About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the Atomic Hawx Ultra 100 Ski Boots, which I bought with my own money in March of 2022.

My take

The Atomic Hawx Ultra 100 Ski Boot is a lightweight, medium-flex, resort boot with a slightly narrower fit. The Hawx Ultra line is Atomic’s most high-performance boot line. This being said, the 100 flex is their softest, most forgiving men’s boot within this line. This boot is a great choice for an intermediate or a smaller, advanced skier who skis all around the mountain. Atomic also makes this boot in a 110, 120, and 130 flex for larger, more aggressive skiers.

About the boots I own

• Model: 2022 Atomic Hawx 100
• Gender: Men’s, Unisex
• Size: 24.5

About me

• Height: 5’6”
• Weight: 115lbs
• Experience: 20 years of skiing

Test conditions

• When I bought these: March 2022
• Days used: 10
• Size: 24.5
• Where I’ve used it: Resorts in Colorado and Montana.
• Terrain: Powder, hardpack, moguls, and trees.

How they perform

What I was looking for

My boots were getting pretty tired by the end of my 2022 ski season. I was given the opportunity to try out the Atomic Hawx Ultra 100 and was very impressed. Initially, I was hesitant to try a men’s boot, but this boot has worked great for me thus far. I was coming off a lightweight hybrid resort/backcountry boot. I was looking for a lightweight, resort-specific boot for primarily off-piste skiing. I wanted something with a responsive feel that would hold up over time. I also have a narrow foot, so I was looking for something with a narrower last.

Why I chose this gear

I have always skied in a women’s specific boot in the past. I have a longer calf and wanted something that came up a bit higher on my leg. Most women's boots have a shorter cuff, which limited options for me. The higher cuff on this boot provides more control and stability. I also wanted something relatively lightweight without sacrificing the flex pattern. I am an ex-ski racer, so I am used to a very responsive boot. I wanted something that would give me close to a feeling of a race boot but just a bit more forgiving in off-piste terrain.

What I love about them

• Responsiveness: This boot is very responsive and easy to initiate a turn with.
• Flex Pattern: This boot has a very consistent and smooth flex pattern. Atomic uses polyurethane plastic in the cuff. This is a lighter-weight plastic that is still very durable. Many other boots manufactured use a heavier plastic and then cut out sections to make the boot lighter. Atomic uses this slightly lighter plastic, so they do not have to cut plastic out. I find this is what gives the boot such a consistent flex.
• Versatility: In my opinion, this boot is quite versatile as it handles well in off-piste terrain and on groomers. I can take this boot anywhere on the mountain. It does not have a walk mode and does not have tech fittings, so I gave it four stars instead of five for versatility. The Hawx Ultra line also has a hybrid resort/touring boot if one is looking for a boot with tech fittings.
• Fit and Comfort: This is a high-performance boot and is not intended to be a comfort-fit boot. The boot's last (aka width) is 98mm, a relatively narrow last. This boot is great for someone with a slightly narrower fit or who likes a snug-fitting boot. Atomic uses an additive in the plastic of this boot, making the plastic especially easy to mold and stretch. The plastic can be heated and stretched to accommodate a slightly wider foot.
• Liner Quality: This boot has good quality and a heat moldable liner. I have not skied this boot enough to comment on the durability of the liner. However, I think this liner will hold up over time with my understanding of the materials used.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Claimed Stiffness Accuracy: This boot is rated as a 100 flex. I have found that Atomic boots run a bit stiffer than some other brands indulging Lange, Technica, and K2. I find the stiffness of this boot to be comparable to a 110 flex in Lange boots.
• Temperature Sensitivity: The Hawx 100 boot is made of black plastic. This is my major complaint about this boot. The black color absorbs heat from the sun. When a boot gets warm, it becomes less stiff. This black plastic heats up fairly easily, and the boot can get soft relatively quickly when exposed to the sun. I would love to see Atomic make this boot with a lighter color plastic to resolve this issue.
• Power Strap: This boot has a standard Velcro power strap with very little stretch. This is the most basic type of power strap out there. I got a bit of “shin bang” with this non-flexible strap. I removed the power strap on my boot and installed an elastic Booster Strap for better flex. This is a super easy fix for this problem,
• Soles (No Grip Walk): This boot has an Alpine DIN (ISO 5355) sole. Many all-mountain boots are switching to GripWalk soles for easier walking around. The Alpine DIN soles are great because they are compatible with almost every binding; however, they are a bit more slippery when walking around. If one is coming off a GripWalk boot, they may need to adjust their bindings for this type of sole. The forward pressure will be slightly different for boots with Alpine DIN soles versus GripWalk, even if the sole length is the same.

Favorite moment with this gear

I was looking for some new boots at the end of my ski season. I have always had a hard time finding a properly fitting boot for my narrow foot with a high arch. I met a ski rep who suggested I try this boot, but I was very hesitant about a men’s boot. I went to try this for a few runs with some friends, who were all commenting on how well I was skiing in this boot. I felt like I had great control and could ski more aggressively. My experience completely changed my previous bias against men’s boots for women skiers.

Value for the money vs. other options

Brand new, these boots go for around $450. The Hawx Ultra is the most high-end boot line that Atomic makes. However, the 100 flex is the lowest-end model within this high-performance line. This boot still uses all the high-quality components of the stiffer, more aggressive boots in the line. If a woman is looking at this boot, it will be comparable to the top-of-the-line, high-performance women’s boot. This boot will be a bit more affordable than women's boots with the same level of performance. I find these boots to be comparable to or slightly more affordable than some competitors. For comparison, these are two other low-volume, high-performance, 100 flex boots: Lange RX 100 LV and Salomon S/Max 100.

Final verdict

The Atomic Hawx 100 is a great all-mountain boot for an intermediate or a smaller, lighter expert skier. At a 100 flex, this boot falls somewhere between soft and stiff. This could be a great choice for a teen coming out of a junior boot or an intermediate skier looking for something relatively high-performing yet also forgiving. Remember, this boot is a low-volume boot, so if one has a wide foot or is looking for more comfort, they may try the Atomic Hawx Prime for a roomier fit. This boot model is available in up to a 130 flex if someone has a larger, more aggressive skier. I would love to see a better-quality power strap and a lighter color plastic in this boot, but these are my only real complaints.