Expert Review: Burton Photon BOA Snowboard Boots · 2022

About the boots: This review is my honest opinion of the boots which I purchased with my own money in September of 2020.

My take

The Burton Photon Double BOA Boot is very durable and fast to lace up. It is perfect for a progressing intermediate rider who loves taking on the whole mountain and wants to speed up the lacing process.

About this gear

• Model: Burton Photon Double BOA Boot
• Size: 9.5
• Lacing type: Double BOA

About me

• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 170 lbs
• Street shoe size: 9.5
• Foot shape: Wide
• Experience: 20 years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought these: September 2020
• Days tested: 4 years
• Board: Scallywag or Never Summer Funslinger
• Bindings: Union STR
• Where I’ve used it: Colorado Mountains
• Terrain: Powder, groomers, and trees

How they perform

What I was looking for

I was looking for a boot that would be easy and quick to lace up while also having the durability to last several seasons.

Why I chose this gear

I have heard great things about Burton and wanted to try out their boots. I have previously always been a ThirtyTwo fan, and I was hoping for a pair that would last me a little longer than my previous ThirtyTwo boots. I used those for the past 12 years and had purchased them from a thrift store – they were the most comfortable boots. I decided to upgrade since the top of my boot had started to wear out, and I was trying to fix it with duct tape. I also wanted a boot that had the double BOA because I was very interested in the faster lacing process.

What I love about them

• Warmth: They do keep my toes warm, especially when combined with a good wool sock.
• Shock absorption: These boots have good shock absorption, but I have felt some chatter. I have heard that there are other boots that Burton offers that are more shock-absorbing, such as the Ion.
• Responsiveness: These boots are responsive and I was able to lean into deep carves quite gracefully.
• Grip: They do have excellent grip and I feel safe while walking across icy patches.
• Ease of use: These boots offer the double BOA lacing system, which is so much faster when lacing up the boots. The double BOA gives me more adjustability, making these boots feel as if they are formed to fit my exact foot shape and truly secure me into my boots.
• Durability: The materials offered by Burton have held up very well. I have had these boots for 3 years now and there are very minimal scuffs and so far no tears! I love to ride through the trees and powder. I once ended up taking a wrong turn and going down one of the steepest runs in Colorado with these boots, and even though I caught a few rocks, these boots held up! No rips or tears yet.
• Weight: Not the heaviest boots. I would say they are pretty lightweight for a boot.
• Versatility: These have held up in the powder and groomed runs. I am not much of a terrain park person; I mainly stick to backcountry and groomed runs.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Size: I have wide feet and I feel like these are more of a narrow fit. They do start to hurt my feet around the middle of the day. I should have gone up a size or purchased the wide version.
• Comfort: Ultimately I love the boot, but if there was more memory foam or extra wiggle room in the toes, the boot would be more comfortable, but because the boot wasn’t the best fit for my feet, the boot felt too stiff around the cup of the toe and is uncomfortable for me. I feel these boots are medium flex and they are a great fit for a progressing intermediate rider.
• Heel hold: The boots have a little too hard of a heel hold. I start to feel pain around the middle of the day. I have to readjust the BOAs several times to release the pressure.
• Hot spots: My source of pain is the width of my feet. I was unaware of how wide my feet are until buying this boot. I do know now that Burton offers a wide version of this boot. I would recommend going up a half size to offer just a little bit of wiggle room, and for those with wide feet, I would choose the wide version.

Favorite moment with this gear

I personally love being able to lace my boots quickly and get out on the slopes faster. I think I should have gotten the wide version, but in any case, I was able to find a boot that is durable, allows me to shred through the powder, and holds up against normal wear and tear. My favorite memories with these boots are beating my husband every time we lace up before we get out on the slopes. It is crazy how much faster it is than a standard lace boot. My husband and I are the type of people who get dressed at our car at the resorts, instead of bringing everything up to the resort. It is always a laugh at who can win at lacing up our boots. Hands down the double BOA wins every time against standard lace boots! Which also means more time for Apres!!

Value for the money vs. other options

I think these boots are worth the price point, but if I could offer any advice, it’s that I should have paid more attention to the wide version vs. the normal Photon boots. I think the value of this boot overall was spot on. The durability and the BOA lacing are great features and these boots keep my feet warm even in a blizzard.

Final verdict

Overall, the Burton Photon Boots are a great match for progressing intermediate riders with narrow feet who are wanting a boot that is durable and offers the BOA lacing system to get out on the slopes faster.