2023 Scott Pure Free 90

Built for in-bounds skiing but with hints of off-piste, the Scott Pure Free 90Ti is a true all-mountain weapon. In sizes 170, 177, and 184, the Free 90Ti’s 90 mm waist generates turn radii of 17, 19, and 21-meters respectively, allowing the skier to have greater input as to the shape and duration of the arc. These are skier’s skis—what you put in is what you’re going to get out. In the 184, that 21-meter radius is great for both high-speed groomer turns as well as slower and rounder ones in the bumps and trees. Best-suited for advanced skiers who are looking for agility, quickness, and predictability, the Free 90Ti checks a lot of boxes for a lot of skiers.

With an all-poplar wood core, these skis are energetic, stable, and damp. Scott then adds fiberglass laminates to the top and bottom, with a titanal reinforcement plate underfoot. This metal laminate makes a lot of sense for a ski of this width, as it allows for a lighter swing weight in the tips and tails while keeping the mid-body of the ski damp, smooth, and strong. Excellent edge grip results from this titanal laminate, giving more front-side performance to skiers who really enjoy the feeling of a purely carved turn. For most skiers who are located in lower-snow zones, the Free 90Ti is a fantastic choice—ready and willing to take your skiing to the next level in a variety of forms and applications.

Hans von Briesen skied the 184, and noted that while it felt a little long for him, he’d likely choose that size for himself over the 177. Hans scored top marks of 4’s out of 5 for torsional stiffness, edge hold, quickness, and maneuverability. 2’s for playfulness and forgiveness show the more business-end of the ski, emphasizing the on-trail and carving prowess that these skis shall exude, given the shape and construction. As a well-rounded ski, it’s not going to be the best in any one category, and that’s mainly by design. Hans echoes this in his comments. “The Pure Free 90Ti is a somewhat versatile and reliable ski. It doesn’t knock your socks off, but it just barely keeps them on.” This is kind of a luke-warm/tepid review of the ski, but it does bring to light the overall average nature of the ski. Not everyone wants something that’s specific or amazing at one thing or another, they just want a ski to have fun on, and from Hans’ perspective, that’s a Pure Free 90Ti.

If you’re looking for that middle-ground ski that excels in versatility and well-roundedness, the Scott Pure Free 90Ti is the place to be. Neither amazing at floating nor totally precise at carving, the Free 90Ti checks a lot of boxes in the middle-ground of the zone, and that’s just where the vast majority of skiers are.