All Images: Courtesy of Salomon
Just when you thought you had a handle on BOA ski boots—the evolution continues. Salomon first ventured into the world of BOA ski boots when it added the fit system to the mid-volume S/Pro Supra in the fall of 2023. The boot featured the familiar BOA dial and metal cable closure that laced its way around the lower shell, connecting five anchor points on the boot. According to BOA, this design provides a more consistent and uniform wrap over the ski boot than traditional buckles can provide—improving power transmission and enabling skiers to micro-adjust the tightness of the shell in 0.25mm increments. Like many skiers, I was utterly curious about the performance and have since spent a good deal of time in BOA-enabled boots.
As a professional boot-fitter, I can confidently say that the addition of BOA to ski boots was a major step forward for skiers—particularly when it comes to a foot like mine, which has a high arch and instep. I found BOA’s uniform wrap to be much more comfortable than what buckles typically provide. That said, the single BOA system never affected the way the boot skied, only the way it felt.
Initial Thoughts
I recently got my hands on the new S/Pro Supra Dual BOA, which uses a newly designed fit system that’s specifically made for the upper cuff, along with the original BOA Fit System on the lower shell of the boot. The top BOA draws on a metal cable that’s double-anchored where upper buckles would usually be attached. Similar to the original system on the lower shell, BOA says this will provide a more consistent fit and pressure than buckles. While I haven’t yet gotten it out on the hill, I was able to try it on and it didn’t take long for me to become a believer. In a matter of seconds, it felt like I had the perfect fit, with the upper cuff feeling snug and comfortable around my calf. Furthermore, I was able to micro-adjust the pressure if I didn’t think it was just right. The system just has an intuitive, customizable feel that we’re not really used to as skiers, which is a welcome change. The real test will come when I get to hit snow in these but my initial impression is that I (and you) are really going to like this evolution in our sport.
