Touring backcountry skis
Product 2024
Woman, Man
The Hagan Ultra 79 is designed for the backcountry skier seeking an extremely lightweight ski (970 grams). Its width is suitable for most encountered snow conditions but does show a limitation in deep snow.
Certainly, we appreciated its significant lightness, but it’s important to immediately highlight its skiable qualities, which are far from being a compromise. One might have expected that the Hagan Ultra 79, with materials that seemingly prioritize lightness over skiability, would perform poorly in irregular snow conditions, with clumps. However, this is not the case. To top it off, the tip does not bounce back. While the absorption may not be maximal, it navigates well and doesn’t unsettle the skier too much.
The grip of the Hagan Ultra 79 on hard surfaces is truly excellent. It provides a superb sense of security due to excellent grip and easy flat pivoting (despite a slightly pronounced rocker). The edge engagement in compact snow is good, and you can feel the curve control on the edge. However, one needs to remain active to maintain a clean curve. If you relax or lose balance slightly, the curve tends to degrade, depending on the lengthening of the radius and the speed. Nevertheless, there’s a certain firmness to the ski that, if you want optimal performance, requires activation of the quadriceps and flexion to feel confident on it. Under these conditions, it delivers very efficient performance.
If one is not seeking maximum efficiency, and if the snow is hard and the desire is to maneuver with drifted, pivoted/slipped turns, the Hagan Ultra 79 also performs very well. But truly, for its lightweight nature, the Hagan Ultra 79 is a very, very good compromise. The glide is good. Its limitation: deep snow where its 79 millimeters prove restrictive.
For skiers who prioritize lightness without sacrificing skiability, with technical skill, they discover a ski that becomes high-performing and capable of producing beautiful turns. A reassuring ski with excellent grip and good edge control.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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