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disadvantages to BOA boots?

are there any disadvantages for boots with BOA lacing compared to those with normal lacing?

By crazyface at 02/10/2008 - 6:56pm | Other | login or register to post comments | previous forum topic | next forum topic

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boa

ive only had boa on the liner and it was perfect, good tightness, good support.

until the knob and part of the base that it attaches too broke off, and sadly it wasnt fixable so the boots were warrantied. i didnt have any problems with the cables

i would get them again if i was assured it would never happen. id try them on the outer of boots but probably just if they were free.

By pointandclick at Mon, 02/11/2008 - 8:20am | login or register to post comments

Thank you so much for this.

Thank you so much for this.

By Michaella at Sat, 08/09/2008 - 5:39am | login or register to post comments

(.)(.)

they are numerous

1. mechanical parts that are prone to failure

2. if cable snaps (and they do) its a bitch to replace

3. if cable comes out of the reel (or rather, when it comes out) you will need a tiny tiny allen wrench to take it apart, ooops don't lose the worlds tiniest screw

4. crushes the bottom of your foot before the top gets tight, oh thats why they created the zonal system, great now you have to worry about 2 reels on each foot, brutal

a better question might be: what are the advantages of boa? well there really is only one, its easier to tighten than conventional laces. other than that there is no performance advantage

BOA was not designed for snowboarding applications, it was designed for roller blades (truth) and is even used on horse boots, just google "boa horse boot"

the company that owns BOA will license it out to any sport really, which shows it has no specifc application to, nor was it designed for the stresses of snowboarding

the tried and true lace is the way to go, simply, effective and easily replaceable. past that there are many other system that both offer zonal lacing and easy of tightening, without the stupid, overly complicated mechanical parts that are prone to breakage.

don't be lazy, don't BOA (unless you get paid to ride them)

By Fat Canuck at Sun, 02/10/2008 - 10:19pm | login or register to post comments

Boa

I tried the Boa boots the first year it came out, and I was pretty stoked. I think the concept holds a little more credibility than your lending to it.

Yes the biggest thing about them is that stupid little screw and the Allen wrench, but if your even the least bit organied you can just throw that little tool in a pocket you don't use and forget about it until you need it.

The same goes for the lace/cable, it's super light weight so you don't even notice its there while your riding and if it breaks you have everything you need to relace right with you and it really isn't that much harder to replace than your average snowboard lace. I can't say i've ever been that prepared for lace breakage since. It's too bulky to carry around an extra pack of laces.Also it In 2.5 seasons of daily riding I only broke one lace. I'd say that bodes pretty well for their strength especially since I was using some of the first boots to come out with BOA Lacing. And, I would imagine, that in the 5 or so years of development they have had since I owned the boots they should have stepped up the quality level even further.

As for the company who owns BOA. Yes it was designed with something other than snowboarding in mind, but so was Goretex. One keeps whatever is on your feet on your feet and the other keeps water off you while still breathing. Both serve a distinct purposes and it seems almost silly to spite something because it wasn't initally developed for snowboarding even though it has very real applications inside the industry. Its not like there is a company that exclusively manufactures snowboard boot laces for boa to steal core business from.

Another advantage of BOA lacing over normal is it stays tight all day. You tigten you boot and it stays that way. I've never had that kind of proformance from any other boot. Usually I'm forced to tie my boots at least twice a day, but the BOA eliminated that for a while.

Now for what I see as disadvantages. Its expensive and there are comprible lacing systems that are cheaper and just as reliable ect.

Its made of a kinda brittle feeling plastic. I have the idea that if you were to clip on one of the twisters on a stump or something it would blow up beyond repair.

They don't losen up so you have to have it dialed in on the perfect tightness or your in for foot pain.

I dunno what to tell you about buying these other than its as good as any other lacing system. It has its flaws, but so does every other kind of lacing system I've ever encountered. My recomendation is go to your local snowboard shop and try them on. If it feels good to you go for it, but if you feel skeptical about them, as I do, bail and buy some high end Burton boots and bindings. They are the best out there and the boot binding combo is the most comfortable system I've ever been on.

A-FARM

-----------------------------
www.anomalyfarm.com is a neat fun place with lots of keen photos and stuff.

By AnomalyFarm at Mon, 02/11/2008 - 7:54am | login or register to post comments

✠™

I wouldnt go near BOA with a bargepole . . just plain impossible to get a proper fit all over the boot like FC says . . Burton speedzone is the only decent alternative to normal laces that i have liked.

They only good application i have seen for BOA on snowboard boots is on the K2 boot were it is used to tighten the inner, with conventional laces for the outer . . never tried it but it makes sense to me as a way of cutting down heel lift.

By eski mofo at Mon, 02/11/2008 - 8:09am | login or register to post comments

No they just make it faster,

No they just make it faster, I love boa

By knnthc93 at Sun, 02/10/2008 - 8:59pm | login or register to post comments