Hagan Pure 90 — Review

The Hagan Pure 90 is the widest and most descent-oriented model in the Austrian brand's Pure touring series. Where the narrower siblings prioritise the climb, the Pure 90 shifts the balance toward the downhill with a 90mm waist that floats better in soft snow and stays composed when turns get bigger and faster. Hagan pegs the character at roughly a 40:60 uphill-to-downhill bias, which tells you exactly who it is for: a ski-mountaineer who still wants an efficient tour but refuses to give up much on the way back down. It is stable and forgiving rather than demanding, making it a confidence-inspiring choice across a wide range of conditions.

On the descent the extra width is the headline. The 90mm platform provides genuine flotation in soft and variable snow that a narrower touring ski simply cannot match, and the ski stays planted through longer, higher-speed arcs. The turn radius grows sensibly with length — from 15 m at 154 cm through 16 m and 18.5 m to 20 m at 178 cm — so shorter lengths feel lively and quick while the longer ones reward committed, sweeping turns. Tour rocker up front (280 mm) with underfoot camber and a modest tail rocker (110 mm) gives easy turn initiation and forgiving pivot in tight terrain, while the camber keeps edge grip predictable on firmer snow. The flex is forgiving, so mistakes are easily recovered and the ski never punishes a tired skier at the end of a long day. Uphill it climbs efficiently for its width, with the 1350 g weight at 170 cm keeping it honest on the skin track.

The Pure 90 is built around a mixed wood core combining Karuba (paulownia) and Poplar. The lightweight Karuba keeps the swing weight and overall mass down for climbing, while the Poplar adds damping and torsional stiffness for a more planted, composed feel underfoot. ABS sidewalls provide durability and clean edge transmission, a full steel edge handles firm and icy sections, and a sintered touring base holds wax well and glides efficiently. Across the four lengths the sidecut widens progressively at the tip and tail — 123/90/106 at 154 cm, 124/90/107 at 163 cm, 125/90/108 at 170 cm and 127/90/109 at 178 cm — while the 90mm waist stays constant. Available lengths are 154, 163, 170 and 178 cm, and the reference weight is 1350 g per ski at 170 cm.

The Pure 90 suits touring skiers who value downhill performance and flotation over the last few grams of climbing efficiency. If you ski mixed and soft conditions, tour at a relaxed-to-moderate pace, and want a forgiving ski that stays composed at speed, this is a strong match. Cross-shop it against the Atomic Backland 85, the Dynafit Blacklight 88 and the Armada Locator 88, all of which sit in the same lightweight touring class but trade width and downhill composure differently. If you prioritise the climb and want a narrower, more efficient platform, look at the Hagan Pure 85 instead.

Pros

• Genuine flotation and downhill composure from the 90mm waist.
• Forgiving flex that builds confidence for all-round tourers.
• Efficient 1350 g climbing weight for its width.
• Progressive sidecut and length-tuned radius suit varied terrain.

Cons

• The light tour build is less planted than a resort ski in heavy chop.
• 90mm is still a compromise for the very deepest powder days.
• The forgiving flex is not built for aggressive chargers.

Verdict: The Hagan Pure 90 is the sweet-spot Pure for skiers who want a real descent on their touring days. Its 90mm waist, forgiving flex and sensible 40:60 bias make it a stable, versatile companion that floats, climbs and inspires confidence — a smart pick for anyone who values the down as much as the up.