2027 Atomic Redster Q9.8 Ski Review

Here in Vermont, wide-bodied carvers like the 2027 Atomic Redster Q9.8 make a lot of logical sense. They’re also a whole lot of fun, too. While most skis that end up with waist widths in the mid-80's end up more in an all-mountain conversation, the footprint, style, and overall vibes of the Redster Q9.8 most assuredly keeps it in the front side category. We’ve found that when “race” oriented skis get this wide, they start to bring the power and the heat when it comes to linking carved turns. One of our favorite by-products here is the ability to hit high edge angles with complete and total confidence. While all-mountain versatility is a bit harder to come by despite the width, this ski’s ability to charge and cut through variable on-piste conditions (that we frankly get all the time around here) is right at the top. While this is a more specific style of ski—we really only have a few competitors and comparisons—it makes an on-trail day here in Vermont an absolute blast.

From a construction perspective, we’re dealing with a mix of ash and poplar in the wood core. It’s pretty impressive when you’re dealing with ash wood, and especially in a thicker core profile as it emphasizes the race-like feel of the ski. The poplar keeps it in the “reasonable” category for performance as it allows for a bit of a lighter feel and more approachability. Make no mistake, though; this is a stiff ski with very little forgiveness to it. Atomic also uses two sheets of metal to add damping, smoothness, and power before adding even more metal with their Revoshock Steel plates. This is where we see an update for 2027, as the 2026 versions had blockier, less refined Revoshock zones. You can feel more of the elastomer material with your hands and the steel plates that are embedded in it are a bit narrower and rounder in the fronts and backs. With more elastomer exposed, it feels like a quieter ski than before with less chatter. These changes aren’t monumental, as the previous generation also felt quite silent and composed, but the new ski just takes it to a slightly higher level. As if the ski wasn’t stiff enough or provided enough power underfoot, Atomic adds their Carbon Boost plate to the mix, so each time you tip the ski up on edge the carbon decreases lag time and adds crispness and energy to the process. We consider the new (as of last year) Full Flex binding plate and the I12 binding system to be an upgrade over the older one, especially from a tech standpoint as this new system is considerably easier to mount and adjust. This is a stiff and robust ski with the 181 sitting on the scale at a weight of 3490 grams per ski and binding. The planted feeling that you get out of this ski does come from that combined weight for sure as these skis are unwavering in their directives.

At a Glance:

2027 Atomic Redster Q9.8 Skis

Our 181 that we skied most of this year measures 85 mm underfoot. I (Bob) also skied and thoroughly enjoyed the 173, which drops .5 mm to 84.5 in the waist. Either way you cut it, these are wide-bodied carvers, and there aren’t a whole lot of skis out there that can claim this mix of power and shape. We talk about skis in the mid-80's a lot for their ability to blend on-trail and off-trail capabilities, but none of those have the same race build as these 9.8’s. We see some nice all-mountain carvers here like the Salomon Stance 84 or Black Crows Octo, but these pale in comparison to the power of the Redster. Then there are some higher end options like the Volkl Mantra 84 or the Blizzard Anomaly 84 which are quite sturdy, but again, not quite the carvers of the Q9.8. You could even point to the Kastle MX 84 or Stockli Montero AR (or AR Pro for 2027) as comparable, but still—those are shapelier and more versatile than this Atomic. Really we see skis like the Fischer Curv Noize GT 85 and the Head Supershape E-Titan that can stand toe to toe with this ski in terms of overall power and on-trail application, so it is a small subset of skis we’re dealing with here. Width aside, these skis also incorporate a short-to-mid radius arc of 15.2-meters in the 181 that makes them incredibly fun and useful. While we did find that longer turns aren’t the best use of this ski, if you keep it in that 15-meter range, it’s amazing. The tips and tails are quite wide, and they kind of have to be in order to create this arc. We get 136 mm tips and 120 mm tails to go along with that 85 mm waist. With zero rocker or taper, these skis are fully cambered to get the most edge grip possible with fantastic energy.

It’s fair to say that all of the relevant feedback here will be from on-piste and carving performance as these skis do not really love deeper snow or more adventurous terrain. There aren’t many skis out there that tip and rip better than the Redster Q9.8. The instant you put a smidge of pressure on the front of the boot and the inside edge of the ski, there’s direct feedback that pulls you into the turn. It’s a very exacting ski for how wide it is, and that can certainly take a bit of a learning curve as there’s so darn much accessible power here. Once you’re up on edge, the control is insane. Feel free to push as hard as you darn well please to get this ski to come around. It will, and it’ll be in the next turn before you know it. The quickness is one of the surprising aspects of this ski, as it’s able to get from turn to turn with a ton of energy and rebound. The surprising aspect is due to the fact that these skis feel so hefty and planted in the snow, yet the carbon and the camber combine to make a swervy and complete carve feel totally accessible. All you have to do is keep your ankles rolling and the ski will make some of the best turns of your life. We found that you don’t need to tip your upper body at all; this ski works great if you just use your feet and lower half—it's a very rewarding carver that can handle all sorts of body positions. Here in Vermont, the groomers aren’t always perfectly firm and smooth—things get weird throughout the day. We even have a lot of softer packed powder days on which a narrower ski would auger in too much. These Q9.8’s alleviate those situations by using the wider platform to remain more on the surface when needed. They cut and chop right through any type of adversity and keep you on your intended course with no issues whatsoever. They are unflinching when it comes to softer spring conditions, and if it happens to snow throughout the day, they’ll do just fine.

That’s kind of where the versatility ends, though, as the Redster Q9.8 isn’t much for off-trail adventures. I’m sure some skiers would have a nice time, but even if we just stick to the mid-80's for width, there are so many more fluid skis in these situations. The weight combined with the camber—the two things that keep this ski so connected to the snow—are the same two aspects that make it somewhat unbearable in off-trail conditions and terrain. They are just too heavy to be used in a mogul format, although you could make the argument that if you’re keeping out of the troughs and skiing them in more of a strategic format, at least you won’t lose edge grip. But in trees or other tight and technical areas, the short radius and the precise grip of the ski makes them want to just cut down and find the bottom—something that is not terribly useful when you want to be smeary, drifty, or even playful in your turns. The strength of this ski is certainly in its on-trail persona, and it’s a lot clearer in terms of intent when you’re linking carved turns.

This does make it more of a specialty ski, and one with only a few true comparisons. The Curv GT 85 and the Supershape Titan are the two closest competitors here, and of those three, take your pick, really. The differences are quite miniscule between these three. You could add some other options here like the slightly narrower Blizzard Thunderbird 82, but that puts you in the low-80's. It’s really those last three millimeters that make all the difference in getting into a wider carving ski and in creating this totally unique carving experience that only comes from this specific blending of shape and construction.

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2027 Atomic Redster Q9.8 Skis - Product Page