That's fun but not the answer to the teaser ;)
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Question: BOA boots: anyone with personal experience?
- Thread starter TNtoTaos
- Start date
Hint, read the inside of the boot.
skinnyfootskis
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I'm with you...I cranked the BOA all the way and could still move my foot completely. :(
A year ago there was only one low volume BOA to speak of. Now there are several options.
You may try one again some day.
MissySki
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Do not remove… like a mattress? Lol
skinnyfootskis
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Yea, honestly I only had 2 boots to choose from. The Salomon race, and what I purchased...Atomic hawks..... I actually liked the stock liner more than my foamed liner. :(
I had a tongue pad put in to take up some space and I think it's pushing me into the back seat a bit. Randy needs boots so I think we will go to VT early season and I will have more boot work done. Ugh.....
LOL - NO!
I'll wait a few more posts to see if anyone else guesses it, then I'll reveal it.
MissySki
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Another guess… Get them now because K2 is a US company manufacturing in Europe = tariffs? So more expensive next season?
The tag says mfrd in Italy but lists a German address?
I give up.
[inserttongueincheekhere] You all disappoint me
[/inserttongueincheekhere]
I really thought that someone on here would see it since we talk about 21.5 boots so frequently.
The boot is a 125 flex in a low volume and is going to be offered in a true 21.5 next season.
The upper cuff of the 21.5 will be shared with the 22.5 and 23.5 but the lower will be unique to a 21.5.
22.5 should be available later in the fall.
Not included in this article but another good piece of information is that the Cortex will also be offeredd in a 140 flex all the way down to a 21.5
[inserttongueincheekhere] You all disappoint me
[/inserttongueincheekhere]I really thought that someone on here would see it since we talk about 21.5 boots so frequently.
The boot is a 125 flex in a low volume and is going to be offered in a true 21.5 next season.
The upper cuff of the 21.5 will be shared with the 22.5 and 23.5 but the lower will be unique to a 21.5.
22.5 should be available later in the fall.
Not included in this article but another good piece of information is that the Cortex will also be offeredd in a 140 flex all the way down to a 21.5
WaterGirl
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
I did see that the cuff was for a 21.5- 23.5. I was more concerned that the numbers on the grid only started at 23. So I was wondering if this really was going to be a true 22.5. I guess now that you have clarified that its going to be a true 21.5 that is great news for the truly small footed!!!!
But I'm not quite understanding the spoiler to increase the cuff height in the back.
Can you confirm if this also increases the forward lean? this is discussed around 11:30.
And fwiw any other smaller footed stiff flex required, Nordica makes the mens Promachine in a 22.5 @ 130
But I'm not quite understanding the spoiler to increase the cuff height in the back.
Can you confirm if this also increases the forward lean? this is discussed around 11:30.
And fwiw any other smaller footed stiff flex required, Nordica makes the mens Promachine in a 22.5 @ 130
The additional spoiler is for someone who may have a super long and skinny shin bone/calf, but it does not increase forward lean because it's quite thin where it attaches to the shell and goes over the ridge on the outside/above the cuff.
The thicker velcro spoiler would definitely add more forward lean.
I do have a fairly long shin bone but didn't need it in the 23.5, but I have seen some [cough] @pinto [/cough] who could use a little extra height in the cuff. Although she's not in a 22.5.
skinnyfootskis
Ski Diva Extraordinaire
Hmmmmm
I have developed foot problems in the past year, and am quite certain it's from cranking boots super tight, and cramming my skinny size 23 feet into a size 21 boot. I just had an MRI on my left foot, which has had fairly significant achilles pain for two years, and overall bottom of foot pain for about a year (same with the right foot.) I have achilles tendinosis (scar tissue) and arthritis in my talus joint. There is a small bone spur on my calcaneus. I also have sixth toe issues. So, I am really wanting to try BOA boots to mitigate the pressure points on my foot. I swear to all that is holy that my feet are the bane of my existence!
FYI the 21.5 hasn't come yet (not sure of a timeline) but they did make the 22.5 all the way up to the 140 flex which is already sold out this year. As in... the guys at K2 said they are sold out but you may still find something in a shop.
If anyone is looking for the smaller sizes, Alpine Hut in Seattle has the 22.5s and should have the 21.5s when they come in. I tried the 22.5s but found I still had a bit of slop with the stock liner and then quite a few pressure points with my Zipfits. The Atomic Hawx Ultras + Zipfits ended up being the best fit.
I'm often fiddling with my top buckles so I'm excited for the easier adjustability of the boas. My larger than average calves would've needed to get the top boa swapped out to a longer length in the K2s but the Atomics had plenty of slack.
I'm often fiddling with my top buckles so I'm excited for the easier adjustability of the boas. My larger than average calves would've needed to get the top boa swapped out to a longer length in the K2s but the Atomics had plenty of slack.
I'm diving into the LV BOA game. I ordered some K2 Cortex 105 Zonal BOA in a 22.5. First thing I do with any boot I try on is a shell fit. This is a TRUE LV boot. As in, it's lower volume than the Lange RS 21.5 I have around my ankle and foot, but obviously allows for my poor toes to not be squished. I have had the toe box in the Lange's punched/ground to the max and my left foot (my longer foot) is still crunched, and I do believe it has added to my foot woes, which are worse in my left foot. I think I have a high pain tolerance, because I'd just ski with the discomfort (180 ish days in those boots!) I have about 2mm on either side of my foot at its widest point in the K2s, and very little room around my lower leg and ankle. The room behind my heel is not even 5mm. This makes me happy! They seem very similar in shell fit to a pair of Rossi WC boots I still have collecting dust in the closet. Race boot liners are so thin that I HAD to have an aftermarket liner for them to work for me.
The Cortex seems significantly stiffer at 105 than the Lange at 110. The 95 flex Cortex doesn't come with double BOA, and there are not many 22.5s out there. I don't love a stiffer boot in powder, hence why a 95 might be good for me. I am not sure how the 15 degree forward lean will feel. I found that the 12 degrees in the Lange felt really good.
The BOA system is going to make a LOT of low-volume foot people happy, I think. I have not maxed out the dials at all. The stock liner tongue is of concern to me because I think it might give me some shin pain like I had in the Nordica Promachine I had a few years ago. But because the tongue is removable (yesssss!!) I can always swap it for one of the plethora of aftermarket tongues I have (I have 6 different tongues, I believe.) I have two that were foamed for my leg, so those might work. The issue is that the velcro in the Cortex that holds the tongue is pretty lame, and none of the other liners I have will stick to it. Worst case, I will sew a different tongue in to hold it. We'll see how I feel being in a non short-cuff boot again. I'm just tired of being in solid sole boots that need a ton of work done on them and still have issues. My husband spent decades cramming his 28.5 foot into a 26.5 boot and his feet are a total mess of spurs and bunions. He has skied in a 27.5 for a long time now but still in LV despite not having even a remotely LV foot (I think a MV BOA boot would make him happy!) I don't want to do the same thing to my feet.
The best fit in the K2s is with the ZipFit liners I have. However, getting the boot on with the ZipFit is heinous even with a heated boot bag, and I worry about damaging my injured achilles and foot even more trying to wrangle the ZipFit in. I may try to put it on racer style using boot spray. The stock liners are remarkably snug, with the exception of my usual trouble spot from the medial malleolus forward to the front of my arch. They are not loose, but I can tell they are not going to hold me stacked very well. My ankles roll inward when I'm on skis unless I have a liner that is really firm from my arch up to my upper ankle. I have good footbeds, I'm just too loosy goosy in the ankles. I like the laces on the stock liners, too. I'll use them for sure.
I still want to try the Fischer LV BOA 105, although it is not double BOA. I am also curious to try the Atomic Hawx Ultra LV BOA just to see if either of those would fit much differently. Not easy to find 22.5s anywhere in stock, though. I think Fischer has had tariff issues or some other supply issue because some of their inventory shows it isn't anticipated in stock until January.
I am choking at the price point of the double BOA.
I can probably get the Fischer at a discount and maybe the Atomic, but I don't know any K2 skiers, here BUT if they work, they are worth the price. The truth will be known once I get on snow in them in the next month. Thankfully I am happy with my current skis so can invest more in boots this year. 
My initial impressions are that BOA in a true LV boot will allow a lot of us who have been forced into solid lug race or race-inspired boots to get into non-race boots that won't need to have plates installed and aftermarket liners. No more slippery soles, either!
The Cortex seems significantly stiffer at 105 than the Lange at 110. The 95 flex Cortex doesn't come with double BOA, and there are not many 22.5s out there. I don't love a stiffer boot in powder, hence why a 95 might be good for me. I am not sure how the 15 degree forward lean will feel. I found that the 12 degrees in the Lange felt really good.
The BOA system is going to make a LOT of low-volume foot people happy, I think. I have not maxed out the dials at all. The stock liner tongue is of concern to me because I think it might give me some shin pain like I had in the Nordica Promachine I had a few years ago. But because the tongue is removable (yesssss!!) I can always swap it for one of the plethora of aftermarket tongues I have (I have 6 different tongues, I believe.) I have two that were foamed for my leg, so those might work. The issue is that the velcro in the Cortex that holds the tongue is pretty lame, and none of the other liners I have will stick to it. Worst case, I will sew a different tongue in to hold it. We'll see how I feel being in a non short-cuff boot again. I'm just tired of being in solid sole boots that need a ton of work done on them and still have issues. My husband spent decades cramming his 28.5 foot into a 26.5 boot and his feet are a total mess of spurs and bunions. He has skied in a 27.5 for a long time now but still in LV despite not having even a remotely LV foot (I think a MV BOA boot would make him happy!) I don't want to do the same thing to my feet.
The best fit in the K2s is with the ZipFit liners I have. However, getting the boot on with the ZipFit is heinous even with a heated boot bag, and I worry about damaging my injured achilles and foot even more trying to wrangle the ZipFit in. I may try to put it on racer style using boot spray. The stock liners are remarkably snug, with the exception of my usual trouble spot from the medial malleolus forward to the front of my arch. They are not loose, but I can tell they are not going to hold me stacked very well. My ankles roll inward when I'm on skis unless I have a liner that is really firm from my arch up to my upper ankle. I have good footbeds, I'm just too loosy goosy in the ankles. I like the laces on the stock liners, too. I'll use them for sure.
I still want to try the Fischer LV BOA 105, although it is not double BOA. I am also curious to try the Atomic Hawx Ultra LV BOA just to see if either of those would fit much differently. Not easy to find 22.5s anywhere in stock, though. I think Fischer has had tariff issues or some other supply issue because some of their inventory shows it isn't anticipated in stock until January.
I am choking at the price point of the double BOA.
I can probably get the Fischer at a discount and maybe the Atomic, but I don't know any K2 skiers, here BUT if they work, they are worth the price. The truth will be known once I get on snow in them in the next month. Thankfully I am happy with my current skis so can invest more in boots this year. My initial impressions are that BOA in a true LV boot will allow a lot of us who have been forced into solid lug race or race-inspired boots to get into non-race boots that won't need to have plates installed and aftermarket liners. No more slippery soles, either!
Great review @contesstant -- thanks!
