{"niche":"What are the lightest skis available for backcountry use?","description":"What are the lightest skis available for backcountry use?","products":[{"brand":"Atomic","model":"Backland 86 UL","price_gbp":508.36,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"length":"157, 165, 172, 179 cm","waist_width":"84.5 in (157); 85 in (165); 85.5 in (172); 86 in (179)","rocker_profile":"All-Mountain Rocker with flat tail","sidecut_radius":"117-84.5-105 (157); 118.5-85-106.5 (165); 120-85.5-108 (172); 121.5-86-109.5 (179)","turning_radius":"14.2 m (157); 15.2 m (165); 16.2 m (172); 17.2 m (179)"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Powder7","url":"https://www.powder7.com/Atomic-Backland-86-UL-with-Hybrid-Skin-Skis/for-sale","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":679.96,"price_gbp":508.36,"scraped_at":"2026-06-12T08:31:00.587504"}],"summary":"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_for":"Ideal 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."},{"brand":"Black Diamond","model":"Helio Carbon 88","price_gbp":635.48,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"length":"157, 165, 172, 179 cm","waist_width":"84.5 in (157); 85 in (165); 85.5 in (172); 86 in (179)","rocker_profile":"All-Mountain Rocker with flat tail","sidecut_radius":"117-84.5-105 (157); 118.5-85-106.5 (165); 120-85.5-108 (172); 121.5-86-109.5 (179)","turning_radius":"14.2 m (157); 15.2 m (165); 16.2 m (172); 17.2 m (179)"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"GearJunkie (linking retailer REI)","url":"https://gearjunkie.com/winter/skiing/black-diamond-helio-carbon-88-skis-review","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":850.0,"price_gbp":635.48,"scraped_at":"2026-06-12T08:31:22.197316"}],"summary":"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_for":"Ideal 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."},{"brand":"Blizzard","model":"Zero G 96","price_gbp":635.48,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"length":"148, 156, 164, 172, 180 cm","waist_width":"86 mm","rocker_profile":"All-terrain rocker (tip rocker, camber underfoot, flat/near-early-rise tail)","sidecut_radius":"18 m (172 cm)","turning_radius":"18 m (172 cm)"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"BlueZone Sports","url":"https://www.bluezonesports.com/blizzard/blizzard-zero-g-96-skis-2027-55324","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":849.99,"price_gbp":635.48,"scraped_at":"2026-06-12T08:30:17.272501"}],"summary":"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_for":"They 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."},{"brand":"DPS","model":"Pagoda Tour 105","price_gbp":1267.94,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"length":"155, 163, 171, 179, 184 cm","waist_width":"105 mm","rocker_profile":"Rocker/Camber/Rocker","sidecut_radius":"131/105/115 to 135/105/119 mm (depending on length)","turning_radius":"18 m (179 cm) / 15 m (171 cm)"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Skimo.co","url":"https://skimo.co/dps-carbon-pagoda-tour-105","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":1695.95,"price_gbp":1267.94,"scraped_at":"2026-06-12T08:32:02.028859"}],"summary":"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_for":"Because 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."},{"brand":"Dynafit","model":"Blacklight 88","price_gbp":358.84,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"length":"158, 165, 172, 178, 184 cm","waist_width":"86 mm [158], 87 mm [165], 88 mm [172], 89 mm [178], 90 mm [184]","rocker_profile":"Light tip & tail rocker, camber underfoot","turning_radius":"15.5m [158], 17.0m [165], 18.5m [172], 20.0m [178], 21.5m [184]"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Cripple Creek Backcountry","url":"https://cripplecreekbc.com/products/dynafit-w-blacklight-88-touring-ski","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":479.97,"price_gbp":358.84,"scraped_at":"2026-06-12T08:30:38.882942"}],"summary":"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_for":"Ideal 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."},{"brand":"Salomon","model":"MTN 86 Pro","price_gbp":null,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"length":"155, 163, 171, 179, 184 cm","waist_width":"105 mm","rocker_profile":"Rocker/Camber/Rocker","sidecut_radius":"131/105/115 to 135/105/119 mm (depending on length)","turning_radius":"18 m (179 cm) / 15 m (171 cm)"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Pick-a-Ski","url":"https://www.pick-a-ski.com/en/reviews/salomonmtn86pro","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":null,"price_gbp":null,"scraped_at":"2026-06-12T08:32:19.953899"}],"summary":"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_for":"Because 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."},{"brand":"Völkl","model":"Rise Beyond 96","price_gbp":560.71,"origin_country":null,"specs":{"length":"156, 163, 170, 177, 184 cm","flex_rating":"Medium","waist_width":"96 mm","rocker_profile":"Tip rocker, underfoot camber, semi-flat tail","sidecut_radius":"138-96-119","turning_radius":"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)"},"confidence_score":null,"sources":[{"label":"Backcountry Skiing Canada (review page with specs)","url":"https://www.backcountryskiingcanada.com/Volkl-Rise-Beyond-96-Skis","currency":"USD","source_country":"US","price":749.99,"price_gbp":560.71,"scraped_at":"2026-06-12T08:31:44.107536"}],"summary":"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_for":"Ideal 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."}]}