Snowboard breakdown: What is width? and why does it matter?
Choosing a snowboard with the proper width is essential. An otherwise great board can be no fun to a person with a foot too small or too large for the board. So, it is very important to consider this when choosing a snowboard. You want that healthy hang. Don't make the mistake of thinking any over-hang is bad, it's important to be in the correct range.
Here is my rule for sizing (every foot size +/- 5mm):
US Mens:
| US Mens | 6-7 | 7-8 | 8-9 | 9-10 | 10-11 | 11-12 | 12-13 | 13-14 | 14-15 |
| Waist width (mm) | 225-235 | 230-240 | 235-245 | 240-250 | 245 - 255 | 250-260 | 255-265 | 260+ | good luck |
Pro's and Cons:
A wider board will be more stable. Float in deep snow better. be less likely to revert (spin around) during sketchy or icy landings.
A Narrow board will feel "carvier". Narrower boards transition quicker edge to edge. it initiates spins with more force.
Exceptions to the rule:
Snowboard boot manufactures such as Thirtytwo and Burton are striving to provide the smallest footprint possible. This often makes the sole fit about a size smaller and can be a huge benefit to those bigfooters finding very few wide options they want to ride. not a whole lot can be done for the 13+ crowd, but with the right boot selection, a person with a 12 can certainly ride a midwide snowboard and be OK.
3-D or concave constructions can make a even a very wide board fun to turn because it rolls on to edge adding a much more responsive ride than a traditional flat base.