Atomic pulled out all the stops for the new Backland series of touring boots. This figurative expression not only refers to pipe-organ knobs, but also to financial constraints, production impediments, and reasons that may stop you from buying them. This includes the most common reason for not-buying a ski boot: poor fit. With a unique heat-moldable shell, the Backland Carbon boots may fit just about everyone.
Here are the main points that might stop you from not-buying:
Carbon reinforced Grilamid shell transfers power throughout the flex.
Free/Lock 2.0 is a simple transition lever that doesn’t interfere with crampons.
Platinum Liner is breathable which helps to prevent blisters. Also washable.
Memory Fit heating process allows you to adapt the shell to your foot.
Quick Click tongue lets you walk freely and then add stiffness for the down.
Carbon spine and removable power strap further increase the performance.
Skywalk rubber sole is grippy and appears to be reasonably durable.
Cross laces and support zones in the liner brace your calf, ankle, and shin.
Update for 2017/18: Atomic updated the color scheme and added a handy pull tab on the ski/walk lever.
Bought them because on paper they were exactly what i was looking for. But.... I never could find a way how to ski in them. They are plenty stiff with the tongue, the support is not there though. Might be because they are VERY low(and i have smaller feet for my height), but plenty time had a feeling like i could just fall out of the boot or even break my ankle(?!?). Tried insert bigger tongues, change lean angle, different liners....nope Buckle screws keep loosening... OTOH pull out the tongue and the skinning is incredible, very close to a race shoe. Atomic seem to make the shoe without significant changes years in a row now, so might be just be mine issue.
Hey guys I just picked up a pair of these for a future “light” ski tour set up. My current skis are mounted with kingpin’s . I have read a lot of back and fourth about the compatibility. I do not plan on skiing them with kingpins in the future but until then I wanted to try them out a couple days and all I have are the kingpins. If somebody can clear up the compatibility issue for me that would be great.
After 8 seasons in the Dynafit TLT5 and 6s, I was ready for something comparable in performance but that didn't develop so much slop and play in the cuff rivets and walk mode. I didn't like the direction Dynafit took with the TLT7, so this season I gave the Backland Carbon boots a try. So far I am really pleased.
The stock liner left my low volume foot swimming a bit, so I used the Intuition Pro Tours I had been using in my TLT6s. I molded the shell at home in my convection oven...I didn't get too aggressive with it as I was a bit nervous about DYI but successfully alleviated some of the mild pressure points I had prior to molding.
The cuff pivots and walk mode lock are the most solid I've seen in a boot of this genre. Time will tell, but after ~20 days they are still super solid in ski mode and from what I understand the serviceable cuff bushings are quite durable. They tour better than the TLT6 since there is no plastic tongue of any sort to restrict forward motion, but you do need to use the removable tongue for acceptable downhill performance. It's a bit trickier to insert than on the TLT6, but I found grinding the tab down made it more friendly. Some might find all the buckles and removable tongue fiddly compared to some one-lever style boots out there, but for me an extra 30 seconds during transitions is well worth the added performance. In downhill mode with tongue inserted, the boot skis at least as well as the TLT6 - a level of stiffness more than adequate for my 190 pounds and driving bigger skis in variable snow.
Hey Mark, it kind of depends. Most people remove the tongues to tour with but pop them back in on the way down. I have heard of people touring with the tongues in, but it definitely doesn't work out quite as well. If you want to tour with a tongue, the soft tongue has had a lot more success there.
Realistically, how wide of a ski can these boots ski well with? If someone is going to be looking for a solid uphill performer that skis a lot of powder and soft snow are these a solid choice? If these aren’t a good choice for a ski in the 95-100mm range, what other boot options that have a wider forefoot would be worth considering? Thanks
Hey Tom, thanks for reaching out! I think this is would be a great choice for an all purpose touring boot! The forefoot in the Backland isn't necessarily super wide to begin with, however it can be punched out/molded to be by far one of the widest boots on the market. The Dynafit TLT7 is definitely another option that's pretty wide to begin with and has some similar uphill/downhill characteristics that the Backland embodies.
Like the boots after a few (long) days. I do want to switch the liner to something taller and a bit beefier though, Intuition Wrap or Protour. Would like a bit more support fore/aft (added boosters already), and got cold feet on windy days (thin socks). Never had this issue on my previous Scarpa Maestrale RS.
No shop around to test for size, so hoping someone here could help. What size Intuition liner should I get? I have 27-27.5 backlands.
Hey Jvr, The pro tour liner will beef up the boot and not affect the walk as much as a wrap liner. We measured the liners and the 26 liner will be a match for your 27.0 shell. The Medium Volume will add some thickness to whole boot, thusa taking up more room. The Low Volume will be a more similar volume to your stock liner.
1/18/2018
Reply from
Piotr T
I have a similar issue here; size 25 - 25.5 backlands, would like to take up some volume. I'm concerned about a size 24 liner, since I've never skied something that small before and my foot measures to 25.3 cm. However that is mostly one freakishly big large toe.
Would this mold correctly if I have a standard 2 finger shell fit with these boots?
My alpine boot size is 24/24.5, but with the 24.5 liner.
1/18/2018
Reply from
Piotr T
The alpine boot fits extremely well, and maybe has a tiny bit smaller shell fit.
Piotr, I just measured the 25 Protour liners to one of our 25/25.5 stock liners and the Protour was a little longer again. The 24 Protour is the same length as the stock liner. Generally the rule of thumb is matching the Protour to the stock liner and if they are the same length then the volume will be very similar after molding. You would just use the Medium Volume over Low Volume depending on the amount of room you need to take up. Although with that said the Low Volume liner will snug up the fit over stock liner, where the Medium Volume liner will take up alot more volume than stock.
1/18/2018
Reply from
Piotr T
Thank you for the thoughtful reply! I really appreciate it.
I have a good friend who owns a climbing shoe re-sole business. I've asked him about resoling ski boots and his reply was that they would be very easy to resole, provided one could find the proper sole material. Last we spoke, he still hadn't sourced the material. If you can find it, I'm sure you could get someone to do it.
Hi, im about to order but have no chance to try them on anywhere nearby. Scarpa F1 27.0 is perfect fit, Spitfire 26.5 is tight but good..after few hours in them i belive it would be super fit as well. Also Scott Celeste 26.0 seem ok. So far i have been on Syborgs 27.0 for two seasons. Lately it started to feel really lose in the forefoot (i guess liner needs replacing). So its obviously 26.5 or 27, but thats where the size breaks so it might feel quite a lot different. Might trying atomic alpine boot help sorting this?
Hi Johnny, you are most definitely a 26/26.5. You likely won't even need to mold the shell, but there is always that option if it does end up a little snug.
Is there any difference in the shape of the shell or liner between this and the women's version? I.e. if I want to have a stiffer boot and don't care about having girly colors, would I get the same fit with this as with the women's backland?
Hi Kurt, you'd likely get a really good length fit with the 26/26.5, but these aren't the best for flat, low volume feet. Visit our boot fitter for more options.
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