Snowboards are available in three different widths – regular, midwide and wide. The purpose of midwide and wide boards is to prevent too much toe overhang for riders with larger feet. There’s nothing fun about toe drag. A midwide snowboard, well, is just a hair wider in the waist than a regular board. Riders with a boot size of 10 – 11.5 should consider a midwide snowboard. With countless options on the market today, there’s no reason to sacrifice toe drag or a board that’s wider than necessary.
What is a Midwide Snowboard?
Midwide snowboards have a slightly wider waist width to accommodate riders with larger feet. They’re often a touch stiffer, too. There isn’t an industry standard in terms of sizing, so it can be a little confusing. Check with the manufacturer’s size chart to be sure your boots fit properly. Better yet, strap in at home before hitting the slopes to ensure a seamless match! More times than not, the snowboards will proportionally be wider as the length goes up.
Benefits of Midwide Snowboards
- Toe Drag Eliminated – More width in the middle of the board allows bigger feet to sit comfortably on the board. Carve has hard as you want without worrying about overhang.
- Perfectly Sized – Before midwide snowboards hit the market, riders with slightly larger feet than the norm were forced to suck up toe drag on a regular board or deal with extra board of a wide snowboard. Neither scenario is ideal. The midwide market is plenty large to justify. Riders with boot sizes of 10 – 11.5 can now choose from an array of perfectly sized boards.
Who Should Ride Midwide Snowboards
Riders with a boot size of 10 – 11.5 should consider a midwide snowboard. Keep in mind that the make of the boot, year of the boot and stance angles might affect whether or not a rider needs a midwide board. Older boots tend to be bulkier, which would definitely warrant a midwide board for sizes 10 – 11.5. Newer boots, especially boots from reputable brands like Burton, Thirty Two, K2 or Vans tend to be on the minimal side – meaning a size 10 or 10.5 could very well fit on a regular board.
