BOA Alpine ski, snowboard and Nordic boots: a comprehensive guide
The BOA Fit System is an innovative closure system that, instead of laces or buckles, uses a cable system and rotating dial to quickly and easily dial in the perfect fit of your boots. The system made its way into snow sports starting with snowboard boots in 2001. When word spread about the precision fit, easy micro-adjustability, durability and ease of use BOA naturally spread to Nordic and alpine ski boots as well as non-footwear applications like ski helmets. In this article we’ll take a look at what the BOA Fit System is, how it works, how to care for it, and how easy it is to repair in the highly unlikely event something goes awry.
How the BOA Fit System works
Core Components
The Boa Fit System is made up of three main components:
- Super strong lace – 250kg of tensile strength
- Micro-adjustable dial – precise, multi-directional micro-adjustment
- Low-friction lace guide – evenly distributes lace tension
Mechanics of tightening and loosening
- Push in the dial to engage the system.
- Turn the dial clockwise to tighten the fit – a spool rolls the lace inside the shoe. Each click is a 1mm increment.
- Turn the dial counterclockwise to loosen the fit.
- Pull the dial up for fast release
Why does BOA work so well in ski boots, snowboard boots and Nordic boots?
More than simply removing the buckles from a ski boot and replacing them with the BOA system, Salomon designers have worked hand in hand with BOA engineers to develop a system that wraps the foot very precisely to reduce pain and increase your body’s contact with the shell of the boot in a highly consistent, uniform manner. By wrapping the foot instead of applying downward force as traditional buckles do, the BOA Fit System locks the heel in more effectively while also reducing pressure points. In addition to improving comfort, this also improves performance. But by how much?
A recent systematic study by Frontiers in Sports and Active Living included more than 1000 hours of on-snow testing and the collection of millions of data points. The study found that by wrapping the foot, “BOA boots improved the subjective and objective ski performance.”
Test results showed the BOA Fit System in ski boots reduced peak pressure by as much as 13%. In terms of improved power transfer and stability during turns, results showed “up to 6% increase in peak forces underneath the foot and 10% improvement in the rate of force production at turn initiation.”
Another big advantage is that ski boots with BOA are a dynamic system. Once you put your ski boots on, dial in the BOA system to the perfect setting and begin skiing, the ski boot flexes as you ski. In response to your ski boots flex the steel laces of the BOA system continually micro-adjust by sliding through the guides for the most precise fit throughout your body’s range of movement and across the entire foot/boot interface.
Maintenance tips for BOA ski boots, snowboard boots and Nordic boots
There are no specific requirements needed to maintain the BOA system beyond the steps you take to ensure the longevity of your ski, snowboard and Nordic boots.
- Allow them to dry in a dry place away from a heat source like a fireplace or heater.
- Do not leave in extreme cold or overly humid places for prolonged periods.
- After your boots are thoroughly dried, replace your footbeds and liners and tighten BOA to the same setting as you use when wearing them (or perhaps a little less). Do not overtighten and store for extended periods.
Repairing the BOA Fit System
Ski boots with BOA benefit from the expertise gathered from many years of on-snow experience in snowboard boots. In fact, before BOA ski boots appeared at your favorite ski retailer, they were rigorously tested for three years by hardcore users like professional athletes and ski patrol. As a result, ski boots with BOA have a remarkably low malfunction rate. In fact, BOA is such a durable and reliable system that the brand backs their product with a lifetime warranty.
What to do if a repair is needed
The BOA Fit System is incredibly durable and it’s highly unlikely that you’ll ever need to repair it. But if you do, the good news is that BOA has your back and repairs are super simple. All you need to do is reach out and BOA will send the products needed for repair within 48 hours.
Here’s what to do:
- Go to Boa website and click Support at top right of the homepage.
- Click Redeem Repair Kit, scroll down and click Claim Free Repair Kit, click OK Let’s Go
- Answer a few questions – brand name, model, what broke, picture of the product – and BOA’s customer service team will identify the issue and the appropriate repair kit.
- Fill in your shipping details
- BOA will send your free repair kit in less than 48 hours.
- If you don’t have a problem but want to have a repair kit just in case, you can buy a repair kit by clicking Buy Spare Parts
- It’s dead easy to repair the BOA system on your own but if you feel you need help you can take your boots to a BOA dealer to ask for help. You can also contact BOA to ask about sending the product to them for repair, but the product is so easy to repair yourself that they’re not set up to make quick repairs and it could take some time to get your boots back. Seriously, making a repair is dead simple and you’ll be back on snow a whole lot sooner if you do it on your own.
In conclusion, both the BOA Fit System and traditional buckles and/or laces have their advantages, which is why some skiers will prefer BOA while others will prefer traditional buckles. At the end of the day, the person who can decide which system is best for you is you. So if you’re interested in learning more, rock up to your fav-o-rite ski shop and ask to know more.
For more alpine ski How To’s, pro tips and gear advice check out our ski community page.
For more snowboard How To’s, pro tips and gear advice check out our snowboard community page.
For more Nordic ski How To’s, pro tips and gear advice check out our cross-country ski community page.