2027 Kastle MX88

The 2027 Kastle MX88 is a carryover model for this year, and it returns as one of the more accomplished carvers of its category and grouping. At the end of the day, this is a workhorse of a ski, capable of unleashing GS turns at inconceivable speeds with incredible smoothness. The MX88 is best when used by accomplished skiers who love the feeling of a purely carved turn. We’ve found that going fast is where this ski likes to be the most, and while mid-speed performance is boosted with the latest tech, it’s still happier at higher velocities. While versatility is somewhat of a thing here, it’s happier on-trail and in a carved turn. The race heritage is still strong with this one.

The construction of the MX88 is right in line with Kastle’s commitment to quality. Built with Kastle’s InfiniCore, the MX 88 gets a sophisticated start. We get a blend of poplar and beech, as we have before, but the core allows the engineers to be more deliberate with the placement of the wood stringers. In this ski, the central portion consists of mainly beech while the outer sections are lighter and more mobile poplar. This puts more emphasis on central power and stability while keeping the edges of the ski remotely easy. Overall, it’s an incredibly sturdy build with two sheets of metal for ultimate damping. With the Hollowtech EVO designation, Kastle basically extends the light/thin zone to the whole tip, making it lighter in swing weight and more efficient at reducing vibrations. The rest of the ski is all there, functioning as a complete on-trail crusher. That ruggedness comes at the price of weight, with the 181 hitting the scale just under 2000 grams per ski. Tester Ben Debenectictis notes that it’s “Such a fun ski! Crazy grip for an all mountain ski. This is an aggressive ski that is also somehow forgiving. Best for an expert. The this ski would work for all abilities but it really wants to be driven hard.”

When it comes to shape and profile, this ski certainly leans to the frontside. This is still a pure tip-to-tail carver with a long effective edge and not much to speak of in terms of rocker. In the 181, we get a slightly longer turn radius than the other MX skis, hitting 18.8-meters. This allows for more direct access to the fall line and smoothness and stability at speed. The square tail holds tight to the turn while the fast grip shovel hooks right in to the carve. We did find that the lighter tip did make it more agile and nimble when entering a turn, and while we’re not going so far as to call it floaty, it does help make the MX88 feel a little bit versatile. Tester Greg Petrics states that his “first impression of this ski is it's a race room build with the whole mountain on its mind. I find it performing and reacting to my inputs similar to how a GS ski would but with a bit less responsiveness which is welcome for its all mountain ambitions.”

With high quality comes a bit of a higher price, but if you’re interested in a top end ski, this is what it takes. The engineering behind the ski counts, and it is reflected in the cost. Advanced and expert skiers who know what they’re looking for in a ski will love the MX88. It’s on the stiff and rugged side for progressing intermediates, making it a bit more unique and purpose-built. If you’re in the right zone as far as skier type goes, and you don’t mind dropping an extra couple hundred, you’ll be rewarded with a very strong and consistent performance. It’s a very wide frontside ski in its character, and that’s exactly what Kastle is looking for in its marquee MX88.