Dying to get on them as well... we need more snow where I'm at.
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Dying to get on them as well... we need more snow where I'm at.
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All I can say is I continue to be blown away by this ski, definitely my favorite resort ski I’ve ever been on. Have not had a super deep day yet but have no doubt they will slay it.
At the demos I was amazed at how much float I got out of the 191 M102 so would be really surprised if the K108 wasn't really good in a foot or more. The thing that really stood out to me with the K108 on day after a rain-refrozen boilerplate was the edge grip. Better than most of the 90mm skis and at least as good if not better than the M102. (maybe just the tune) This K108 might just be the holy grail of PNW resort boards.
These statements have me questioning my MFree 108 purchase. Taking them out for their first day on Wednesday. Would love to hear if anyone has comparisons.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Thomas
both great skis, current thinking at our shop is the M-Free is more "fun", i doubt you're giving up any performance except maybe the hardest pack groomy zoomyQuote:
Originally Posted by phatty
I’m hoping so...I just pulled the trigger on some K108 184’s. Looking forward to doing some back to back testing with my M102’s.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lord Thomas
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Stop buying skis that are cheap and start buying the skis you want. Or better yet, start buying the skis you want on the cheap...that seems to work for me. [emoji6]Quote:
Originally Posted by phatty
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Sig worthyQuote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
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Thankfully I did buy the ski I want and got it cheap, but there's always other skis out there catching the eye and subscribed threads reminding me about them. From Waxman, sounds like I'll be happy on the MFree as I was looking to trade hard pack performance for "fun". I guess I'll have my answer when I get out on the MFree this week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
Fair enough. I heard what the pro price was on the M-Free 108...and it was attractive. The sizing just sucks. Your a bigger guy, so the 192 works for you. A 187 sounds perfect for the rest of us...but they only left us with the 182.Quote:
Originally Posted by phatty
From guysi know that ski the M-Free 108, it skis well in soft PNW conditions but leaves something to be desired in crud or firmer conditions. I’m willing to wager that it doesn’t hold a candle to a Volkl M102 or K108 at speed or in crud.
Didn’t you get a 192 M-Pro 105, too?
Yeah, I wish the sizing was a little smaller. A 189 would be perfect. There will be plenty of crud this week to test it on. I'm eager to give it a shot. It came down to 3 choices for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
MFree 108
Katana 108
Cochise 106
I'm sure I would be happy on any of them. I'm hoping the fun/playful aspects of the MFree will be worth whatever tradeoffs.
I'm eager to hear more about the Katana once you get on yours. It's always going to be high on my "to try" list.
I know this is the K108 chatter chamber, clack clack clack, but I didn't have any issues on the m-free 108 under the lights at Stevens on NYE. I did several laps off of skyline, traversing under 7th heaven to rip the steep soft chop/crud, followed by GS turns on bumpy cement and then slarving through the bumps in the choke points. As noted, they are a playful shape, the K108 is not. As such the K108 will offer more stability in dense conditions when it comes to laying trenches on edge. That is not to say the mfree won't do that, just that it will not be as effortless. But if you like the surfy/slarvy feel, the K108 is likely not going to deliver that experience like the mfree. For their width, both skis are quite good on firm snow, with the edge going to the K108, but I don't buy 108 underfoot skis for their edge hold in bulletproof conditions. This is new territory for Dynastar and I think they nailed it, knocking aside skis like the ON3P Woodsman that many expected to excel in this slot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
I'm happy I went with the "cheap" ski.
That’s encouraging. What length are you on? The 192 feels like overkill for Stevens, especially when you want to play in the trees and the slack country.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackattack
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I'm on the 192. I wouldn't ski them any shorter, but I could see the desire for a 187, I suspect the 182 skis real short.
Those didn’t look like 192s, is that what they measure? They looked fun. I wish our bsl was closer.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackattack
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192 Mfree 108 is the same length as a 189 ON3P.
I've yet to have anyone try my pair and not like them.
But you have Dynastar bias... [emoji6]Quote:
Originally Posted by The Artist Formerly Known as Leavenworth Skier
As it happens I did get to spin a couple of laps on the m-free 108 192 as well. Was surprised that I liked it as much as I did. (center mounts and heavily rockered/tapered tips and tails are generally not my deal) From what I recall it was a "fun" ski but surprisingly competent. Not quite as much of a weapon as a K108 but still more composed and solid than the shape and mount point would suggest. I could see a lot of places where the m-free would be a blast. Want to demo again
I would argue that I have a well engineered/constructed ski bias. If I didn't have the quiver of Dynastars I'd probably be on Volkl and Blizzard. In fact I've owned and skied both in the past, and have Blizzards in the mix as well. The k108/m102 has been on my radar for sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
ON3P billygoats rock but I've been highly unimpressed with any of their narrower ski offerings, they all have seem something goofy about the particular ski that makes them ski weird (in my book.) Things like too stiff a tail, hooky tunes, too much tip rocker, etc.
Come to think of it, I've pretty much never skied any "indy" brand ski under 115mm that I've been impressed by.
The 4 other mags who skied them don’t tho...Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
I’ve never been on a Dynastar ski in the past and this Mfree 108 is super special in how it really can do everything quite well!
192 skis super short. IIRC, there was a pic somewhere on here showing a 189BG and the 192 MF108 and the mount point/ length was nearly identical.
I really want this ski. Nice to hear the praise is high round here. Just have to deal with severe 108mm quiver bloat (ON3P wren, mindbender, corvus) all of which I like. Or maybe I just replace my bonafides with Mantra 102s when the time comes. I love the bonafides on firm-ish days though. n+2
if it helps, ive only skied the mfree108 and 1 other dynastar ski, both a day eachQuote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
it’s a really good all around ski, in the truest sense
I’m sure it’s a fine ski...it’s just not a new Katana. Since I have skied the Mantra M102 in typical PNW conditions, I suspect that it will be an even better version of what I am after. And if it isn’t, I’m sure one of you other gear whores will gladly take them off my hands. [emoji6]Quote:
Originally Posted by SkiLyft
Looking at the M102 on the rack, I was COMPLETELY wrong with my initial thoughts. It’s a much more versatile ski for how and where I ski.
The reports of “looseness” of the MFree 108 are interesting. Maybe I need to look for a pair to demo to see if I can be enlightened.
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There's a nice pair of 184 with single mount for shifts on KSL. No affiliation.
https://classifieds.ksl.com/listing/62560522
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Dang, that's a great deal. Just wish they were the bigger size. Some mag needs to rescue those.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robik
Super solid deal--anyone have 177s in a similar condition, hit me up.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robik
Look what finally arrived!!
Attachment 358692
Going to throw some Warden 13 demos on them to make them even heavier...
I was so close to buying some of this years K108s....but found a smokin' deal on last years M102s.....but I know me and if I like the M102s, I am sure the K108s will appear in the quiver by next year.
Mount em and let us know banditman!
Interested to hear your thoughts. Especially compared to the Enforcer 110. The K108 might’ve exactly what I am looking for.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
Have the Brahma’s coming on your recommendation! And some Enforcer 94’s. Cage match.
So I had the M102 and liked them so much I sold them (haha) to get the K108 which I suspected at the time were just as impressive albeit just a tad wider. The K108 and M102 seem to be such a close overlap that it didn't make sense to keep the M102.
But now Volkl has gone and done it again ... I'm getting hooked up with the new '21 M6, which now has the same 3D sidecut and construction but with a 96mm waist. Gap filled. yay
Snow will be less than ideal,but finally get these out tomorrow...Attachment 359212
Can’t wait for the review. You going for right on the line first?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bandit Man
M6 sounds very interestingQuote:
Originally Posted by YoEddy
I went for M102s....but dang the K108 was tempting.Quote:
Originally Posted by CaliBrit
My new M102s will be delivered on Monday (thank you Corbetts).
Looking forward to this review too.
Yeah...on the line. Since I put demos on them, I can go forward if I feel the need. Conditions won’t be ideal, but at least I can get a first impression.Quote:
Originally Posted by CaliBrit
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If you’re in less than ideal conditions, then don’t hate your first impression on ice with that noisy carbon tip.
That was my first impression of the M102. Edge hold was superb but the tip was noisy.
Anything non-ice and the sound goes away.
There is a reason Volkl expanded that 3D sidecut to so many skis over the last few years. It’s legit. It’s tight and long.
The sound they make notwithstanding, the K108 is kind of a honey badger with respect to conditions. Both times I skied them it was bulletproof and I still had a great time on them
It’s happening...Attachment 359306
Got out on the 184 K108 today. Conditions were not ideal for what is the intended use case for this ski, but thought I would share my thoughts and impressions from 5-hours of mainly groomer ripping.
Set-up: 184-cm Katana K108 mounted with Salomon Warden 13 demos. I skied them on the recommended line. [emoji41]
I’m currently about 200-lbs. and skiing the 2019 Tecnica Cochise 130.
Conditions: firm and fast groomers that were “edge-able” and softened as temps rose. Very much like “spring groomers” as the day wore on. I was skiing with two of my kids today and off piste was a mix of icy crust and avy debris...not very appetizing.
First Impressions: I immediately knew I was on a ski with the same DNA as the M102. They felt very similar. I could tell that they were wider than the M102, as they were not as quick edge to edge as the M102.
Much like the M102, they crave speed and really come alive when you let them run. About three turns in and I was grinning ear to ear. These are probably the best 108-waist ski that handles groomers so well at high speed. So solid on edge...never washed out.
As the day wore on and the snow got more torn up and pushed into little piles, they rolled through everything. So stable and quiet. Just urges you to ski faster. And here is where I started to feel something different from the M102. The K108 just “feels” a tad more stable with a slightly higher top end. Not sure if there is something in the build or it is due to the wider ski and heavier overall weight...but they just feel like they have an extra gear so to speak.
I was initially worried about the 19-m part of the 3D sidecut, but not after skiing them. They can ski a tighter turn radius when driven that way, but generally ski and turn like they have a much larger radius. Also...no hookiness at all. Nothing similar to what I feel on something like and Enforcer 100 with the 18.5 radius that wants to stay locked into that turn shape.
The ski wants you to stay on the sweet spot on groomers to take advantage of the tighter radius under foot. As I started to get lazy and some backseat tendencies started to creep in, I could feel my weight pressuring the rearward portion of the ski and getting into that 34-m part of the radius and the ski immediately felt different...like it would take forever to turn. It also got my excited for how that tail will function in crud and variable. I expect it to be even looser than the M102.
As I was thinking about what this ski reminded me of (other than the M102), I immediately came to the OG Cochise. Now, take note...I’m NOT saying this is the reincarnation of that amazing ski, but it felt very similar in terms of how stable it felt. I thought “this is like the OG Cochise, but more versatile”. I need to get it in some steeps, crud, and variable conditions to further explore that comparison. Again, initial impressions are very encouraging. Also, this is the most “resort-friendly” Katana by far.
So, where would I see myself using this ski? Everywhere and anywhere. If the blasted border was open, this would be my Go To for Whistler. I had previously thought that the M102 was the perfect Whistler ski, but now I think I’ve found a better option.
I think this is the most fun ski I have been on all year. When my 17-yo absconded my M102’s, my immediate reaction was to buy a second pair. I’m SO glad I bought these instead...and I haven’t even gotten to ski them in the terrain and conditions for which they were intended.
If you liked skis like the OG Cochise, Q-Lab, or LP and didn’t ever need the longest length in any of those skis, try the 184 K108. If you liked those skis but are a bigger guy, I’ve got to think the 191 K108 is worth a look.
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I forgot to add...they are very easy to ski and quite intuitive for someone use to skiing more stout skis. They literally took a few turns to get dialed and then it was full-throttle with confidence.
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