Ski Reviews

2021-2022 Atomic Backland 100, 172 cm

Reviewer Username: Rainy

Reviewer Height: 5’4″

Reviewer Weight: 155 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Advanced

DAYS USED: 4 days

TEST LOCATIONS: Mt Bachelor backcountry

TEST TERRAIN: Firm groomers | Softer groomers | Low-angle, off-piste terrain

TEST CONDITIONS: Pretty firm snow | Softer, but not deep snow

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 7/10

FORGIVENESS: 8/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 8/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 10/10

STABILITY: 5/10

SUSPENSION: 5/10

EDGE HOLD: 5/10

PLAYFULNESS: 1/10

SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (172 cm length tested)

THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Fairly steep off-piste terrain

THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow)

WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?

Intermediate and above skiers looking for a versatile lightweight touring ski for moderate terrain and softer, but not deep snow.

ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?

PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!

At 172cm the ski weighs in at about 1250g/ski, so on the lighter side and as expected it’s great on the uphill. It’s also capable on the downhill. For my first touring ski I was really floored on how light it was on the downhill. I gave it a rating of 10 on the quickness/low swing weight and that’s not an exaggeration. I did ski it on a firm groomer and was really careful about how I put it on edge, just because it was so damned light (at least for me). This is not a playful ski, it doesn’t have to be ridden aggressively but you have to ride it with purpose. I mounted the Backland 100s with Fritschi Vipec EVO 12 bindings on the line, Boots were Tecnica Zero G Scouts.