A good comfortable snowmobile boot can be the difference between an epic day of snowmobiling and a cold and miserable one. I have experienced a few of these cold and miserable days in the past and it has caused me to be much more selective in the gear I choose to snowmobile in. After four seasons and several thousand miles wearing HMK’s original Highmark boot I decided to ditch the battle-scarred Highmarks for HMK’s newer model: the Pro Boa LE.
Although the HMK Highmark is available with conventional laces, I went for the Pro Boa model that features a BOA lacing system. This system uses a CBR coiler to provide tension on a small diameter metal cable that runs through plastic guides on the boot. The advantage is that these boots can be put on and taken off much quicker and there is no need for tugging on laces. More tension can be applied because there is a mechanical advantage from the coiler, whereas a conventional lace can only be pulled as tight as your fingers can pull. It is like trying to tighten a bolt by hand instead of using a wrench. To remove the boots, pull the CBR coiler out of position, which relieves tension on the cable, allowing the tongue of the boot to be pulled up. In my opinion, the BOA system is far superior to conventional laces. The only downside (and this is highly unlikely,) is that if the cable broke it would obviously cause problems. I would recommend any BOA wearers to keep an extra cable in their backpack or gear bag. The laces cost $9.95 for one or $13.95 for a pair. BOA technology is widely used in snowboard boots so if you are anywhere near a ski hill you could probably find BOA laces in a ski/snowboard shop. But as with most things on snowmobiles, preparation and anticipating problems before they arise can make things much easier.
The Highmark is available in two colors: the white/black/orange LE or black/orange standard. The white LE model is very stylish and looks really good on the machine. I was concerned about getting them dirty, but HMK has designed the boot with black abrasion resistant rubber in high wear areas, and after about 500 miles the boots still look white with the exception of a couple of black scuffs here and there. The sole features a fairly aggressive tread pattern and offers good traction on the running boards of modern mountain sleds, and there is enough traction on the toe of the boot to help kick out the snow/ice build-up in the footwells. HMK comfort-rates these boots to -50 F and they have kept my feet warm and dry in a variety of conditions this season. I am very impressed with the overall comfort of these boots. The BOA system is fantastic and I won’t be going back to laces any time soon. The boots look great and are well built. I honestly don’t have a bad thing to say about these boots, they work well and offer the kind of protection and support needed for aggressive riding. This is a great boot from a great company that does more than their share of supporting the sport of snowmobiling.
HMK Pro Boa LE (white) $249.95 HMK Snowmobiling
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The HMK Pro Boa LE is a stiff boot that offers excellent support for aggressive riding; the HMK boot is similar to a snowboard boot but offers a few features that make it more snowmobile friendly. For example, many snowboard boots feature metal lace loops that can will scratch the machine and rip the seat if used for snowmobiling. Also, many snowboard boots do not feature protection on the top of the toe, this is important on a snowmobile because the boot is regularly used to lift up on the machine using the footwell. HMK has considered these and other issues and developed a boot that offers comparable stiffness to a snowboard boot but is built with features to assist snowmobilers.
The Highmark is a two-piece boot with an external shell and a removable liner. The liner is lace-up which gives the boot excellent support and protection. I have experienced zero slip inside the boot and they are very comfortable to wear when riding. There is enough flex in the boot that it is still fine to walk in. Sizing runs one size larger than street shoes, so keep that in mind.
