BOA Boot Lacing System

I'm in the market for a new pair of boots. I looked at a pair of
Northwave Sanchez boots that use the new BOA cable lacing system.
Instead of conventional laces, the BOA system uses a thin metal cable
that is wound around a round ratchet device near the top of the boot.
To tighten the lacing, you wind the metal cable in with the ratchet
knob.

It's not only quick to tighten/release, but it also tightened the
laces very uniformly all the way to the last lace, something that is
not easy to do with regular laces. Currently Northwave uses these on
the Quest and APX Sanchez, Vans offers it on Fargo and Contra. One of
the obvious questions is how durable the system is in the real world.

I'd be interested in any opinions from riders with any experience with
these.

(Chet Hayes) wrote in message m...

I'd be interested in any opinions from riders with any experience with
these.

I had a pair of boots with BOA laces in the '01-'02 season (when they
were just rolling out the first ones). I'm a big guy, about 240 lbs,
and I'm not happy to say that I broke 2 of the laces going off small
jumps. The first was after just 3 days on the boots, the second time
was probably after 15 more days. I returned them to the store and got
a pair of boots with regular laces. I did like them for the reasons
you mentioned above (quick to get in, easy to get tight, etc.), but
they didn't hold up to my punnishment.

But this is the 3rd season the BOAs will be on the market, so there's
a good chance they got some of the kinks out. But if you are a big
guy, I might pass on them.

-Dave

They've changed to a multi-strand steel cable instead of the single
strand Titanium cable they started with. I've heard that it really
improved the durability. All of the shop guys I have talked to say
they were skeptical but have not actually heard of any issues.
I was very close to buying a set of Sanchezes, but the Burton
Driver won out due to a better fit (for me anyway) and it working
better with my flow bindings.

(Dave) wrote in message om...
(Chet Hayes) wrote in message m...

I'd be interested in any opinions from riders with any experience with
these.

I had a pair of boots with BOA laces in the '01-'02 season (when they
were just rolling out the first ones). I'm a big guy, about 240 lbs,
and I'm not happy to say that I broke 2 of the laces going off small
jumps. The first was after just 3 days on the boots, the second time
was probably after 15 more days. I returned them to the store and got
a pair of boots with regular laces. I did like them for the reasons
you mentioned above (quick to get in, easy to get tight, etc.), but
they didn't hold up to my punnishment.

But this is the 3rd season the BOAs will be on the market, so there's
a good chance they got some of the kinks out. But if you are a big
guy, I might pass on them.

-Dave

(Chet Hayes) wrote in message m...
I'm in the market for a new pair of boots. I looked at a pair of
Northwave Sanchez boots that use the new BOA cable lacing system.
Instead of conventional laces, the BOA system uses a thin metal cable
that is wound around a round ratchet device near the top of the boot.
To tighten the lacing, you wind the metal cable in with the ratchet
knob.

It's not only quick to tighten/release, but it also tightened the
laces very uniformly all the way to the last lace, something that is
not easy to do with regular laces. Currently Northwave uses these on
the Quest and APX Sanchez, Vans offers it on Fargo and Contra. One of
the obvious questions is how durable the system is in the real world.

I'd be interested in any opinions from riders with any experience with
these.

You might also want to consider Salomon Boots, they have a "quick
pull" lacing system that is pretty fast to get in an out of. Instead
of tying the laces, there are two "locking" eyelets, because of this
design (which all the other eyelets are looser) you are pretty much
guaranteed even tighteness in each of the two regions (below and above
ankle). To get out, you jsut pop the lock out of the eyelet hook at
the top and above the ankle... meaning you usually get in and out
within 30 seconds.

I had a couple of pairs of Salomons and I like the lacing system a
lot, my complaint was that the boot's durability isn't the greatest
(lasts about 20-30 days before beginning to break down). Also the
boots is better for wide feet. I'm now trying out DCShoes, will let
people know after I've ridden them more.

--arvin

"Chet Hayes" wrote in message
...
I'm in the market for a new pair of boots. I looked at a pair of
Northwave Sanchez boots that use the new BOA cable lacing system.
Instead of conventional laces, the BOA system uses a thin metal cable
that is wound around a round ratchet device near the top of the boot.
To tighten the lacing, you wind the metal cable in with the ratchet
knob.

Chet,

K2 is doing a line this year with a BOA on the LINER, and not the outside.
Most of the riders at the pro camp at Timberline this year were wearing
them. The big problem with the BOA on the outside is that when you ratchet
down your straps tight, and start flexing, the boa will tighten on the top
of the foot, real hard, and the straps will hold it there. You have a
tendency to torture your feet with the external BOA. With the internal BOA,
you set your laces the way you want (on the outside), and ratchet the liner
to the way you want it, and it's less likely to bind and pinch inside. You
might have a problem getting the K2 boots, as they've sold out of most of
the shops in WA that I've seen.

Boots