Your Favorite Shoe Lacing System
PoorInRichfield
Posts: 56
Curious as to which type of shoe lacing system you prefer and why.
Seems that traditional shoe laces were making a come-back, but now the BOA lacing system is all-the-rage on most new shoes. While I understand the comfort factor of shoe laces, the childhood nightmares of my laces coming undone and getting stuck in my chain ring have kept me from going that route. I recently purchased a pair of shoes with BOA laces, and while I see the advantages, I'm not super excited about the fact that my foot can feel where the BOA dial is when I tighten the shoe. At the moment, I'm thinking that the mixture of Velcro and ratchet straps that were on my Giro shoes might be the best option for me. What about you?
Seems that traditional shoe laces were making a come-back, but now the BOA lacing system is all-the-rage on most new shoes. While I understand the comfort factor of shoe laces, the childhood nightmares of my laces coming undone and getting stuck in my chain ring have kept me from going that route. I recently purchased a pair of shoes with BOA laces, and while I see the advantages, I'm not super excited about the fact that my foot can feel where the BOA dial is when I tighten the shoe. At the moment, I'm thinking that the mixture of Velcro and ratchet straps that were on my Giro shoes might be the best option for me. What about you?
Which shoe lacing system do you prefer? 46 votes
Velcro / Plastic Ratchet Straps
21%
10 votes
BOA Lacing System
45%
21 votes
Good 'ol Shoe Laces / Giro Tech Laces
21%
10 votes
Duct Tape
8%
4 votes
Other
2%
1 vote
0
Posts
Had the microlock on my sidi but the pin kept working loose. Now I've two pairs of laced shoes but I've swapped them out for elastic laces. No knots to get caught in the chainring and I've never pulled my foot out. Also saves vital seconds each time I put them on ! :-)
I personally enjoy the fact that you can tighten them up on the move without stopping.
No buttons on my Spesh Torch shoes. Just tighten and loosen.
Why would you need to stop ?
At the moment I alternate between three pairs of good road shoes:
Rapha Climber's Shoes - Velcro
Mavic Cosmic Pro - dual Boa
Fizik R3 (old model) - ratchet and velcro
The Rapha; the sole is stiff and the uppers are supple - you have to pull the velcro straps tight to get a racy, responsive feel. I think this is more to do with the material of the upper than the closure method.
Mavic; the sole and uppers are stiff. The boa dials are two way adjust so you can loosen then on the go. Feel more responsive due to the stiff upper.
Fizik; my least favourite due to the fit.
My take on shoes is that the closure method is not the most important thing. I would suggest that width and volume/feel of the upper is the most important thing. All decent road shoes soles are stiff. The difference in responsiveness/comfort is in the fit and the suppleness or stiffness of the upper (also things like heel grip).
I haven't tried Giro laced shoes yet, but they look good and get good reviews. I do think my next pair of shoes will be Spesh S-Works 7 - dual Boa.
Saying all that, I think dual Boa is the closure most top end road shoes will go with and would be my preference if pushed.
HTH
Shimano XC70 - Ratchet Strap
Shimano XC90 - Ratchet Strap
Specialised - Velcro Strap don't wear these much as they need Bicarb of Soda if I do it seems
DHB - Velcro Strap
Specialised Cadet - Laces BNIB bought for £15
Specialised Defroster - Boa Turn & Pull to release
Lake - Boa Turn & Pull to release
Specialised BG - Boa Turn both ways
Defrosters don't get much use given they are a winter boot but the others get worn from time to time though I do wear the Boa shoes more frequently, would like to get them all the same system where you turn both ways.
You're not using Boa then