Why I Don't Like BOA Laces on Cycling Shoes
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- In this video I talk about why I don't like BOA laces for cycling shoes, and which shoe company I feel has the best solution.
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I agree with you. They're cool until they break, they're nice when you want to modify the tension during the ride, but ultimately, I don't buy the super high end shoe because on my cyclocross bike, they're always dirty and you run in them too. Ratchet's and velcro for me. Good video.
Everything is cool or better till it breaks, and everything breaks at one point or another..
Once again you hit all the right notes Clint. For me here in the PNW the Boa system just gets too clogged too often with grass, grit, mud, whatever. The release system stops working. I’ve ended rides where I can’t get the shoe off! I’m admittedly old school but give me laces and I’m happy…
Had to replace one a year ago was like doing surgery. I literally had to use some surgical clamps.
Agree. I love how the Boa system works, but inevitably after some time, the "skin" starts to come off the wire lace and then it won't pull out of the housing. Several years ago, I think I called Lake, which made my shoes, and they got me over to Boa, which sent me a repair kit free. This morning after another fail, I ordered a kit on the Boa site and it cost me $24.99. Unbelievable and pretty annoying for a part that is inherent to the function of the shoe. Either make it last or don't make it or at least don't charge a lot for it. Side Dragons are nearly $300. Too much for this old road bike rider.
I’ve had the same pair of Boa shoes for 8 years, I guess I’m super lucky
As a big guy with big and wide feet, SIDI is one of the shoes that I’m considering as I move to clipless pedals. Thanks for the thoughts!
Best way to keep the boa system running smoothly especially the single boa systems is silicon spray in the lace eyelet holes. Takes less effort to tighten the shoe.
^^^ What Daniel said. I do this, too, and it really helps keep them operational.
good idea
Good to know , only BOA laced shoes I have since last year or before COVID , was the new Shimano RX-8 gravel shoes, so far so good , hard as a rock , even with the Spesh green inserts. Still hard , but all my shimano shoes have always been straps and locking buckles, nothing has ever broke. My road shoe only one I ride with is the shimano, black and white carbon. Not sure what model , but Velcro and buckle no issues ! Don’t use my mtb bike heavy shoes lately and only one pair of heavy stiff tuff carbon SCOTTS , 6 years old or more tuff , Velcro and buckle system. So far so good
Clint I was just getting ready to travel back to Wisconsin for the entire summer. After watching your video I put my new bontrager boa shoes back in the box pulled out the old Velcro pair and I'm going to pack those for the trip.
This answers some of the questions I have. I still want to try the boa laces. With such a wide selection of shoes with boa laces it’s been hard. You are one of the most thorough product reviewer’s online and thank you for what you do.
I dunno, I've probably done about 25,000km over the last year or so in my mavic cosmic pro (duel boa Road cycling shoes) and have a grand total of 0 issue with them the entire time, other than them being white shoes in the UK and so now being grey shoes 😅
I love Boa laces, but then again I've never had one break...yet.
How is it going, 3 years later?
Seven years on the same pair of shoes is a long time...things will break. The thing nice about the boa is being able to adjust while riding unlike laces. With my swelling feet in the summer time it’s nice to have that feature.
I've had a latch break too as well as a BOA. Those short BOAs on the Sidis look good, I agree.
Thanks mate, been loving my boa laces, I've just ordered some spares if they fail 👍👍👍
Totally agree. I've had to fix two boa dials and you often get a slightly wrong replacement part which means doing your best Mcguyver impression. Ratchets were great. I've gone for a Northwave Rockster this time. Full carbon and laces. But I'd have bought carbon sole ratchet shoes in a heartbeat if they were more available.
You can tie the boa lace. I had mine break recently as I was just going on a ride and even still made it in time. But I'm still moving to laces now :D
Thanks. I think the same on Boa, but I need comfort from my shoes, looking forward for the next video. Best regards Kurt . Denmark
I agree. Sometimes I find it impossible to get my boa shoes off at the end of a long gravel ride if my hands are too tired or cramped. I have a pair of Shimano MD86 shoes with 2 velcro straps and a ratchet strap. I can get them on and off my feet at least as fast as my Shimano shoes with boa. My MD86 shoes are 18 years old, have over 50,000 miles on them, and been used in 47 mtb or gravel races of 50-200 miles. They’ve been in mud over my ankles more times than I can remember including one 50-mile mtb race that was a mud hole for the entire race. They’ve got half a tube of gorilla glue holding the soles on but the ratchet and straps still work fine. And I’ve never had a blister. Bring back the MD86!
Giro make high end road and mtb shoes with laces... i never really understood why saving maybe 15-20 seconds per shoe was that important
1. Even pressure
2. For MTB in the wet, muddy, cold, laces are the last thing you wanna deal with
Laces stretch out when they get wet, you cannot reach down to snug them up, have to dismount and retie them, and wet laces are gross.
Great video...Clint.. I have the giant charge pro shoes . And so far they have held up pretty well.. that sidi dragon is sick !
I’ve always thought about spending more money on shoes and getting a slick BOA equipped pair. This video has definitely made me change my mind. Back up shoes? No uh BOA
I worked in a snowboard shop, and saw the flaws in boa. People would have an issue and it was never as quick of a fix as putting in a new shoe lace.
With my Specialized 2FO i have no issues after 20.000km. With my old 5.10 Kestrel i had some but only small, no total failure.
Didn't have any big issues with BOA (except for dirt in the dials). But for the long, multi-day trips I always use shoes with laces, just to be sure.
My BOA shoes are the most comfortable, easiest to adjust, before or on the fly, reliable retention shoes I've owned in 17 years. I won't go back to laces or velcro closers..
I've never broken boas before, and i've used them for years on not only cycling shoes but also olympic weightlifting shoes, that being said, I think the newer models don't require you to thread the cable anymore, you can undo them like the sidis.
Same experience with snowboard boots. Broken cable results in going shopping instead of snowboarding.
I hear you Clint. My road shoes have the atop brand dials and laces and they'e been great. You can take a foot of 100 lb fishing line as a repair. I've got the sidi Dragon MTB shoes mine are the mega version 👍
This is why I picked up a 2nd hand pair of xc90s
I have BOA laces on Every shoe I own, Mountain, Road, Golf and hell even my work boots. Never had a lace break yet and with my work boots I get free laces. Ratchets can break too, velcro fails too after a while.
I broke my boa lace on my snowboard boots.... it was $8 to replace.... and a few min to replace. I carry a few laces now. never broke the dial. but I understand your point.
looking forward to a review on dragon sidi shoes. I am looking a pair myself.
You can run to Walmart and get some fishing leaders to replace a boa cable.
Not a long term solution but it can save a trip.
Boa laces broke once when I was about to go for a ride. I only have one pair of shoes, hence was using guffer tape for a few days until I got time to go to the shops. Luckily my local shop had replacement laces and volunteered to fix them for me. Still prefer Boa type shoes over shoe laces, in particular because I ride in any weather.
Been riding Giro vr90 with laces for 3 years.
Totally agree. I have the same Shimano shoes with a ratchet strap system for last 6 years no problems. Boa broke on new shoes on first ride 🤦🏻♂️
I use Giro old fashion laces for my road shoe. Fits great
Good video, but a simpler/faster weaving pattern on a different proprietary lacing system still seems risky. Now you've just got the same problem from a different brand!
Pros need the advantages of BOA (adjusting shoe tension on the bike). I do not need this benefit, but BOA is on almost every shoe.
This. I don't know why Clint thinks the Sidis are a better option. I'm not calling them inferior, but who's to say their system isn't just as likely to break? And with them you're pigeonholed into a proprietary design that would probably take more than the 15-20 minutes to lace BOAs that he was complaining about to get spare parts for. At least BOA is more universally available and can get parts out to you faster.
Oh, and the newer BOA dials are much easier to lace than the older ones he has on his shoes as well... but if you're worried about all this laces and velcro are a better options anyways
I really don't like anything other than velcro or regular laces with velcro for mountain bike shoes. Crashes are just a part of the sport, and I really don't want to break parts of my shoes that I need to function for me to get back to the trailhead. I've even had the ratcheting mechanism like the one on those shimano shoes break in a crash.
You just can’t beat Sidi and I never thought there was anything wrong with the ratchet and Velcro system anyway
The double boa works the best for me, but I haven't had one break yet. The double really let's you dial in the fit. The single boa puts uneven pressure on the top of my feet. For the IT band, you were using the body geometry wedge of the specialized shoe for an extended time and then changed. My specialized shoes have kept my IT band issues away for years now. I'm afraid to change from that tech/geometry for fear of an IT band flare up or other issue. Plus, you realize that you are keeping a bikes for six months and shoes for six years!
I used the Shimano shoes when the BOA laces broke.
I like hook and loop with one velcro strap...pretty simple
I have always prefer velcro and buckets compared to boa. I find them easier to maintain and fuss free.
You won’t look back once you try SIDI!!!... although expensive, they are worth every penny, I have the Drakos, with the rachet system, 10 years!! One sole replacement!, still going!!! the upper part of the fabrics shows wear/damage, but I have new Drakos ready!!
Can’t beat Sidi
Planned early wearing on stuff? No way 😊
A solution in search of a problem. Reminds me of an episode of All in the Family where the line was 'If everything is New and Improved what were we using before? Old and Lousy!'. My Sidis have three velcro straps and they work perfectly for years now.
iliotibial band pain sucks man!! It took me two full months if not cycling to go away and it's happend when I did a 200kms plus ride in someone else's bike....
You can fix a broken lace pretty easily ? The first time I did it it took me about 20 lins to figure it out . The fact that boa can be fixed at home makes them a better product not worse
Thanks, speedskates have these for a few years, said to be the best thing ever and i had a feeling..... hah.... Yea, no... Maybe not on a 1000 dollar set of skate boots... Laces are easy to have around.
My Time Sprint shoe uses the straps. I tried that wired BOA system. The first thing I'm thinking is, "that breaks then what?"
Love SIDI I have moto boots they are best quality. 👍
I always loved that shimano fastening system with the ratchet. Never had a problem with it. I am not a huge fan of the BOA system, seems like a solution to a problem no one had. I haven't had one break but now I'll be thinking about it 😂. Leave it to the cycling industry to over complicate a simple mechanism. Laces are making a comeback though... I use velcro on my gravel shoes. Do you think the dirt getting in the mechanism causes a problem? Thanks for the informative video.
jcsrst: Velcro can eventually clog with dirt, etc. but they're easy to clean and keep clean and are, therefore, more reliable than BOA type laces.
Shimano shoes are similar to the Sidi. Replace the dial and loop the lace over the hook
Interesting. Didn't know they were so fragile. SO now I will have to walk with an extra pair of shoes when I drive to my meet up point. Clint can you show how you transfer your cleats placement from the old shoes to your new shoes? Thanks
I wouldn't say they're fragile. It's just they will break after a year or two and it's usually an inconvenient time.
Me roo Man... Thanks for bring it to light... because every one talk about BOA like its invincible..!
Funny thing is I never heard of Boa laces until today. Now I’ve heard about them twice!😂
Very true i got two pairs lake with boa not broken yet but i find im happyer in lake lace up shoes. On mtb at moment use flats with rc shoes lace up too. I like sidi shoes but told narrow fit and i big feet great design tho love it
Sidi do wide versions called mega fit.
@@glennoc8585 yes told that by fitter but said they come up as lake normal fit . But i not try any no shops near me so maybe i order pair one day to try for fit
I have two pairs of Sidi's, one MTB, one road and what I really like is that sell replaceable parts. I'm on the third set of heels on my road shoes and second set of straps on my MTB shoes. At this point I keep an extra set of straps and heels in my shoe bag. Also have extra non-Sidi shoes. Look forward to your review of the Dragons
I have one pair of shoes with boa-laces, and ... I don't like the boa-system at all. The strings are to small, hard to get it out, hard to get it tight enough. It feels so brittle. And if they break, I would probably throw hands in the air, and throw the whole shoe away. Old fashion normal laces just work for me. I know how they work, I can fix a break. I know what I'm doing.
I can go even further ranting on those gravel shoes (with boa). I only done a few tests clicking in and out, but I think, I even go as far as never boa, never click pedals. Probably at one time, I will throw away those 80 euros boa gravel shoes, now with rust, what a waste. But at least I tried
Mine kept slipping, contacted BOA and they mailed two free sets out at no charge............. Google Free Boa dials.... I've heard they're less aero??
What’s IT BAN?
Can we talk about Boa and cyclocross racing? When I race in my Boa shoes it "feels" like the Boa loses tension after I dismount and run. However, I'm not sure if the Boa is actually losing tension or if my feet are "settling" into the sole of the shoes, thereby creating slack in the shoe upper. Anyone else have this issue?
Specialized shoes fall apart after a year. The soles will just fall off because its cheaply glued together. Most normal people can afford to replace 200.00 shoes that regularly. I have a pair of 5/10's that are hard used for 4 years and still in great shape.
I feel bad for when you need new 510s. They don't last any longer now that Adidas both them
my hot-spots were cured when i loosened my shoes to a point where they were just keeping my feet in them, barely tightened at all.
I ride 8k miles a year in Puerto Rico and shoes only last about a year for me here . Way less time than the BOA itself
Sidi shoes are where it’s at. Been using various models for the last 20 years for MTB , road and their MX boots back when I had a MX bike. Good stuff. Never had any issues.
Same here. No one EVER complained about what they paid for their Sidis because they deliver the goods with no excuses.
I have two pair and one is over 10 yrs old and still good.
I'm good with my laces only Peral Izumi MTB clipless shoes. For this year they upgraded the model to BOA. No thanks. There are enough things to worry about failing on a mountain bike. I don't need my shoes to be one more.
You have to go back to high end lace shoes, that it. I feel the same way ,not a big fan of the BOA systems.
Local bike shops are getting wiped out.Someone or something is working on the asian supply chain, so local shops can't turn profit.
Boa has a lifetime warranty and my local shop fixes them for free
I use cord and melt the ends. Solved for 3 cents.
Could have replaced a whole boa system in the time it took this video 😂
newer boa shoes are easier to replace like the sidi
I bought used Sidi Dominators just because of this. I don’t trust those Boa things.
I ride specialized 2fo cliplite for 4 to 5 years now. Haven't had any problems yet. Probably need to take the dials apart and clean them. But the laces pop out exactly like on the sidi shoe.
Hope your injury is healing up soon.
Those dials straight up sheared off...they look like my broken weed eater string trimmer.
man your biking seems overly complicated? I throw on my sneakers tie up the laces and go!
Quit yer whining! Don't you know all the cool people wear lace ups for gravel riding? Sheesh.
Pick up Dr Jon Sarno’s book. “Healing back pain.” Your IT issue will go away as you read.
My shimano ones are velcro
I've never broken a strap
Sidi; Problem solved.
NINJA EDIT: I literally posted my comment BEFORE you let us know you got the Dragons. 😉
Lol. Really looking forward to testing out the Sidis. My initial review comes out later on this week.
Hey @@ClintGibbs, I just got a pair of Sidi MTB Gravel shoes. Holy sweet jeepers man. They are perfect. Paid $180 for them on a sale I caught, but even at around $240, they're a killer deal. They're using all Tecno-3 dials with no velcro and the fit is sweet.
@@solitaryrefinement6787 very nice! Mine feel more comfortable the more they get broken in.
Sides system sucks ass. The plastic or whatever it is that covers the nylon tears. I've had to replace the system 3 times on a very expensive shoe. Sidi ruined their shoes with this system.
I can’t stand boa laces. Velcro for life ha
Huh one would think they just want you to buy new shoes 🤔🤔
Except that Boa mechs are lifetime warrantied and fixed free
@@conman1395 so you have to send your shoes in and wait?
@@mtb7018 No, they send you a replacement kit and you can replace the dials on your shoes yourself
Too busy to spend 15 minutes replacing a Boa lace? How long does it take for you to film and edit these videos you post? Priorities.
The point is they can break as you are getting ready for a ride or race which is very inconvenient. But that's my perspective.