[We received a couple of fresh cards on the returning Vantage 85 W that tweaked its scores but not our panel’s impression of its capacities. Last year’s review has been updated with a quote culled from the 2018 cards.]

For the beleaguered skier on a budget, it must seem like every highly rated model has a core made from Caspian Sea caviar. Thank goodness for the Atomic Vantage 85 W. With a down-to-earth street price of $399, it’s perfect for the intermediate woman who wants to ski more of the mountain.

The Vantage 85 W is so affordable because its construction sticks to the essentials and eliminates the extraneous. A light wood core encased in a slip of fiberglass provides support and energy; a thick vertical sidewall puts direct pressure on the edge, giving the Vantage 85 W the tenacity of pricier rides.

“Great ski for the price point!” exults Lisa from Footloose. “It outperforms others that cost more. Sturdy, stable and forgiving, it offers the best bang for the buck.” Lisa’s shopmate Shirley is similarly smitten, citing the Vantage 85 W as an “incredible ski – so stable for how light and agile it is.”

Because it works well at lower speeds and responds to light pressure, the Vantage 85 W makes a particularly suitable playmate for tweeners, adolescents and other lightweight lasses. “This is a great ski,” exults one of Willi’s Divas. “It’s an easy width to ski on and a great confidence builder.”