Lightweight, precise, responsive, this is the ski for demanding, technical skiers with an athletic approach to the mountains
- 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
Unlike the SL series, the UL has not been changed, but it includes a 78 width in addition to the race models at 62 and 65 and the 85 we tested. The 85 is the most modern-feeling of the bunch, and sets the standard in terms of weight/performance ratio. Featuring Atomic's innovative HRZN Tech shovel, the tips and tails have more surface area than rise, a trademark characteristic of this leading lightweight ski. The carbon-fiber and lightweight wood core includes a bit of fiberglass to buffer an overall construction that remains strong.
On the snow
Precise, sensitive, lightweight, and fast in transition and entering the turn. So it calls for a skier that's equally precise, sensitive, and fleet-footed. The Backland 85 UL is a sophisticated ski for a sophisticated skier, who can take full advantage of it. A less confident skier, on the other hand, may not be able to handle it. A responsive ski, its natural habitat is a uniform surface on which it can directly transfer the commands of a technically strong skier. On bumpier terrain and chop, you need to stay composed and on top of the ski to keep it from getting twitchy and to control its blend of power and light weight. Situations like these point to how it differs from the more forgiving SL series, which is better suited to less confident skiers. These skiers might appreciate how easily the 85 UL enters the turn, but that's about it. Best leave this one to fast, demanding skiers.
Lab
Concave at the tip and slightly at the tail, flat at the waist. Lack of structure and wax, good edges 1.5 x 1.9 mm at 90°, base edge 1.5°. Edge to be removed at tip and tail, best to have some tuning done before hitting the snow.
Technical specifications
Construction
cap-sidewall
Materials
carob wood, poplar, carbon-glass, Carbon Backbone
Base
sintered UHMWPE
Available sizes
158, 165, 172, 179
Released in
2022
Made in
Austria
Price
799.99 €
Declared specsMeasured by us
We measured the length 179 to get all the details
179 cm
Length
XXXXX
118 cm
Tip width
XXXXX
106,5 cm
Tail width
XXXXX
85 cm
Waist width
XXXXX
N/A
Edge contact
XXXXX
N/A
Camber
XXXXX
N/A
Tip rocker
XXXXX
N/A
Tail rocker
XXXXX
950 g
Individual weight
XXXXX
N/A
Left weight
XXXXX
N/A
Right weight
XXXXX
19 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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