120-Flex GripWalk Touring Boot
Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW Alpine Touring Boot
The Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW is a touring boot for skiers who drive a wide ski on the descent and still want some uphill efficiency. A 120 flex over a carbon loaded PA shell holds an edge on skis 100 mm and wider, while the 100 mm last runs medium through the forefoot and the instep. At 1,380 g per boot in a 26/26.5 with 74 degrees of cuff rotation, the Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW sits in the middle of the touring range, heavy enough to ski hard and light enough for long days.
Expert Fit Review Fit profile and recommendations reviewed by CCBB bootfitters.
Is This the Right Boot for You?
Best For
Advanced and expert tourers on skis 100 mm and wider who want one boot for big backcountry days and occasional resort laps, on pin bindings as well as GripWalk and MNC bindings.
Consider Another Boot If
You want a sub-1,000 g boot for fast ascents, you tour only on pin bindings and would rather have the touring sole version, or your foot needs a 98 mm or a 102 mm last.
CCBB Boot Ratings
Uphill Efficiency
74 degrees of rotation at 1,380 g
Downhill Performance
120 flex on a carbon loaded shell
Walking Comfort
74 degrees of cuff rotation
Transition Speed
Free/Lock 4.5 external single lever
Rating scale: 5 = top of its class, 4 = excellent, 3 = good, 2 = specialized or below average, and 1 = limited.
CCBB Fit Profile
Overall VolumeMedium
Toe BoxMedium
Forefoot VolumeMedium
Instep HeightMedium
Heel HoldGood
Ankle HoldGood
PunchabilityModerate
Heat MoldableYes
Why We Like It
- The 120 flex comes from a carbon loaded PA shell rather than extra plastic, which is how the boot reaches that flex at 1,380 g per boot.
- 74 degrees of cuff rotation on Frictionless Mirror Pivots gives a long, low-friction stride, and the Free/Lock 4.5 lever throws in one motion.
- At 1,380 g per boot in a 26/26.5 the Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW is 607 g lighter per boot than the Hawx Prime XTD 120 BOA on the same 100 mm last.
- The GripWalk sole runs this boot on GripWalk and MNC bindings as well as pin bindings, which the touring sole version of the same shell cannot do.
Best Uses
- Big backcountry days on skis 100 mm and wider
- One boot across a mixed touring and resort season
- Freeride touring where the descent decides the boot
- Medium-volume feet on a 100 mm last
- Setups that mix pin bindings with GripWalk or MNC bindings
Bootfitter's Advice
The Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW runs a 100 mm last, medium width and medium volume, with a regular-height cuff across the size run and a ramp angle of 4 degrees. Confirm size with a shell fit rather than converting from a street-shoe number. The boot ships with a size adjuster, liner laces, and a liner spoiler, so there is room to tune volume and forward position before anyone touches the shell.
We can heat and punch carbon loaded PA, and Memory Fit is built for shell and cuff shaping, but a carbon loaded shell is less forgiving of large modifications than a plain polyamide one, so we work it in stages rather than in one pass. The 3D Platinum Tour liner is heat-moldable, and because Cross Lace 2.5 pulls the forefoot down through the lower buckle, a liner mold is usually the first move on a heel that lifts.
Fit profile reviewed by CCBB bootfitters. Final sizing should be confirmed with a shell fit whenever possible.
📏 Technical Specifications Manufacturer specs · Click to expand
Fit and Construction
Weight1,380 g per boot (size 26/26.5)
Last100 mm, medium width and medium volume
Flex120
Range of Motion74 degrees
ShellCarbon loaded PA, a polyamide reinforced with carbon fiber
CuffPolyamide (PA), regular height across the size run
Forward Lean13, 15 (default), and 17 degrees
Ramp Angle4 degrees
Size Range25/25.5 to 30/30.5
Features and Compatibility
Walk ModeFree/Lock 4.5 with Frictionless Mirror Pivots, 74 degrees of cuff rotation
Shell ClosureCross Lace 2.5, a Z-cable routed through the lower buckle
Cuff Closure7000-series aluminum tour buckles with a 40/45 mm cam strap
Liner3D Platinum Tour, heat-moldable and washable, with Dry Fit foam
SoleSkywalk GripWalk sole, GripWalk (ISO 23223), with investment cast tech inserts
Binding CompatibilityCompatible with GripWalk and MNC bindings. Not compatible with ISO 5355 (Alpine) only bindings. Certified tech inserts add pin/tech (low-tech) binding compatibility.
Shell TechnologyProlite, Memory Fit, Hybrid Overlap, Stretch Guard 360
IncludedSize adjuster, liner laces, liner spoiler
Compare the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW
Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW vs. Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120
These two share a shell, a 100 mm last, a 120 flex, 74 degrees of rotation, and a weight of 1,380 g per boot. The sole is the whole difference. The GW carries a GripWalk sole and the standard Backland XTD Carbon 120 carries a touring sole, which sends them to different bindings. Pick based on the bindings you own.
Shop the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120
Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW vs. Scarpa Maestrale RS
Skiers cross-shop these as stiff touring boots that still walk. The Scarpa Maestrale RS runs a 101 mm last with a three-buckle closure and a touring sole. The Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW runs a 100 mm last with a cable shell closure and a GripWalk sole. Foot shape and binding choice usually decide it.
Shop the Scarpa Maestrale RS
Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW vs. Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro
The Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro is a four-buckle boot on a 99 mm last with a touring sole, and it is the more overlap-like boot on the descent. The Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW gives up some of that for a wider last, a GripWalk sole, and 74 degrees of rotation. Narrow feet often prefer the Tecnica.
Shop the Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro
Common Questions
Who should buy the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW?
Advanced and expert tourers who ski skis 100 mm and wider and want one boot for backcountry days and occasional resort laps. The Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW suits a medium-volume foot on a 100 mm last, and the GripWalk sole makes it the version to buy if the same boot has to work in GripWalk or MNC bindings as well as pin bindings.
What bindings work with the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW?
The Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW carries a Skywalk GripWalk sole certified to GripWalk (ISO 23223), with investment cast tech inserts. Compatible with GripWalk and MNC bindings. Not compatible with ISO 5355 (Alpine) only bindings. Certified tech inserts add pin/tech (low-tech) binding compatibility. Confirm any MNC pairing against your specific binding model.
Can the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW go in my alpine bindings?
Only if those bindings accept GripWalk or are MNC. A binding built for ISO 5355 (Alpine) soles alone will not take the GripWalk sole on the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW. This is also the field that separates this boot from the standard Backland XTD Carbon 120, which carries a touring sole and answers the binding question differently. Check the sole stamp on the boot in front of you rather than the model name.
How much does the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW weigh?
The Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW weighs 1,380 g per boot at 26/26.5.
How does the sizing run on the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW?
The Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW covers two Mondo sizes per shell and runs from 25/25.5 to 30/30.5. Confirm your size with a shell fit rather than converting from a street-shoe number, and use the included size adjuster and liner spoiler to fine-tune volume before considering shell work.
Can the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW be punched and molded?
Yes. Memory Fit is designed for shell and cuff shaping and the 3D Platinum Tour liner is heat-moldable. Carbon loaded PA accepts heat and moderate punching, though a carbon loaded shell is less forgiving of large modifications than a plain polyamide one, so we work it in stages.
How well does the Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW tour?
The Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW tours with 74 degrees of cuff rotation on Frictionless Mirror Pivots and a Free/Lock 4.5 lever that throws in one motion. At 1,380 g per boot it is heavier than a dedicated ski mountaineering boot such as the Backland Carbon UL at 982 g, which is the trade for the 120 flex.
Our Verdict
The Atomic Backland XTD Carbon 120 GW is the version of this shell to buy when one pair of boots has to cover more than pin bindings. It skis a 120 flex on a carbon loaded PA shell, tours with 74 degrees of cuff rotation, and weighs 1,380 g per boot at 26/26.5, which puts it between a ski mountaineering boot and a freeride boot rather than at either end. The 100 mm last suits a medium-volume foot, and the GripWalk sole is the reason to choose it over the touring sole version of the same boot. Skiers chasing the lightest possible ascent should look at the Backland Carbon UL instead.
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