So Bontrager dropped the new Ballista road shoe:
As clean as a Giro Empire, but with the quick-closure convenience of a BOA dial - will this be the new aero-weenie favourite?
Going to have to grind off that toe bumper. The toe box also looks a little too roomy to be as aero as the giro. Nice job with the Boa dial though.
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A single Boa closure? No thank you. I’ll stick with my Classiques. Laces are far superior.
The toe box on Bontrager shoes isn’t exactly spacious (at least, my current-gen MTB shoes of theirs aren’t) - don’t know if it’s as tight as Giro, but it’s narrower than Shimano for example.
I’ve had a BOA failure after only a couple rides on a pair of expensive cleats – and the day before an IM to boot. Saved my race by buying a new pair of tri-shoes at the expo. I won’t buy anything with BOA dials again … too much risk.
I never had a BOA failure myself, but I got two pairs of spares (BOA sends them out for free) in my travel pack just in case… I did, however, have a buckle tear at the mounting point and a Shimano ratchet fall off because of a sheared bolt - shit happens…
In my case, the dial unit cracked right off and the tension immediately went to zero so the shoe was flopping on my foot. Since the shoes were virtually brand new I had no expectation of that and only after I came home did I find out about the free spares. But those shoes are relegated to the indoor trainer now. Velcro is proven and I’m not going to sweat a half gram of drag.
Didn’t Lake make those shoes a decade ago?
i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MzMwWDUwMA==/z/II0AAOxycmBS-qvK/$_3.JPG?set_id=2
Lake beat them by almost 10 years with their CX236…
Lol, dammit, you beat me by like 30 seconds…
I got these in the mail from Sigma UK yesterday, holy sexy. Now if I can just make the carbon tub comfortable…
meh
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I had a similar pair in the mid 90’s by diadora. Had a “boa” type system on the back of the shoe and velcro strap at the toe.
http://www.oldbici.it/product/diadora-dd-project-road-cycling-shoes-43-eur-nib/
I’ve had a BOA failure after only a couple rides on a pair of expensive cleats – and the day before an IM to boot. Saved my race by buying a new pair of tri-shoes at the expo. I won’t buy anything with BOA dials again … too much risk.
I’d chalk that one up to bad luck. Have sold and worn a lot of BOA shoes, I could count in one hand the ones that had issues. None of my personal shoes have ever had any issues.
I agree; most likely a 1 in 1,000 or more defect. And in the first shoes or anything I ever owned with BOA … also the last time I’ll ever buy anything with BOA. YMMV. 
What is the weight of those bad boys, I don’t see it listed in the link? The more and more I think about the weight of the Giro SLX the more I am stunned. My 42.5 are basically below 160 grams modified. I know it isn’t about weight, but when it comes to material, more weight often means more material, and more material likely means a larger frontal area and it is about aerodynamics then.
They are an ugly pair of shoes!
I agree; most likely a 1 in 1,000 or more defect. And in the first shoes or anything I ever owned with BOA … also the last time I’ll ever buy anything with BOA. YMMV.
I’ve been through 4-5 dials on my S-works road shoes. The good part is that Boa just sends replacements for free and they only take a few seconds to replace, so I keep a few in my gear bag. I just consider them a consumable, like tires or something.
I’ve had a BOA failure after only a couple rides on a pair of expensive cleats – and the day before an IM to boot. Saved my race by buying a new pair of tri-shoes at the expo. I won’t buy anything with BOA dials again … too much risk.
I’d chalk that one up to bad luck. Have sold and worn a lot of BOA shoes, I could count in one hand the ones that had issues. None of my personal shoes have ever had any issues.
X2 - only had one BOA failure in 1000s of Ks ridden. Company behind Boa sent me 2 replacements quite quickly- still have the second one. Plus Bontager stands behind their stuff in my experience.