2023 Volkl Blaze 106

The Volkl Blaze 106 for 2023 gets a bit of a graphics recharge, but remains the same great powder ski with both touring and resort capabilities. Due to the hybrid multi-layer wood core, these skis benefit from the blend of poplar and beech in addition to the more synthetic layer in between the stringers. As a result, the Blaze 106 remains light and maneuverable, giving it an uphill character that begs for fresh, deep, and softer snow. You can really put any type of binding on this ski, from lightweight pin tech bindings all the way up to high-DIN freeriders. This ski is supreme in terms of its versatility, and skiers will love the blend of flotation, smeariness, and drifty fun to go along with its pretty darn surprising edge grip and energy. While most skiers won’t see any 106 as being a daily driver, it certainly depends on where you ski and in what conditions. There’s a metal plate underfoot that offers some good structural rigidity, as well as rubber inserts in the tips and tails that allow for further vibration reduction.

Bob St.Pierre skied the 179 and noted that it felt too short, and he’d likely need the 186. Regardless, he scored the ski a 5 out of 5 for flotation, with 4’s given for quickness, maneuverability, and playfulness. All other scores were 3’s. Bob notes that the Blaze 106 has “Surprising edge grip and stability for a 106 mm underfoot ski that's 7cm too short for me. I could feel the flotation and the playfulness in the ski, though, and this will make a great option for skiers looking for a wider ski in their quiver. Added bonus points for the touring capabilities of the ski, but you can use it either in bounds 100%, out of bounds 100%, or 50/50 it to your heart's content.” The ability of the ski to be used both in the resort and as a touring ski is pretty attractive for skiers who don’t want separate setups for skinning or riding lifts. The Blaze 106 is a fantastic choice for this type of skier. Brian Cooke echoes those sentiments. He, too, found the 179 to be a bit short, but he still “Had a blast on this ski because the conditions were soft. This would be a great soft snow ski east or west. It had a little trouble blasting through the heavy spring snow mounds but it was stable enough. I imagine it would chatter a bit due to that softer construction, but they have enough beef to be a daily driver for a lighter skier. Maybe this would be a good option for 50/50 skiers.” His top score was a 5 out of 5 for flotation as well, with 4’s for stability, playfulness, forgiveness, versatility, and overall impression.

Dave Hatoff’s 179 was just right for him, as we see another 5 out of 5 for flotation for this ski. He scored mostly 4’s the rest of the way for overall impression, versatility, forgiveness, playfulness, and maneuverability. Dave notes that it’s “A great floater in pow, soft snow. Playful ski that can do any turn shape. Does have a speed limit. Due to its shape and build, not the greatest carver or hard snow ski. But a few inches of fresh, wind affected snow with its wide tip, or crud make this ski come alive. Lightweight, nice option for a 50/50 resort/touring ski.” The tip width is pretty darn massive, so it does feel like it’s a lot of ski to roll over on edge for sure. John McIntosh felt kind of the same way on his 179, noting that it was “plenty of ski for me.” He, too, scored it 5 out of 5 for flotation and 4 out of 5 for overall impression, noting that it’s a “great choice for freeride off-piste ski. Solid enough for inbounds skiing, but clearly most comfortable in the side and backcountry.”

Wide, light, and a whole lot of fun, the Volkl Blaze 106 has a lot to offer skiers looking to maximize their fun in the fresh and soft snow. Thanks to the construction, shape, and profile, these skis have endless upside when it comes to the deeper stuff. You can uphill, downhill, or both on these skis, and in that versatility lies their greatest strength.