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gear reviews

Gear Review | Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 W GW

The downhill-orientated freeride ski boot for narrow feet

by Klara Stang 03/02/2024
Ein wahrer Allrounder für all diejenigen, die gerne Touren gehen, aber bei der Abfahrt keine Kompromisse eingehen möchten.

The first impression:

I've had my eye on this ski boot since my ski boot consultation at Sport Conrad. My first impression was: finally a boot that fits snugly! And at the same time: finally a boot that I can get in and out of without any pain. The feel and look appealed to me, although that's not really relevant for me. The boot weighs 1,615 g per boot (size 24.5) and is therefore average for current freeride boots. It is advertised as an all-mountain and freeride touring boot with a hard flex, so to speak the one-shoe solution for all freeriders who want to use the boot both on ski tours and at the ski resort. The first impression confirms the hard flex and the tight fit.

Tester & Test conditions

I am 167 cm tall, weigh about 50 kilos and in winter I prefer to stand on two boards, but I also enjoy snowboarding. I enjoy ski touring, which has also led to a preference for skiing. Downhill skiing takes centre stage, which is why my equipment is downhill-oriented. I currently ride a Line Pandora 110 in 170cm with a Shift 13.

I am spending the winter season in Japan; before Japan, the shoe was used on a few days in the Alps in rather icy conditions and since then here in rather soft and fluffy conditions.  With spring slowly approaching, however, the surfaces tend to get harder from time to time.

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Test report

As already described, the Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD is a boot made for narrow feet. For the last three years I skied the Tecnica Cochise 115 W DYN GW, which is also advertised as a narrow boot, but after a few runs it became too wide for me. The Hawx Ultra has also widened a little over the season, but it still fits tightly and there are still several options for me to tighten the boot. Both the power strap and the buckles are adjustable to guarantee the optimum fit for your own foot. And while we're on the subject of fit: I bought the shoe very tight, which means it was a little uncomfortable for the first few days and I had slight pressure points and blisters after touring. After these first few days, however, I never had any problems again and they actually fitted my foot very well. My feet are slightly different lengths. The inner shoe of the Hawx offers the option of adjusting the length and instep height of the tongue using a Velcro fastener. I adjusted the liners using these options and both boots now fit well. I was worried that the Velcro fastener might come loose when getting in and out of the shoe, as I usually pull the tongue tab hard to make it easier to slip in, but so far it has never come off. In general, I find putting on the ski boots a lot more comfortable than with other models. I haven't yet been able to pinpoint the exact reason for this, but I'm still pleased about it. It should be noted that I always have my own insoles in my ski boots. I swapped these for the Atomic original insoles right at the start.

The first 20-day test phase has already been far exceeded and I am still very satisfied. The flex does what it promises; the liner has adapted well to my foot. The feel is precise thanks to the good and tight fit. There have been no significant pressure points so far. I'm impressed with both the downhill performance and the ascent function. I've currently done more tours with the Hawx than I have done lift-assisted freeriding. As with almost all current boots on the market, the conversion is quick and easy and, as far as I know, the boot is compatible with all GripWalk, MN, MNC and pin bindings.

The small additional stirrups above the upper buckles and the locking of the buckles in open walk mode are practical, as together they ensure that the buckles remain in their intended place when walking. This turns the tight downhill boot into a comfortable ascent boot. Re-transformation is just as quick and easy. So far, the walk mode has sometimes frozen slightly, but a few attempts with the pole have quickly solved the problem and the stirrup has snapped back into place. However, the external walk mode generally makes freezing less likely and, if it does happen, easier to fix.

However, after all the positive features, I still have something to criticise. In my opinion, the ski boot keeps you less warm than models from other manufacturers. Cold feet are nothing new for me, but a recurring problem. With the Hawx, however, this has become even worse. This could also be due to the cold conditions in Japan or the fact that I wear the boot very tightly, but it was still noticeable. My solution to this is heated socks. I now always have them with me on long days when I'm worried it might get particularly cold. There may even be a GotW dedicated to them. At this point, however, it's worth emphasising that the Hawx liner has been significantly revised and improved since the last generation. Firstly, the Velcro strap for the adjustable tongue has been added, and secondly, the Achilles Flex Zone has been integrated into the liner (clearly visible in red in the comparison photo), which improves walking comfort on the ascent and can be seen as a walk mode in the liner. Another new feature of the liner is the tabs for laces, which further improves the fit. However, matching laces are not supplied. Additionally, there is the option of attaching spoilers to the liner, to emphasis forward lean.

CONCLUSION

All in all, I'm extremely happy with the Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 W GW. As a downhill-oriented freerider and ski tourer, it's currently the ski boot of choice for me, especially when I have to choose a boot when travelling. It delivers what it promises, fits snugly and therefore offers good downhill performance. The walk mode is comfortable and easy to adjust, even with mittens on. So far, the inner boot has widened so much that it now fits perfectly. I have the option of tightening both the buckles and the powerstrap again if it widens more over time, so it will stay with me for a good while. The inner boot seems a little thinner and less insulating than other manufacturers. However, this is not a reason for me to choose a different shoe, but to adjust the ski socks.

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

+ stiff flex: 115

+ very tight & hardly widens so far (even if it does, there is enough room to tighten the shoe again: Powerstrap and buckles can be adjusted)

+ comfortable after the first run-in and adapts well to the foot

+ good power transmission

+ Simple changeover to walk mode and back (also possible with gloves on)

+ comfortable walk mode

+ Adjustable tongue for optimum adaptation to the shape of the foot

- The inner shoe seems a little thinner in material and you get cold feet faster

- Not exactly favourable

INFORMATION

Shoe binding compatibility: Gripwalk, MNC, PIN, MN

Flex: Hard

Gender: Ladies

Terrain: All Mountain

Weight (g) / shoe size: 1,615 / 24-24.5

RRP: 679.99 euros

Here is the link to the Atomic website with more information. Here you can buy the various models from our partner shop Sport Conrad.

The ski boots were provided to PowderGuide free of charge by the manufacturer for the test period. You can find out how we test them in our test statement..

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