Dynastar M-Free 108 replacement

[D(C)]

Hmm, okay, you have me thinking about the 112s. If I like my 185 108s, 183 is probably my length in the 112s, right? And do you think they float considerably better than the 108s? I find I'm backing off the tips on the 108s in deeper snow.

[noslow]

Something might be up with that pair of Blackops 118 if you are having problems with the tail feeling so locked in and issues with turn initiation. They are dual radius skis as are the SF 110/MFree 112(think current MFree 108 too) so it's very stable when flat in its longer radius underfoot but initiates turns like a lower radius ski with its tighter radius tip/tail. Should be very easy to pivot in tight spaces with a -5cm total mount point and similar rocker to your MFree 108.
MFree 112/SF 110 are a hair more tapered than the BO 118 but all are noticeably less than the MFree 108. So they will all bite more on edge than the 108 but it shouldn't be as drastic as it's sounding for you.
Have had horrible factory tunes on all my BO 118, BO 98, SF 110 and now my Sender Free 100. All needed a grind and tune to make skiable.

[Dantheman]

"Fighting the tails" on a ski with as much tail rocker as the BO 118 is definitely a red flag for a tune issue.

[D(C)]

The tune might be part of it. I detuned the tips and tails, and ran a stone along the based to get rid of any hanging burr. That helped with how they ski on groomers, though I am sure a proper grind would be good too.

But I am talking about the fore-aft balance in soft snow. If I push into the front of my boots, I end up over-skiing the tips. There is a pitching forward feeling that I haven't gotten used to. I had the same feeling on the Blackops 98 mounted behind recommended, and on green QST 106s mounted 2 cm ahead of recommended. I prefer to have some tip in front of me to push into at turn initiation.

[D(C)]

So, some specific questions about the Optic 114 and Revolt 114 - there are many variables, but I find that tips 10 mm wider than tails is a good starting point for a balanced ski. The Optics are more symmetrical, and the Revolts have big tips. Do either of those skis feel weird when steering or initiating turns as a result?

[toast2266]

The tune might be part of it. I detuned the tips and tails, and ran a stone along the based to get rid of any hanging burr. That helped with how they ski on groomers, though I am sure a proper grind would be good too.

But I am talking about the fore-aft balance in soft snow. If I push into the front of my boots, I end up over-skiing the tips. There is a pitching forward feeling that I haven't gotten used to. I had the same feeling on the Blackops 98 mounted behind recommended, and on green QST 106s mounted 2 cm ahead of recommended. I prefer to have some tip in front of me to push into at turn initiation.

I had BO118's and didn't click with them in similar ways to what you're describing. I chalked it up to a more forward mount point and relatively wide tails, but I dunno.

Moved to some dynastar menace proto 118's (identical to mfree 118, except for top sheet). Those were much looser, and floated better. I ended up moving on from them because they felt a little vague to me, but if you want to try them, I still have mine and I'd sell them for cheap (they're 189's)

Ended up on praxis FRS's. Like them a lot. They're just a fatter, floatier version of my MVP's, which are my favorite daily drivers.

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[shank]

I was gonna suggest a look at the dynastar 118s (proto/mfree) they’re a stylistic complement not just a fat 108, lot more taper in the tips but similar feel in the tails. I’ve heard the vague comment before but I’ve never had a problem with them - I think the long taper in the tips is a trade off that loses some precision but gains surf and pivot. For a soft snow ski that’s a trade off I’m good with. Now that they’re replaced by the 112s you might be able to find a decent deal for an undrilled pair, or a mag looking to unload a pair to update the quiver.

[sf]

I'm still working on a fatter ski to complement my M-Free 108s - I’m now on the new “185” (in quotations because they measure the same as the old 182). I ended up getting the Blackops 118, mounted at -2.5 from recommended, but I am not clicking with them. They have too much tail and not enough tip, and turn initiation is unintuitive.

Short list is:
184 Volkl Revolt 114
186 Salomon QST Blank
186 Line Optic 114

If I love my M-Free 108s, which of those is my ski?

The M-free 118 has been mentioned several times, and I’ll share my thoughts. I’ve never tried the 108s.

I feel like the 118s are a very soft snow specific ski. While a Rustler feels like a fat allmountain ski, the 118s ski like a pow ski.

It’s nimble in the soft. Cuts through chop well. Will deflect in crud. Feels stiff and planky on hard snow. Holds an edge on groomers, but will wash/slide if you try to carve smaller radius turns than the stated radius on hard snow.

I like them a lot. For what they are. 189 are not «a lot of ski» but weight adds up.

A nimbler Billygoat, that handles crust and heavy chop a bit worse then the BG

And the Rustler 11s are something different. More in the class of the 108s than the 118s

[jacob_dbu]

I would say that the Revolt 114s are surfy because they have huge tits, but they are very planky. They can crush but everything I've read about the M-Free 108 indicates they will have a very different feel.I recently got some Jeffrey 118s and while they have a lower top speed than the Revolt 114s, they are much more fun in the PNWet IMO.

[D(C)]

You all sold me. I tracked down a pair of 189 M-Free 118s at half off. Now we just need a big dump of snow.

[samp]

If you are curious about the SF110 and have a BSL within pivot adjustment range of 305mm you are welcome to try mine. I went from 182 MF-108 to 184 SF-110 and on balance prefer the SF for everyday Whistler skiing. The main differences as I see them- Noticeably more flotation (mounted on line for MF-108 and -1 for SF-110)- As you said about BO118 SF has moar tail. Detune helped but not as loose as MF- Conversely better through chop, carve better etc...

[D(C)]

I've now had a couple days on the M-Free 118s, one in slush and one in deep Whistler pow. I went with the 189s, mounted at +1 from recommended.

The descriptions above of the M-Free 118 are accurate. They resemble the M-Free 108 in feel but are much more soft snow oriented. They float quite a bit better than the 108s - I sometimes feel like the tips on the 108s are too stiff to rise to the surface. They’re more work in set up chop and bumps than the 108s, with the tips requiring some attention to keep tracking. They’re a good quiver ski, but the 108 will still be the ski I grab most of the time, even on deeper days - Whistler gets tracked so fast, and the warmer snow we get packs out to something you’re not really blasting through.

Length-wise, they feel longer than my 185 M-Free 108s but shorter than I recall the 192s feeling. I guess that makes sense since they call them a 189. The length feels good, but they need some speed to come alive so that they can slide around on top of the snow, versus the more snappy nature of the 108s. I like them better in open alpine terrain than in trees.

Overall, they're a better fit for my preferences than the BO 118.

[Eluder]

I have mfree 108s for my daily and revolt 114s for bigger than daily. They play very well together IMO, and share enough charicteristics going back and forth is brainless.

[slashy]

hey Eluder, i remember from previous threads you are about my weight/size.
any feedback on the revolts especially regarding how well they handle big wide turns and then how they handle in the trees ? you are on the 184 ? i was a bit turned off by reports that they are overly stiff and since i'm quite light...

[Eluder]

<p>
Yeah, Im on 184s and am not large. I dont find them stiff but they are not noodles either. I do find myself disagreeing with this statement on several skis over the years which makes me question what people are comparing them to. Im guessing on this pituclar ski they are compared to other revolt models, but not other similar skis. Ive never once felt that they were too much skis for me which is driven home by the next point. I find them to work awesome in the trees as they pivot and slash well with my style of skiing. This is a spot where they share some characteristics with the M-free for me. For different reasons, both tails release very easily with a little tip pressure. I picked my pair up mid winter and have happily replaced a pair of Wildcat 116s. My only real complaint is they are China made Volkls and I generally like the German bases better, that said these have been fine.</p>

[jj111]

I had a couple runs on Revolt [emoji637][emoji637][emoji640]s on dust and crust and they seemed like the least damp skis I’ve been on. Thought I felt every tiny little bump. Just me?


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[oltrepiave]

Has anyone ever fondled/tried the BD impulse 98 or 104?

I can only find shitty PR-esque reviews on the interwebs.

I know recommended is at around -9 on the 104. I'd be interested in some flex rating or comparison.

[IceBumps]

I have both the Impulse 98 in 182 and 104 in 186. They measure true on on straight pull tape. I just picked up the MF 108 in 185, which is measuring approximately 181.5.
I bought the 98 in 22 / 23 season and like it so much that when the 104 went on sale that spring I pulled the trigger.
From a flex standpoint the 108 is the stiffest, the 104 has a little more flex, and the 98 slightly more flex than the 104. It feels like the flex is more in the shovel and behind the binding but they are not noodles by any means. The BD is damp considering it only has metal under foot. The BD are geared to soft snow and are very maneuverable. Both are my preferred off piste skis for the trees and moguls depending on whether there is fresh snow.
I favor the 104 from a fun factor as it has good floatation in fresh snow and the dampness allows it to charge the chopped up powder. From my experience the 98 can get bucked around in chopped up snow but is manageable. I live in a low snow area, so I use the 98s for a daily driver if the conditions aren&#39;t too icy or haven&#39;t gone through freeze thaw cycles.
Let me know if you have any other questions.

[oltrepiave]

Thanks so much dude. What binding/boot combo are you running with the 104? Weight should be just under 2kg per ski right? Where did you mount your 104?

I like non directional skis that can be smeared/thrown sideways to dump speed and to handle shit snow, let me know if the 104 sounds like something that could check the boxes for this kind of stuff.

[IceBumps]

The 104 weight is just under 2000. I have pivot 15s on the line and tecnica Mach 1 LV 120s. They can be thrown sideways, smear through bumps, and are solid in chopped snow.

[TigerMAX]

Can you talk more about this?
Because I have 185cm optic 104, 192cm mfree 108, 184cm revolt 121, and I like them very much. I am considering adding optic 114 or revolt 114, but I still can&#39;t decide which one is more suitable despite reading a lot of forum content?

I have mfree 108s for my daily and revolt 114s for bigger than daily. They play very well together IMO, and share enough charicteristics going back and forth is brainless.

[altacoup]

I haven’t skied the revolt [emoji637][emoji637][emoji640], but that thing is stiff as fuck. The optic [emoji637][emoji637][emoji640] is awesome, floats great in deep pow, but is chargey without being punishing.


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[kid-kapow]

the MF112 is an improved mf108. There is supposedly a BO118 type MF118 in the cards - which should be awesome as while MF112s and SF110s are similar on paper they ski very differently. A chargier (and if mf112 is comparable looser) BO18 should be nigh on powder perfection. I've skied first gen mf112 and both versions of mf118/PRotos -> MF112s are the best daily driver I've skied, and I prefer BO118s to both versions of MF118s.