Dynafit Blacklight 80 — Review

The Dynafit Blacklight 80 sits at the light end of Dynafit's ski-mountaineering Blacklight line, with a 78 mm waist, Paulownia Speed Core, UD carbon laminates above and below, and a 3D Sidewall/Cap hybrid with full ABS sidewall. At 960 g per ski in 158 cm it targets fit tourers and skimo-curious skiers chasing vertical, not downhill chargers.

Light tip and tail rocker with camber underfoot keeps the Blacklight 80 predictable on firm spring snow and refrozen skin tracks where most of its days happen. The 78 mm waist holds an edge on icy traverses and skins efficiently — the narrow platform plus 960 g keeps each step cheap. On the descent it tracks straight at moderate speeds and dumps off chunder without launching the skier, but it asks for a centred, deliberate stance — wider open turns at speed expose the long ~24 m radius and minimal mass.

The Blacklight 80 uses Dynafit's Paulownia Speed Core (ultralight wood) with UD carbon top and bottom layers for longitudinal stiffness, plus a 3D Sidewall/Cap construction that runs full ABS sidewall under the foot for edge bite. Profile is light tip & tail rocker with camber underfoot. Per-length specs (158 cm): 114 / 78 / 98 mm sidecut, ~24 m radius, 960 g. Available in 151 and 158 cm.

The Blacklight 80 is for the long-vertical tourer or skimo-curious rider who values uphill efficiency and edge security on firm snow over float. Within Dynafit, step up to the Dynafit Blacklight 88 for a wider sport-tour waist and more all-conditions versatility, or down to the Dynafit Blacklight Pro and pure-race Dynafit Mezzalama for actual race weight. Outside Dynafit the Atomic Backland 80 ul is the closest direct competitor in waist and weight class; the narrower Atomic Backland 65 ul is for race-specific use only.

Pros

• 960 g at 158 cm is genuinely light for an 80 mm tour ski.
• 78 mm waist plus full ABS sidewall hold an edge on icy skin tracks and traverses.
• Paulownia Speed Core + UD carbon stack delivers stiffness without dead weight.
• Two lengths (151, 158 cm) keep fit for shorter and average-height tourers.

Cons

• Only two lengths — taller skiers above ~180 cm are out of the size range.
• Narrow 78 mm waist limits float in anything deeper than a few centimetres of fresh.
• Long ~24 m radius and minimal mass make it nervous at speed on variable snow.
• Lightweight chassis trades durability for grams — base and edges need care.

Verdict: A focused ultralight 80 mm tour ski for skiers who measure days in vertical metres up. Pick it when uphill efficiency and firm-snow edge security matter more than downhill float or stability.