If there were two products I thought I’d never try again in my life, it was Burton boots and an easy-entry binding system.
I learned how to snowboard at Waterville Valley Resort, New Hampshire in the early 2000s. With that came K2 clickers. The boots featured inch-long knobs at either side of base. There was no highback. The legendary ice from the ice coast was lodged in the bindings, and all of this made my snowboarding experience miserable.
My first two pairs of boots were from Burton. Both were Motos. I bought the first pair used, and rode them into the ground. I bought the second pair in 2018. They were my first pair of new boots, and I liked them for a while, until I used them while splitboarding, and left every session with massive blisters.
In the name of product reviewing, I have abandoned both of those principals. I’m thankful I did. The Ruler defied every expectation I had.
MSRP: $349
You can buy the Ruler here.
Features
- The Step On system creates a clean and simple boot-to-binding interface that lets you step right in.
- Sequence BOA Fit System
- Sleeping Bag Reflective Foil
- Imprint 2 liners
- Heat-moldable foam cushioning
Context: I rode these with the Union Force StepOn bindings. I rode them on my Dinosaurs Will Die MaeTier and an unreleased WNDR Alpine board. I rode these boots during a powder day Loon Mountain in New Hampshire and a frigid day at Bromley in Vermont with temperatures in the single digits, and a slushy spring day at Sugar Mountain in Banner Elk, North Carolina.
What Burton says:
Step up to larger drops, burlier hits, and stronger skills with the men's Burton Ruler Step On Snowboard Boots. With a legacy for pushing personal skills to the pro level, the Ruler Step On pairs responsive performance with the convenience of Step On for boots that are equally nimble and powerful. The micro-adjustable fit just adds to the ease and on-the-fly experience.
What Snowboarder says:
I, like most of the snowboarding core, was pretty skeptical about StepOns. Personally, my biggest barrier was committing to a single boot brand for the rest of my life (or at least the life of my binding). Burton boots and I didn’t completely see eye-to-eye.
But when it was announced that Union had teamed up with Burton to create a StepOn binding of its own, I decided I needed to test them out. After days of searching through online inventory of Nitro and DC boots, I finally decided to brave the storm and give some Burtons a try.
Let’s start from the inside out. The Imprint 2 liner holds up splendidly. With other boots I’ve tried, I can feel the liners break down after just a few uses. These break in, but not down. They held just as firm as the did the day I broke them out of the box after several hard-charging days on the mountain.
I also wore the Ruler for several of the coldest days Vermont saw all season. The temperatures were in the teens at best and the single digits at first chair. Not once were my feet too cold, though I cannot say the same about the rest of my body.
Burton advertises the Ruler as a “happy medium” flex. There’s no true standard for boot flex (or board flex for that matter), so this can very from brand to brand. I can happily report that this is as medium as a flex as you can ask for.
The outsole doesn’t feature any fancy tech from Michelin, Continental, or Vibram, but I can happily report that there is plenty of traction here to hike up a terrain park, or traverse across an icy patch in the parking lot.
The most impressive thing about the Ruler – and all of Burton’s newer boots, in honesty, is the smaller footprint. I wear a size 12 boot, and typically use a wide snowboard. Sometimes, though, I like to use a regular width, in order to maintain speed. Bulkier boots with a big footprint can sometimes add heel or toe drag. That’s not usually an issue if you’re straight-lining it down the slopes all day, but if you’re trying to do any sort of carving, or switch directions quickly in the park, it can turn a great day into a frustrating one.
The other part I appreciated is the wide footbed. There’s nothing worse than having to jam your toes together at the end of your boot, and the Ruler avoids this.
Overall, the Ruler is a great option for someone looking to enter the world of StepOns, but not looking to drop the kind of money that comes with the high-end boots like the Photon or the Ion. Some shops have the boots on sale for $200, and that’s a fantastic opportunity to invest in this binding system.
Personally, I think I’ll be deferring to my StepOn setup in park situations, and use traditional strap bindings for stuff in steeper and bigger mountains. For these scenarios, a medium flex boot a BOA lacing system and minimal frills is ideal.
More must-reads: