Atomic Hawx Prime 110 BOA 25/26

The Hawx Prime 110 BOA is Atomic's answer to the question most intermediate-to-advanced skiers actually have: can a boot fit well out of the box, hold its shape all day, and still be quick to get into? The 110 flex sits in medium-stiff territory — enough resistance to hold an edge on hard snow and turn a driven turn into real output, without demanding the leg strength of a dedicated race or freeride boot. The big change here is the closure: instead of two buckles down on the lower shell, this boot uses a single BOA dial that wraps pressure evenly across the top of the foot rather than concentrating it at two points. Up top you still have two cuff buckles and a power strap, so this is a BOA-plus-buckles boot, not a one-dial boot — you twist the dial to dial in the forefoot, then set the cuff buckles for the wrap you want. The 100mm mid-volume last fits a foot that is neither notably wide nor notably narrow, and Atomic's Memory Fit heat-molding lets a bootfitter expand the shell forefoot (up to roughly 6mm), open the ankle area, and shape the liner and cuff to your actual anatomy. The removable AFS calf spoiler gives another lever for skiers with a thinner or thicker lower leg. The GripWalk soles add grip and a rockered profile for walking through a lodge or across a lot — note that GripWalk is a sole feature, not a walk mode; this is a fixed-cuff alpine boot with no hike lever. One thing to confirm in the shop: the 25/26 Prime 110 BOA ships in two builds — a Mimic Silver liner, or the "S" version with a Mimic Gold liner and a Power Shift forward-lean adjuster — so check which liner and lean setup are on the pair you're buying.

This boot suits the committed recreational skier — someone skiing multiple days a season, comfortable on blue and black groomers, starting to explore harder snow or variable conditions — who wants a performance fit without the entry demands of a 120-plus flex or a race-narrow last. If your feet are genuinely wide or you have a high instep, a moderately wide foot can often be opened up with Memory Fit, but a truly wide foot (think 102mm-plus) is better served from the start by a wider last — that points you to the Hawx Magna in 102mm, not the Hawx Ultra, which is actually narrower at 98mm. Reach for the XTD versions only if you genuinely want a touring boot with a real walk mode. Conversely, if you're a newer skier who spends most of your time on groomed blues, a 110 flex may fight you — the Hawx Prime 90 or 100 will be more forgiving and warmer over a long day. Flex and last width are not marketing numbers; they are the two facts that decide whether a boot works for your skiing. Come in and get measured — mondo size, foot width, instep height — before committing to any boot in this category.