2023 Volkl Revolt 86

With new graphics labeled “Picture” and “Temple,” the 2023 Volkl Revolt 86 is catering to a young crowd of aspiring freestyle skiers. That said, it doesn’t have to be limited to that, as these skis make fantastic all-mountain skis for tweeners, small adults, or progressing skiers looking for something quick and agile and versatile. These skis are offered in a wide range of lengths, going from 148 to 180, and this does affect turn radius rather heavily, with the 148 getting a 15-meter arc while the 180 is a long 23. Built with Volkl’s multi-layer wood core made from poplar and beech, the Revolt 86 is a pretty straight-forward ski (for a twin tip). It also has a center sidewall with capped construction in the tips and tails to make it more durable and agile. For a simple ski, it’s pretty darn fun and snappy, and a fantastic option for a wide variety of skiers. The construction and sizing are identical between the two graphics, and although we only feature two male testers, these skis are totally unisex.

Hans von Briesen is a pretty tall skier, so it’s not a huge surprise that he found the 180 to be short. Other than a low score of 2 out of 5 for flotation, he was all 4’s the rest of the way, and for a playful and powerful skier like Hans, this is pretty impressive. Regarding that versatile nature, Hans notes that “It is an easy ski to put in many terrain options and it will very fluidly transition between them. From a hard charging carve releasing into a quick snappy combination feels like an easy and forgiving maneuver. I like this ski as a fun all-day, all-mountain ski for a dynamic skier.” The assumption is that this Revolt 86 won’t hold up to a strong and aggressive skier like Hans, but that theory gets debunked each and every year this ski gets rolled out.

Brad Moskowitz is a bit shorter than Hans, and he felt that the ski was true, but felt a bit short as the demo bindings were more centrally mounted than an all-mountain directional spot. Like Hans, he also scored the ski 2 out of 5 in flotation, with 4’s for quickness, maneuverability, and forgiveness. All other scores were 3’s. Brad states that “The Revolt 95’s skinny sibling shines with edge-to-edge quickness, as one would expect. I expected more stability at speeds as well, though I found the portlier 90 and 95 to be just as stable. Overall, a great line of all mountain rippers that balance a fun playful ride with the ability to rail at speed - True to Volkl’s racing heritage!” It is very nice to hear that while the ski has the playfulness and fun of a twin-tip, it has not lost the high-end feel that Volkl skis are certainly known for.

We always remark on how capable these rather simple wood core twin-tip skis are, and the Revolt 86 is no exception. It’s light, fun, and surprisingly capable, so a huge variety and range of skiers can enjoy all that it has to offer.