The 88-90mm All-Mountain category is one of the most popular, yet "all mountain" has different meanings to different skiers. In this case, any of these skis could be the foundation of an eastern or western quiver. As the season progresses, we should see some of them in Long-Term Tests.
Snippets are designed not so much to answer questions as to start conversations. Please feel free to ask questions and open up discussion on any of these skis. Let us know what you are thinking and what you are looking for.
Next to the model name you see either All New or NGT. "All New" is self-explanatory: these skis are brand-new designs for the coming season. "NGT" refers to New Graphics Technology, which simply means the ski is a carryover from last season with updated graphics but no change in construction. There are no dimensions or sidecuts in the Snippets, and you know why? It really doesn’t matter. They are just numbers and have little to do with the feel of the ski on the snow -- and what is more important out there, feel or numbers? We will be discussing this a little more throughout the season.
Armada Invictus 89Ti (All New): This was one of the pleasant surprises at Ski Test. The 89Ti is playful and one of the most versatile skis in the category. Armada hasn’t been on the radar of many skiers over 30, which is a shame, but they are expanding their offerings and are worth a look.
Atomic Vantage 90 CTi (All New): A nice evolution from the outgoing Vantage collection, the new Vantage 90 CTi’s have a better shape and are more consistent in feel throughout the turn shape than the previous generation.
Blizzard Brahma (NGT): For versatility with an off-piste bias, the Brahma in 3 short years has become the reference ski, the one the others are measured against. Blizzard's Flipcore just works: it's as good as or better than any construction in this area without losing hard-snow performance.
Dynastar Powertrack 89 (NGT): Dynastar has done a very good job with the PT89. It has a shorter turn built in with with its five-point sidecut, a design that does not get nervous at speed. It is a good balance of finesse and power.
Head Monster 88 (All New): Could this be the new reference ski in the class? Only time will tell. Head has been on a roll lately, and bringing the Monster name back is just another notch in the bedpost. The new 88 is so smooth and reacts so well on groomers, it will make you wonder why you would want anything narrower.
Kastle MX88 (NGT): Yes, the MX88 is the grandfather here. It is astounding that a 7-year-old ski is still considered a class leader, but the MX has a feel that not many skis can rival. Very few skis bely their dimensions like this ski does: on hard snow it feels narrower, in soft snow it feels wider. The MX88 is a truly special ski, villages have written songs about it ...
Line Supernatural 92 (NGT): Gumwall sidewalls differentiate the 92 from the other skis here. These are just hyper smooth and damp without feeling neutered. The SN92 performs well on the hard pack without losing versatility off piste.
Nordica NRGy90 (NGT): Easy does it, the NRGy90 is all about relaxing out there. Can it move when asked to? Yup, but it doesn’t require all your attention all the time. The NRGy90 does need tip pressure, so stay forward.
Rossignol Experience 88 (NGT): Of all the skis here, the Rossi is the most frontside biased. The snub nose of the E88, along with a fairly stiff mid-body and flared tail, makes for a very positive turn shape; it doesn’t want to let go.
Salomon X-Drive 8.8 FS (NGT): One of the more powerful skis in this group. Remember the Sentinel? Neither do most people, but it was one of the best skis Salomon ever made. Salomon went back to it for the 8.8, a ski that has much of the Sentinel's DNA. The 8.8 FS deserves to be on the feet of a lot of skiers, a lot of good skiers.
Scott The Ski (NGT): The Ski is just fun. Scott wants The Ski to be easy and playful; out of this bunch, it's the best in the bumps. The 3D sidecut gives The Ski a very quick edge-to-edge feel without the nervousness that can come with this shape.
Stöckli Stormrider 88 (NGT): Wow, forget about when any Stormrider would beat you senseless then spit out your carcass. Welcome to modern times, the new Stormriders are refined and smooth and do everything superbly, at any speed.
Volkl Kendo (All New): It’s about time. The outgoing Kendo was long in the tooth and overdue for a replacement -- no, I was not a fan. The new one is good, really good. Volkl is offering some exceptional new skis for 2016, and this is one of them. The new Kendo has a much more balanced flex and reacts so much better to subtleties in input than the old model ever could.
Snippets are designed not so much to answer questions as to start conversations. Please feel free to ask questions and open up discussion on any of these skis. Let us know what you are thinking and what you are looking for.
Next to the model name you see either All New or NGT. "All New" is self-explanatory: these skis are brand-new designs for the coming season. "NGT" refers to New Graphics Technology, which simply means the ski is a carryover from last season with updated graphics but no change in construction. There are no dimensions or sidecuts in the Snippets, and you know why? It really doesn’t matter. They are just numbers and have little to do with the feel of the ski on the snow -- and what is more important out there, feel or numbers? We will be discussing this a little more throughout the season.
Armada Invictus 89Ti (All New): This was one of the pleasant surprises at Ski Test. The 89Ti is playful and one of the most versatile skis in the category. Armada hasn’t been on the radar of many skiers over 30, which is a shame, but they are expanding their offerings and are worth a look.
- Pros: Proportionate sizing, every skier will have the same experience. Price.
- Cons: Graphics, but I'm sure the kids like them.
Atomic Vantage 90 CTi (All New): A nice evolution from the outgoing Vantage collection, the new Vantage 90 CTi’s have a better shape and are more consistent in feel throughout the turn shape than the previous generation.
- Pros: Quieter, with a more refined feel on the snow, the new Vantage has grown up.
- Cons: The collection can be a bit confusing.
Blizzard Brahma (NGT): For versatility with an off-piste bias, the Brahma in 3 short years has become the reference ski, the one the others are measured against. Blizzard's Flipcore just works: it's as good as or better than any construction in this area without losing hard-snow performance.
- Pros: Damp and smooth without being vague or disconnected.
- Cons: Lighter finesse skiers could get overpowered.
Dynastar Powertrack 89 (NGT): Dynastar has done a very good job with the PT89. It has a shorter turn built in with with its five-point sidecut, a design that does not get nervous at speed. It is a good balance of finesse and power.
- Pros: Easy with a big sweet spot that will make the most of any turn you shape ask of it.
- Cons: Needs a high edge angle to really bite into the turn.
Head Monster 88 (All New): Could this be the new reference ski in the class? Only time will tell. Head has been on a roll lately, and bringing the Monster name back is just another notch in the bedpost. The new 88 is so smooth and reacts so well on groomers, it will make you wonder why you would want anything narrower.
- Pros: The better you are, the more rewarding the ski is.
- Cons: If you spend much time off piste, there are better options.
Kastle MX88 (NGT): Yes, the MX88 is the grandfather here. It is astounding that a 7-year-old ski is still considered a class leader, but the MX has a feel that not many skis can rival. Very few skis bely their dimensions like this ski does: on hard snow it feels narrower, in soft snow it feels wider. The MX88 is a truly special ski, villages have written songs about it ...
- Pros: "Refined" is the word.
- Cons: The 158 is too stiff, the 188 is disproportionate; stick to the 168 and 178 if you can. This will be the last year of production for this all-time classic.
Line Supernatural 92 (NGT): Gumwall sidewalls differentiate the 92 from the other skis here. These are just hyper smooth and damp without feeling neutered. The SN92 performs well on the hard pack without losing versatility off piste.
- Pros: Smooth and solid.
- Cons: Expects your full attention.
Nordica NRGy90 (NGT): Easy does it, the NRGy90 is all about relaxing out there. Can it move when asked to? Yup, but it doesn’t require all your attention all the time. The NRGy90 does need tip pressure, so stay forward.
- Pros: NRGy on demand.
- Cons: If you ski in the backseat, look elsewhere.
Rossignol Experience 88 (NGT): Of all the skis here, the Rossi is the most frontside biased. The snub nose of the E88, along with a fairly stiff mid-body and flared tail, makes for a very positive turn shape; it doesn’t want to let go.
- Pros: Pop and spring across the hill is where this ski shines.
- Cons: As the most frontside-biased ski here, it lacks versatility off piste and bumps.
- Pros: Power and smoothness.
- Cons: Timid skiers just won’t be able to get enough out of it.
Scott The Ski (NGT): The Ski is just fun. Scott wants The Ski to be easy and playful; out of this bunch, it's the best in the bumps. The 3D sidecut gives The Ski a very quick edge-to-edge feel without the nervousness that can come with this shape.
- Pros: It doesn’t get any easier than this.
- Cons: A total miss on the graphics.
Stöckli Stormrider 88 (NGT): Wow, forget about when any Stormrider would beat you senseless then spit out your carcass. Welcome to modern times, the new Stormriders are refined and smooth and do everything superbly, at any speed.
- Pros: Everything.
- Cons: Nothing.
Volkl Kendo (All New): It’s about time. The outgoing Kendo was long in the tooth and overdue for a replacement -- no, I was not a fan. The new one is good, really good. Volkl is offering some exceptional new skis for 2016, and this is one of them. The new Kendo has a much more balanced flex and reacts so much better to subtleties in input than the old model ever could.
- Pros: All new and so much better.
- Cons: People are going to think this is just another Kendo; it’s not, it’s better.
Last edited: