Atomic Hawx Ultra softer after shell molding?

[araxie]

I have a pair of Redsters and recently got a pair of the Hawx Ultra 115 S W GW boot to try and break myself of using only racing gear all the time. I had some issues with the fit (I think my fitted forgot a little pad he usually uses on the liner the first time), and he suggested heat molding the shell. The first time I went to use them after that (about a week later) they just totally folded over while standing in them, let alone skiing. Ratcheting the buckles down as tight as they go didn't help, and it was a little odd how easily I was able to do that as well.

Before they felt a little softer than I'm used to but definitely not this soft and now they are unskiable for me. Is this normal? FWIW The Booster strap I installed (I don't understand why Atomic doesn't use the same strap for the men's boots as the women's -- we shred too!) fell off and had to be re-riveted into the boot after the heating.

Thanks!

 

[Shitswitch]

Disclaimer: idk wtf I’m talking about take my opinion with a grain of salt

anyone concerned with performance out of their ski boots shouldn’t heat mold them until your 100% sure they are fully broken in and you still want them loosened up. Pretty much everyone I’ve talked to who has done this comes into the shop saying “I got my boot heat molded and they suck now”. You get impatient, or your feet really hurt and you try to skip the break in process w heat molding, which irreversibly changes the shell.

it sounds like shop just cooked your shit for too long tho if it did all of that lol

I have a pair of Redsters and recently got a pair of the Hawx Ultra 115 S W GW boot to try and break myself of using only racing gear all the time. I had some issues with the fit (I think my fitted forgot a little pad he usually uses on the liner the first time), and he suggested heat molding the shell. The first time I went to use them after that (about a week later) they just totally folded over while standing in them, let alone skiing. Ratcheting the buckles down as tight as they go didn't help, and it was a little odd how easily I was able to do that as well.

Before they felt a little softer than I'm used to but definitely not this soft and now they are unskiable for me. Is this normal? FWIW The Booster strap I installed (I don't understand why Atomic doesn't use the same strap for the men's boots as the women's -- we shred too!) fell off and had to be re-riveted into the boot after the heating.

Thanks!

 

[araxie]

Yeah I skied with them about ~15 times before we did that. Even then I really didn't want to heat mold the shell -- the whole issue was that he forgot to put a small pad on my foot when we molded the liner and then he pushed to heat the shell too. And now he won't answer my calls about it which I'm actually just more pissed about lol. Sounds like I should have just stood my ground and now I need to trash the boots

 

[Phatboy64]

Yeah I skied with them about ~15 times before we did that. Even then I really didn't want to heat mold the shell -- the whole issue was that he forgot to put a small pad on my foot when we molded the liner and then he pushed to heat the shell too. And now he won't answer my calls about it which I'm actually just more pissed about lol. Sounds like I should have just stood my ground and now I need to trash the boots

What Redster’s do you have and why don’t you want to ski them all the time?

 

[araxie]

I have the WC 110s, they're about 4-5 years old and just really beat up, and a little soft for me. Plus my feet FREEZE hahaha. I was hoping an all-mtn boot would help with the cold feet and having a little lighter boot was nice but I'll prob just end up getting a new pair of redsters or maybe just new liners

 

[onenerdykid]

I have the WC 110s, they're about 4-5 years old and just really beat up, and a little soft for me. Plus my feet FREEZE hahaha. I was hoping an all-mtn boot would help with the cold feet and having a little lighter boot was nice but I'll prob just end up getting a new pair of redsters or maybe just new liners

I think the CS 110 (or 130 depending on your size, strength, etc.) is the move here. Once you are used to how a Redster-style boot skis, everything thing else will just feel like it's lacking something. I would say 80-90% of our freeski athletes (including the Blondes) are on CS boots for resort days.

 

[.nasty]

I think the CS 110 (or 130 depending on your size, strength, etc.) is the move here. Once you are used to how a Redster-style boot skis, everything thing else will just feel like it's lacking something. I would say 80-90% of our freeski athletes (including the Blondes) are on CS boots for resort days.

It's true, when I go to my hawx 130 for tour days after skiing the CS130 I feel like Im skiing on a 110 without all that extra dampening.

 

[araxie]

I think the CS 110 (or 130 depending on your size, strength, etc.) is the move here. Once you are used to how a Redster-style boot skis, everything thing else will just feel like it's lacking something. I would say 80-90% of our freeski athletes (including the Blondes) are on CS boots for resort days.

so you think drop down to the CS and maybe a higher flex? i still do a maybe 6-10 GS/slalom races each year but don't mind running two pairs of boots unless the CS at 130 ends up being better?

 

[onenerdykid]

so you think drop down to the CS and maybe a higher flex? i still do a maybe 6-10 GS/slalom races each year but don't mind running two pairs of boots unless the CS at 130 ends up being better?

It's hard to figure out what flex you should be over the internet, but I would first say that a Redster CS 110 is more solid/stable/substantial than the Hawx Ultra 115. The CS 130 is more substantial than every other brand's similar 130 (i.e. more substantial than a Lange RS 130, Nordica Dobermann GP 130, etc.).

If you can find one of them to try on, I think you will be able to know which way you should go.

 

[araxie]

Thanks! That's good to know. My whole (female) friend group skis the Lange RS 130 but I didn't know the flex indices between Atomic and Lange were different. Unfortunately I have teeny tiny feet but maybe my shop can somehow snag me a demo pair or something (the owners son works for atomic so sometimes they are able to do those things). I hate to make a trip to a shop that has them in stock and end up buying elsewhere

It's hard to figure out what flex you should be over the internet, but I would first say that a Redster CS 110 is more solid/stable/substantial than the Hawx Ultra 115. The CS 130 is more substantial than every other brand's similar 130 (i.e. more substantial than a Lange RS 130, Nordica Dobermann GP 130, etc.).

If you can find one of them to try on, I think you will be able to know which way you should go.

 

[onenerdykid]

Thanks! That's good to know. My whole (female) friend group skis the Lange RS 130 but I didn't know the flex indices between Atomic and Lange were different. Unfortunately I have teeny tiny feet but maybe my shop can somehow snag me a demo pair or something (the owners son works for atomic so sometimes they are able to do those things). I hate to make a trip to a shop that has them in stock and end up buying elsewhere

Yeah, flex ratings are not at all standardized between brands or even within brands.

If you were able to find them at another shop, just tell them your scenario. Fitters are usually understanding when you tell them upfront. This way they can spend their time helping someone else out and won't feel like you've robbed them of their time/expertise. If you really want it to go over smoothly, tip them $10 for their troubles.