Atomic Backland UL 85 Ski - 2018/19

Hey Jeremy!! The naming progression that Atomic chose to use with these skis certainly leaves some room for confusion. I went ahead and moved this comment to the original Atomic Backland UL 85 listing, where it seems to belong. Let us know if this isn't the product you meant to review!

Ruth-The UL 85 and backland 85 difference is the UL is made out of lighter materials. The alp tracks 89 is a different ski where the alp tracks 85 would be the similar ski to the UL 85. The Ul 85 is probably the most forgiving ski but still has good edge hold and medium flex. The alp tracks skis are all going to be stiffer and less forgiving. The alp tracks skis also will have a bit more sidecut.

Hey Scott! Not sure where you're finding that info, but this ski doesn't come in either of those lengths. That being said, at 6' 1" I would definitely recommend the 175cm length.

Sounds like next year's model of this ski (with a slightly tweaked layup) will be offered in 172 and 179... And (total personal opinion here) I'm 6'3" and prefer something closer to 170cm for most touring, especially if you're on friendly terms with your race skis otherwise. I just got a pair of the current-model Backlands in 169cm and they have a bit more effective edge/running length than the Voile Objective in 171 (~1cm) and almost the exact same amount as Movement SessionX in 169 (which does super well on firm descents).

Hi Jared, we haven't carried the BL85 so my knowledge is a bit limited. In terms of material difference, the core construction in the UL version of the ski is different than the regular BL85. This is where much of the weight savings is derived. I've skied the UL85 a bit, and it's an excellent ski that delivers in all conditions. Since we don't carry the BL85 I don't have any time on that to give you a comparison.

Hi Meta, I think of the skis you are considering, the Backland UL 85 fits the bill the best, provided you are comfortable with the 163cm length which doesn't seem overly long for someone of your size. If you feel like the 163cm is a touch long, I think you next best bet would be the Helio 88 in a 158cm.

Hi Audhage, that sounds like a great combo! I don't know that I would want to go much heavier or bigger with that specific boot so this ski is likely ideal for what you're trying to accomplish.

Hey Mathew, it's tough to not like these skis, especially in a mountaineering application. Atomic's skis seem to be the goldilocks skis for everybody and rarely do we hear of anybody disliking them (that statement includes the 65, 78, 95, etc). The Carbonio is a touch stiffer so if you are looking for a light but fairly stiff ski that has a long turn shape and likes to go fast then that's your ticket. If you can stay on top of it then the Carbonio is a sweet ski and few will rival the performance vs weight ratio, but if you are looking for a fun ski that's fairly forgiving in challenging terrain but still fun in easier conditions then the UL85 is probably my first choice. I wish I could comment on the TX90 though, I haven't spent enough time around them to really figure them out.

Awesome. Thanks for your response. The other ski was hoping to your opinion on was the blizzard 0G 85... unless there was another clear favorite. Most people here in the pacific northwest are trying to convince me to get something wider and beefier for ski alpinism out here. I'm just trying to stay weight conscience and optimize my uphilling- especially for mountaineering objectives. Thanks so much again for your thoughts.

Hey Mathew, the Zero G 85 is an awesome ski as well, but for very different reasons than the UL85. It's closer to the Carbonio in terms of performance than it is to the UL85. To give you an idea of who likes it, it's one of the most common mountaineering skis among the powerful east coast skiers, former ski racers, and west coast skiers that know how to use their edges! Edge hold is unwavering and it's a bit more aggressive than the UL85, so you have to stay in the sweet spot of the ski, otherwise you'll really get taken for a ride. That being said, if you can stay in the middle of the ski, there are few skis that rival it in terms of performance.

Not sure what the wider/beefier mentality is that the PNW seems to be all about, especially for steep skiing purposes. Skinny skis really start to make a TON of sense with steep skiing, mountaineering, and similar skiing styles because they edge so well, especially because those lines are typically lower speed and more technical so the brute strength built into wider skis typically isn't necessary and the finesse built into the skinnier skis will be pretty nice. There are a few reasons why this exists, but the basic rule of thumb is that we never go wider than about 85mm for pure mountaineering skis, so I think you're on the right track.

Awesome thanks. I'm leaning towards the backland ul 85. Just wondering which size you'd recommend. I'm 5'8" and 160lbs. I like to ski fast and make long turns when the terrain allows but will be using the ski mainly for ski mountaineering. Again, I live in the PNW, so I'll need something good for ice and crust in addition to corn.

Hi Matthew, for mountaineering usage I'd go with the 169. The longer version would be fun for ripping around on smooth surfaces, but the nimbleness of the shorter length will be very welcome for that application. You won't have any fore/aft stability issues as the tail is solid and you'll get the full length out of it.

Hey Trevor, thanks for reaching out. The skis are so close to each other in so many ways (dimension, shape, weight, profile, core) that I think your intended usage and boot selection should probably make this choice for you. If you're in race boots, definitely get the 78. If you're in slightly heavier boots (think Dynafit TLT6/7, Atomic Backland Carbon, Scarpa F1, etc), you could pick either one and be happy. If it's going to be your only ski, the 85 makes more sense. If it's going to be strictly a mountaineering or spring ski, the 78 makes more sense because of the edging prowess and weight savings. One way or another though, you can't really lose because both skis are really awesome.