Why your next pair of sneakers should be Boa
(and why you should buy them from your local bike shop)
Paddlers, I think I may have found the best camp shoes ever. They’re my biking sneakers!
Scott is one of a few shoemakers, along with FiveTen, offering all-weather footwear for trail riders who prefer flat pedals to clipping in. A mix of qualities, from urban chic style to super grippy soles designed for flat pedal pins, define the shoes in this category. There are three features and one big innovation that make my Sport Volt sneakers perfect for approaches and in camp.
The rugged synthetic uppers and stiff midsoles offer good stability on the trail and excellent protection against rocks and roots. You can hike or portage with these, no problem. The sticky rubber soles make them good for approaches or climbing descents that don’t require aggressive tread patterns. The low profile design renders these shoes incredibly comfortable day in, day out, as I recently discovered on a four day trip when I pretty much never took them off.
But what’s really amazing in camp is the Boa lacing system. It dials in a snug fit one-handed, which you need on a bike. It’s also handy on the trail. Disengage by pulling up on the Boa dial, and your approach shoes have just turned into a pair of cosy camp slippers. Slipping in and slipping out has always been the number one convenience feature of a good camp shoe.
This one will hold up in bad weather. It sheds water, and has good ventilation. It’s warm in winter, with a moisture wicking liner that won’t make your feet feel like they’re sweating inside a Michelin tire in summer. The Boa apparatus is replaceable if it breaks.
Not bad looking, either. (If you prefer Navy blue, see if you can find pairs from previous model years online. Scott, a Swiss sports company known for its mountain bikes, is currently only selling them in moss green.)
Move over Oboz! Sport Volts are in the house!
So go Boa and get out there!
