Review: Atomic Bent Chetler 120 Skis · 2023



By Curated Experts
Leo Cocchiara, Nick Orford, Eric Silverman and Skyler Fussner

Atomic Bent Chetler 120 Skis · 2023
from:$479.97
$799.95
40% off
8 photos
The Curated Take
4.0/5
The Atomic Bent Chetler 120 Skis are designed for skiers seeking an exceptional powder skiing experience. These skis excel in deep powder conditions, offering unparalleled floatation and maneuverability. They are lightweight and playful, making them ideal for intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers looking to enhance their skills in deep powder. While they are not intended for carving or high-speed skiing on groomers, they perform well in their primary focus: deep powder. Their durability is excellent when cared for properly, and they offer a unique and fun skiing experience.
Ideal for
- Very floaty and surfy on deep powder
- Pretty damp ski when jumping into powder—doesn't kill the knees
- Maneuverable ski in trees/glades with soft snow
- Easy turn initiation and release
- Playful personality
- Lightweight
- A one-ski quiver that really does it all
Not ideal for
- Not for carving
- Isn't designed to maximize versatility; it has a specific focus
- Not the best choice for high-speed skiing down steep, hardpacked snow
- Not the most stable at high speeds on groomers
- Soft tail sometimes drags when traversing
- Ski is wide, so getting through deep moguls can be tough
Flotation

These skis are made for one main objective: to give the skier unsurpassed float in deep powder. Powder skiing is the only discipline skiers should be considering buying this ski...Read more

Understandably, one may be disappointed if they bought powder skis and later found that they didn't float well. This is not the case with the Bent Chetler 120; these skis...Read more
High Speed Stability

The conditions of the snow under one's feet will ultimately play a big part in how stable these feel when opening them up on a steep line. They feel incredibly...Read more

These skis are very flexible. Getting in and out of turns is fun and frankly easy; however, when looking for a powder ski, if skiers want something that will make...Read more
Carving

I love comparing skis to boats because they're both vessels designed to take someone across the water. I could compare a carving ski to a kayak—small, quick, agile, easy to...Read more

When taking these skis out, one may not think they'll be any fun on a groomer, but they'd be surprised. When at Solitude in April 2023, there (shockingly) wasn't a...Read more
Playfulness

Competing with the playfulness and fun that the Bent Chetler brings to a powder day is hard. The springy flex of the wood allows the skier to pop the skis...Read more

As far as playful skis go, look no further. These skis can hop, skip, and jump out of every turn, and I'd be willing to bet that even an intermediate...Read more
Durability

Like anything, if skiers treat their skis right, they'll stay in good condition and last 10+ years easily. The Bents are best used in deep powder and may incur more...Read more
Turn Ease

Atomic uses a unique shape for its tips and tails that originated with the Bent Chetler model. They call it HRZN tech, and it's a beveled, concave shape, like the...Read more
Versatility

The Bent Chetler only has one intended purpose in mind: deep powder skiing at its finest. It's not designed to offer versatility like an all-mountain, one-ski quiver type of design....Read more

In April 2023, I skied the Salt Lake City area resorts for one of the three weekends that probably didn't get snow. The conditions weren't bad by any means, but...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Nick Orford

About the ski gear
- Model: Atomic Bent Chetler 120 Skis · 2023
Test conditions
- When I bought these: September 2022
- Where I’ve used them: Alta, Snowbird, Solitude, Bridger Bowl, Lost Trail, Copper Mountain, and Big Sky
- How many times I've used it: 8
Expert Reviews of the Atomic Bent Chetler 120 Skis
Leo Cocchiara The Atomic Bent Chetler 120 is arguably the most famous powder ski ever. It's approachable for intermediate, advanced, and expert skiers. Still, it's designed with one main purpose: to keep skiers afloat in deep powder. Whenever I take it out on a powder day, I feel like the coolest skier on the mountain. Part of that is because this ski is so easy to ski in appropriate conditions; it makes me feel like I've taken a big jump up in skill. The other part of that is the super cool bright, psychedelic graphics, which have always been a signature feature of this model. The ski has a unique tip and tail shape that Atomic calls HRZN tech. They're concave and beveled like the prow of a boat, which helps amplify the easy turning and superior flotation in addition to the rocker profile. It's not well suited for groomers, high speeds on hardpack, or carving. I wouldn't pick it as my daily driver for all mountain skiing, but it's definitely a crown jewel in any ski quiver.
Eric Silverman The Atomic Bent 120 is an absolute powder slasher. I've tried many very wide skis, but this one, in particular, is the most floaty, lightweight, surfy, and playful powder above 115mm out there. Its light weight makes it easy to pivot and maneuver in tight spaces, and it doesn't feel like I'm being thrown around. I sent 15+ foot cliffs into powder, and it felt like I was landing on a soft cloud because of its wide width underfoot.
Skyler Fussner This one-ski quiver can be used for just about everything! It is light enough for backcountry skiing yet stable enough to charge any line on the mountain. I have owned this ski for two years and have used it on groomers, powder days, in the trees, and even skinning out to a hut in Colorado. It is forgiving where it needs to be and stable when I need it the most. Look no further if someone wants a fun, playful, all-mountain ripper that is a little wider for the deeper days. This ski is for them!
Nick Orford The Atomic Bent Chetler 120 would not be my recommendation for someone looking for a daily driver, normal, or all-mountain ski. At 120mm, these are considered pure powder skis; I haven't taken them out in anything under 4" of fresh snow. These skis are also quite flexible and have a pretty short turn radius (for powder skis), making them some of the most playful skis I've ridden. This is ideal for someone looking for a powder ski.
Product Specs
Age Group | Adult |
Gender | Unisex |
Includes bindings | No |
Model year | 2023 |
Ski type | Big Mountain, Powder, Backcountry |
Skill level | Advanced, Expert |

Review Ratings
Averaged between reviewers, view below how all experts voted.
Flotation
5/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 5 of 5 stars. These skis are made for one main objective: to give the skier unsurpassed float in deep powder. Powder skiing is the only discipline skiers should be considering buying this ski for, and it's worth every penny. The 120 waist width, HRZN tech tip and tails, and lightweight construction make it perfect for deep snow.
Nick Orford gave 5 of 5 stars. Understandably, one may be disappointed if they bought powder skis and later found that they didn't float well. This is not the case with the Bent Chetler 120; these skis can float in any amount of powder. In late March 2023, I took these out in 30+ inches at Bridger Bowl, MT. I dipped and floated however/whenever I wanted, passing all my friends when the snow got deep.
High Speed Stability
3/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 3 of 5 stars. The conditions of the snow under one's feet will ultimately play a big part in how stable these feel when opening them up on a steep line. They feel incredibly stable charging down the hill in 6-8+ inches of powder. It is just enough cushion for them to really settle into their sweet spot where a skinnier ski would get grabbed and dragged. If we're referring to high-speed stability on corduroy or hardpack, these are too rockered and wide to easily engage the edges and feel anchored at high speed.
Nick Orford gave 3 of 5 stars. These skis are very flexible. Getting in and out of turns is fun and frankly easy; however, when looking for a powder ski, if skiers want something that will make big GS turns at high speed, these won't cut it. They give me a lot of chatter at higher speeds, making those turns a little less fun.
Carving
3/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 2 of 5 stars. I love comparing skis to boats because they're both vessels designed to take someone across the water. I could compare a carving ski to a kayak—small, quick, agile, easy to change direction. In contrast, the Bent Chetler is more like a cruise ship, large, stable, slow to change direction, and ready to take on the open (powder) seas. I won't sail across the ocean on a kayak or pick the Bent Chetler as my carving ski.
Nick Orford gave 3 of 5 stars. When taking these skis out, one may not think they'll be any fun on a groomer, but they'd be surprised. When at Solitude in April 2023, there (shockingly) wasn't a ton of powder. I got the opportunity to take the Bent Chetlers onto some groomers and some more tame terrain, and I was shocked to find the control I felt when carving on these skis. They have a relatively aggressive sidecut, making it easier to initiate carving turns.
Playfulness
5/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 5 of 5 stars. Competing with the playfulness and fun that the Bent Chetler brings to a powder day is hard. The springy flex of the wood allows the skier to pop the skis off the ground. The feeling of the flex has given me enough confidence to take on features that I wouldn't dare attempt on other skis. When the snow is too deep to feel the bottom, the surfy personality of this ski hits me just right. Everything about the Bent Chetler 120 is designed to make powder skiing a playground.
Nick Orford gave 5 of 5 stars. As far as playful skis go, look no further. These skis can hop, skip, and jump out of every turn, and I'd be willing to bet that even an intermediate skier can get the most out of these skis. When taking these skis out, the mountain is my playground.
Durability
4/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 4 of 5 stars. Like anything, if skiers treat their skis right, they'll stay in good condition and last 10+ years easily. The Bents are best used in deep powder and may incur more wear and tear if used in more rugged conditions. Dry them off after a powder day so they don't rust, put some wax on them occasionally, and try to avoid smashing them against trees, rocks, and other skis. They'll last for a very long time.
Turn Ease
5/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 5 of 5 stars. Atomic uses a unique shape for its tips and tails that originated with the Bent Chetler model. They call it HRZN tech, and it's a beveled, concave shape, like the boat's prow. This shaping makes for easy catch-free turn initiation and releases in a way that truly excels in the conditions that Bent's are made for (deep powder).
Versatility
3/5
Leo Cocchiara gave 2 of 5 stars. The Bent Chetler only has one intended purpose in mind: deep powder skiing at its finest. It's not designed to offer versatility like an all-mountain, one-ski quiver type of design. However, rare are the days we get to do our demo testing in deep fresh powder, and I found the Bent Chetlers to be really fun in the moguls. They're too wide and rockered to give me the edge hold and control I would want for tight, steep trees in variable conditions or rocketing down a groomer. Still, regardless of the conditions, I've always had a good day on them.
Nick Orford gave 4 of 5 stars. In April 2023, I skied the Salt Lake City area resorts for one of the three weekends that probably didn't get snow. The conditions weren't bad by any means, but it wasn't constant powder skiing like I was expecting. To my surprise, the skis were great; whether dodging through trees, ripping down steeps, or setting trenches on groomers, they performed better than my wildest expectations.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Leo Cocchiara One might expect me to say that my favorite moment on this ski was a day so deep a snorkel was required. And yes, of course, those are some of my favorite days of all time, and the Bent Chetler absolutely shines in those moments. But, the day that really had me incredulous with delight on the Bent Chetler 120 was a hardpack demo testing day where I took them through a mogul field. Rather than snaking my way through them, I felt like surfing over and around them in a really fun way. The rocker profile, just enough camber, and a little bit of extra length gave me some different tools to work with to attack the bumps differently. It showed me a side of the Bent Chetler 120 that had me thinking that maybe it wasn't such a one-trick powder pony.
Nick Orford My favorite moment is as follows: In March 2023, I took my Bent Chetler 120s up to Bridger Bowl after the biggest storm of the year. After storm totals bordering 45", there was no doubt it would be a great day, but my expectations were blown thoroughly out of the water when we got out there. These skis dipped when I wanted them to and floated when necessary. Around 1pm, we got first dibs on a run that had been closed for days. I couldn't see, but I knew I'd be okay with these on my feet.
Why did you choose this product?
Leo Cocchiara The Bent Chetler 120 is the ski to beat when looking at powder skis with 112+ waist widths. Its legendary powder performance has defined the category. It continues to give an experience that is difficult to compare year after year. Add in the fact that it always has some of the best graphics in skiing. It leads one to rephrase the question: "Why wouldn't you choose the Bent Chetler?"
Nick Orford Over the past 5-10 years, I've watched a lot of Teton Gravity Research ski movies. Each year, I would line up, get tickets, and watch a few of the best freeskiers in the world ski the Bent Chetlers. So, when I decided it was time for a pure powder ski, I tested a few, including the Armada JJ116, the Bent Chetler 120, and the K2 Reckoner 122. Of the three, the Bent Chetler cleared the board, being more playful, stable, and springy than the other two.
What do you love about this product?
Leo Cocchiara There's a lot to love about the Bent Chetler 120. It's arguably the most notorious powder ski of all time. The great graphics, the HRZN tech tip and tails, the just enough camber underfoot to make them pop—it all comes together to a point where the performance exceeds that already legendary reputation. It's a must-try for any ski fanatic.
Nick Orford The biggest thing I love about the Bent Chetler 120 is the playfulness of these skis. In any situation, I can find a way to hop, skip, or jump off of these skis. They also turn in powder like no other ski. While other powder skis are fun, these elevate my experience and allow me to pop out of every turn, assisting my ability to have fun.
Ask them a question – you'll get a custom response within 24 hours!Connect with the next available expert by taking a short quiz!
Leo Cocchiara
Ski ExpertNick Orford
Ski ExpertEric Silverman
Ski ExpertSkyler Fussner
Ski ExpertShare article: