TrekSta Trail Running Boot with Boa Winch System Review

Today was the first trek with my new TrekSta (Moscow, Idaho) Trail Running shoes (Timber Hiker). I broke tradition in that these shoes (boots) have a winch system, the Boa cable / winch, instead of traditional laces.

I purchased the boots for the fit, support, and weight. I have a wide foot so many makes of boot are not comfortable. I do a lot of rock-hopping, so I want a light boot but one that is firm. I had two reservations during purchase: 1) noise of the system if I have to get in / out of them on a stalk, hunting, and 2) what if the system breaks (and I am some distance from backup footwear)?

So today was the day. Originally I planned to climb `Thin Red Line', a 1700 vertical foot ascent up grass, sagebrush, basalt cobble, and through a few rock outcroppings. However, my daughter and her boyfriend wanted to come along, with mountain bikes. Thin Red Line is no place for bikes, so I decided we would do the 1600 ft `Power Climb', an ascent of ever-steepening `cow pastures' in the Snake River Canyon (Eastern Washington). A good portion of the climb can be done mounted on mountain bike, taking various cow trails, transmission line access roads, and then switchbacking up the near constant gradient ascent. Near the top there are a number of rock outcroppings, where one might just as well abandon bike, but otherwise it is doable if one is willing to do part of the climb mounted, and from time to time push the bike uphill. And it's worth it for the ride downhill.

Teen love again dissipated too much of my partners' energies, and they wanted to turn around before `Halfway Fence'. So I went on to the Fence alone, turned around, returned to where we parted, and started looking for them. Supposedly they were just exploring and carving initials in trees. And we descended. Now for the boots ...

I didn't know what to think of the Boa winch system before I tried it, but early on I discovered that I think I am really going to like it. I didn't buy the boots with mountain biking in mind, but right from the start, they filled a niche. On a climb like the one we were on, mounting and pedaling, and dismounting and climbing (by foot), it's really nice having a boot that very QUICKLY loosens and tightens. Also, being relatively low-top, they were nice to get in/out of when something `got in them'. I also realized that the cable / winch system is going to be really nice in warmer weather as I will be able to quickly loosen (or take off the boots) when hot and sweaty.

So, in terms of an all-out climb-hike, the boots didn't get a full testing yet. But I like what I have experienced so far. Obviously my two reservations were not tested. This was not a hunting trip, and, no, nothing broke.

References

TrekSta Trail Running Boot Trial 1 (Slideshow), Jeff Filler, Associated Content.

TrekSta, 2009 South Main, Moscow, Idaho 83843.

BOA, 445 Anglers Drive Suite 2A, Steamboat Springs, Co 80477