Forgiving mid-90s touring ski

[skiNphish]

I've been touring on the BC Camox Freebird for a few seasons and really dislike it. I find it's great on the uphill but (for me) skis terribly on anything except perfect powder or corn. I find it's unforgiving, requires a very forward stance, can be tough to initiate a turn (if not always driving those shovels), and it's tails are quite hooky and punishing of any imperfect form. Maybe good for some, but I'm often not skiing with tiptop from after a long tour uphill...

So, I'd like to replace these with a new mid-90s underfoot ski exclusively for touring (ATK Raider, Atomic Hawx XTD) I'm totally fine with taking on an added few hundred grams for a better downhill experience. Id like a ski that's versatile. I mostly tour in Rockies and PNW and love long spring missions (e.g. PNW volcanos). The ski should also be forgiving, tolerate a centered or even occasional backseat stance, and initiate turns pretty easily. I've been thinking about the following skis:

Elan Ripstick 96 (non-touring model): seems like a good weight (~1625 in 172cm) and versatile but not surprisingly I haven't seen many reviews of people using it as a touring ski since Elan makes a lighter touring specific model.

Atomic Bent 100: this one surprised me when I read the Blister review, which was quite positive and suggested the ski is way more versatile than I'd have expected.

Volkl Blaze 94: don't know too much about it but similar to the two above seems like a tourable ski that's typically marketed for downhill use.

Others? I've been gravitating toward lighter alpine skis (in the 1600g/ski @ ~170cm) rather than AT skis based on my experience with the Camox Freebird, but I'm open to other suggestions too. Thanks so much.

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[thecazdog]

I too skied the Camox FB for a while, but found it underwhelming.

Can fully endorse Majesty Superwolf. Fantastic touring ski, meets all your criteria. You can go the lighter carbon version if you wanna save grams, or the Adventure GT ti (same ski, just a bit beefier construction).

[altacoup]

No real specific suggestions. But super light and stiff is the perfect combination to make an absolutely horrible ski. As you look at lighter skis look for something with a softer flex that won’t get deflected off of every little snow imperfection. I really wish ski companies would figure this out, but so many skiers buy skis based on an in store hand flex.


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[MagnificentUnicorn]

Consider the Heritage Lab BC90. Pretty much what you are describing. Initial impressions for me are that they are very intuitive, very stable for their weight, pretty forgiving. I’m going to get more time on them this week.

The Bent 100 gets favorable reviews from people that are lighter it seems


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[skiNphish]

Thanks! I should have mentioned, I am on the lighter side (5'9", 130)

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[jacob_dbu]

I skied a 170 Dynastar M-Tour 99 and was so impressed with it's ease of use that I bought a 178. I'm 5'10" 170lbs. I could ski it much much harder than I was expecting.

I currently ski a K2 Wayback 96 and it is too stiff. I've heard good things about the Salomon MTN 96 as well.

I also have an ON3P Woodsman 102 Tour. Very forgiving ski, although I love the shape, I found the flex in the touring layup a little too round for the weight of it.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Line Vision 98 might work

[skiNphish]

Line Vision 98 might work

I had thought of this one..not too soft for more challenging, steeper, firmer stuff (eg spring couloirs)?

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[Lasiocarpa]

I had the Camox freebirds and I didn’t really like them either. For a similar ski on paper but much better execution in my opinion check out the Voile Hypervector (or ultravector). I like them alot.

[Pins and Skins]

The 2024 model Black Crows Solis in the 173cm (about 1650g). I've skied the prior generation which is the same shape, just slightly heavier. It's night and day to all the Freebird skis. Very easy to pivot and has a backbone for steeper/techy runs.

https://the-high-route.com/black-crows-solis/

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I had thought of this one..not too soft for more challenging, steeper, firmer stuff (eg spring couloirs)?

I'd say that the skis that I think are good on firm steeps generally aren't very tolerant of backseat skiing.

[fleaches]

Bmt 94 if you can find one

Or HL BC 90. It doesn't feel exactly the same but definitely has the BMT 94 DNA

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[Tjaardbreeuwer]

I got the new Wayback 98 this season. Very pleased with it. Nice smooth arcs on good snow, and easy to turn in slush and powder, and most of all, forgiving if I get backseat.
Note that actual width is 97mm.
As far as stiff, where? Which axis? check soothski for that.

I way much more than you, at 175 lbs, but, I am also 6”5” so I am skiing the 186cm, so if you size down for your height, I bet you have the same experience.

It is lighter than many of the skis you mention, so, it’s not stable, and gets knocked or pushed around by funky snow. But, it’s not hooky, and so it’s easy to recover.

[altacoup]

I would say that k2 is probably the company that makes the most damp lightweight skis on the market, besides the praxis yeti but that isn’t really light. But their mount points are 80s style and way too far back.

[kamtron]

I dunno, I think the Wayback 96 is fairly forgiving in the PNW for volcanoes etc. It is stiff enough to edge but also smearable and with the pintail it does ok in pow. The 98 is more of a "beginner" ski from my understanding.

From what you're describing wanting, though, I think the Vision would be okay. More of a center-mounted rockered ski. Some of my buddies use it for volcanoes and like it. It's not my style, personally, I prefer a traditional mount (never have got along great with Line's offerings).