ThirtyTwo TM-2 Double BOA Snowboard Boots Review

From opening day of the double-black terrain to slushy spring park laps, I have different snowboard setups for specific conditions and styles. But recently, no matter what board I grab from my quiver, my ThirtyTwo TM-2 Double BOA snowboard boots are a dependable choice, day in and day out, when I’m heading to the iconic terrain of Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

The TM-2 Double Boa is a versatile choice thanks to its medium-stiff flex, and it’s perfect for chasing lines and objectives across a range of conditions. This boot design is a solid match for big mountain double-black runs, carving groomers, and even a little park. 

In short: The ThirtyTwo Men’s TM-2 Double BOA ($480) snowboard boots are a hard-charging, medium-stiff flex, dual-BOA design that blends board feel and impact-absorption with my favorite professional rider’s unique style: Phil Hansen, a triple-threat across urban, terrain park, and backcountry lines — what his boots are made to charge.

Examine our other favorite boots in the Best Snowboard Boots buyer’s guide.

I had a chance to test the Phil Hansen Edition of the TM-2 Dual BOA snowboard boots at Crested Butte Mountain Resort this winter. I rode in a variety of conditions, from cold powder days to icy bluebird days and slushy spring laps.

My resort runs included groomers, moguls, double-black steeps, fresh powder, and spring park days. After multiple days on the setup, I can safely say these are an incredibly durable snowboard boot that will easily last for multiple seasons, as long as you’re willing to break them in. 

Fit and Comfort

Straight out of the box, these snowboard boots gave me foot pain, specifically on the top of my forefoot. Roughly 1 hour into my first day of riding, I took these boots to the local shop to get the liners heat-molded.

While the pain was better after that initial heat-molding session, it took a few full days of riding to get through what I would consider one of the longer break-in periods for a pair of boots. Once these boots were broken in, I did finally find the comfort I know and love from my previous ThirtyTwo boots. 

A feature unique to ThirtyTwo boots is the adjustable heel hold: You can add various foam spacers with different thickness levels on either side of the heel, on the exterior side of the liner. There are four options: No spacer or 3mm, 5mm, and 8mm densities.

One step for me to achieve a comfortable fit with a solid heel hold required adding 5mm spacers to each side of my heels. Additionally, the boots have a roomy toe box. There was enough space to wiggle my toes, even with the boots fully tightened. The liner also provides extra cushioning around the calves, which I appreciate. 

Liners 

The TM-2 comes with ThirtyTwo’s Performance Fit, heat-moldable Intuition Liners. The liners feature stiff overlays on the front of the ankle, as well as at the back of the calf, for performance. Then, the cuff of the liners has extra cushioning. As I mentioned earlier, the liners have adjustable heel holds with an included spacer kit.

While these boots are rated as a medium-stiff flex, heat molding is a must for this pair for a truly comfortable fit, based on my experience. This can be done at any snowboard shop.

The liner closes with a two-part Velcro strap along the top of the shin. The Velcro likes to stick to other parts of the boot, and without a lot of space, it can be cumbersome to operate. A one-piece Velcro strap would be better suited for this closure system, in my opinion. But once it’s closed, it stays tight all day.

Holding the liners down in the heel of the boot is an internal ankle harness with a lace closure system. When inserting the liner into the boot, make sure not to catch the lace system — which can happen easily. Each individual lace should be able to pull freely on its own and center over the liner.

If it doesn’t do this, you will have to take the liner out and try again. I found that I wanted the lace system snugged down for performance, but didn’t want to over-tighten them, as that could lead to discomfort during a long day at the hill. 

Dual BOA System

The TM-2 comes in a lace-up version or a dual BOA design. I tested the latter, which has become my preference, as BOA has dominated the market in recent years. Dual BOA systems work in conjunction to hold the exterior shell of the boot closed over the liner. A dial on the front of the tongue tightens the boot around the calf, while a second dial tightens the boot around the ankle and top of the foot.

The nice part of BOA over traditional laces is that you can easily tighten them throughout the day. BOA dials have a micro-adjustment with a ratchet system for tightening. Too tight? Just pop the BOA out and redo. My favorite use case for BOA systems is when I need to loosen the dials between laps or during hikes in-bounds.

After a long descent, I like to pop both BOA dials in the lift line and give my feet a break for the 15-minute lift ride before tightening down again at the top. When hiking back bowls or park laps, I like to pop the BOA dials, flex both ankles, and then lock them down again (without tightening), providing a slightly looser walk without them being fully open.

When riding very aggressively, or before dropping into the park or a steep technical section, I do like to give the dials a few additional clicks. They have a tendency to loosen slightly over time, something I have found typical of every BOA system, regardless of the boot brand and model. 

Medium-Stiff Stiffness and Style Versatility 

The TM-2 snowboard boots come in with a medium-stiff flex that feels stiffer during the break-in period. Part of the flex comes from having stiff spine support along the heel and back of the calf while simultaneously having an elastic cuff at the top of the calf.

Overall, I found that this boot is extremely versatile. It rides well on a short surf-inspired pow board, a stiff and aggressive all-mountain snowboard, or even a park noodle. These boots have enough stiffness to hold an edge in consequential, steep double-black terrain without heel lift. Yet, if you put enough force into the boot and engage the flex zone on the cuff, you can hold butters in the park.

Critiques

My biggest critique of these snowboard boots was the break-in process and having foot pain right out of the box.

Heat molding the liners and adding the heel hold spacers were essential. Even then, these boots had a significant break-in process that took a few days to improve. I would highly recommend walking around town in these boots to help speed up the process.

But once you break them in, they will last a long time. Even after testing for a full winter season, these boots and liners show no signs of wear other than some parking lot dirt. That durability makes the $480 price tag easier to stomach.

Besides the break-in period, my other minor qualms with these boots are that the two Velcro power straps would be significantly better as a single piece. And, the tread on the outsole isn’t as beefy as other snowboard boots I’ve tested. Though, it’s significantly better than the tread on previous models. All in all, that’s a relatively mild list in terms of critiques. 

Conclusion

The ThirtyTwo TM-2 Double BOA snowboard boot is a great choice for a versatile, long-lasting resort setup. For riders who want a single-boot quiver, it’s hard to beat such a solid design with medium-stiff flex, dual BOAs, and the durability to last multiple seasons.

This boot comes in black, but ThirtyTwo partnered with several pro riders — including Scott Stevens, Phil Hansen, and Austin Vizz — to produce three unique color designs that stand out, which I really appreciate. I find inspiration in how my gear looks and pops.

Yes, you could get a snowboard boot that’s even more tailored to a specific riding style — if you only ride park or only charge steeps. Looking for a more park-focused boot? Check out the ThirtyTwo Lashed Double BOA X POWELL. Or, for a stiffer boot that’s tailored to steep and deep terrain, check out the K2 Orton Men’s Snowboard Boots.  

My ride style involves steep and extreme terrain, groomers, side hits, and the park — sometimes in one single lift lap! The TM-2 offers a happy medium for a versatile ride experience across all conditions, styles, and snowboards.