2023 Atomic Backland 107 W

With updated graphics and a fun-loving personality, the 2023 Atomic Backland 107 W is an excellent choice for lady tourers who spend much of their time in search of distant and deep snow. We’ve loved these skis for years, and this year is no different. Touring has really exploded in the past half-decade, and for the most part, Atomic was ahead of the curve. They have been making skis that excel in a backcountry format due to their light weight, but those skis also have resort implications as well, making the Backland 107 W one of the most versatile freeride skis on the planet. If you can get the same downhill performance with an efficient uphill shape and weight, then we’re all in for skis like that. One of the things that sticks out the most is the quickness and energy of the ski. For being 107 mm underfoot, that’s an impressive quality to have. If you’re in the advanced to expert range and are looking for a wider ski for touring and resort powder skiing, the Atomic Backland 107 W is a great choice that falls on the lighter side of the spectrum.

Built with an Ultra-Light wood core consisting of caruba and poplar, we’re getting a feather-ish start to the ski. Atomic also uses thinner overall profiles in these skis, further lightening the load by using less material in total. In the tips, the Backland 107 W utilizes their HRZN shaping, creating a smoother feeling in fresh snow. By angling and shaping the shovel in more of a boat-hull format, the skis rise up and plane through the snow easily and with great control. Carbon Backbone stringers stiffen the ski, and it’s a noticeable change with those strips in there—these skis provide a surprising kick back on the end of the turn. Part of that is the carbon, and another part is the flatter tail with minimal taper and rocker. It certainly likes to hold on to the carve on groomers better than most 107’s without metal. Tipping the scales at 1470 grams per ski in the 167, it’s under that 1500-gram mark making it a great choice for uphill skiing. We also see a 15.8-meter turn radius in the 167, making it a sharp and crisp turner in any conditions or terrain.

Louise Lintilhac skied the 167 and noted it was true to size. She gave top marks of 5 out of 5 for quickness and maneuverability, with 4’s for overall impression, versatility, torsional stiffness, edge grip, forgiveness, playfulness, and flotation. A low score of 3 out of 5 for stability bookends a pretty high-scoring average from Louise, who notes that “If the one ski quiver exists, this ski is pretty darn close to fitting the bill. Light and noble in the crud and I’m assuming great to skin on. This ski has decent chops in the on-mountain crud too though. I found the speed limit when the corn snow got deep and heavy but overall, I found the backland to be very playful and poppy and what it lacks in stability it makes up for in versatility and poppyness. Great for resort or backcountry for intermediate to advanced skiers.” It’s nice to see that Louise points out the versatility of the ski, and its ability to be used both in and out of bounds.

For years, we’ve loved these Backland skis from Atomic, and the 107 W has always been at the top of the list when it comes to blending the front side and back side. Light, crisp, and easy to ski, the Backland 107 W has a whole lot going for it in a variety of applications. You can put a touring binding and use a light weight boot and never set foot in a resort. Conversely, you can go full-alpine on these skis and use them as your lighter, soft-snow offering for those deeper days on the mountain. Either way, the Backland 107 W continues to be a fantastic choice in the realm of freeride touring skis that are super-popular these days.