For skiers that want to make the most out of their front side days, the Atomic Redster Q7 combines a sturdy build with a mid-width shape for true progression and carving enjoyment. Skis like this are growing in popularity, so it makes sense that more and more companies are building similar models. Since Atomic has a very strong racing history to lean on, they certainly have an upper hand when it comes to producing and manufacturing excellent skis in this zone. The Redster Q7 is just one of those models, relying on a sophisticated build and a front side shape that makes this ski one of the cleanest turners with a lighter overall weight. Thanks to the race like performance, the Redster Q7 is best when found on the feet of advanced skiers who know how to carve a turn and access a narrower waist. At 75 mm underfoot, it’s a great shape for on-trail precision and power.

Built with Atomic’s Power wood core, the Redster Q7 has a whole lot going for it when it comes to energy and stability. They also use a titanal laminate in this ski that increases the dampness and power, giving it a very high-end feeling. When this is combined with their Dura Cap sidewall, however, some agility and friendliness enters the chat. While it’s not the whole discussion, moving from sidewall to cap in the ski makes it a lot more maneuverable and easier to turn. The top end Redsters have a full sidewall, and that’s a nod to the race room, while this Q7 sits more at the high end of the recreation spectrum. We also get their Carbon Revoshock laminate. These carbon plates are set in an elastomer laminate that provides a counterweight to the flex of the ski, keeping it firmly entrenched in the turn. It not only mitigates vibrations when carving at speed, but it also helps provide stiffness and power to the front half of the ski.

When it comes to front side shaping, this Redster Q7 sits squarely in the middle of the front side realm. At 75 mm underfoot in all lengths, it’s got the middle ground covered when it comes to blending on-trail edge grip with some slight off-piste prowess. While we’re not going to sit here and say this is a versatile all-mountain ski, the wider waist for a front side ski does provide a nice platform to stand on when the conditions degrade and/or get rough at the end of the day. Narrower skis can be tricky to balance on while wider versions lose some quickness and grip. The Redster Q7 finds itself in a great spot—right in the middle of everything. The 168 cm length produces a 13.5-meter turn radius, which is on the short side, but provides a lot of meaningful fun when it comes to carving clean and round turns across the fall line. With no rocker and zero camber, this ski stays glued to the snow from the start of the turn to the finish, delivering excellent rebound and energy into the next turn.

These skis are a great option for advanced and expert skiers who love to keep it on the snow, charging and powering through carved turns all day long. We’re learning more and more over the years that skis like this are incredibly useful for a huge number of skiers, mainly because most of us spend most of our time on groomed terrain. There’s no real need for anything wider most of the time. If you’re looking at pure percentages, then this ski is a lot more valuable than something in the mid to upper-90's in terms of how often the entirety of the ski is used.