2024 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 BOA GW Ski Boots Review
By: Jordan Sunshine (Ski Buyer) & Greg Louie (Bootfitter & Product Content Writer) | Last Updated: April 10th, 2023
The Lowdown
Jordan: I have been very excited to test out some BOA equipped ski boots and fortunately for me, the Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 BOA GW is my fit. Overall, I am very satisfied with the addition of BOA, the way the lower wraps my foot, and the ability to easily micro-adjust back and forth. Even more so, I am extremely fired up with the beefier flex and suspension of this new iteration. The previous model was already my daily boot but this solves any issues I had with that boot.
Greg: The Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 has been at or near the top of the hybrid boot class for a few years now, with its popularity growing year by year. It’s been a revelation for skiers who split their time between the ski area and the backcountry, particularly if they have a narrow foot and ankle structure – in which case, there’s really no equal for fit. I don’t always ski a hybrid boot – in fact I’ve got more days the past two years on a “Citizen Race” boot, the Atomic Redster CS Professional – but when I do, I ski some version of the Hawx Ultra XTD. The new Hawx Ultra XTD 130 BOA has been on top of my list of boots to try for a few months, but supply was limited and I kept getting pushed back in the line by people like my ex-manager Jordan Sunshine who's arguably more influential than me. My eyes lit up when a pair of 26.5’s appeared on my doorstep last week, and I had them heat-molded and ready to rock in short order.
Technical Details
Greg: Here’s my protocol for boot testing: Unbox the boots, pull the wads of paper out of the liners, weigh the entire boot with stock footbed on my digital scale, then do whatever it takes to make it fit my 119mm wide feet (sometimes this process takes a few days). Ski, repeat. The Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 XTD BOA weighed in at 1809 (left boot) and 1811 grams (right boot). By comparison, other contenders in the PU hybrid-with-decent-walk mode class are 1802 grams (Lange XT3 130 LV in a 26.5) and 1875 grams (Tecnica Cochise 130 in a 26.5).
Customization / Fit - Making these boots fit was a piece of cake. Again, by comparison, the Lange XT3 LV and the Tecnica Cochise both required serious punches in the fifth metatarsal/phalanges area and the medial midfoot/navicular area. Heating the PU Hawx Ultra XTD required only the standard Memory Fit heat mold (I do 10 minutes) and the Mimic liner about 8 minutes on heat stacks and they were good enough to ski, pretty amazing considering my history. I did a light punch right at the fifth met heads just because I could, and was ready to ski. The medial midfoot and navicular area, where I also traditionally need ample punching and/or grinding, was “money” after just the heat mold. Bottom line, the new Polyurethane compound heat molds way better than the previous Polyamide boot, which required a bunch of post-heat mold manual punching to make comfortable.
New BOA System: The new BOA Fit System is a fresh design from the ground up, bigger and larger in diameter than anything you’ve seen on a snowboard boot or bike shoe. It sports a thick steel cable (about the diameter of a bike brake cable pre-hydraulic discs) and the routing is all external (hopefully they won’t break and the nightmare of threading a soft cable through the innards of a snowboard boot won’t be a thing with these if they do). When it came to BOA in the past, a number of brands have scrimped on the length of the cable, which meant high levels of difficulty simply putting those boots on. Atomic spec’d plenty of slack in the cable – actually more than enough – so putting them on is no more difficult than any narrow boot. The switch to PU also means more flexibility in the shell over the instep, which aids in entry, especially compared to the first gen Grilamid models. I didn’t really believe the BOA would change the fit or comfort level of the forefoot, but I was wrong. The smooth distribution of pressure over the entire lower is much more comfortable than any buckle system, with the added benefit of having a large “sweet spot” for tension – you can crank it super tight and it doesn’t feel that bad, you can leave it quite loose and it doesn’t feel that sloppy. As a bonus, you can also loosen the cable by turning the dial in the opposite direction instead of lifting it and having the entire spool go slack. This means you can incrementally tighten/loosen during the day with accuracy. If you are used to other BOA systems where the dial always tightens clockwise, the new dials tighten clockwise on the right boot and counter clockwise on the lift – this makes some sense when you are standing over the boots and tightening both simultaneously, but might throw off some people when the boots are new.
Forward Lean: As with most non-race Atomic ski boots, the Hawx Ultra XTD BOA starts with a default forward lean of 15 degrees, which happens to agree with me. If, however, you happen to prefer more (17) or less (13), you can skip the hassle associated with buying an aftermarket 13/19 flip chip and simply unscrew the walk mode lever, which easily moves either up or down the spine of the cuff to change lean angle. Pretty sweet!
Liner: The new Mimic Platinum liner sets new standards for comfort and plushness in the hybrid category, too, and seems well worth a few extra grams unless you’re going for summit pushes and big vert – in which case you should be shopping for another, lighter boot anyway. Atomic’s research showed that most Hawx Ultra XTD owners used the boot primarily for lift skiing, with a bit of touring on the side, so the target consumer group should be pleased.
| Forefoot Width | 98mm |
| Weight | 1810g (Size 26.5) |
| Ski Boot Flex | 130 (Very Stiff) |
| Liner Type | Mimic Platinum Touring Liner |
| Boot Sole Type | GripWalk (ISO 23223) |
| Number of Buckles | 2 + BOA |
Ride Impressions
Jordan
This was a great test for me as I'm coming from the 2023 Hawx Ultra XTD 130. In both that version as well as the new 2024 BOA version, I am skiing in a 28.5. Of note, I previously had been skiing in a 27.5 with lots of toe punching (I wear size 11.5 shoes) but have found with the Atomic boot, I easily fit a 28.5 with no work. I have been skiing in a Zipfit liner which I can't recommend enough for the balance of locking your ankle in while keeping your toes comfortable. The liner on the new Hawx Ultra XTD boot is really nice though, and is what I am using whenever I tour. With the BOA's ability to change the volume of the lower combined with Atomic's Memory Fit shell, the new boot can definitely fit a "wider" array of feet. I tend to ski 98mm last boots, but would bet that more mid-width/100mm feet can fit this boot as well as long as the instep isn't too low for them. That is a nice beauty of BOA boots that they should work for multiple width feet. I would even say you may be able to size down if you have a narrower foot. I think I could if I did some work on the 27.5, but I also use these as my touring boots and don't want a race fit for that. That being said, with the higher weight (vs previous iterations), this boot is more skewed towards being a proper downhill boot with uphill capabilities than it is a dedicated alpine touring boot. It is meant to be your one do-it-all boot for skiing 80%-90% at resort with the occasional tour or for the skier that wants to take just 1 pair of boots on a trip that can do anything. And I'm fine with that! Save the weight on your spring long-tour missions. After several years in 130-flex hybrid boots that are more 50/50, it feels so good to be able to charge in these and I really don't notice the couple hundred extra grams when I do go uphill.
Greg
Flex Rating: "Is it a real 130 flex?" I get this question all the time from people who should know better. The old adage that a good boot is a stiff boot hasn’t really been true for many years, and shouldn’t be the measuring stick that knowledgeable skiers use when comparison shopping. The best flex is one that’s right for your height/weight/skiing style, and that varies a lot. There is a good argument for saying the best skiing boot is the one that’s most predictable, not the stiffest. That said, there will be people who say this boot is too soft, especially when flexing it aggressively in the shop at room temperature. The Hawx XTD 130 BOA is quite forgiving in the first 5-10 degrees of the flex pattern, then stiffens up smoothly as you flex further into it. People often gauge boot stiffness on the first few degrees of flex (not really where you want it super stiff) rather than at the limits (where you want it stiff without causing the shell to deform), and the new XTD BOA will seem soft if you use this as your measuring stick. When you put the boot on, tightening the cinch-type power strap aggressively while you rock back and forth in the boot will provide a bit more stiffness.
New Polyurethane Construction: Different plastics have different flex characteristics, and that’s where the switch from Polyamide to Polyurethane comes in. Polyamides can be made just as stiff with less material, which is why touring boots are commonly made with them (Grilamid is a “name brand” Polyamide). Polyamides change stiffness less with temperature change, but have a harsh feeling when skied. Polyurethanes, on the other hand, make a heavier boot but flex smoother and dampen chatter and vibration much better. Atomic’s decision to use PU in the new Hawx Ultra XTD BOA does make a big difference in how smoothly the boot transitions from soft to stiff under load, and increased dampness can be felt in high speed large radius turns on hard snow. It’s still not “plug boot” damp, but relative to the other PU Hybrids on the market, it stands tall for its skiability. Another advantage of the new Polyurethane build is apparent when putting the boots on – the older Polyamide shell and cuff were known to be difficult when entering and exiting the boots, especially when cold, and this is much improved with the PU shell – the exquisite pleasure of feeling like your ankle is being operated on without anesthetic is a thing of the past. It’s still not the easiest boot to put on due to the narrow cuff circumference, but it’s a big improvement.
Comfort: The new Hawx Ultra XTD BOA is probably the most comfortable boot I’ve ever had on my foot after only a heat mold, and one shouldn’t underestimate the value of comfort in terms of making your skiing better. Halfway through the normal break-in period (40 hours or so), I’m amazed by how good this boot feels.
Touring Performance: How about touring? Increased weight notwithstanding, the new BOA boot tours very well, with exceptional forward range of motion and very good rearward range of motion for this category. The PU shell and cuff also seem to pivot more smoothly and with less noise than the previous Polyamide design, and the BOA can be left quite loose without fore/aft foot movement. You won’t be breaking any uphill speed records with an 1800 gram boot on your feet anyway, but for freetouring types using wider skis these are right on the money for the uphill.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Pros
- The new Polyurethane shell and cuff have a remarkably smooth flex and help to dampen chatter with about a 220 gram increase in weight, a tradeoff I think is worth it if the majority of your time in these boots will be spent going downhill.
- The new BOA Fit System is a winner, provided it doesn’t get knocked off and/or broken (if it falls off, the cable will still be attached and it can be snapped back into place in the field). Advantages include much smoother distribution of pressure over the top of foot and instep for better comfort regardless of how tight you crank it, ability to back off the tension incrementally by reversing the direction of the dial, and the potential to run it very loose and still feel like you have control of the ski.
- The Polyurethane Memory Fit shell molds remarkably well, better even than the current range of Atomic alpine boots (already superior in this regard). Even skiers with feet that normally needed a Prime or even Magna fit in Atomic will be able to get this boot to work with the help of a moderately skilled bootfitter.
Cons
- Heavier than previous years due to the switch from Polyamide to Polyurethane for the shell and cuff construction.
- It’s still a hybrid, meaning that you compromise at both ends of the touring/alpine spectrum. Hard core touring types will find it heavy, and hard charger alpine types will still find it not up to full alpine boot standards. I don’t think this is avoidable, but for the all-terrain, all-conditions skier who isn’t strictly railing the groomed and tends to stick to sidecountry and technical terrain, I think the boot is a great option.
- Bigger and heavier skiers may find the flex on the soft side.
Who Is It For?
Jordan: This is the boot for anyone that doesn't want to sacrifice anywhere: on downhill performance, on uphill ability, and in overall comfort. It is definitely intended for a narrower/performance fit, but has a bit more ability to fit a range of feet. I will also emphasize that this is a great skiing boot so if you are interested in BOA but don't really tour, this could still be great option, and hey now you have an après mode. Unlike hybrid boots of other plastics, this feels more true to a 130 so aggressive skiers not beware.
Greg: Expert level freeride skiers with a penchant for soft snow looking for one boot to do it all will love this boot; it skis much much better than other boots in this hybrid category with a modest weight increase from the previous version.
The Bottom Line
Jordan: BOA aside, this to me is the best version of the Hawx Ultra XTD yet. They ski great, and do everything else just fine. For my foot, the fit is perfect (still haven't done any custom work) and with the BOA they should comfortably accommodate more feet. I'm a BOA convert now and love both how they close the shell as well as the simplicity of small adjustments in either direction — tighter or looser. And once again, the upgraded liner and buckles just up the game that much more.
Greg: A better downhill ski boot than its Polyamide predecessor, the Atomic Hawx Ultra 130 XTD BOA is a great choice for the backcountry and slackcountry-oriented freeride skier who’s already using a similar boot or wants to start expanding their terrain options. The heat molding potential is amazing, even for those with wider feet, and the BOA adds a new level of comfort over the forefoot and instep.
Pair this with a Shift, Duke PT or CAST binding setup, pick your wide or mid-wide pow ski and get after it.
About Reviewer #1
Name: Jordan Sunshine
Age: 37
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 175 lbs
Size Reviewed: 28.5
Location(s) & Conditions: Crested Butte,CO / Wolf Creek,CO / Silverton, CO / Alpental, WA / & powder, more powder, chalk, and some touring
Bindings: Salomon S/Lab Shift MNC 13 Alpine Touring Ski Bindings 2023
Riding Style & Ability Level: "Playful, surfy style no matter the terrain. Expert skier."
About Reviewer #2
Name: Greg Louie
Age: 70
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 172 lbs
Size Reviewed: 26.5
Location(s) & Conditions: Mission Ridge, WA and Alpental, WA - Firm base with variable toppings.
Skis: Blizzard Bonafide 97 (183 cm), Blizzard Rustler 11 (186 cm) and Blizzard Zero G 105 (180 cm)
Bindings: Atomic STH2 16 WTR Bindings (w/ Bonafide & Rustler) and Atomic Backland Pure Tech Bindings (w/ Zero G)
Riding Style & Ability Level: Expert freerider with racing and freestyle background.