2023 Kastle FX96 Ti

Returning unchanged for 2023, the Kastle FX96 Ti brings with it a ton of power and passion for true all-mountain skiing. Built with a sophisticated wood core, two sheets of metal, and dual-fiberglass laminate, these skis are strong and powerful for advanced and expert skiers who are looking for something that can be used in any and all situations. We talk a lot about this mid-90's range being the sweet spot for a one-ski quiver, and that does not change with this Kastle. The central chord of the ski consists of poplar and beech wood stringers while the outer portions use poplar and paulownia. The blend of these woods over different parts of the ski makes a lot of sense in terms of keeping the middle of the ski solid and stable while the edges are more friendly and versatile. Additionally, the lighter paulownia, combined with Hollowtech 3.0 makes for a lighter swing weight and increased maneuverability. The 180 produces an 18.1-meter turn radius and tips the scales at 1935 grams per ski. For a ski of this width and build, it’s nice to see that we’re still under the 2000-gram threshold. If you’re looking to rip turns on groomers without having to sacrifice off-trail capabilities, the Kastle FX96 Ti is worth a strong look.

David Carter found his 172 cm test ski to be just right, and he gave it a lot of high scores. With a top mark of 5 out of 5 for playfulness, David was all 4’s the rest of the card, including overall impression, versatility, stability, and forgiveness. This is a high spread, and a strong baseline for sure. “I found the ski to be enjoyable overall it was very versatile had good stability and edge hold.” The edge hold certainly stands out with this ski, making it a very capable corduroy crusher. On the 180, Rick Randall noted it was just right for him and gave it top marks of 4 out of 5 for overall impression, torsional stiffness, edge hold, quickness, maneuverability, stability, and flotation. That’s a lot of 4’s, and those were contrasted by a low score of 2 out of 5 for playfulness. It is interesting to note here, that while David scored the ski a 5 for that category, Rick’s 2 stands in sharp opposition. Fun to get different opinions! Rick calls it “Stiff and fast. Not for the intermediate skier, so someone that likes stiff skis that charge then this is a good option. You have to drive the ski, as it wants you to push it to really open it up.”

Also on the 180, Bob St.Pierre notes that it skied true to size, but “I’d size up for myself for sure.” He gave it top scores of 5 out of 5 for versatility, overall impression, stability, torsional stiffness, and edge hold. “The Kastle FX96 Ti is an awesome all-mountain ski that cranks fast turns but also has slow-speed compliance for bumps and trees. While it can be a bit of a handful in the tighter turns, it certainly loves to open it up and let it rip. Incredibly stable underfoot and through the tail, there is some tip movement, which is fine, you just have to expect it and deal with it. That same tip, with a bit more flexibility, really opens the ski up to off-piste adventures and fun. It’s a better ski for plowing through crud and chop than dancing over it, but if you’re an aggressive skier who likes to attack these types of conditions in variable terrain, then you’re going to love the FX96 Ti.”

A fantastic middle-ground option for advanced and expert skiers, the Kastle FX96 Ti has a lot to offer in a true all-mountain format. We tend to overestimate how much time we truly spend off-trail, so in that spirit, it’s great to have a ski that actually excels on groomed and smooth terrain on-piste while having the capability to thrive in a more adventurous application.