BOA lace system. Gimmick or actually useful?

[Lou Brown]

Looking into a pair of Delimbers next. Heard they’re pretty comfy and good for climbing but what’s with the laces? 

[Bocca]

Had a pair of the Pfanner Boas last year. Great boots if you’re on the ground. Not so great if you’re climbing most of the time. The mechanism gets rubbed on branches etc and eventually the wire will break. Which is what happened to mine. You get lifetime warranty with Boa which is good so they will send you replacements free of charge. 
 

however eventually one of the plastic eyele loops came apart from the boot stitching. Not a replaceable part so that was the end off them. 
 

they dominate the snowboard market and most of the new boots have the BOA system. Have a pair for snowboarding and wouldn’t go back to laces. But the wear and tear is completely different in our industry. 
 

I’d recommend them for Groundies. But not for climbers.