Waymaker Carbon 130 - Full Review
There has been a big change in freeride boots in recent times.
The Atomic Waymaker Carbon 130 certainly falls into the second category.
This is a serious boot.
One thing I do want to touch on here is the larger fit.
Some people I know complain about this, but personally I think what Atomic have done is quite clever.
Traditionally, high performance boots have basically been close relations to full on race boots.
More important in my opinion, is the way in which the boot performs when in locked mode.
This gives a softer, less progressive flex which is not desirable when ridding bigger terrain.
In this area the Waymaker excels.
The 101mm combined with the generous instep does give a mid to high volume fit.
The cuff gives a supportive mid volume fit, with the buckles only lightly closed.
Talking of buckles, some may question why there are two cuff buckles and only one foot buckle.
The answer is pretty simple.
The cuff is what really lets you drive the boot and it is where the power comes from.
I must confess that these are my personal boots and I have had them for about a year now.
I have made only two slight changes over the year.
Since adding the lifts I have had no shin pain.
The other change was more one of personal preference.
I have found the fit to stay pretty consistent throughout my year of use.
There quite a bit stiffer then the park boots I was used too.
My first time really using the boots was on a trip away to Morzine in France.
Straight away I found a big difference to what I was used to.
The cuff was so positive that I was edging like I had not done in years.
Another nice benefit was getting less tired than I would in softer boots.
This season I have been back in Whistler and really tested the boots in a variety of conditions.
From days in the park to hiking big lines, these boots have seen it all.
When using them with park skis I do sometimes find them a little much.
However once you get onto some wider skis, the Waymakers really shine.
My daily driver is a pair of ON3P Jmo’s in 186.
They are a pretty big ski, but they absolutely charge.
Skiing these hard with the Ghosts got scary at times, but the Waymakers can really drive the ski.
For the first time I had a boot which could drive the wider skis.
Big skis get deflected much more, which puts a lot of force through the boots.
Skiing the Bents fast really made the Waymakers come to life.
They didn’t feel stiff, just drove the skis better then anything I had ever used.
Fit is obviously a big factor, but being a fitter I can make most boots work.
Have you tried these boots?
If so add your review of them to the review systemhere.
Thanks again to Peter with the words and thanks to my girlfriend Anna for the photos.
