BOA ski boots

[spoicegurl]

Hey!!
With the season approaching, I am in the market for some new ski boots. I am intrigued by the BOA system as it survived the 23/24 season with no major failures or complaints. I tried on a pair of boa ski boots and noticed the difference right away.

That said - do you ladies have any complaints or thoughts? Also, a question for the bootfitters...I noticed that atomic and fischer only offer boa boots in a mid-volume last. Is the BOA intended to replace last width? For reference, I can't understand why atomic made a hawx ultra (LV) with a boa last year but this year I am only seeing the hawx prime (MV). Does anyone have any insight? Thanks in advance

 

[Jilly]

Paging @SnowHot .

 

[marzNC]

I tried on a pair of boa ski boots and noticed the difference right away.

Welcome! Where did you try on the BOA boots?

I had a chance to try BOA boots at Snowbound Expo in Boston last fall. Certainly would consider a pair, but only if the boots were appropriate in terms of last width, volume, and cuff height. I'm petite with straightforward feet. Cuff height is key and means that for me a 3-buckle style is best. The 4-buckle BOA boots felt fine at the bottom but the cuff height was clearly too high.

 

[spoicegurl]

Welcome! Where did you try on the BOA boots?

I had a chance to try BOA boots at Snowbound Expo in Boston last fall. Certainly would consider a pair, but only if the boots were appropriate in terms of last width, volume, and cuff height. I'm petite with straightforward feet. Cuff height is key and means that for me a 3-buckle style is best. The 4-buckle BOA boots felt fine at the bottom but the cuff height was clearly too high.

Hey! I have been in some 23.5 hawx ultras the last few years and they have a shorter cuff. I have very narrow heels and feet in general so they have always worked for me. I tried on a salmon s/pro alpha boa in a 22.5. The cuff height was about the same as my hawx but the boa had such a nice feel on my foot

 

[snoWYmonkey]

I have yet to ski in Boa boots, but have spent the summer hiking in boa running shoes that I love.

I do wonder how many times of use each boa is rated for? Most items have an expected failure point. The newer boas are repairable. I have many full sized male friends who have been putting their boa snowboard boots through heavy use and still prefer that system over any other, though metal buckles were never part of their options unless they ride hard boots. I have had metal buckles wear out completely.

My only gripe, which would affect a minority of BC skiers is that any dirt, aka mud, in the system makes it a bit cranky to operate. They do still work.

Oh, it also takes a bit to get the tightness right. Meaning, that unlike buckles, I can't instantly find my two or three favorites tightnesses. I have to actually think about how tight they are as opposed to looking at which buckle number I am using. I bet a small mark with tape or nail polish on the boot cuff would be a simple fix though.

 

[SnowHot]

Hey!!
With the season approaching, I am in the market for some new ski boots. I am intrigued by the BOA system as it survived the 23/24 season with no major failures or complaints. I tried on a pair of boa ski boots and noticed the difference right away.

That said - do you ladies have any complaints or thoughts? Also, a question for the bootfitters...I noticed that atomic and fischer only offer boa boots in a mid-volume last. Is the BOA intended to replace last width? For reference, I can't understand why atomic made a hawx ultra (LV) with a boa last year but this year I am only seeing the hawx prime (MV). Does anyone have any insight? Thanks in advance

Welcome to the BOA world.
I have skied in three of the 4 BOA Boots offered last year as a test bed.

The reality is that you still need a boot that fits your foot shape, however, the BOA technology helps the boot come around your foot more uniformly instead of the pressure on top of the instep from a traditional buckle.

Atomic is the only brand that offered a LV BOA Boot in the XTD, which is the boot I was in last year. (Atmoic Hawx Ultra 115 XTD)
Fischer will be coming out with a LV BOA Boot in the coming season, but I haven't seen it yet.

All others started out with a medium volume boot with the promise that it would snug up nicely to a LV over the forefoot.
While I agree that it makes a MV boot better in the forefoot, it's not quite a LV snug.

Boots I've skied in with BOA.
Salomon Supra 115 BOA MV
Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 (LV)
K2 Athem 115 BOA. MV

If I were to pick one downside to BOA, is that someone with limited ankle ROM may struggle to get past the throat of the boot becuase the cables "may" not allow you to open it up as much as a traditional buckle.
This is a limited downside as most will figure it out.

 

[spoicegurl]

Welcome to the BOA world.
I have skied in three of the 4 BOA Boots offered last year as a test bed.

The reality is that you still need a boot that fits your foot shape, however, the BOA technology helps the boot come around your foot more uniformly instead of the pressure on top of the instep from a traditional buckle.

Atomic is the only brand that offered a LV BOA Boot in the XTD, which is the boot I was in last year. (Atmoic Hawx Ultra 115 XTD)
Fischer will be coming out with a LV BOA Boot in the coming season, but I haven't seen it yet.

All others started out with a medium volume boot with the promise that it would snug up nicely to a LV over the forefoot.
While I agree that it makes a MV boot better in the forefoot, it's not quite a LV snug.

Boots I've skied in with BOA.
Salomon Supra 115 BOA MV
Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 (LV)
K2 Athem 115 BOA. MV

If I were to pick one downside to BOA, is that someone with limited ankle ROM may struggle to get past the throat of the boot becuase the cables "may" not allow you to open it up as much as a traditional buckle.
This is a limited downside as most will figure it out.

Thanks so much for the info!! I am hoping Atomic rolls out a new Hawx Ultra BOA this year, I guess we shall see..

 

[mustski]

@SnowHot Can I try sticking my foot in your K2 Anthem sometime? I’m wondering if my poor ankle ROM will prevent entry.

 

[teppaz]

I agree that fit is paramount: go for whatever works with your feet! The BOA system doesn't replace a bootfitter.

The Salomon Supra 115 BOA MV happened to fit me with only minor tweaks so I bought them last season. I've only had a few days with them so far but I've been very happy. When I tighten the BOA boot, it feels as if it grips the whole front of the foot, as opposed to pressing down on the top. It's much easier to get in and out than my old K2s, and I love the ability to make small adjustments throughout the day. The BOA system also makes it a lot easier to adjust while wearing mittens (something I could never pull off with buckles but maybe that's just me).

 

[SnowHot]

@SnowHot Can I try sticking my foot in your K2 Anthem sometime? I’m wondering if my poor ankle ROM will prevent entry.

Yes. For sure.

 

[SnowHot]

I agree that fit is paramount: go for whatever works with your feet! The BOA system doesn't replace a bootfitter.

The Salomon Supra 115 BOA MV happened to fit me with only minor tweaks so I bought them last season. I've only had a few days with them so far but I've been very happy. When I tighten the BOA boot, it feels as if it grips the whole front of the foot, as opposed to pressing down on the top. It's much easier to get in and out than my old K2s, and I love the ability to make small adjustments throughout the day. The BOA system also makes it a lot easier to adjust while wearing mittens (something I could never pull off with buckles but maybe that's just me).

Bonus points that they're "strawberry milkshake" color.

 

[SnowHot]

Thanks so much for the info!! I am hoping Atomic rolls out a new Hawx Ultra BOA this year, I guess we shall see..

Atomic does have some more Utral boots coming out. If not, the XTD is not a bad choice if it's the correct volume/size for you.

 

[mustski]

@teppaz Just do you know, I am really jealous that you got the pink boots! I loved those, but they are not made for me!

 

[teppaz]

I have to say, they got a lot of compliments.

 

[brooksnow]

I'm looking forward to when some company comes out with a very high volume BOA boot. The BOA boots I tried last winter were torturous. It felt like there were angle irons crushing my feet where the BOA attached. My husband, on the other hand, loves his K2 Mindbenders.

 

[SnowHot]

I'm looking forward to when some company comes out with a very high volume BOA boot. The BOA boots I tried last winter were torturous. It felt like there were angle irons crushing my feet where the BOA attached. My husband, on the other hand, loves his K2 Mindbenders.

Most went for the medium volume first, then low and later we'll see a high volume BOA.
Stay tuned.

 

[scandium]

Bonus points that they're "strawberry milkshake" color.

That is a great bonus - I've seen them around and been immediately envious of the colour, especially with some of the impractical-for-me pastel outfits!

 

[Trailside Trixie]

I asked my boot fitter who's also a pedarthist about the BOA's as I'm intrigued. He said they are a good boot BUT are a last resort if you can't find a fit with the other choices out there. He said they really lack support compared to a traditional ski boot.

 

[SnowHot]

I asked my boot fitter who's also a pedarthist about the BOA's as I'm intrigued. He said they are a good boot BUT are a last resort if you can't find a fit with the other choices out there. He said they really lack support compared to a traditional ski boot.

How does he think it lacks support?
I've been in more than one option, and in fact have been in the buckle and BOA of the same boot to comare and see no difference in lack of support for BOA.

 

[marzNC]

I asked my boot fitter who's also a pedarthist about the BOA's as I'm intrigued. He said they are a good boot BUT are a last resort if you can't find a fit with the other choices out there. He said they really lack support compared to a traditional ski boot.

Does he sell BOA boots?

What the brand rep told me at Snowbound Expo who was the BOA specialist was that not having to "support" metal buckles means the lower part of the boot shell can be thinner. That's why can be more responsive.