Loaded with all the features you’d expect from a top-of-the-range shoe, the Union Boa Clipless Shoe is a delight for daily use.
The Fox Union Boa Clipless Shoe is the high end of Fox’s ever-growing, and most excellent, Union shoe line. We’re big fans of the Union range from Fox and the addition of the double Boa Li2 closures means that you can get the fit just right, even if it pushes the cost up.
Photos by Pete Scullion.
Key features:
- Clipless mountain bike shoes with BOA®
- New outsole featuring a D3O® cushioning insert
- Dual BOA® Li2 system provides on-the-fly adjustability
- Ultratac™ rubber compound provides grip and durability
- Reinforced toe for protection against rock strikes
- Exchangable arch support options
- Extended cleat slot
- Glass-filled nylon shank
- £219.99 RRP
- FoxRacing.co.uk
The Union Boa Clipless Shoe from Fox adds a D3O insert and double Boa Li2 closures to the standard Union Clipless which are excellent shoes in their own right. For fifty more of your quids, you get that fine tuned feel that only Boa can offer, plus the extra bit of padding that the D3O insert provides.
Otherwise, you get a similar one-piece welded upper, Ultrac sole, reinforced toe box and replaceable arch support included in the box. Fox’s website indicates that the last is slightly larger than most so suggest going down a size but we’ve found them to be bang on for us, similar to the other Union offerings.
Since they arrived, they have been in near constant use and run in conjunction with OneUp Clip, Hope Union TCs and CrankBrothers Mallet DH pedals to see how they differ between the different cleat and engagement systems on the market.
It isn’t entirely surprising to find that I really enjoyed the Fox Union Boa Clips. The lace-up version is plenty comfy and the addition of the micro-adjustability of the dual Boa closures just means you can get it exactly how you like it. Back to back runs showed that I wasn’t feeling the effects of the D3O insert, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it wasn’t working.
Despite being on my feet more often than not since the start of the summer, they show very little in the way of wear and they really got a kicking with me racing both Enduro2 and The Ex races within a fortnight of each other. They don’t get heavy when wet and are really quite light for what their aimed at. I haven’t had any massive toe strikes thankfully, but they do keep the feet well protected.
Possibly the only thing going against them is that they’re not the comfiest for a hike-a-bike but then I don’t think the these are aimed at that kind of day out. If you’re into pedalling all day or riding where you’re on the bike for the most part, these will serve you well. Out of the box they can feel a bit stiff but do break in quickly.
What do we think?
For any day in the saddle, the Fox Union Boas are hard to beat. They’re not cheap but they are tough as woodpecker lips so you’ll get the mileage from them.
We love:
- All-day comfort
- Fine tuned fit
- Durable
Could do better:
- Not the comfiest when brand new
- Not the best for hike-a-bike
