2026 Atomic Maverick 86 C

Light, quick, and incredibly easy to ski, the new Atomic Maverick 86 C brings energetic and peppy performance to the forefront of the conversation. With the advent of the new 88 CTI’s shape and build, the 86 C was not far behind, at least from a shaping perspective. These skis have always shared the same mold, despite the numbers in their names, but have had separate constructions. That continues into 2026, with the 86 C’s build keeping the light and zippy feel with a shorter radius and an increase in shovel taper. We’re seeing more soft snow performance than ever before, and an amazing amount of range, especially from a skier type perspective.

As opposed to the CTI build, the C here contains a light wood core with a carbon backbone. This keeps the ski incredibly light and manageable for skiers who are looking for agility and pep. In the 179, this ski sits on the scale at a stated 1580 g/ski. This is quite light, and also opens the door for touring and uphill activities for those so inclined. We also get an update in the HRZN Tech, adding their 3D profile to the mix. For a mid-range ski aimed at more of the intermediate crowd, there’s a lot of tech here. Tester Jeff Carpenter states that “The ski was really fun and easy to maneuver while skiing fairly slowly through soft moguls but at speed it felt a bit squirrely due to the lack of metal in its construction. This is unsurprising, especially given Jeff’s more expert skill level, but the fun factor seems to be all there. Like the outgoing 86 C, the new one is still pretty stiff, relying on that carbon layup to bring pep and pop to the ski’s overall flex.

The footprint of the ski is the exact same as the 88 CTI, and represents an equally significant change in how the ski acts and feels on snow, specifically in the turn radius and in softer snow. Jeff adds that this ski is “A great choice for moguls or skiing the trees in soft snow or for beginner/intermediate skiers looking for a lightweight, medium-width ski to advance their skills on.” With a shorter radius than before, it’s incredibly easy to turn, and makes bumps and quick arcs a total breeze. We’ve often talked about the 86 C as being one of the best mogul skis out there, and this new ski certainly carries that torch forward into 2026.

Thanks to the modifications in shape, this new Maverick 86 C is an improvement in softer snow, shorter turns, and in tighter spaces. While the build keeps the ski firm and predictable, the shape and profile allow for such easy skiing. As such, it’s a great option for intermediate skiers who are looking for a high-quality product for pure and true all-mountain versatility and high levels of fun and exciting skiing.