightly more expensive double boa designs out there that are more adjustable, but overall, I think the Ride Sage boots are a great bang for the buck in terms of comfort and durability.

Final verdict

The Ride Sage boots are a highly versatile, mid-flex boot that would be a great fit for just about anyone. They are playful yet support quick turns and high speeds when they need to. They are extremely comfortable and durable for all-mountain adventures, whether a quick spin at the local resort or a long ski tour in the backcountry.