BOA is Coming for Ski Boots, and the Industry Will Never be the Same!

I got into snowboarding at 11 years old and then Santa brought me a full snowboard setup for Christmas when I was 13. Unfortunately, I didn’t fall in love with the sport until I was 24. The reason? I hated the boots. My first pair of boots were traditional laced snowboard boots and they were the worst (In my opinion)! I could never tie them tight enough and inevitably one boot would always seem looser than the other. That all changed when I upgraded to the K2 Maysis Double Boa boot (not not a plug, but was my first Boa experience). With the two Boas, one to cinch down my ankle to reduce heel lift, and the other to tension the boot firmly and equally around my foot. Finally, I felt I could achieve the tightness, consistency between boots, and performance that I dreamed of for all those years. Why is this quick trip down memory lane pertinent? Boa is coming for ski boots, and the industry will never be the same!

I’m sure readers will have seen Boa boots in stores in recent years and may have had a conversation or two with the boot gurus out there. A quick Google tells me that articles around the internet have been heralding the coming of Boa since late 2023. The secret is out! I’m here, as a snowboarder (and definitely not a skier), to let you know that you all should be excited about this revolution! Traditional Buckle systems will always be classic and get the job done the way you know and love, but Boa just does it all better. From an easy the achieve consistent tight ankle and foot fit, to the near infinite range of adjustability, Boa offers exactly what you need where you need it.

Do you find most boots can’t get tight enough in certain spaces? Awesome, Boa has you covered with different Boa cable lengths! Do you need to constantly adjust your boots as the day unfolds to maximize your comfort but possibly hinder your performance? Literally could not be easier with a Boa boot! What if you are like me and have pronounced cuneiform bones on the top of your foot? Great news! Unlike Traditional Buckles, which lock you in via downward pressure, Boa wraps your whole foot up like a burrito; equally distributing pressures to ensure maximum comfort while keeping you dialed into your boot. Choosing between comfort and performance has become redundant. 

But wait, there’s more! My favourite thing about my Boa boots is how fast it is to get into, but most importantly, out of the boots. Just two pops and they’re off! There is so much to love about Boa systems and I am so glad ski boots are finally getting comfier. Fun Fact! This is the first year that every major boot manufacturer is stocking at least one single Boa boot. Pretty soon each will have Double Boas, currently only K2 and Atomic offer such boots. I can only imagine that Traditional Buckle boots will soon play second fiddle to Boa boots in popularity. Come into Sundance Ski and Snowboard and try a pair yourself, see what the future holds!