Any sporting activity is bound to improve your cardiovascular health and keep your blood going through your veins for a lot longer. The same benefit comes from snowboarding but snowboarding in itself offers to improve more than that. You see snowboarding is an aerobic type of exercise which means it's more intense as it requires more oxygen.
If calories are something you want to get rid of, snowboarding is a great way to do so even if you're a beginner. It's important that you have all the proper snowboarding equipment though in order to stay safe on the slopes. One example of snowboarding equipment is the boots or the lacing system to be more exact.
Benefits of BOA Snowboard Boots
Strength
A proper boot lacing system does not only need to be convenient but it also needs to last a long time and for that it needs strength. The BOA lacing system offers exactly that. Being used by turning a knob makes BOA snow boots strong since the system itself has a simple operation meaning fewer parts are used. This makes for a strong and tight hold.
Wear & Tear
While you will see most lacing systems using laces made of polyester you won't see a BOA system having polyester laces. Don't get me wrong, polyester laces are durable and abrasion-resistant but not as much as stainless steel wires which is what the BOA system has. These wires are coated with a water-resistant coating and a strong dirt-repellent too.
Speed
Something that you won't find on many lacing systems is speed. With BOA system boots speed is the first thing you will encounter. By just turning the knob you tighten and loosen the fit on your snowboard boots. It doesn't get easier than that.
What to Look for in BOA Snowboard Boots
Fit
Talking about fit, it is extremely important that when searching for the right BOA snowboard boots you find the ones that fit your feet best. The laces should be tightened to your personal preference and you should wear the socks you would when snowboarding. A good fitting pair of BOA snow boots are ones that feel tight around your upper ankle and over the top of your feet.
Flex
While a good fit is mandatory, you should also search for snowboarding boots with enough flex so that your feet feel comfortable in them when riding. Usually, you should go for a pair with softer flex if you are a beginner or a park rider. If you are a more advanced rider or an all-mountain or a freerider then go for boots with a stiffer flex.
Liners
For the utmost comfort after a long day of riding on a snowboard, you should consider getting BOA snowboard boots with a quality liner. This type of liner would be a heat-moldable liner that provides a custom fit for your feet. Other liners like moldable and stock liners are still good options but not as good as heat-moldable liners. Stock liners are ones that provide the minimum stability and padding, meaning they will conform to the shape of your foot over time. Moldable liners are a good upgrade from stock liners since they are made to shape according to your feet thanks to body heat. Clever that, isn't it?
Footbeds
Better known as insoles, footbeds can also help increase the comfort level of your BOA system boots. Footbeds help support the natural shape of your feet which is why you should see a boot fitter so you're able to find a proper footbed for your feet and boots.
Other Lacing Systems
Traditional
The first-ever lacing system and one found on many other types of footwear is the one that uses good old laces. Although not as convenient as its more advanced counterparts, the traditional lacing system is still easy to use. Traditional lacing systems are extremely customisable but they can end up loosening during a long day on the slopes. Some people still stick to traditional lacing systems since they allow you to replace laces with ease.
Quick-Pull
A quick-pull lacing system is a middle ground between traditional lacing systems and the BOA lacing system. Instead of a turning knob, a quick-pull lacing system relies on what is known as zonal tightening. This allows you to fine-tune the tightness on different parts of your foot. Usually, you can tighten the forefoot and lower leg independently and you can do so while wearing gloves too. You can find different types of quick-pull systems today made by different manufacturers.
Conclusion
For all of you who want to stay active during the colder months, spending time in nature and still getting your daily release of dopamine is going to be a great choice. Remember as long as you have all the necessary equipment, even if you don't know how to snowboard you will still get a day's worth of exercise while learning a new skill.
