2023 Volkl Revolt 95

Likely the most versatile of all the Revolt skis in Volkl’s lineup, the 2023 Revolt 95 returns unchanged but for a graphics update, which is great news for a whole lot of skiers who value playfulness, edge grip, flotation, and energy out of a twin-tipped ski. On a side note, my personal knock on this ski is that it still doesn’t come in anything longer than a 181. At that length, though, these skis produce a 23.4-meter radius, which is nice and straight. Going down to the 157, that radius gets shaved to 16.7-meters. At 95 mm underfoot, it’s got one of the most versatile shapes of any ski—wide enough for floating through snow and narrow enough to remain quick and agile on firmer snow and groomers. It’s this type of well-roundedness that makes the Revolt 95 not only a fantastic park ski for competitive athletes, but also an awesome tree and bump ski for people like my wife. The range of skiers is hugely varied, and whether that was on purpose by Volkl or just a happy accident, it sure is a testament to the amazing ability of the ski to hold multiple things in hand all at the same time.

Phil McGrory was our lone tester on the 173, and he did find it to be too short. He notes that “The ski was too short for me. I would suggest skiing it longer, similar to most twin tip skis. It was also center mounted; I would ski it more at the recommended for the all-mountain skier, center-mounted for the freestyle-oriented skier.” Regardless of that length and mount experience, he still had some positive scores, with 4’s out of 5 given for quickness, maneuverability, playfulness, forgiveness, and versatility. He calls it a “Great all-mountain twin for the park skier that wants one ski to adventure into the woods with but also lap the park or cruise groomers with.” That’s the goal for sure, and Phil hits the nail on the head with this assessment. Despite the central mount, Brad Moskowitz found the 181 that he tested didn’t feel too long, but did indicate that the mount point made it feel a bit shorter. He scored the ski 5’s out of 5 for playfulness, forgiveness, and overall impression. All other scores were 4’s, showing that the ski has a nice and high baseline for versatility and performance. “This symmetrical twin tip ski may have been designed for the park, but it is also a fun all-mountain ripper that left me grinning from ear to ear! The Revolt 95 finds the fine balance of energetic playfulness and confidence inspiring edge hold while allowing the driver to remain balanced in a more neutral, or centered stance. There’s just enough strength/stiffness to pressure the shovels and lock into carving turns, while having the forgiveness to shift center or back to scrub speed, slide, or smear. This is not a demanding experts-only ski, but a forgiving and fun ride that most will enjoy. The twin-tip, camber combination provides energy and “pop” and eases the transition from air to the ground (shock absorbing), and the Volkl racing heritage helps reduce the chatter and squirrely feel that other twins might have when getting up to speed.”

Hans von Briesen called the ski “accurate” in terms of sizing, but seeing as he’s tall, I’d imagine he feels the way that I do in that they need a longer one in the lineup. His highest scores were 4’s out of 5 for flotation, stability, torsional stiffness, and edge grip. For Hans, “The 95 makes more sense as an all-day all-mountain ski for someone more curious about flotation and a slightly wider ski. It is stable but with that comes a slower transition and a little less playfulness in its turn to turn dynamic.” Jeff Neagle prefers the 181, and he scored it 5 out of 5 for playfulness, and 4’s out of 5 for quickness, maneuverability, versatility, and versatility. “The Revolt 95 is a fantastic value. In fact, it's one of those skis I think they could charge more for, but it's also cool they don't. It doesn't get all the bells and whistles of Volkl's flagship skis like the Kendo or M6 Mantra, but it's an excellent example of how good a ski can be with a very simple build and shape. It's designed as a wider park ski more than anything else, but I know plenty of directional skiers who enjoy its feel. My personal application for this ski (and I've owned one!) is a center mounted park ski that I can also ski some trees with. That's basically the perfect ski for how I like to ski and where I live. There are certainly other skis that accomplish it as well, but the Revolt might have the lowest price tag out of that entire group. Really its only limitation compared to more expensive skis in its category is torsional stiffness and edge grip. It carves reasonably well, but if you start to push on it and expect a lot out of it, you might be somewhat disappointed. That said, most skiers choosing this ski aren't putting their hip to the snow generating crazy lateral acceleration, so I don't really think that's even a concern.”

Overall, it’s great to see this ski back and ready for action, and with an updated graphic, it lends to a combination of fantastic performance, tremendous value, and a cool attitude.