The Atomic Ski Boot Thread

[onenerdykid]

Just want to give a big shoutout to onenerdykid for being on here helping people sort out their boot issues. It’s pretty rad having him as such a legitimate resource. Thanks again for the guidance onenerdykid!!!


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

I appreciate that! Honestly, our hope & goal is to make more of this info more public moving forward. It's going to be baby steps and will take us a while to really get there, but it's headed in the right direction.

[GoldenBC]

You’re making fantastic boots that focus on real needs and less gimmicky crap that many other brands. It’s refreshing. Your time online helps people learn about what they need and what’s available and saves them from deciphering marketing speak. And you are open to feedback. Your passion is clearly evident. Thanks for that, Matt.

[Jason4]

Agreed, I appreciate the answers and the patience when the questions might have already been answered.

[gregL]

As a company, Atomic really does go out of their way to solicit input from consumers and retailers, and they're one of the few that takes suggestions from North American sources seriously. This attitude starts at the top, with people like Matt, and it's a big reason the brand is killing it. +++

[oltrepiave]

I've really appreciated Matt's honesty and openness to discuss everything here and on other platforms as well.

He especially always followed through with what we discussed specifically: he did tell me that shock-absorber bootboards would be available at some point (check) and he also did maintain that new mimic liners would be a game changer (check). When you believe in your product it means that the whole organisation is on the same wavelength and the ease of obtaining all of these spare parts (as a non-shop owner,/worker private citizen kind of dude here in Europe) is testament to how well they're running things.

I have friends who've had a hard time sourcing new stock liners for boots which are way more heavily marketed as "GaMe cHanGiNg" than the Hawx/Backland/Redtsers etc..

Thanks again Matt

[LeeLau]

Hot tip if you ever get a chance to meet ONK in your ski town. Apparently he likes sushi. And yeah Matt you've never let me buy you all you can scarf sushi

[onenerdykid]

I can tell you guys really need some snow

I'm usually a cheap date, but when it comes to sushi (and Scotch), I go all in.

[shredorded]

Hey Matt, just got some new XTD 130 Boas. Seems like the exposed screw in the spine is already slowly yanking away at the glued edge of the liner's outer "sole" whenever I pull the liners out of the shell. User error, or something I should pre-empt with some duct tape?

[onenerdykid]

Hey Matt, just got some new XTD 130 Boas. Seems like the exposed screw in the spine is already slowly yanking away at the glued edge of the liner's outer "sole" whenever I pull the liners out of the shell. User error, or something I should pre-empt with some duct tape?

I'm trying to think of a screw back there... There is a rivet head that attaches the Achilles flap to the shell in the heel area. If that is a little too exposed then you are better off covering it up with some duct tape or similar.

[akgnar]

I've got a new pair of the xtd 120 carbon backlands, and they are honestly the best fitting pair of boots I've ever put on. I've put a couple days on them prior to doing any liner molding. Is there any advantages to baking the liner if the current comfort level is pretty darn good? Thanks for making a great set of boots.

[Jason4]

I finally got to ski my new boots! I spent a couple of hours on lifts on my Hawx XTDs after lunch on Saturday and spent the day in Backland XTDs yesterday. It's a perfect combo.

[TheK12]

Apologies if this has been asked before... Is there significant difference between this year's Hawx XTD120 and XTD130. Currently have 2021 Hawx XTD 120 and they feel soft (I'm 5'11" 220lbs) and was hoping to upgrade to the XTD 130s, especially since they now have a PU construction. I've played around with adding an Intuition tour wrap but the 12mm liner is too big (can barely close the cuff) and the 9mm is too small.

[GoldenBC]

You should definitely be in the 130. It is not a stiff boot. At your size, if you ski a lot of resort, I would recommend getting a fixed cuff hill boot. The performance will be very noticeable.

This years are a bit stiffer. Not much though.

[TheK12]

You should definitely be in the 130. It is not a stiff boot. At your size, if you ski a lot of resort, I would recommend getting a fixed cuff hill boot. The performance will be very noticeable.

This years are a bit stiffer. Not much though.

Already have a resort boot. This is for touring. At my weight and touring speed, I don't mind the extra weight on the uphill if it means a better descent. Is the XTD 130 measurably stiffer than the XTD120, i.e. enough to warrant a new boot. Or are the gains marginal at best.

[WhetherMan]

Golden, what size are you comparing? In a 29 the new pu 130 xtd is far more supportive than the old one. Not arguing it's a resort boot, but it feels like a very noticeable upgrade in downhill performance. I have a hunch that the old ones folded in larger sizes worse than the smaller sizes

[Jean Poudreuse]

Any insight on the 24/25 backcountry boots ?

[tupp_]

Anyone have experience with both the stock bootboards and shockstoppers? Love the concept, but unsure about real world effects and if it is worth ordering them.

[Jason4]

Anyone have experience with both the stock bootboards and shockstoppers? Love the concept, but unsure about real world effects and if it is worth ordering them.

I have Shockstoppers in my Hawx XTDs with boas and had the stock boot boards in my 2020 Hawx XTDs. I haven't skied them back to back in the same conditions (and I don't really intend to) but I really like the way I have my Hawx setup right now and they feel very good compared to the 2020s that I was skiing last year. I would spend the money on Shockstoppers again. I also have the pro dual strap. Last weekend I hit a compression at speed and splatted harder than I have ever splatted without falling down. I knocked out my breath and hit my elbows on my knees hard enough that my hands went numb but managed to stay on my feet and I think the boots (obviously not the shockstoppers) were a part of that.

[Ville]

Need new 50/50 boot. I had old black/orange ultra xtd 130 size 25,5, heatmolded and punched from toes and heels with size 26 tour wraps(to get more room for toes). Also did some agressive boot board grinding for height in toe box. Skied great, but bit too small shell. It was cold and hurt toes when walking downhill, also lost one toe nail. So quite "race fit". It had awesome heel grip. It was good enough for 2 seasons. Got these almost for free from sponsored friend who changed brand, so took a risk with very tight fit.

I live very remote and don't have possibility to go see bootfitter. So online shopping it is. I do have access for heatmold oven, but it's in normal sports shop. No professional bootfitters there, but can do heat molding.

The question is, would I start with ultra xtd 130 or prime in 26,5? Or maybe risk it with prime in 25,5? Does prime have wider/higher toe box? I'm just looking for educated guess to support my decision, I know that right answer is go to see bootfitter or get the red ones [emoji16]

Goal is to achieve same skiability but more warmth and keep my toe nails in place.



Lähetetty minun LYA-L29 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[onenerdykid]

Need new 50/50 boot. I had old black/orange ultra xtd 130 size 25,5, heatmolded and punched from toes and heels with size 26 tour wraps(to get more room for toes). Also did some agressive boot board grinding for height in toe box. Skied great, but bit too small shell. It was cold and hurt toes when walking downhill, also lost one toe nail. So quite "race fit". It had awesome heel grip. It was good enough for 2 seasons. Got these almost for free from sponsored friend who changed brand, so took a risk with very tight fit.

I live very remote and don't have possibility to go see bootfitter. So online shopping it is. I do have access for heatmold oven, but it's in normal sports shop. No professional bootfitters there, but can do heat molding.

The question is, would I start with ultra xtd 130 or prime in 26,5? Or maybe risk it with prime in 25,5? Does prime have wider/higher toe box? I'm just looking for educated guess to support my decision, I know that right answer is go to see bootfitter or get the red ones [emoji16]

Goal is to achieve same skiability but more warmth and keep my toe nails in place.



Lähetetty minun LYA-L29 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

I would go up in size but stay with the same volume category (Ultra XTD). A Prime XTD in 25.5 will still feel just as short but with a taller instep and wider heel. That's not what you want.

An Ultra XTD in 26.5 will give more toe space than a Prime 25.5 and be lower over the instep & have a tighter heel than Prime 25.5.

[Dromond]

Need new 50/50 boot. I had old black/orange ultra xtd 130 size 25,5, heatmolded and punched from toes and heels with size 26 tour wraps(to get more room for toes). Also did some agressive boot board grinding for height in toe box. Skied great, but bit too small shell. It was cold and hurt toes when walking downhill, also lost one toe nail. So quite "race fit". It had awesome heel grip. It was good enough for 2 seasons. Got these almost for free from sponsored friend who changed brand, so took a risk with very tight fit.

I live very remote and don't have possibility to go see bootfitter. So online shopping it is. I do have access for heatmold oven, but it's in normal sports shop. No professional bootfitters there, but can do heat molding.

The question is, would I start with ultra xtd 130 or prime in 26,5? Or maybe risk it with prime in 25,5? Does prime have wider/higher toe box? I'm just looking for educated guess to support my decision, I know that right answer is go to see bootfitter or get the red ones [emoji16]

Goal is to achieve same skiability but more warmth and keep my toe nails in place.



Lähetetty minun LYA-L29 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

I went through this with a race fit 26.5 XTD that was just too short to tour all day in even after punching the toe and heel. I sized up to 27.5 to get the extra toe room and then added some non-compressible shims under my liner to take up some vertical room and keep the instep and overall volume/fit snug. I use intuition wrap liners. It’s been a really good setup for me the past 5 years or so.

Example of those shims, but I imagine you would be getting a different brand based on your location:
https://www.tognar.com/ski-boot-insole-shims-pr/

[Ville]

Thanks for thoughts and info, pretty much confirms how I was planning. Now I guess next debate is BOA or buckles [emoji28]

Lähetetty minun LYA-L29 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

[GoldenBC]

Need new 50/50 boot. I had old black/orange ultra xtd 130 size 25,5, heatmolded and punched from toes and heels with size 26 tour wraps(to get more room for toes). Also did some agressive boot board grinding for height in toe box. Skied great, but bit too small shell. It was cold and hurt toes when walking downhill, also lost one toe nail. So quite "race fit". It had awesome heel grip. It was good enough for 2 seasons. Got these almost for free from sponsored friend who changed brand, so took a risk with very tight fit.

I live very remote and don't have possibility to go see bootfitter. So online shopping it is. I do have access for heatmold oven, but it's in normal sports shop. No professional bootfitters there, but can do heat molding.

The question is, would I start with ultra xtd 130 or prime in 26,5? Or maybe risk it with prime in 25,5? Does prime have wider/higher toe box? I'm just looking for educated guess to support my decision, I know that right answer is go to see bootfitter or get the red ones [emoji16]

Goal is to achieve same skiability but more warmth and keep my toe nails in place.



Lähetetty minun LYA-L29 laitteesta Tapatalkilla

The new Hawx fits much bigger in the forefoot. I measure 107mm in a 24.5 and have nerve issues in my forefoot so I can’t be crushed. The old Hawx was such a project to make bearable. I would barely have to punch the new one. Even fire length, which was a huge issue in the last one. I am currently in a zero G that is punched for a ton of width. The off the shelf Hawx ultra feels remarkably similar to the expanded zero g.

From my experience with selling them, the old one always needed toebox work. The new one is our best selling boot and I haven’t had to do any work on any toe boxes except one guy with a hammer toe. He tried so size up to get the toe box room but hated how they skied so I expanded the toe box vertically in the size smaller boot.

This is all to say the new one fits way bigger in the forefoot and toebox and I have yet to see someone who should size up. More importantly, how long does your foot measure exactly?

[GoldenBC]

Anyone have experience with both the stock bootboards and shockstoppers? Love the concept, but unsure about real world effects and if it is worth ordering them.

Biggest advantage I’ve seen with the shock stopper is that you won’t break your bootboard entering your boot racer style/liner first. Zipfits break the rigid board all the time, especially if it has been ground.

[bennettc14]

ONK, aside from the slightly smaller last, are there any significant differences between the Redster TI 130 (95mm) vs Redster CS 130 (96mm)? Liners?