Boa Fit System
How many running shoes have you decided not to buy because the fit wasn’t quite spot on? BOA promises a bespoke fit every time – in practically any shoe. How on earth does that work?
Words Esther Newman
The fit of a running shoe is fundamental to our enjoyment of running. If your shoes rub or shift on your foot even just a tiny bit, we all know how that can result in painful blisters and sores that can ruin a run. Shoe manufacturers have worked hard at the design stage to minimise movement and friction, so a lot of shoes now have things such as supersoft tongues, or seam-free inners, or sock liners to help reduce the chances of blisters popping up when you least want them to.
Lacing is also considered. So if you’ve been running for a number of years, you will have noticed advances in lacing technology and design – a lot of them now, for instance, are flatter and secure better than before. But one company has rethought the concept of lacing altogether, and in so doing has introduced a totally new invention to running: lacing that ensures the fit of your shoes is not only perfect, but perfectly bespoke – and easily adjustable – every single time.
The fit system
If you’re a regular snowboarder or skier, you already know the Boa Fit System. That little clicky dial on the side of snowboarding boots? That’s Boa. The thing is, Boa doesn’t just make lacing for snowboarding boots – it does them for running shoes, too. And while you might not have seen these little dials on your favourite brand yet, chances are you soon will do. So what exactly is this system, and more importantly, how does it aff ect our running?