To BOA or not to BOA (we have real world insight)

[coskigirl]

Christy Sports appears to have the K2 in stock. https://www.christysports.com/k2?ut...8jhF_lqXkizGnSNpoS5qhsoqqIsiNhWpSvBB-11hVSUr0

 

[cantunamunch]

Well, I do see that, but I'm thinking more along the lines of small frictional losses as the cable passes over each plastic guide.

AFAICT, that only comes into play if the net takeup at the BOA dial doesn't distribute equally over its own length. i.e. complete sticktion - which you would feel at the BOA dial.

I am assuming Change(L)/Lfree does distribute equally, much like with both BOA bike shoes and single pull shoe laces.

 

[cantunamunch]

Huh, never seen something like that.

it's kind of a joke - it refers to all the people who insist they never ever ever do anything but barely buckle the clog, and challenges them to put their boot mods where their mouth is.

I the BOA boots don’t fit otherwise maybe I’ll give it a try next year.

 

[skipress]

I'm just disappointed all these brands have done it half-assed. I want a BOA for the cuff too!!

I mentioned that to the Fischer rep. He said not now but you never know in the future. Not sure if that's a "you never know" or a "you never know wink wink".

As far as BOA on the cuff... I think getting the cable open enough to get in and out of the shell is the main issue.

I suspect it's possible, though with the negative reactions here there might be a short term struggle to acceptance. There's a fair amount of travel on my Apex liners when the discs are released.

The loads however would be much greater than on the clog and there might be a question as to whether the internals would need beefing up

 

[Roundturns]

You know what, I think it’s too good to be true might apply here with BOA being the new panacea for fit issues. I believe the BOA engineering is valid and will deliver a better fitting boot for a lot of skiers. But many skiers will still have fit issues a cable system won’t address. As mentioned if addressing these issues first you might be able to max out fit.
I remember when the Fischer Vacumn process was introduced. My buddy had two pair fitted in Vail and I was with him when they were fit.
I thought at the time, wow, Fischer nailed it. You couldn’t achieve a better fit conventionally.
Guess I was wrong. One pair he had to ditch because they developed rockered soles! He was always “fiddling” with his buckles going up the lift.
Anyway time confirmed Vacumn was way less than the perfect method to deliver the perfect fit .
I’m inclined to believe achieving a great fit involves having access to a boot fitting pro that has seen and experienced it all and has the tools and expertise to apply this to your fit problems.
Time will tell with BOA.

 

[Wade]

You know what, I think it’s too good to be true might apply here with BOA being the new panacea for fit issues.

Has anyone actually claimed this?

 

[Roundturns]

Has anyone actually claimed this?

You’re right nobody has except me (lol).

 

[skipress]

The thing that is only alluded to, but not really fully explored when this is discussed are the potential performance advantages where you could [in theory] make the shell about 1cm thick where you need performance/support/strength but really thin where you need a wrap. It's much harder creating that sort of blend with conventional buckles. This is essentially a 5 buckle clog [or if you prefer 5 points of closure] so there are some really interesting potential advantages.

Personally I still think that Zay has more potential because of the way in which the closure is attached to the cuff so that when the boot is flexed the cables 'shorten', wrapping the shell more tightly around the foot. The boa will I assume behave more conventionally when flexed..

Waiting on my Supra 130s to land tho and excited to try out

 

[cantunamunch]

Personally I still think that Zay has more potential because of the way in which the closure is attached to the cuff so that when the boot is flexed the cables 'shorten', wrapping the shell more tightly around the foot. The boa will I assume behave more conventionally when flexed..

You have pair of Zays, yes? Can you post pics of this feature?

 

[Lorenzzo]

The thing that is only alluded to, but not really fully explored when this is discussed are the potential performance advantages where you could [in theory] make the shell about 1cm thick where you need performance/support/strength but really thin where you need a wrap. It's much harder creating that sort of blend with conventional buckles. This is essentially a 5 buckle clog [or if you prefer 5 points of closure] so there are some really interesting potential advantages.

Personally I still think that Zay has more potential because of the way in which the closure is attached to the cuff so that when the boot is flexed the cables 'shorten', wrapping the shell more tightly around the foot. The boa will I assume behave more conventionally when flexed..

Waiting on my Supra 130s to land tho and excited to try out

Five points of closure but one setting compared to two with buckles.

 

[Quandary]

did Fischer mention when the zip fit boot will get to shops? Next summer/fall? Sooner?

 

[Andy Mink]

did Fischer mention when the zip fit boot will get to shops? Next summer/fall? Sooner?

I did not hear anything.

 

[skipress]

You have pair of Zays, yes? Can you post pics of this feature?

Mine are prototype 140s. They're early ones so they ski really well but are pretty ferocious to get in and out of. The production ones are much easier

You probably see it clearest here [about 20 seconds in onwards].


Because the closure and the cables are attached to the cuff as the boot is flexed the cables are pulled 'up' and this tightens the 'wrap' around the clog

 

[skipress]

Five points of closure but one setting compared to two with buckles.

My read is that this is like shoe laces; so that when there is 'resistance' the cable pull moves to the next point where there is less resistance and so on

 

[Lorenzzo]

My read is that this is like shoe laces; so that when there is 'resistance' the cable pull moves to the next point where there is less resistance and so on

Hmmm…that not only seems counter to the design but isn’t the way cycling and golf iterations I’ve had work, which in those cases presents a weakness. I routinely have to pull on cable with my fingers to get adequate uniformity of tightness. The dials aren’t able to accomplish that and it’s partly why I’ve retired the BOA golf shoes.

 

[Tony Storaro]

Hmmm…that not only seems counter to the design but isn’t the way cycling and golf iterations I’ve had work, which in those cases presents a weakness. I routinely have to pull on cable with my fingers to get adequate uniformity of tightness. The dials aren’t able to accomplish that and it’s partly why I’ve retired the BOA golf shoes.

And this is why the more premium cycling shoes come with two dials

However, the friction here between the cable and…what do you call these…eyelets? is much greater than in the ski boots where as far as I can see they are like pulleys so far less friction and presumably-more uniform tension.
And also-there are only 3 of them pulleys so won’t be that much of a problem. Besides even if the tension is uneven, the least tension will be exactly where you need the least tension-at the toes.
It’ll be fine.
I still see no particular advantage but will surely try it when available, even only so I can then say; Man it really sucks.

 

[Philpug]

Salomon S/Pro Supra 130 and S/Pro Supra 105 ...which @Tricia says is a real stiff 105.

 

[newfydog]

Guys, we had them in the '60's. Molitor/Hechung used the system through the start of the plastic boots. I last used them in 1971 in a high backed Heschung. Never missed those cables.

I have BOA wading boots for fishing now, but don't think they are much needed for a hard shell boot.

 

[Tom K.]

Salomon S/Pro Supra 130 and S/Pro Supra 105 ...which @Tricia says is a real stiff 105.

Are you guys OK?!

No BOA-induced PTSD?!

No spontaneous combustion?!

 

[cantunamunch]

No BOA-induced PTSD?!

They won't know until the nightmares start...