2027 Atomic Maven 86 C

The 2027 Atomic Maven 86 C gets a new graphic for this year but returns otherwise unchanged. These skis remain some of the lightest, quickest, and most agile skis on the planet, making easy work of bumps, tight trees, and technical zones while remaining smooth and energetic on groomers. While skiers looking for increased stability and power may want to look to heftier and more robust skis, those who are looking for easily accessible electricity will love the pep of the Maven 86 C. We find these skis to be highly useful around here in Vermont where you never really know what you're going to get on a given ski day.

Atomic uses a nice mix of tradition and sophistication in the build. The construction of the ski carries forward into the 2027 model. Featuring a light wood core using balanced construction, the ski uses a full poplar core that’s very thin in the tips and tails to increase mobility and lower swing weight. These skis also feature Atomic’s carbon backbone, which makes these skis remarkably stiff for their weight. Thanks to the use of carbon, the energy and pop is significant, allowing this ski to punch way above its level. In the 165, the ski states a weight of 1400 g/ski which is quite feather-like. Tester Sarah Haggerty notes: "Loved them! My first impression is that they are maneuverable, lightweight, but also solid. Skiing on the Atomic Mavens it was easy to hold an edge, and they are quick to turn. They are comfortable and smooth to ski, I loved them!"

At 87 mm underfoot, these skis can make very short turns when asked while still operating at a high level. It’s happy on-trail due to the camber and quick waist and it’s effective and useful off-piste due to the rocker profile, HRZN Tech in the tips, and the lighter weight. In the 159, the ski uses measurements of 119/87/104 mm to generate a 15-meter turn radius which is quite short. As such, this ski loves to make quick and agile turns mainly in smoother snow, but it does work great in choppier terrain, just as long as you’re not expecting full metal stability and power. Shelly Carbonneau calls it a "Great ski, especially for today’s variable conditions on the groomers today."

The light weight and quick feel make them ideal for progressing skiers. This Maven 86 C works great for intermediate and advanced skiers who like to mix it up throughout the day. Whether you’re a groomer-only skier or someone who loves to spend their time in the bumps and trees, the Maven 86 C can handle those applications quite well. Thanks to Atomic’s commitment to making strong skis at lighter weights, skiers get the advantage of snappy energy, and a high end feel without being overly demanding. If you're looking to improve and get better at bumps and other off-piste activities, this ski is a total blast.