Anyone Planning to Try the BOA Boot System?

[BlizzardBabe]

Just been reading about the new use of a BOA system by certain boot manufacturers. I'm likely in the market for new boots, but I'm a Lange girl and they haven't jumped into the pond yet.

I've seen some pros and cons and can understand both sides. Is anyone planning to give it a go or are you planning to wait while the jury remains out this season?

https://www.powder.com/trending-news/boa-ski-boot

Why BOA Ski Boots Make Sense (and Why They Don't)

BOA ski boot shells are the hot new topic of 2024 hardgoods in the industry. Why BOA Ski Boots make sense, and why they don't.

outofpodcast.com

 

[Amie H]

Interesting. I've only used a BOA tightening system on snowshoes. They are quick to adjust and very quick to release. TBH my issue w buckles is almost always the TOP two buckles, not the bottom ones.

My current boots are Lange, as well, and I just had them re-packed last year so I'm not in the market just yet.

 

[ski diva]

I just got new boots this past year, so I'm not in the market, either. The upside is that it'll give them a few years to refine the system, before I'm ready for anything new. I think they look interesting, though. I'm definitely looking forward to following other people's experiences.

 

[AJM]

I did ask about them at our local ski shop and what their thoughts are but the jury was out. I guess its all up in the air until they make it to the shelves.
As someone who has very low profile and skinny feet they sounded kind of appealing but as I have new boots this season (Atomic STI 110's) it will be a another few seasons before I'm in the market again.

As an aside we had the K2 rep up at our hill today with his range of demos and he took one look at my boots and said "finally someone with a boot that actually fits" . We usually have the K2/Line product testers come over every season or two with their new range (heavily disguised of course ... the ski's not the testers ) and they usually stay for around 10 days. Boy can those guys (and sadly only the 1 token female usually) ski !!! I meant to ask the rep if they were coming this year and if they do I wonder if they will be using the boa system on their boots ? If they do I'll ask how they're finding it.

 

[MissySki]

I asked my bootfitter about the current offering.. he said that none were currently suitable for me. The reasoning was that the current boots were all medium volume while I need extra low volume. So at this point it’s not an option for me to try even if I wanted to.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

True @MissySki . I think only one of the 4 manufacturers using BOA offers an LV option. I also need an LV boot, so I'll likely stick w/Lange. Lange has a new concept out too, however, in their new "Shadow" line. That also looks interesting. We'll see when I go to my bootfitter next month.

Lange | Shadow | Piste and All Mountain ski boots | Lange -

Powerful, elegant and subtle, the Shadow was born to prove that a piste and all-mountain ski boot can both cut through the piste and be ultra-comfortable!

www.lange-boots.com

 

[elemmac]

I think only one of the 4 manufacturers using BOA offers an LV option.

Yes, the Atomic Ultra Hawx XTD will be coming in a BOA version. I do find this a curious business decision, as it's the only LV, and also an AT boot (though more 50-50 style than full-touring). As someone that has been enjoying the "regular" Ultra Hawx, I'll be considering this as a new touring boot replacing my terribly fitting Dalbellos.

 

[Jilly]

From what I've heard, the BOA basically replaces the lower buckles. It doesn't help with heel hold like the old rear entry dials did.

From Philpug, who is a boot fitter:
Boa will not make any difference in ankle hold, it is there to contain the forefoot. It will also not make a shell that doesn't fit, fit.

 

[MissySki]

My hope is having more range of motion for those of us with ridiculously low insteps, on the lower boot. There literally isn’t a boot with low enough instep in my already sized down 23.5 for my feet. I would need a 22.5, and asked my bootfitter if we could squeeze me down further but he didn’t think so. For me, when the instep isn’t low enough to hold that part of my foot securely, I also get a little heel movement. We pad my tongue in that area to hold my foot down.. but already last season that fix isn’t enough anymore because now my liner heels are packed out a tiny bit I guess. I spoke to my fitter at the end of last season and he was really surprised because the liner is dense and shouldn’t be allowing that much movement in my heels already. There is no room in my boot besides instep.. I currently have bumps on my heels from it last season. It’s a frustrating spot to be in.. if BOA could eventually allow me to tighten the boot with appropriate contact in the instep I’d be THRILLED!

I’m heading back to my bootfitter soon to see what we can do to resecure my heels for next season.

 

[Jilly]

Most of the boots are currently in the medium area. So give it time.

 

[MissySki]

Yes, the Atomic Ultra Hawx XTD will be coming in a BOA version. I do find this a curious business decision, as it's the only LV, and also an AT boot (though more 50-50 style than full-touring). As someone that has been enjoying the "regular" Ultra Hawx, I'll be considering this as a new touring boot replacing my terribly fitting Dalbellos.

That is interesting.. curious for the reasoning behind their strategy! Maybe the AT is less risky trial than an all in on their regular boots to start..?

 

[tinymoose]

My hope is having more range of motion for those of us with ridiculously low insteps, on the lower boot. There literally isn’t a boot with low enough instep in my already sized down 23.5 for my feet. I would need a 22.5, and asked my bootfitter if we could squeeze me down further but he didn’t think so. For me, when the instep isn’t low enough to hold that part of my foot securely, I also get a little heel movement. We pad my tongue in that area to hold my foot down.. but already last season that fix isn’t enough anymore because now my liner heels are packed out a tiny bit I guess. I spoke to my fitter at the end of last season and he was really surprised because the liner is dense and shouldn’t be allowing that much movement in my heels already. There is no room in my boot besides instep.. I currently have bumps on my heels from it last season. It’s a frustrating spot to be in.. if BOA could eventually allow me to tighten the boot with appropriate contact in the instep I’d be THRILLED!

I’m heading back to my bootfitter soon to see what we can do to resecure my heels for next season.

Not BOA related, and maybe you were just trying to steer clear of race boots, but did you ever try the Atomic STI? It's by far the lowest volume boot I've ever tried. Very low instep.

 

[MissySki]

Not BOA related, and maybe you were just trying to steer clear of race boots, but did you ever try the Atomic STI? It's by far the lowest volume boot I've ever tried. Very low instep.

No I haven't.. though if it's actually a 93 width I'm unsure if I could even get my foot in with my wider forefoot haha. My current Technica Mach 1 LV Pro W is 98 width and you can see the shape of my forefoot bones where Torin popped out the sides. My previous blue Langes were also a 98 width and even with adjusting the forefoot multiple times I was in pain until my liner finally packed out too much. That plastic apparently would go back to its original shape over time!

93 sounds insanely skinny.. I really wish my forefoots matched the rest of my skinny feet. :(

 

[tinymoose]

Oh yeah, I forgot about your wider forefoot. I have both regular bunions and tailor bunions, but my feet must be skinny enough even with them to not have an issue with the width on the Atomics. I'm sure they could probably be blown/punched out some, although not sure if enough for you.

 

[AJM]

No I haven't.. though if it's actually a 93 width I'm unsure if I could even get my foot in with my wider forefoot haha. My current Technica Mach 1 LV Pro W is 98 width and you can see the shape of my forefoot bones where Torin popped out the sides. My previous blue Langes were also a 98 width and even with adjusting the forefoot multiple times I was in pain until my liner finally packed out too much. That plastic apparently would go back to its original shape over time!

93 sounds insanely skinny.. I really wish my forefoots matched the rest of my skinny feet. :(

Remember that the Sti has a much much lower volume liner, tbh even though when we did the shell check on the Sti's the edges of my forefoot were actually touching the inside of the shell (I know right !!) once we put the liner in it was all good due to the thinness of it. I really couldn't tell the difference in the forefoot area between my Mach 1 LV's and the Sti's I guess due to the fact that liner in the Mach 1's is so much thicker and therefore takes up a whole lot of space.
The Sti's though have much better instep and heel hold for me and are really responsive, they've been a revelation x

 

[VickiK]

Skitalk has an article on their front page discussing the new non-BOA boots. I was surprised to read that Lange is coming out with a mid volume 100mm last boot and Dalbello is moving from a 98mm to a 99mm mold for the forefoot. I've been in Dalbellos, but maybe I'll ask to try on a Lange.

 

[MissySki]

Remember that the Sti has a much much lower volume liner, tbh even though when we did the shell check on the Sti's the edges of my forefoot were actually touching the inside of the shell (I know right !!) once we put the liner in it was all good due to the thinness of it. I really couldn't tell the difference in the forefoot area between my Mach 1 LV's and the Sti's I guess due to the fact that liner in the Mach 1's is so much thicker and therefore takes up a whole lot of space.
The Sti's though have much better instep and heel hold for me and are really responsive, they've been a revelation x

Wow, that is extremely interesting to hear. I didn’t tend to think the liner in my mach 1 is very thick itself, so the Sti must be uber thin.

Did you feel the instep was noticeably lower in the Sti than the Mach 1?

 

[AJM]

Wow, that is extremely interesting to hear. I didn’t tend to think the liner in my mach 1 is very thick itself, so the Sti must be uber thin.

Did you feel the instep was noticeably lower in the Sti than the Mach 1?

The liner in the Sti is super duper thin !!
Everything about the Sti fits me so much better incl the instep. My left foot is slightly bigger volume than my right so that fits me better, I still have to crank the 2 middle buckles on the right foot as its really low volume and due to my injury Im also very unstable in the right ankle so cranking them down helps.
If you get the chance I would at least try them on if you can, I resisted for ages and now dont know how I skied without them.
There are quite a few local ladies wearing them here, from recreational skiers to instructors, racers, freeride skiers and we all love them.
Also the 110 flex seems perfect for me in the Atomic but the 105 flex in my Mach 1's was too stiff ..... the joys of trying to understand flex

 

[MissySki]

The liner in the Sti is super duper thin !!
Everything about the Sti fits me so much better incl the instep. My left foot is slightly bigger volume than my right so that fits me better, I still have to crank the 2 middle buckles on the right foot as its really low volume and due to my injury Im also very unstable in the right ankle so cranking them down helps.
If you get the chance I would at least try them on if you can, I resisted for ages and now dont know how I skied without them.
There are quite a few local ladies wearing them here, from recreational skiers to instructors, racers, freeride skiers and we all love them.
Also the 110 flex seems perfect for me in the Atomic but the 105 flex in my Mach 1's was too stiff ..... the joys of trying to understand flex

Thank you, this is really helpful!

 

[AJM]

Ok here we go !! So the K2 team are here testing testing testing and I rode up the lift with our local rep/importer and asked him about the BOA and he's all over it ...... of course he is
He did mention that they are only suitable/available for mid to high volume feet and that folk like me will have to stick with the buckles, which dosent bother me as Im in love with my Sti's. Anyhow he's backing them but obviously they wont be available here until next season as opposed to ski's which we get first .... I have no idea why ????