Custom Boot Fitting & Heat Molding Snowboard Boots
Just like any new shoe, snowboard boots have a period where they feel slightly uncomfortable while they break in and mould to your foot shape. Heat moulding (or heat molding, if you have been reading American sites) starts that process before you even get on the mountain, so your first days riding are spent enjoying yourself rather than enduring your boots.
The short version
- What it does: warms the liner so it takes the shape of your foot immediately, instead of over your first week of riding.
- How long: about 10 minutes of heating, then you wear them until the liner cools. Allow 30 to 45 minutes in store.
- Cost: free with every boot purchase from us. $50 if you bought your boots elsewhere.
- Which boots: every boot we carry is heat mouldable. We especially recommend it for ThirtyTwo.
- Custom footbeds: we fit and supply Joey's Footbeds in store. Often a bigger comfort gain than the moulding itself.
- Is it essential: no. Boots break in on their own. It just makes the first week much better.
- Most worth it if: you have wide, narrow or awkward feet, sore feet by mid-afternoon, or a trip booked in the next few weeks.
- Booking: not needed. Walk in. Weekday mornings are quietest.
What is heat moulding and what does it actually do?
The liner is the soft inner boot that does most of the work holding your foot in place. Liners are made from foam that shapes itself to your foot with use, which is why boots feel better after a week than they do on day one.
Heat moulding brings that forward. We warm the liner so the foam becomes pliable, you put the boots on, and as the liner cools it sets around the actual shape of your foot, including your instep, your ankle and any bony spots that would otherwise have taken days of riding to settle.
It is not a fix for the wrong size boot. If a boot is genuinely too small or too big, moulding will not rescue it, and we will tell you that rather than mould it and send you off. Get the size and fit right first.
How does the heat moulding process work?
- We check the fit properly first, because moulding a boot that does not fit is pointless.
- The liners go on the heater for around 10 minutes, which makes the foam mouldable.
- The liners go back in the shells and you put the boots on, done up the way you would actually ride them.
- You spend time in them while the liner cools and sets to your foot. This is the part that matters, so do not rush it.
- If there is a specific pressure point, we can work on it while the liner is still warm.
All up, allow about 30 to 45 minutes in store. There is no appointment needed and no commission on our floor, so nobody is rushing you through it.
What does it cost?
Free with every boot purchase from us. If you bought your boots somewhere else, heat moulding is $50. That covers the fit check, the moulding and working out any pressure points while the liner is still warm. Just drop in, no appointment required.
Do you fit custom footbeds?
Yes, and this is the part most riders have never considered. We fit and supply custom footbeds from Joey's Footbeds at our Richmond store.
Here is why it matters. The footbed that comes in almost every snowboard boot is a thin, flat piece of foam. It is packaging, essentially. It gives your arch no real support, which means your foot is free to flatten and spread inside the boot as the day goes on. That is where a lot of the classic complaints come from: aching arches by mid-afternoon, foot cramp, toes going numb because you have cranked the boot tighter to compensate, and heel lift that no amount of BOA tightening seems to fix.
A custom footbed supports your arch properly, which holds your foot in the shape it is meant to be. The knock-on effects are the useful part: your heel sits back where it should, so you get better heel hold without over-tightening, and your foot stops working so hard just to stay stable.
A footbed is most worth it if:
- Your feet ache or cramp after half a day, even in boots that fit
- You get heel lift you cannot solve by tightening
- You have high arches, or very flat ones
- You have had to do your boots up painfully tight to feel locked in
- You ride a lot of days and want the setup properly dialled
Honestly, for a rider who is out more than a handful of days a season, a footbed is often a bigger comfort upgrade than moulding the liner, and the two work well together. Come into the Richmond store and we will look at your feet and your boots and tell you whether it is worth it for you. If it is not, we will say so.
Is heat moulding worth it?
| Heat moulded in store | Broken in on the mountain only | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to feel dialled in | Noticeably fewer days | Usually 5 to 7 full days of riding |
| First day comfort | Liner already shaped to your foot | Tight spots and pressure points likely |
| Pressure points | Can be targeted while the liner is warm | You ride through them and hope |
| Time needed upfront | About 30 to 45 minutes in store | None |
| Cost | Free with boots bought from us, $50 otherwise | Nothing |
If you only ride a week a year, that week is most of your season. Losing three days of it to boots that have not settled is a bad trade for 45 minutes in the shop.
Are all snowboard boots heat mouldable?
Most modern boots are, and every snowboard boot we carry is heat mouldable. Some liners respond more than others, and we particularly recommend moulding ThirtyTwo boots, whose liners take the shape of a foot very well.
You can see the full range in heat mouldable snowboard boots, or browse all snowboard boots.
How long do boots take to break in without moulding?
Usually 5 to 7 full days of riding. They will feel slightly uncomfortable at first, and that is normal rather than a sign the boots are wrong. What is not normal is numbness, sharp pain, or your heel lifting badly. If you get any of those, bring them in and we will look at them, because that is often a footbed or a fit problem rather than a break-in problem.
Boots also pack out over their life, meaning the liner compresses and the boot gets roomier. A boot that feels perfect in the shop and loose after two seasons has not failed, it has packed out, and it may be time for a new pair.
Frequently asked questions
What does heat moulding snowboard boots do?
It warms the boot liner so it softens and takes the shape of your foot straight away, instead of slowly shaping itself over your first week of riding. You get most of the break-in done before you reach the mountain, and pressure points can be worked out while the liner is still warm.
How much does it cost to heat mould snowboard boots?
It is free with every boot purchase from us. If you bought your boots elsewhere, heat moulding is $50 at our Richmond store. No appointment needed. That covers the fit check, the moulding itself and working out any pressure points while the liner is warm.
How long does heat moulding take?
The liners heat for about 10 minutes, then you wear the boots until the liner cools and sets. Allow around 30 to 45 minutes in store all up. No appointment needed, and weekday mornings are the quietest time to come in.
Are all snowboard boots heat mouldable?
Most modern boots are, and every snowboard boot we carry is heat mouldable. Some liners respond more than others. We particularly recommend moulding ThirtyTwo boots, which take the shape of your foot very well.
Do you fit custom footbeds for snowboard boots?
Yes. We fit and supply custom footbeds from Joey's Footbeds at our Richmond store. The stock footbed in most snowboard boots is thin flat foam with almost no support, so a custom footbed is one of the biggest comfort upgrades available. Come in and we will assess your feet.
Do you have to heat mould new snowboard boots?
No. Boots will break in and mould to your feet on their own just by riding them. Heat moulding shortens that process and makes the first few days far more comfortable. If you have narrow, wide or awkward feet, or a trip booked soon, it is well worth doing.
How long do snowboard boots take to break in?
Usually 5 to 7 full days of riding, the same as any new pair of shoes. They will feel slightly uncomfortable at first, which is normal and not a sign the boots are wrong. Heat moulding reduces the number of days it takes.
Come in and get it done
We fit and mould boots and fit custom footbeds in store seven days a week. Moulding is free with every boot purchase, $50 otherwise, no appointment needed. We will tell you honestly if a boot is not right for your foot rather than moulding it and hoping.
Twelve Board Store, 435A Bridge Road, Richmond VIC 3121. Call 03 9421 2293. Orders over $90 ship free Australia-wide.
Shop: Heat Mouldable Boots · All Snowboard Boots · ThirtyTwo Boots
Related guides: Snowboard Boot Buying & Fit Guide · Laces vs BOA · Adjusting Bindings for New Boots · Visit our Richmond store