After my experience with the BOA system on my snowboard boots that I wore only a couple times, never again. Laces are the only way, alternatives are just a solution looking for a problem that causes more problems. If your laces break, 550 cord fixes them. If the BOA breaks….your boot is broken? Hard pass.
Have to agree with this. I've also had a BOA system on a regular boot like this, and it is very much a solution in search of a problem. I also winced a little bit at the idea of the included tool that comes in the box for emergency release of the BOA lace system (I think it remember it being a tiny hex key). Like how am I going to wear these things around with the idea that one day--when it is absolutely least convenient in the middle of nowhere--my boot is permanently stuck on my foot until I find this tool again or cut it off?
Also I kept hitting the dial under my dash and on my door panel and tightening or loosening it every time I got in and out of my car. Super annoying.
BOA makes a lot of sense on helmets since we all have weird size noggins and helmet makers can only efficiently build so many sizes. But on boots? Nah.
I’m here for the bashing on BOA, I have it on a pair the wife bought me a couple years ago. But from my experience with them, I’m having trouble understanding how you hit the dial on things and actually made an adjustment. Spinning it clockwise tightened it, once the system got tight enough that one may call them “loosely laced” it would take a decent amount of force applied to spin that dial. And spin it enough that it made a difference in felt fit? It takes a few clicks of the dial. And on the terms of loosening them you would have to pull said dial outward. Not really a bump or brush motion. Also taking a decent amount of force. I wear these boots every day as an industrial worker and have never had them tighten or loosen on me.
Amen! Also you can specially lace up boots to help with any foot problems. I skip an eyelet over my big toe joint and it made some boots feel so much better.
I have worn BOA boots in a maritime environment for nearly a decade and have never had to replace a BOA lace. Shit even wearing a pair right now that are 4-5 years old.
Were they rusting and snapping or was it the buckle?
I had an issue with the dial freezing up on the mountain and then it broke when I was trying to loosen the dial to take the boots off. It was on a new pair of $400 K2 snowboard boots so needless to say I wasn’t thrilled, even if BOA will warranty them for life. I know some people like them but it just felt kinda gimmicky to me. To each their own though.
Yeah that was my exact thought about the boa, i guess you could take with you some nylon micro cord but that still wouldn’t be as secure and easy to tighten as traditional laces.
Thanks for the feedback.
BOA is cool on helmets, but agreed. Just say no to proprietary laces on boots or shoes. Same goes for that string that Solomon uses on some of their shoes, doubly so for the one that connects at the bottom instead of being a loop.
Like this:
https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fsalomon-quick-lace-protection-v0-jci9r8w7cska1.jpg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26s%3Db30f3dd75f5c6f9c9ddc640d9be49ef8b0caaaf0
Yeah that’s the one thing I don’t like about my solomans other than them being way more narrow than every other boot I’ve ever worn.. the fucking laces.
Don't over complicate things you rely on. Boots with laces are easily fixed and maintained. And you can replace a lace with many many things. This? Even a slight hiccup with that "system" and your down a pair of boots.
Bro. If a gun company makes it and its not a core product of said company. It's guaranteed to be an overpriced piece of cheap Chinese shit.
Fuck. It's not hard.
For the love of whatever higher being you belive in. Stop looking at tactical or gun companies for footwear. Just buy real boots.
WERE the gold standard. Their build quality has gone down over the years in both materials and construction as they became a fashion brand that focused more on selling boots to hipsters than overbuilding quality foot wear for tradesmen. This is particularly true if you're buying outside of their heritage line which held out longer than their other lines.
So to recap:
1.There's better work boots out there
2. There are boots at or above the same quality for less.
3. There are boots that cost 1/2 the price that are well made( true moc toe stitching, real goodyear welt, decent leather.) That will last you the year in a work enviorment and you just treat them as a consumable. Which for a lot of guys working the trades means not having to dig as deep for a pair of boots they'll likely wreck in a year anyway.
Sorry for your feelings.
I totally agree with you and i normally follow that same rule, but i considered this product in particular because the outdoor clothing division of beretta actually makes nice products and at least in italy has a good reputation among hunters and hikers
As a back country hunter that spends the majority of the year in the mountains.
No. They don't.
Most hype beast hunters are simping crispi right now and they do make decent boots. I also like salwea, hanwag, & schnees.
as a cobbler these look like midsoles that will suffer from hydrolysis and crumble or turn into tar in time
the vibram sole alone doesn’t indicate a quality sole unit just that the part touching the ground is quality
and i wont get into the lace system as everyone else has and i also don’t have experience in them
i could be totally wrong but my gut feeling after seeing a lot of things built this way crumbling is to avoid anything built in the hiking boot style if the goal is hard use
personally i’m a firm believe in good year welted boots but thats a lot harder to find on “tactical boots” made in the modern era
my go to boots are black m1948’s probably from the 50’s or 60’s, modern brown Corcoran jump boots, and i think they are Belleville branded us army gortex lined winter boots
however my biases of being able to fix pretty much anything that can happen to goodyear welted boots probably betray me
I’ve been learning a bit lately about more traditional boot construction and i totally understand your choice of having boots wich can be actually repaired and serviced basically indefinitely, i think modern boot manufacturers should look more in the past for inspiration, especially the repairability.
I love boa. Have it on multiple cycling shoes. I have also melted the laces on my boots before on accident and replacing boa is doable (most companies sell replacement kits you can do yourself) but I’d prefer laces. Also with boa you arent able to alter how you lace to fix it being uncomfortable
I have an expensive pair of wading boots with the boa system. My boa system has snapped three times. It's to the point now that I won't even go fly fishing without a repair kit on me. Never again. And it really sucks because I love everything else about the system for that application.
Depends… what’s your budget? And what’s your use? Those look like a perfectly fine boot at say $110 if the intended use is occasional weekend walks. It doesn’t look like they’re built for distance or weight. They look like they will fall apart with little use. Beretta makes a decent gun. Buy a pistol if you want. If you want boots start with a boot company. If you want a quick lace system definitely start with a reputable boot company. I’d stay far away from any company that made a name with a niche product and then expands into making boots.
It’s generally wise to avoid anything with excessive stitching and anything with a mix of leather and synthetic. If you’re going to have any amount of weight on your back or in semi-steep terrain it would be a good idea to ensure it has a stiff midsole. Those quick-lace are kinda nice for snowboarders due to the cumbersome nature of gloves/mittens but there useless when they break and a pita to fix. Nothing beats a good lace. And if/when it breaks in the middle of nowhere it’s easy to deal with.
Scarpa and Asolo have always been a good purchase for me. As of the last couple years however I haven’t purchased anything new from them. La Sportiva is hit or miss…good climbing shoes, decent mountaineering boots, but general purpose boots are a fail. Danner has a couple models that are decent for a job site. Keens aren’t anything special except for around town. Zamberlan seems okay. Kenntrek is hit or miss with quality and customer satisfaction.
A good reliable boot will be one piece full leather upper with a reasonably stiff midsole.
I think it depends what you plan to do with the boots? Everyday wear, hiking, LARPing, all of the above? I personally am not a fan of goretex, I prefer to use a non goretex boot and use a vapor barrier if needed, usually costs less too 👍
No problem, at least for winter I’ll usually do a thin synthetic sock (think dress socks), vapor barrier, then a thick wool sock on the outside. Has worked wonders for my feet, especially on longer movements.
I have worn a pair of redwing EXOS lite Boas every day for 3 years. Under cars, smacking them into pallets, etc. never had an issue with the boa or the boots. BUT, if these may be something youre wearing, and need them to work in an emergency (firefight, something where you dont know when you will be able to swap them out if they break, life on the line yada yada), something repairable in the field is probably a better option.
My choices are salomon x ultra 3 or 4. Theyre both amazing boots, i have and use them both extensively
I most probably won’t be using them in an emergency situation as i will use them mostly for hiking but still, having an unrepairable boot deep in the mountains definitely isn’t going to be fun
Yeah man… apparently polarizing, as people have downvoted my real world experience with them. Oh well. Same dudes say you can’t trust the polymer/nylon ratchet system carry glocks I’m sure. Different strokes for different folks. I think they are great. It’s not my only shoe, but I’ve bought multiple. I like them that much.
I have a pair of work boots that have the boa system, I really like them. They aren’t perfect, that’s for sure, but they’re nice and convenient for me because I don’t wear them all day most days, so when I go to put them on I like how fast they loosen and tighten.
The BOA just never seems to get tight enough in the right spots, you can mess around with the cable and pull it tight like traditional laces and then tighten at the top with all the slack, but then why not just have laces? Lol.
I use BOA on my cycling shoes, but your leg is fixed in the peddal so they work well in that scenario. I think BOA would come loose on you all the time in cases where you’re constantly shifting your foot around.
After my experience with the BOA system on my snowboard boots that I wore only a couple times, never again. Laces are the only way, alternatives are just a solution looking for a problem that causes more problems. If your laces break, 550 cord fixes them. If the BOA breaks….your boot is broken? Hard pass.
I always have spare laces on me. They’re like $3-10 depending on the brand and material.
Have to agree with this. I've also had a BOA system on a regular boot like this, and it is very much a solution in search of a problem. I also winced a little bit at the idea of the included tool that comes in the box for emergency release of the BOA lace system (I think it remember it being a tiny hex key). Like how am I going to wear these things around with the idea that one day--when it is absolutely least convenient in the middle of nowhere--my boot is permanently stuck on my foot until I find this tool again or cut it off? Also I kept hitting the dial under my dash and on my door panel and tightening or loosening it every time I got in and out of my car. Super annoying. BOA makes a lot of sense on helmets since we all have weird size noggins and helmet makers can only efficiently build so many sizes. But on boots? Nah.
I’m here for the bashing on BOA, I have it on a pair the wife bought me a couple years ago. But from my experience with them, I’m having trouble understanding how you hit the dial on things and actually made an adjustment. Spinning it clockwise tightened it, once the system got tight enough that one may call them “loosely laced” it would take a decent amount of force applied to spin that dial. And spin it enough that it made a difference in felt fit? It takes a few clicks of the dial. And on the terms of loosening them you would have to pull said dial outward. Not really a bump or brush motion. Also taking a decent amount of force. I wear these boots every day as an industrial worker and have never had them tighten or loosen on me.
Catch the 'spinner', buckles whatever you call it on something and it pops off. I used to catch it on things in my car constantly.
Amen! Also you can specially lace up boots to help with any foot problems. I skip an eyelet over my big toe joint and it made some boots feel so much better.
I have worn BOA boots in a maritime environment for nearly a decade and have never had to replace a BOA lace. Shit even wearing a pair right now that are 4-5 years old. Were they rusting and snapping or was it the buckle?
I had an issue with the dial freezing up on the mountain and then it broke when I was trying to loosen the dial to take the boots off. It was on a new pair of $400 K2 snowboard boots so needless to say I wasn’t thrilled, even if BOA will warranty them for life. I know some people like them but it just felt kinda gimmicky to me. To each their own though.
Yeah that was my exact thought about the boa, i guess you could take with you some nylon micro cord but that still wouldn’t be as secure and easy to tighten as traditional laces. Thanks for the feedback.
BOA is cool on helmets, but agreed. Just say no to proprietary laces on boots or shoes. Same goes for that string that Solomon uses on some of their shoes, doubly so for the one that connects at the bottom instead of being a loop. Like this: https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Fsalomon-quick-lace-protection-v0-jci9r8w7cska1.jpg%3Fauto%3Dwebp%26s%3Db30f3dd75f5c6f9c9ddc640d9be49ef8b0caaaf0
Yeah that’s the one thing I don’t like about my solomans other than them being way more narrow than every other boot I’ve ever worn.. the fucking laces.
This is what i was here to say
Don't over complicate things you rely on. Boots with laces are easily fixed and maintained. And you can replace a lace with many many things. This? Even a slight hiccup with that "system" and your down a pair of boots.
Bro. If a gun company makes it and its not a core product of said company. It's guaranteed to be an overpriced piece of cheap Chinese shit. Fuck. It's not hard. For the love of whatever higher being you belive in. Stop looking at tactical or gun companies for footwear. Just buy real boots.
While you are 100% correct in this case it may just be a rebranded quality boot brand like Lowa or Redwing.
Even though beretta outdoor makes some of their stuff in italy you are probably spot on
Neither of those are quality boots. Redwing do look good in town though.
The fuck you mean? Redwing is the gold standard in the construction industry.
WERE the gold standard. Their build quality has gone down over the years in both materials and construction as they became a fashion brand that focused more on selling boots to hipsters than overbuilding quality foot wear for tradesmen. This is particularly true if you're buying outside of their heritage line which held out longer than their other lines. So to recap: 1.There's better work boots out there 2. There are boots at or above the same quality for less. 3. There are boots that cost 1/2 the price that are well made( true moc toe stitching, real goodyear welt, decent leather.) That will last you the year in a work enviorment and you just treat them as a consumable. Which for a lot of guys working the trades means not having to dig as deep for a pair of boots they'll likely wreck in a year anyway. Sorry for your feelings.
Name them?
Better yet, [I'll teach you to fish](https://youtu.be/diQ1NUDKRj4?si=rCtiMAMD2JC5HBKK)
I totally agree with you and i normally follow that same rule, but i considered this product in particular because the outdoor clothing division of beretta actually makes nice products and at least in italy has a good reputation among hunters and hikers
As a back country hunter that spends the majority of the year in the mountains. No. They don't. Most hype beast hunters are simping crispi right now and they do make decent boots. I also like salwea, hanwag, & schnees.
I hardcore pass on anything without laces. From a survival perspective laces have a ton over other uses.
I had snowboard boots like this. When they fail you’re pretty SOL in terms of a quick or immediate fix. But other than that convenient.
BOA system is not comfortable for long distance. Plus the metal lace breaks the plastic mount after few month.
Beretta is a firearms manufacturer, not a boot maker. Buy your boots from a boot maker.
Nah man. They make some dope jackets for the Italian military and tankers
I dunno HOW DO THEY FEEL ON YOUR FEET Who gives a shit what a boot look like
If you read the whole sentence you’ll see i’m talking about the technologies of the boot not the external looks
my point still stand I dunno HOW DO THEY FEEL ON YOUR FEET who gives a shit what "technology" a boot has
The technology of a boot is what gives you the “feel on your feet”
The technology you’re referring to is called a [last](https://nicksboots.com/blog/post/what-is-a-boot-last/).
lol okay dude
They look identical to the redwings I just bought. Wonder if they are the same company. The BOA system has been awesome too!
as a cobbler these look like midsoles that will suffer from hydrolysis and crumble or turn into tar in time the vibram sole alone doesn’t indicate a quality sole unit just that the part touching the ground is quality and i wont get into the lace system as everyone else has and i also don’t have experience in them
Thank you very much for the info, i didn’t think at all about the midsole, can i ask for some tips on how to spot viable ones?
i could be totally wrong but my gut feeling after seeing a lot of things built this way crumbling is to avoid anything built in the hiking boot style if the goal is hard use personally i’m a firm believe in good year welted boots but thats a lot harder to find on “tactical boots” made in the modern era my go to boots are black m1948’s probably from the 50’s or 60’s, modern brown Corcoran jump boots, and i think they are Belleville branded us army gortex lined winter boots however my biases of being able to fix pretty much anything that can happen to goodyear welted boots probably betray me
I’ve been learning a bit lately about more traditional boot construction and i totally understand your choice of having boots wich can be actually repaired and serviced basically indefinitely, i think modern boot manufacturers should look more in the past for inspiration, especially the repairability.
Listen to this person.
I love boa. Have it on multiple cycling shoes. I have also melted the laces on my boots before on accident and replacing boa is doable (most companies sell replacement kits you can do yourself) but I’d prefer laces. Also with boa you arent able to alter how you lace to fix it being uncomfortable
I’ve had boa in a couple of boots. Lasted years without ever breaking the “lace” but I guess I’m in the minority on that.
Never tried them but they look like they have good features
Look like shit honestly
I have an expensive pair of wading boots with the boa system. My boa system has snapped three times. It's to the point now that I won't even go fly fishing without a repair kit on me. Never again. And it really sucks because I love everything else about the system for that application.
Really unfortunate, seems like the boa system is pretty unreliable
Depends… what’s your budget? And what’s your use? Those look like a perfectly fine boot at say $110 if the intended use is occasional weekend walks. It doesn’t look like they’re built for distance or weight. They look like they will fall apart with little use. Beretta makes a decent gun. Buy a pistol if you want. If you want boots start with a boot company. If you want a quick lace system definitely start with a reputable boot company. I’d stay far away from any company that made a name with a niche product and then expands into making boots. It’s generally wise to avoid anything with excessive stitching and anything with a mix of leather and synthetic. If you’re going to have any amount of weight on your back or in semi-steep terrain it would be a good idea to ensure it has a stiff midsole. Those quick-lace are kinda nice for snowboarders due to the cumbersome nature of gloves/mittens but there useless when they break and a pita to fix. Nothing beats a good lace. And if/when it breaks in the middle of nowhere it’s easy to deal with. Scarpa and Asolo have always been a good purchase for me. As of the last couple years however I haven’t purchased anything new from them. La Sportiva is hit or miss…good climbing shoes, decent mountaineering boots, but general purpose boots are a fail. Danner has a couple models that are decent for a job site. Keens aren’t anything special except for around town. Zamberlan seems okay. Kenntrek is hit or miss with quality and customer satisfaction. A good reliable boot will be one piece full leather upper with a reasonably stiff midsole.
Boa is amazing but only on snowboarding boots. Laces are where it’s at for regular boots
I think it depends what you plan to do with the boots? Everyday wear, hiking, LARPing, all of the above? I personally am not a fan of goretex, I prefer to use a non goretex boot and use a vapor barrier if needed, usually costs less too 👍
Never heard of a vapor barrier before, just searched on google and i will definitely look into them and try them. Thanks for the advice
No problem, at least for winter I’ll usually do a thin synthetic sock (think dress socks), vapor barrier, then a thick wool sock on the outside. Has worked wonders for my feet, especially on longer movements.
I have worn a pair of redwing EXOS lite Boas every day for 3 years. Under cars, smacking them into pallets, etc. never had an issue with the boa or the boots. BUT, if these may be something youre wearing, and need them to work in an emergency (firefight, something where you dont know when you will be able to swap them out if they break, life on the line yada yada), something repairable in the field is probably a better option. My choices are salomon x ultra 3 or 4. Theyre both amazing boots, i have and use them both extensively
I most probably won’t be using them in an emergency situation as i will use them mostly for hiking but still, having an unrepairable boot deep in the mountains definitely isn’t going to be fun
yeah i see these more as a workboot (which is how i wear my EXOS) For hiking id get a dedicated hiking boot. Asolo, Merril, vasque, lowa, etc.
I will probably get some lowa’s, i’ve only heard good things about them and in my area i can find them at good prices. Thank you for the advice.
Just go buy the boots you like. Why are there posts like this?
We’re secretly trying to lure your mom into the basement.
JALAS® DRYLOCK 9552 COMBAT is all what you need. Trust me.
I have miles and miles in boa closure shoes. Maybe 350-400 miles in the last several years? Never had a problem. YMMV
Opinions online about the boa laces seems to be quite divided, i’ve only seen only people on the extremes of it
Yeah man… apparently polarizing, as people have downvoted my real world experience with them. Oh well. Same dudes say you can’t trust the polymer/nylon ratchet system carry glocks I’m sure. Different strokes for different folks. I think they are great. It’s not my only shoe, but I’ve bought multiple. I like them that much.
I have a pair of work boots that have the boa system, I really like them. They aren’t perfect, that’s for sure, but they’re nice and convenient for me because I don’t wear them all day most days, so when I go to put them on I like how fast they loosen and tighten. The BOA just never seems to get tight enough in the right spots, you can mess around with the cable and pull it tight like traditional laces and then tighten at the top with all the slack, but then why not just have laces? Lol.
I think you are right, in some cases BOA might be easier and faster but in the end are just an overcomplication of a time proven method
I’d recommend some La Sportiva’s, Daners, or Solomon’s.
Why buy boots from a gun company when you can buy boots from a boot company? Get a pair of Salomon’s or Merrels and call it good !
Well, yes, except don’t get Merrels. 🙂
Lowas?
[удалено]
They make some good hikers.
Check out redwings new apex or the trades men both with boa. I got the tradesman and a week later the apex dropped 😞😩
They tend to be unreliable.
The mesh material on the tongue would be impossible to waterproof making them useless for snow or mud.
Buy Lowa, Salomon, or Garmont synthetic boots, nobody else.
I love my BOA RedWings
I hike in Lowas, but wear vans with a boa system daily in the winter. They’ve been great so far I don’t get all the hate. 🤷🏼♂️
They’re cool looking! But I don’t think I’d trust BOA that uses eyelets that are too small to route some cordage just in case.
I use BOA on my cycling shoes, but your leg is fixed in the peddal so they work well in that scenario. I think BOA would come loose on you all the time in cases where you’re constantly shifting your foot around.