The 2027 Atomic Backland 102 is a freeride touring ski built for skiers who want serious downhill performance on a ski that's still light enough to climb on. It sits in the Backland Freeride family, which is tuned for skiers who care about the descent as much as the ascent.

Why we like it:

The weight-to-performance ratio is excellent. At well under 1.5 kg in the longer lengths, this is a genuinely light touring ski, but it doesn't feel chattery or skittish on the descent the way some ultralight skis do. That balance is rare and worth a lot on big tours.

Who it's for:

Advanced and expert backcountry skiers who want a freeride-leaning touring ski for soft snow and big mountain terrain. Best for skiers who do real vertical and want a ski that performs on both the skin track and the descent.

Highlights:

The HRZN 3D tip is the standout feature: a beveled, 3D-contoured tip that adds surface area and helps the ski plane up fast in soft snow. It also makes the ski less prone to hooking in tracked-out crud, which matters a lot when you've earned your turns and the snow isn't perfect anymore. The FreeTour Profile blends powder rocker with enough camber underfoot to keep the ski engaging on edge, so this isn't a ski that gives up everything for weight savings. The Ultra Light Woodcore is the foundation, designed to keep the ski as light as possible for the climb without feeling unstable on the way down. Fiberglass reinforcement and Dura Cap sidewalls provide the right balance of stiffness and damping.

Things to consider:

Built for touring, so it's lighter and softer than a typical resort freeride ski. Skiers who push hard inbounds at lift-served speeds will find it less composed than something more robust.

Fit & sizing considerations:

Skis a bit short for its length thanks to the rocker profile, so most skiers can stay at their usual length or size up if they want more flotation.