Last tested
2025
Status:ongoing|Restyling
2026

Backland 88 W

The perfect ski for the intermediate ski mountaineer who loves to explore the mountains, while prioritizing comfort and safety
In brief
Suitable for
classic touring
Not suitable for
freeride, demanding skiers
Also suitable for
long outings with long climbs
Subscribe to unlock all the Buyer’s Guide reviews Subscribe
Already subscribed?
Log in
  • Buyer’s Guide reviews
  • In words
  • Technical specifications

Buyer’s Guide reviews

Positioning
Handling
Traditional ski-tourer
Suggested curve arc
Medium radius
Subscribe to unlock all the Buyer’s Guide reviews Subscribe
Already subscribed?
Log in
On-snow performance
Hard / packed
Powder
Wind-blown / crust
Damp / wet
Subscribe to unlock all the Buyer’s Guide reviews Subscribe
Already subscribed?
Log in
The charts show our impressions from testing
Product info
Category average
Trip purpose
Height difference / Engagement
Performance / Line
Skiing / Slope
Subscribe to unlock all the Buyer’s Guide reviews Subscribe
Already subscribed?
Log in
Recommended use
Subscribe to unlock all the Buyer’s Guide reviews Subscribe
Already subscribed?
Log in
Recommended level
Technical Level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
High level
Weight
lightmedianheavy
Subscribe to unlock all the Buyer’s Guide reviews Subscribe
Already subscribed?
Log in

In words

Intro
Compared to the tested Backland 85 it's 3 mm wider underfoot, but other than that it's basically the same ski. It has an all-mountain construction, with moderate rocker, HRZN 3D tip, light woodcore and fiberglass layers, all held together by the tried-and-tested Dura Cap sidewall. Like its narrower sibling, the 88 is made in a more sustainable way using lower impact materials. For the rest it doesn't require superhuman strength to ski it. Excellent for long uphill outings with fun descents, even in more challenging snow conditions.
Subscribe to unlock all the Buyer’s Guide reviews Subscribe
Already subscribed?
Log in

Technical specifications

Construction
cap-sidewall
Materials
glass fiber, poplar
Base
sintered UHMWPE
Available sizes
155, 162, 169
Released in
2023
Made in
Austria
Price
599.99 €
Declared specsMeasured by us
We measured the length 162 to get all the details
162 cm
Length
XXXXX
120 cm
Tip width
XXXXX
108,5 cm
Tail width
XXXXX
89 cm
Waist width
XXXXX
N/A
Edge contact
XXXXX
N/A
Camber
XXXXX
N/A
Tip rocker
XXXXX
N/A
Tail rocker
XXXXX
1.200 g
Individual weight
XXXXX
N/A
Left weight
XXXXX
N/A
Right weight
XXXXX
15,4 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
Subscribe to unlock all the Buyer’s Guide reviews Subscribe
Already subscribed?
Log in
Top stories
Thoughts
Necessity

Editorial

Thoughts
At the heart of every ski (duplicate)

Editorial

Location
Test Center Pontedilegno Tonale

Our freeride base camp 

Location
Base Camp Race

Sertorelli Sport Hotel

Location
Test Center Cervino Ski Paradise

To test the equipment and skins for the Race category, we based ourselves in Breuil-Cervinia

Location
Test Center Livigno

For the second year in a row, we headed to Livigno, aka Little Tibet.

Race
Intro
Race: boots

Innovation at the lower end of the market

Instruction
Boots under the microscope

We tested flex, walkability and liner warmth in the Light, Tour and Free unisex models

Intro
Made for women: skis and boots

Strong women

Free
Intro
Free: boots

A new era

Recommended pairing
Smart Choice Light 2026
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Dynafit
TLT X Extra Wide
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.030 g
Boot of the year Light 2026
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Fischer
Travers Carbon Pro
Buckles: 1
Weight: 1.070 g
tested 2026
Boots
Light
Dynafit
Blacklight
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.140 g
tested 2024
Boots
Light
Fischer
Travers CS
Buckles: 2
Weight: 980 g
preview 2024
Boots
Light
Atomic
Backland Pro SL
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.121 g
preview 2024
Boots
Light
Dalbello
Quantum Free
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.270 g
tested 2024
Boots
Light
Salomon
MTN Summit Sport
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.250 g
preview 2024
Boots
Light
Made for women
Salomon
MTN Summit Pure W
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.120 g
preview 2024
Boots
Light
Dynafit
TLT X PU
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.140 g
preview 2024
Boots
Light
Dynafit
Speed
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.050 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Atomic
Backland Ultimate
Buckles: 2
Weight: 788 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
La Sportiva
Solar II
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.185 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Scarpa
F1 SE
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.380 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Atomic
Backland Pro
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.170 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Made for women
Atomic
Backland Pro UL W
Buckles: 2
Weight: 929 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Made for women
La Sportiva
Stellar II
Buckles: 1
Weight: 1.075 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Made for women
Salomon
MTN Summit Pro W
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.020 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
La Sportiva
Skorpius CR II
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.190 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Dynafit
Blacklight
Buckles: 2
Weight: 990 g
tested 2025
Boots
Light
Dynafit
TLT X
Buckles: 2
Weight: 1.030 g
Recommended setup
Tour Binding of the Year
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
RT 11 Evo
Type: full pin
Weight: 325 g
Light Binding of the Year
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
Timepacer 12
Type: full pin
Weight: 250 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Tour
Ski Trab
Titan Vario.2 + Stopper 7-9
Type: full pin
Weight: 309 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
Haute Route 10 Plus
Type: full pin
Weight: 220 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Plum
Oazo 8
Type: full pin
Weight: 205 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
Trofeo Plus
Type: full pin
Weight: 170 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Dynafit
Superlite 150
Type: full pin
Weight: 150 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Grizzly
GR Olympic Long
Type: full pin
Weight: 192 g
tested 2026
Bindings
Light
Dynafit
Mezzalama
Type: full pin
Weight: 125 g
tested 2025
Bindings
Light
Tour
Plum
Pika Stopper
Type: full pin
Weight: 265 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Plum
R170
Type: full pin
Weight: 170 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Dynafit
Superlite 150 +
Type: full pin
Weight: 294 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Race
Light
Kreuzspitze
RS
Type: full pin
Weight: 169 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Dynafit
Mezzalama+
Type: full pin
Weight: 165 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Kreuzspitze
GT 2.0
Type: full pin
Weight: 223 g
preview 2025
Bindings
Light
Grizzly
GR Olympic Tour
Type: full pin
Weight: 148 g
preview 2024
Bindings
Light
Grizzly
Olympic II
Type: full pin
Weight: 120 g
tested 2024
Bindings
Light
Tour
Plum
Pika
Type: full pin
Weight: 265 g
preview 2024
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
Trofeo 6 Plus
Type: full pin
Weight: 204 g
tested 2024
Bindings
Light
ATK Bindings
RT 10 Evo
Type: full pin
Weight: 280 g
Similar products
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Scott
Explorair 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.440 g
People's Choice Light 2026
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Zag
Ubac 89
Width Center: 89 mm
Weight: 1.300 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Augment
Tour Carbon
Width Center: 82 mm
Weight: 1.280 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Elan
Ripstick Tour 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.270 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Atomic
Backland 85
Width Center: 86 mm
Weight: 1.250 g
Smart Choice Light 2026
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Ski Trab
Stelvio Life 85
Width Center: 85 mm
Weight: 1.230 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Fischer
Transalp 86 CTI
Width Center: 86 mm
Weight: 1.190 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Made for women
Ski Trab
Stelvio Life 85 WMN
Width Center: 87 mm
Weight: 1.180 g
Light Ski of the Year Lady
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Made for women
Dynastar
M-Tour W 85
Width Center: 84 mm
Weight: 1.150 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Dynafit
Blacklight 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.130 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Made for women
Blizzard
Zero G 88 W
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.110 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Ski Trab
Mistico.2
Width Center: 90 mm
Weight: 1.110 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Blizzard
Zero G 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.100 g
Pro's Choice Light 2026
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Salomon
MTN 86 Carbon
Width Center: 86 mm
Weight: 1.260 g
Ski of the year Light 2026
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Dynastar
M-Vertical 88
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.180 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Made for women
Elan
Rispstick Tour 88 W
Width Center: 88 mm
Weight: 1.160 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
K2
Wayback 89
Width Center: 89 mm
Weight: 1.275 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Dynafit
Blacklight Pro
Width Center: 80 mm
Weight: 960 g
tested 2026
Skis
Light
Majesty
Superscout Carbon
Width Center: 85 mm
Weight: 1.270 g