NIDECKER SNOWBOARD BOOTS F/W 2025/26 PREVIEW

Retail Buyers Guide: Snowboard Boots F/W 2025/26 Retail Buyer’s Guide
Brand: Nidecker
Interviewee: Julien Lefrançois (Boots Manager)

How was last season in the snowboard boot market?
Stable. We all know about the inventory issues out there, but sell through of Nidecker boots has been great. That’s because of a focus on fit, solid brand and product storytelling, careful price-point maintenance and constant innovation from the team in terms of new features and processes.

With the recent overall price increases, have there been any positive developments in manufacturing, sourcing, or logistics?
When things tighten up, we’re able to score points behind the scenes by having efficient back-office processes. We already enjoyed great relationships with our suppliers, but they’ve been strengthened further by the need to find innovative and creative solutions together, which have allowed us to hit the price-points requested by our distributor and retail partners.

What are the major trends you’re seeing with product pricing in the snowboard boots market?
N/A

E-commerce Vs. physical retail, how are you balancing both channels?
We feel strongly that buying snowboard boots is exponentially better when it happens face-to-face in store. Better for the customer, better for the store, better for the brand, better for the industry. There will always be customers who want to buy boots via ecomm, but a lot of the nuance of fit and sizing is lost – and consequently, the returns rate is through the roof.

How are you supporting retailers to sell this category?
We’re offering dedicated POP (such as slatwall shelves to lighten up the boot wall) as well as strong brand and product storytelling, including specific boot campaigns. Ultimately, though, we produce the best-fitting boots out there, at a price point which allows customers to feel they’re getting a lot of bang for their buck.

What unique brand messages are you focusing on for the 2025/2026 snowboard boot season?
Nidecker’s new tagline is ‘Different by Design’. It refers to the fact that we’re constantly innovating across all our product lines (boards, boots and bindings) to seek an edge – whether that’s through major tech breakthroughs like the Supermatic® system, or those little details that improve the riding experience. With boots, you see it in everything from the heel lock and overall fit to the seamless design philosophy that makes Nidecker’s speed entry even smoother. The boot department here is a small team. We’re really close and all of us are super passionate about making better footwear, so we’re quick to experiment with unique fabrics, the latest outsole compounds or brand new lace configurations. We don’t want to follow competitors; we want to lead the market and create an identity of our own that’s future first.

Are you introducing any new or innovative materials (for outer shell, reinforcement, cushioning, support, or grip) in your 2025/2026 boots?
We’re pushing our KPU tech story even further in Winter 26, implementing it on both the men’s and women’s version of the Rift Pro. We firmly believe that this material is the future of boot construction. It’s more durable, it’s 100% waterproof and it dramatically prolongs the life of the boot’s flex – with no downsides. We’re also taking Nidecker’s seamless design philosophy to the next level with two new backstays which – for the first time – feature 100% stitch-free construction. It’s a more straightforward manufacturing process, there’s no risk of seams ripping, and it gives the boot a cleaner silhouette. These new backstays are available on the new Kita APX and Rift Pro (men’s and women’s). And speaking of Kita APX, this is our biggest story for the coming season. It’s a huge evolution of the current Kita that includes a brand-new BOA® lace configuration we call the ‘Wrap Strap’. By spreading pressure right around the boot shell, Wrap Strap solves that uneven feeling you can get when tightening a regular tongue BOA®. The upper literally wraps around your foot as it closes, which also gives you a really precise fit with more powerful response. As I mentioned, the Kita APX leans into our seamless direction with the new backstay and panels that feature a combination of mesh layers and TPU. It’s a really smooth construction that enhances the boot’s compatibility with every kind of speed entry binding where you need to slide your foot in from the back.

Are there any updates or significant changes in your liner technology or programs for the 2025/2026 collection?
We introduced the Diamond Liner on the Index last year, which was really well received, so this winter we’ve taken the opportunity to upgrade our Gold and Silver liners in line with this new standard. The Gold liner will switch back to a symmetrical construction (so a more traditional tongue rather than wraparound) and we’re incorporating more high-tech foams and mesh for increased durability. The liner also features a dedicated outsole to improve cushioning, insulation and support, and comes with a brand new Ortholite footbed made from 50% recycled material in the arch and heel support, with high rebound foam in the forefoot. It’s available exclusively on the Kita APX. The Silver liner has been re-thought along similar lines, with a new PU ankle support in the same shape as the Gold and Diamond liners. Again, it’s constructed from better materials to make it more durable, and comes with an Ortholite footbed (a single compound version in this case). You’ll fine the Silver liner on the Rift Pro (men’s and women’s).

What lacing systems will be your main focus for the 2025/2026 boots?
As I mentioned, our biggest lacing story this year is the new Wrap Strap, made in collaboration with BOA®. We’re the first brand to introduce this configuration to the market and the plan is to expand it to the regular Kita for W27.

What are the dominant visual themes, patterns, and materials you’ll be highlighting in next year’s boot line? Any artist collaborations or notable partnerships?
Our Eric Jackson collab is back for a second year. Like last time, Ejack and the boot team worked closely together to come up with a design, eventually settling on an amazing white camo with a pattern taken from a real tree. You’ll find it as a colorway option on the Kita, which is his go-to boot. Aside from this model, the styles have been quite geometric this year. The gridlines you see on Rift Yellow and Kita Gray are new colorways inspired by ripstop patterns. We also developed a new outsole we call the Surface, which is inspired by lunar exploration. It features this really cool triangular tread , with smooth lines in key areas to reduce friction when you enter or exit speed-entry bindings like Supermatic® or Flow Design.

Which segment of your boot range (Freestyle, Freeride, All-Mountain, Beginner) are you investing in the most, and why?
We want to meet the needs of as many riders as possible, so we’ve been investing across every segment. At the high end we’ve developed the new Kita APX; at the mid-range we’re launching the Rift Pro; and at the lower-level we’ve upgraded the Altai, which has a sick new External Heel Lock – together with its insane comfort and support, this boot is simply unbeatable at its price point. With carryover models, we’ve been sure to release at least one new colorway per model to retain interest.

Have there been significant changes in how you approach product pricing for the upcoming season?
Since Covid, prices have generally increased on everything in the winter sports market, and our challenge has been to keep every retail price as low as possible. We’ve worked hard with our manufacturing partners to make that happen and help us stand apart from our competitors in terms of quality and value. The best example of this is the new Altai, where we’ve managed to add a major upgrade to the External Heel Lock and keep price exactly the same.

Does your 2025/2026 boot line target any specific price ranges?
With the release of the new Altai and Rift Pro, we’re focused primarily on the 300-400EUR range, where we see demand for solid dual BOA® boots growing significantly.

Key Products:

KITA APX:
A space-age addition to the Nidecker boot line featuring our all-new BOA® Wrap Strap. Together with seamless TPU construction, a 3D PermaFlex tongue and premium Vibram outsole, it’s the next generation of boot technology.

Rift Men

RIFT PRO:
Our premium boot for creative all-mountain riding, the Rift Pro is a seamless articulating design made from KPU for maximum shelter and super long-lasting flex. It features a brand new backstay and outsole construction for even smoother entry and exit when used with Supermatic® and other speed entry bindings.

Rift Women Pro

ALTAI:
The most advanced dual BOA® boot available at this price point. Period. Now rebuilt to offer the same legendary comfort and support alongside our cutting edge External Heel Lock – and it looks more stylish than ever.

Altai Men