Thirtytwo Snowboard Boots F/W 2026/27 Preview

Retail Buyers Guide: Snowboard Boots F/W 2026/27 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Thirtytwo
Interviewee: Ryan Bachman, thirtytwo Sales Director, Brad Alband, Creative Director, Will Keegan, thirtytwo Boot and Bindings Designer/Merchandiser

OVERALL MARKET: Ryan Bachman, thirtytwo Sales Director

How would you describe the 2024/25 snowboard boot season in terms of market performance and consumer demand?
There are still a lot of new participants joining the snowboard culture, so entry level boots are still seeing great growth and sell-through, mostly through package deals. However, like the snowboard category, the mid-price tiered boots are still doing the best at retail. Most riders are looking for the most bang for their buck, which is where these mid-price tiered boots reside. The industry has also noticed that even some beginners buying their first pair of boots are looking past the entry level boots and are going into the mid-tier price range. This can mostly be attributed to the dual zonal Double BOA offering that every brand offers. The shop staff have been trained really well to upsell from a single BOA (entry level price) to a Double BOA (mid-to-high price tier). The lace options still have a place in the market for the core snowboarder, but BOA, and more specifically, Double BOA, are what’s reigning king on the boot shelves at all snowboard shops.

What major trends are currently shaping the snowboard boot market (pricing, consumer preferences, retail shifts)?
The major trends that are pushing the snowboard market are technology that consumers can see and feel, a smaller footprint boot and of course, Double BOA! Pricing is still an important aspect of the sales of snowboard boots, where the best-selling price-points are between $299 – $449. Brand marketing, hype and the team are also very important at the end of the day. Black boots are still performing the best at retail, but right behind that are pro-model boots/colorways and collaborations.

From changing consumer behavior to tariffs and supply chain stress, what’s been the biggest challenge for your brand recently?
Tariffs are a challenge for everyone. We have switched our boot factory that was in China, to a new factory in Vietnam, which is a solution. When changing factories, there always comes new challenges, specifically with pricing. We’ve been able to dodge some China Tariffs with the factory change, but the labor and manufacturing costs in Vietnam are significantly higher than in China. It’s a give and take these days, and you have to be smart and play the long game, not just focus on the here and now.

BRAND FOCUS – Brad Alband, Creative Director

What is your brand’s core mission or philosophy, and how does it influence snowboard boot development?
thirtytwo has always been rider-driven and this influences all our snowboard boot development. From a development standpoint, thirtytwo is getting new eyes on it with the team in Rolle, Switzerland. There are new standards being set that I think will raise the bar for the brand and set a new tone for what we are in the boot category.

How has your brand evolved in the snowboard boot category over the past few years?
Under NDK, we are focusing on quality over quantity. Our SKU count is down considerably, and we are challenging ourselves to be better across the board – fit, function, comfort and durability.

Who is your target rider for 26/27, and how has this profile shifted compared to recent seasons?
Going into 26/27, we feel we really speak to two main riders that we define with our new overall brand merchandising stories. The first is called Destroy; this is the street park focused rider. The second is Shred; this is the more all-mountain resort focused rider.

Which boot ranges or categories (freestyle, freeride, all-mountain, beginner) do you expect to drive the most growth in 26/27?
For us, the largest opportunity is in speaking more directly with the all-mountain rider. With the new TM-Two design and its iterations (XLT, etc), we feel we have a chance to win some new customers and bring back some older ones.

BOOTS SPECIFIC – Will Keegan, thirtytwo Boot and Bindings Designer/Merchandiser

Are you introducing any new or innovative materials (outer shell, reinforcement, cushioning, support, grip) in your 26/27 collection?
Thirtytwo is introducing several new materials and design features in the winter 26/27 boot collection. The brand is introducing FASE bindings optimized outsoles throughout the line. These new outsoles include a rounder heel and toe profile, undercut sidewalls and a rubber heel slider that extends upward for easier entry. The result is a toe that both easily slides into bindings and grips on the snow. The three new outsoles in the 2026/27 line include:
The Level 1 outsole on the STW and Shifty:
This outsole features chunky durable lugs and a classic skate sidewall
The Level 2 outsole on Lashed:
This new outsole features a refined tread pattern and modern skate cupsole look.
The Level 3 outsole on the TM2 / ZB-1:
The injected FASE integration has extra hiking traction in the heel and toe. Another new material story is the no sew construction on the TM2 and TM2 XLT. Every stitch in a boot is another hole and place for water to seep through. New for 26/27, thirtytwo will be introducing an upper with ultra technical TPU no sew construction. This new high-tech construction also features a 5D exoskeleton overlay which offers durability and flex while keeping feet dry.

What updates or innovations are you making to liner technology or liner programs?
Thirtytwo is updating its liner program to include three fits for the 26/27 season:

Comfort Liner:
- This soft flexing liner is a heat moldable, extra comfortable liner with a revised backstay fit, ankle pockets and micro fleece lining.
Team Liner:
- This medium flex dual density intuition heat moldable foam liner is a team favorite. It features massively improved heel hold with a new revised backstay cradle, ankle pockets and the heel hold system to tie it all together.
Performance Liner:
- The stiffest liner in the thirtytwo line features extra durable dual density intuition heat moldable foam that maximizes support and stiffness while providing perfect comfort. The new performance liner features massively improved heel hold with the new revised backstay cradle, ankle pockets and the heel hold kit to tie it all together.

What lacing systems will you emphasize in the 26/27 boot line, and why?
The 26/27 thirtytwo line will emphasize three lacing systems; Hybrid, BOA, and Traditional Lacing.
New Hybrid Lacing:
The new Hybrid Lace plus BOA system with H5 reel allows you to dial in the perfect fit on the fly. The innovative closure wraps the heel, providing internal and external tech all in one. There is an internal pressure dispersion panel that is secured to the tongue via hook and loop design. This design allows for some of the most supportive heel hold on the market while still being micro-adjustable without having to untie your boot.
BOA:
A large percentage of the snowboard market prefers BOA lacing for its precision, speed and ease of use. From the high end of the line down to entry level, thirtytwo will offer a range of BOA boots featuring the New H5 reels. These boots include the FOCUS BOA SWEETIN, TM2 XLT BOA, ZB-1, LASHED XLT DB, LASHED DB, STW DB and SHIFTY.
ThirtyTwo is truly rider-driven, and many of the team riders and core snowboarders want to ride in traditional laces. There is still an important part of the snowboard community that likes the fit and feel of traditional laces, and thirtytwo is glad to continue to offer it.

What are the dominant design directions for 26/27 — patterns, colors, materials, artist collaborations, or partnerships?
One important design direction for 2026/2027 is FASE Optimization throughout the line. While all boots work well with FASE bindings, thirtytwo is the first brand to introduce a FASE optimized boot to the market. thirtytwo FASE outsoles are revolutionizing the FASE experience. In addition to classic black and white colorways, thirtytwo’s boot collection includes some pops of color and pattern, including metallic silver, animal print, camo, denim, red, blue and green. thirtytwo 26/27 collaborations include:

Volcom: thirtytwo will be building on the successful Volcom collaboration to release a thirtytwo x Volcom Lashed DB.
Loosey: Austin “Vizz” Visintainer brought the brand together to collaborate with Loosey belts.
Public: It only makes sense for thirtytwo to collab with long-time team rider Joe Sexon’s Public brand on a boot. The black denim colorway of the thirtytwo x Public STW DB won’t disappoint!

What steps are you taking toward sustainability and ethical production in boots (materials, processes, lifecycle, packaging)?
thirtytwo continues to take steps towards more sustainable and ethical production. The brand has partnered with a new factory that holds high production standards and eliminated PFAS from its production. We also work to reduce waste wherever possible

Are you focusing on any particular customer segments (freeride, freestyle, women’s-specific, youth, entry-level) for 26/27?
thirtytwo is dedicated to providing boot options for all types and levels of snowboarding. Whether you’re riding freestyle, freeride, or all-mountain; starting your first season or pushing the limits in the park and streets, or splitboarding and summiting unridden peaks like Jeremy Jones, the ThirtyTwo line has the right boot for you.

Key Products:

TM2 XLT BOA:

TM2 XL TBOA_M_GREY_Hero

ZB-1:

ZEB ZB1BOA_M_BLACK_Hero

Lashed Hybrid:

LASHED HYBRID_M_BLACK_Hero