Best BOA Ski Boots of 2026

It does indeed “feel different” in a good way. So far, we've found this new generation of BOA dials to be very robust, and if something does go wrong, the system is pretty easy to work on. It adds minimal weight, and we think it will allow boot manufacturers to create boots that work better for a wider range of foot shapes right out of the box.

As you might have noticed in our reviews of BOA boots over the last two years, we came into this experience with plenty of skepticism. Our testers broke their fair share of older-style BOA closures on touring boots and on bike and running shoes. But so far, we’ve been really impressed with every BOA ski boot 12we’ve used, and we think that this technology brings extra value to most skiers in the form of comfort and ease of use. That’s why we’ve started this roundup of the best BOA boots on the market, and we’ll continue to update it as we get time in more BOA options.

About Powder’s Editor’s Picks

Our Editor’s Picks lists are collections of the skis, boots, outerwear, and other gear that stood out to us while testing. If you want to learn more about how reviews work at Powder, we’re very transparent about our process.

These lists are constantly growing and evolving as we try new gear, all season long. If you’ve got a favorite piece of equipment that you think we should write about, let us know here. And, if you represent a brand or company and think your gear deserves a writeup, we’d love to get in touch. 

Salomon S/Pro Supra Dual BOA 130/115W

• Stated Flex: 130/115 (women's)
• Last width: 100mm
• Best for: Aggressive skiers looking to balance comfort and performance in a resort boot

Salomon jumped headfirst into the Dual-BOA paradigm this year with the release of their new S/Pro Supra Dual BOA boots. Replacing all four buckles on a boot might seem a bit extreme, but Salomon worked closely with BOA to fine-tune the flex pattern of these ski boots to deliver best-in-class power transmission and one of the smoothest rides out there.

With a 100mm last and a relatively low instep, these don't skip out on heel hold, but won't crush your toes and forefoot the way a much narrower boot might.

K2 Cortex 140 Zonal BOA

• Stated Flex: 140
• Last width: 96-98mm
• Best for: Expert/Pro-level skiers looking for Dual BOA with a low-volume fit

With the release of their new Cortex line of boots, K2 went all-out on pro-level performance by creating a thick-shelled freeride boot with a super low-volume fit that's built to hold up to the highest speeds, biggest airs, and most aggressive skiing out there. This is the boot you'll find on the feet of superstar freeride skiers like Max Hitzig and Sam Kuch.

Despite lacking a walk mode, the 140-flex version comes with tech fittings in the toe to allow for uphill compatibility with modern hybrid touring bindings like the Salomon Shift, Marker Duke PT, Tyrolia Attack Hybrid, or Cast Freetour. We wouldn't recommend going on long tours with these, but it's nice to have the option for short uphill stints.

Nordica Speedmachine 3 130 Dual BOA

• Stated Flex: 130
• Last width: 100mm
• Best for: Aggressive skiers with mid-volume feet looking for a powerful on-piste boot

Nordica has long been known for high-performance race-inspired resort boots, and the new Speedmachine 3 doesn't stray far from the herd. This version, now featuring Dual BOA closure, features a more roomy 100mm last, with a relatively tall instep. That should make those of us with chunkier feet happy, especially if you're not looking to give up any stiffness or performance.

Inside, Nordica adds in cork-heavy liner, meaning these won't pack out immediately and should last as long as most aftermarket liners like Zipfits or Intuitions.

Salomon Shift Alpha BOA 130/115W

• Stated Flex: 130/115 (women's)
• Last width: 98mm
• Best for: An aggressive freeride skier looking for a one-boot quiver to balance time inbounds and out the gates.

With the Shift Alpha BOA 130, Salomon rethinks the walk-mode freeride BOA boot and turns it into something worth taking into the backcountry for aggressive riding. The key to that performance is a unique take on how the BOA actually closes the boot. Instead of just wrapping over your forefoot, the cable also attaches to a longer strap that's connected to the inside ankle pivot, effectively pulling your foot directly into the boot's heel pocket as you crank the BOA dial. 

We found that keeping your foot exactly where it needs to be in the boot at all times, whether touring or descending, vastly increases both performance and comfort. The Shift Alpha BOA would be an excellent option to purchase by two types of skiers.

First, this makes sense as a one-boot every day quiver for a rider that values downhill performance and spends 75 percent of their time skiing a resort where lots of sidecountry access where bootpacks, short skins, and complicated exits are part of the game. Secondly, I think this would make an excellent choice for a skier who already owns dedicated alpine boots and lighter touring boots and wants to add that “in-between” boot to their quiver.

K2 Mindbender BOA 140/125W

• Stated Flex: 140/125W
• Last width: 100mm
• Best for: A range of foot shapes, all trying to ski hard inbounds with the ability to walk uphill too.

The K2 Mindbender BOA 140 and the Atomic Hawx XTD BOA exist in a very similar space. They’re both inbounds-first boots with walk modes and tech fittings. They both ski really well and walk well enough for shorter tours. The primary difference between the two lies in their fit and the liner inside. The Atomic Hawx XTD has a much lower volume, narrower fit than the K2 Mindbender BOA. The Mindbender BOA fits more like a medium/high volume boot while still being able to cinch all the way down for smaller feet. Inside, the fully customizable Intuition wrap liner adds stiffness, warmth, and unparalleled comfort.

We were impressed by how voluminous the shell feels with everything wide open and how tight it can cinch down. Some of that’s thanks to the separate BOA system on the Intuition liner, it allows you to really lock down the liner so there’s no movement in there. The new Mindbender BOA really leans into the advantages of BOA, mainly its adaptable fit. If you have a wider, higher-volume foot that usually requires punches in lower-volume boots, give the Mindbender BOA a shot. It skis really well, walks well enough, and is an all-round competent boot.

Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 S Dual BOA

• Stated Flex: 130
• Last width: 98mm
• Best for: Skiers with low-volume feet looking for a snug fitting and very powerful inbounds boot

Atomic joined the Dual BOA continuum this year with the addition of a twin-dial Hawx Ultra 130 option. This takes the same beloved low-volume fit of the existing Hawx Ultra mold and adds in two BOAs. To make things more confusing (or perhaps just to give you picky skiers more options?), the boot is available in three versions: no BOAs at all, a lower BOA-only option, and the new Dual BOA model.

Either way, the power transmission and snug fit of the Hawx Ultra has long been a tester favorite here at POWDER, so we're psyched to see more options of one of our favorite boots hit the market.

Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130/115W

• Stated Flex: 130 / 115 (women's)
• Last width: 98mm
• Best for: Skiers with low-volume feet looking for a truly powerful inbounds boot that tours with the best of them.

We’ve spilled a lot of words over the new Hawx XTD already because it’s an excellent boot that will make a lot of skiers really happy. Atomic didn’t just slap this new BOA system on their existing Hawx XTD and call it good. Instead, they made a bunch of other changes as well, all of which combined to make this current version the most powerful and consistent Hawx XTD yet. These boots ski really, really well. And they walk well enough for short tours.

Our biggest criticism (if you can even call it that) is that the new Hawx XTD doesn’t lean into what makes BOA boots so excellent as hard as some of the other options on this list do. It retains the low volume, narrow fit of the original Hawx XTD. That’s great for a lot of skiers, but it means not as many folks will feel the need to cinch it down, which is where the BOA really shines. We suppose that's where the higher-volume version called the Prime comes into play. Regardless, the new Hawx Ultra XTD 130 is a powerful boot that skis inbounds really well and tours adequately, a perfect combination for a lot of skiers.

Fischer RC4 Pro MV DYN BOA Zip Fit

• Stated Flex: 140
• Last width: 100mm
• Best for: The hard-charging inbounds skier looking for the ability to tour short distances.

It’s been really interesting to see how each brand has tackled integrating BOA into their boots differently. Salomon added the ankle strap, and Fischer goes all-in with boot upgrades right out of the box. With the new RC4 Pro DYN, Fischer gives us a hardcore freeride boot with tech fittings in the toe, no walk mode, and a stock ZipFit liner. That liner is usually a $500 upgrade to an existing boot, but the new RC4 comes with it out of the box. The level of fit and comfort that the RC4’s BOA and liner combine to provide is hard to overstate. This boot just feels really, really comfortable. It’s powerful, precise, and comfortable, a rare combination.

Fischer offers the RC4 Pro in an MV or “Medium Volume” fit. That, combined with the BOA system, gives skiers a lot of room to dial in the fit of their boots without having to pay for bootfitting. You can run them pretty open if you have wide or tall feet, or cinch them down tighter than traditional buckles, and add ZipFit’s cork gel for narrower, lower-volume feet. In other words, this boot has a nice, versatile fit. Despite lacking a walk mode, it's possible to go for short tours on these with a Shift, Duke PT, or Cast binding, thanks to the integrated tech fitting in the toe. And on the way down it feels like a monster truck, powerful and comfortable, demolishing everything in its path. If you’re looking for a freeride boot that feels like a luxury vehicle, the RC4 Pro DYN should be on your short list.

Tecnica Mach BOA HV 120/105W

• Stated Flex: 120/105 (women's)
• Last width: 103mm
• Best for: Dedicated resort skiers looking for extra comfort without compromising performance.

Tecnica has long been known for their high-performance boots that bring out the brand's racing pedigree. Instead of jumping aboard the BOA hype train right away, they decided to take their time figuring out how to integrate the tech into their boots, and are now offering it on a new version of their high-performance resort boots, called the Mach BOA. 

Like K2 and Fischer, Tecnica decided that BOA works best with a high-volume shell. That takes full advantage of how the closure system can comfortably cinch down shell plastic and essentially create multiple last widths options in a single boot. With a stated 103mm last, the Mach BOA brings many of the on-piste performance aspects of the venerable Mach 1 into a comfort-forward package that will work for aggressive skiers who are unwilling to put up with boot pain anymore. In addition, the women's-specific Tecnica Mach BOA HV 105 finds an excellent balance between performance and real comfort thanks to a high-volume shell that can cinch down significantly with the help of the BOA system.