Atomic Backland 102 Ski Assessment

The snow began falling on the drive to Powder Mountain, and by the point we arrived, it was a full-on zero-visibility whiteout. That storm continued constructing in depth all weekend lengthy, burying us in our yurts underneath toes of recent. I couldn’t have requested for higher circumstances to check Atomic’s latest member of the Backland household: the 2025 Backland 102. The light-weight, backcountry freeride ski was made for these circumstances.

That was the primary weekend I bought to journey on these skis. I might develop into intimately acquainted with them by means of the remainder of the season, although. They turned my go-to touring skis for many of my backcountry days by means of spring and into July.

I took them on every day excursions at my favourite native ski spots, cat snowboarding, and hut-to-hut journeys. I skinned within the Backland 102s, carried them on a pack, and skied the whole lot from blower powder to summer time slop.

These skis are hungry for giant mountain backcountry terrain and lengthy excursions. There are some circumstances the place they aren’t very best, however throughout the spectrum of snow and terrain I skied them on, the Backland 102s proved to be a enjoyable and useful gizmo.

In brief: The Backland 102 is the lightest-weight ski in my quiver at simply 1,430 g per ski. They aren’t the lightest ski ever made, however for the extent of management and playfulness they grant in deep powder and softer snow, the load is spectacular. It makes them very best for giant mountain backcountry aims, in addition to longer excursions. But it surely works in opposition to them in laborious chop and chunder. A quiver-of-one ski this isn’t, however for backcountry skiers who need to ship it deep into the backcountry and for giant mountain powder hunters, the Backland 102 is a precision instrument.

In the event you’re out there for backcountry skis, try GearJunkie’s information to the Greatest Backcountry Skis.

Backland 102 Freeride Touring Ski Assessment

Atomic Backland 102 Freeride Touring Ski Assessment

Weight

My 187cm Backland 102 registered at 1,688 g per ski on my kitchen scale. Atomic’s web site claims 1,430 g per ski, however that’s for the 179cm size — it doesn’t specify a weight for another measurement of the Backland 102s.

My go-to backcountry skis previous to the Backland 102 weighed 1,991 g per ski. So the Backlands are 302 g lighter per ski. In accordance with analysis, for each 100 g of weight added to footwear, there’s a 1% power price. Saving a number of hundred grams of weight may considerably influence anybody’s uphill power financial savings.

In contrast with the skis on GearJunkie’s information to the Greatest Backcountry Skis (which the Atomic Backland 109s are on), three out of 12 are heavier than the Backland 102s I skied. In the event you go by Atomic’s claimed weight of 1,430 g for the 179cm size, although, these skis land squarely in the course of the load class.

Building

Atomic achieved the Backland’s gentle weight utilizing poplar and Caruba in what it calls an “Extremely Gentle Woodcore.” It additionally used extra wooden, and fewer metallic and fiberglass within the development than the earlier model of the Backland to save lots of weight. The poplar additionally offers good flex, much like different poplar core skis.

In accordance with Atomic, the fabric adjustments additionally lowered the carbon price of manufacturing the brand new Backland skis by 26% in contrast with the 2022 Backland 100.

Form & Profile

On the entrance of the ski, you’ll discover the distinctive sculpted shovel suggestions. These are Atomic’s three-dimensional HRZN 3D tip. It makes use of a skinny perforated materials that Atomic claims helps improve floor space to enhance float within the tender stuff.

Profile-wise, the Backland 102 has tip and tail rocker with camber underfoot. Dura Cap sidewalls spherical out the design — actually. It’s barely rounded from base to high sheet, which supposedly helps enhance the ski’s grip.

Atomic Backland 102: Efficiency

The Backland 102 bought a variety of days on snow final season. They had been my skis at any time when I had time on the finish of my workday to bag a fast lap at Daylight or Arrowhead Mountains.

I skied them on a hut-to-hut journey that lined over 25 miles of lengthy climbs, huge traverses, and enjoyable downhills. They got here with me to backcountry ski in Jackson Gap. Typically, I really like them. However there have been a number of circumstances the place they felt misplaced.

In Powder

That is the place the Backland 102s excelled. Each time we bought various inches of recent snow, I’d excitedly bust these puppies out. The HRZN 3D tip rises up out of powder just like the nostril of an accelerating motorboat. In true powder circumstances, it took no effort to drift to the highest of the snow.

After I’d drive right into a flip, that powder-rockered tip stayed floating excessive whereas the camber underfoot gave me management and energy. That camber additionally allowed me to come out of the snow and into my subsequent flip with ease.

The skis observe properly on their 20m flip radius in shallower snow. However in powder, they appeared to love barely shorter radius turns.

In Chop, Crust

In softer chop, the Backland 102s had sufficient stability and dampness to slash by means of it with relative ease. The 1-degree edge angle lived as much as Atomic’s claims that it improves edge grip and permits for aggressive flip monitoring.

Nevertheless, in laborious chop and chunder, these skis struggled a bit of bit. Their featherweight development means they don’t have that broadsword-like weight to cleave by means of icy crud.

I bought bucked round after I’d discover myself navigating down icier, variable snow circumstances. That was significantly difficult after I wore a 30-40-pound pack on the hut-to-hut journey. The Backland 102s are a lot happier in softer snow.

We additionally skilled some extreme crust on our hut-to-hut journey. That was most likely the trickiest snowboarding I needed to do on the Backland 102s all season. They struggled to grip an edge on the faceted floor now. Then, if I punched by means of, it was virtually unimaginable to punch again as much as the floor.

That may have been an element of the skis’ light-weight development or simply actually dangerous snow circumstances. I used to be additionally sporting a heavy multi-night pack, which undoubtedly affected my very own efficiency. Everyone struggled on that part, so I don’t need to ding the Backland 102s too laborious for not tearing that up.

In Spring and Summer time Slop

I are inclined to push ski season as far into the summer time as attainable. I rode these skis on spring and summer time slop, and so they maintained their composure properly. They couldn’t “float” like they’d in blower February powder.

Nor did they’ve the identical management I skilled on colder, extra intact snowpacks. However they dealt with properly. I may carve fairly high-angle turns with a brief radius after I bought sufficient velocity.

Uphill Journey

I really like these skis on the uphill. As talked about, my earlier touring setup was nearer to 2,000 g than 1,500 g. So, clipping into the Backland 102s and taking off uphill was like sporting light-weight trainers as a substitute of a burlier pair of shoes.

I may instantly really feel the distinction. It’s laborious to say for sure whether or not it improved my power financial savings by 6% precisely, but it surely was noticeable how a lot much less work I needed to do to climb.

The Backland is barely stiffer than a variety of different touring-specific skis. That may hassle some skiers. But it surely by no means actually phased me, particularly contemplating the downhill efficiency that stiffness offers. It’s a very good stability.

The Backland 102: Who Is It For?

This can be a ski with a selected vary of use. Nevertheless, inside that vary, it’s nonetheless versatile throughout circumstances. It’s nimble and highly effective on the downhill and light-weight sufficient for lengthy excursions or huge mountain climbs. Its downhill efficiency leans definitively towards freeride utilization. It’s poppy, grips its edges confidently, and floats with a thoughts of its personal in powder.

I wouldn’t commerce in all my different backcountry setups, although. Nor would I like to recommend you set crossover downhill/AT bindings on this ski and make it your quiver-of-one setup for all resort and backcountry snowboarding.

This ski is marvelous in the suitable circumstances and terrain. It’s nice for many of my backcountry days. However there are occasions after I know the snow might be laborious and icy, and I consciously select to go away the Backland 102s at house.

That mentioned, the Backland 102 is a perfect alternative for backcountry skiers who push far on longer excursions however nonetheless desire a ski that might be enjoyable and supply highly effective downhill efficiency. I used to be more than happy with them final season, and I can’t wait to clip into them once more this season. If it’s a powder day within the backcountry, or if I’ve bought a protracted tour forward of me, these are my weapons of alternative.