Atomic claims to have created the lightest alpine ski boots they’ve ever made. The Hawx Ultra is the newest addition to the Hawx Boot Series and the company says they achieved this by totally rethinking ski boot design and construction. In a nutshell, the Hawx Ultra are 25% lighter, have a 98mm last, and features Memory Fit on all three boot parts: shell, cuff and liner. This Frankenstein of a boot combines all the power and precision of a 130-flex Atomic racing boot, with the feather weight and comfort of an alpine touring boot.
But does it stack up? Can a boot meant for ripping the resort have enough beef when it’s as light as a backcountry cousin? Even though the Atomic Hawx Ultra isn’t available until the 2016/17 ski season, I’ve been lucky enough to ski at Alta for the past few months in a pair. I answer the question with a resounding yes!
Testing Grounds: Alta
Testing Conditions: Hard Pack, Ice, Groomers, Bumps, Powder
Skis/Bindings Used: Salomon Shogun skis with Marker Baron bindings, Atomic Bent Chetler skis with Atomic STH2 WTR brindings
First Impressions: Right out of the box, I was skeptical about these boots. They felt too light for an alpine ski boot. I held them side-by-side with my Scarpa Freedom SL touring boots and was blown away – the Hawx Ultra, at 1,670 grams per-boot, were almost as light as a single Scarpa boot at 1,428 grams.
I got the boots fitted at the Atomic North America headquarters in Ogden where I met Jake Strassburger. He heated up the boot shell and after they were “cooked” he put the liners back in. I put the boots on and they conformed around my feet and ankles, providing an instant, perfect fit. Unfortunately the sample size of 26.5 is a touch big for me lengthwise, but the 98mm last made the mid-foot super snug, and the ankle pocket felt totally secure. The whole fitting process was very impressive not only because of the way the Memory Fit works, but also because of the new Memory Fit 3D Liner. It has a pre-shaped thermo-formable heel and ankle area to erase pressure points (like seams and ripples inside the liners) and increase foothold. I could feel this right away and could not wait to take them on the mountain. It was time to ski.
Groomers/Hardpack: I first took the Atomic Hawx Ultra to Alta on a warm, sunny day. It hadn’t snowed in a while so the snow was a mix of ice, hard pack, groomers, and chalky goodness depending on aspect. My first run, I went dive-bombing down a groomer on the frozen morning-Collins side. The very first thing I noticed in these boots is how sensitive they are. What I mean by that is the boots impart excellent ground feel. I could sense every bump, every snow variation, and every chatter in a turn, allowing me to react instantly. I think the lighter weight and thinner shell allow these boots to do that, rather than standard alpine boots that are thick, plastic hunks that desensitize everything the mountain throws at you.
Another effect of the thinner shell is that I could get onto edge and hold that edge easier. I found that flicking my tails turn to turn is super smooth and quick in these boots, as opposed to my heavy-as-hell 150 flex Head boots I used to wear. The lighter weight also plays a part as there is no need to muscle the boots. I could almost think what I wanted to do and my feet would do it without the boots getting in the way.
After making laps on hard pack and enjoying groomers more than I ever have (yes, these boots even make groomers fun), I ventured out onto steeps off the High Traverse. Again, the boots transmitted superb ground-feel and worked magic turn to turn through bumps and crud. In the variable conditions I really put the 130 flex to the test and found these boots to still be super stiff despite the svelte build. I also really like the liner tongue – it’s big, beefy, and never buckles under the stress of my shins pressing against them while bashing through crud.
After my first day skiing the Atomic Hawx Ultra, I came away throughly impressed.
Chalk/Corn: Much like skiing groomers and ice, I found the advantage of lighter-weight boots on uneven terrain. Getting off the main runs into the bumps and steeps on a spring day with snow conditions consisting of chalk and corn, I felt the Hawx Ultra practically let me dance over anything the mountain could dish out. It’s easy to overpower the flex rating of boots in this kind of stuff, especially when corn turns to mush or the snow is real choppy. But despite the low weight, the 130 flex the boots claim to have is pretty damn well true. The Hawx Ultra are super stiff and aggressive.
Powder: On a recent powder day when it snowed 18 inches at Alta, I clicked onto my Atomic Bent Chetler skis and took the Hawx Ultra for spin in the deep. While the advantages of lighter boots and excellent ground-feel is less pronounced in soft snow, I still found that these boots were easier to ski than heavier boots. My legs tend to get fatigued quickly lap after lap, but with less weight to throw around on my feet the Hawx Ultra allow me to ski longer and stronger throughout the day. Plus, bootpacking is much easier with these lightweight kicks on.
Features:
The design of these boots is also impressive. The cuff strap is beefy and holds strong, the buckles are easy to operate with gloved hands, and they are not difficult to get on or off, even on very cold days. Atomic also added brand new features. Power Shift in the backbone allows to you adjust the forward lean to 13, 15 or 17 degrees. Cantable Grip Pads on the soles allow you to install pre-formed cant shims for both the toe and heel between the grip pad and the lower shell. That way you can fine-tune your boots specifically to your own biomechanics.
Negatives: As much as I love to ski in these boots, the one only negative thing I noticed is that they run colder than any other ski boot I’ve worn. I don’t know if it’s a result of a thinner shell, or something else, but my toes would get cold even on relatively warm days with temperatures in the 30s. Perhaps some heated footbeds will solve this for me.
Overall, I’d say Atomic has a winner on their hands. To create an alpine boot that is so damn light, yet performs as good, if not better than any other stiff boot, is very impressive. From the boot design, to the ultra-customizability, to the awesome liner, and the 98mm last and 130 flex… all I can say is that the Hawx Ultra turn me into a better skier. Hell, they even make bad ski conditions a lot of fun.
The Atomic Hawx Ultra will be available this fall in time for the 2016/17 ski season. So keep an eye out for the entire line and pick up a pair.