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.
