Best Ski Boots Of 2024! BOA Dials Are The New Buckles

[@maelilmc4079]

Changed to Salomon Boa boots this season and they’re fantastic. No more downward pressure on the top of my foot, really brilliant for those of us with high insteps. 100% satisfied.

[@Jayman5281]

Lets see what you say after day 50 in them

[@SlegsBlankes]

As a teenager I used to have boots with this boa system, and that is 45 years ago! So there’s nothing new to it. But the cable was hidden, it ran underneath, there were no buckles, just the dial high up. I can’t remember the brand, only that they were the most expensive pair in the shop and super comfortable. They got stolen on my second ski trip that year.

[@hannuroinesalo1677]

Weinmann

[@jamesscott9914]

They keep pitching this crazy mass marketing for something that was already tried out and like many ideas - didn't last. He puts two hits on that knob on a wooden table and thinks he won that discussion. For me I just keep wondering why they are mass marketing a novel format for a problem that doesn't exist. Many 4-buckle boots are comfortable and warm and super functional. They remind me of the EV people trying to ram EV's down everyone's throats.

[@Falafel72]

I truly believe the Tigard 130 or even 110 is the best boot on the market right now for a hard resort skier that doesn't want to have this huge push back on weight and especially ROM. The boot fits about every foot well, Hoji System is again by far the best in the industry...

[@jackjmaheriii]

If you’re a ski-dad, walk mode is a game changer for child (and sometimes wife) wrangling.

[@JT-xf9sw]

It's also an entry point for breaking. Skier dad here of Two young skiers. Whats wrong with ski boots without walk mode?

[@jackjmaheriii]

As this season is drawing to a close, I’ve changed my mind on this. I still think grip walk is a pretty big deal, but when the parking lot is far we just change into our boots at the ski rack.

[@MrSomnix]

​@@jackjmaheriiiI always ski with a pack(Solden 32 from Osprey) and it's super easy to tuck a pair of low-top chucks in there for the long walk back.

[@jackjmaheriii]

That’s a pro tip for sure. Here’s what we do now… I bring a backpack for shoes, lunch, extra lenses, etc. The backpack stays on the ski rack, and no one has messed with it yet. This year I carried rescue equipment and snacks in a fanny pack, and it worked okay, but I was constantly moving it every time I got on or off a lift. Next year I’m going to try one of those cargo vests people use for off trail running.

[@johnman7251]

Yes, gimmicky. I use BOA mountain bike shoes and have had problems with the button dials breaking or jamming. IDK on ski boots how smooth they’d work jammed up with ice & snow. Plus I like being able to vary buckle tension between the toe box and Midfoot with individual buckles.

[@tridoc99]

Yup, you can snap it right back on, unless the little metal snap ring on the BOA pops off and goes who knows where in the snow, which happened to me.

[@daniellef1]

Thanks guys, helped me with my boot decision!

[@luigigrosso6320]

What about the flexon tongue displacing pressure on top of foot?

[@nottwo6492]

I still rock my old Tecnica Mach 1 130s, but my son got new high end ones with Boas this season. For people with not just wide but high volume feet, I think they add to comfort without compromising performance. My own ones give me pain when I buckle the low buckles tight, as the pressure is not uniform, but only at two points. I will still use them as I love them, but do think Boas will become the norm.

[@nottwo6492]

And if I got to choose, I would again get 5 buckles Dachsteins. Those rule.

[@S3RAVA3LM]

Atomic magna Hawx is my new boot and is the best fit, feels great, fully moldable.

[@almeladze]

This BOA reminnds me of PUMP on Shaq sneakers back in the day lol Remember those?

[@chrislovell7448]

Buy a quality boot, get a Zipfit liner, get a custom orthotic, get the liner heat molded, get the shell punched if you need to. Good to go for many years, Zipfit will last a long time. Oh, I forgot, pay like $1500-$1800.

[@peterfreeman3317]

Yup, buy once, cry once. You get what you pay for.

[@gaborvargahu]

The Dynafit walking-mode is hütte-mode, actually. :P

[@brookscurran]

Nordica Unlimited boots belong on the list!

[@lukemalm9190]

I've replaced the boa on my MTB shoes as well. Its been real nice on the bike to get change in fit on the fly

[@durlav1n1]

Can you guys review the Dahu Écorce ski boots? They look great for a resort skiing.

[@JT-xf9sw]

You'd have to be crazy to buy a K2 Ski Boot wirh all the ones have imploded recently. K2 really needs to do a voluntary recall if they want to ever sell a ski boot again in any significant way.

[@n-da-bunka2650]

I have an Atomic Hawx 130 that I have been satifisfied racing with for the past 10 years. Would consider a mens HawX 130... is there one?

[@juniorfrederiksen344]

Will the cable rust?

[@TheDogHollerer]

i have boa korker fishing boots, stainless, will not rust

[@stickgs]

What boot would you recommend for a male with narrow flat feet? Athletic 68yr old skiing Big Sky, MT and 85% on Groomers. Not a super hard charger! My motto is live to ski another day! Thanks

[@ryan39584]

The bottom two buckles are only for allowing you to get into the boot and keeping snow/cold out, they don't serve any extra purpose. Not sure why you'd need to cinch it down for a "tighter higher performance feel". Pretty sure if you buy a high end boot you're buying a correct size boot.

[@okrdokr]

no these boots have those buckles which allow for a last range. most of these boots now allow you to have a last raneg between like 98 and 102

[@ryan39584]

@@okrdokr last is the width of the foot bed not the buckle, it's not an adjustable option.

[@okrdokr]

@@ryan39584 yup but i mean if u look it up all the companies are saying the buckles are to adjust the last lol. it supposedly cinches down the footbed area too and it honestly feels like that. not a fan of boa but those buckles do adjust the last

[@ryan39584]

@@okrdokr I looked, no they don't.

[@bobsmith4126]

Definitely doesnt change the last on a boot.

[@Matias-gf3ed]

For ski instructors (or other professionals), would you say the BOA system is still a good option since we are in our boots, like a lot a lot? The budget doesn't really allow us to buy ski boots every season/year

[@Jayman5281]

Nope. You want the reliability of a latch buckle. 👍

[@marcus_clarkus]

Yeah BOA did their field testing in 2021-2023 with lots of ski instructors and they liked them

[@direwolf6234]

missing from this discussion is any mention of how hard or easy it is to get them on without a struggle ...

[@dredbud9272]

@@direwolf6234 I put the liners on pull the laces tight on the zipfits and then easily step into the shells. Not a problem I think there is a video on here somewhere. It’s called world cupping,it’s how the pros get their boots on .

[@lucasmartis6448]

Hello! Can you help me with a good boot for freestyle and freeride please?!

[@JT-xf9sw]

My technica boots lasted for 14 years. I plan to buy Tecnica again. I won't be buying ANY ski boot with walk mode either

[@ianskinner1619]

still haven't seen anything that out does my Dachstein V3 pro's

[@brianglendenning1632]

The 5 buckle things? I had a pair of those back in the early 90s. Great when skiing, torture anything other than skiing - took those MFers off as soon as I got to work or back to the car.

[@nottwo6492]

I had them too. A real operation to put them on and off, but they skied superb. 5 buckles rules!

[@LatvianPagan999]

what if boa gets off and gets stuck between the rocks?

[@Gativum]

Does anyone think BOA will be used in almost every ski boot?

[@smarterlearningsimplifed]

Awesome video!! I'm looking for some new custom boots and this video was great in informing my decision. I thnk the BOA system looked really interesting and will now look out for it if surefoot has any boots with that feature.

[@dredbud9272]

@@smarterlearningsimplifed I have a pair of Lange 130 flex with Surefoot liners. They are great boots and in my opinion worth every penny. My new Fischer BOA 140 flex are even better . They come with a Zipfit liner and are easily heat moldable . I really don’t know how a Surefoot liner would work with a BOA boot. I’m pretty sure that Surefoot will custom mold a liner to also any shell you bring in as long as it isn’t trashed. The nice thing about Surefoot is all the locations they have . If you are experiencing problems you can take your boots into any store and they will punch,grind etc. It used to be free but that may have changed. Good luck,hope this helps

[@kendallzylstra5957]

Those atomic look good

[@JJRodpro]

The BOA system will not work for skiers with a wide toe box and a normal to low instep. Two things that I felt... First your toes will feel the tightness much earlier than your instep feels secure and tie down. Second, your heel will not be retained in the heel pocket and will slide forward. I tried the Salomon S-pro Supra120, Medium volume since my last is 112mm; the 27-27.5 boot will accommodate up to 108mm last feet "close enough". Given that the boots have not been molded, I still don't think that that will solve the problem and so I will be getting the normal four buckle boot.

[@crazybluechicken]

You should not be relying on the front buckles to hold your heel. From your comment I'd suggest that the boots are too large for your feet. Get the length and heel hold to fit first then you can mold the boots to give your toes more room to be secure and comfortable. Whether it's BOA or buckles, the front latches are not for heels hold. A lot of people can ski with them unbuckled. One of the thoughts about the BOA is that they're acutally changing the least important part of the boot adjustments.

[@misterfunnybones]

Any skier who likes tight fitting, performance oriented boots will never use a boa. The boa caters to quick & easy recreational users that ski 5-10 days per year & favour comfort over performance. They arguably make sense on snowboard boots because they replace laces. I don't see any advantage replacing buckles. Buckles are pretty fast to close, buckles rarely break, buckles can tolerate ridiculous tension, whereas the boa will fray & break. If you do go boa, then know the specific dial system & cable length for repair, or prepare to buy new boots every year.

[@alfonsomoresi9348]

I have a unbelievable high instep. It took about six trips to my boot fitter to get my Technica 130’s to fit and the over the foot buckle is on the lightest setting. I have the high instep problem on all shoes and boots I wear. Since my Technica’s are only two years old I am staying with them for now but I think the BOA will work for people like me.

[@misterfunnybones]

@@alfonsomoresi9348 Sounds like it's time for Surefoot custom liners & a high volume shell. That, or take up snowboarding.

[@MegaMikeaI]

​@@misterfunnybonestake up snowboarding 😂😂 these BOA haters would do ANYTHING as long as they don't have to go anywhere near a BOA

[@1002wjl]

Didn't include the Lange Shadow collection ? WTF ? Arguably the most unique, innovative ski boot in decades....!?!?!?

[@charliedillon6319]

So dynafit is the best all round boot. Looking to get new boots this season but have no idea wear to start mine are 6 year only k2’s loved then just after something with more comforts

[@gregh3248]

Technica makes the best boot. Period. Flex is NOT standardized, a 110 in one boot is a 130 in others.

[@ondrejjanoska660]

yep and exactly when you finish 1 hour boot up, one meter deep, in first turn you gonna hit rock, the clever boa somehow get under the edge of ski cut itself and f#ucked. Well done.

[@dredbud9272]

@@ondrejjanoska660 are you skiing in a gravel pit? Your scenario doesn’t exist.

[@bruceklassen3430]

STROLZ!

[@misterfunnybones]

They're very convenient, but they fray & break. Boa offers free repair kits, but that's not much consolation when your on the mountain with a broken cable. I carry some beefy zap straps & a shoelace for my snowboard boots. They will break & often at the most inconvenient time.

[@keim3548]

False again.

[@misterfunnybones]

@@keim3548 I've broken 6 BOA cables. They fray, unravel, & break.

[@dredbud9272]

@@misterfunnybones the cables are way thicker,if you break one of these you have bigger problems. Probably a visit to the ER .

[@misterfunnybones]

@ they fray & break. I've broken 6 in 12 years. I've replaced 4. Never visited the Whistler health center once. The new cordage is either coated stainless braided steel, or maybe woven Kevlar.

[@dredbud9272]

@@misterfunnybones there is no way you will break one of these cables on the new boa boots,not gonna happen. If you think you are that badass of a skier get a pair and give it a try. If you succeed BOA will give you a job testing out boots.

[@courtneysteeves7817]

Who here clamps down the first two buckles?

[@weridebikes1000]

Boa: sells boots, fails at the worst time.

[@christianacosta4013]

anyone else thinks BOA is just a gimmick? it tries to solve a problem that doesn't exist

[@TheGweedMan]

For a beginning to intermediate skier, the BOA makes it easier for them. For high intermediate to advanced skiers it doesn’t allow the skier to adjust the first two buckles on a four buckle boot. It assumes that you want to have the same pressure from your toes to your ankle and that’s not true. I like four buckles with the first two being adjustable and not very tight which is my preference. The third buckle is the one that is the most important as it locks your heel into the heel pocket of the boot and then the fourth buckle would be the second most important to keep your leg above the ankle locked in. This was a very limited selection of boots, as there are many many more choices available.

[@maggot1234]

@@TheGweedMan what does it make easier ?

[@maelilmc4079]

Guessing you don’t have a high arch

[@TheGweedMan]

@@maggot1234 One device takes care of two buckles around the toes. Again, this is for beginning to low intermediate skiers. They don’t really know how loose or how tight they want the two buckles to be. The boa makes it easy to tighten or loosen the tow area very easily.

[@MB-nn3jw]

They tried this sort of thing back in the 80’s. There’s a reason you don’t see it anymore.

[@RT-tn4ry]

Are your feet warm, the only thing that matters. Get a pair of Apex boots !!

[@jaroslavcenek8729]

Nordica HF Pro. Nothing to talk about ..

[@mf3621]

boa is a noa

[@alexanderdudin8593]

Башкирка неплохо говорит на английском)

[@MrImcmillan]

Boa may convert me back from a 3 piece setup.

[@lawrencespedden1500]

The BOA ski boot is simply STUPID! Over time the dial stops working because of the internal gear tightening/loosening failure; besides ski boots need to be adjusted for every part of your foot, hence buckles with micro adjustments. A circumnavigating cable that tightens/loosens everything indiscriminately is insane

[@dredbud9272]

Don’t knock them til you try them . The points you make are invalid. Do you even know how to ski?

[@cabuleaovidiu3819]

I use BOA systems on my motorcycle boots for many years. Always worked and never failed. Also , I guess use motorcycle more than I ski ….

[@Jayman5281]

I give the industry 3 years with BOA…it’ll be back to latch buckles Gunna suck for the consumers 👎

[@dredbud9272]

@@Jayman5281 don’t think so ,talk to anyone that skis them and it’s all favorable.