120-Flex All-Mountain Boot with Rear-Entry Access
Atomic Nexus 120 BOA Alpine Boot
The Atomic Nexus 120 BOA is an all-mountain resort boot for skiers who want a stiff boot they can actually get into. NexStep construction pairs an overlap shell at the front with a QuickFlip rear lever, so the cuff opens away from the leg rather than forcing a foot past a fixed collar, and a 120 flex on a polyurethane shell keeps the descent honest. At a 101 mm last with high volume through the instep, the Nexus 120 BOA fits feet that a medium-volume race shell shuts out.
Expert Fit Review Fit profile and recommendations reviewed by CCBB bootfitters.
Is This the Right Boot for You?
Best For
Advanced skiers with high-volume feet who want a 120 flex for resort days and are tired of fighting a conventional overlap boot at the car.
Consider Another Boot If
You want a touring boot, since the Nexus 120 BOA has no walk mode, or your foot is low volume and needs a 98 mm shell to hold it.
CCBB Boot Ratings
Downhill Performance
120 flex on a polyurethane shell
Fit Precision
101 mm last, high volume
Ease of Entry
QuickFlip rear lever with a BOA dial
All-Day Comfort
Mimic Gold liner, high instep volume
Rating scale: 5 = top of its class, 4 = excellent, 3 = good, 2 = specialized or below average, and 1 = limited.
CCBB Fit Profile
Overall VolumeHigh
Toe BoxMedium
Forefoot VolumeMedium
Instep HeightHigh
Heel HoldGood
Ankle HoldGood
PunchabilityGood
Heat MoldableYes
Why We Like It
- NexStep construction opens the cuff at the rear, so getting in does not mean forcing a foot past a fixed collar in a cold parking lot.
- The Set and Forget cuff buckle is adjusted once for leg volume and then left alone, since entry and exit happen at the QuickFlip lever instead.
- The BOA H+i1 dial wraps the lower shell evenly and micro-adjusts in both directions, which spreads pressure across a high instep.
- A 101 mm last with high volume fits feet that fall between a 100 mm medium shell and a 102 mm wide one, at a 120 flex.
Best Uses
- All-mountain resort skiing
- Skiers with high insteps or high-volume feet
- Anyone who struggles to get into a conventional overlap boot
- Skis 85 to 105 mm underfoot
- GripWalk and MNC binding setups
Bootfitter's Advice
The Nexus 120 BOA runs a 101 mm last, medium width with high volume, on a regular-height cuff with a forward lean of 15 degrees and a ramp angle of 4 degrees. High volume here means instep depth rather than forefoot width, which is why it suits a foot that measures medium across the ball but fights the buckle over the top. Confirm size with a shell fit.
Fitting a rear-entry mechanism is different work from fitting an overlap boot. The cuff closes around the leg rather than wrapping over it, so calf volume is set once at the Set and Forget buckle and left there, and we spend the fitting time on the lower shell instead. The polyurethane shell punches and heats well, Memory Fit shapes both shell and cuff, and the Mimic Gold liner is fully heat-moldable.
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
Weight1,996 g per boot (size 26/26.5)
Last101 mm, medium width and high volume
Flex120
ShellPolyurethane (PU)
CuffPolyurethane (PU), regular height across the size run
Forward Lean15 degrees
Ramp Angle4 degrees
Size Range24/24.5 to 31/31.5
Features and Compatibility
Entry SystemNexStep construction with a QuickFlip rear lever
Shell ClosureBOA H+i1 Single Pull, a micro-adjustable dial and lace
Cuff ClosureSet and Forget buckle with a 40 mm velcro strap
LinerMimic Gold, fully heat-moldable, with Ankle Lock and a 3D stretch toe box
SoleAMT GripWalk grip pads, GripWalk (ISO 23223)
Binding CompatibilityCompatible with GripWalk and MNC bindings. Not compatible with ISO 5355 (Alpine) only bindings.
Shell TechnologyProlite, Memory Fit, Adaptive Fit System cuff
IncludedSize adjuster
Compare the Atomic Nexus 120 BOA
Nexus 120 BOA vs. Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 120 BOA
Both are 120-flex boots with a BOA lower shell. The Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 120 BOA runs a 100 mm last, adds a walk mode with 54 degrees of rotation, and carries tech inserts for pin bindings. The Nexus 120 BOA has no walk mode and no tech inserts, and trades them for rear-entry access and a higher-volume fit. To tour or not to tour is the deciding factor here.
Shop the Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 120 BOA
Nexus 120 BOA vs. Atomic Nexus 110 BOA
The Atomic Nexus 110 BOA shares the 101 mm last, the NexStep entry, and the BOA dial, with a softer 110 flex and a Mimic Silver liner rather than Mimic Gold. Skier weight and how hard you drive a ski decide between them.
Shop the Atomic Nexus 110 BOA
Nexus 120 BOA vs. Atomic Hawx Magna 120
Both serve a higher-volume foot at a 120 flex. The Atomic Hawx Magna 120 is a conventional overlap boot on a 102 mm last. The Nexus 120 BOA runs a 101 mm last and solves entry with a rear lever instead. Forefoot width against ease of entry is the trade.
Shop the Atomic Hawx Magna 120
Common Questions
Who should buy the Atomic Nexus 120 BOA?
Advanced resort skiers with high-volume feet who want a 120 flex without the daily fight of a conventional overlap boot. The Atomic Nexus 120 BOA suits a foot that measures medium across the ball but deep over the instep.
What bindings work with the Atomic Nexus 120 BOA?
The Atomic Nexus 120 BOA has AMT GripWalk grip pads certified to GripWalk (ISO 23223). Compatible with GripWalk and MNC bindings. Not compatible with ISO 5355 (Alpine) only bindings. The Nexus 120 BOA has no tech inserts, so it will not run pin bindings at all.
Is the Atomic Nexus 120 BOA a rear-entry boot?
Partly, and the distinction matters. NexStep construction keeps an overlap shell at the front for downhill performance and adds a QuickFlip rear lever for entry, so the Atomic Nexus 120 BOA is not the soft rear-entry boot of the 1980s. The overlap front is what holds the 120 flex.
Does the Atomic Nexus 120 BOA have a walk mode?
No. The Atomic Nexus 120 BOA is a resort alpine boot with no walk mode and no published cuff rotation. Skiers wanting a walk mode in a similar flex should look at the Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 120 BOA.
What does the Set and Forget buckle do?
It sets cuff volume for your leg once and then stays closed. Because entry and exit happen at the QuickFlip rear lever, there is no reason to open the cuff buckle daily, which removes the usual drift in cuff tension over a season.
Can the Atomic Nexus 120 BOA be punched and molded?
Yes. The polyurethane shell punches and heats well, Memory Fit is designed for shell and cuff shaping, and the Mimic Gold liner is fully heat-moldable.
Our Verdict
The Atomic Nexus 120 BOA takes a real problem seriously. Getting into a stiff overlap boot is the part of resort skiing people quietly dread, and NexStep construction solves it without softening the front of the shell that holds the 120 flex. The 101 mm high-volume last fits insteps that medium shells crush, and the BOA dial spreads pressure across them. There is no walk mode and there are no tech inserts, so this is a lift-served boot only. Judged as one, it earns its place.
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