Best crampon compatible snowboard boot? or just get hardboots?

Does anyone have experience with snowboard boots that take a semi-auto crampon? I almost went to a hardboot splitboard setup 2 years ago but have been mostly skiing in the backcountry as of recently. I have realized  that my snowboarding skills are so much better than my skiing skills and have my eyes on some bigger objectives where ice and mixed terrain is involved. I am well aware that skis are the better tool in the mountains but I feel so much more comfortable on a snowboard when things get steep. Looking for advice from snowboarders who go after steep lines where technical climbing is involved. 

I’m a skier, but here’s from an email to a split boarder friend, in case this is of interest:

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Since hearing Jim Zellers mention the 32 MTB boot, I've been reading a lot more about it. I was very surprised to read how much it weighs (3.5 lbs each boot!!!) and how stiff and painful they can be to break in.  These 2 things would be a deal breaker for me.  Am pasting a review below:

https://engearment.com/splitboarding/thirtytwo-jones-mtb-splitboard-boot-stiffest-boot-ever/

As you know, I'm not a split boarder, but if I was I'd probably use a modified AT boot for touring per this article:

https://www.wildsnow.com/22105/ski-tour-hardboot-splitboard-snowboard

Go for hardboots. You won't regret it. Better in every way. I don't really agree that "skis are better tools in the mountains", but do strongly believe that ski boots are better tools in the mountains. Switched to hardboots 5 years ago, and wish I had sooner.

It seems to come down to whether you can find a boot that fits your foot well enough. A few companies have crampon compatible boots, like Fitwell, K2, 32, etc. I tried the 32 MTB on in a shop and could barely handle the discomfort. The K2 Aspect fit me really well. I've heard great things about the Phantom boots, they're the only snowboard-specific hardboot as far as I know, otherwise you'll need to do some modifications (which Phantom also sells kits for I believe).

I switched to arcteryx proclines this yeah and like the ride way better than soft boots. Not to mention the obvious touring benefits, I also climb easy 5th class and WI3 with no problems in them. Just size em right and you won’t regret it at all 

Check out the CAMP Stalker Semi-Auto. The posts have be repositioned further out to try and accommodate snowboard boots. Obviously it won't work for all of them, but it is worth a shot.

I have tried Fitwells and now have the deelux split boots. For skinning and climbing hard boots will be way better. Climbing in any softboot was garbage. I ended up using Spantik a few times, but snowboarding in them wasnt fun.

I just transitioned this year to skiing as I was in the same predicament as yourself and couldnt get the hardboot setup I wanted in time for the season. 

Absolutely go hardboots, particularly if you want to climb bigger/ice/mixed objectives. I tried a few different crampon/softboot setups and the best of those is still worlds behind a entry level hardboot setup.