Atomic Hawx Ultra vs Head Hammer For Big Mountain/Freeride

Go to a fitter. Nobody can tell you what boot will work better for you because none of us have seen or done the measurements or tests that a bootfitter will do. We dont know your foot, and simply trying a boot on and saying its comfy has nothing to do with the skiing performance. GO TO A FITTER AND GET A BOOT THAT FITS.

That being said. The head hammer seems like a more intermediate boot. From my personal handling of the ultras they will most likely be higher quality.

I have the Hawx Ultra 110 and I love them. They fit (my feet) great, they were amazingly comfortable right outside the box, and the flex doesn't change when you're on the mountain.

But all feet are different.

Agreed with above, go to a fitter but of they both end up fitting just as well for your foot I would go for the hawx120, the extra stiffness in the boot will help u stomp landings off those hucks and get a bit snappier response when you need it in trees or bumps!

I have the Hawx Ultra 120 don't get head boots

Always go to a fitter. That being said, I've skied both the Hammer 130 and the Hawx Ultra 130, I've worked on both as a fitter.

From a fitting standpoint:

Both have a heat moldable shell, the Head allows for about 3-4mm of adjustment with the shell mold while the Ultra does closer to 6mm+. Basically, if you've already got a low volume foot you're good either way. If not the Hawx is a lil easier to make work, Hawx also holds a punch better. Hawx has a higher instep, especially over the lower foot. In comparison the Head being a three piece accommodates nearly any instep but does sit a little lower over the top of the ball of the foot. This is the one area that the heat mold doesn't really help with. That being said a heat moldable three piece is huge and you can accommodate a lot with that alone. (i've got like a 102mm last and I fit just fine)

How they ski:

Head is way more progressive, as any three piece boot is. Also they ski way damper (this may be a lil different in the 130 but i'm sure it's similar), they eat up a lot of vibration more so than my kryptons and definitely more than any two piece overlap boot I've ridden. Which means they hammer off piste and through shit chop and crud, especially with a huge ole ski. They also fuckin rail, lateral stiffness is way better than the krypton or any other three piece boot I've ever used. This is likely due to Head riveting the tongue in place rather than dalblello/full tilts method of allowing the tongue to move back and forth. They also absorb a lot of shock when you send shit to the parking lot and land flat. TLDR my favorite three piece boot to date. Which is funny cause I hate head boots (usually) race shit is bull shit (usually)

Hawx is very progressive for a two piece overlap, laterally a lot more stiff. Carves better, better edge control, still rails everywhere. Forward lean adjust is nice, I ski them upright and love them. They definitely excel over the head on piste but only just. Hawx is about as good a two piece as you can get, also they are light as shit which is nice. The hawx is one of the most responsive boots I've skied that actually fits and isn't some race stock shit. Huge performance, comfortable, lightweight. The forward lean adjust, volume adjust, and flex adjust are huge too. Let's you really dial it where you want it.

Basically if you prefer a wider or longer ski, stiffer skis, like to charge off piste, or like the really progressive flex a three piece gives you for butters or really flexin through into spins etc. then go Head. If you prefer superior edge control, carving fast and hard, want something light and don't really give as much of a shit about super progressive flex as long as it fits and gives you the power you need go Hawx.

Hope that helps

How would the Atomics fair in the park. I have had my feet mesured and this is what the fitter offered. Unfortunately I don’t live anywhere near a shop that stocks park boots so can’t try them on. Just wondering what major differences between the flexes and boots that would work in the park. The heel hld is quality.

They will do just fine in the park. If they fit you great, then they're the boots for you.

AttainArrayHow would the Atomics fair in the park. I have had my feet mesured and this is what the fitter offered. Unfortunately I don’t live anywhere near a shop that stocks park boots so can’t try them on. Just wondering what major differences between the flexes and boots that would work in the park. The heel hld is quality.

Park boots are a scam. The boots that fit will perform best in the park.

Profahoben_212Park boots are a scam. The boots that fit will perform best in the park.

For the majority of people, there will be multiple boots that will work for their feet. Other features in a boot and price point are all considerations that need to be made in addition to the fit. I hate when people say that fit is the only consideration. The hawx ultra and the head hammer may have similar fits (similar last), and both can probably be made to work with the same foot (I am not familiar with the hammer). I bet they ski differently though. If fit is everything then why do people run multiple pairs of boots?

Going to a good bootfitter is good advice, but saying that fit is the most important part of a boot is BS. A good bootfitter will sell you a boot that might take more work to get the fit right if they think it is going to ski better for you. A ski racer is not going to be in a 130 flex consumer boot just because they have a wider foot. They are going to get the race boot and work on it. Same thing applies to park rats, mogul skiers, big mountain guys or even your average weekend warrior.

chickenFor the majority of people, there will be multiple boots that will work for their feet. Other features in a boot and price point are all considerations that need to be made in addition to the fit. I hate when people say that fit is the only consideration. The hawx ultra and the head hammer may have similar fits (similar last), and both can probably be made to work with the same foot (I am not familiar with the hammer). I bet they ski differently though. If fit is everything then why do people run multiple pairs of boots?

Going to a good bootfitter is good advice, but saying that fit is the most important part of a boot is BS. A good bootfitter will sell you a boot that might take more work to get the fit right if they think it is going to ski better for you. A ski racer is not going to be in a 130 flex consumer boot just because they have a wider foot. They are going to get the race boot and work on it. Same thing applies to park rats, mogul skiers, big mountain guys or even your average weekend warrior.

Yes there will be more than one boot that fits. Any decent fitter knows this. A bootfitter should put you into a couple of boots, and narrow it down on your feedback along with ease of fit.

The first question I have always been asked when going into fitting is what's your aim with these boots, and second is what's your price point.

I'm really not sure what you are trying to get at here....you say fit isn't important but then highlight how you should work with a bootfitter to get a perfect fit. No shit there are special considerations for people with special needs. AKA ripping plug boots with a fatter foot. Blow out those boots and make them work. I have a quiver of boots too, but this is not that situation.

The single most important factor to boot performance is a proper fit. How much work you go through to get that fit is up to you in a conversation with your bootfitter. Not a conversation to have with a bunch of kids on the internet who have never seen his foot, or have any skill in bootfitting. That is how you get the wrong boot for your foot, and how you ruin your winter.