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Burton Ion 2020-2021 Snowboard Boots Review

Why we chose the Burton Ion Snowboard Boots: The Ion is now iconically iridescent.

Over the years the Burton Ion has worked up a bit of a cult following, it’s a staple for aggressive chargers. A rite of passage for riders looking to up their game who need a boot with the chops to keep up.

The Ion is right up there as one of the stiffest boots in Burton’s line (second only to the Driver X), and as such it’s not an ideal boot for everybody. It relays movement far quicker than its softer counterparts, so if you’re a novice rider still having a few wobbles then the Ion is gonna chew you up and spit you out.

“A rite of passage for riders looking to up their game who need a boot with the chops to keep up”

With snowboard boots, it’s all about the fit. You can have the most expensive boot in the world, but if it doesn’t fit you properly then it just isn’t gonna work out. It’s a more costly endeavour, but Burton use 1:1 lasting in their boots, so every half size liner fits perfectly in the shell eliminating movement between the two layers.

While the Ion is seemingly all about charging, when you dig a little deeper, you’ll see that Burton put just as much onus on comfort as they do on powerful riding. The liner boots themselves are fully heat mouldable, with the premium Ultralon Performance Foam, so out the box comfort is set to increase as you wear them in. The Velcro strap at the top locks your shin into the boot, reducing rub and putting paid to painful shinbang.

Underfoot you get dual density EVA foam to cushion heavy landings and to let your foot sit naturally inside the boot. With the EST Outsole lowering your centre of gravity to give you more board feel.

Externally Burton use a Dual Zone BOA System, one for the top and one for the bottom, this allows you to fine tune the fit in each zone. While other brands use metal wires in their BOA’s, Burton have exclusive use of New England Ropes. Where the thin metal can slice into the boot or snap when they’re cranked down, the ropes are virtually indestructible and easier to rethread.

“Burton use their Sleeping Bag Reflective Foil and DryRide Heat Cycle Lining to wick sweat away from the skin and reflect heat back into the boot”

The Ion doesn’t just feel at home hooning down groomed pistes, the stiffer flex makes it a solid choice for forays into the backcountry. Whether that’s skinning up on your splitboard or hiking lines off the beaten track the durability of the Ion will stand up against the elements. The super robust toebox can kick into the snow step after step without splitting seams or wetting out. The internal gusset seals the boot keeping snow, ice, and water out of the bottom section.

In chemistry, Ions are good insulators, and the same rings true with these boots. Burton use their Sleeping Bag Reflective Foil and DryRide Heat Cycle Lining to wick sweat away from the skin and reflect heat back into the boot. In the end, it’s the little things that make the biggest difference, when you’re spending long hours on the hill, cold tootsies can really ruin what should have been perfect days. It’s this kind of attention to detail that keeps Burton on top year after year.

If you’ve suffered with toe drag you know just how annoying it can be, getting tripped up as soon as you try and rail a big turn is no one’s idea of fun. Burton offset the liner inside the shell to reduce the overall footprint, so you’re less likely to suffer if you’ve got big old flipper feet.

For 2020/21 Burton pulled out all the stops with the jazzy iridescent colourway. This Ion is now more iconic than ever, you’ll be catching eyes in every lift queue with these badboys.

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