Buckle-Free Dual BOA Ski Boots Are Here and They Have an Ingenious Design

Ski boot technology hasn’t changed all that much in the last 15 to 20 years, so it was kind of a big deal when the BOA dial/cable Fit System, originally designed for snowboarding boots in 2001, came to ski boots for the 2023–2024 ski season. But those hoping for a truly buckle-free experience were a little disappointed that the first BOA-equipped ski boots only featured a single dial that replaced the two bottom buckles on the lower shell.

Well, now Atomic, Solomon, K2 and others have announced new Dual Dial BOA ski boots that feature two BOA dials and completely do away with any buckles. Starting at around $750, some Dual BOA models are available to purchase now, while others will ship later this year. I recently got a chance to try Atomic’s new Hawx Ultra 130 S Dual BOA boots at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and have some early impressions.

Innovative detachable cable for upper cuff BOA dial

As I noted after trying the first-gen BOA ski boots with a single dial, BOA models are slightly harder to get into than your typical ski boot that has two bottom buckles. You pull up on the dial to fully release the cable and push it in and turn it counter-clockwise to cinch it up. You can also loosen the cable without lifting the dial (you simply turn it clockwise). Your foot is a little harder to get in the boot because it doesn’t open that extra bit at the bottom when you release both buckles. So how the heck would you get your foot into a boot with a dial on both bottom and top of the boot near the cuff?

It turns out that the new upper BOA’s cable system is actually detachable and clips on and off an anchor post, allowing you to the fully open the cuff and slide your foot in without a problem. So, yeah, there’s sort of pseudo buckle-like element involved, but once you get your foot in the boot and clip the upper dial in, there’s nothing to buckle — you just dial in your preferred fit. I thought it was a pretty nifty design.

Boots equipped with single or dual BOA dials aren’t going to dramatically impact how ski, though you should get slightly better responsiveness and power transfer during turns, particularly if you’re an advanced skier. The way BOA boots wrap your foot feels a little different — it’s more of a uniform wrap that offers the same snugness all around your foot. And you can dial in that snugness more precisely. But most people will simply appreciate the convenience of being able to adjust your fit with a dial instead instead of fiddling around with buckles, especially when it’s very cold and snowing hard. I often feel like my boots are a little too tight in the third groove but not tight enough in the second. The BOA dials get you that Goldilocks tightness and also reduce pressure points due to the way the cables dial in the tightness.

All that said, the BOA Fit System (single or dual) doesn’t guarantee you’ll get a more comfortable fit than a traditional ski boot with four buckles. You can still develop pain points and you do need to make sure you’re getting the right size boot with the right last (width). Often, people get boots that are a little too big for them (racers, on the other hand, want super-tight fitting boots). With the Atomic Hawx 130 S, I actually went down a size. This is a narrow “low-volume” boot and I have a somewhat wider foot, but in the limited time I used the boots, they felt good.

If I used them long term, I would at least buy a new footbed for them and might even get custom liner, which isn’t cheap. Companies like Surefoot will remove the stock liner and replace it with a custom liner that a boot technician fills with foam to mold to your foot. (Surefoot also sells custom footbeds and a boot heater accessory that works nicely.) You can also ditch the stock boot liner for a $500 ZipFit boot liner. Custom boot set-ups can run you as much as the boots themselves cost, but the added cost is worth it for many people desperately seeking a pain-free skiing experience.

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BOA-equipped ski boots tend cost a little more than non-BOA boots. I wondered about the warranty on the system and what you would do if you happen to break off or damage one of those dials. BOA told me the Fit System is guaranteed for the life of the product and that it ensured that ski shops around the country have repair kits and replacement parts if needed “and at no expense to the customer.” Customers can also access new parts through the BOA Warranty Team using BOAfit.com.

The Atomic Hawx 130 S are men’s boots, but Dual BOA boots from Atomic, Salomon, K2 and others will be available in women’s versions, as well as a few different flex options — the 130 in the name refers to the stiffness of the boot, with that being the stiffest and usually the most expensive model in a line (prices for top-of-the-line Dual BOA-equipped boots approach $1,000). More advanced skiers tend to want stiffer boots, but it’s also based on your personal taste and skiing style and such factors as weight and height. Rental boots tend to tap out at around a 90 flex, which isn’t stiff enough for most expert skiers.

Preliminary list of new Dual BOA ski boots

Atomic:

• Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 S Dual BOA

Salomon:

• Salomon S/Pro Dual BOA Supra 120
• Salomon S/Pro Dual BOA Supra 130
• Salomon S/Pro Dual BOA Supra 105 W
• Salomon S/Pro Dual BOA Supra 115 W

K2:

• K2 Cortex 120 M
• K2 Cortex 130 M
• K2 Cortex 140 
• K2 Cortex 105 W
• K2 Cortex 125 W

Head Ski:

• Head Kaliber 130 MV GW BOA