Smith Mainline Helmet Review

BOA® FIT SYSTEM ENHANCES CYCLING PERFORMANCE

BOA® Technology, the creators of the award-winning patented BOA® Fit System, partners with leading brands to create high performance fit solutions that enable the world’s best athletes in Cycling, Snow, Athletic, and Outdoor sports to get dialed in and perform at their peak.

Since entering the cycling market over 15 years ago, BOA® has directed attention to enhancing the connection between the rider and their equipment, improving power, control, and confidence in high-stakes situations.

Research from the world-class BOA® Performance Fit Lab firmly establishes the correlation between optimal fit and performance. The lab, founded in 2018 as part of the BOA® Partner Product Innovation and Development team, conducts over 1,000 hours of annual elite athlete testing and amasses millions of data points demonstrating the scientific benefits of the BOA® Fit System, particularly when implemented in BOA®-powered wrap solutions.

BOA fit Technology | BOA Fit System

Innovative BOA®-powered wrap solutions lock in the heel and wrap the midfoot to enhance the connection between the foot and the sole, allowing for more efficient power transfer and improved overall cycling performance. Key benefits from a comprehensive analysis of the BOA®-powered wrap solutions integrated into on- and off-road cycling footwear include:

ENDURANCE. Achieve up to a 9% increase in power output while maintaining equivalent metabolic expenditure.
POWER. Experience up to an 11% increase in peak power output during sprints.
HEALTH. Enhance pressure distribution by up to 10% for improved performance during both sprints and sustained riding.

“Thousands of hours of testing demonstrate that wrapping over the midfoot, locking the heel, and reducing stress on the body materially enhances fit and performance. Our lab, in conjunction with our design teams, systematically evaluated how to optimize PerformFit Wrap in cycling through specific materials and panel structures that effectively conform to the foot, enabling more efficient riding and greater peak power output during sprints.”
– Dan Feeney, Ph.D., BOA® Senior Director of Partner Product Innovation and Development.

BOA fit Technology | BOA Fit System

The versatility of the BOA® Fit System allows cycling brands to tailor BOA® configurations to the distinct needs of road, endurance, and mountain bike athletes alike. Notable brands like Canyon and Ride Concepts incorporate BOA®-powered solutions such as the PerformFit™ Wrap in newly launched footwear collections. Other industry leaders, like Fox Racing, achieve objectives through dual-dial configurations featuring premium, multi-directional Li2 dials for fine-tuned, zonal fit. BOA® will continue to work closely with brands to bring unmatched micro-adjustability, quality, and durability into further footwear and helmet products.

BOA®’s dedication to performance is further demonstrated through the BOA® Lifetime Guarantee, ensuring product integrity and enduring quality. With over 10,000 hours annually devoted to product testing, cyclists can count on the durability and reliability of the BOA® Fit System, even in the most demanding conditions.

For more information about the BOA® Fit System and its impact on cycling footwear and helmets, visit BOAfit.com.

MEET THE TEAM // THE MINDS BEHIND THE INNOVATION.

DAVE DICKENSHEETS
Chief Innovation and Operations Officer

Holding an MBA from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Dave is an experienced product development leader with a distinctive background in product innovation, business operations, market research, and manufacturing. Combining his industry experience and passion for outdoor sports, he played a pivotal role in spearheading product development initiatives throughout his ten years at BOA®—continuously pushing the limits of human performance.

DAN FEENEY
Ph.D. Senior Director of Partner Product Innovation and Development

With a Ph.D. in Neuromechanics from the University of Colorado Boulder, Dan specializes in collaborating with external partners to pioneer advancements in fit and performance across footwear categories. He leads initiatives that integrate cutting-edge technology through rigorous field and lab testing, aiming to elevate both work and sports footwear.

ADAM AUELL
Director of Testing

Leveraging his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, Adam has been instrumental at BOA® since 2008, leading the transformation of the BOA® Product Testing Laboratory into a world-class facility. His oversight of field testing, the testing lab, and testing engineers ensures that BOA® delivers the highest levels of quality and durability across its global product development efforts.

BOA fit Technology | BOA Fit System

CONFIGURATIONS.

ADVANCING HUMAN PERFORMANCE THROUGH FIT.

CLASSIC FIT

Classic Fit

EVEN PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION
The BOA® Fit System‘s micro-adjustable dials, lightweight and strong laces, and low-friction lace guides work seamlessly together to distribute pressure evenly across the foot.

Dual Dial Zonal Fit | BOA Fit System

TARGETED ZONAL FIT
BOA® Dual Dial Zonal Fit configurations provide targeted adjustment and support across multiple zones of the shoe, effectively stabilizing the forefoot. With dual dial configurations, riders have full control to customize their fit intuitively during extended rides, reducing pressure points, accommodating foot swelling, and ensuring optimal performance in challenging trail environments.

BOA® PERFORMFIT™ WRAPS

BOA PerformFit System

IMPROVED STABILITY, EFFICIENCY, & ENDURANCE

The micro-adjustable BOA® PerformFit™ Wrap is designed and engineered to improve a rider’s stability, efficiency, and endurance. This scientifically validated solution uniformly wraps the midfoot, delivering superior heel lock, enhanced connection to the midsole, and greater forefoot freedom.

Research conducted by BOA® proves these benefits with up to a 9% increase in power output while maintaining equivalent metabolic expenditure, an 11% increase in peak power output during sprints, and enhanced pressure distribution by up to 10% for improved performance during both sprints and sustained riding.

MULTI-DIRECTIONAL PRECISION FIT

360° MICRO-ADJUSTABILITY

The BOA® Fit System FS1 dial platform is a lightweight, low-profile solution specifically designed for helmets. It offers multi-directional adjustability, enabling intuitive tightening and loosening to enhance security and confidence in high-focus situations. Its tactile grip performs reliably in wet weather, ensuring consistent performance in all conditions.

BOA fit Technology | BOA Fit System

DIAL PLATFORMS.

BOA® FIT SYSTEM.

The BOA® Fit System is custom-built for each unique product and contains three integral parts: a micro-adjustable dial, super-strong lightweight laces, and low friction guides.

Each configuration is engineered to optimize fit and performance and built to perform in the toughest conditions.


DIAL
Varying in size, design, and user interface, BOA® dials fine-tune fit with precision, allowing for quick adjustments and peak performance.

LACE
The workhorse of the BOA® Fit System, BOA® laces routinely tolerate the toughest environments and field tests, and are expertly configured for precision and performance.

GUIDES
Lace guides replace traditional eyelets and the deficiencies that come with them. BOA® lace guides function to minimize friction and distribute even closure.

L-SERIES. DIAL PLATFORM OVERVIEW

L6
BOA®’s L6 dial platform combines durability with a lightweight design, making it ideal for mountain biking footwear where mountain bikers rely on control, responsiveness, and optimal efficiency. Exceptional resistance to impact, dirt, and mud contamination ensures L6 performs in demanding trail conditions.

Li2
BOA®‘s most advanced L-SERIES dial platform, Li2, provides multi-directional precision, a low-profile design, and sustainability. Offering unparalleled micro-adjustability, it enables intuitive tightening and loosening, along with fast, total release—ideal for riders who demand fine-tuned control and unwavering reliability.

FS1
The BOA® Fit System FS1 dial platform is a lightweight, low-profile solution specifically designed for helmets. It offers multi-directional adjustability, enabling intuitive tightening and loosening to enhance security and confidence in high-focus situations. Its tactile grip performs reliably in wet weather, ensuring consistent performance in all conditions.

BOA fit Technology | BOA Fit System

REDEFINING THE FUTURE OF FIT.

DIVERSE PRODUCT FEATURES TO TACKLE ANY TERRAIN.

  • MULTI-DIRECTIONAL | BOA® Fit System Platforms with multidirectional capabilities ensure cyclists can find their precision fit faster and fine-tune it on the go. Unparalleled micro-adjustability in both forward and backward directions, allowing for precision tightening or loosening, as well as fast release.
  • FAST RELEASE | This patented, exclusive feature of the BOA® Fit System allows cyclists to instantly release lace tension with a quick pull-up motion, making it fast and effortless to step in and out of footwear during shifts.
  • RUGGED IMPACT PROTECTION | The innovative BOA® Fit System dial platforms feature a bayonet design that is engineered to release the dial cartridge under heavy impact, preventing catastrophic damage. Once dislodged, the dial cartridge can be instantly reinserted, restoring functionality and enabling the rider to continue their journey without interruption.
  • NO LOOSE LACE ENDS | The BOA® Fit System keeps both lace ends firmly locked within the dial cartridge, ensuring cyclists stay securely fastened and fully focused, enhancing both safety and performance on every ride.

STRENGTH & DURABILITY FACTS.
POUNDED, FROZEN, SUBMERGED–YOU NAME IT, WE‘VE TESTED IT

BOA® dials can be opened and closed 5,500 times without losing their functionality – that’s the equivalent of taking your shoes on and off once a day for over 15 years.


BOA® laces are designed to withstand loads up to ten times higher than those required for a tight fit.

For low-cut shoes, the lace tension when closing the shoes is only 4.4 lbs, while the BOA® CS1 lace withstands tension tests of 44 lbs. For mid-cut shoes, the lace tension for perfect fit is 20 lbs, while the BOA® CS3 lace withstands tension tests of over 154.3 lbs.

BOA fit Technology | BOA Fit System

DATA FROM THE BOA® PERFORMANCE FIT LAB.

Our team of designers, prototypers, engineers, and biomechanists continuously develop and test new ways to advance fit and performance through independent scientific studies conducted at our state-of-the-art Performance Fit Lab at our headquarters in Denver, CO, and outdoors in rugged mountain terrain.

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