Gear Reviews

2023-2024 Atomic Bent 110 Review

[Editor’s Note: We published this review in 2022 and has since been updated. The Atomic Bent 110 remains unchanged in 23/24 besides graphics.]

It’s a good time to be a fan of Bent Chetler skis.

After expanding their flagship freeride series last season, our love for the mid-fat Atomic Bent 110 has only grown. The hype lived up, and we’ve been enjoying time on it from resort hot laps to bluebird backcountry days. The ski returns unchanged—along with the 90, 100, and 120— for this upcoming season, and we can’t complain. All the skis get fresh Benchetler-designed top sheets.

Atomic Bent 110 Review: Field Notes

So what’s the deal with the 110? Essentially, it’s a midpoint ski between the 120 and 100, and in more ways than its 110mm waist width. The new skis borrow a slightly more directional shape from the 100 along with a lightweight wood core sans carbon.

The rocker profile and flex pattern in the 110, though, are more similar to the 120. While the Bent 100 features 30% rocker and 70% camber, the Bent 110 comes out with a 50/50 split. For reference, the 120 measures 60% rocker and 40% camber. This profile supports Atomic’s claim that the Bent 110 will ski more like a narrower 120 than a wider 100.

On the scale, the Bent 110 weighs in with similar numbers as the 120. Atomic reports that they weigh 3500 grams per pair in a 180cm size, while the 120 weighs 3600 grams per pair in the 184cm size. So if you’ve thought of the 120 as a powder touring ski, that versatility will hold up in the 110.

As for sizes, you get three options, and they differ from the 120. Atomic will offer the Bent 110 in 172cm, 180cm, and 188cm.

atomic bent 110 review
SKIER: Matt McDonald PHOTO: Alex Stettner

Groomers

The first place I skied the Bent 110—and the first place I noticed that it skis more like a narrower 120 than a wider 100—was on long, fast groomers. While the Bent 100 and 90 both ski more directionally and better at high speeds than you would assume, the 110 carved more like I expected, having spent lots time on the 120.

For a ski with this waist width, it’s fairly quick edge-to-edge, thanks to its light weight. I found it easy to bend, and despite its healthy rocker, the Bent 110’s tails held on to carves reasonably well. You don’t get the energy or power of metal, but the Bent 110 certainly doesn’t feel dead. It’s also sturdy underfoot with enough torsional rigidity to be pushed through a turn.

Beyond that, the traits that make the Bent 110 so much fun in pow and freeride terrain do keep it from leading this category in “back to the lift” groomer performance. If you push them, you’ll get the tips to chatter a bit, and all that taper and rocker can feel slippy rather than planted, especially if you’re a bigger or very aggressive skier.

When snow piles up on groomers and turns into soft chop, the Bent 110 likes to skip across the tops of snow piles rather than blow through them. I don’t think this is necessarily better or worse; it just depends on what you like and how you ski. There’s enough stability here to ski fast through chop as long as you stay dynamic rather than tightening up.

But—are you really looking at the Bent 110 because you care about skiing groomers?

Bumps and Trees

If you often find yourself slicing and dicing through tight places on your wide-ish skis, you’re going to like the Bent 110. Its drifty feel and quick-release tails make tree skiing a blast—and less of a harrowing experience than when you do it with much heavier and less intuitive skis on your feet.

In wide open pine alleys and tight aspens, I found the Bent 110 to be quite responsive. It allows you to quickly sluff speed without deviating from your line or alter your line on the fly when you notice a rogue stump. It pivots easily, and it really responds to dynamic skiing. I felt equally as comfortable driving the shovels as I did skiing with a more centered stance through tight places. The skis stayed nimble without feeling like they were going to send me OTB. When you get kicked to the backseat, they don’t punish you.

Down bump runs, the Bent 110 won’t give you that bomber, planted feeling of something with more heft (and metal) like the Nordica Enforcer 110 Free. But the trade-off is that the Bent 110 feels driftier, which is a fun trait in soft bumps. Again, the ski allows you to make micro adjustments while staying on your line.

In firm bumps, I did find myself wishing for some metal. But, again, no metal 110mm ski can drift and surf like the Bent. I also sometimes ski bumps like a maniac, so if you’re more finessed than I, the Bent 110 should do just fine. Trade-offs.

The new Bent 110 stares down a bump run at Loveland Ski Area. PHOTO: Matt McDonald

Powder and Mixed Snow

When you find soft snow, you suck all the juice out of the Bent 110. Like its big brother the 120, it slashes, surfs, and smears with gusto. The light weight combined with all that taper, and floaty HRZN tips keep you on top and loose. While Atomic says the 110 is for those not-so-deep pow days (which are reserved for the 120), not all of us can afford to sink our savings into TWO Bent Chetlers (or can we…?). If you’ve got to choose only one, there’s a strong case to be made for the Bent 110. You get the extra versatility I alluded to above along with more powder prowess than most—if not all—skis around the 110mm waist width. And, these skis are plenty light to take a hybrid or tech touring binding, which would be my move.

If you are serious about taking the Bent 110 on powder-chasing trips, I strongly recommend sizing up. In addition to the extra flotation, you’ll get more stability.

In cut-up or denser powder, the Bent 110 feels a lot like it does in soft on-piste chop. It wants to skip across rather than blow through. Like I said above, it’s stable enough to support aggressive skiing through mixed snow. (Case in point? Tim Durtschi runs the Bent Chetler 120 top to bottom from the top of Corbet’s). You just need to keep your legs fluid and your skiing dynamic. And if you are new to powder skiing, these skis give you the chance to experience the snow we all dream about without demanding too much input.

atomic bent 110 review
Like the Bent Chetler 120, the Bent 110 likes getting airborne. SKIER: Matt McDonald PHOTO: Alex Stettner

Downside

A few staffers here at the shop had hoped the Bent 110 would come with a burlier construction than the 120. The fact that it doesn’t underscores the ski’s downside. Bigger skiers, especially those who ski aggressively and prefer planted, powerful skis, may look elsewhere. If you ski like you’re on a search-and-destroy mission, skis with a little more heft might be the move.

Personally, nothing really surprised me about the Bent 110. I expected that it wouldn’t feel like the most powerful ski through mixed snow conditions and sketchy run-outs. But again, I’ve spent many days on the 120, so I’m used to exploring the mountain on these lighterweight, playful freeride skis.

Bottom Line

With another badass graphic by Chris Benchetler and a more versatile waist width than the OG Chetler, the Bent 110 was bound to succeed. It skis just as playfully and freely as you expect from a Bent Chetler, and it does it without being a noodle—as you expect from Atomic. Ultimately, the Bent 110 delivers freeride flavor and powder performance in a ski that can hold up in most conditions and terrain on the mountain. Add to that the possibilities you get with pairing it with a hybrid touring binding or tech binding, and there’s a lot to love.

While arguably anyone can benefit from adding a playful freeride ski to their quiver, a couple types of skiers will likely love the Bent 110 the most:

  1. Stoked intermediates who are getting into powder skiing and chasing soft snow across the entire mountain.
  2. Advanced and expert skiers who prioritize powder surf and playfulness above all else and view the mountain as a playground (airs, side hits, etc).
  3. Skiers of any ability who want a fun/playful downhill-oriented touring ski.

If you’re looking for more of an all-mountain ski, check out the Bent 100. For pure pow, go with the Bent Chetler 120.

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