Elan Wildcat 86 Ti — Review

The Elan Wildcat 86 Ti is the widest titanal ski in Elan's women's-specific Wildcat line and the closest the line gets to a true all-mountain platform. With an ~85mm waist (the "86" is nominal — the official spec sheet measures 85mm), a single Mono Ti titanal layer, and the asymmetric Amphibio Rocker / Camber / Rocker profile, it is built for the advanced woman who wants frontside precision on a chassis broad enough to carry her off the groomed section. It sits parallel to the men's Wingman 86 Ti.

On groomers the 86 Ti feels the most planted of the Wildcat line — the titanal layer and the wider underfoot platform deliver a calm, predictable edge at speed. The Amphibio profile keeps initiation friendly, and the 14m radius at 160cm pulls the ski into medium-to-long turns without effort. Off-piste it gains the soft-snow capability the narrower Wildcats lack: chopped resort snow stays manageable, and shallow soft pockets are workable as long as the line stays moderate. Hard-charging steep terrain is doable but the single-metal women's build will not feel as locked-down as a heavier two-titanal men's freerider.

The Wildcat 86 Ti pairs a laminated wood core (poplar/paulownia) with a single Mono Ti titanal layer, SST sidewalls, sintered base, and the asymmetric Amphibio Rocker / Camber / Rocker profile (PowerLine Technology). Verified per-length sidecut: 130-85-110 (152), 131-85-111 (160), 131-85-111 (168). Turn radius progresses 13.0 / 14.0 / 15.0m — frontside-oriented but with enough variation to cover medium turns. It ships as a system ski with the Shift X plate and an ELX 11.0 binding, so the platform is locked.

The Wildcat 86 Ti suits the advanced female all-mountain skier who spends most of her time on resort runs but wants the option to cut into chop or shallow soft snow without changing skis. Compared to the Nordica Santa ana 87 it has a similar all-mountain intent with a touch shorter turn shape; against the Head Kore 87 Ti W it is heavier and quieter underfoot, with less powder-friendly rocker; and next to the Nordica Wild belle dc 84 it gives up some short-turn snap for added stability at speed. The wider step in the family is the freeride-oriented Elan Ripstick 88 w.

Pros

• Mono Ti titanal layer delivers planted edge at resort speed.
• Amphibio profile keeps initiation friendly despite the metal.
• 85mm waist plus modest rocker handles chop and shallow soft snow.
• Radius spread (13–15m) covers medium turns naturally.
• Most versatile ski in the Wildcat line.

Cons

• Sidecut tops out at ~85mm — limits deep-snow performance.
• System binding locks the platform — no aftermarket binding.
• 152 / 160 / 168cm length range skips both very small and tall skiers.
• Single-metal build less locked-down than heavier freeride options under speed.
• Not aimed at touring or park use.

Verdict: The most all-mountain ski in the Wildcat line and the right pick for the advanced woman who wants one resort ski that handles groomers cleanly and edges off the corduroy without changing platforms. Step to the Ripstick 88 W for a freeride bias, or down to the 83 Ti for tighter frontside intent.