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Vans Aura Snowboard Boot Review

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Vans Aura Snowboard Boot Review
aura-blk
$239
Intermediate to Expert Freestyle to All Mountain Freestyle
Van's runs a bit softer than many other boots and they get softer over time.  The stitching and boot holds up just fine but they can get pretty soft.  We like that the Aura has a lot of articulation in the ankle and almost two seperate pannels to help maintain the flex that you start out with. The Aura also has a complete seperation between upper and lower BOA coils so you can have the upper super tight and the lower loose without sharing the ankle.  For most of us at The Good Ride we like this seperation because isn't that the point of having 2 BOA coils? The Aura also has very good shock absorption for a boot of this price. The biggest issue with the 2011 and below Aura is the very soft toe.  This can really suck if you ride with over the toe straps because the boot just collapses, makes you crank it down more and cause pressure on your toes.  This can make you un happy with your bindings as well.  If you can get past the toe, like a soft ultra adjustable BOA with articulating cuffs the Aura isn't a bad choice. For 2012 the Aura fixed this soft toe issue and the toe is stiffer than before.  The boot also feels a little more stiff than last year making this a very good medium/soft flexing BOA boot.

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

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The Good Ride Take

The Good Ride Take on BOA Boots- BOA boots are increadibly easy to get on and off as well as adjust.  That being said BOA boots don't have the adjustability that Speed Lace Boots do.  If you have a Focus BOA both the upper boot and lower boot dials adjust the ankle portion in the same place so you don't have complete upper and lower zone autonomy like you do with Speed Lace and most traditional lace boots.  There have also been some complaints that BOA boots can have some pressure points where Speed Lace and Traditional Lace boots have the least complaints.  So if you want the best in adjustability then speed lace is where it's at.  If you want the easist boot to tighten and adjust then BOA Focus or BOA Coil is the way to go.  The biggest issue we have with BOA boots is with a little effort you can change out a speed lace boot.  If you break a BOA boot you will most likely have to send it back to the manufacturer and you'll need a spare pare of boots while you wait 2 weeks to 1 month for them to get back.  We are not saying don't buy BOA because they are a cool technological advancement and work well with many people.  It's all personal preference so we just want you to know what you are getting into when you buy your boots.

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!

 

Company Info

Vans Aura 2012

In a few short seasons the Aura has quickly become one of the foundation styles in the Vans line. With classic styling, a soft forgiving flex, lightweight construction and a zonal Boa® closure system, it's easy to see why the Aura is bringing joy to riders all around the world.

- Vans Double Boa® Closure System
- Full Instep Articulation
- Pleasure Cuff
- Web Liner Harness and OTW Lace Lock
- Flex Rating: 5 (1: Most Flex - 10: Least Flex)
TriFit X Thermal Liner

V3 Footbed

VansLite Outsole w/ ImpactSorb

Vans Double Boa® Closure System
Featured on the men's and women's Aura boots, two reels control 2 specific zones of closure, providing greater freedom of flex and articulation.
DOUBLE BOA
Featured on the men’s and women’s Aura boots, two reels control 2 specific zones of closure, providing greater freedom of flex and articulation.
Full Instep Articulation
Allows for the upper and lower zones of the boot to flex independently creating a fluid forward motion and minimizing shell distortion.
Pleasure Cuff
Is designed to allow for the cuff of the boot to adjust to all range of calf sizes providing a comfortable and forgiving fit.
Internal Web Harness and OTW Lace Lock
Attached to the inside shell of the boot the Web Harness provides liner closure for better fit and prevents liner movement inside the shell to insure secure hell hold while the OTW Lace Lock maintains the desired tension.
VANSLITE Outsole
- One-piece, injection-molded EVA sole unit for featherlight feel with Vans rubber compound positioned in strategic high-wear traction areas for added grip and durability
- Inverted waffle tread pattern
- ¾-wrap heelclip increases torsional rigidity for added stability and turning response
- ImpactSorb® dampening technology in the heel found on the men’s Aura and Matlock and the women’s Aura and Kira



Vans Aura 2011

Last season the Aura was introduced to rave reviews. With classic Vans skate shoe styling, a soft, forgiving flex, lightweight construction and a zonal Boa Closure System, it’s not hard to see what had people talking. The Aura returns for its sophomore campaign with the addition of the Double Boa Lacing System with articulating cuff for even more flexible freedom.

- NEW Vans Double Boa Lacing System for two adjustable closure zones
- Articulating cuff construction
- Pleasure Cuff shell construction
- NEW Internal Web Harness and OTW Lace Lock
- NEW TriFit X Thermal Liner
- TPR Series Footbed
- VansLite Outsole with ImpactSorb dampening technology

Vans Aura 2010

AURA
New for this season, the Aura delivers a mix of performance and style direct to your door. The new Vanslite Snowaffle Sole with ImpactSorb dampening technology will keep you secure and light on your feet all day. Combined with the Vans Boa Focus System providing the ultimate in custom zonal closure, the all-new Aura will leave you glowing!
- NEW Vanslite Snowaffle Sole with ImpactSorb™ dampening technology in heel
- Vans BOA Focus Closure System provides zonal-specific
tightening across three different zones: the upper region, the forefoot region, and the instep region		 - Vans Trifit Asym-X Thermal Liner
- TPR footbed
- 3D molded tongue

Specs



Pictures

Vans Aura 2012

Vans Aura 2011


Vans Aura 2010



Other Reviews


Compare Laces

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 they break.  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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