2024 K2 Recon 130 BOA Ski Boots Review
By: Pat Mahoney, Brand Manager | Last Updated: July 24th, 2023
The Lowdown
It’s 2023. The West has been getting pummeled with snow. Folks in the East are dusting off their mountain bikes. Most importantly, BOA has arrived and is taking over the ski boot world providing long sought after performance and fit benefits in key boot models from multiple brands. Atop the tower of high-performance alpine boots now equipped with the BOA® Fit System reigns the all-new K2 Recon 130 BOA Ski Boots. The Recon 130 was built upon the essence of power, response, durability & supreme fit. If you’re looking for a highly responsive performance boot that now offers unparalleled fit & feel you’ve found it. This is the stuff dreams are made of.
There’s no doubt that when new industry shifting technology hits the market it can be met with uncertainty but I'm hear to say that I truly believe BOA is here to stay. And for the naysayers, you’ll be pleased to hear that K2 still offers the entire Recon line with traditional buckles. The BOA® Fit System provides a more connected fit that wraps the lower of the boot around the foot decreasing downward pressure and locking in your heel. When tightening the BOA you will immediately feel more of a vacuum type fit as opposed to a traditional feel of the shell clamping down. Try it on and you will feel the immediate difference in the lower half of the boot. Couple this supreme fit with a highly responsive performance boot and you’ll see why the Recon 130 should be the boot of choice for alpine enthusiasts that demand more out of their boot.
Technical Details
BOA delivers a dialed in (see what I did there) performance feel that you can immediately feel and reap the benefits from. The full BOA® Fit System consists of three main parts: a micro-adjustable dial, stainless steel laces (K2 has deemed the SS3 lace), and heavy duty-rivet guides. The BOA dial allows for on-the-fly micro-adjustments which is absolutely key in achieving precision fit. Tighten the dial to your heart’s content and if too tight, turn the dial counter-clockwise to incrementally loosen. Push in to engage and pull up to release. Easy peasy. The stainless steel laces are lightweight and strong ensuring maximum durability boasting a tensile strength of more than 254 kg. Rivet guides are heavy duty but low friction helping to create that smooth and precise fit. In summary, BOA offers a more precise and connected fit allowing for enhanced feel & responsiveness while reducing pressure. This is achieved through a durable and confident design built to withstand anything you can throw at it. Trust me, we tried to break it. Wasn’t happening. In the unlikely event it does break, it is designed such that it can be easily repaired or replaced.
| Flex Rating | 130 (Very Stiff) |
| Last Width (mm) | 97 - 100 (MultiFIT Last) |
| Shell Material | TPU |
| Cuff Material | TPU |
| Liner | Powerfit Pro |
| Outsole | GripWalk |
| Weight (g) | 1580 |
| Size Range | 24.5 - 30.5 |
Ride Impressions
The all-new K2 Recon 130 BOA Ski Boots are a great choice for serious skiers that demand maximum performance, power & response. Sure, anyone can hop in the boot and take ‘er for a rip but this boot needs to be pushed for the driver to reap all the benefits. This boot can drive any ski in any scenario with ease and leave you wondering: what can’t this boot handle? Steeps, mellow groomers, pow, hardpack, parking lot après – nothing stood a chance against the Recon 130 BOA. This boot does it all and does it all really well without being too much. At the end of a really long day, I never found my feet super fatigued or wanting to get out of my boots ASAP, as happens with some. One disclaimer before I jump more into the fit. I did not get these boots heat molded before writing this review which is always highly recommended. The Recon 130 BOA has a fully heat moldable shell and should be taken advantage of.
I’ve been skiing the 27.5 and would consider this on par with other brands sizing, although maybe leaning a bit towards the higher volume side than lower. To put into context, I have a fairly narrow foot and would normally look for something in the 98mm last range. With K2’s MultiFit Last this boot should be ideal for folks with 97-100mm last width’s. I felt that the toebox was a bit more roomy than what I am used to but K2 must know that because included in the box is an optional cushion that you can slide into the liner above the toe box to consume some of that extra volume. Also included with the boots is K2’s Modular Honeycomb Boot Board and two inserts – one being firm for a quick responsive feel and the other being softer for impact absorption.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Pros
- Incredible fit and feel
- Uncompromised power transfer and response
- Versatility across different terrain and scenarios
Cons
- More narrow footed individuals may not feel the 'wrapped' benefits of BOA, although heat molding will help
- More casual, less demanding skiers may find this boot feeling a bit too stiff
Who Is It For?
The K2 Recon 130 BOA Ski Boot is for your more advanced skier that is looking for ultimate performance & responsiveness. I wouldn’t hesitate to ski this boot in literally any condition with confidence. If you’re a type III+ skier that’s looking for one boot to do it all (except tour) give the K2 Recon 130 BOA boots a shot.
The Bottom Line
Here’s the deal. K2 took an already solid boot (with the traditional buckle Recon 130) and increased the overall feel and responsiveness with the addition of BOA. There’s no doubt that the way a BOA dial tightens is superior over your traditional buckle system. The naysayers will say that BOA can break and they aren’t necessarily wrong. But when multiple well-known, established, ski brands go hard into something you can assume the testing R&D is there to back it up and I have no doubt that long-term durability will not be an issue but only time will tell. That said, I was mostly impressed by the overall fit & feel of this boot – and I haven’t even gotten it heat molded yet! Fit and feel aside, this boot can compete with the best of them when it comes to high-performance, uncompromised power transfer and response. These are all the things a skier should look for in a boot and I suggest you look no further than the K2 Recon 130 BOA for your daily driving needs.
Shop the K2 Recon 130 BOA Ski Boots
About the Reviewer
Name: Pat Mahoney
Age: 32
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 180 lbs
Size Reviewed: 27.5
Location(s) & Conditions: The Great PNW, where it mostly rains...
Bindings: Salomon Strive 14 GW
Riding Style & Ability Level: All-Mountain Freeride