Well, new-gear-announcement season is officially underway, and today, a whole bunch of manufacturers (Salomon, K2, Nordica, & Head) simultaneously revealed their boots that feature BOA closures for both the lower shell and upper cuff. We’ll be getting info up ASAP for all of them. Here, we’ll dive into K2’s new Cortex collection.
Obviously, the Cortex Zonal’s lack of traditional buckles is the most eye-catching thing about the boot, but just about everything else in this boot is new for K2.
For starters, K2 lists its last width as 96-98 mm, making it the lowest-volume boot they’ve produced. It’s also supposed to be the most performance-oriented, with a flagship flex option of 140.
Now, K2 has produced a handful of “140-flex” boots in the past few years, but in our experience with the Recon 140, it flexes more like a 130 or even 120 boot, at least in part due to the fact that the Recon 140 is very, very light.
The Cortex boots appear to be built quite differently, and with a stated weight of 2283 grams per boot for a size 26.5, the Cortex Zonal 140 BOA seems like it could fall more in line with some race-inspired boots, such as the Atomic Redster CS, Salomon S/Pro Race, Lange RS, etc.
As for the upper-cuff BOA system we’re seeing on these new boots, it’s meant to accomplish similar things as the lower dial (uniform and fine-tunable tightening), but it’s worth noting that the upper dial tightens two sides of the metal cable at once. This is meant to speed up the tightening process, particularly since most skiers want their cuffs fully undone when getting into the boot; there’s consequently a lot of cable to twist up to close the cuff. To further help with getting in / out, one of the upper rollers (the one with a cord pull-tab) can be detached from the boot cuff.
The upper BOA dial is also supposed to improve the flex and power transmission of the boots, since the cable-and-roller system allows the cable to distribute its tension as the boot cuff is flexed. So, while the lower BOA dial is primarily meant to improve the fit of ski boots, the upper dial is supposed to do that and potentially alter how the boot flexes. We’ll have more to say about the realities of all this once we get time in these new dual-BOA boots.
As for other details, the Cortex boots are built with thermoplastic polyurethane (i.e., TPU), and the 140, 130, and 125 W models feature elastic power straps with cam closures. The “Cortex Zonal” models feature upper and lower BOA systems, whereas the non-Zonal models use traditional buckles for the upper cuff.
The Cortex “W” models are available from size 22.5–27.5, while the non-W models are available from size 24.5–28.5. The one exception is the flagship Cortex Zonal 140 BOA, which is available from 22.5–28.5.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2025-2026 Cortex models:
- Cortex Zonal 140 BOA
- Cortex Zonal 130 BOA
- Cortex Zonal 120 BOA
- Cortex 120 BOA
- Cortex 110 BOA
- Cortex Zonal 125 BOA W
- Cortex Zonal 105 BOA W
- Cortex 105 BOA W
- Cortex 95 BOA W
As for availability, here’s what K2 says: “At launch, the Cortex Collection will include a full size range of the unisex K2 Cortex 140 Zonal BOA® ($949), Men’s 130 Cortex Zonal BOA® ($849), Men’s 120 Cortex Zonal BOA® ($849), Women’s 125 Cortex Zonal BOA® ($849), and Women’s 105 Cortex Zonal BOA® ($849).” These will are available now at select retailers and on K2’s website. In the fall of 2025, the full collection will be available.
We’re eager to test out the new Cortex boots and should be doing so in the near future, so keep an eye out for Flash Reviews. In the meantime, below is the full press release from K2:
K2 Ignites Low Volume Ski Boot Category, Bringing Innovative
Dual BOA® Technology to Market
Seattle, WA. January 15, 2025 — K2, the original American ski brand, launches the new Cortex Collection– the brand’s first low-volume ski boot offering– and debuts the innovative dual dial Zonal BOA® Fit System technology, further solidifying K2’s position as the industry leader in ski boots.
Offering out-of-the-box all-mountain performance, the K2 Cortex ski boots are the first in market to feature two BOA® dials and cables– one on the forefoot and one on the cuff. This allows for independent adjustments along the upper and lower boot with the click of a dial, setting a new standard for precision and performance in ski boot design from the factory in Asolo, Italy to the feet of advanced skiers around the globe.
The Cortex 140 Zonal BOA® boot, developed in collaboration with Freeride World Tour athletes Max Hitzig and Manon Loschi, is the pinnacle all-mountain performance boot featuring a unisex fit, 96-98 mm last, 140 flex rating, GripWalk Soles and a new high-performance and customizable low-volume liner.
“This is the boot our freeride athletes have asked for– a performance-focused boot that blurs the edges of race boot and traditional low-volume boot performance and fit. The dual dial system has allowed us to perfect the locked-in feel and power that we’ve previously struggled to refine. This boot doesn’t play nice for everyone but will be a dream boot for rowdy skiers who want a hyper-responsive and stiff boot,” says Tom Pietrowski, Senior Global Ski Boot Product Line Manager.
The innovation process for the new Dual BOA® Fit System included over six years of development and 50,000+ hours of design, engineering, and rigorous durability and performance testing with elite athletes. The new H+i1 dual pull featured on the cuff is engineered to streamline adjustment speed while ensuring a uniform and precision fit around the lower leg. K2’s toe seal design and patented Fast Fit Instep are engineered to optimize the BOA technology, wrapping the forefoot rather than applying downward pressure for exceptional power transfer and edge-to-edge control.
“These boots allow me to push my skiing to do what I always imagined in my mind,” says Max Hitzig, K2 freeride athlete.
At launch, the Cortex Collection will include a full size range of the unisex K2 Cortex 140 Zonal BOA® ($949), Men’s 130 Core Zonal BOA® ($849), Men’s 120 Core Zonal BOA® ($849), Women’s 125 Core Zonal BOA® ($849), and Women’s 105 Core Zonal BOA® ($849) available now at select retailers and online at K2skis.com.
The Cortex Collection will expand in the 2025/26 winter season to include additional low-volume boots with and without Zonal BOA® Fit System Technology for both men and women.
K2, a leader in integrating BOA® technology into snowboard and alpine boots, continues to elevate its innovation legacy and revolutionize ski boot design with the launch of the Cortex Collection.
Tech toe inserts. Key point here for the 140. Game changer for many in Europe on lift serviced days 1-3 days after dump…
I think I still want walk mode for my hybrids, but certainly interesting
That’s exactly the point. Cortex 140 is not a hybrid boot. It’s a proper down-hill performance alpine boot, without walk mechanism compromises on flex pattern, and it has a proper low volume. It just happens to have tech toe inserts, so that one can use a Shift etc binding to make short exit/ entry hikes on lift serviced days.
Prediction: K2 will gain significant market share (in the category) because of the tech toe inserts. More so than the BOA etc. Good on them.
Any info on forward lean and adjustability thereof?
No word on that yet, but we’ll confirm once we got the boots in hand.
15 degrees forward lean with a 2.5 ramp. There is a spoiler in the cuff to adjust the lean roughly + -2degrees
My biggest problems with my Recon Teams are how light they are, and how unsupportive they feel deep in their “travel”. I keep meaning to get away from them, but they just fit me so damn well. Really looking forward to trying on a pair of those 140s, BOA or not.