Atomic

Hawx Ultra Xtd 130 Alpine Touring Boot

The Hawx Ski Boot took the skiing community by storm last season, so Atomic made an entire collection of Hawx boots in various flexes, lasts, and specificities. The Hawx Ultra XTD 130 Alpine Touring Boot is a backcountry-specific Hawx boot with a narrower last and the stiffest flex available in the ski industry. Atomic made this freeride-inspired touring boot stiff enough to drop pillows and slash spines, without dragging you down on the skintrack. Atomic's Grilamid Progressive Shell combines thicker walls in areas that need to be stronger with slimmer walls everywhere else to shed weight without sacrificing solid power transfer and downhill performance.

While the Memory Fit liner already has preshaped heel and ankle pockets, it's also heat-moldable so you can tinker around with the fit for optimal comfort, and Atomic's Free/Lock 2.0 Walk Mechanism allows for a 54-degree range of motion in walk mode so you can fly up the skinner with a natural stride. These kicks weigh in at 1420 grams per foot, and while that may not be as featherlight as some of the other skimo offerings, it's light enough to get you up the mountain without feeling gassed before you get to reap your reward. Plus, when your knees are shaking while you're getting ready to drop into a walled-in pinner, you'll be psyched to have these solid chargers on your feet.