While the Atomic Remedy 130 isn’t new, it was a first-time test for our crew. And in a fitting, old-versus-new makeover story, the Remedy reminded us that race boots kick hard snow’s ass, period. And even though the Remedy might choose to identify as an all-mountain boot, it couldn’t change its genetics, cuz it kicked hard snow’s ass too.
The Remedy remakes the Redster TX in a more off-piste focused build, employing some shock-cushioning elements (the shell floor’s bootboard, rear spoiler and GripWalk soles) that help mitigate the harsh ride that comes from race boot suspension (or lack thereof) when it goes off-road. The Remedy’s Competition Elite liner is also a touch softer and more padded than the Redster’s World Cup Elite liner. These design tweaks detune the Redster’s chassis only subtly and don’t really hide the fact that this is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, testers said.
The first moment the Remedy is tipped over, the charade is over and the curtain is pulled back. The way the Redster, ahem, we mean Remedy, controls, no, pardon us, hammers the edge into the snow is like no other all-mountain boot we’ve tested in recent years. There is just something about the way a race boot is built that generates more power and control along the ski edge than other boot types—and the Remedy is, for all intents and purposes, a race boot, albeit one that’s going to go wherever you point it and crush the snow there, too.
Yes, the Remedy uses the same race boot polyurethane in the lower shell that the Redster uses, and that has an effect on stability, dampness and the transmission of power to the ski. But testers mention that the feel directly underfoot is more serious and strong than the typical all-mountain sole. This feedback is not without explanation—the sole construction of the Remedy shares the same I-beam-style beef as do the race boots it’s derived from, also known as the Atomic Power Chassis. This thicker, more rigid sole construction between the toe and heel GripWalk pads reduces lower boot sole flexing and by extension minimizes energy loss that could be driven into the ski’s edge.
Testers say that to tap into this beast of an all-mountain boot you still need to get it on (not easy) and then get it to fit (super tight in the heel and ankles) if the plan is to ski this boot all around the hill, all day long. The 96mm last is not a joke, meaning it’s snug, but testers said that the heel and ankle grip felt even tighter than they expected. Our bootfitter testers say that the race boot PU plastic grinds like a dream, and that working on the Remedy is much like working on a true plug boot—easy grinding plastic and plenty of wall thickness to sculpt the interior shape to match the foot. They say most folks will need some help in this fashion—but they say for those looking for maximum edge-driving power in an all-mountain charger, it will be worth the effort.
