First Tracks: Atomic Bent 100
First Tracks is a brief overview with insights from our editor after a couple days on snow. Initial thoughts, first impressions, that kind of thing.
Why so serious? If keeping it light and fun are your top priorities, the Bent 100 should be at the top of your list.
Image courtesy of SkiEssentials.com
Here in New England, there are a few all-mountain skis that are truly unavoidable when you head to your hill to get a few laps in.
Nordica Enforcers, Volkl Mantras, and Atomic Bents.
Not a single day goes by where I don't see roughly a dozen of each of the mentioned models.
The Enforcer and the Mantra are two of the strongest and most powerful skis that consumers can buy. How does the Atomic Bent 100, the least powerful of the trio, maintain popularity against the other heavyweights? On a recent trip to Sugarloaf I demod a pair of Bent 100’s to see what all the fuss was about. How, in a metal-crazed category of skis, is a simple wood core option so popular? I had to find out why there are just so darn many of these things on the mountain.
Through my time with the Bent, I came away with the following conclusion: It doesn't need (nor does it want) to be stiff and serious. It’s not trying to be burly and strong, rather it’s for those looking to kick around the mountain without being all that demanding. Part of me is glad that a ski like this is popular: not heavy nor demanding but rather it’s focused on another thing.
Fun.
Once clicked in, the light weight and forgiving flex of the Bent was noticeable immediately. On the first couple of groomer laps, in soft chalky snow, the energy and rebound also becomes clear. Combined with a directional mount point and lengthy rocker, the personality of Chris Bentchetler’s brainchild was obvious and hard to look past.
“Wiggle me.”
“Dart that way!”
“We’re spinning around in circles now? Alrighty, sure thing.”
“Let’s get weird”
“You having fun fighting those double layers of titanal? Sure doesn’t look like it!”
All these things aren’t just what couples might intimately whisper to one other, rather what the Bent would’ve exclaimed during our time together. The 100 is up for any kind of skiing or terrain. Bumps, soft snow, fast tracks or whatever else. I found an exceptional amount of energy from the camber underfoot, with the 100 wanting to hop and skip over even the cutest of crests and bumps.
Atomic states a measly 1700 gram weight in the tested length of 179cm, and that feels like an accurate assessment of the heft of the Bent. I skied my 181cm ‘25 QST 106 back-to-back with the 100, and the featherweight profile and performance of the Bent was a welcome reprieve after lugging around the heavier freeride ski all day. The Bent wants to jump around and bounce, and the lively nature is almost certainly due to the light weight.
2026 Atomic Bent 100, 179 cm length, Sugarloaf Mountain on a frigid January day.
The Numbers
Sizes available: 158 cm, 165 cm, 172 cm, 179 cm, 186 cm
Sidecut: 128.5 mm (tip) - 100 mm (waist) - 119 mm (tail) (179 cm)
Turn Radius: 19m (179cm)
Stated Weight: 1700 grams (179cm)
Mount Points: 10 (yes, 10!) available points, factory recommended line is about -7.5 cm from center.
2026 Quiv3r Ski Test Scores
Tested by: Collin Wiedersheim
Days skied: 2
Boots: 2025 Salomon S/Pro Supra 130, 27.5 Mondo, custom footbeds
179cm length, Salomon Strive 13 Demo mounted at factory recommended line
Overall Thoughts
If you want to have fun, and don’t need a ski that inherently wants to break your leg, a Bent 100 is a great option. It’s nimble, quick, and keeps “fun” at the forefront of its intention at all times. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and you shouldn’t either. A great choice to grab when you don’t want to think too hard about your ski, but you want to have a great time out there.
I won’t lie to you, reader. I see hundreds of skiers every season struggling to make their preferred type of turn with some strong and demanding skis underfoot. Yes, that’s including Enforcers and Mantras. Nothing against those skis, personally, but I can’t help but think that a vast, vast majority of those folks would be better off with a different choice of ski. Would that ski necessarily be a Bent 100? Maybe, maybe not.
What I can say for certain, however, is that so many skiers would benefit from a ski like the Bent 100. It provides accessible performance that they can benefit from without letting them down when they need it the most. It’s really, really good. And it’s also really, really fun. I hope to spend more time with the Bent 100 as this season rolls on.
Nearing the top of King Pine at Sugarloaf.