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32 Focus BOA Snowboard Boot Review

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32 Focus BOA Snowboard Boot Review
focus-boa-7-black
$299
Intermediate to Expert All Mountain
One of 32's most popular boots, has a great rep for all mountain riding and it's one of the lighter boots out there.  It comes in men's and women specific designs. The 32 Focus BOA is also very comfortable and at the same time pretty supportive for those that like a boot on the stiffer side of medium.  It's still not as stiff as 32 says with an 8 out of 10 flex.  32 also makes some of the wider snowboard boots out there so if you have wide feet they are worth considering.  If you have more narrow feet then you might want to consider another company.  There is a pretty decent articulating cuff that allows you to preserve the origional flex longer than a boot without it.  Alot of 32's soles are one material but this seems to be 2 materials to allow for better traction over vaired conditions you migh have to walk or one foot on.  We would like to see the upper and lower BOA boots have complete seperation but instead they both tighten almost the same place in the ankle.  Some companies now have a BOA system like most speed lace boots out there now that can offer complete seperation from upper and lower so we'd like to see that wtih 32 as well.  Still this is a boot that offers good response and makes for a solid but light ride.

How It Rides
Flex Med/Stiff
Upper Adjustability
 Good
Traction Good
Comfort Excellent
Lower Adjustability
 Good
Sole Cushioning
 Excellent
Heel Hold
 Excellent
Response Good
Board/Binding Integration Excellent

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The Good Ride Take

The Good Ride Take on Articulating Cuffs- If you don't know what an articulating cuff is the upper and lower panels of the boot are separate.   The top cuff is only attached at the back and then wraps around the front.   When you flex forward it doesn't stretch out the boot and over time it stays closer to its original shape and stiffness.  It also creates a more natural and comfortable forward flex when riding.  It can be made to be stiff or very soft and is generally more comfortable than a standard boot.  We love this tech!

The Good Ride Take on 3D Molded Tongues vs. Traditional Tongues
A 3D molded tongue is smooth and continuous and is seen on a lot of boots.   It never folds down or bites into the top part of your foot or ankle.   There are traditional tongues that have different names that have a folding point that is usually at the top of the ankle.  We have seen that many people with bumps and issues on the top of their feet seem to have less pressure points with 3D molded tongues.  It really all comes down to personal preference but we hope this breakdown helps.

The Good Ride Take On Thirty Two
Thirty Two makes really good boots and clothing.  We are especially big fans of their boots.  They have a wide range of riding styles and fit incredibly well.  However Thirty Two has one huge flaw in their customer service that makes us weary of purchasing unproven gear.   If you go to the 32 site you will not see a single phone number on their contact page.   You cannot get a human voice unless you call their parent company (sole) and get transferred to 32.  You can email them but the response is not timely and their ability to fix issues is limited. We thought that maybe 32 just doesn’t like us but when we talked to many other retail stores about 32 we heard the same thing.  So here is the skinny.  If you like 32 and want to buy their products they are average in terms of quality.  They just have a buy it only customer service policy.  If you have an issue it will take a lot of time and pressure to get them to fix a boot.

 

Company Info

32 Focus Boa 2012

Double BOA support with our new elastic eyestay wrap.

Features

  • Flex level: 8/10
  • Focus Zonal Boa™ Lacing
  • New STI Evolution Foam™ / EVA Outsole Blend
  • Articulating Cuff
  • 3D Molded Tongue
  • Inner Ankle Harness
  • Item Code: 8105000124/001

32 Women's Focus Boa 2012

For the girl who laps her boyfriend on powder days.

Features

  • Flex level: 8/10
  • Focus Zonal Boa™ Lacing System
  • STI Evolution Foam™ / EVA Outsole Blend
  • System G2™ Gel
  • Articulating Cuff
  • 3D Molded Tongue+ Inner Ankle Harness
  • Item Code: 8205000089/001

32 Focus Boa 2011


32 Women's Focus Boa 2011

The lightest dual Boa™ boot in the world, the Focus Boa™ has all of our best technology with very little additional weight. With a Level 5 Soft Top Fuzzy Cuff Liner and System G2™ gel in the heel for comfort and impact protection, this boot provides a retreat from some of the harsh elements of shredding. The firm flex and supportive Inner Ankle Harness contribute to a very damp ride and protect any unwanted heel movement. With each click of the side Boa™ real, feel the Independent Eye Stays tighten and wrap around the full circumference of your forefoot.

Share:

  • Flex level: 8/10
  • Boa™ Focus Zonal Lacing
  • STI Evolution Foam™

    Designed in our STI Lab, this foam provides better cushioning than traditional foam materials and dramatically reduces the weight by eliminating the need for a heavy rubber outsole. ThirtyTwo boots with STI Evolution Foam™ are 15% to 40% lighter than previous seasons and remain the lightest in the industry.

    Featured on the following boots: Prime, Juhyo, Ultralight, Focus Boa™, TM-2, Vela, Lashed, Lashed FT, Lock Boa™, Prospect.

  • Articulating Cuff

    This advanced shell construction creates high-performing, smooth-flexing boots that are easier to lace and more durable. There is also less shell distortion, resulting in consistent heel hold through the full flex range.

    Featured on the following boots: Prime, Juhyo, Ultralight, Focus Boa™, TM-2, Vela, Heritage, Lashed, Lashed FT, Lock Boa™, Prospect.

  • 3-D Molded Tongue

    Our 3-D Molded Tongues wrap your foot for easier lacing, improved fit and heel hold. This design also gives us the ability to control the stiffness of each model for customized flex and improved response.

  • Inner Cuff Lacing System

    Updated for 2010, our new Inner Cuff Lacing System can easily be tightened with a single pull. The lace lock will keep the laces secure, the orange pull strap helps keep the laces straight, and the anatomical shape will keep your heel down.

    Featured on the following boots: Prime, Juhyo, Ultralight, Focus Boa™, TM-2, Vela, Heritage, Lashed.

  • Inner Ankle Harness
  • Item Code: 8205000078/522
FootbedOutsoleLiner

USA Europe UK Japan
5 35 2.5 21.5
5.5 36 3 22
6 36.5 3.5 22.5
6.5 37 4 23
7 37.5 4.5 23.5
7.5 38 5 24
8 38.5 5.5 24.5
8.5 39 6 25
9 40 6.5 25.5
9.5 41 7 26
10 41.5 7.5 26.5

32 Focus Boa 2010

The Focus Boa™ is the most customizable Boa™boot on the market. With its Triple Zone Lacing System, this boot can be dialed-in within seconds for a highly customized fit every time you ride.

Features

  • Focus Zonal Lacing System from Boa™ with two reels for custom upper and lower fit
  • STI Evolution Foam™ midsole
  • Outsole with System G2™ cushioning
  • Articulating Cuff for improved fit, heel hold and smooth flex
  • 3-D Molded Tongue wraps your foot for easy lacing and improved fit
  • Inner Ankle Harness for secure inner lacing
  • Level 4 Fit System Liner
  • Level 3 Fit System Footbed
  • Outsole

Flex Level

 

8

 

Soft Stiff

Mens Sizes

 

USAEuropeUKJapan
5 37 4 23
6 38 5 24
7 39 6 25
7.5 40 6.5 25.5
8 41 7 26
8.5 41.5 7.5 26.5
9 42 8 27
9.5 42.5 8.5 27.5
10 43 9 28
10.5 44 9.5 28.5
11 45 10 29
11.5 45.5 10.5 29.5
12 46 11 30
13 47 12 31

 

32 Women's Focus Boa 2010

The Women’s Focus Boa™is the most customizable Boa™boot on the market. With its Triple Zone Lacing System, this boot can be dialed-in within seconds for a highly customized fit every time you ride.

  • Focus Zonal Lacing System from Boa™ with two reels for custom upper and lower fit
  • STI Evolution Foam™ midsole
  • Outsole with System G2™ cushioning
  • Articulating Cuff for improved fit, heel hold and smooth flex
  • 3-D Molded Tongue wraps your foot for easy lacing and improved fit
  • Inner Ankle Harness for secure inner lacing
  • Level 4 Fit System Liner
  • Level 3 Fit System Footbed
  • Outsole
8
Soft Stif


Pictures

32 Men and Women's Focus Boa 2012

32 Focus Boa 2011

32 Focus Boa 2010

32 Women's Focus Boa 2010



Other Reviews

 


 

Compare Laces & Sizing

BOA vs. Speed Lace vs. Traditional Lace
A Snowboard Boot Lacing System Comparison by The Good Ride.

The Good Ride Take on BOA Boots- A BOA Boot has a steel cable attached to some sort of plastic Coiler mechanism that tightens the boot instead of laces.  There are 2 main types of BOA boots.  
1. Single BOA- This uses just one BOA Coiler to adjust the entire boot.
2. Double BOA - This uses 2 BOA Coilers for upper and lower adjusting.  Some have 1 for the outside and 1 for the inside but most are for upper and lower. 
BOA boots are the easiest to get on, get off and adjust out of any boot.  Single BOA boots have the least upper/lower adjustability of any boot because the bottom and top is tightened by one coil. If you have a Double BOA (2 Dials for upper and lower) they are closer to other lacing systems but still not as good.  Both the upper and lower dials adjust the ankle in the same place.  This means you don't have complete separation like you do with Speed Lace and most Traditional Lace Boots.  The biggest issue with BOA boots is if they break it requires a shop or the manufacturer to fix them.   It’s usually not the cable that breaks but the dials.   Out of all the boots you can crank a BOA tighter than any other boot which can be a good or bad thing.  There have been some complaints that BOA boots can have some pressure points from the cable system when tightened too tight.   The bottom line is BOA tech is a cool technological advancement that will work well with many riders and is super easy to adjust.  In the end it comes down to personal preference and BOA could be right for you.

The Good Ride Take on Traditional Lace- Traditional Lace is what most people know.  It’s reliable and easy to repair.  Lace boots take a lot more effort than BOA or Speed Lace.  Also many riders complain about blisters in attempts to get them tight.  Some Lacing systems have handles at the top that connect to the laces and we love this.  Another thing we like is when the upper lace hooks hold the lace in place so each section can tighten independently.  When you have this along with a handle connected to the end of the laces it’s more adjustable than BOA and Speed lace.  We really like this but it’s almost not a traditional lace boot.  It’s more a hybrid but whatever you call it we like it!  However it’s not great in terms of the time it takes to get things dialed out or make minor adjustments on the hill.

The Good Ride Take on Speed Lace- Speed lace is a perfect compromise between BOA and Traditional lace.  It’s almost as fast as BOA and more adjustable.  Some Traditional Lace is just as adjustable but speed lace is easier to do so.  We really like how the upper and lower laces are 100% separate. This is a huge advantage over BOA Boots and some traditional laces that don’t lock at each hook.   Speed Lace is super easy to tighten up and dial out.  It’s also pretty easy to make small adjustments throughout the course of the day.   If the laces break out on the hill it will be a lot more difficult to fix than traditional laces but it can be done without help from a shop or sending it back.   If you are a 100 day a year rider then plan on changing out your laces half way through the season.   We have been lucky so far and never had one break on the hill because any time they start to get frayed we change em out.  We mainly ride speed lace boots but we aren't that high on ourselves to say that's the way it should be.  Everyone is different.

All lacing systems have strengths and weaknesses.  It’s up to you to figure out what will work the best.

 

 

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