Atomic Waymaker

[Hypnotoad]

A few posts buried deep in the bowels of the gear rumor thread leads me to believe some of you have tried these on/skied them.
Any input on fit? Particularly length. I measure 28.5 and like many others, i've downsized into 27 Langes this season. With a serious tow punch they work fine.
Seems to be a trend in people downsizing across many manufacturers lately and I'm wondering if I'll be swimming in a 28.
So, who's foot fucked these and what are some thoughts on sizing? Mostly just don't want to crush my toes hiking, and my 27 langes are fine buckled, but standing around in them or walking without the third buckle holding my heel back is pretty rough on my big piggies.

[marshalolson]

the 27 atomic is more roomy than a 27 cochise in the forefoot, and a touch less roomy in the ankle.

if you fit a 27 lange RS/RX/XT with a toe punch, you would probably fit the waymaker 27 without a toe punch.

they are also very soft. i would off the cuff guess the "waymaker 130" a 90 flex boot, just FWIW. maestrale rs was stiffer for sure, and the cochise boots notably stiffer.

[gregL]

I measure 27.5 on a Brannock, wear a 97mm 26.5 alpine boot with a fair amount of shell modification, a 27.5 TLT5 with a fair amount of shell modification, and a 27.5 Mercury with 1st and 5th metatarsal punches and a widened medial midfoot.

I feel like I could ski in a 26.5 Waymaker 130 without modification, and I'm swimming in the 27.5. The forefoot is quite wide and high (think Black Diamond), ankle and heel average. I wouldn't say the 130 flexes like a 90 boot, but it's certainly not a true 130. The 110 is also softer than the number on the cuff would indicate.

[nyskirat]

Is this the waymaker carbon 130?

[gregL]

Is this the waymaker carbon 130?

Yes, but the fit comments are also applicable to the Waymaker Tour 110 with the Intuition liner.

[verbier61]

Insanely soft.

[nyskirat]

Quite a bummer. I was hoping it would be on the stiffer side of things.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I'm surprised people still hold out hope for the first attempt at touring boots from traditional makers of alpine boots to be any good. They have been, without exception, average at best (Dalbello), and typically quite poor (remember the Technica Agent), or even a disaster (fucking Salomon).

[marshalolson]

Is this the waymaker carbon 130?

also worth adding that as far as i could tell there is absolutely no "carbon" in the waymaker "carbon" 130.

this should be no surprise, as there is no carbon in the redster either. just textured black plastic.




edit- maybe there is some kind of elemental carbon in the boot plastic, but not fiber reinforced carbon in the sense of a carbon bike frame or whatever.

[wasatchback]

Otherwise know as Farbon.... Faux Carbon

[XavierD]

responsive like sponge

[Hypnotoad]

This is all disappointing, but also very helpful.
Thanks dudes.

[Eluder]

Sitting here with a pair of Waymaker 130s on my feet... carpet test. Stock liners but I do have a pair of intuitions in waiting if needed/wanted.

I agree 130 flex is not so. I have to disagree with Marshals off the cuff guess of 90 though. I would put that at a 110-115. I will update with an on snow report, hopefully tomorrow.

As far as fit goes. I have a high instep and a E width. I can't fit shoes comfortably with out going to a wide. With boots my main issue is the instep as long as the boot isn't a 98 last. These feel good so far in that department but not roomy at all, the fact the feel good at this point has me stoked. Reports of a large instep led me to this boot.

The live fit patch seems pretty legit. No sixth toe pressure thus far.

If this boot works out for me like I think it will that probably means its not for everyone. Im just stoked someone is making something with some performance and features with some volume.

[onenerdykid]

also worth adding that as far as i could tell there is absolutely no "carbon" in the waymaker "carbon" 130.

this should be no surprise, as there is no carbon in the redster either. just textured black plastic.




edit- maybe there is some kind of elemental carbon in the boot plastic, but not fiber reinforced carbon in the sense of a carbon bike frame or whatever.

The Carbon Spines in Waymaker and Redster are not pre-preg sheets of carbon, like on a Dynafit Vulcan or TLT 6 Performance. Instead, the Carbon Spine is a PU or Pebax material with real carbon fibers mixed into the granulate, working much like rebar in concrete. These carbon fibers significantly boost the megapascal rating of the plastic by up to 9 times over standard PU, while still retaining the ability to be stretched and ground, unlike most pre-preg carbon which is not very boot-fit friendly.

Waymaker Carbon series of boots use PU as the main shell material, so their flex pattern will noticeably stiffen in the cold. Waymaker Tour 110 and 100 are Pebax boots, which will not stiffen as much in the cold, but Pebax has a naturally stiffer feel than PU of the same thickness.

[Timberridge]

The Carbon Spines in Waymaker and Redster are not pre-preg sheets of carbon, like on a Dynafit Vulcan or TLT 6 Performance. Instead, the Carbon Spine is a PU or Pebax material with real carbon fibers mixed into the granulate, working much like rebar in concrete. These carbon fibers significantly boost the megapascal rating of the plastic by up to 9 times over standard PU, while still retaining the ability to be stretched and ground, unlike most pre-preg carbon which is not very boot-fit friendly.

Waymaker Carbon series of boots use PU as the main shell material, so their flex pattern will noticeably stiffen in the cold. Waymaker Tour 110 and 100 are Pebax boots, which will not stiffen as much in the cold, but Pebax has a naturally stiffer feel than PU of the same thickness.

Good comment. There also seem to be what could be 1" long toothpick-like ribs of CF impregnated in the Redster cuff when you look at the inside.

Never tried the Carbon Waymaker, but the Redster WC 130 is an honest 130 flex and that upper cuff is stiffer than any 130 boot in its class IMO. What drives me crazy is (if everyone is calling the Waymaker soft at an advertised 130) that even within Atomic a 130 is not a 130. I don't doubt its softer (3 vs 4 buckle, hinge etc) vs Redster. This flex index shit needs to get standardized.

[nyskirat]

^Onenerdykid works for Atomics boot R&D so I trust his words. But that being said, you would think companies at least try to standardize their flexes at least. I understand no 200 pound man wants to think he is skiing a 130 or less, but 99.9% of the general population wont be in situations where they need a 130 or above.

[superburrito]

thanks for the deep tech info on the boots!
12 years and 5 snowboards later i am going back into skiing. found an amazing deal on the waymaker 100 male model and when tried them on in the heat of the summer they felt super comfortable but a little too soft.
i am an advanced boarder and solid intermediate skier who can also ride/ski switch decently.
the boots will be paired to salomon sentinels which in deep pow they will be appropriate but the 100 flex concerns me on the ice coast where i currently live. note that the skis have a 95 underfoot so transitions require additional push on hard surface.
i will much appreciate your thoughts!

[::: :::]

Suggest you try stuff on. I measure 27.5 & have a wide foot and high arch and, unlike gregL, the way maker wasn't all that roomy for me. It would have required mods.

[gregL]

I'll be in today to sample the new 130, see you later!

Still think you should go with the 28.5, but we'll see.

[gregL]

Suggest you try stuff on. I measure 27.5 & have a wide foot and high arch and, unlike gregL, the way maker wasn't all that roomy for me. It would have required mods.

If you have a wide/high volume foot, high instep, need tech compatibility and walk mode - the Waymaker is the best of the currently available crop. If follows in the tradition of the BD Quadrant and 1st gen Factor, Scarpa Mobe, Lowa Structura, etc. By current standards it has a mediocre walk mode and is relatively heavy.