2023 Kastle TX103

Returning unchanged for this upcoming winter, the 2023 Kastle TX103 is a fantastic touring ski that loves to be used in search mode for fresh, soft, and deep snow. Whether you're seeking it out in distant peaks or nearby hills, the lightweight and high-end feel of the TX103 is nothing short of spectacular, allowing a new breed of touring skiers the ability and gear to get further into the backcountry. Additionally, since these skis were engineered and built in the European Alps, it makes a lot of sense that they're pretty darn strong in the resort setting as well.

Built with a blend of poplar and paulownia wood, the skis get a great combination of light weight energy from the paulownia and strong stability due to the poplar. Kastle then gives the ski what can best be described as a fiberglass and carbon sock around that core, keeping it all together as one cohesive unit. This is the type of construction that sets Kastle apart from the competition, and makes the ski feel like it's on the higher end for sure. Add to that, two sheets of additional triaxial fiberglass on top and bottom of the sock-wrapped core, and you've got a pretty burly ski. The amazing part is that in the 181 cm length, the skis still come in at a paltry 1620 grams per ski, so you are not losing a whole lot in terms of uphill efficiency. Kastle calls it a semi-cap construction, but it looks more like a full sidewall to me. Perhaps a bit of a cap.

At 103 mm underfoot, these skis have the width and surface area to float through some fresh snow for sure. 138 mm in the tip and 120 mm in the tail combine to make a 19-meter turn radius in the 181, and this is a great shape for making a whole lot of different turn shapes and styles. As per usual with the Kastle skis, the TX 103 gets the Hollowtech treatment, with the 3.0 oval up top to reduce vibrations and chatter. On the uphills, the flatter tail and the tip rocker combine with the weight to make a pretty quick climber. These skis can skin with the best of them, and then when you get to the top, the build quality and downhill prowess make for quite an exhilarating ride. Touring is all about blending the ups and the downs, and you can feel totally confident that these skis provide some of the best combinations of those qualities, allowing skiers to maximize the fun and enjoyment of their time in the backcountry in the search of fresh and soft snow.

Binding selection is key here as well. The skis are light enough to warrant a more technical pin binding, but they're also burly enough for up to a frame binding. Make sure the binding you use is in line with what you're using the skis for. Backcountry skiing and touring is all about having fun out there in the distant winter snows, and these Kastle TX103's are some of the best all-around touring skis we've seen come through, and we're all about that.