Examined and reviewed by Maya.
Howdy and welcome to my Vans Encore Professional snowboard boot evaluation.
On this evaluation I’ll check out the Encore Professional as all-mountain-freestyle snowboard boots.
As per custom right here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I’ll give the Encore Professional a rating out of 100 (primarily based on a number of elements) and see how they examine with different ladies’s all-mountain-freestyle boots.
General Ranking
Boots: Vans Encore Professional
Value: $310 (USD really helpful retail)
Fashion: All-Mountain-Freestyle
Flex Ranking: Medium (5-6/10)
Flex Really feel: Medium (5/10)
Ranking Rating: 90.8/100
In comparison with different Ladies’s All-Mountain-Freestyle Boots
Of the 15 present mannequin ladies’s all-mountain-freestyle snowboard boots that we examined:
❄️ The Encore Professionalranked 1st out of 15
Overview of the Encore Professional’s Specs
Take a look at the tables for the Encore Professional’s specs and obtainable sizes.
Specs
Who're the Encore Professional Most Suited to?
The Encore Professional are finest suited to anybody searching for a medium flexing boot and wish high quality boots that do not have any weak areas.
They're good on sluggish tight turns,carves,and have each good shock absorption and good board really feel. Best for all-mountain-freestyle I'd say. However would make nice park boots too, should you had been predominantly within the park. And only for normal all-mountain. In all probability not best for laborious charging, except you're a lighter particular person-by which case you might in all probability cost in these simply wonderful.
Not fairly for newbies,however should you're a much bigger particular person or fairly sturdy, then you might get away with these as newbie boots.
Finest match to boards within the 3/10 to six/10 flex vary and even higher for 4/10 to five/10 flexing boards.
The Encore Professional in Extra Element
O.ok. let’s take a extra detailed take a look at what the Encore Professional are able to.
Demo Information
Boots: Vans Encore Professional 2024
Dimension: 8.5 (US Ladies's sizing)
Date:February 23,2024
Circumstances
Combination of solar and cloud. With some foggy areas larger up the mountain.
70-80% visibility larger up and 100% visibility decrease mountain.
Temp: Morning 21°F (-6°C). Afternoon 28°F (-2°C). Mid-mountain.
24 hour snow: 1/2" (1cm)
48 hour snow: 1/2" (1cm)
7 day snow: 5" (12cm)
On groomer: Hardpack with some icy patches larger up. Predominantly slushy with laborious patches on decrease mountain.
Off groomer: Arduous however doable up larger and fairly messy down decrease with a combination of slushy and crunchy damaged ice areas.
Setup
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Board Demoed With: Trip Saturday
Bindings Demoed With: Trip DVA
Rider Peak: 5'7" (170cm)
Rider Weight: 125lbs (56kg)
Rider Boot Dimension: Ladies's US8.0 (Trip Hera Management Boot)
Outersole Size: 28.1cm (mondo 25cm)
Distinction between Mondo & Outersole: 3.1cm
Backstay Peak: 13.0" (33.1cm)
Ahead Lean: 6.6°
Weight: 2lbs 3oz (1000 grams)*
* Common of a pattern of ladies's boots I've weighed was 1lbs 15oz (883g). Heaviest I've weighed had been 2lbs 10oz (1200g) and lightest had been 1lb 7oz (640g). On the scales the Encore Professional got here in at a heavier than common weight however on snow felt regular.
Match
Size:
My massive toe touched the tip however not the remainder. It was touching extra than simply brushing,however not a strain level.
Some wiggle room for tops of toes,however not quite a bit.
Width:
Medial facet of forefoot touched the facet however was nonetheless comfy. Lateral facet of forefoot was good too. Massive toe (medial facet,was touching facet however no strain). Pinky toe (lateral facet) felt a little bit cramped-a slight strain level there. This was eased with warmth molding once I rode in them,this went away.
Prime of Foot (instep):
They felt comfortable on the tops (instep) of my ft however the strain was evenly unfold out and there have been no hotspots. Felt good.
Ankle:
No strain factors right here. Good match and cozy.
True to Dimension?:
Sure and no! I'd usually be a US Ladies's 8,which is often a mondo 25. I used to be using Vans boots in 8s final season and located them too small,so we determined to modify to eight.5s for Vans boots for this season.
Then we realized that Vans' ladies's sizing is a little bit totally different to most and their US Ladies's 8 is a mondopoint 24.5. Their US ladies's 8.5 is a mondopoint 25. So it is sensible that their 8.5 can be a greater match for me (and positively is!). So in US Ladies's sizing, I'd say they run 1/2 a dimension small-as in I have to dimension up a 1/2 dimension. However in mondopoint,they're true to dimension for me.
Shock Absorption
In each the in-house stomp check and on snow, the Encore Professional absorbed shock effectively and felt higher at absorbing shock and chatter than my management boots. Not one of the best ever I've felt,however nonetheless actually good.
Board Really feel
They felt good by way of board really feel. Ollie and butters felt good in them and felt properly in contact with board.
Traction/Sole High quality
First rate sole high quality-felt like principally rubber and good and grippy and felt grippy strolling in them. Cheap tread depth and sample selection.
Carving and Gradual Velocity Response
They struck a pleasant steadiness between excessive pace massive carves and sluggish pace tight turns. They are not going lay trenches at tremendous excessive speeds with ease like stiffer boots,however nonetheless first rate sufficient for carves,notably average pace carving. And that little bit higher once more for slower pace tight turns.
Adjustability
You'll be able to regulate the higher and decrease sections of the shell of the boot independently with the 2 BOAs. The entrance BOA operates the higher part and the facet BOA operates the decrease part.
The liner is tightened utilizing a typical lacing harness and has velcro attachments on the high of the liner, to get a greater match across the shins.
Consolation
They very comfy total with no strain factors. Toes had been touching and extra comfortable at ends and lateral facet, however no strain factors.
To start with there have been a few hotspots, however nothing main. However after warmth molding and getting a couple of laps in, that each one sorted itself out, they usually had been very comfy.
Heel Maintain
Heel maintain was good. I used to be a bit apprehensive that going as much as an 8.5 would result in extra heel carry however was pleasantly shocked when it felt actually good. Then once I realized that Van's 8.5 is in actual fact a mondopoint 25,then I used to be not shocked about their heel maintain efficiency.
Entry/Exit
It wasn't tremendous laborious and wasn't tremendous simple to get my ft into these boots. I'd say just about common.
As soon as my ft had been inside, then there was the liner lacing harness to do up - which was simple and was simple to get tight - it is the usual kind of lacing harness that the majority shall be used to, so would not take a lot time to determine it out.
The one different factor to do for the liner, was the velcro.
Then for the shell the Double BOA system is sweet and simple and you do not have to fret about laces going in all places, which is sweet. Not fairly the identical adjustability as laces, however nonetheless fairly first rate, with the impartial BOAs working on totally different sections of the boots.
Not as quick as one thing like pace lace, however simpler, for my part and nonetheless sooner than conventional laces.
Rating Breakdown and Closing Verdict
Take a look at the breakdown of the rating within the desk beneath.
| Issue | Ranking (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Shock Absorption | 4 | 16/20 |
| Board Really feel | 4 | 12/15 |
| Carving | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Gradual Velocity Response | 4 | 12/15 |
| Consolation | 4 | 12/15 |
| Adjustability | 4 | 8/10 |
| Heel Maintain | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Traction | 3 | 3/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 90.8/100 |
I actually loved my time within the Encore Professional. General a very nice boot that I discovered actually comfy in. Good heel maintain, good for each tight turns and for carving, plus a superb steadiness between board really feel and shock absorption, supplying you with one of the best of each worlds there.
And actually no main complaints or weaknesses - only a strong all spherical pair of shoes, in my expertise.
Extra Information, Present Costs and The place to Purchase On-line
In case you’re all for studying extra in regards to the Encore Professional, are prepared to purchase or wish to analysis present costs and sizing availability, try the hyperlinks beneath.
If you wish to see how the Encore Professional in comparison with different ladies's all-mountain-freestyle boots, or wish to try another choices, try the hyperlink beneath.
