Atomic is set to launch its latest ski boot, the Redster S9 Carbon BOA, in fall 2026. The development team took a comprehensive approach to the new skate boot, opting to completely rethink their strategy rather than simply updating an existing model.
“We had to look at the entire ski world as a whole. The last few years have had a significant impact on how all brands develop their products,” said David Panyik, Project Manager at Atomic.
Typically, developing a new racing boot takes three years. This time, the team added an extra six months to the process.
“This is our most important product – it gets the most TV time and is used by our top athletes. Normally, a development cycle takes three years for us, but together with the team at Atomic, we decided to add another six months to ensure we do the best possible job,” Panyik explained.
A key change was involving the race service team and elite skiers early in the process. Athletes including Ansgar Evensen, Mika Vermeulen, and Simen Hegstad Krüger were involved in testing the boot.
“We changed the entire foundation of the development. We involved our race service team and our best skiers at an early stage,” Panyik stated.
Going Against Market Trends
Although several brands have moved away from pure carbon fiber shafts in recent years, opting for plastic solutions with carbon fiber blends, Atomic took a different approach with the Redster S9 Carbon BOA.
“You can see that many have moved away from a pure carbon fiber shaft and instead use a cheaper plastic variant with added carbon fiber to achieve the right stiffness. For us, it was a key point not to follow the trend but to offer the best possible properties. We have retained a carbon fiber shaft. This is one of three unique features of our new boot,” Panyik said.
The company has too implemented a new material in the construction – forged carbon, previously primarily used in exclusive sports cars. This material choice reflects a commitment to high-performance engineering in the ski industry.
“We have implemented a completely new material called forged carbon. It has been used in exclusive sports cars in the automotive industry and has grow increasingly common in recent years. It is unique on the market,” Panyik added.
New Lacing System – Layerlock
The biggest innovation, however, is the new lacing system, called Layerlock. Traditionally, lacing only tightens the inner boot, while the outer shell – the gaiter – mostly sits on top. The new design changes that.
“Given that we are launching the boot a little later than the other brands, we didn’t want to just be at the same level as them, but we wanted to accept it one step further. That’s why we created our own unique lacing system,” Panyik explained, continuing:
“Usually, you only tighten the inner boot. The gaiter just sits on top. We realized that if we connect the lacing to both the inner boot and the inside of the gaiter, we can tighten several layers at the same time.”
This means that both the inner and outer layers are tightened when the boot is laced. According to Panyik, this is the secret behind their new lacing system.
“When you lace up the boot, you can actually see that the gaiter is also tightening. You are pulling several layers of material over each other, and that provides more support than a traditional system.”
New Design
The design is adapted to reveal how the system works.
“The new boots have laminated panels and seams that mark where these attachment points are and how the outer layer works when you lace up,” Panyik said.
According to the development team, the result is a completely new construction – not just an update. The design has also been updated with a more pink tone.
“Generally, I suppose the new boot fits very well with our design. We have very talented designers who have made the new generation of boots really stand out. We have added our pink tone, and the look is unique in my opinion.”
Three Key Points of Atomic’s New Boot
- Layerlock – new lacing system
- Forged Carbon – material from the exclusive automotive industry
- Dual Boa Fit System – Works in conjunction with Layerlock technology.
