This is our home for boots: specifically any writings and musing regarding lighter weight touring and splitboard boots.
Dynafit, in cahoots with Eric “Hoji” Hjorlefsen, made a splash this winter with an innovative entry into the 2+ buckle boot category. Ever the tinkerer, Hoji managed to integrate some clever and unique bits into a trimmed down iteration of the Hoji/Radical silhouette.
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This October, I traveled to the Andes in search of adventure, far-flung summits, and the unknown. I have been traveling to ski in the Andes for about 10 seasons and had a good hunch about what I was getting into—long dirt approaches, variable snow, and high desert skiing at its finest. Over the years, I have brought down the full range of gear, but this year I knew I wanted to go a little leaner as our objectives warranted 70-pound packs.
The F1 XT was my boot of choice, and I was very content.
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Big changes are afoot in the Atomic touring boot range. Previously, the 1kg(+) Backland and the 4 buckle Hawx XTD were categorical choices— beefy freeride boot or lightweight touring. For 2023/2024, the Hawx XTD gets a category bump into 50/50 territory with ~1800g weights and a full PU construction. Meanwhile, Atomic literally and figuratively mixed the Backland and Hawx XTD platforms to create the Backland XTD, a whole new model to fit into the newly coined “2+ Buckle” category.
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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.
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Dynafit’s new flagship DNA race boot, we made things interesting by testing and adapting these svelte boots with some big skis. In a post Alien RS world, the DNA is a compelling option.
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