509 Raid Boa Boot Review

So, I was curious to see if the stylish brand would stand up to all the hype and my expectations. Here’s my 509 Raid Boa Boot review.

From the moment I first tried on this boot, I knew it was made for walking. Not that I plan on doing much walking when I’m sledding. However, I have found that some snowmobile boots are so stiff that it’s a legitimate challenge to navigate the pre-trip breakfast excursion and, more importantly, the ramp on our sled deck. The 509 Raid Boot has enough ankle flex and grip to walk up and down the ramp with confidence.

With the dual Boa system, you can adjust both the top half of the boot and the bottom separately. This makes for a more custom fit.

To be sure of size, 509 offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. That said, I’ve discovered that the Raid Boot does tend to fit larger by a half to one full size. To confirm the sizing, I asked a male riding buddy to wear them for a day and the Size 9 fit his feet, which are normally a Size 9.5. And that was with a thicker Smartwool sock.

According to 509, the Raid Boot is designed for hardcore riding. They hit the mark on this, if your definition of hardcore riding is deep pow and chasing super techy lines all day. Unlike other boots I’ve tried, the Raid Boot doesn’t feel cumbersome when switching sides and dangling a leg. The boots are lightweight and have a slim profile.

What I also appreciate about this boot is the ability to better feel my foot placement on the running boards, which is important for quick maneuvers, like hop-overs. The boot provides good grip and the thick carbon outsole has appeared to stand up well to the abuse of sharp running boards.

The 509 Raid Dual Boa Boot has 600 g 3M Thinsulate, which has been enough to keep my tootsies warm through typical riding temps of -5 to -15˚C. That’s with a thin sport-type sock. My feet, which probably run hotter and sweatier than most ladies’, stayed dry as well, thanks to the 5TECH waterproof, breathable liner.

However, I will say that when it dipped below -20˚C this winter, I did end up with cold toes. But to be fair, I had been standing around a broken sled for an hour prior to being towed along 30 km of trail on said broken sled.

As for waterproofness, the Raid Boa Boot did not disappoint, even when I stood in a creek for about 30 seconds.

Of course, the number one feature of this boot is the dual Boa system. Goodbye, laces. Forever! Seriously, once you’ve owned a set of Boa boots, there is no going back. Plus, there’s a 100% warranty on the Boa system for the life of the product.

The boot also has a front loop for hooking your pant gaiters—a feature I simply won’t do without. To be extremely nick picky, the only complaint I have is that because of the loop size, it’s a challenge (albeit minor) to work the snap through. This is a common oversight on snowmobile boots from many brands.

During my review, I had about 10 rides wearing these boots—not quite enough time to put them through the ringer, but enough for minor signs of wear and tear to appear.

Pros

• Lightweight, compact feel and look
• Extremely comfortable
• Dual Boa system for a quick, custom fit
• Flexibility, great for technical riding
• Good grip with soft rubber, allowing you to better foot placement feel
• Great waterproofness for those accidental creek encounters

Cons

• May not be suitable for airtime evangelists and those requiring a lot of ankle support
• Improvement may be needed on stitching and durability in general

Overall, I have been pleased with my time in the 509 Raid Dual Boa Boot. They are lightweight, understated, super comfortable and built for the kind of riding I like best—chasing fresh lines through the trees and frequently riding above my skill level = stuck-fest.

– Kirsten