What are the lightest skis available for backcountry use?
| Product ⇅ | Price ⇅ | Length (cm) ⇅ | Sidecut Radius (m) ⇅ | Turning Radius (m) ⇅ | Waist Width (cm) ⇅ | Rocker Profile (text) ⇅ | Flex Rating (1-10) ⇅ |
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Atomic Backland 86 UL
US
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£508.36 ≈ | 157, 165, 172, 179 cm | 117-84.5-105 (157); 118.5-85-106.5 (165); 120-85.5-108 (172); 121.5-86-109.5 (179) | 14.2 m (157); 15.2 m (165); 16.2 m (172); 17.2 m (179) | 84.5 in (157); 85 in (165); 85.5 in (172); 86 in (179) | All-Mountain Rocker with flat tail | — |
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A very light touring ski built with an Ultra Light wood core and full-length carbon backbone plus HRZN 3D tip for reduced swing weight and improved tip float. Offered in four lengths (157-179 cm) with narrow 85-86 mm centre widths and an all-mountain rocker for versatile uphill efficiency and predictable medium-radius turns. Suited for fast-and-light ski mountaineering where low weight and edge hold matter. ★ Ideal forIdeal for lightest backcountry skis because it claims sub-1,000 g per ski (e.g., 970-1,055 g depending on length) and uses an Ultra Light wood core plus carbon backbone to minimize weight while retaining torsional strength. |
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Black Diamond Helio Carbon 88
US
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£635.48 ≈ | 157, 165, 172, 179 cm | 117-84.5-105 (157); 118.5-85-106.5 (165); 120-85.5-108 (172); 121.5-86-109.5 (179) | 14.2 m (157); 15.2 m (165); 16.2 m (172); 17.2 m (179) | 84.5 in (157); 85 in (165); 85.5 in (172); 86 in (179) | All-Mountain Rocker with flat tail | — |
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A very light touring ski built with an Ultra Light wood core and full-length carbon backbone plus HRZN 3D tip for reduced swing weight and improved tip float. Offered in four lengths (157-179 cm) with narrow 85-86 mm centre widths and an all-mountain rocker for versatile uphill efficiency and predictable medium-radius turns. Suited for fast-and-light ski mountaineering where low weight and edge hold matter. ★ Ideal forIdeal for lightest backcountry skis because it claims sub-1,000 g per ski (e.g., 970-1,055 g depending on length) and uses an Ultra Light wood core plus carbon backbone to minimize weight while retaining torsional strength.
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Blizzard Zero G 96
US
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£635.48 ≈ | 148, 156, 164, 172, 180 cm | 18 m (172 cm) | 18 m (172 cm) | 86 mm | All-terrain rocker (tip rocker, camber underfoot, flat/near-early-rise tail) | — |
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Lightweight 86-mm touring skis with a full wood core, sandwich sidewalls and a Cork Damplifier in the tip for improved damping. They feature an all-terrain rocker (early-rise tip, camber underfoot, near-flat tail), narrow 86 mm waist for efficient skinning and medium 18 m turn radius for balanced uphill efficiency and competent descents. Available in 148-180 cm lengths and marketed for speed touring and mountaineering. ★ Ideal forThey suit weight-conscious backcountry skiers seeking light uphill performance because they weigh ~1230 g per ski at 172 cm, have an 86 mm waist and an All-terrain Rocker for a low-weight, versatile touring platform.
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DPS Pagoda Tour 105
US
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£1267.94 ≈ | 155, 163, 171, 179, 184 cm | 131/105/115 to 135/105/119 mm (depending on length) | 18 m (179 cm) / 15 m (171 cm) | 105 mm | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | — |
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Lightweight backcountry touring ski with a paulownia core and carbon/flax (CFL) laminate offering strong uphill efficiency and playful, surfy downhill performance; available in multiple lengths and tuned for float in soft snow with camber underfoot for edge hold. Suited to advanced tourers who prioritize low weight without fully sacrificing downhill feel. ★ Ideal forBecause it uses a paulownia core and CFL carbon/flax laminate and has a listed weight as light as 1265-1520 g depending on length, it suits the question by being one of the lighter 105 mm-waist touring skis for backcountry use. |
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Dynafit Blacklight 88
US
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£358.84 ≈ | 158, 165, 172, 178, 184 cm | — | 15.5m [158], 17.0m [165], 18.5m [172], 20.0m [178], 21.5m [184] | 86 mm [158], 87 mm [165], 88 mm [172], 89 mm [178], 90 mm [184] | Light tip & tail rocker, camber underfoot | — |
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The Dynafit Blacklight 88 is an ultralight touring ski built with a Paulownia Speed Core and unidirectional carbon layup, offering a race-oriented, nimble platform with camber underfoot and light tip/tail rocker. Available in multiple lengths, it balances low weight and sufficient downhill performance for fast, technical backcountry days. It includes race-notched tips for speedskin compatibility. ★ Ideal forIdeal for the lightest backcountry use because it combines a narrow 88 mm waist (172 cm) with a very low weight (approx. 1150 g per ski at 172 cm) and UD carbon/paulownia construction for maximum uphill efficiency.
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Salomon MTN 86 Pro
US
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— | 155, 163, 171, 179, 184 cm | 131/105/115 to 135/105/119 mm (depending on length) | 18 m (179 cm) / 15 m (171 cm) | 105 mm | Rocker/Camber/Rocker | — |
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Lightweight backcountry touring ski with a paulownia core and carbon/flax (CFL) laminate offering strong uphill efficiency and playful, surfy downhill performance; available in multiple lengths and tuned for float in soft snow with camber underfoot for edge hold. Suited to advanced tourers who prioritize low weight without fully sacrificing downhill feel. ★ Ideal forBecause it uses a paulownia core and CFL carbon/flax laminate and has a listed weight as light as 1265-1520 g depending on length, it suits the question by being one of the lighter 105 mm-waist touring skis for backcountry use.
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Völkl Rise Beyond 96
US
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£560.71 ≈ | 156, 163, 170, 177, 184 cm | 138-96-119 | varies by length: 17-12-16 m (156), 19-14-18 m (163), 22-16-20 m (170), 24-17-22 m (177), 27-19-24 m (184) | 96 mm | Tip rocker, underfoot camber, semi-flat tail | Medium |
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The Völkl Rise Beyond 96 is a lightweight backcountry touring ski with a Tourlite Hybrid woodcore, carbon tip, and a 3D triple-radius sidecut for versatile turn shapes. It pairs early tip rocker and camber underfoot for flotation and edge hold, suiting advanced skiers who want a responsive, efficient uphill tool that still performs on varied downhill terrain. ★ Ideal forIdeal for light backcountry touring because it has a 96 mm waist, a Tourlite Hybrid paulownia/poplar/beech core and weights as light as ~1180 g per ski (163 cm), giving a strong weight-to-performance ratio.
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