I've been riding in the same MTB shoes for the past three years. They're Specialized something-or-other with three Velcro straps and they're not bad for how much I paid, and they've been quite comfy in road rides, mountain rides and even some nice long hikes when I taco my wheels and do the walk of shame back to the car. My old shoes are the predecessor to the current Specialized Sport MTB shoe:
But after three years and several thousand miles of rain, dirt, sweat, muck and the occasional dribble of pee, I have decided to move away from the old tech and on to something new. I have no gripes with the plastic shell and Velcro straps, and the rubber toe piece held up fine too. But after fiddling with my straps every 10 miles during the 100-mile ARFL, I realized that I might have more appreciation for a higher-end shoe, a shoe that embraces new forms of technology for comfort, speed and convenience. I'm not talking about carbon fiber mid soles and ratcheting straps, which are perfectly awesome as they are. I'm talking about the Boa Lacing System, the simplest, fastest, lightest and most adjustable shoe lace ever.
Here's a closeup of the Boa on a Scott cycling shoe:
As you can see, the one knob evenly tightens up the entire upper half of the shoe, making it quick and easy to put on, tighten up, readjust and hit the trail.
You may have seen this type of thing before. Since 1997, Boa has made tremendous product leaps into footwear for snow sports, running, cycling and hiking. Since the technology is so awesome (and who doesn't need an awesome lace for something?), Boa also makes lace tensioning systems for medical products, MotoGP protective wear, tents, helmets, backpacks, belts, and even boots for horses. Wicked. I don't need anything crazy, however, I just want some cycling shoes.
My main problem with most shoe laces, including buckles, straps and ratcheting straps, is that it is difficult to achieve the proper amount of pressure or tension over the top of your foot. If you're like me, and like a loose toe box, but tight mid-foot and loose ankle space, laces just don't work at all. The three strap or buckle system gets closer, but actuating the perfect tension can be really difficult, especially because the straps don't distribute pressure over a very large area. Straps and buckles are kaput.
As far as the pressure on your foot goes, this is where Boa makes the money shot with their super-duper, micro-adjustable tension that provides a "glove-like fit." I'm sort of balling up all of the pros of the Boa tech, but suffice it to say this shoe lace rocks. And it has to be pretty awesome if I'm getting excited about it.
I've tried the Boa laces on shoes in the store and I have firmly decided that my next pairs of running sneakers, ski boots, and cycling shoes will all have the Boa Lacing System. It took me about three seconds to decide that this is the wave of the future, and I'm going to ride the crap out of it.
My dream shoe would be the S-Works MTB shoe with dual Boas across the mid-foot and top-foot, with a small velcro strap at the toe box:
This shoe is meant not for weekend warriors, but for Tier 1 professional athletes. It's meant for people who have the greatest demand for performance. It's meant for people who are willing to shell out 350 clams for a pair of freakin' bike shoes. It's not meant for me, so I don't think I'll be buying it any time soon.
Still, I will be watching the market very closely over the winter, waiting for the bike shoe with Boa tech that is perfect for me and my rapidly shrinking bank account. At a mere $150, the Lake MX170 seems to be closer to the realm of possibility, though it doesn't come with as many bells and whistles.
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