Year of the BOA? Atomic’s Matt Manser on New Ski Boots, Liners, & BOA Systems (Ep.232)

14 comments on “Year of the BOA? Atomic’s Matt Manser on New Ski Boots, Liners, & BOA Systems (Ep.232)”

1. Is there a timeline for pricing/availability and more info on what I assume is an XTD Boa Pro model? Or will the pro liner only be available separately?

   • Hi Leo – Hawx XTD Mimic Professional liners are only available on their own (i.e. not part of a complete boot) and will be available late summer/early autumn 2023 (along with all of the other goodies from the podcast). -Matt

2. I was unsure when reading about this episode, but having listened to what they had to say I will, at the very least, be trying them on once the local shops have them. I have some backland boots now (which, btw, have been great) but am definitely curious about these new ones.

   Also, to all of the naysayers about the boa system, chill out. It’ll be fine. You’ll be fine. The world will not burst into flames because of this. Your ski boots and those made by all the fine companies out there do not define you as a person. So have a shot of tequila and calm TF down.

3. Two questions…

   1. Will the Hawk Ultra XTD BOA be available in the Southern Hemisphere winter (2023)?
   2. How far can the forefoot be punched?

   Always enjoy listening to chats with Matt… :)

   Cheers!

   • Hi Dan, usually things are a little late for the Southern Hemisphere but I can double check on that for you. Forefoot can easily be punched out 5mm. Beyond that is also possible but it definitely depends on your binding at that point. Thanks for listening! -Matt

     • Hey Matt! Thanks for your reply… I really appreciate it.

       Lamentably, we have a -relatively- small market down here, so it can be hard to get product (and the expertise to fit it). I ordinarily wear a Prime boot (with a punch for my forefoot), however I really like the sole on the Ultra over the Prime XTD, as well as the lower height afforded by the fixed sole.

       So hopefully the BOA version will be available down here soon, and (fingers crossed) it can accommodate my foot.

       Thanks again for your info, and the insight you provide to the tech.

       Cheers!

       PS – try the Bunnahabhain – Aonadh
       *chef’s kiss*

4. I always found trying to get a good espresso from a Super Automatic, super hard. A Breville is a good machine but no where the control of something like a Decent Espresso machine. Now that is nerdy.

   If you want to understand how to dial in your Bean to cup machine aka a Super Automatic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6yWOyNq0uw. Hope fully this is nerdy enough for you. Check out James’s Dialling videos to understand what you are getting yourself into when you step away from a Super Automatic machine. If you want a new good hobby then go for it.

   If you really want to get super nerdy on your coffee check out Coffee Ad Astra.

5. Hi Matt
   Some interesting upgrades to Ultra XTD.
   I see its not going to the 30.5 (I think that was the case for earlier versions to) and one of the competitors does the same.
   Is it simply economics and not enough of us big feet buying boots to go up to 30.5 in the 50/50 category?
   Cheers

   • Yeah, unfortunately this is a tough one for us to justify economically. Size 30s aren’t super common in general, especially so in the 50/50 category. But, this could change over time if we get more requests for them. If anyone reading this has a super small foot or a super large foot, be sure to let your retailers know that you want a boot. This will help change things moving forward. -Matt

6. This all makes a ton of sense.

   Also, as another data point, I was more interested in hearing about the liner (as someone who uses in bounds liners in my touring boots ) than I was interested in hearing about the pony.

7. Someone… make me an NTN telemark boot with BOA and I will shower money at your feet.

8. Loved the back and forth between Jonathan and Matt in this episode, loved it when Matt stole Jonathan’s “where are we going next” line.

   I shelled out money for a pair of Hawx Prime XTD in a 130 flex last year. I had an opportunity to return them right then and there if they didn’t work out, but they felt fine while trying them on in the shop. I did some spring/summer tours on some glaciers and they felt great. But, the second I took them out into cold weather that changed. I have high arches that made the boots unbearable to wear because of a low instep height, even with the boots unbuckled. My forefoot width is also roughly a 104mm last (I got big ol’ piggies), so I started having pain there too. I tried cooking them at a shop, but the shell couldn’t handle stretching at the top where the instep was and the sides where I needed more last. Ended up being down a bunch of $ for a pair of boots that wouldn’t fit me and needing a different pair altogether (more $).

   I felt pretty stupid and knew I should have gone through the whole boot fitting process instead of picking out a pair that I liked on paper. All the awesome work Matt and the Atomic team puts into these boots gets me excited and I got sucked into the hype after listening to podcasts like this one.

   I hope Atomic catering towards the “average”/”normal” foot will get me into a pair of Hawx in the coming years when it’s time for me to get new boots.

9. Thanks guys for the interesting podcast.
   Because Matt asked, I’m a guy who uses his 1st gen Hawx Ultra XTD 130 (with the orange liner) as a pure touring boot, ~60 days/season, 0 lift days so far. I trust Matt in that the new PU version will ski even better, but I never felt the need to add some 200 grams to an already comparably heavy, great skiing touring boot (size 28 + custom insoles).
   I bought the aftermarket Mimic Platinum liner last year, but could only use them once due to some hard plastic that protrudes inside the liner from both side of the achilles down to the bones of my heel and that makes them unskiably uncomfortable for me, so it would be great if that area would see some changes, along with some more moldable foam padding behind the heel. Actually, the original orange liner provides a tighter fit around the heel than the mimic version, because it has thicker moldable foam, whereas the Mimic liner, while being way more substantial and supportive in the cuff and tongue, lacks the material thickness to secure my ankle and heel laterally and cushion the heel bones from slamming back against the shell when flexing forcefully.
   So far I have really liked the orange version, it is a very comfortable density with great low friction lining (in terms of these two attributes, it’s the most comfortable liner I have seen for my foot), walks way smoother and skis sufficiently well. But the addition of a Mimic Professional XTD liner would definitely peak my interest for my low volume, low instep feet. I would accept the weight penalty for a great fit, less so for the type of plastic used.

   Concerning the BOA, sure it will wrap the foot better, but unfortunately, I need to crank down my buckles to max tightness on the downhill, exactly because I need the downwards pressure on my low instep. And you seemed to indicate that BOA will do the exact opposite. Yet of course, I’m willing to try it on in a shop, but it just doesn’t seem to address my usual fit issues.

10. Hello Matt, First timer to blisterreview.com and found above comments similar my own issues.
    I am long time 30+ year skier here in BC, Canada at SilverStar Mountain Resort. Recently learned about Atomic’s decision to move to the Hawk Ultra XTD with a BOA system.
    Presently, skiing with 2016 Cochise Technica 120 stiffness, size 26/26.5 or 305mm. comes with a Ski/Hike Self Adjusting System

    1. High insteps
    2. Slightly Wider feet than regular
    3. At 70 years young, have endured 1 year of ‘Peripheral Neuropathy’ on soles of both feet and toes affecting all feeling and balance.
    Presently receiving treatments for this numbness condition and proving to be extremely effective!
    while interested in Atomic Boots in a 110 stiffness, I hoping the Boa System will all be available in strictly Alpine Ski Boots as well for 2023 -2024 season? If so, which Model would you suggest I look to try at on at local ski shops in September? Thank you, so much for any input.