2021 Atomic Backland 100

The Backland 100 from Atomic is a brand new ski for the 2021 season. It essentially takes the shape concept and construction from the Backland 107 and repackages it in a narrower width, which gives the ski some different characteristics. While Atomic places the Backland 100 in their "Touring" line, realistically it can be a lot more than just a touring ski. For example, its construction uses Atomic's Ultra Power Wood Core and Carbon Backbone. That's the same wood core used in high level carving skis like the Redster G9, but by using Carbon Backbone, the weight is kept at an impressive 1400 g at the 179 cm length. That's certainly light enough to be a touring ski, but the wood core, carbon additives, and vertical sidewalls give it strong torsional stiffness, too. In other words, you don't necessarily need to mount an alpine touring binding on this ski. Atomic recognizes that, recommending both the Shift and Warden bindings as a match for the Backland 100, despite the face it's in that "Touring" category.

Bob St.Pierre had the opportunity to test the 180 cm length in the Backland 100. He admitted that he had "wished for the 188," and also commented that the 180 cm felt a little short for his size. Still, that didn't stop him from having a good time, and it didn't stop him from giving it some high scores, too. Mostly 4s and 5s from Bob with quickness/maneuverability and playfulness both earning the coveted 5 out of 5. "What a cool ski! Wished for the 188, but was impressed with the energy, pop, and rebound out of the 180. Much more stable when engaged in a proper carve, hence the disparity in scores for stability." Bob actually gave 2 different scores for stability, 1 out of 5 and 5 out of 5, suggesting that if you're on edge, it's quite stable, but if riding a flat ski, it can be a little twitchy. That makes sense considering its HRZN Tech tip, rocker profile, and light weight. If you're not engaging the ski, that shape has a tendency to wander. "Incredible energy and you can really stand on the edges to lay down sick carves. Would be awesome in fresh snow as well; very light and floaty, but I loved the on-trail performance."

Jeff Neagle also got the chance to ski the 180 cm Backland 100 during our testing and was most impressed by its versatility and fun-factor. Quickness/maneuverability, playfulness, versatility, and overall impression all earned 5 out of 5 scores from Jeff. "Really good ski from Atomic. There's a little more responsiveness out of it than the Bent Chetler 100, although I feel a lot of similarities between the two when skiing. Slightly more feedback from the Backland 100, which I think most directional all-mountain skiers will really enjoy. Super light, but still feels supportive and stable, especially for someone my weight. I suppose I could see a heavier skier not feeling the same." That's good feedback from Jeff, although judging off Bob's reaction, even bigger skiers will find some stability in the Backland 100. "I had a blast just darting around the mountain to different zones with different terrain and snow conditions. Transitions really well from soft snow to firm snow and back again." Phil McGrory also skied the 180 cm length and his feedback focused a lot on the potential AT performance of the Backland 100. "The new 100 mm waist width allows the ski to be versatile enough to handle the deeper snow you may be searching for as well as firmer, more variable terrain you need to get through to find the good stuff. The lighter weight construction allows for good uphill experience, while the carbon backbone gives the ski added stability that Atomic is known for. Would be a great AT ski for any terrain."

Whether you're planning on using it in the resort or as a backcountry touring ski, the versatility of the new Backland 100 is off the charts. It's light, but it's also strong and supportive. It's maneuverable and fun, but also stable and confidence inspiring. Despite it being in Atomic's Touring category, we think it's equally appropriate in the resort, especially for skiers who value lighter weight equipment. Mount it with an Atomic Shift binding, and you've got a setup that can cross over between the backcountry and the resort without missing a beat. You also don't have to be an expert to enjoy them. Experts certainly will enjoy the versatility and overall performance, but an intermediate can benefit from the Backland 100, too. Not too heavy, not too demanding, but plenty of ski to support progression.