Author: Slator Aplin

The general design goal as I see it for a two-buckle boot is to squeeze the most downhill performance out of ~1000-1400g of materials* while minimizing friction in the boot’s ankle’s range-of-motion. The Atomic Backland Carbon is a ~1200g boot and can be compared more directly with boots such as the Scarpa F1 XT, the Salomon MTN Summit, or the La Sportiva Skorpius CR II. It adds ~200g compared to the lighterweight side of two-buckle boots at ~1000g. Though heavier than the ultralight category, the Backland doesn’t have as much heft as two-buckle-plus 1400g boot category (ex. Fischer Transalp Carbon Pro or Atomic Backland XTD). At ~1200g, it sits in a middle ground of the two-buckle boot category, finding balance with weight and functionality.