Atomic Hawx Prime 130 S

Model Year
2019-20
Category
All-Mountain Traditional
Last Width
100
Flex Index
130
Price (MSRP)
$850.00USD

The 2019/2020 Atomic Hawx Prime 130 S was tested in the men's All-Mountain Traditional medium width category at Silver Mountain Resort by the experts at America's Best Bootfitters, powered by Masterfit.

The Gist

Last year’s completely re-made Hawx Prime 130 S returns unchanged this season and for good reason. Testers said that its winning combination of light weight, instant comfort and strong skiing skills remains intact. Testers say the thin-shell wall polyurethane puts the foot in direct contact with the ski and snow surface and gave it high marks for it feel and precise steering moves without getting twitchy. Snug heel and ankle pockets provide a solid anchor within the medium width fit through the rest of the boot.

The Fit

The new Hawx Prime fits the same as ever in the toebox and forefoot, according to our team who threw 3's and 4's at that area, but it tapers to a closer fit at the throat of the boot where the base of the lower leg, ankles and heel are held a bit more closely than in the past—testers gave those zones 3's and 2's. Anatomical wrapping would sum up the way the new Hawx Prime 130 S contours around the shape of the foot and leg. Testers liked the way the shell and liner worked to accommodate common bony spots like the ankles and also praised the way the slightly taller than average cuff flared progressively to suit the calf muscle. Thinner, stiffer plastics seem to get a little more stiff in the cold, and testers mentioned that taking the boots off was a bit more difficult than putting them on.

Performance

The new design brings a new feel to the Hawx Prime experience—edging movements are now much more crisp and reactive than in the past, testers reported, and fine tuned steering movements are now rewarded with immediate ski reaction without any slop-induced lag. The creature comfort of the medium width Hawx remains, but comes with newfound performance gains. Testers liked the stance angles of the boot board ramp and cuff, and also liked the fact that dual cuff adjustment and forward lean adjustments are still on board.

Cool Features

Testers liked the no-slip soles and the lightweight, wide but minimalist Velcro power strap with its simple pulley loop. Memory Fit shell molding is cool for auto-customization of the fit by cooking the shell in an oven, though few testers found the out-of-box fit problematic enough to consider it. The Power Shift feature (which accounts for the "S" in the model name) allows for adjustment of the forward lean and/or stiffness.

Gender 
Men's
Sizes (MP) 
24.0-32.5
Hike Mode 
No
Construction 
Overlap
Boot width profile 
Medium
Also in this Collection 
Hawx Prime 120, $725; Hawx Prime 110, $600; Hawx Prime 100, $475; Hawx Prime 90, $350
Cantology Compatible 
No
Total Avg Score 
4.09
Shell/Cuff/Tongue Plastic 
polyurethane/polyurethane/n.a.
Anatomical Fit and Initial Feel 
4.27
Dynamic Balance 
4.09
Edge Power & Fore-Aft Support 
3.82
Quickness, Steering & Feel 
4.09
Convenience, Warmth & Features 
4.18
Tech Compatible 
No

Kudos

  • “Great first fit impression. Liner has a comfort feel without being too soft or gutless. Felt tall and centered with a delicate edge feel--nice touch! Snappy little buggers! Easy and effective forward lean adjustment is good.” --
  • “Very comfy fit and feel—the instep feels great and it has a good lateral column fit. It has a long travel flex but the fore-aft balance is right on. Has a crisp feel from edge to edge with fast response and excellent snow feel. Buckles are so easy to close and it's a very warm liner.” -- Pat Sullivan
  • “Great skiing boot, no flaws here. This is a big upgrade for Hawx Prime--no loss of skiability or comfort in the move to a new lightweight version.” -- Mark Elling

Caveats

  • “Dunno about warmth with a light shell. All shock of brick-hard groomers goes straight to the skier.” --
  • “Power strap is floppy--may wear out quickly.” -- Steve Cohen

This boot available at...

Ludlow, VT
Steamboat Springs, CO
Valatie, NY
Mammoth Lakes, CA
Snowmass Village, CO
Westborough, MA

Special thanks to all of our sponsors!

Platinum

Gold