Atomic Backland 101 W — Review

The Atomic Backland 101 W is a women-specific 101 mm freeride-touring ski built for backcountry days where soft snow and mixed conditions reward float without surrendering uphill efficiency. It pairs an Ultralight Woodcore (Poplar + Caruba) with a fiberglass laminate and Dura Cap Sidewall in Atomic's FreeTour Profile, finished with HRZN Tech 3D Tip for early planing in deeper snow. Per-length sidecut and weight tuning across 156, 164 and 172 cm mean each size is geometry-tuned rather than scaled.

A Powder Rocker profile (20% tip rocker, 65% camber, 15% tail rocker) gives the Backland 101 W an easy turn initiation and confident float, while 65% underfoot camber preserves edge grip on firmer skin tracks and refrozen returns. At 1230 g per ski in 164 cm it is genuinely tour-light, and the 17 m radius at 164 cm strikes a balanced medium-turn shape. The 156 cm tightens to a 16 m radius for slower-speed control, and the 172 cm opens to 18 m for stability when the descent picks up.

The Backland 101 W uses an Ultralight Woodcore (Poplar + Caruba) for damping at low weight, a fiberglass laminate for torsional stiffness, and a Dura Cap Sidewall for impact protection on tour. Profile: FreeTour Profile with Powder Rocker 20/65/15 and HRZN Tech 3D Tip for early planing. Factory edge bevels are 87° side / 1.3° base. Per-length specs: 156 cm (125/100.5/115.5, 16 m, 1135 g), 164 cm (127/101/117.5, 17 m, 1230 g), 172 cm (129/101.5/119.5, 18 m, 1330 g).

The Backland 101 W suits the female backcountry skier who wants one wide-enough ski for soft-snow tour days without paying a weight penalty. Within Atomic, the Atomic Backland 102 is the unisex sibling with the same platform philosophy but unisex flex and dimensions. Outside Atomic, the K2 Wayback 98 womens is a direct women-specific 98 mm tour competitor at slightly lower weight, while the Elan Ripstick 100 w leans more freeride-touring with TNT Tubelite construction at a higher chassis weight.

Pros

• Ultralight Woodcore + fiberglass laminate balance damping and tour weight.
• HRZN Tech 3D Tip and Powder Rocker give early float in soft snow.
• Per-length sidecut and weight tuning rather than scaled geometry.
• 1135-1330 g across three lengths suits long ascents and bigger days.

Cons

• Only three lengths (156/164/172) — narrower size range than the unisex Backland 102.
• 100.5-101.5 mm waist asks for technique on bullet-hard refrozen surfaces.
• Dura Cap Sidewall is less direct underfoot than full ABS sidewall builds.
• Women-specific flex tuning may feel under-supportive for heavier or aggressive drivers.

Verdict: A focused 101 mm women-specific freeride-tour ski for skiers who want float and uphill efficiency in one chassis — pick it over the unisex Backland 102 when women-specific flex and dimensions matter more than peak chassis stiffness.