2018 atomic backland touring boots

[methscratchface]

anyone on here skied these or a previous year model? they seem just dandy for the up, but do they actually ski well? Also wondering if the liner is worth a shit. Any beta helps. cheers.

 

[onenerdykid]

I think it's helpful to qualify by what you mean with "ski well". This is not a cop-out but a question about your real skiing expectations. World Cup racing? 20-foot hucks to flat? Ability to drive a 110mm waisted pow ski on groomers at 50 mph?

The Backland Carbon was designed to fulfill a touring skier's needs of going uphill really well and skiing downhill really well, provided you don't select a ski over 100mm wide at the waist. With a boot that weighs 1kg, there are just going to be limitations on how much power you can transmit to the ski.

So, with that said, we've robot flex tested the Backland Carbon to have the same stiffness characteristics of our Hawx Prime 110. That means it is a powerful boot, but to an extent. If you are skiing skis at or below 100mm, aren't hucking yourself of large cliffs, and making this a dedicated touring boot (not a resort charging boot) then it would be an awesome choice.

And if you are looking to drive bigger skis, huck your shit, and go full send in the backcountry, that is what the Hawx Ultra XTD series is for.

 

[methscratchface]

Thank you for your response! Really excited to try these boots. They are definitely going to be a game changer for me. I noticed that on blister they modded theirs out with a powerwrap liner. I am quite partial to the feel of the intuition powerwrap, seems to make every boot ive owned ski better even though it hinders uphill mobility. I am going to my local atomic bootfitter sometime this week and was going to mold the shell and stock liner. If I want to add an intuition down the road will I need to remold the shell?

 

[Gnor]

I don’t think you are looking at the right boots if you want to put a wrap in there.

The backlands prioritise uphill performance and power wraps would take away a large amount of their uphill performance and wouldn’t ski like you expect even with a wrap.

Like Matt said look at XTDs if you want a powerful, light boot. The 120s out of box are right on the money as a resort/touring boot. If you are set on a wrap, chuck it in a 130 for resort and keep the stock liner for touring.

All assuming they fit your foot. (See a bootfitter)

 

[methscratchface]

I don’t think you are looking at the right boots if you want to put a wrap in there.

The backlands prioritise uphill performance and power wraps would take away a large amount of their uphill performance and wouldn’t ski like you expect even with a wrap.

Like Matt said look at XTDs if you want a powerful, light boot. The 120s out of box are right on the money as a resort/touring boot. If you are set on a wrap, chuck it in a 130 for resort and keep the stock liner for touring.

All assuming they fit your foot. (See a bootfitter)

Thanks for input! This is 100 percent a touring only boot for me. I got these boots specifically for long approaches and hiking in crampons and other tom foolery. Im just throwing out ideas. I have a intuition touring tongue liner and a wrap I could use. I had a bad bootline tib/fib fracture years ago and have had great success molding intuitions around mangled bone and screws. I am definitely going to a bootfitter and giving the stock liner a go. Just wanna keep my options open.

 

[tomPietrowski]

If you had shin issues this prob wont be the boot for you, regardless if its the "right" boot for your skiing style. When I tested it, the cuff put alot of pressure right in the shin. Differnt liners would help but its just not a boot you want to charge in. If touring is getting all the vert do it but if you want to ski look elsewhere

 

[methscratchface]

If you had shin issues this prob wont be the boot for you, regardless if its the "right" boot for your skiing style. When I tested it, the cuff put alot of pressure right in the shin. Differnt liners would help but its just not a boot you want to charge in. If touring is getting all the vert do it but if you want to ski look elsewhere

Thank you so much. Really appreciate the advice. I thought maybe I could get a little more out of this boot. For what I want it for it will be a super useful tool. But I need to be realistic. Another separate kit for hucking/shorter tours is honestly gonna have to happen.