By Liam Anderson
Atomic Bent 85
Who It’s For and What It Is
The Bent 85 is an accessible all‑mountain/park tool that feels light, playful, and forgiving. With an 85 mm waist and a directional twin shape, it’s ideal for beginners through intermediates who split time between groomers and the park, and for advanced riders seeking a fun, low‑effort daily driver for bumps and trees. It pivots easily, carries low swing weight, and doesn’t demand much input to turn. Less than thigh‑burning to ski all day, it rewards a centered stance while remaining composed enough for mixed snow on most resort days.
On‑Piste Performance and Edge Hold
On groomers, the blend of underfoot camber and Dura Cap Sidewall delivers trustworthy edge hold and lively rebound. The 85 mm waist switches edges quickly, making medium‑radius turns feel effortless. Listed sidecut radii (11.6–17.6 m by length) translate to quickness in short arcs and steadiness in longer ones. It’s not a race ski: on boilerplate or at very high speeds the tips can chatter a bit. Still, bite is solid for its class, with enough precision to carve cleanly and confidence to explore firmer morning conditions.
Playfulness, Park, and Trees
The ski shines in playful terrain. All‑Mountain Rocker (about 20/65/15) encourages easy slarving and smearing, while camber provides pop for ollies and side hits. Low mass feels quick in the air, and the Resist Edge construction adds durability for rails and boxes. In bumps and tight trees it pivots readily, with early rise reducing tip hook. The lightly raised tail supports switch skiing and surface tricks yet remains directional enough to track confidently out of landings, striking a practical balance for everyday resort freestyle.
Stability Limits and Trade‑Offs
There are trade‑offs to the low weight and Densolite‑damped, poplar‑based core. In refrozen chop or heavy crud, it’s livelier and less composed than heavier, stiffer skis. In new snow deeper than roughly 6–8 inches, the modest 85 mm platform and subtle rocker won’t float like wider alternatives. Heavier or harder‑charging skiers who prioritize stability should look to options such as ARV 88, Poacher 96, or Chronic 94, which bring more torsional strength and damping, at the cost of the Bent 85’s quick‑flick playfulness.
Sizing, Specs, and Comparisons
For sizing, choose near your height for balanced all‑mountain use; size down a touch for park‑first riding, or up for more stability. The 117/85/109 mm tip/waist/tail invites easy turn entry and predictable release; the stated radii define how quickly the ski engages and finishes turns. The 20/65/15 rocker aids initiation and tail release. At about 1750 g per ski (170 cm), weight keeps swing light but limits damping in rough snow. Mount on the recommended line for versatility, or 1–2 cm forward for park. Note that published specs can vary slightly by length and year.
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