10 Best Atomic Skis of 2023 | All Types of Skiing

While there’s nothing new about Atomic’s Bent Chetler 120, no one is asking for any changes. These stable, symmetrical powder canoes give any other so-called “best powder ski” a run for their money. Erring forever on the playful, freestyle-oriented side of the ski spectrum, this widest version of the Chetler is equally at home hopping off your chairlift or out of a helicopter.

It’s rare to find a ski that rewards good skiing just as much as it rewards bad skiing. During my testing period I couldn’t find a “wrong” way to go down the hill. I felt comfortable driving my tips for long, arcing turns through fields of chopped up snow as much as I did wheelie-ing over drifts and pillows of unconsolidated powder.

Though they’re built for powder first, their on-piste performance was admirable. There are inherent limitations to skis this big underfoot. And though the Bent Chetler 120 was unable to completely subvert these built-in limits, it still performed well enough to merit taking them out for the week following a big storm cycle to play in the chop and softer groomers.

The Bent Chetler 120s are best suited for advanced to expert skiers who see powder as a license to go fast, take risks, and push their limits. 

Filling the considerable gap between the 120 and the 100 versions of the legendary freeride series, the Bent Chetler 110 does its best to bring some practicality outside of powder conditions while retaining the legendary floating, surfy feel of its big brother.

Make no mistakes, there’s still very much a soft snow focus in the wider models of this series. The advantage of the 110 version is that soft snow no longer just means powder- and you don’t have to put your fun skis into storage when spring rolls around. That’s not to say it’s at all lacking in powder performance.

A very similar profile to the 120 version coupled with the inclusion of Atomic’s HRZN Technology in the tips and tails allows you to stay on top of lightweight powder with the same “loose” ride of the 120. But this comes at a cost- no ski can be good at everything and the 110 meets its match in the chunky chop typically described as “variable.” Given their admirably low weight, it’s no surprise that unpredictable conditions yield unpredictable results.

SImilar to the 120, we recommend the Bent Chetler 110 for skiers on the upper end of the skill spectrum. Playful skiers looking for a 50/50 touring ski should keep the Chetler 110s on their radar, as well as those looking for a lightweight freeride ski for most conditions outside of hardpack.

With the expansion of the Bent Chetler series- Atomic has decided to make a Chetler for every application. No longer is the Bent Chetler brand synonymous only with playful powder skis, the whole Bent lineup is welcome anywhere on the mountain there’s room for a freestyle mindset.

Sitting just above the narrowest ski in the series, the Bent 90 is Atomic’s take on an all-mountain park ski. The centered mount point, the low swing-weight, the beveled tips and tails: this ski takes everything that makes the rest of the series work for off-piste freestyle skiing and makes it feel more at home in the park.

The Bent 90 is yet another variation on a very successful theme; though by necessity takes a more directional approach to skiing than the widest versions of the lineup. The differences are in construction considerations for the often unforgiving world of park skiing. Beefed up sidewalls and edges help prevent your skis from being chewed up by rails.

We’d recommend the Bent 90 for park skiers who like to venture outside the confines of the rope line. It’s lightweight and playful enough any freestyle skier worth their salt can creatively make their way down any terrain on the resort. This is still a Bent Chetler- and it still skis like one.

With the Bent series eating up all of the attention, Atomic’s Maverick lineup represents a return to tradition. These sensible, directional skis replaced the Vantage series (which I was a long-time lover of) and won’t disappoint those who appreciate a more classical take on ski design. 

Though the generous employment of laminates and a directional tail harken back to the days of no-nonsense chargers, the Maverick series borrows some of the innovations Atomic uses in its other skis- most notably the HRZN beveled tips. As always these inserts add float and make for a more forgiving ride over all. Note that as the widest in the series, you’ll have the most luck in powder with the 100 TI.

But keep in mind that powder days are few and far between, the Maverick does its best work during those long bouts between the legendary storms. Balancing a (comparatively) lightweight build with the dampness and stability that only a dual metal laminate build can provide. The Maverick 100 TI has the serious driving power necessary to hold a long, smooth edge where lesser skis would skitter.

The Maverick is for intermediate to advanced riders who wouldn’t categorize themselves as particularly “playful” in that they don’t feel compelled to ski backwards. It’s more than capable of serious skiing without taking itself too seriously.

Taking notes from Atomic’s racing heritage and their more recent renown in the freeride world, the Maven 93 C aims to bring piste-quality edgehold and stability to the whole mountain. Released in tandem with the Maverick series above, the two series effectively replace the Vantage as Atomic’s capable-yet-accessible all-mountain models.

Given its shape, the Maven 93 C should leave no one wondering about its purpose. The series lands right in the sweet spot for intermediate and advanced recreational skiers who favor stability and engaged maneuverability over the newschool slashy style. 

While they borrow from the successful features of the Bent Chetlers (namely in their loose, flotation-device tips) the Maven adheres to the tenets of practical ski design. A long effective edge and a traditional taper make skiers who like to carve their turns feel at home most anywhere on the mountain. Atomic’s Carbon Backbone helps keep things stable when you pick up speed on said edges.

We think the Maven 93 C is a great place to start or end your journey into all-mountain skis. It’s light and accessible enough to hold appeal for those moving out of beginner territory, with enough support to cater to all but the most aggressive skiers.

The Backland 117 might not be the ski you ride the most often, but when conditions align it’s what you want on your feet. Where the Bent Chetler 120 is comparable in size and skintrack weight, the Backland series lets you put your trust in a more traditional shape should you run into any snowpack surprises.

I feel more comfortable with a directional ski in the backcountry, I usually save all the noodling around for inbounds. With that said, skis this wide are rarely all business. While you can rely on Atomic’s tech to get you up the skin track efficiently, there’s plenty of room for fun on the way down.

The same beveled tips found in Atomic’s freeride series and a well-balanced rocker profile allow for the same surfy downhill feel you’ve come to expect from Atomic powder skis. Their core is also a bit lighter than their counterparts in the Bent series.

Practical considerations aside, it’s still a fun, dynamic option for people looking for a wide touring ski. The only trick is waiting for conditions to line up to ski them hard out of bounds.

A large demographic of backcountry riders are drawn by the promise of endless untracked snow. While powder abounds beyond the rope line, chances are you’ll also be navigating your fair share of wind-scoured hardpack, breakable crust, refrozen suncups, and slush. It’s great to have a powder ski when there’s powder, but it’s plain miserable when there isn’t.

With that caveat about powder skis out of the way, the Backland 95 won’t disappoint you when the snow is soft, and it won’t leave you kicking yourself when it’s not. These lightweight, well-rounded touring skis are very much a single-quiver option for dedicated backcountry enthusiasts. 

Built-in notches for skins and a low weight translates to efficient uphill travel. Design features borrowed from the freeride collection help to keep you from being too serious on the downhill. Yes, they’re a lightweight ski and definitely ride like one- but that should come as no surprise given their intended audience.

If you had to find the best use for the Backland 95s, it would be drawn-out days of alpine exploration. They offer the freedom to take a couple more laps or enjoy long days with equally ambitious descent objectives. 

We mentioned earlier that Atomic makes a model for every style of freestyle skiing. The Bent 85 are the closest thing we have to a dedicated park model– effectively replacing the notorious Punx lineup.

These are big shoes to fill. Fortunately, the Bent 85 tackles the high-value, high-return ethic that we loved about the Punx and adds in all of the considerable technological developments Atomic’s been working on over the years.

A lightweight wood and foam core keeps the cost down while adding vibration-dampening qualities, while the same Resist Edge that we saw in the Bent 90 helps protect your investment against the many hazards of freestyle features. Atomic foregoes the specialized tips and tails for a more traditional shape that will feel at home in any terrain park.

While they’re a little more sparse on the features than other Bent models, the 85s are an affordable, full service park ski that fully deserves its place in the Bent Chetler legacy.

Sliding from the safe confines of beginner terrain into steeper, ungroomed, or more technically demanding parts of the mountain requires a ski that can keep up with a growing skill set. For burgeoning intermediate skiers, having something that can stay ahead of more complicated maneuvers while not punishing imperfections is key to having fun while learning.

We like everything we see out of the Maverick 88 for the same reasons we like the 100- it’s a traditionally shaped all-mountain ski with a low barrier of entry and high competency in any conditions. Having a little less ski under your foot lessens the demands of initiating your turns and opens up a wider sweet spot for your edges to stay engaged as you bring your tips around.

Will it excel in any one area? No. Does it have what it takes to tackle the gnarliest run on your home mountain? Probably not. But, it’s certainly a good ski for exploring and getting the hang of more challenging terrain. 

This all-mountain entry point targeted at women progressing into an all-mountain skill set takes a lively and nimble approach to skiing off the groomers. Like the Maven 93 above, they’re more than capable of effectively ferrying you to regions unknown and can do so with style.

Unlike the Maven 93, these skis take a little less effort to get on edge- easing the process of linking turns down the bumped-up slopes beyond the edges of the corduroy. This comes at the cost of stability and speed and the capability to handle really spicy terrain.

Atomic again incorporates elements of their famous freeride skis into these more subdued models. HRZN tips give you the freedom to abandon forwards ski form and try out a multitude of slashy, flashy, more freestyle informed styles as you make your way down unexplored runs. They’re a great ski to learn with, but don’t be surprised if you’re left wanting more after a few seasons of steady use.

The Bent Chetler 100 cannot be pigeonholed into the “surfy powder ski” category. Even though it shares a name and playful attitude with the 120 version, the differences between the two are so stark they’re nearly entirely different skis.

This distinction is best explained in terms of style. In short, Bent Chetlers are known for their playfulness in deep snow. This model takes that same ethos and applies it to an “any day, all-mountain style.” You can trust it a little bit more when the steeps aren’t so deep. 

The Bent Chetler 100 is a directional all-mountain ski. Still, it’s not one of the double titanal laminate monsters that can blast through everything in its path. So what is it? It’s an effort to take the playfulness that the Bent Chetler name is known for and adapt it to conditions beyond blower pow. It has a traditional camber, versatility in the mount point, soft shovels for swallowing up variable snow. But, still retains enough rigidity from the foot back that you can drive them pretty hard. 

They make an awesome every day frontside/backside option for a wide range of skiers. It’s not a super specialized tool, but for playful skiers who want an unflinching, all-terrain option, there’s not much better on the market.

The Backland 100 is the lightest and zippiest ski from Atomic that still prioritizes downhill performance. It comes equipped with the whole range of the Backland fleet’s features. It’s more than capable of tackling nearly any snow you would want to ski on. They’re sprightly skis that conquer the mountain with agility rather than bullheaded charging ability. They also come with pre-cut climbing skins.

It’s worth keeping in mind that the Backland definitely rides like a lightweight ski and won’t ever ride like your favorite pair of big mountain chargers. But it’s on the more stable. If you had to find the best use for the Backland 100’s, it would be drawn-out days of alpine exploration. They offer the freedom to take a couple more laps or enjoy long days with equally ambitious descent objectives.

The Redster line is Atomic’s spin on the recreational race ski. It’s for people who love making big, fast turns on fresh morning corduroy. They have a full sidewall, a full camber, and run full throttle down the hill. While they’re not as unyielding as a dedicated race ski, these are aggressive. And they might prove to be a little too much for skiers who aren’t comfortable with a forward stance and high edge angles. 

They have a less aggressive sidecut than most modern shaped skis but still will be much forgiving than a FIS ski. That being said, they’re definitely intended only for on-piste use. Crowded slopes or ungroomed slopes aren’t going to be much fun to ride on these. But, you can always switch to a pair of more practical off-piste skis and run away to the rough snow when things get crazy.

The Punx 7 is an affordable and recognizable park ski. It’s been widely represented in Freeski competitions throughout the years, and is a trusted tool of trick skiers everywhere. They follow the general park trend of being durable and low-price. The Punx are notorious for having just a little more value than comparable models of specialized park skis. 

A blended ash and poplar woodcore is built specifically for absorbing landings and providing a little spring when you need it. They’re a classic ski and are a reasonably safe bet for park skiers who are rough on their gear.

The Redster X series is a less aggressive version of the GS Redster, targeted towards people who want something more forgiving and versatile than a dedicated race ski. You’ll still be able to roll from edge to edge effortlessly, but the X9 WB has the benefit of letting you relax and get off your edges for a while. It’s also shaped in a way that accommodates more than just huge, high-speed arcing turns for low-speed maneuverability. 

The secret to success is an extra 10mm underfoot. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but it lets the Redster X9 WB perform much more like a recreational ski and frees up space for the more generous sidecut. The X9 WB is for skiers who like to have the option to really open up and make aggressive turns but don’t want to spend their entire day doing so.