Atomic

Backland Carbon Light Alpine Touring Boot

Being the lightest offering in Atomic's all-new line of touring-specific boots, the Backland Carbon Light Alpine Touring Boot is for the skier looking to shave ounces from their backcountry setup, while retaining much of the same downhill performance that can be found on stiffer and heavier options in the Backland line. Geared toward the lighter-is-better, more rando-focused crowd, the Backland Carbon Light weighs a feathery 2lb 3oz (987g) per boot in a 27.5 shell size and comes equipped with a soft tongue to further reduce weight.

The shell is made from a heat-moldable Grilamid material and has a 98mm last, making it a true low-volume boot. The Memory Fit shell can be customized to accommodate wider feet and feet that require more volume in the instep. The Platinum Liner can also be customized for a more precise and comfortable fit. Unique to all Backland boots is the washable liner that can be cleaned after consecutive days on the mountain. At first glance, the most notable feature on the Backland is the simple and burly Free/Lock 2.0 walk mode, which consists of an easily engaged and disengaged lever, that once locked in, remains fully rigid during the descent due to a metal-on-metal connection, which is all external, preventing icing and wear over time. As mentioned, the Carbon Light comes equipped with a soft tongue that can be left in when touring and skiing, or left out altogether to save weight. The addition of the soft tongue will add stiffness to the boot, which is punctuated by the carbon spine that is not only lightweight, but stiff and powerful for the descent.