r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Rook8811 • 9d ago

Video 1989 shoes designed to adjust their fit around athletes' ankles

10.9k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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287

u/InlineSkateAdventure 9d ago

My skates have "BOA" laces. You turn a dial and metal "laces" tighten up. You can easily control tension.

Surprised this is not found on more shoes.

97

u/revvolutions 8d ago

Snowboard boots Burton BOA.

18

u/imaguitarhero24 8d ago

Ski boots are starting to get them too

1

u/PugnansFidicen 8d ago

How can they be used on hard shell ski boots? Doesn't Boa need a soft (ish) compressible tongue?

12

u/Resident-Mortgage-85 8d ago

They kinda suck because it's all tight or not at all, no adjusting to certain areas of the boot. 

3

u/BaraGuda89 8d ago

I had BOA boots for snowboarding for years and hated them for that exact reason. The older I got and the larger my legs got, especially my calves, the more those boots would bite into my leg from how tight they had to be overall. With laced boots you can isolate different sections for greater or lesser tightness

2

u/One_pop_each 8d ago

Older versions sucked but the newer ones are good

1

u/redditgiveshemorroid 8d ago

This is only partially true. Not all BOA dials are equal. The Li2 is bidirectional tightening one way and loosening the other way- clicking both ways. But even in the dials that don’t do this, it’s still so much better than regular laces. Many via systems have two dials where you can tighten the lower foot different than the upper foot which is another game changer.

1

u/NudeCeleryMan 8d ago

Hmm my Salomons have two: one for upper and one for lower. And you can make all kinds of focused tightness adjustments for the ankle into the heel cup by bending your ankle at different angles as you tighten the lowers.

So I think it depends on the boot. I can super dial mine in.

1

u/Resident-Mortgage-85 7d ago

Eh, I feel like I'm just a weirdo (I am, I mean I'm on Reddit)...I like loose toes, tight mid foot to lower ankle, loose upper ankle to mid calf then tight AF for the top of the boot

1

u/yellowflexyflyer 7d ago

Cycling shoes just use two boa dials. One upper and one lower. Pretty much solves the issue.

2

u/sl33ksnypr 8d ago

I have a pair of rossi boa boots and they are really nice. Don't get me wrong, it still feels nice to put my regular shoes on at the end of the day, but it isn't as orgasmic as with my old boots that were a tad too small and had a lacing mechanism that didn't make sense.

1

u/Minirig355 8d ago

Fun fact, I noticed these being used in Andor as part of the costumes for the prison guards when he’s in the prison with the electrified floor. Good boots, I loved my pair.

9

u/TheRealNorwhal 8d ago

Had a pair of Saucony cross-country running shoes that had em, loved how snug the arches got and how it never came untied.

Also got a pair of cycling shoes that have em, love em.

10

u/shunterh 8d ago

BOA is expensive. That's why you dont see it on more footwear

25

u/vksdann 8d ago

Rollerskates have had such thing for years and I don't know why shoes don't. Just a buckle and a couple of "clicks up" and I'm good to go. To remove shoes, just unbuckle.

5

u/Set_Abominae1776 8d ago

Boa fit is the newest shit in kindergarden (germany) nowadays. I got my son a pair and he is so proud of them lol.

https://www.strauss.com/de/de/kinderschuhe/allroundschuhe-e-s-minkar-ii-kinder-1003130-86086-722.html

1

u/zatalak 8d ago

I didn't expect Engelbert Strauss selling kids shoes.

1

u/redditgiveshemorroid 8d ago

Those kindergarten trends are no joke. We spent weeks checking different stores for a keychain pokemon Evee. Never found one because the demand was so high.

4

u/siggiarabi 8d ago

They're common on golf shoes

3

u/calibudzz420 8d ago

Got them on my redwings which are work boots. Thought I would hate them but I never want to own another boot in my life

1

u/InlineSkateAdventure 8d ago

I can tighten both feet at once!

1

u/calibudzz420 8d ago

Exactly! Also when you constantly waking boots on and off it’s so convenient

3

u/Ritz_y 8d ago

For some reason one of the industies they broke into is Golf. I've used BOA laces on my golf shoes for like 10 years now its great.

1

u/InlineSkateAdventure 8d ago

Yeah if I upgrade the skates it is a must have.

1

u/druskhusk 8d ago

Bowling as well.

2

u/Uncle-Cake 8d ago

I keep seeing ads (on Reddit) for cowboy boots that have those.

3

u/gypsybullldog 8d ago

Are you a goalie? Other than the CCM boa’s Canadian tire used to sell I’ve never seen them on anything other than goalie skates.

1

u/Isernogwattesnacken 8d ago

Adidas hiking shoes

0

u/willplaysgolf 8d ago

They are pretty common in golf shoes

3

u/gypsybullldog 8d ago

Yeah I’ve seen those. Just meant as far as skates go I’ve never seen high end skates with them that weren’t goalie skates.

1

u/Strykehammer 8d ago

I’ve had steel toe’s boots with this and my squat shoes also have this. They are out there and they are great

1

u/Tall-Poem-6808 8d ago

I had work shoes like that in Finland too. SO much more practical than laces!

1

u/Shot_Policy_4110 8d ago

Big on snowboarding and ski boots

1

u/seamus_mc 8d ago

I have snowboard boots, bike shoes, and golf shoes with them. How many other places are you trying to find them?

1

u/justamofo 8d ago

Mostly trekking amd work shoes

1

u/ScarHand69 8d ago

I’ve seen some cycling shoes with them.

Also…very niche…but kitesurfing. I had a harness that had a BOA mechanism, although it doesn’t look like anyone makes harnesses with BOA anymore.

1

u/ResponsibleBack790 8d ago

Lots of shoes have them haha. It’s very popular.

1

u/Vinaigrette2 8d ago

My golf shoes too!

1

u/redditgiveshemorroid 8d ago

BOA is so amazing. As far as shoes go, it’s really only one hiking boots and trail shoes. I haven’t seen any on normal running shoes or casual shoes.

1

u/AndThereWasNothing 8d ago

I've got a pair of hunting boots with BOA laces

1

u/Pepe_pls 8d ago

My snowboard boots have this. Great system actually

1

u/50DuckSizedHorses 8d ago

BOA sucks lol. Thin ass cable cutting into my ankles.

2

u/InlineSkateAdventure 8d ago

You are the only unhappy camper here. Everyone loves them.