Ripstick tour 83 ul review

Overview

The Ripstick Tour 83 UL is Elan's 2026/27 name for its ultralight 82 mm touring ski, the ski that was sold until now as the Elan Lynx 82 ul. With the Lynx name retired, the ski moves into the Ripstick Tour family as its lightest and narrowest member, below the Tour 88, 94 and 104. Elan's own spec tables for the two names list the same 121/82/103 mm geometry, the same five lengths from 150 to 178 cm and the same radii from 13 to 19.6 m, and the product description is word for word the old Lynx text. Despite the "83" in the name, every published table, from Elan and from retailers, gives an 82 mm waist. The ski is unisex and sold flat. Elan describes it as "an ultra-lightweight ski engineered for mountaineers who demand speed, lightness, and reliable edge grip".

On-snow performance

This is a ski built for the way up. At 990 to 1,080 g per ski it belongs to the light end of the touring market, so long days and lots of vertical metres are where it should make the most difference. On the way down, Elan promises "confident stability and control" in mixed terrain, and the numbers support a ski that is easy to steer rather than one that likes to charge: an 82 mm waist, a moderate 121 mm tip and an Early Rise Rocker that lifts the tip for easier turn entry in variable snow. The radius grows strongly with length, from 13 m at 150 cm to 19.6 m at 178 cm, so the short sizes will feel quick in tight couloirs and the long sizes calmer on open slopes. Light skis like this are rarely damp, so expect the ski to need a careful technique on hard, chattery spring snow and in heavy crud.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: AirLite Laminated Woodcore, Elan's lightest wood core, made from ultralight paulownia with air pockets.
• Reinforcement: carbon for torsional stiffness and rebound, plus a titanal binding reinforcement for secure mounting of any binding.
• Construction: EST-Touring with a lightweight racing sidewall and AirLite Technology.
• Profile: Early Rise Rocker; flat ski, no plate.
• Base: sintered.
• Geometry: 121/82/103 mm in all lengths.
• Radius: 13.0 m (150), 14.5 (157), 16.1 (164), 17.6 (171), 19.6 (178).
• Weight per ski (Elan, ±50 g): 990 g (150), 1,010 g (157), 1,040 g (164), 1,050 g (171), 1,080 g (178).

Who it's for & comparisons

The Ripstick Tour 83 UL suits fitness-minded ski tourers and ski mountaineers who count grams, do long days and accept a lighter, livelier descent in exchange. The wide length range from 150 cm makes it a realistic option for lighter and smaller skiers too. Within Elan's range, the Elan Ripstick tour 88 is the heavier, more forgiving choice with Elan's Amphibio profile and a wider 88 mm waist for more float. Outside Elan, the Dynafit Blacklight 80 is narrower at 78 mm and lighter still (960 g at 158 cm) but comes in only two lengths, while the Dynafit Blacklight 88 offers more width and a full five-length size run at a slightly higher weight in the longer sizes.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• About 1 kg per ski, very light for an 82 mm waist.
• Five lengths from 150 to 178 cm, unisex.
• Titanal binding reinforcement for a secure mount with any touring binding.
• Early Rise Rocker for easier turn entry in variable snow.

Cons

• Little damping on hard, chattery snow and in heavy crud, as with most ultralight skis.
• An 82 mm waist gives limited float in deep powder.
• Long radii in the long sizes (19.6 m at 178 cm) make tight turns more work.
• The "83" in the name suggests a wider ski than the 82 mm the tables list.

Verdict: An ultralight 82 mm touring ski for skiers who want to go up fast and far, now under the Ripstick Tour name. If you find the Lynx 82 UL at a clearance price, it uses the same published geometry and radii.