At this rate we’ll see a 100mm Ultimate ski by 2017. After proving their ultralight carbon platform could handle the steeps with a 78mm waist, Atomic is now expanding its waistline to the sweet spot for daily touring (if you poll Europeans). With carbon stringers that you can see through the partially-transparent top-sheet, the 85mm Ultimate is exactly what you’d expect in a scaled-up version: an excellent combo of stiffness, float, and weight. We think it’s best not to wait for the 100mm version.
- Step Down sidewall adds dampness and edge protection underfoot before tapering out.
- Poplar + Karuba wood core is a good mix of strength, rebound, and weight.
- Intricate use of carbon inserts makes possible intricate (and fast) turns.
- Race-style notch in the tip accepts newly-widened Ultimate race skins.
| Specifications | |
| Lengths (cm) | 164, 170, 176 |
|
Weight |
1110g [164] 1135g [170] 1195g [176] |
| Weight (pair) | 2220g [164] 2270g [170] 2390g [176] |
|
|
119-85-109 [164] 120-85-110 [170] 121-85-111 [176] |
|
Turn |
16m [164] 17m [170] 18m [176] |
|
Skin |
Race tip notch, flat tail notch |
| Specs Verified | Yes |
| Design | |
|
|
15% tip rocker, 85% camber |
|
|
Medium-to-short radius, slotted tails |
|
|
Half-sidewall with carbon laminates |
|
|
Poplar + Karuba wood |
| Skimo Co Says | |
| Usage | Daily touring / mountaineering |
| Notes | See-through topsheet |
| Bottom Line | Most versatile Ultimate yet |
| Compare to other Low-fat Skis | |
Questions & Reviews
Mounted a pair of Dynafit Speed Superlites on these skis to ski with Scarpa Alien 1.0 boot. This ski rocks as a speed touring ski! I've skied all sorts of snow with them over the last couple of weeks. They have plenty of float for powder, an early rise tip that handles breakable crust as well as anything in my quiver (Kaestle TX107 the next best for crust I've skied), outstanding edge hold and stiffness for steep icy snow, very low swing weight for effortless hop turns, and a full-size edge for durability. I've rebounded from the 1-kilo ski fascination and decided a couple hundred grams for a ski that performs like the Atomic Ultimate 85 is worthwhile.
Comment on this review:
2/26/2017
What is the difference between this and the new Backland UL model? Is it worth the price for the newer model? Seems like a good deal on the Ultimate. Also, will the Backland UL skins work on this I assume?
2/26/2017
Hi Tim, Atomic reshaped the tip a bit but it's the same basic construction. Yes the new skins work fine.
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