DON'T BUY Atomic Bent Chetler's Without Watching this Video First

[@awqardduck5692]

Hi- I've skied this ski and disagree on a few parts. I've kinda been a hater on them for the same reason as you, but I think there's a good reason you see so many of these on the mountain. First of all, I think these skis have a different type of versatility to what you're thinking of. They don't carve great, but are really great in moguls, trees, soft snow, and park. They have pretty good stability for their weight. You can also put a touring binding on them?? That is a lot different applications in my mind. These skis are basically great unless you're trying to make some really high performance carves on groomers. The average skier doesn't even know how to make turns like this, and a lot of people who can make these turns don't value that type of performance. I feel like you write off freeride performance as niche, while in your mind, good carving performance is what the average skier needs/wants. In reality, a lot of people value performance offpiste/in the air wayyyy more than carving performance, and this is even seen with trends within the ski industry (i.e., why warren miller movies are always packed while ski racing in America isn't that popular). For the average skier, these are amazing, and fulfill all their needs. Even for an expert who loves skiing off-piste, they will be great. They are only actually disagreeable for expert skiers who specifically value high performance groomer skiing, which realistically :( , is a very small portion of people. So while I agree that ski essentials doesn't talk enough about the downsides of this ski, I think this review is pretty spot on for the average watcher, who most likely is gonna ski 15 days this season and slide their way down most groomers.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Hmm maybe it's just a matter of perspective. Where I ski, most people can't handle the off-trail scene (the flats and groomers are more packed than the good powder spots in the trees). I do say in the video, if you only care about powder and park than this ski is probably perfect, but I mostly want to call attention to the skis downside and half turn. Anecdotally I see people on Bent 120's that never leave the cat track. I think if I was just skiing powder or CAT skiing the Bent's would be great, but I think there's a real tendency to sell these skis as a "one ski quiver" and I think that does the ski a bit of a disservice. Thanks for your insightful comment and thanks for watching!

[@colemyers7250]

@@RicketySkiReviews I don't think this is even a perspective thing. Look around the mountain and tell me where most people are skiing..I skied Loveland, Breckenridge, Keystone, A-Basin, etc. all the major ones in CO, but also some small resorts such as Monarch, Ski Cooper, and Purgatory and the vast majority of people are skiing piste. Everyone wants to believe they are going to ski all over the mountain, but only a few really do. I skied the Bent 110s at Loveland and Telluride and did everything I could from double black steeps, moguls, trees, park, and a variety of groomers. These are to your point just floppy lifeless skis. If you want to wreck your legs because of how much you have to put into these to get around have at it. Even if you are really a tree/powder skier these are not fun and will probably hinders someones progression as a skier. It's a lot more exciting to actually initiate turns in the trees and in powder vs just slash around everywhere.

[@jons7e]

I think they were trying to be super generous on the review. It's a tree ski... bang them around. This is like a ski you own when you own 1 or 2 others.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Totally, I think if you only used them for that they would be great! Like if I was Cat skiing, I would be thrilled to be on them. But I never see any downsides in the reviews, and I would be bummed if these were my one ski quiver (which they sometimes get sold as).

[@calleX]

Demoed these at my local hill. I liked them in trees, bumps and in the park. Fun to play around on and "old-man jibb" with, but I concur they are really not good for carving. They don't turn or hold an edge. Tried them down a steep and icy piste and it was frankly a bit scary and unpleasant. I can see them on an older guy who just ski casually with his kids and go in and out of the woods and pop off features and what not. I like stiff skis though so I'm not a good tester for these I suppose.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Exactly! I don't think they're a bad powder ski, but they're range is alot more limited imo than the other reviewers explain.

[@marcdoyon898]

So you are saying a 100mm twintip that is great in the trees is not good at carving? A great carving ski by definition will be punishing in the trees because it holds you in a turn and does not release easily. Especially in the tight trees in the east. You say carbon reduces vibration? It is actually almost always the opposite, makes skis light and stiff but more pingy. Metal makes the skis more damp but usually offer less rebound. I think if someone reviewed your review of the review would remark that all you say is “load up the ski” and Mavericks are better. These skis have a significant amount of camber, it’s actually pretty noticeable. This is a second ski for 99% of people, its the ski you take out when there is some fresh snow and you like to ski glades. I think you need more time on more skis to be able to give a more objective opinion, and loading up the ski is fun but it is not the only important part of skiing. Best of luck to you on your skiing journey ✌️

[@carterfan80]

What he said.....

[@isaacwesterback4499]

agreed; hes someone who enjoys getting a lot out of carving which this ski doesn't do relative to other skis. Youd be hard pressed to find a ski that performs better in trees than the bent. so many "good" skiers (base their shit off how well they carve on piste then give negative reviews based on that. these " good" skiers probably rarely get air time and dont use the crazy pop these things have. no shit it doesnt compare to a metal carving ski on piste but trying to compare it to the mantras after is comparing apples to oranges. The mantras perform like shit in the trees and in the air.

[@carterfan80]

@isaacwesterback4499 yeah. Agree also. To be an all mountain ski, you need to ski bumps, side hits, few park jumps, carve, trees, rocks, pow, ice etc... I'm in NY, we get it all. Hunter mountain Groomers has gravel poking through in feb😅. The reactions on this channel are through the lens of an ex racer. (Which I enjoy ,because I'm not one. I lear a few things here) So it's understandable there is bias. Would like to see some reactions to the Bent after he skis it in tight trees on a pow day! I skied the 100 in 2 feet of Massachusetts powder (exceptionally rare). They were all I could ask for. I'll be on my Kastles most other east coast days.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

I agree with your assessment here, I did take the skis on a powder day and had a lot of fun. If you watch the full assessment, I say if you're not worried about carving and only ski in the powder or park, than this is a great ski. But my bigger point is just to point out the skis shortcomings as well. My big issue with most ski reviews is they only pump the skis strengths (because they sell skis), but if you're buying them you should point out the weaknesses as well which is what I'm doing. I think I could have done a better job explaining the Mavericks comparison better (had to cut due to my neighbors dog barking). Imo if you just took the average skier, they can barely ski in the woods, they're mostly staying on the trail. I love skiing in the woods, and admittedly I have more experience carving. My big issue is that these skis are sold as a "catch all" but most people are just going to take these on the groomers, and they're really weak there. SE described them as "diverse" and a "value" and I don't think they fit either description super well. I would describe them more as a specialized tool for people who like the trees and the park. If you're someone shredding the woods and in the park, by all means, the bents are great at that. But if people are expecting to be able to carve on these, they should know that they only give you about half of an Arc. At the end of the day it doesn't matter much to me what people buy, this is just a hobby, but mostly I am trying to warn people who don't go off trail, if they're looking for something to carve look elsewhere. If they're looking for that specialized tool, then go for it.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

I mean there are plenty of skis out there that can do both, Salomon Qsts float great and have great arcs. I said in the review if you don't care about carving these are nice skis, but imo, there are other skis out there doing both pretty well, and certainly these don't fit the "value" or "diverse" descriptions from SE. I think they're more of a specialized powder/park ski tbh. I don't care who buys these or what's "better" but if you're a consumer looking to buy skis you should know a skis shortcomings and these don't carve well, and if you don't care about that then great.

[@jackasscou]

I think your issue with these Bent 100 is simple : you are not the target. You seem very into carving on the groomer and making clean turns. I'm not sure peoples looking forward these skis care a lot about that. It's made more for a freeride/freestyle profile of skiers looking for fun rather than academic skiing. They don't have the same envy and expectations as you.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

I said this exact thing in later videos, my only hangup is that the shops sell them as a "do it all ski" and I think that realistically they don't carve very well. I do think they're good at what they're designed to do, which is powder and freestyle, but the shops and online reviewers don't sell them that way unfortunately. Not sure about Envy? You lost me in the last sentence lol.

[@kokibr91]

In general, reviewing skis is highly subjective. It is crucial though, to understand the purpose of the ski. Here, the purpose is versatility. Can you ride on and off-piste, tour, powder, park? Yes you can do all of that. Are they exceptional in these disciplines? Not at all. There are better carvers, tourers, powders, but all these skis are focused on one specific thing and very poor on everything else. This is where Bents shine. Ski essentials define them as daily drivers and this is exactly what they are. Put them on in the morning and ride all day, all conditions. This is pretty unique. You are focusing too much on carving performance, something these skis are totally not for. Most of the people who hates them, are making the same mistake. Focusing on something specific and saying, well, there are much better skis out there. Yes there are, but are these other skis good allrounders? No they aren't. Putting metal or carbon, sure, but then the freeride performance will be ruined. Here comes the benefit of the shape and construction of the Bents. Light enough for fresh snow, a lot of camber on the pistes. I am not saying these skis are perfect because they are not, but they were my only ski for the last two seasons and totally live up to their purpose - versatility. This season I am going to introduce a lighter tour setup and a proper carver to my quiver, but Bents will still be my go to choice for all mountain rides.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

I would say in my video I totally agree with you. If you only want these for the park and the powder than they totally server a purpose. My biggest critique is that at least 70% of the time most skiers will be on the groomed runs just by virtue of weather etc. So if you're not a park skier, these might not be a good fit. The problem with alot of these reviews is they only focus on the benefits and strengths of the skis, and I want to try and educate people not to buy these if they're looking for a ski that carves well. Or at least be aware of the short comings. Thanks for your nice comment and thoughtful insight. Cheers.

[@dridley1]

bro, i’ve put some skins on and use them in the backcountry…i drop in on lips and cornices into varied conditions. work great…great versatility.

[@WaechterDerNacht]

I think that the best format for ski reviews so far is their ski rane reviews (e.g. 90mm mens all mountain skis etc.). This way, you get more of a feeling for how the different skis compare. But they are generally very long and you don't just watch a 15 min video in this case...

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Maybe I will get up the ambition to tackle one of those bad boys, but they're very long!

[@WaechterDerNacht]

@@RicketySkiReviews yes, they are! With additional commentary you're likely gonna end up with a 3hrs video...

[@oskarfreeski]

@@RicketySkiReviewstheyre a good watch tho, i watch them every year

[@Sck519]

My buddy has the first gen Bents and I also hated them but expected to like them. They are too light and felt cheap. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

It's especially shocking with how much they're praised.

[@isaacwesterback4499]

I had complete opposite experience. Heard so much bad things about them and was avoiding them but got a chance to trial them and had most fun ive ever had on a ski in one afternoon. Only ski that was similar/better was the on3p Jeffery's. They are soft underfoot and def easy to hit max speed on groomers but my god in the trees and in the air they are phenomenal (so much pop) . Definitely not a ski id recommend for anybody who likes groomers at all, but for someone who rarely goes on groomers and likes tight trees (revelstoke) they are too much fun. I was able to go down the tree runs that nobody else touches (mid elevation trees) since they the trees were so tight, I had unlimited powder for the rest of season even with a horrendous snow base. Definitely over bought ski in most cases but i wouldn't trade it for anything. Biggest down side with ski essentials is their location and where they ski. Would love for them to move to a more diverse/steeper ski hill. The mantras feel like bricks in the trees, i had to physically lift one foot at a time to pivot in tight trees which sucked for how heavy they were. They felt lifeless in the air and little to no pop. One of my least favorite skis ive ever ridden. They rip groomers tho for sure. Qst a better ski for most people looking at bents but still didn't feel great in the air.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Totally agree, probably the Mantra wasn't the best example, but I do think the QST's are a more diverse ski for most people as you described. Credit where it's due, the Atomic Bent's float great, and felt quick to make turns in the woods (even on the oversized 188's they gave me). If I was cat skiing or just powder skiing I would be happy with Bents. My bigger point was just that these are drastically mis-marketed to people as a "diverse" one ski quiver. And I don't think that's fair to the ski or the skier. I see people only taking these on the cat track and groomers, and it feels like a real disservice. I'm mostly just here to point out the skis weakness, it sacrifices turn shape for being light and "poppy in the powder". Thanks for watching and thanks for the insightful comment.

[@daan260]

I refuse to believe that a flexible ski without any additives has a lot of 'pop'

[@isaacwesterback4499]

@@daan260 ok not like professionals are using them as a preferred big air ski or anything?? you can refuse to believe it but its the reality

[@daan260]

@@isaacwesterback4499 well how do you explain the mechanics? what gives it the energy for the pop?

[@scholotzkys395]

I'm not a fan of these skiis because they are too soft, my moment dw 104 does everything this did but better. I do want to respectfully call you out though, as someone who also skii'd the east and now skiis the west. You have a racing background like my eastern friends. Most people just aren't going to care about carving performance as much as you do. The success of the bent 100 is a testament to the fact that the mass market of ski buyers now want a lighter ski that can jump around without making them feel exhausted at the end of the day. AND that people are willing to trade traditional carving performance for the lightweight, jumpy, off-piste performance that these skiis were designed for. In short, you're perhaps critiquing a "flaw" that was not a big priority for the intended buyer that this ski was designed to serve.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

I see your point, but the Mavericks also ski really well off piste. You are right though, which is why I say, if you don't care about carving maybe you'll really like these skis. Maybe a good option for park skiers. I disagree that the mass market doesn't care about carving though, skiing is a lifetime sport, and jumping and the parks has a much shorter lifetime for people than carving. I think good skiers want to know how to do both, but I appreciate your nice comment, and thank you for watching!

[@wannesengelen6317]

Depends what you want I guess. I live in the dolomites (Italian Alps), which are notorious for being a dry area. This season I've had out of the 17 ski days so far (december) 4 good pow days and the Bent 100s were very good. Also very good when I'm just noodling around with my 5y old. For hard pack or boiler plate of course not... for that you take out dedicated carvers (got FIS SL 66mm under foot, or a deacon master 72 (72 underfoot) or a cheater GS ski for that). But for what it is, it's an amazing ski.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

For sure, I think it's just my local american shops that are pushing it on everyone as a "do it all, all mountain ski, and my main point is that it's a mischaracterization".

[@gijsvanlieshout]

Hm... listing a Salomon QST 98, Atomic Bent 100 and Völkl Mantra M6 in one category seems ludicrous to me. The Salomon and Atomic are soft snow skis; the Völkl, despite its width, is very much a charging hard and mixed snow ski. From a European point of view, reviewing the carving properties of skis this wide seems ridiculous anyway, given the fact that for hard snow carving, there are several categories of skis dedicated to that. But that's a North American thing, I know. As for KZbin video reviews that actually are critical - there aren't many. 99% of all youtube reviews are by companies that try to sell the reviewed skis. They are not inclined to point out the downsides of skis. They just list the strengths.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Yeah that was my frustration and why I started the channel. Thanks for watching and thanks for the nice comment!

[@johnkieran7936]

Chocolate and vanilla, I love my enforcer 100s which you hated, and can’t wait to get a pair of these. I think you are shocked that people don’t see things the way you do, you’d be good to “ski a run in their boots” as it were. No one is buying bent 100s to go carve groomers. But skis today are blurring lines, it used to be powder skis were scary off the lift until you got off trail. Now they can do more. Does that mean their purpose built? No. I love my Line Outlines. They’re 117 under foot. They actually do pretty good on groomers. I had fun on them a few days where it’s what I had but there was no new snow. I would tell someone the carve groomers well and didn’t feel nervous at most speeds. That doesn’t mean someone should take that as they should get them as their groomer ski. Sometimes I feel like your looking to be contrary to find your niche. But then again maybe your vanilla to my chocolate. I tend to watch your videos to see how much I disagree with. Keep it up.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Rad, thanks for the nice comment. I think that these skis do well for what they're designed for, park/ powder exclusively. But I see them pushed at ski shops/curated for groomers as well, and I mostly just want people to know that they're weak in that area. Really appreciate your nice comment, and hey, maybe there are some skis we'll have the same opinion on in the future!

[@PlayVintageGolf]

I don't know how I found this channel, but it's kinda interesting and you're very passionate. The Bent is not a carving ski.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Thanks for joining us and for the nice comment!

[@talonpayne5851]

I have these skis and definitely agree. I learned how to ski on the old Rossignol Cut ( they are like 50 under foot) and I find that the Bents don’t hold their line the way I learned how to ski. It’s almost hard to commit to a full carve. With that said, I didn’t buy these skis to carve. I bought them because they were floaty and in my opinion are the coolest skis on the mountain.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Totally Agree! The problem is that shops and online personalities like curated sell it as a "do it all" ski, and I just wanted to point out that they're really not built for carving.

[@timromano5500]

Never skied the bents. I watched the ski esentials review a while back and knew the ski wasnt for me. Its clear from how hes skiing on them that the ski is not a high performance groomer ski.

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Good point!

[@SpudDood]

Great to know before buying!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

Absolutely!

[@RicketySkiReviews]

See the original video here from Ski Essentials: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoTQenmjeN-YZ8k