The Atomic Ski Boot Thread

[tyreed70]

All this Redster talk has me thinking....
I am bigger dude, 6ft 5in 240lbs used to be 315lbs ex professional athlete who can somewhat bend a ski.
I am currently skiing in an older, Hawx Magna 130 that at the time due to my abnormally large calves (calf), super high instep and huge "Cankle" was the only boot I could get on my foot.

Now I am swimming in the boot partly due to weight loss and frankly folding it like a cheap suit.

Last year I got into a Ultra XTD 130 for a touring boot so I know I can make the smaller volume boot work. (all it took was a mold and small punch)

I know the Redster CS will take some work but I don't want to be stuck with a boot that just "does not work" after hours at the bootfitter.

Anyone with a large volume foot, high instep and large calf make the Redster CS work for them?
Seems like its the right choice from a performance perspective, but would love some insight on how much room can be made... TIA

[gregL]

Anyone with a large volume foot, high instep and large calf make the Redster CS work for them?

I did, though I my instep is only on the high side of normal I have a super wide forefoot and big calf. However, I work as a bootfitter and have all the tools at my house . . .

This is a question for a bootfitter experienced in working with plug boots who can see your foot in person, not something you can determine over the Internet.

I also can wear a Hawx Ultra with a good heat mold and a fifth met punch, but the Redster CS is substantially tighter in the midfoot, requiring grinding and big punches in the navicular/medial midfoot area and a bit in the styloid as well. The thicker PU shell does not heat mold like a recent generation Hawx Ultra, either. Cuff circumference is actually bigger in the CS, and the instep on the CS isn't especially low (I have no problem with it, but your description of a "super high instep" doesn't give me enough information to tell you whether you will).

Have you tried a Redster CS on?

[tyreed70]

I did, though I my instep is only on the high side of normal I have a super wide forefoot and big calf. However, I work as a bootfitter and have all the tools at my house
Have you tried a Redster CS on?

I have (not at my preferred boot fitter) and it felt like a mid evil torture device. The Bootfitter who I did not trust or get the vibe he was experienced with a plug boot. Told me no way this will work and said the magna was my best bet. I have not had a plug boot on for years (25 years ago when I was 12-13yrs old) and was curious how much these things can be worked.... ?

Thanks for the help ... I am going to bite the bullet and take this more seriously - ask my normal boot fitter to order one in and see if he thinks its worth a shot

[turnfarmer]

See post 280 above.
If your Hip is longer than your normal length, as many people with high insteps are, sizing to hip may help. Not that it can’t be done, but punching for instep room is tricky with a boot like the Redster. Also Atomic has a thinner tongue available.

[GravityDT]

Had a pair of the original Hawk XTD 130's, for a 60/40 boots. My only real complaint I had with them was the instep was a tick tight up in the throat(?) area and getting the boots off was pretty painful for my feet. The shell molding worked great for the forefoot area.... High Arch/Instep and sorta wide forefoot. Currently in the Lupo AX HDs and looking to go back into an overlap boot. New XTD 130 in PU is sorta intriguing - leaning towards the non-boa but if fit is better I could go that route, just a little skeptical of longevity of the Boa. Is the new generation boot a bit more accommodating in the throat area or should I be looking at the Prime version?? TIA

[GoldenBC]

The Hawx ultra xtd 130 is so much tighter in the throat than the AX lupo. Like whole different class. It is considerably tighter than the low volume Lupo in the throat. The new boa version didn’t seem different in this area.

[onenerdykid]

Had a pair of the original Hawk XTD 130's, for a 60/40 boots. My only real complaint I had with them was the instep was a tick tight up in the throat(?) area and getting the boots off was pretty painful for my feet. The shell molding worked great for the forefoot area.... High Arch/Instep and sorta wide forefoot. Currently in the Lupo AX HDs and looking to go back into an overlap boot. New XTD 130 in PU is sorta intriguing - leaning towards the non-boa but if fit is better I could go that route, just a little skeptical of longevity of the Boa. Is the new generation boot a bit more accommodating in the throat area or should I be looking at the Prime version?? TIA

From a pure dimensional standpoint, the new PU version of Hawx Ultra XTD doesn't have a more open throat, but since it is PU rather than PA, it will be a bit easier on/off. I don't want to say "easy" in general, just easier than the PA version.

Both Ultra XTD and Prime XTD are full PU affairs now, so it would be worth your time to work with your boot fitter & see which one is the better way forward for your specific needs.

[Jason4]

Had a pair of the original Hawk XTD 130's, for a 60/40 boots. My only real complaint I had with them was the instep was a tick tight up in the throat(?) area and getting the boots off was pretty painful for my feet. The shell molding worked great for the forefoot area.... High Arch/Instep and sorta wide forefoot. Currently in the Lupo AX HDs and looking to go back into an overlap boot. New XTD 130 in PU is sorta intriguing - leaning towards the non-boa but if fit is better I could go that route, just a little skeptical of longevity of the Boa. Is the new generation boot a bit more accommodating in the throat area or should I be looking at the Prime version?? TIA

I have a pair of 2019/2020 Hawx XTD 130s in a 28.5 that have been my daily driver and I just put my foot into the 23/24 Hawx XTD 130s in a size 27.5. When I tried the 27.5 in 2019 I couldn't even get my foot into them and I've had a small spot that would bite my ankle at the overlap that I could never get to feel right, it might have been an odd seam in the liner. Maybe I've matured as a skier to the point that I'm better at putting boots on but it seemed like the latest version was easier to put on and take off and the fit out of the box was much better for me. My main problem area is my navicular bone on both feet and I'll need shell work done with new boots there as well.

FWIW I tried on the Backland XTDs back to back with the Hawx XTDs and I felt like I had more navicular pressure in the Backlands but more wiggle room (in the right way for a touring boot) from the ball of my foot forward. Both boots felt surprisingly soft to me but with a better quality to the flex than the Hawx XTDs and Backland Carbons that I have to compare them against but maybe that's the nature of PU at room temperature or maybe it's just my changing perception as a skier (I still identify as a snowboarder and come from a background of competing at a semi-pro level, skiing is a fun distraction for me).

All this to say that my observations line up with the information that we've been getting from ONK, gregL, GoldenBC and others.

[tompietrowski]

Had a pair of the original Hawk XTD 130's, for a 60/40 boots. My only real complaint I had with them was the instep was a tick tight up in the throat(?) area and getting the boots off was pretty painful for my feet. The shell molding worked great for the forefoot area.... High Arch/Instep and sorta wide forefoot. Currently in the Lupo AX HDs and looking to go back into an overlap boot. New XTD 130 in PU is sorta intriguing - leaning towards the non-boa but if fit is better I could go that route, just a little skeptical of longevity of the Boa. Is the new generation boot a bit more accommodating in the throat area or should I be looking at the Prime version?? TIA

If you are in the Lupo currently have you considered the Mindbender? I find they are pretty similar fit wise other than one being overlap and one 3 piece. The MB 130 BOA would be well worth a look.

[plugboots]

a bootfitter experienced in working with plug boots

Can confirm.

[sf]

Ordered a pair of Backland XTDs online on a whim.
Pulled the stock insoles and put in a pair of older ones I had laying around and put them on. Now I'm sitting in my lounge with them on, feeling like my feet just found their new home.

First impressions;
- fit is similar to same size ZeroG, but a little bit less "boxy". Liner is more substansial, so that might be part of it.
- uppers are taller and snugger than the ZGs, which is very nice for me
- flex is hard to say anything about, on par with the Scouts? Maybe a bit more brick-like?
- a bit fiddly with the sock when pulling and replacing liners, but not that bad
- ROM insane, especially forward. With everyting but the walk mode closed they still have more ROM than ZGs. Feels like the pivot-point correlates directly with where my ancles pivot

[LeeLau]

Ordered a pair of Backland XTDs online on a whim.
Pulled the stock insoles and put in a pair of older ones I had laying around and put them on. Now I'm sitting in my lounge with them on, feeling like my feet just found their new home.

First impressions;
- fit is similar to same size ZeroG, but a little bit less "boxy". Liner is more substansial, so that might be part of it.
- uppers are taller and snugger than the ZGs, which is very nice for me
- flex is hard to say anything about, on par with the Scouts? Maybe a bit more brick-like?
- a bit fiddly with the sock when pulling and replacing liners, but not that bad
- ROM insane, especially forward. With everyting but the walk mode closed they still have more ROM than ZGs. Feels like the pivot-point correlates directly with where my ancles pivot

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how well they ski

[sf]

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how well they ski

I was......
Went out for a couple of laps in a small local hill today. 20cm of heavy snow on top of rocks, gravel and general vegetation.....

Up:
- Fit still good. No hot spots, maybe something around ancles, but that's easy to fix with heating liner and/or some padding
- Effortless stride, on the second lap I tried skinning with everything but walk-mode buckeled. Didn't feel restricting at all, but snug fit around calfs gave some pump

Transition:
- very effective. Bottom buckle stayed tight while skinning, top buckle can be in it's downhill position - but unbuckled, and the "spring" keeps it in place.

Down:
- felt light and responsive, returned energy
- skied stiffer than they feel when flexing, but in a good way
- the combination of flex, forward lean and snug fit around the calf made it very easy to stay balanced in a athletic stance. More so than the ZGs, which due to more upright stance and more room around calf tends to be more of a balance act
- this also gave me far less thigh burn, even when skiing very carefully and with lots of smaller turn due to rocks

Overall: this is the one of the most immediately impressive pieces of kit I've ever tried. Tied with Mantra 102 and my old 186 BGs. I'll probably throw some boosters on, and maybe try the most forward lean setting, but out of the box I'm very stoked

[wilcox510]

Glad they seem to be working out for you. I tried a pair out and felt like the heel and ankle were quite a bit higher volume than my Zero Gs and due to that returned them. I was very impressed with the range of motion and thought they were fairly stiff. I'm hoping they might release a Ultra fit version next year... One Nerdy Kid???

[GoSlowGoFar]

Anyone have experience with any mods on the Backland Carbon to give it a tad more support? Going with a Booster strap over the stock strap maybe?

[ktoor]

Anyone have experience with any mods on the Backland Carbon to give it a tad more support? Going with a Booster strap over the stock strap maybe?

i mentioned this in another thread but changing to an intuition liner was a game changer for me. pro tour lv.


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[GoldenBC]

Anyone have experience with any mods on the Backland Carbon to give it a tad more support? Going with a Booster strap over the stock strap maybe?

Booster over stock strap is counter productive. You won’t feel any of the give of the booster if the stock strap is tight.

FYI, boosters dont make a boot stiffer, they make it softer at the top of the flex. Use your stock strap higher to make it more supportive. If the stock strap seems too thin and not substantial, go with a wider heavier duty rigid strap.

[GoSlowGoFar]

Booster over stock strap is counter productive. You won’t feel any of the give of the booster if the stock strap is tight.

FYI, boosters dont make a boot stiffer, they make it softer at the top of the flex. Use your stock strap higher to make it more supportive. If the stock strap seems too thin and not substantial, go with a wider heavier duty rigid strap.

By over I meant “instead of”, sorry about that. But I’ll do some searching for a wider strap that could fit the bill.

I stuck a Protour MV from my Hawx XTD in there but it’s a pretty tight fit in all the wrong places, I’ll see if I can try a LV somewhere or maybe the Hawx stock liner.

[LeeLau]

By over I meant “instead of”, sorry about that. But I’ll do some searching for a wider strap that could fit the bill.

I stuck a Protour MV from my Hawx XTD in there but it’s a pretty tight fit in all the wrong places, I’ll see if I can try a LV somewhere or maybe the Hawx stock liner.

I did put a LV Protour in my Backland XTD 120s and that worked fwiw

[GoSlowGoFar]

A little update - I’m sure folks have already done this but I tossed the Atomic dual strap on there with stock liners. Side by side flex with one boot having dual strap and the other stock strap, the dual is noticeably more supportive. I don’t know if I can say it’s truly more stiff, but you get into the flex much earlier versus the stock strap, feels pretty nice actually. Might run with this and get some time on the snow.

side note, has anyone noticed that the little rubber cover on the lower part of the tongue on the stock liner is ridiculously noisy?

[GoldenBC]

Does the shock stopper rubber bootboard for the hawx xtd v1 fit in the v2?

[onenerdykid]

Does the shock stopper rubber bootboard for the hawx xtd v1 fit in the v2?

There is one ShockStopper boot board that fits Hawx Ultra/Prime/Magna and Prime XTD.

There is another ShockStopper boot board for Hawx Ultra XTD, fits both v1 & v2.

[gregL]

There is one ShockStopper boot board that fits Hawx Ultra/Prime/Magna and Prime XTD.

There is another ShockStopper boot board for Hawx Ultra XTD, fits both v1 & v2.

Thanks, Matt, and congrats on the Gurgl podium! (What are the part numbers? I think I want a pair of each)

[Jason4]

GregL, I think I got the wrong boot boards in Bellingham. I have the AZE00180827X which looks like it’s the one for everything but the Hawx Ultra XTD. If you have a size 27/27.5 maybe we could work something out. I need to get the other ones which look to be AZE001812.

[onenerdykid]

Thanks, Matt, and congrats on the Gurgl podium! (What are the part numbers? I think I want a pair of each)