It brings the innovative concepts behind the Backland SL line to a modern, wider ski. For demanding skiers looking for a playful, lightweight ski
- Buyer’s Guide reviews
- In words
- Technical specifications
Buyer’s Guide reviews
The charts show our impressions from testing
Product info
Category average
In words
Intro
Atomic's entire Backland SL range (next in line to the ultralight UL, for light touring but a little wider) was overhauled last year, with a view to improving not just performance but also sustainability, with a few modifications to the shapes (the slimmer 80 model is no more). Like its 86 mm sibling, it utilizes fiberglass for its superior strength, which means you can use less of it. Everything is identical to last season, including the graphic.
On the snow
As we noted last year, widths of around 90 mm underfoot look like the future of this category, offering more fun and better downhill performance. That's why, if asked to choose between the 89 and 86, we prefer the former. It's undoubtedly a medium-to-high-level ski that's stiff but less skittish than its UL cousins. Precise and direct when entering a turn, where the stiff tip makes immediate contact with the snow and you need to know how to handle it due to its overall rigidity; it prefers to release gradually and not too brusquely. It feels at home on all kinds of terrain, floating on soft snow (where it requires an ever-so-slightly setback stance) and holding its own on crust, while on hardpack it really shows its mettle. Here it's not afraid to let rip and remains stable. It could also work on steep descents for heavier skiers who can better control the effect of the sidecut on the stiff construction.
Lab
Almost flat, after 10 passes through the machine it was completely level. No structure, just sanded, no wax. Reasonably good edges 1.4 x 1.5 mm at 89°, base edge 1°. Finish a little rough, rust, edges reasonably sharp. Needs a quick tune.
Technical specifications
Construction
cap-sidewall
Materials
carob wood, poplar, Carbon Backbone, glass fiber
Base
sintered UHMWPE
Available sizes
162, 169, 176, 183
Released in
2023
Made in
Austria
Price
699.99 €
Declared specsMeasured by us
We measured the length 176 to get all the details
176 cm
Length
XXXXX
124 cm
Tip width
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112 cm
Tail width
XXXXX
90 cm
Waist width
XXXXX
N/A
Edge contact
XXXXX
N/A
Camber
XXXXX
N/A
Tip rocker
XXXXX
N/A
Tail rocker
XXXXX
1.220 g
Individual weight
XXXXX
N/A
Left weight
XXXXX
N/A
Right weight
XXXXX
17,4 m
Sidecut radius
XXXXX
N/A
Load-bearing surface
XXXXX
N/A
Tip torsion
XXXXX
N/A
Center torsion
XXXXX
N/A
Tail torsion
XXXXX
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