Results 1 to 25 of 84
-
03-18-2020, 04:36 AM #1
Damp, stable and somewhat light at ~95mm: What touring ski am I?
To make the most of the mandatory home office and touring season: some more 'what ski' discussion!
My touring quiver currently consists of the awesome 184 Vwerk katana and 178 Blizzard Zero G 95.
I am contemplating replacing the zero G with something a bit more substantial. As much as I like the edgehold and power of the ski, i wish it was more damp. It is very much a precision tool, and I would like to move to something that I can charge on regardless of snow condition (like the VW Katana). I am willing to add a little weight (and even go a size shorter to allow for a heavier ski). The ski is mainly to be used on steep, technical terrain and longer tours where the weight and/or width of the Katana are a bit overkill.
Honestly, the ski I want exists and it is called the Vwerks Mantra. at ~1600 gr in 170 this ticks all the boxes, apart from the price. I am not willing to drop 800bucks on a ski yet, especially with an impeding COVID lockdown. So really the question can be rephrased as what is a budget VW mantra. But just to keep it open:
- 1600 grams max in a ~170
- ~95 mm
- stable, damp, good edgehold.
- Flat(ish) tail
What else should I be looking at?
salomon mtn 95? (too similar to the zero G?)
armada tracer 98?
Elan ripstick?
...?
-
03-18-2020, 04:55 AM #2Rod9301
- Join Date
- Jan 2009
- Location
- Squaw valley
- Posts
- 4,673
I have the vw katanas and i had the mtn explore 95. I sold the mtn because at speed, on firm, it was unstable. Think spring days on Shasta when it's still firm.
I felt much more secure on the katanas, even on steep, firm, even with the width.
Sent from my Redmi Note 8 Pro using Tapatalk
-
03-18-2020, 05:33 AM #3
Older skis :
Heavier, Blizzard Kabookie 173.
Narrower, Blizzard Altitude 173.
I have the Mantra VW and it rocks. Maybe wait for a discount or used pair ?
-
03-18-2020, 06:35 AM #4
Camox freebird is what I like in that spot
Sent from my iPhone using TGR ForumsI need to go to Utah.
Utah?
Yeah, Utah. It's wedged in between Wyoming and Nevada. You've seen pictures of it, right?
So after 15 years we finally made it to Utah.....
Thanks BCSAR and POWMOW Ski Patrol for rescues
8, 17, 13, 18, 16, 18, 20, 19, 16, 24, 32, 35
2021/2022 (13/15)
-
03-18-2020, 06:37 AM #5
Look at the Renoun skis. They tick most of your boxes, and will help you feel more comfortable about ponying up for the Mantras.
-
03-18-2020, 07:16 AM #6
This may not be much help at present, but you just described the upcoming 20/21 Volkl Blaze 94....and they will retail for $550
Other than that, ummmm, how about a Head Kore 93? Volkl 90Eight? Atomic Vantage 97c? Fischer Ranger 98ti? Any of those will outdo a touring weight ski for grip and charge in backcountry conditions, and they can all be had pretty cheap
-
03-18-2020, 08:23 AM #7
I would echo the advice about Völkl 90Eight. Super versatile ski.
-
03-18-2020, 08:54 AM #8Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Sun Valley, ID
- Posts
- 2,547
-
03-18-2020, 08:57 AM #9Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Sun Valley, ID
- Posts
- 2,547
-
03-18-2020, 09:29 AM #10Registered User
- Join Date
- Feb 2005
- Posts
- 675
Don’t know if it applies to all the Head Kores, but the ones I looked at were pretty high cambered, coming from a Katana would be very different feel.
-
03-18-2020, 01:27 PM #11
Damp, stable and somewhat light at ~95mm: What touring ski am I?
Praxis 9d8 or 172 cm praxis yeti at 94 underfoot
Sent from my iPhone using TGR ForumsAggressive in my own mind
-
03-18-2020, 02:43 PM #12
Last year's QST 99
Moment Commander 98
Sent from my Pixel 3a using TGR Forums mobile appLast edited by I've seen black diamonds!; 03-18-2020 at 03:35 PM.
-
03-18-2020, 02:51 PM #13Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2014
- Location
- Gaperville, CO
- Posts
- 5,852
-
03-18-2020, 03:01 PM #14
Last edited by galibier_numero_un; 03-18-2020 at 04:09 PM.
Galibier Designcrafting technology in service of music
-
03-18-2020, 04:51 PM #15
What core is in your yeti?
Maybe enduro core would be more damp?
Sent from my iPhone using TGR ForumsAggressive in my own mind
-
03-18-2020, 05:01 PM #16
Everyone raves about the salmon mtn 95. I personally love my praxis yetis for this exact spot in my quiver. I hate light carbon skis. The yeti is light enough for me but skis like an ski should
-
03-18-2020, 05:52 PM #17
FWIW I own a Zero G 95 and an MTN Explore 95.
No one would confuse the MTN with a heavy, damp ski. That being said, it's a much smoother ski than the Zero G 95. Not as high strung & more damp. It handles a variety of snow conditions quite well for the weight. It's better than the Zero G 95 in soft snow with more tip rocker and splay.
I use the Zero G 95 for long distance spring missions with a lighter boot (TLT6). MTN Explore 95 is my preferred spring time ski for slightly shorter approaches (although I've taken it on > 20 mile days without issue) or more difficult lines (for me at least). I ski the MTN Explore with a Maestrale RS.
This is just conjecture, but I imagine a Vwerks Mantra will ski better given the extra weight.
-
03-18-2020, 06:10 PM #18Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Sun Valley, ID
- Posts
- 2,547
-
03-18-2020, 06:30 PM #19
-
03-18-2020, 06:39 PM #20Registered User
- Join Date
- Dec 2009
- Location
- Sun Valley, ID
- Posts
- 2,547
-
03-18-2020, 06:54 PM #21Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2014
- Location
- Gaperville, CO
- Posts
- 5,852
-
03-18-2020, 07:06 PM #22Registered User
- Join Date
- Nov 2003
- Location
- none
- Posts
- 8,369
Damp, stable and somewhat light at ~95mm: What touring ski am I?
I got the 186 BMT94 and the 178 VW Mantra this year. I ended up mounting the Mantra alpine with 916’s@296.
I hate to say it, but the Mantras are too short.
I’d take $500 + flat.
-
03-18-2020, 08:09 PM #23
What about the Icelantic Pioneer? Haven't skied them but seems to check those boxes. Plus sweet graphics and a quality company.
-
03-18-2020, 08:29 PM #24
Wren 96ti. Later.
-
03-18-2020, 08:51 PM #25
I'll add that that if you don't mind gong a bit wider, the Zero G 108 is a phenomenal ski mountaineering ski. They are utterly predictable, excellent on hard snow and deal with gloppy spring snow better than any 95mm ski. They are my preferred spring ski in CO. I only use my Zero G 85's on long-ass days that will involve lots of kick turns or sidehilling.
Bookmarks