This season Atomic has taken the brave decision to do away with its successful Nomad series and rebrand that particular line as part of an expanded Vantage range.
As part of that shake-up, the Vantage X 80 CTi is pretty much the direct replacement for the Nomad Blackeye Ti.
Aside from losing a whole millimetre underfoot, now coming in at 80, the biggest change in construction can be guessed by the lettering in the name.
So where the Blackeye Ti included a sheet of titanium alongside its wood core layering, the Vantage X 80 CTi adds carbon mesh to the mix (although this was available last season if you spent the extra pennies on the ARC Custom version of the Blackeye Ti).
The drop in weight is immediately noticeable and makes the ski a little more playful, but there's still plenty of lateral stiffness there and what Atomic calls its 'Firewall Construction' ensures excellent edge grip on the groomers. With a turn radius of 13.7-16.6m, depending on length, the skis are also pretty manoeuvrable.
The drop in weight, increase in flexibility and the all-mountain rocker does make the Vantage X 80 CTi a little more floaty off-piste and a little friendlier in moguls, but the pay-off for that is the ski does tend to chatter a bit away from the groomed surfaces.
Although marketed as an all-mountain ski, we would suggest the Vantage X 80 CTi is a good frontside option that can be taken off-piste if you're desperate to get into that fresh powder snow.
