This crap is too wide for everyday use. It’s getting utterly out of control. People just slushing themselves around…………..

Thank you very much for this recap. This is by far the most helpful review I have come across. I can finally make sense of all the specs and what each ski is designed for. Used to be a “need for speed” guy, but am contemplating easing off a little (so likely Sky 7). Three others on my radar are Rossignol Experience 100 HD (similar to the Bonafide?), Rossignol Soul 7 HD (similar to the QST 99?) and Scott The Ski (similar to the Sky 7?). Would you have any insight into these? Thank you again for the overview… keep up the good work!

The guy skiing the mantra… awesome turns!

Awesome video!  Curious to hear your thoughts on the QST99 versus the 106.  In this video you seem to indicate that they ski fairly similarly to the 99’s you did the full review of, but most of what I’ve read elsewhere says that they ride quite a bit differently from one another.  Hoping you’ve ridden both and can compare / contrast the two.  If it matters, I’m 6ft, 175, advanced skier, ski Tahoe, looking mainly for something fun in the trees that can hold it’s own in a nice steep bowl and doesn’t suck riding the groomers back to the lift (or on those days where that’s all that’s available).  Thanks!

FINALLY a useful ski review that compares skis and a lot of them. THANK YOU! Think I am set on the Rossi Sky 7, but want to continue to research the K2 Pinnacle 95. If you have any other comments comparing these skis, LMK. Sounds like with the metal, it may be a little heavier and the Pinnacle 95 may be a little more hard charging. Thanks again!

Thanks! This was very insightful. (:

Hey!
The Raccoon Skis out of Quebec are a newer company but any chance you have an idea of how the Grand Duc (100mm Waist) compare to something such as the Bonafide?

Great video! I love skiing steeps, trees and am always looking for fresh snow. I was skiing on the Soul 7s for years but after demo-ing some other skis was finding their performance on the groomed runs really slippy a lot of the time when you are skiing all over the mountain. It seems like you are on groomers half the time whether you like it or not and often icy groomers at the end of the day. I ski Whistler in BC. I ended up buying a pair of Vantage 90s this year for those days when there is less fresh snow around and love them except less than ideal in the powder stashes. I sold my Soul 7s and am looking for the replacement for softer days with all-round performance. I think I have it narrowed down to the Sky 7, QST 99 or 105 and the Vantage 100…

RE QST: Flax is definitely used to provide vibration dampening. It has been used for that purpose at least in carbon bike frames, altough it’s use is not yet widespread.

I was just curious, how does the Atomic Vantage 100 CTi stack up to these skis? I’ve demo’d a pair of those and loved them out West during a recent ski trip at Whistler. I definitely would love to try these models if I had a chance to and was curious which one of these would have similar characteristics or would be recommended for someone who really enjoyed the Vantage?

Great video and comparison using terms and examples that make sense to me! I am in the process or replacing my 6yr old Volkl Gotamas (full rocker, no camber) with some thing that will perform better on groomers. I still want something to play in lighter snow and along the edges of the runs. I’ve got Volkl Shiros (119 underfoot) for powder days. I like big hard turns at pretty good speed and I find the Goat’s will slide and the tips will chatter. I’m seriously leaning towards the Bonafides. Road them for a weekend recently and was amazed with the groomer difference with a cambered ski underfoot! Haven’t had any camber since the Goats came home with me. I’m also seriously considering the Volkl 90Eights as the other option. I am curious why you chose to review the Mantra’s rather than the 90Eights? Can you give any insight into the 90Eights and compare them to the Bonafides? And can you confirm that the ’17 90Eights added steel to stiffen them up whereas the ’16 90Eights were straight woodcore? If so, I assume the ’17s will be more similar to the Bonafides? Thanks a bunch, keep up the good work!

Great review! You definitely hit the nail on the head. Such a huge category for sure. I’m an east coaster mostly at Stratton and on many different pairs of Line skis. Have you had the chance to ski J skis Masterblaster? Blister gave it a great review but Taos conditions are much different than ours. Thanks

Thanks for the excellent review of these skis. Very informative and useful.

so glad i watched this, as i ski the sin 7, and I’m in need of a hard snow ski. i loved the mantra, but it got away from me a bit on hard charge that turned bumpy, as I’m only 155lbs, and now recovering from a bad get bike get off, that has left me basically scared to get hurt again. i actually thought of a ski that suited a “former” aggressive guy, like you described the pinnacle. so it may have been a sign from god that i came home and saw this. k2 here i come

Hey Gregory! We’ll do our best to get out on the Fischer Ranger 98 Ti sometime soon! I know a few local skiers who ski them almost everyday, so I’ll see if I can cross reference our experience against theirs after we’ve skied it.

Great review. Do you have an opinion on which ski might have the best edge hold on hardpack/icey Eastern slopes. We see lots of Volkl RTMs, Rossi Experience 88, and Brahmas but not so many in the 100mm range. But I was kind of looking for something that would work better for me out west but still cut like a knife on eastern hardpack.

anyone wondering about these guys, I’d say just give them a try. Great sales and promotions, and their sales staff are super friendly and responsive. They’re also active on EpicSki, and always provide a wealth of information on new and upcoming skis. I’ve bought my dos cassiar 85 from them last year, and will be buying from them when I get the enforcer.