Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 Alpine Touring Boot (2022)

Atomic entered the freeride touring scene a few seasons ago with their Hawx XTD boot. They boasted alpine-like, downhill performance in a lightweight, uphill friendly package. Each design iteration has brought attentive improvements including streamlining the buckles to reduce the boots lateral profile and switching to a more supportive, alpine-compatible GripWalk sole. Now with the 2021 model, Atomic has addressed another area of improvement: they introduced a new and improved Mimic Platinum Liner for added support and extended liner lifespan. Thanks, Atomic for another thoughtful improvement to an already outstanding boot.

As the highest performing boot in the Atomic Hawx series, the Ultra XTD 130 features an overlap construction and a classic 4 buckle system that skis similar to a traditional alpine boot. The Grilamid shell and cuff (material selection is what differentiates models in the Hawx lineup) provide a stiff, progressive flex pattern. Atomic’s True Flex material technology ensures a consistent feel throughout a large range of temperatures. No longer will there be variation between squishy spring boots and mid-winter, rigid, ice-block boots. The boot comes in a 98mm last, has a range of motion of 54° in walk mode, and a reasonable weight of 1400 g (26/26.5). If you are looking for the coveted jack-of-all-trades boot to do it all whether it is ripping resort laps or doing a big tour in the backcountry, the XTD 130 might be your new footwear of choice. Let’s not forget that the 2021 model comes in a villainous (or goth?) black on black on white color scheme.