Atomic Bent 100 Review: Specs, Sizing and Who It's Actually For

The Atomic Bent 100 is a playful, directional freeride ski that works as a one-ski quiver for most Colorado skiers. It runs 100 mm underfoot, weighs about 1,700 g per ski at 179 cm, and comes in 158, 165, 172, 179 and 186 cm. It is soft enough to butter and slash, stiff enough to hold an edge on a firm Front Range morning, and it is the ski we hand to people who want one pair for Eldora on Tuesday and a storm day on I-70 Thursday. It is not a carving ski, and anyone telling you otherwise has not skied it on boilerplate.

In this article

• Atomic Bent 100 specs
• Is the Bent 100 a playful ski?
• Are the Bent 100 good for carving?
• How heavy is the Bent 100?
• Bent 100 or Bent 110: which should you buy?
• What length Bent 100 should you get?
• How we tune it
• FAQ

Atomic Bent 100 specs

Straight from Atomic, not estimated.

Core is a poplar Light Woodcore. Profile is Atomic's Powder Rocker at 20/65/15, so 20 percent tip rocker, 65 percent camber underfoot, 15 percent tail rocker. Sidewalls are rounded Duracap. Tips and tails use HRZN 3D, a full wrap that adds surface area where the ski is off the snow anyway. The edge is Atomic's thicker Resist Edge Park, which matters more than it sounds like: this ski gets skied through rocks and rails, and a thicker edge survives it.

In stock in every length

Atomic Bent 100

158, 165, 172, 179 and 186 cm on the rack in Boulder right now.

$699.95 See lengths →

Is the Bent 100 a playful ski?

Yes, and it is the reason to buy it. The 20/65/15 profile puts real rocker in both ends while leaving two thirds of the ski cambered underfoot. That combination is what lets you pivot the ski without committing to a turn, press the tail into a butter, and land switch without catching. The soft flex in the tip and tail does the playful work; the camber underfoot is what keeps it from feeling like a noodle when you actually put it on edge.

If your idea of a good day involves side hits, slashing rollers and skiing switch out of them, this ski is built for that. If you want a ski that rails a clean arc on hardpack and nothing else, keep reading, because that is not this ski.

Are the Bent 100 good for carving?

Adequately, and not more than that. A 100 mm waist with a 19 m radius at 179 cm will hold a turn on groomers, and the camber underfoot gives it more edge grip than most skis this playful. On a soft Colorado groomer it is genuinely fun.

But the rockered tip and tail mean less effective edge on the snow than a dedicated frontside ski, and on a firm February morning at Eldora you will feel the difference. If you ski groomers 80 percent of the time and want precision, you want something narrower with less rocker. The Bent 100 is a freeride ski that tolerates carving, not a carver that tolerates powder.

How heavy is the Bent 100?

About 1,700 grams per ski at 179 cm, so roughly 3.7 pounds each, 7.5 pounds for the pair before bindings. That is moderate. It is light enough that swinging it around in tight trees is not a chore, and heavy enough that it does not get deflected every time you hit a chunk of refrozen debris.

That number is a deliberate compromise by Atomic and it explains a lot about how the ski behaves. A lighter ski would be more playful and less composed at speed. A heavier one would plow better and be more work in the bumps.

Bent 100 or Bent 110: which should you buy?

The honest answer for most Front Range skiers is the 100. Colorado gets a lot of firm mornings and a lot of days that are good but not deep, and 10 mm of extra waist costs you quickness edge to edge on every one of those days. Buy the 110 if you already own something narrower, or if you genuinely chase storms and are willing to give up the hardpack.

The storm day version

Atomic Bent 110

110 mm underfoot in 172, 180 and 188 cm. One of each left.

$799.95 See lengths →

What length Bent 100 should you get?

Because the tip and tail are rockered, the Bent 100 skis shorter than its number. The general rule holds: chin to forehead height for most skiers, then adjust. On this ski specifically, most people should take the longer option when they are between two lengths, because you are losing effective edge to that 20 percent tip rocker anyway.

• 158 cm: smaller skiers, or anyone who wants it purely as a park and side-hit ski
• 165 cm: skiers around 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in
• 172 cm: around 5 ft 7 in to 5 ft 10 in, and the most common length we sell
• 179 cm: around 5 ft 10 in to 6 ft 1 in, or lighter skiers who want more stability
• 186 cm: tall or heavy skiers, and anyone skiing it fast in open terrain

For the full method, including how weight changes the answer, read What Size Skis Do I Need?

How we tune it

Atomic ships the Bent 100 with a 1.0 degree base bevel and an 87 degree side edge. That factory tune is set up for forgiveness, which suits the ski.

What we tell people: leave the base bevel alone unless you have a reason. If you want more bite on firm Front Range mornings, tightening the side edge is the lever, and it is a change you can feel immediately. If you mostly ski soft snow and park, the factory numbers are already right and all the ski needs is wax and a detune at the contact points so it stops hooking on landings.

New skis also need prep before day one. The factory finish is not a skied-in base, and the first wax soaks in differently than every wax after it.

Before day one

New Ski Prep

Base prep, edge check and a proper first wax. Add a mount and torque test if you need bindings.

$35 Add prep →

Frequently asked questions

Are the Atomic Bent 100 good skis?

Yes, for the right skier. They are among the most versatile freeride skis available for Colorado conditions, and they work as a genuine one-ski quiver for an intermediate to advanced skier. They are the wrong choice if you want a dedicated carver or a dedicated powder ski.

Is the Bent 100 good for beginners?

It is forgiving, but it is not a beginner ski. The rockered tips are easy to pivot, which helps, but a true beginner is better served by something narrower and cheaper while they are still learning to hold an edge.

What is the difference between the Bent 100 and the Bent Chetler?

The Bent series is the continuation of the Bent Chetler line, Chris Benchetler's signature ski. If you searched for a Bent Chetler 100, the Bent 100 is its current equivalent.

How heavy is the Atomic Bent 100?

About 1,700 grams per ski at 179 cm, which is roughly 3.7 pounds. That is a middleweight, light enough for trees and bumps, substantial enough to stay composed at speed.

What turn radius does the Bent 100 have?

It ranges by length: 16.5 m at 158 cm up to 19.5 m at 186 cm. The 172 cm sits at 18 m, which is an all-round radius that suits medium and long turns without feeling locked in.

Do I need to tune new skis before skiing them?

Prep, yes. Factory bases benefit from a proper first wax and the contact points usually want a light detune. A full tune is not needed on a new ski, but skiing it straight out of the wrapper leaves performance on the table.

Related reading: What Size Skis Do I Need? and How Long Do Skis Last? Specs sourced from Atomic.