Nidecker Rift APX Boot

Boots can be a tough endeavor, and a well-fitting, smooth-flexing boot is likely to lead to a good day and season. The alternative? We’re not going to go there. I’ve ridden and tested hundreds of boots since discovering snowboarding more years ago than I care to admit, but let’s just say my feet have seen some shit.

This boot right here, though, fits real nice straight out of the box. But let’s set the record straight. I’ve got what I’d consider the average foot. I say that because I can put most boots on and ride them without many issues. Of course, different boots perform differently, and we’ve all got our preferences, but overall I’m rocking two average-ass feet.

Flex- and performance-wise, Nidecker’s Rift APX boot is what I look for in a daily driver. That’s vague—we’ve never ridden together, so you have no idea how/what I ride—so I’ve created a little itinerary for ya:

Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Any slope in the world

Plan: Shred everything! Trench corduroy, side hits, SPEED, slow park laps, hit rails from the side, jump the jumps, hip the hips, hit rails from the bottom, find that one spot on the mountain for a 360-degree carve…

Looking for a bit of everything, I also look for a boot that can do the same—stiff enough when I need it for speedy carving but supple enough for approaching rails in the park. The Rift APX, with its articulated upper cuff and mid flex, is versatile enough to handle pretty much anything you can throw at it. And the best part? It’s comfortable. 

—Basher