Gear
Nothing has changed the ski industry this decade like the emergence of BOA ski boots. We have taken on the challenge here at SnowBrains to have two writers review two different BOA ski boots over this season. Aunika will review the Atomic Hawx 115 Ultra XTD single BOA, while John will review the K2 Cortex 130 Zonal (double) BOA.
- Related: The Science of Bootfitting
Reviewer Stats: Aunika
- Female
- Skier for 20+ years | Advanced – Expert
- Testing the Atomic Hawx 115 Ultra XTD in a 24.5
- 50+ day season across a variety of Colorado ski resorts, mainly Copper Mountain, Winter Park, and Loveland
Reviewer Stats: John
- Male
- Skier for 20+ years | Advanced – Expert
- Testing the K2 Cortex 130 Zonal BOA in a 24.5
- 20+ days skied so far around Lake Tahoe ski resorts
Development of BOA for Ski Boots
Plainly put, the BOA Fit System has had a dramatic impact on the ski industry. However, the BOA Fit System itself isn’t actually new to snow sports. Born in 2001, the BOA Fit System changed the way snowboarders laced up their boots. Instead of having to tie their laces, they were introduced to the BOA Fit System. This new system consisted of a simple dial connected to a stainless steel lace stitched strategically across the tongue of the boot. When turned to the right, the dial pulled the boot closed, tightening the stainless steel lace. Snowboarders could now toss their boots on and quickly tighten them up–righty tighty, before popping to release. The BOA Fit System gave a tighter, more precise fit to snowboard boots. Over the last 20-plus years, the BOA Fit System has advanced across a variety of outdoor sports. It can be found on most helmets, trail running shoes, biking shoes, hiking boots, golf shoes, and more.
What was once a common technology familiar to snowboarders is now changing the way skiers are dialing in their ski boots this season. The BOA Fit System, which debuted in 2023 on select ski boot models, initially replaced just the lower buckles. This season, multiple brands have released models featuring both single- and double-BOA dial systems.
Introducing BOA to skiers was more than just removing the lower buckles and slapping on a dial. The H+1 dials used on ski boots are more robust than any BOA Fit System before, ensuring an ideal amount of energy is transferred from the boot to the ski. In addition to an upgraded dial, the lace was specifically engineered to withstand the intense energy driven through a ski boot. Composed of 100 strands of stainless steel, you’ll feel locked in place and won’t think twice about stability while driving into your ski boots.
Aunika: First Impressions of Single BOA
This season, I’ll have the opportunity to ski the Atomic Hawx 115 W’s XTD single BOA ski boot. I’ll get firsthand experience testing how these boots perform throughout my 50+ day season across a variety of Colorado resorts and touring. As a bootfitter here in Denver, I’ve been fitting BOA boots on other skiers’ feet for the past year. I’ve learned secondhand how the BOA System has changed how ski boots initially fit others, so I was thrilled at the chance to try them out on snow myself.
Even with the lack of snow here in Colorado this December, I’ve had quite a few days in these boots. As someone who typically keeps her lower buckles quite loose, I wasn’t sure I’d notice a major difference with the single BOA. However, as soon as I began driving into the front of my boots and arcing a turn, I noticed an immediate change. My instep and ankle were locked in, but without that annoying pressure from a buckle on the top of my instep. It was almost as if the boot was hugging my foot. Not only was there more even pressure on the lower half of the boot, but with the BOA you can get a tighter fit without compromising comfort.
Being able to dial in my fit allows for quicker energy transition to my skis. I felt the slightest movement in my boot make a big impact while turning. So not only are my feet locked in, but the BOA allows me to feel more connected to my skis across a variety of terrain. While most of my days have been spent carving up the groomers while waiting for more snow, I have high expectations for these boots for skiing longer days and bigger terrain.
John: First Impressions of Dual BOA
Double BOA ski boots are here. And it’s safe to say that they are here to stay. I recently received the K2 Cortex 130 Zonal BOA to test out over the course of my 100+ day season here in Lake Tahoe. This three-part review begins with my initial thoughts and impressions, followed by a 50-day recap, and finally an end-of-season review. Let’s dive right into it.
From the moment I unboxed and put my hands on these dual-BOA ski boots, I was genuinely intrigued. Aside from the ability to make micro-adjustments across both the calf and the foot—thanks to the zonal, dual-BOAs—there are multiple other features to help dial in the fit and performance of this boot. For example, the EliteFit Pro Liner comes with ‘Ski Edge Sensitivity Shims’—which you can add to either side of the liner cuff—that alter the edge initiation angle for a more or less reactive feel edge-to-edge on the ski. Additionally, the liners can be fully laced-up for a “world-cupping” style entry/exit and an even more optimal, snug fit. And, like most performance boots, the liner, shell, and cuff are all heat-moldable for a truly custom-fitting boot.
*I’ll be wearing my Zipfit Gara LV liners with footbeds for the majority of this season, but for the sake of testing, I will ski some days in the stock liners as well.
For my first few days in the new boots, I swapped in my ZipFits for the stock liners. Getting my liner into the shell was a bit of a challenge on day one, but mostly on my left foot, which has a slightly higher instep. The next morning, I problem-solved, placed my shells on the floor of my driver’s seat, and blasted the heat for a moment while I put my liners on. Doing this definitely helped make the plastic around the cuff and instep a bit more forgiving and flexible, making for a considerably easier slip-in on a colder morning without sacrificing the integrity of the boot flex.
Once skiing, I immediately felt as if the boot was an extension of my body, responding to my foot and leg movements instantly and effortlessly. I’ve been learning how to ski some park last spring, and this early season, and I’m slowly starting to hit rails. On the first tube I slid—with my feet and calves wrapped inside the precisely tightened BOA Systems—I felt significantly more secure and locked in than in my other boots I’ve been wearing for two seasons. Although using the dial to tighten four separate BOAs took a tad bit longer than a traditional four-buckle boot, it had a noticeably different, better feel.
To say that I’m impressed would be an understatement. The tight-fitting, yet somehow comfortable, wrap that BOA provides around my calf and foot translates to more control and increased power transfer to my ski. I feel considerably more explosive and aggressive while still maintaining an intuitive and precise feel of my skis underfoot. It will be exciting to see how these boots perform with steeper, more technical skiing in deeper snow once the opportunity arises. In the meantime, I’ll continue to drive these boots hard on the few open groomers and get a bunch of repetitions in the park.
Our Thoughts on BOA Ski Boots
Both Aunika and John agree that the addition of BOA on ski boots will continue to grow and exceed skiers’ expectations across the industry in the coming years. Being able to make micro-adjustments across the foot and/or calf has already been proven to increase control and power transfer, and as time goes on, more skiers will become aware of this. Whether it’s through enhancements to the single or zonal BOA, further research and development, or simply more brands integrating the product into their designs, BOA is indeed here to stay on ski boots.
