Even the dual BOA skeptics on our test team had to admit that Salomon did it right with the S/Pro Supra Dual BOA 130. They loved the fit and the performance, and the combination of those two critical elements created a positive synergy that outweighed the minor inconvenience of getting through the two spools and into the boot. And they thought the Grey Aurora cosmetic with retro brand call-outs in black and blue was pretty damn good-looking.
If a skier wants a medium width Salomon (Supra) in a 130-flex, it's going to have to be dual BOA, period. The single BOA or buckles-only options top out at a 120-flex. Why? Well, a brand can't offer everything, though Salomon tries, and the word on the street is that dual BOA equals high-performance--at least for Salomon. Our test team doesn't disagree, necessarily. They love how the S/Pro Supra Dual BOA 130 skis--it's absolutely bombproof in how it controls the ski while on edge, with a solid, damp feel that inspires confidence at the highest speeds. Testers said its edge power skills slightly over-powered its quickness and agility skill set but not by much, calling it reactive and capable in tight spots and in small radius arcs. Whether the two BOAs combined forces to create this descent performance resume with cable-and-pulley-induced mechanical advantage, or simply the fact that the snug-wrapping closure in both the lower shell and upper cuff created a fit that translated into performance is an unanswerable question for our team. But the takeaway was that yes, it skied very well.
And it fit well, said testers who liked the smooth and even-wrapping feel of the reel's influence on fit tension in both the shell and cuff. The upper BOA provided a particularly nice closure around the leg shaft for a variety of leg shapes and volumes, as reported by testers who said the transmission of leg movements to edging response was very direct. There were multiple comments about the liner's shapely contours that suited all the common bony bits and wide spots of the foot, ankle and instep. Testers also said that the blend of cushioning and insulation was evenly balanced with the liner's firmness for a resolute hold on ankles and heel for strong skiing moves.
Yes, testers were in agreement that the dual BOA does create some level of entry impediment, but for the 130-performance-level-seeking skier they didn't think that it would cause a whole lot of trouble, just took some getting used to and a degree of patience to get past the cabling then reattach everything, avoiding hang-ups on cuff overlaps and such. Once in, everything came together aces for a fantastic fit and skiing experience, so testers said other Dual BOA skeptics should follow their example and just get over it.
Kudos
Caveats