Elan Voyager Folding Skis | Game-changing Gear - Outdoors Magic

Outdoors Gear, Equipment, News, Reviews, Forums, Walking Routes and More at OutdoorsMagic.com

Share

News

Elan Voyager Folding Skis | Game-changing Gear

Fed up of the oversize baggage queues or ski rental shop delays? Then this folding ski might be the answer. It's easy to transport yet still offers "superior ski performance".

The Slovenian ski boffins at Elan Skis have just unveiled a foldable ski (kind of like the Brompton of the ski world) that offers unrivalled portability. Billed as the “world’s first folding, all-mountain ski” and a total “game-changer”, the new Elan Voyager is convenient to transport, be it by car, train or plane. It simply and quickly folds in half, and packs into a custom bag in a space-efficient manner. The result? You get to bypass the wait at the oversize luggage belt (the custom bag can be checked in as a normal hold bag) and avoid the tedious queues in the rental shop. In truth, other foldable skis have hit the market before, but Elan claim the Voyager is the first ever “fully functioning” option – a breakthrough in a Holy Grail-like quest to create a portable ski.

But is performance any good? Elan says the Voyager “will happily tackle anything a demanding skier can throw at it, all without compromising an ounce of  performance”, adding it’ll “allow you to carve up groomers, float through powder, attack moguls – and then slot into the back of your car with plenty of room to spare for other luggage”. It all sounds pretty epic – and a tricky design balance to have pulled off.

From their headquarters in the Slovenian Alps, Elan’s design team spent several years fine-tuning the Voyager, building on the legacy of the Elan Ibex Tactix, the brand’s first foray into the world of folding skis. The secret of the Voyager is an advanced four-axis mechanism that bonds and seals the ski together at the folding joint. This feature, combined with a carbon-reinforced fusion plate, serves as a load-bearing platform for support. The two components work together to provide torsional rigidity for “superior” ski performance, but also allow the ski to fold into a compact, easy to transport package, compliant with check-in baggage requirements.

For the tech spec geeks out there, the Voyager also features what Elan call Amphibio technology – a ski design that integrates both rocker and camber profiles into dedicated left and right skis. The cambered inside edge provides precision, edge grip and stability, while a rockered outside edge is “forgiving and makes for buttery smooth transitions”. Finally, the laminated woodcore and RST sidewalls guarantee maximum hold from tip to tail.

Folding skis, however, aren’t just about helping you get to resort as fast as possible. Another key selling point is that folding skis strap to a backpack far easier than full-length skis, enabling enhanced manoeuvrability for technical ascents. There is nothing sticking out above the head or below the belt to impede a climber, and this approach enables ice axes to be swung freely for greater safety.

Launched on February 1 2021, the Elan Voyager is priced at €1,499.95 (£1,349.95) including skis, bindings, poles and custom bag. It’s available in three lengths: 160cm (packed to 87cm), 166cm (packed to 89cm) and 172cm (packed to 93cm). The compact ski bag measures 100x26x16cm. Distribution in-store has been delayed until autumn due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Voyager is currently available online in the Elan webstore..

Share

Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.

production