2019-2020 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130

Boot: 2019-2020 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130

Stated Flex: 130

Available Sizes: 24.5-29.5

Stated Last (size 26.5): 98 mm (can expand ~6 mm in the forefoot through heat molding)

Stated Range of Motion: 54°

Stated Forward Lean: 15° (can be switched to 17° w/ factory “flip chip;” 13°/19° flip chip available)

Size Tested: 26.5

Stated Boot Sole Length (size 26.5): 302 mm

Blister’s Measured Weight (size 26.5):

  • Shells, no Liners: 1130 & 1132 g
  • Liners, no Footbeds: 276 & 282 g
  • Shells + Liners = 1406 & 1414 g
  • Stock Insoles: 24 & 25 g
  • Removable Spoilers: 27 & 27 g

Buckles: 4 micro-adjustable aluminum

Powerstrap: 50 mm cam-style

Shell Material:

  • Cuff: Grilamid
  • Shoe / Clog: Grilamid

Soles: Grip Walk

Binding Compatibility: Grip Walk, Tech / Pin, and MNC bindings

Tech Fittings: Yes

MSRP: $799

Luke Koppa reviews the 19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 for Blister
19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130
Review Navigation:  Specs //  Intro //  Weight & Comparisons //  Design & Features //  Fit //  Bottom Line

Intro

Last season, Atomic launched their Hawx Ultra XTD lineup of touring boots, and they immediately made some noise in the ski industry — and for good reason. The boots walk uphill very well, but also perform very well on the downhill, especially given how light they are.

As a result, the Hawx Ultra XTD 110 W, Hawx Ultra XTD 120, and Hawx Ultra XTD 130 all received “Best Of” awards in our 17/18 and 18/19 Winter Buyer’s Guides.

For 19/20, Atomic is making some updates to the Hawx Ultra XTD line, and we’re pretty excited about all of them. So we’re going to now cover what’s new with the 19/20 Hawx Ultra XTD 130, and we’ll soon be posting a Flash Review of the new boot with our initial on-snow impressions.

The 19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD Lineup & Changes

Atomic is updating four key parts of the 19/20 Hawx Ultra XTD boots:

  • soles
  • buckles
  • liners
  • power straps

All of the 19/20 Hawx Ultra XTD boots will feature Grip Walk soles instead of the WTR soles that are on the current boots. All of the boots will also get new buckles (more on the buckles later).

The Hawx Ultra XTD 130 and women’s Hawx Ultra XTD 115 W will get new “Platinum” liners that are supposed to be burlier, hold their shape better, and have more stable tongues. Atomic says that the “Platinum” liner is their highest-performance touring liner.

Blister's 9th annual Outdoor Retailer Snow Show awards
19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD lineup

(And for the record, Atomic says the bump in stated flex for the Hawx Ultra XTD 110 from 110 to 115 is attributed to this new liner.)

The rest of the line (Hawx Ultra XTD 120, 100, 95 W) will get slightly heavier, beefier liners than the ones they currently have, but they don’t get the lighter and stiffer “Platinum” versions.

The 19/20 Hawx Ultra XTD 130, 120, and 115 W will all feature new cam-style power straps, with the Hawx Ultra XTD 100 and 95 W sticking with standard Velcro power straps found on the current boots.

Apart from the updates mentioned above and new colorways, the rest of the boots’ designs (e.g., the boot molds, plastics, walk mechanism, etc.) remain the same.

Weight + Comparisons

The new Hawx Ultra XTD 130 is coming in a touch lighter than the current version. While the shell gained a couple grams, the new boot’s liner is a bit lighter than the current stock liner.

At this point, you’re probably asking yourself, “But I thought the new liner was supposed to be beefier — so how is it lighter?”

And to that, I’d say “keep reading.”

Like the current boot, the new Hawx Ultra XTD 130 comes in at a very competitive weight in the “130-flex” touring boot category. It’s about 100 grams heavier than the very light Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro, but it’s over a 100 grams lighter than other boots in its class, like the Salomon S/Lab MTN and Fischer Ranger Free 130.

For reference, below are a number of our measured weights for some other notable boots (keep in mind the size differences). Our measured weights show the size of boot, then the weight of each boot + the weight of each liner, then the total weight for shells + liners, listed in grams:

Scarpa Maestrale RS (24.5 / 25.0): 1053 & 1057 + 244 & 245 = 1297 & 1302 g
Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro (26.5): 1099 & 1100 + 210 & 211 = 1309 & 1311 g
19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 (26.5): 1130 & 1132 + 276 & 282 = 1406 & 1414
Salomon MTN Explore (26.5): 1126 & 1135 + 281 & 281 = 1407 & 1416 g
17/18–18/19 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 (26.5): 1128 & 1127 + 300 & 305 = 1428 & 1432 g
Scarpa Maestrale XT (26.5 / 27.0): 1258 & 1258 + 247 & 252 = 1505 & 1510 g
Head Kore 1 (26.5): 1132 & 1136 + 392 & 393 = 1524 & 1527 g
Salomon S/Lab MTN (26.5): 1257 & 1246 + 288 & 303 = 1545 & 1549 g
Fischer Ranger Free 130 (26.5): 1204 & 1204 + 348 & 351 = 1552 & 1555 g
Roxa R3 130 T.I. (27.5): 1341 & 1348 + 263 & 262 = 1604 & 1610 g
Salomon QST Pro TR 130 (26.5): 1389 & 1391 + 273 & 274 = 1662 & 1665 g
Nordica Strider Pro 130 DYN (27.5): 1445 & 1440 + 363 & 373 = 1808 & 1813
Lange XT Free 130 LV (27.5): 1472 & 1473 + 376 & 376 = 1848 & 1849 g
Full Tilt Ascendant (27.5): 1613 & 1615 & + 308 & 311 = 1921 & 1962 g
Tecnica Cochise 130 DYN (25.5): 1493 & 1496 + 440 & 441 = 1933 & 1937 g

The New Liner

This is arguably the biggest update for the Hawx Ultra XTD 130. The current Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s liner is quite pliable and not all that substantial. That means it tours very well, but is not quite as powerful or comfortable on the downhill compared to beefier liners like those in heavier boots like the Fischer Ranger Free 130, Nordica Strider 130, Lange XT Free 130, and Tecnica Cochise 130. That’s part of why we encouraged people to consider the Hawx Ultra XTD 120 if they were planning on using the boot a lot inbounds, as the Hawx Ultra XTD 120 has a significantly more substantial liner than the current Hawx Ultra XTD 130. (Alternatively, you could always try putting a beefier aftermarket liner in the current Hawx Ultra XTD 130.)

The new Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s liner uses a significantly denser and stiffer foam around the ankle and cuff compared to the current Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s liner. Interestingly, the new Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s liner’s foam is a bit softer and more pliable around the midfoot and toes compared to the current boot’s liner.

Luke Koppa reviews the 19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 for Blister
19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 — Liner

The new liner has a smaller section of stiffened textile reinforcement around the top of the calf, and its plastic tongue reinforcement is also a bit shorter, though I think it feels a touch stiffer than the textile tongue reinforcement on the current liner.

The new liner has a slightly smaller “flex zone” on the back, though while flexing the liners in hand and on my feet, I don’t notice any real difference in terms of range of motion (aka, “ROM”).

Luke Koppa reviews the 19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 for Blister
Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 Liners — 19/20 (green / black) & 17/18–18/19 (orange)

In terms of shaping, the new liner looks and feels a bit more sculpted around the ankle, heel, and toe box. The new liner’s ankle pocket is more defined, the Achilles area feels a bit tighter and more anatomical, and the toe box looks a touch narrower when looking at both liners out of the shells.

Compared to heavier, inbounds-oriented AT boots like the Nordica Strider 130 and Lange XT Free 130, the Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s liner still feels much thinner and less substantial. But compared to the current boot’s liner, the new Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s liner feels a bit stiffer and denser, while coming in even lighter than the current boot’s liner. Interesting.

Walk Mechanism

No changes here, and we’re happy about that. The Hawx Ultra XTD 130 keeps the big, external walk mechanism of the current boot. We’ve come to affectionately call this walk mechanism the “prison shank,” and have not had any issues with it when it comes to durability, icing, or going in or out of ski mode unexpectedly.

Luke Koppa reviews the 19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 for Blister
19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 — Walk Mechanism

Forward Lean

Like the current Hawx Ultra XTD 130, the 19/20 Hawx Ultra XTD 130 comes standard with a stated 15° forward lean. You can switch the “flip chip” on the walk mechanism to change that forward lean to 17°. If you want more or less than that, you can contact an Atomic dealer to have them order an alternative flip chip that lets you switch between 13° and 19° forward lean.

The New Buckles

One of the other major changes, the 19/20 Hawx Ultra XTD 130 features buckles that reportedly borrow tech from Atomic’s lightweight Backland boot series. The new Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s upper buckles have sliders on them that let the buckles open up far wider than standard buckles like those on the current Hawx Ultra XTD 130.

As a result, when you have the buckles latched onto the cuff of the boot, you can still get a lot of range of motion by simply opening the buckles, rather than completely taking them off the latches.

Luke Koppa reviews the 19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 for Blister
19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 — buckle partially open (left) and fully open (right)

To do a quick test of how effective the new buckles are, I spent time walking around in the 18/19 and 19/20 Hawx Ultra XTD 130, one on each foot.

With the current (18/19) boot, I had to leave the buckles latched on the last “keeper” latch that can slide outward in order to get a lot of ROM. In the new 19/20 boot, I could keep the latches latched where I would have them when skiing, and I simply needed to open up the buckles. Doing this, I got what felt like the exact same ROM in both boots. That’s noteworthy since, with the new boot, all I’d have to do during transitions is close the buckles, whereas I’d have to re-buckle the new boot to my preferred skiing settings. It may sound minor, but if you’re banging out quick laps or hate fiddling with buckles, it’s a cool feature.

The New Power Strap

For 19/20, Atomic swapped the Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s Velcro power strap for a much more minimal but equally tall (50 mm) cam-style strap. While the new strap isn’t elastic like a Booster strap, Atomic claims that the Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s new cam-style power strap conforms better to the boot, and, in turn, your leg.

Luke Koppa reviews the 19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 for Blister
19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 — Power Strap

Overall, the new Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s cam-style power strap is very similar to that on the Zero G Tour Pro. The Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s strap is 5 mm taller than the Zero G’s, and the Zero G’s strap has a hook that you can use to completely undo it.

The New Soles

Final big change: the new Hawx Ultra XTD series will feature Grip Walk soles instead of WTR soles. This is part of an industry-wide change we’re seeing, with WTR going away, and Grip Walk taking over as the only sole norm that slots between full-rubber touring soles and standard Alpine soles.

Luke Koppa reviews the 19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 for Blister
19/20 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 — Grip Walk Sole

We don’t expect the new Grip Walk soles to change much in terms of performance, but it is nice to see the industry moving to one standard, and decreasing the confusion and incompatibility issues associated with Grip Walk vs. WTR.

Fit

As always, we highly recommend going to a bootfitter to figure out what boot will work best for you.

With that said, here are my thoughts on how the Hawx Ultra XTD 130 fits my feet.

For reference, I have pretty average-volume feet overall, but I have large lateral splats which mean my midfoot widens when I am standing / skiing, and I often get pain on the outside of my forefoot and midfoot when running, skiing, skinning, etc. I have a low instep, an average to low arch, and a fairly low-volume ankle. My feet tend to work best with boots that offer ample room in the midfoot, and have lower insteps (e.g., the Salomon QST Pro 130). Since my toes taper significantly (i.e., my pinkie toe is much shorter than my big toe), I’ve never needed a 6th toe punch in any boots.

The Hawx Ultra XTD 130 has a stated last width of 98 mm in a size 26.5, and the last width increases by 2 mm for every size you go up — so a 27.5 has a 100 mm last; a 28.5 has a 102 mm last, etc.

You can heat-mold the Hawx Ultra XTD 130, and Atomic claims their “Memory Fit” molding process can get you around 6 mm of space in the forefoot. I haven’t yet heat-molded the Hawx Ultra XTD 130, but I will do so very soon. Here’s how it feels right out of the box:

The Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s 98 mm stated last is narrower than most boots that fit me well, and it feels like it. This is most noticeable around the toe box — the Hawx Ultra XTD 130’s toe box feels very low volume. As I noted above, my toes taper a lot, so I don’t usually get pain around my pinkie toes. And while I don’t have any pain there in the Hawx Ultra XTD 130, the area around my big toe does feel a bit cramped. My big toes are pretty messed up after spending hundreds of days in ski boots, and my second toes are about the same length as my big toes. In the Hawx Ultra XTD 130, the fit around my big toes and second toes feels quite tight, and a bit short. Compared to the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro and Scarpa Maestrale RS & XT, the Hawx Ultra XTD 130 feels like it has the lowest-volume toe box.

In the midfoot area, the Hawx Ultra XTD 130 feels pretty true to its stated 98 mm last. It feels pretty tight on my wider midfoot, and narrower than both the Zero G Tour Pro and the Maestrale XT.

Like most boots, the Hawx Ultra XTD 130 leaves me with a bit of room over my low instep. While walking around in it, it doesn’t feel like it’ll be an issue, though the boot doesn’t feel as snug over my instep compared to the Salomon QST Pro 130.

Overall, the new Hawx Ultra XTD 130 feels extremely similar to the current one. And that should be expected, given that the shell hasn’t changed at all.

If anything, I think the new boot feels a bit more snug around my fairly low-volume ankle and heel, which I’d attribute to the more anatomical shape of the new boot’s liner. The other thing I’ve noticed is that the tongue of the old boot’s liner creates a bit of a pressure point on the outside of my ankle. I haven’t noticed this issue with the new boot’s liner, probably because its plastic reinforcement doesn’t extend as low as the current boot’s does.

Bottom Line (For Now)

The Hawx Ultra XTD 130 was already a very, very good boot. And the updates to the boot look like they should make it even better. We’ll be spending time A/B-ing the new boot against the current version this week, and will post a Flash Review ASAP. Stay tuned…

Share this post:
2019-2020 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130, BLISTER
2019-2020 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130, BLISTER

51 comments on “2019-2020 Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130”

  1. HI Luke,

    thanks for the review. Looks like a nice update of the Hawx XTD line.
    Do you know if the new buckles will be available as an after market package to upgrade your existing Hawx XTD boots?

    • Atomic says spare buckles are always available through select Atomic dealers, so the new buckles should be available through them next year. It doesn’t sound like Atomic will be selling a “package” of the new buckles, but you should be able to get them through an Atomic dealer.

  2. If you were getting ready to buy this boot, price aside, would you wait for the new one instead? (I have other boots for now.)

  3. Hi Luke,

    How do you anticipate the updates’ effect on the beginning of the flex? I really like the progressive flex of the current Hawx, but I feel that the resistance begins a bit too late for my taste, and that my shin is already flexed forward quite a bit before I begin to feel much support.

    Thanks!

  4. Hi Luke, I agree with your assessment of the 18/19 liner. Do you know if the new Liner will be available separately ? If not do you have a recommendation for another liner for this type of boot?

    Thank You

    • Hi Brick, maybe it is late but it might help some. I’ve been riding the original XTD 130 for 2 season and starting my third one. Mind you I also have a pair of Dalbello DRS WC M so it is not my only shoe. From the shop I could go with the original liner which was too flimsy and the shoe was feeling too soft. What made me go with the shoe was to replace the liner with a Salomon X-Max race liner. This reduces a little bit your ROM when climbing but allows for a stiffer flex from the start and overall tighter fit. First 1 or 2 touring sessions are a bit tight but my shells are fitted the way I fit my race shoes (size eu42.5, shell size +/-315mm). I hope this can help.

      Also I love the new buckles, my GF got a pair a the women version this winter and seeing those buckles made me jealous right away, the old system is far from great. I’ll see if I can update that on mine.

  5. Any reasons for not making exchangeable soles (compatible with normal alpine bindings) such as Lange does?

  6. Lots of people complained that the last iteration of the XTD had issues with leaking. Other than the updates to the liner, it doesn’t seem like Atomic has done much to address that issue. Can you comment on that at all? Thanks

    • Interesting. I was in the 18/19 XTD about 40 days this season and didn’t get any leaks — fair amount of backcountry and hiking too. But, I good just be lucky.

      • @ontilt, could it be that you have a low volume foot? I think the problem occurs because the water dam over the instep fails to seal. It might also be a related to heat molding the boot and warping the dam.

        • I’m wedged in pretty tight, but it’s very possible. Would definitely be frustrating to me if I experienced this.

  7. Hi Luke,
    I am wondering whether those changes make XTD a BETTER boot than the Zero G Tour Pro?
    Thanks a lot.

  8. This is the boot! thats was my first feeling after the first run on them. For some years I´ve been looking for the perfect boot for my needs, and this is the one! Super lightweight and great range of movement to skin up, which is something that I don’t care that much as I live for the downhill. So here is when the love comes in. Wow, this is so light and dangerous on the first natural jumps I did, I could kick it so far that was scary… due to the weight on this boots you can’t feel them open when charging but they are so stable when you need that absorption on sketchy landings and specially when skiing fast and you need this response. I was used to freeride and freestyle on 130s with enough weight on them to feel the stability I needed and trusting them your life basically.. same on the Hawks, but so freaking light. I just loved them. I tried them at the on-snow demo show this past march at Copper mtn. Im riding them now in Chile, Southern Patagonia to get the first tracks down here and this is love, this is love, this is love…!!

  9. Interesting regarding your comments on the fit. The review of the XTD 120 seemed to suggest that the fit was great for a high instep and medium-wide foot. Are the lasts different between these two models? Or is the difference in review just a factor of one going through the shell molding process?

    • They share the same exact last, so the out-of-the-box fit will be nearly identical. Looking at Cy’s review of the 120, he said it felt very tight and his instep felt like it was getting crushed *before* he heat molded it, but he got a pretty good fit after the heat-molding process. We’ve been impressed by the amount of customization you can get from Atomic’s heat-molding process, but in terms of their out-of-the-box fit, the Hawx Ultra XTD boots are pretty low-volume (particularly in the toe box).

      • Hey Luke, thanks for the clarification. It seems like these would be a viable fit for me due to the heat moldable shell and the boot board that could be modified a bit to allow for some more room above the arch and at the instep. I just tried the Hoji Free which felt pretty uncomfortable in those areas, even compared to the Salomon MTN (without being molded). Thanks again for the great reviews, cheers.

  10. Of all the boots like these, which would you choose if you really only toured 5 or 6 times a winter? I’d like to have one boot for all my skis, really like having a light weight boot, but don’t want to sacrifice the downhill performance. What would be the spiritual successor to the Atomic Waymaker Carbon 130? It had just enough walk mode to do little tours, but otherwise felt like a proper alpine boot. I want that, but no so freaking heavy….

    • If you’re touring 5-6 times a year, I think it’d make sense to go with a heavier boot than the XTD 130. The XTD skis really well for how light it is, but it’s important to keep in mind just how light it is. Slightly heavier boots like the Tecnica Cochise, Lange XT Free, Nordica Strider, Rossignol Alltrack Elite, and Dalbello Lupo Pro HD all walk well enough that I’d be fine using them for a few tours a year, but they feel much more “plush” and less harsh when skiing fast in rough conditions vs. the XTD 130 or other similarly light boots. If I was only touring a handful of times a year and was using one boot for everything, I’d definitely opt for a heavier boot like the Cochise, Strider, Lupo Pro, XT Free, Alltrack Elite, etc.

        • I’d say the S/Lab MTN falls somewhere in the middle. It tours better than the “50/50” boots but doesn’t walk quite as well and is heavier than touring boots like the XTD 130. And the S/Lab MTN feels a bit more “plush” than the XTD 130, but not as plush as the heavier 50/50 boots.

      • Hi Luke,

        I already own a pair of Hawx Ultra 130 alpine boots and really like them. The fit out of the box was perfect and their performance impressed so far.

        For the upcoming season I want to puchase a 50/50 touring setup (new Bent Chetler 120 with Shift bindings). Now, I’m thinking of the XTD130 as my touring boot to use with this setup.

        Do you think this would be a good choice for me, or should I take a closer look on other boots?

        • If the Hawx Ultra 130 works with your feet, then the XTD 130 is a great choice. Main thing to keep in mind is that the XTD 130 does not feel as “plush” on rough snow (transmits more feedback to your feet and shins vs. the Ultra 130). So if you want a closer feel to your Ultra 130’s, the XTD 120 would actually be a better call as it has a thicker, more substantial liner than the XTD 130. Or you could go with the XTD 130 and get a more substantial aftermarket liner.

      • Well shoot….. Those boots are only marginally lighter than what I have now… If I was going to invest in new fancy boots, I was going to go for the crazy light style… I tried the Zero Guide Pro for one run last year borrowing from a friend… they fit terribly (2 sizes too small???), but the lack of mass was kinda amazing….

        Soo the S/LAB MTN could be a contender?
        Or Atomic in the 120 flex?
        Or The Atomic with an intuition liner??
        It sucks you can’t demo boots easier..

        • Hmm, yeah that’s tough. Just based on the stated weights I’ve seen for the Waymaker Carbon, I do think a boot like the Tecnica Cochise, Rossi Alltrack Elite LT, or Lange XT Free would feel noticeably lighter. And they’re the best boots we’ve used when it comes to feeling like an alpine boot on the downhill. But if you do want to go lighter, I think the Hawx XTD 120 or 130 w/ a beefier liner could work, or the S/Lab MTN, or maybe the Scarpa Maestrale RS or XT. For any of those boots, it might be worth trying some burlier liners, since none of their liners are super plush compared to most alpine boots. Lastly, while we haven’t had major issues with any of those light boots, heavier boots tend to last longer, particularly when you’re using them frequently in the resort.

  11. Hey Luke I know this has been mentioned several times in the comments above but I have a pair of the Atomic XTD 130s and haven’t used them yet this season but i really like how light they are and fit pretty well. I would say I ski in the resort around 80-20 compared to downhill but would like a lighter boot with a high flex. I was going to buy a intuition liner for this boot to more of a beefier liner. Do you think this would work well? Change the liners out if I do a longer tour?

    • We’re actually testing a few options this season from Intuition, and right now, the Intuition Tour Wrap seems like it could be a good option. We’ll be reporting back in this review and a separate Intuition review with our thoughts on what liners might work best.

      • Hey, just wondering if you have tried the Intuition Tour Wrap in this boot yet? I have tried the boot on but the liner feels like garbage…if the Tour Wrap works it could be a great option.

        • It’s proven to be a bit tricky so far. Since Intuition only offers the Tour Wrap in their “MV” fit, it’s a very tight fit in the Hawx Ultra XTD. I think it’ll work for some people, particularly if you mold both the shell and liner, but it hasn’t worked with my wide midfoot. That said, I have been skiing the Tour Wrap in other boots and I am very confident that it would make for a much more comfortable and powerful skiing performance than the 19/20 XTD’s stock liner. The Tour Wrap does inhibit some range of motion while walking (especially vs. the flexible stock XTD liner), but I think the bump in skiing performance will be worth it for some people. And then Atomic is releasing the XTD boots with a new, much beefier and more substantial liner for 20/21, that you’ll reportedly be able to purchase separately: https://blisterreview.com/podcasts/a-very-deep-dive-on-ski-boots-part-4-liners-ramp-angle-forward-lean-ep-88

  12. Hey Luke.

    I’ve got Ultra 130s (30MP) and I am very happy with them. Any chance Atomic will start making XTD version bigger than 29,5MP? Thanks

    • Unfortunately, from what we’ve heard, Atomic is not planning on offering the XTD 130 in a larger size than 29.5 in the near future.

  13. Hi Luke:

    I just bought a pair of the Hawx XTD 130s…but prefer a more upright stance than the 15° forward lean. You state that if you’d like less than that, you can contact an Atomic dealer to have them order an alternative flip chip that lets you switch between 13° and 19° forward lean. I’ve contacted 2 of my local shops in Calgary Canada and neither seam to understand that this is an option? just wondering I can contact Atomic directly for the part as it’s not listed on their web sites…also have you tested the boots with the Intuition Tour Wrap liner yet…this is an option I’m seriously thinking about but would a little more before I try it.

    • Hmm, that’s odd. Might be worth contacting Atomic directly. Atomic’s Matt Manser (head of ski boots) told us that was an option that dealers could purchase for customers.

      And we haven’t tried the Tour Wrap in the XTD yet, but we did get a pair (and a Pro Tour) that we’ll be writing about after we spend more time in them. My initial thoughts based on using it in other boots: the Tour Wrap is much more substantial and better than the XTD 130’s stock liner on the downhill, I just still need to see how much it compromises on the downhill.

  14. I bought the 2018 version of the XTD130 and ordered the 13 degree flip chip from my local retailer. It made a world of difference to me as i was accustomed to a more upright stance from my Rossi race boots and felt the 15 degree not only tired my knees out, but forced me to go so far into the flex to pressure the ski that i lost support. I wish they made an 11 degree chip, but the 13 is noticeably better than 15 for me. I should note, it took the dealer most of the summer and repeated attempts to get the chip from Atomic. The dealer (Allspeed in Portland, Maine) did order several extras so you may be able to get them there.

  15. Hi Luke,
    Couple questions please.
    How does it ski vs Lange XT Freetour 130?
    Any downsides to the mouldable shell? Performance? Durability, etc?
    Can they be moulded multiple times? Mostly wondering if a retailer might I willing to mould the shells before committing to purchase.

    • *Edit: more specifically, how does it ski vs XT Freetour (my current touring boot), in powder? I get that it’s going to feel more harsh at speed in rough conditions. I’m more concerned with how it’ll perform in good conditions. Also, same question compared to the Zero G Tour Pro 130. I’m looking to lighten things up from my Lange’s (and the Hoji’s don’t fit very well).
      Looking forward to your thoughts,
      Thank you.

    • In powder, I’d say they’re very similar. In soft, forgiving conditions like untracked pow, the differences in terms of damping / suspension / energy absorption are much less noticeable (just as with skis and bindings). The Zero G Tour Pro is slightly softer than the XT Free 130 and XTD 130, but in powder, I don’t think you’d notice a massive difference (mostly, the Zero G’s flex is easier to initiate, and it feels pretty similar when you get deeper into the flex). As for heat molding, I’m not 100% sure if Atomic has a stance on this (I’ll ask Matt Manser), but I know we’ve had folks mold the XTD at least twice with no issues. And we haven’t had any durability issues with the XTD boots we’ve used. The right boot will obviously depend on fit, but I think the XTD 130 or Zero G Tour Pro could work for you if you want a lighter, better-walking alternative to the XT Free that’s still powerful enough for skiing fast in good snow. Last note: Atomic is updating the liners in the XTD boots for 20/21, and the new liners feel much more substantial than the old ones so I think the 20/21 XTD 130 will narrow the gap a bit when it comes to comfort and suspension in rough snow vs. the XT Free.

        • A pair just showed up in HQ, so we’ll have that answer quite soon. Keep an eye out for a First Look, and an upcoming podcast with Matt Manser where he covers the new liner and more (he’s very excited about Atomic’s new “Mimic” liners, which makes me very excited…)

          • Hey again Luke,
            Just wondering if you might have a weight on the new mimic liner yet.
            Hate to pester you, but since I’m looking to lighten up my boots, if it comes in too heavy, I might want to grab the 19/20 XTD before they’re gone.
            Thanks again.

            • Sorry for the delay — right now we’ve only weighed the Hawx Prime XTD 130’s liners, which came in at an average weight of 409 grams per liner for a size 26.5. For reference, the shell + liner weight of our pair of the Prime XTD 130 is about 1655 grams per boot. I’ll get the weights of the 20/21 Hawx Ultra XTD 130 ASAP.

  16. @BK Contemplating the Mimic liners too. Matt Manser answered on another forum.
    “The weight of the new version with Mimic liner is 1530g / 26.5 – real time weight. It’s around 120-130g heavier than the 19/20, but still one of the lightest boots in this category.”

  17. How are gripwalk soles with regard to grip when bootpacking in sketchier lines in the backcountry? Coming from an old Scarpa Maestrale RS with full rockered touring soles but am worried that the bootpacking sacrifice with regard to walking comfort/security will be something I regret. Any thoughts?

  18. Great review, thanks Luke.

    How are the size on Hawx Ultra XTD compare to my Lange RX 130 LV in 25,5? (no bootfitting)
    My foot is 260mm and 95mm wide. Do you think I can get my foot into a 25,5 Hawx Ultra XTD 130 2020-2021?

  19. Do you know how to obtain the flip chip to change XTD boot from 15 degree to 13 degree forward lean? I emailed Atomic to get a part number, and their customer service said there is no flip chip available??

  20. Hey Luke,
    Any chance you or anyone else at blister has skied both the hawk ultra 130 xtd and the 130s, and can comment on any differences in terms of downhill performance?

Leave a Comment