Atomic Bent 110 Review: The Storm Day Ski for Colorado

The Atomic Bent 110 is a soft-snow freeride ski with a 110 mm waist, a 25/50/25 rocker profile and a weight of about 1,750 g per ski at 180 cm. It is the Bent 100's deeper-snow sibling: same poplar Light Woodcore, same Duracap sidewalls, same playful intent, but with 10 more millimetres underfoot and dramatically more rocker. On a storm day it is the better ski. On a firm Front Range morning it is not, and that trade is the entire decision.

In this article

• Atomic Bent 110 specs
• What 25/50/25 rocker actually means
• How it skis
• Bent 110 or Bent 100?
• What length should you get?
• How we tune it
• FAQ

Atomic Bent 110 specs

Published by Atomic, not estimated.

Poplar Light Woodcore, Duracap sidewalls, HRZN Tech in the tip and tail, directional shape, and a factory tune of 1.0 degree base bevel with an 87 degree side edge. We stock 172, 180 and 188 cm.

On the rack in Boulder

Atomic Bent 110

172, 180 and 188 cm. Limited quantities, one of each at last count.

$799.95 See lengths →

What 25/50/25 rocker actually means

Atomic's number is a percentage breakdown of the ski's length: 25 percent tip rocker, 50 percent camber underfoot, 25 percent tail rocker. Compare that to the Bent 100 at 20/65/15 and you can read the design brief directly off the numbers.

The 110 gives up 15 percent of its cambered length to gain rocker at both ends. That is what makes it float and smear so readily in soft snow, and it is also exactly why it holds an edge less willingly on hardpack. Half the ski is arched into the snow under load instead of two thirds.

How it skis

Surfy, loose and forgiving in anything soft. The rockered tip refuses to dive, the tail releases when you ask it to, and the ski pivots underfoot with very little input. In cut-up snow at the end of a powder day it stays calm, which is where the 1,750 g weight earns its keep. A lighter ski this rockered would get bounced around.

On groomers it is honest about what it is. There is enough camber and enough edge to get down a firm run without drama, but you are steering a powder ski. Anyone claiming a 110 mm freeride ski carves like a frontside ski has an affiliate link to place.

Bent 110 or Bent 100?

For most Front Range skiers the 100 is the correct answer, because Colorado serves up a lot of firm mornings and a lot of days that are good rather than deep. Buy the 110 as a second ski, or buy it because you genuinely chase storms and accept what it costs you the rest of the time.

The full write-up is here: Atomic Bent 100 Review.

What length should you get?

Size up rather than down. With 25 percent of the ski rockered at the tip and another 25 percent at the tail, the effective edge on snow is considerably shorter than the stated length, so a 180 skis closer to a traditional 172. Going short to make it "manageable" leaves you with a ski that has almost no edge left.

• 172 cm: skiers up to roughly 5 ft 9 in, or lighter skiers who want it quick in trees
• 180 cm: roughly 5 ft 9 in to 6 ft 1 in, the length most people should be on
• 188 cm: tall or heavy skiers, and anyone opening it up in big terrain

Our full method is in What Size Skis Do I Need?

How we tune it

Leave the 1.0 degree base bevel alone. It is generous on purpose, and it is part of why the ski smears so easily. If you want more grip for firm days, the side edge is the lever, though on a ski this rockered the gain is smaller than on a narrower ski.

What matters more here is the detune at the contact points. A rockered ski that still has factory-sharp edges where the tip and tail touch down will hook on landings and in variable snow. That is a five minute job and it changes how the ski feels.

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

Is the Atomic Bent 110 good for beginners?

No. It is forgiving in soft snow, but a 110 mm waist is too much ski for someone still learning edge control on groomers, which is where beginners spend their time.

How heavy is the Atomic Bent 110?

About 1,750 g per ski at 180 cm, roughly 3.9 pounds, so about 7.7 pounds for the pair before bindings.

What is the turn radius of the Bent 110?

It varies by length: 14.4 m at 164 cm, 16 m at 172 cm, 18 m at 180 cm and 19 m at 188 cm.

Can you use the Bent 110 as a one-ski quiver in Colorado?

You can, but most people should not. Front Range skiing includes a lot of firm snow, and a 110 mm waist with heavy rocker gives up real performance there. The Bent 100 is the better single ski for most.

Is the Bent 110 the same as the Bent Chetler 110?

The Bent series continues the Bent Chetler line. If you searched for a Bent Chetler 110, the Bent 110 is the current equivalent.

Related reading: Atomic Bent 100 Review and What Size Skis Do I Need? Specs sourced from Atomic.