Atomic 95 Savor Ski Boot – Simple and Effective

Kate Agathon

Two words describe the Atomic Savor 95 (MSRP $475) women’s ski boot: simple and comfortable.

 

Atomic 95 Savor Ski Boot Review

A rear-entry ski boot, the Atomic Savor 95 is a throwback to the ski boots I wore in the late 1980s and early 1990s to now-defunct ski areas such as Cuchara and Conquistador.

 

It wasn’t, however, the nostalgia that led me to the Savor 95. It was my favorite ski boot line (also made by Atomic) getting discontinued- the Live Fit.

Starting out with the Live Fit 70 and eventually upgrading to a Live Fit 90 with more Thinsulate inside the liner for improved comfort and warmth, my ski boots of choice were Atomic’s Live Fit for several years.

 

They were wonderfully comfortable. Unlike other ski boots that I had tried, the somewhat wider width and softer flex didn’t leave my feet feeling pinched or pained after a day of skiing. Additionally, I appreciated the cushy Clima Foam liner and the two buckle design.

When the Live Fit line was discontinued, I was bitterly disappointed and convinced that I would never find a suitable replacement for my favorite two buckle ski boots. That changed, when, a few months later I discovered the Atomic Savor 95 at a local ski shop when I was dropping off my skis to get waxed and tuned.

 

Intended for use by solidly intermediate skiers, I was immediately attracted to the Savor series.

 

Minimalist in design, the rear-entry, solid black single buckle ski boots stood out among a wall of complicated- looking traditional four buckle ski boots bursting with technical features and colors. Could they possibly be a suitable replacement for my Live Fits?

 

Designed especially for female physiology, the tulip-shaped Savor 95 has a women-specific lower cuff for a more accommodating fit, and 3 Degree Shell Rotation for a better fit.

 

Other key features include: Prolite revolutionary light shell construction with added reinforcements in key zones; Easy Step In allows for easy step-in into the boots; Easy Ratchet (special thumb and finger grips on the ratchet make it easy to tighten and close buckle with one hand); 102mm Wide Convenience Last; reinforced Energy Backbone spine that drives power from the boot to your skis for better maneuverability; Silver grade lining; Dual Density Cantable Grip Sole Pads for improved comfort and fit; and a comfortable 13 Degree Forward Lean for optimal skiing performance.

 

Taking them out

Due to delays in finding a pair of Atomic Savor 95s in my size, and the global pandemic prematurely ending the 2019/20 ski season, I had to wait until this year to fully test the Savor 95 ski boots.

 

The first thing I observed was how light they were. Compared to other ski boots, they weighed less and were noticeably less clunky.

 

Secondly, Atomic should have just named the ski boots “Simple Easy” instead of “Savor”. The Easy Step and Easy Ratchet features eliminated the usual struggle of taking ski boots on and off. With the latter, I was able to close the boot in one quick motion and dial in the best possible fit.

 

In fact, I was pleasantly surprised on how quickly I was able to slip them on and slip them off with ease. There was no awkward fumbling or stumbling around the car in the parking lot. Because I’m not as flexible as I once was, in recent years the process in itself had become a mildly frustrating ordeal.

 

Thirdly, walking to and from the ski bus or up and down stairs was as easy as, well, walking. No longer was I doing the tell tale awkward ski boot balance strut.

 

So far, so good. And I hadn’t even hit the slopes yet.

 

The first two runs wearing the Savor 95s were spent stopping and adjusting the Easy Ratchet. Somewhere between the parking lot and the chairlift, the boots had become loosened. The first adjustment was so tight, I felt like my circulation was close to getting cut off. The second adjustment was too loose. The third adjustment was finally a charm.

 

After the first day wearing the Savor 95s, my initial impression was mixed. One on hand, they were light, and comfortable to walk around in. On the other hand, I had to interrupt skiing three times to adjust the fit and it wasn’t fun doing it on a windy, cold day with blowing snow.

 

The second time I wore the Savor 95s, I only had to adjust the speed ratchet once. It didn’t seem as much of a hassle because I had a better idea of what to expect. In other words, the Easy Ratchet did take some getting used to and figuring out how to dial in a precise fit.

 

What was consistent the second time skiing in the Savor 95s and all other times afterwards was overall comfort, ease of both slipping them on and off and walking around in them, and solid performance on the mountain. It’s also worth mentioning that my feet stayed warm every time.

 

While I do have an older pair of Live Fits that I keep on hand as back ups, I noticed I chose the Savor 95s for all my last ski trips. There was virtually no break in period for the Savor 95s, but it did take me a couple of times to figure out where I needed to adjust the Easy Ratchet.

 

In summary, the simple, rear-entry retro design of the Savor 95s combined with modern Prolite technology provides a wonderfully simple ski boot that performs well and is both convenient and comfortable.

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Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Utah the Adventure Dog.

 

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, fat biking, snowshoeing, camping, peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers, road cycling, and Nordic skiing. After suffering two major knee injuries within four years, Kate hopes to return to alpine skiing next season.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.

We also heard she has a (slight) obsession for blue heelers.