2025 Volkl Revolt 96

The 2025 Volkl Revolt 96 is a wonderful update to the outgoing 95, which we wouldn’t go so far as to call stagnant, but it’s nice to have a refresh at the same time. For years, the Revolt 95 was a stalwart option in the mid-90's freestyle division, and as an athlete driven ski, it featured a central mount point, tip and tail rocker, and a durable build that stood up to the harshest of throw downs in the park. As good as it was in those situations, even more skiers fell for the Revolt as an amazing all-mountain ski. This ski opened a lot of skier’s eyes to the benefits of a wider twin tip for general daily use. You did not have to be a dedicated park skier to enjoy the Revolt 95, and we’re happy to say that trend continues into 2025. More skiers should be adventurous with their skiing and give this ski a shot.

Volkl doesn’t throw the kitchen sink at this one. The basic construction of the ski is pretty similar to the outgoing model. Built with a Multilayer Woodcore and a blend of full sidewall and Mini Cap sandwich, Revolt 96 is sturdy and somewhat hefty feeling. This gives the underfoot region of the ski a whole lot of density and strength while keeping the ends of the ski lighter and more manageable. When the shape is factored in, the ski becomes even more useful, fun-loving, and versatile than ever before. Built with a thicker and stiffer base, this ski glides well and can withstand serious use. In the 173, we’re seeing the ski hit 1920 grams per ski, so while it’s not a feather, it’s still on the maneuverable and agile side of the spectrum. It certainly feels like a sturdy ski both underfoot and through the ends. Jeff Neagle notes that the “Revolt 96 is a straight-forward, no-frills all-mountain twin tip, and sometimes those are the most fun skis you can find! It's simple, yet effective. Smooth, relatively soft flex pattern that's easy to manipulate into different turns. There's definitely a limit to how hard you can ski it as there's not endless stability or edge grip, but that's fine with me, that's not what the ski is about. Fun bopping around as an all-mountain ski and a nice, durable option for the park.”

With sharper and pointier ends, the Revolt 96 looks very fun and inviting. The shape is where this ski changes the most from its predecessor. While the old Revolt 95 had a very long effective edge, and almost no taper in the tips or tails, the 96 is quite the opposite. The ends of the ski are quite a bit sharper and pointier, contributing to more drifty and smooth character overall. This shape, combined with a 3D Radius Sidecut, makes for a very round turning ski. While the sidecut does vary, it’s not quite the same as in other skis in Volkl’s line. Here, we’re seeing the 173 have a 17-meter arc underfoot to go along with a 20 in the front and a 19 in the back. The nice thing is that you can find the 17, hold it, and make amazingly clean and round turns across the fall line. It skis a lot more interestingly as a result. While the tip and tail rocker profile is decidedly twin tipped, there’s not thing crazy about it, rather it falls in line with a lot of other well-rounded twins out there on the market today. Neagle continues to state that “It's best in the park, in the trees, and just jibbing around the mountain. Super fun for popping little 180s off natural hits and stuff like that. Buttery and easy to release the edge, so it's super easy going from forward to switch and back again.”

With a nice flex and a comfortable character, this ski is a total blast. Skiers looking to get into the park and have an absolute blast in an all-mountain format should line up quickly for the Volkl Revolt 96. This ski is also a great value, as you’re getting quite a bit of ski for not a whole lot of money. From intermediates who are looking for a sturdy and fun-loving twin to cruise the mountain on, all the way up to highly competitive park and pipe enthusiasts, this Revolt 96 is a welcome ski with nothing but positives. Actually, I do wish it came in a longer size. 181 is a bit short for the bigger skiers.