2024 BOA® Trail Running shoes

Trail Running traverses various terrains like rocks, mud, snow, and grass, presenting athletes with diverse challenges within a single race. A reliable grip is essential to prevent slipping, but one crucial factor that many runners underestimate is the importance of fit.

BOA®- powered Trail Running shoes enhance athletes' speed, agility, and endurance. The precise fit provides superior heel lock and enhances the connection with the midsole, resulting in more power and greater control over foot placement while running.

Let's explore the top BOA® Trail Running shoes to be dialed in this 2024.

Speedland GS:PDX

The Speedland GS:PDX is the ultimate trail shoes for long distances. Precision fit is paired with maximum comfort and responsiveness to propel you through the mountains faster. When running with them, the PerformFit™ Wrap activated by BOA® Fit System, featuring multidirectional dual-dial, offer you a precision fit for long distances. One of the favorite shoes from Dylan Bowman.

Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra HT/ST

The Scarpa Ribelle Run HT or ST is established as one of the best shoes for moving fast and efficiently on technical terrains. The Wrap 360 in the upper nicely wraps around your feet, providing the perfect fit. The lightweight and low-profile Li2 Dial enables multidirectional adjustments for tightening and loosening of the shoes on the go. It's the choice of Philipp Ausserhofer for navigating short and technical trails around his home ground in the Stubaital Alps.

Altra Mont Blanc BOA®

The Altra Mont Blanc BOA® are the perfect choice for long-distance races like UTMB. The combination of the PerformFit™ Wrap, powered by Dual Dial, enables precise micro-adjustments for a tailored fit. These shoes are ready to conquer the most rugged terrain. BOA® Athlete Virginia Perez secured her first podium at MCC during UTMB last year with these shoes.

La Sportiva Jackal II BOA®

The La Sportiva Jackal II BOA® is designed for ultra-long distances in mountain running. It features the PerformFit™ Wrap powered by the BOA® Fit System, providing a fast and precise fit. The dual BOA® dials, along with a triple-layer microfiber closure flap, ensure customizable zonal adjustments across the foot, enhancing stability and reducing impact in technical sections of an ultra-marathon. BOA® Athlete Florian Grasel finished 27th in the 2023 edition of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc with this shoes.

Dials and Laces used for the BOA® Trail Running shoes

Dial Li2 - Lightweight and low-profile, Li2 enables multidirectional adjustments for tightening and loosening at every turn, climb, and sprint. Built to last, the dial platform is engineered with unprecedented durability against impact, abrasion, dirt, and debris. (Used in Scarpa Ribelle Run & Speedland GS:OAK)

L6 - L6 is the most widely used dial in the L-SERIES thanks to its versatile cartridge system. Designed to keep you going. (Altra Mont Blanc BOA®, La Sportiva Jackal II BOA)

TX6 - Flexible, lightweight, and strong, the TX6 textile lace is made of recycled polyester and polyethylene and provides a soft feel with long-lasting strength. (Scarpa Ribelle Run Kalibra)

TX4 - Flexible, lightweight, and strong, the TX4 textile lace provides a soft feel with the lasting strength of Dyneema®. (Altra Mont Blanc BOA®, La Sportiva Jackal II BOA®, Speedland GS:OAK)

What is the PerformFit™ Wrap?

The micro-adjustable BOA® PerformFit™ Wrap configurations are scientifically proven to improve an athlete's speed, agility, and endurance by wrapping over and conforming to the midfoot, delivering superior heel lock, enhanced connection to the midsole, and greater forefoot freedom.

Their latest peer-reviewed white paper titled “Evaluating footwear “in the wild”: Examining wrap and lace trail shoe closures during trail running” highlights the performance advantages of the BOA PerformFit Wrap. Athletes who participated in the study reported significant enhancements in their trail running performance and confidence, including:

• Increased Speed & Endurance: Achieved up to 1.5% faster speed with the same level of exertion.
• Improved Stability: Experienced a reduction of up to 7% in ankle rotation velocity, resulting in enhanced stability and consistency.