The GAC Guide to The BOA® Closure System

Is the shoelace dead? Is there an alternative? These very questions were asked by Gary Hammerslag in 1998 when he took up snowboarding and because of the continued frustration when having to pull so hard on his snow-boot laces. By utilising his passion for the great outdoors and his background in medical catheters, Gary built the first prototypes of a dial based closure system.

What is the BOA® Closure System?

Essentially the BOA® Closure System solves a lot of the problems found in traditional closure systems. It consists of three primary components: (1)Knob, (2)Spool, (3)Lace. You simply turn the dial-based tightening mechanism which connects to The BOA® Lace, and with each progressive click the lace tightens, giving the wearer an optimal lace configuration for your footwear and activity. The lace comes in a variety of thicknesses and with different coatings, depending on your intended use. However, the 'primary lace' is used in the majority of BOA powered products, and is made of aircraft grade stainless steel which is twisted into bundles that are then subsequently woven into other bundles.

How can I benefit from BOA® Technology?

With traditional closure systems such as laces, velcro, buckles, ratchets, it is difficult to maintain the correct pressure and fit, therefore subsequent comfort and performance. However with the Boa Closure system, the benefits are simply tremendous:

• The BOA Closure System provides custom comfort with smooth, even closure with no pressure points
• BOA guarantee the Closure System Reel and laces for the lifetime of the product - however you can purchase a field repair kit if you wish to carry spares - just in case!
• Gives you infinite degrees of fine tuning to suit your activity needs
• Easy one handed adjustment with one turn of the BOA dial
• While traditional laces can suffer from wear and tear and can cause damage to the lace holes in your shoes/boots, in contrast, the BOA lace system is highly durable and extremely secure
• No faffing about with impossible knots - with BOA, it's quick on; quick off. It's that simple
• Once locked into place, the BOA reels and laces stay that way. This powerful yet flexible closure allows the ideal amount of flexibility without sacrificing performance
• The system is very rubust and easy to clean
• No more having to worry about your laces or velcro strap loosening, and having to endure the inconvenience of re-tying or fastening

BOA Closure System and Fishing Footwear

BOA is already well integrated with high performance sports footwear such as cycling shoes, skiing and snowboarding boots and running shoes, however the technology has evolved even further and now fishermen can benefit from the functionality and reliability that BOA provides. Simms Rivertek Wading Boots are now being fitted with BOA technology therefore giving the angler a level of stability and performance which surpasses traditional lace-based boots.

So are shoe/boot laces dead? It would be fair to say that are merely becoming obsolete!