Traditionally, snowboarders use soft boots. The current soft snowboard boot is made of leather or synthetic material that allows moderate stability yet is balanced by moderate flexibility. The advantages of soft boots are increased maneuvering ability and comfort. Some beginners wear moon boots or hiking boots, both of which lack stability and may lead to a higher injury rate. These types of boots should not be used for snowboarding.
Hard boots provide greater ankle support and increased control, and are primarily worn by racers.
The increasingly popular hybrid boots are relative newcomers to the snowboarding scene. This classification includes boots that are constructed with a soft leather or synthetic outer shell and a stiff inner boot. Another design is constructed with a hard shell base and a soft upper component. This combination balances the increased comfort and maneuvering ability of soft boots with the increased stability of hard boots. Since each boot style places the body under different stresses, knowing the type of boot worn is important in determining the risk of injury.