Snowboard Boot Lacing Systems Explained: BOA, Speed, or Traditional Laces

I’ve said this numerous times but your snowboard boots are they most important piece of equipment in snowboarding. So, which snowboard boot lacing systems are the best: traditional laces, speed laces or BOA? The answer might surprise you.

They each have their pros and cons, which I’ll discuss throughout this article. But the boot that best fits your specific feet, regardless of the brand, the colour or the lacing system, is the best boot for you.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the different snowboard boot lacing systems.

The 3 Main Snowboard Boot Lacing Systems You Need to Know About

Snowboarding brands have come up with a lot of different lacing systems for snowboard boots over the years. Obviously, string laces were the original but brands have innovated through the years and we now have generally 3 distinct styles.

Traditional Lacing

It’s the tried and true lacing system.

They take the longest to tie up but I believe you can get the best fit with this style of lacing. Snowboarders can tighten the boot at the bottom until they find the right fit, and then gradually pull the laces through the upper eyelets to tighten up the ankle area. At that point, all you’ve got to do is tie it into a bow and you’re good to go.

I’ve also found that after a day of riding, traditional laces do not lose their tightness as easily as some of the other lacing systems. They are often used in low to mid-tier products (ranging from $200–$550). The most expensive snowboard boots usually have BOA or speed laces.

Pros of Traditional Lacing

• It is easy to feel exactly how tight the boots are
• Adjusting tightness is intuitive and simple for anyone who wears shoes
• Tightness is evenly distributed so traditional lacing boots are less prone to pressure points
• With minimum parts, traditional laces are relatively lightweight
• Replacing broken laces is quick, easy, and inexpensive
• Traditional lacing snowboard boots are affordable, generally less expensive

Cons of Traditional Lacing

• Of all the snowboard boot lacing systems, they take the longest to do up
• Adjusting traditional laces is more difficult on snow while wearing gloves/mittens
• Pulling on laces to tighten them can be tough on your hands/fingers (think minor rope burn if you’re not careful!)
• Untying or loosening boots means dealing with long dragging laces

Who Should Ride Traditional Lacing Snowboard Boots

Snowboarders with a modest budget who demand reliable performance across the entire mountain should consider traditional lacing snowboard boots.

BOA® Lacing Systems

The BOA® Fit System is a more recent lacing innovation.

It uses a dial wheel that can be pushed down to engage, once you start turning the dial a crank will tighten your boots. Typically, there are two BOA dials. One dial tightens the liner and the second dial tightens the outer shell of the boot. To loosen the boot you just pop the dial wheel out of its socket. The crank dial is attached to a cable wived throughout the boot.

The one thing about such a technical boot like this is that if the dial no longer tightens or the cable brakes your snowboarding is over for the day. You’ll need to have your BOA lacing replaced. Luckily just about every snowboarding brand offers lifetime warranty for the BOA system. It’s just a pain to take time to go into a snowboard shop to get repairs. Or order repair parts online and fix it yourself.

Pros of BOA® Lacing

• It is easy to fine-tune tightness with micro-adjustments
• Super quick and easy to loosen for comfort on the lift or during après
• All boot adjustments can be made while wearing gloves/mittens
• A single-dial system tightens and loosens evenly across the entire foot
• A dual-dial system will tighten the liner and the boot shell separately for total control

Cons of BOA® Lacing

• It can be easy to over-tighten with BOA® and cause foot fatigue
• The BOA® dial sticks off the boot and can get caught on things
• Replacing a broken dial or cable requires additional parts and can be complicated, the boot becomes unusable
• BOA® lacing snowboard boots are generally more expensive

Who Should Ride BOA® Lacing Snowboard Boots

Everyone who appreciates being able to make micro adjustments, but beginner snowboarders and younger snowboarders often benefit from how quick and easy this lacing system is to use.

Speed Lacing Systems

Over the years speed laces have become more popular and common. They’re also considered to be the quickest to tie up. All you have to do is pull on 2 strings on either side of the boot. One string tightens the lower portion of the boot and the other string tightens the upper portion. Once tightened and locked you can tuck the strings into built-in pockets at the top of the boot.

That’s it, you’re done!

You’ll find most brands use some kind of speed lacing in their higher end products.

Similar to BOA, if a lace snaps your boot is no longer usable until its repaired. Snowboard shop will have replacement parts and repair services. Replacing speed laces can be more of a hassle than traditional laces.

Pros of Speed Laces

• Speed laces are the fastest way to do up snowboard boots
• Tightening boots is intuitive (just pull)
• With minimum parts, Speed laces are a lightweight lacing option
• All boot adjustments can be made while wearing gloves/mittens
• The entire system is extremely low-profile, simply tuck the quick pull handles into the integrated pockets on the side of the boot
• Independent upper and lower zones provide customizing fit options

Cons of Speed Laces

• Upper body strength is required to tighten boots properly
• Replacing a broken lace requires additional parts and can be complicated
• Boot entry and exit can be confusing with the lace lock cleats
• Storing the handles and excess lacing can be annoying at times

Who Should Ride Speed Lacing Snowboard Boots

Snowboarders who seek easy-to-use lacing, consistent performance, and durability will find a solid range of high-end snowboard boots available with speed lacing.

Final Thoughts on Snowboard Boot Lacing Systems

Ultimately, when choosing a snowboard boot, the type of lacing system should be a secondary or tertiary consideration. The most important thing in finding the perfect pair of snowboard boots is the fit and comfort. It should matter less what lacing system the boots use as long as you can reliably do them up and take them off. To learn more about snowboard boots, check out my ultimate snowboarding boots guides for men, women and kids.