2024 Men's ~110mm Freeride Ski Comparison

In our second installment in the 2024 Comparison Series, we’ve bumped up the width quite a bit to skis ranging from 108 mm to 115mm. There’s quite a span of product here, ranging from lighter weight, almost twin-tipped skis all the way to hard-charging Freeride World Tour competition skis. For most skiers, these will be a second (or third) set of skis for soft snow specifically. Surely there are skiers who will view most of these as potential daily drivers, but for most of the ski world, these are on the wide side for everyday skiing. It’s still impressive to see the vast differences in these skis, from build and flex to shape and application.

At a Glance:

2024 Armada Declivity 108 Ti Skis

Overview:

The big offshore boat is back! This Armada Declivity 108 Ti has such a smooth and powerful personality. That pairs well with some rather dramatic rocker and taper in the shovel, but more of a traditional tail. That tail contributes to the more business-like personality of the ski, delivering power and precision at the end of the turn while leaving the front of the ski more adept at floating and maneuvering. At the same time, we get two layers of titanal to keep the vibrations at an absolute minimum while the carbon stringers balance the metal with inviting energy. Ideally suited for crud, chop, and broken snow, the Declivity 108 vacillates easily between terrain and snow conditions, relying on the sturdy build and floaty shape to get it to react and respond accordingly.

Who it's For:

Mainly aggressive skiers who don’t shy away from a rather rugged ski. You like a longer turn radius in your fatter ski.

Price: $899.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Dynastar M-Free 108 Open Skis

Overview:

As opposed to the previous skis, the M-Free 108 is decidedly more playful and creative. We have more of a mustachioed shape that provides good grip underfoot and bowed-out rocker for when the snow gets deep. This blend of attributes provides a multi-dimensional product that is actually a great turner for groomers while remaining drifty and floaty in the deeper snow. Dynastar’s Hybrid Core utilizes Polyurethane extending into the sidewalls of the ski to create a smoother and more silent feeling while the wood core in the central zone provides more energy and pop to the mix. There���s a good amount of splay here, both in the tips and tails, giving the ski a bit of a freestyle nod as well.

Who it's For:

Creative skiers who are looking for a ski that stands up to rigorous yet playful skiing. You value multi-directional aspects to your ski and don’t want to sacrifice fall-line performance in order to get there.

Price: $799.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Fischer Ranger 108 Skis

Overview:

A soft snow specialist at this width, the Ranger 108 uses a spoony tip shape and gratuitous rocker to stay afloat in any depth of snow. The taper is on the dramatic side, and that pairs well with the ski’s more flexible nature, offering a sublime entry into the turn when soft. Underfoot, there’s still some rigidity there due to the Shaped Titanal laminate, but it’s neither intrusive nor cumbersome to the ski’s playful agenda. While the ski states a shorter 18-meter turn radius, we’ve found it to be considerably happier in straighter-line formats. This ski seems to be a friend to the fall line in non-fresh snow, and then when in fresh snow, the flex of the ski aligns better with the stated radius.

Who it's For:

Senders of the fresh and deep. This ski loves to be piloted by an experienced skier who can manipulate the flex and radius.

Price: $899.99

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At a Glance:

2024 K2 Mindbender 108 Ti Skis

Overview:

Back to business with this K2 Mindbender 108 Ti. While some of the skis on this list can cross over between playful and serious, this one falls to more of the business side of the spectrum. While they did add in more rocker and lower metal as of 2023, the ski still has a very sturdy and stable nature that will appeal to strong and aggressive expert directional skiers. While unchanged for 2024 with the exception of graphics, the K2 Mindbender 108 Ti is an amazing option for those that like to charge. The ski’s blend of metal, aspen, fir, and a burly sidewall underfoot see to its high-end performance while the long and low rocker keep it maneuverable and fun in softer and fresher snow. This mix of attributes makes it a good choice for a daily driver for those in snowier zones.

Who it's For:

Aggressive expert skiers who don’t mind working a little harder to access performance. You value stability and dampness, but don’t want to give up float in order to get there.

Price: $799.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Kastle ZX 108 Skis

Overview:

Drifty in the front and snappy in the back, the Kastle ZX 108 is a smooth and predictable performer in a wide variety of snow conditions and terrain. They are using more of a macroblock construction in this ski, and when paired with fiberglass, that poplar and beech blend makes for a deceptively strong build. There’s a lot of energy here, especially for a ski without metal or carbon—that's a testament to Kastle’s engineering, design methods, and technology. The big Hollowtech Tip keeps the ski relatively chatter-free by reducing mass in the shovel, it also makes the ski float a bit better due to the lighter weight. That long rocker and dramatic splay in the tips plays well against the flatter and more responsive tails, delivering a strong kick at the end of the turn for those times when the snow isn’t totally bottomless.

Who it's For:

Progressing powder skiers who are looking for a blend of performance and playfulness. You value quality and precision, but not at the expense of flotation.

Price: $799.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Line Bacon 108 Skis

Overview:

As one of the more twin-tippy skis on this list, the playfulness and creative aspects of this ski are off the charts. This could certainly fit into our wide twin tip category, but Line makes a bunch of skis that fit this bill, making it a solid contender in this division as well. Something has to be the most playful on the list, and this one likely gets that award. Built with the same maple macroblock core as we’ve seen in the Blend over the years, the new Bacon 108 is very flexible, especially once the rocker hits and the core profile thins. Underfoot, though, there’s still plenty of thickness and sidewall to make this ski hold up to some aggressive skiing, but once the shape of the ski gets into the twin tip zone, it becomes a whole different animal—a friendly animal! While we are done with the convex shaping in the Bacon, we now get Thin Tip construction which makes the ends of the skis insanely quick and maneuverable.

Who it's For:

Freestyle-oriented skiers looking for a wide-bodied twin for soft snow creativity.

Price: $749.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Nordica Unleashed 108 Skis

Overview:

The Unleashed 108 returns with a new graphic, but the same fun-loving character. This ski offers a great mix of turning performance with soft snow bravado. It’s got more, longer camber than almost anything on this list, and that’s pretty interesting given that it’s a twin tip. On-trail, this makes for a very rewarding experience—one that allows the skier to create very high edge angles and deep carves. Off-trail, the width helps in aiding the ski’s playfulness, but due to the long camber, the tails still kind of want to lock into a turn. Overall, it’s not that the ski is demanding, more in a relative sense for twin tips as well as other skis on this list. When compared to a burlier ski like the Katana 108, the Unleashed seems very maneuverable, so it’s all about relativity.

Who it's For:

Skiers looking for freestyle, width, as well as turning. Normally those things don’t pair well together, but they do with Unleashed 108.

Price: $799.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Volkl Katana 108 Skis

Overview:

While some other skis on this list can skew towards the playful, the Katana keeps business and pleasure firmly separated. This ski is a long turning hard charger that loves to be operated at speed and in wide open spaces. There’s not a whole lot of wiggle room here, the Katana is built to rip. By using the burly version of the titanal frame, a dense wood core, and a long turn radius, Katana 108 is a powerful performer that has straight-line intentions in mind. It is not as friendly as some of the more creative skis on this list, as this one has more of a concrete personality. That’s fine, and on the feet of the right skier in the right terrain, there’s nothing better.

Who it's For:

Aggressive skiers who feel the need for speed. That’s about it.

Price: $849.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Scott Pure Pro 109 Skis

Overview:

Thick and burly with a lot of wood, the Scott Pure Pro 109 is a smooth and solid performer with Pro-Level Skier written all over it. Scott, more than most companies, does a great job playing around with core thickness. You don’t have to add a lot more/different materials to the ski, in their mind, just more wood. As a result, there’s basically an insulating layer of material between the boot and the snow, resulting in a smooth and quiet feeling. Since they use only a central strip of metal for damping purposes, having this extra wood goes a long way in creating a firm and sturdy build. Blending Paulownia and Beech also helps when it comes to mixing energy, stiffness, and power. Scott also uses carbon stringers to add to the energy, making this ski an excellent choice for expert level skiers who love a good challenge out there on the hill.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who spend most of their time in search of deep, fresh, and soft snow. The steeper the better.

Price: $850.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Liberty Evolv 110 Skis

Overview:

Big, square, and flat, the Liberty Evolv 110 stands out even in this group as a directional charger. While it has some Katana notes when it comes to overall footprint, it still relies on a more fun-loving build, making it slightly more approachable while remaining extremely aggressive. The flat tail sticks out here, as the Evolv will hold on to a turn until the very end, slicing a clean turn through any type of fresh snow, crud, or chop. At this width, it’s one of the better turners out there, featuring three vertical metal struts to reduce vibrations and a long effective edge for smoothness and predictability. That flat tail works wonders when it comes to landing big drops as it provides abundant feedback in the back half of the ski. More playful skis tend to loop out upon landings, and there’s none of that with the Evolv 110.

Who it's For:

Aggressive and capable experts who know how to drive a ski.

Price: $869.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Nordica Enforcer 110 Skis

Overview:

A long-standing tradition in this category, the Enforcer 110 continues its excellent blend of gratuitous rocker and taper to match its burly build. There’s not a lot out there like this, complete with two sheets of metal for dampness and stability, pairing with a playful and fun-loving shape. As a result of the build and its relatively turny nature, this is one of the most composed on-trail skis on this list, and if you can get past the heavier nature of the 110, it holds up well to tighter and more technical spots too. There’s no speed limit here in terms of stability, but due to the ski’s preference to turn, it doesn’t love the straight lines either.

Who it's For:

Talented skiers who know how to wrangle a fat dual-metal laminate ski. You have strong legs and stiff boots and are ready to shred.

Price: $999.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Rossignol Sender Free 110 Skis

Overview:

While some of the skis on this list have been around for a while, the all-new Rossignol Sender Free 110 is making waves of its own. By splitting the difference between the Sender 106 Ti Plus and the Blackops 118, the Sender Free 110 combines a unique and progressive build with modern freeride shaping principles. From that shape perspective, this 110 certainly looks a lot more like the Blackops 118, but with a different build, it opens up more of that mid to big-mountain range. There’s a titanal beam, carbon alloy matrix, and air tip to get the ski more maneuverable. In addition, the ski uses damp tech to quiet the vibes. When it comes to shape and profile, there’s almost a symmetrical amount of rocker and splay, while the tip is more tapered than the tail, which is a bit rounder at the end. We’ve seen this ski used as an early entry into competitive freeride events, and it looks like it works great on the feet of competitive skiers.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers, but there’s some accessibility here. You value underfoot composure with more playfulness at the ends.

Price: $899.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Atomic Bent 110 Skis

Overview:

On the more playful and flexible side of the spectrum when it comes to skis in this range, the Atomic Bent 110 has its own niche pretty clearly marked out. There aren’t many on this list that are more playful or freestyle-oriented than this one, offering a ton of rocker, resulting splay, and ravishing graphics. The HRZN tech comes in handy on this ski, boosting flotation without adding surface area. With the flexible tips and tails, the creative and playful components are increased, appealing to skiers that are looking for a fat twin tip for deep snow and natural features. More similar to the Bacon 108 and the Origin 112 on this list, the Atomic Bent 110 is not really a high-octane ski, rather it’s amenable and accepting of slower speeds and more intricately shaped turns. Whatever style you wish to include with this ski, the Bent 110 will handle it.

Who it's For:

Freestyle-oriented skiers who spend most of their time in deep, fresh, and soft snow. You want a twin tip, but you also want a powder ski. And you don’t want two skis to do it.

Price: $749.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Head Kore 111 Skis

Overview:

Like the other Kore skis in Head’s lineup, the 111 features a rare and exciting mix of stiff flex and light weight. By incorporating two carbon laminates into the ski, with the top one curved to boost the stiffness, the Kore 111 is impossibly light for how reactive and precise it is. If we left it at that, skiers may wonder if the ski is too chattery as a result, but Head does a great job with their damping layers to smooth out the ride. Additionally, we’ve found that when the ski is at a higher edge angle, it operates much quieter. This makes the Kore 111 an excellent on-trail ski for the width without taking anything away from its soft snow and powder prowess. In fact, since lighter things generally float better, the Kore 111 is highly adept at staying on top of bottomless snow. As the Kore skis get wider, the taper and rocker become more dramatic, so there’s some bend to this ski as well, easing up on the accessibility.

Who it's For:

Skiers looking for a specific mix of attributes to create this light and shifty effect. You want precision and power, but not heft.

Price: $849.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Blizzard Rustler 11 Skis

Overview:

The re-do to the Rustler series has been met with fairly wide acceptance and enthusiasm. Not like the older one was bad, but the new one is a lot more refined. They are altering the metal up to be over the edges rather than through the middle, giving the Rustler 11 more emphasis on turning and edge control rather than a central zone of stability. It still has that underfoot, but the ski now feels more consistent from tip to tail. The rocker profile and taper shape remain largely intact, with the build being the bigger difference. By incorporating a True Blend wood core to the mix as well, the ski feels smoother and more evenly flexed. At 112 in the 180 cm and 114 in the 186, this ski is falling to the wide end of the spectrum, providing excellent flotation with a sophisticated snow feel.

Who it's For:

Aggressive skiers seeking active flotation performance. You want something relatively easy to turn but still has a strong backbone for support and energy.

Price: $849.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Blizzard Hustle 11 Skis

Overview:

We’ve found that these skis are sneaky-awesome and a ton of fun. By taking an existing shape and style of ski and lightening and energizing the feel, Blizzard made a poppy, playful, and incredibly floaty ski that really doesn’t fit exactly into the “touring” category, or even a “hybrid” zone really. Hustle 11 drops about 200 grams from the new Rustler 11, so it’s not like a wholesale change, going from 2100 to 1900. They both have the same TrueBlend core, but Hustle uses carbon stringers to give the ski its pep. As a result, this ski has some serious bounce. We loved it in softer snow and were surprised at how well it handled groomers and chopped snow as well. While Rustler will hold up better to more aggressive and hard-charging skiing, those who want to spend more time playing in the snow will likely gravitate to the Hustle zone.

Who it's For:

Bouncy skiers who love to use all available snow and terrain to generate their fun. You want wide, but don’t want bulk.

Price: $849.95

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At a Glance:

2024 DPS Kaizen 112 Skis

Overview:

DPS’s new Kaizen line has brought some new techy build features into the mix, allowing them to produce a relatively thin and responsive ski that still operates on the top end of the performance spectrum. The 112 is pretty similar to the outgoing Pagoda 112 RP in terms of footprint, but the build and the thickness of the ski are improved upon. While in previous years, the Pagoda build featured three types of wood laminated in different ways, the new build uses two. This, in addition to the normal dual-carbon laminates, allows DPS to be more proactive with the thinning of the core as it reaches the tips and tails. In this way, DPS can be consistent with the materials, providing excellent responsiveness to skiers looking for an effortless path down the mountain. These skis basically do it for you. The 112 still adheres to the 15-meter arc and the resulting rocker and profile, while they call it “Rocker” shape instead of “RP” it’s basically the same thing.

Who it's For:

Discerning and distinguished skiers who want nothing but the best. You value precision and quality above all else.

Price: $1,549.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Liberty Origin 112 Skis

Overview:

As we’ve talked about before, the main adjective revolving around the Liberty Origin 112 is “round.” This ski makes some of the roundest turns out there, and it’s all due to the oval-esque shape of the ski. By using the vertical metal stringer in the center of the ski, Liberty takes the volume and chatter down while keeping the playfulness at a maximum. The bamboo portions of the ski makes it smooth and predictable while the metal and carbon boost the performance. Since Liberty is known for blending the lines between freestyle and freeride, the Origin 112 makes a lot of sense for many skiers who see themselves in this light.

Who it's For:

Skiers looking for playfulness and drifty skiing above all else. While the width is keeping it more in the advanced and expert realm, the Origin 112 is pretty easy to ski.

Price: $829.00

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At a Glance:

2024 Salomon QST Blank Skis

Overview:

With a sharpened graphic and the same great floaty performance, the Salomon QST Blank blasts into 2024 ready to stay on top of any depth of snow, providing an excellent blend of playfulness and business for advanced and expert skiers. When we first got on this 112 a few years back, one of the things that stood out was the sturdiness of the ski. They infused the C/FX material into the poplar core quite efficiently, and it made for a surprisingly agile and substantial feel. By pairing this with a relatively short turn radius (16-meters in the 186), Salomon made a really fun and engaging ski. While the signs may point to more of a mellow performer, the Blank is quite capable of hard charging and aggressive skiing. It’s this mix of attributes that makes the Blank stand out in this crowd, offering a blurred line of drifty float and precise personalities.

Who it's For:

Skiers looking for a wide-bodied ski that skis a bit narrower than advertised. You want the bottomless performance, but also decent snow feel and carving control on the way back to the lift.

Price: $799.95

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At a Glance:

2024 Volkl Blaze 114 Skis

Overview:

For 2024, Volkl has not one, but two new 114’s, and that’s got to be some kind of a record. The Blaze 114 still is very much rooted in Blaze lore, complete with rubber tips and tails and a light and floaty feel. The ski still features a titanal binding platform that not only serves for tech binding retention, but also for increased torsional stiffness and edge control. In addition, or rather subtraction, the Blaze 114 has a Multylayer Woodcore Light that has wood stringers milled out of it in order to lessen the load. In the central chord of the ski, Volkl uses their Green Core technology that consists of a middle stringer made up of Isocore created from recycled PET bottles. By using recycled plastic in the ski, Volkl is giving a nod to the planet all while keeping the Blaze 114 smooth, fun, and floaty. Lots of rocker here, so the new Blaze is a big fan of deep snow.

Who it's For:

Adventurous skiers who are looking to blur and blend resort and backcountry skiing.

Price: $749.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Volkl Revolt 114 Skis

Overview:

While the Blaze 114 follows somewhat closely to what the other skis in the line are doing, the Revolt 114 kind of sticks out in a different direction. You could make the argument, based on paper, that the 114 splits the difference between Revolts 104 and 121, but the reality is that the 114 just feels like a different ski. This thing is pretty burly. When put into the more freestyle/freeride/twin tip Revolt range, the 114 stands out as being stout, thick, and relatively aggressive. This one moves a bit away from the freestyle realm and into the big mountain hard charging zone. While the ski uses the same overall wood core, they use it in a thicker manner, giving more weight and more stability to the ski. With big, flat tails, this ski leans a bit more directional, complete with thicker bases and a lot of mass overall. While a different overall ski than the rest of the Revolt series, we’re still stoked to see the 114 and its unique set of skills.

Who it's For:

Pretty strong skiers looking to merge freeride and big-mountain lines. You want a high-performance ski, and you are not afraid to work a bit harder to get it.

Price: $699.99

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At a Glance:

2024 Black Crows Anima Skis

Overview:

We had to put a wider one on this list. At 115, the Anima certainly would fit just fine in the Powder category, but with the juice behind the new Nocta from Black Crows, and the distance between the Atris and Anima, we felt this ski deserved to be in this zone. Adding to those thoughts and feelings, the Anima has some versatility to it as well, complete with poppy camber underfoot and a pretty rugged build with fiberglass, carbon, and kevlar. This build gives the ski a no-nonsense approach to the mountain, creating both deep and round carves as well as freeride versatility in softer snow and in natural features. It’s got some beef in the weight, but also enough splay and taper to make it more playful and smeary. That mix keeps it in the hard-charging zone while also allowing it to be as drifty and creative as some of the lighter and more flexible skis on this list.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who are looking for an aggressive ski that can also play. You want some substance underfoot and aren’t too afraid to point it down the fall line.

Price: $999.95

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