Dilema:Volkl Explosiv vs. Bro's??

I have been reading this site for a long time and now just decided to register. As the title says I have a little dilema in picking a ski to get. (Right now I am riding the Volkl G4/AX4's and love them). I have done some research and talked to some people and these skis both appear to be very similar. Both are very strong, well made, and have a huge following. They both have similar dimensions, with the bros being a little wider:
Explosiv- 120-95-112
Bro- 125-99-114

I haven't had a chance to try either of these out yet and I won't before I buy them. I am gonna have to do a blind buy and go off of what I hear from you guys and feel is the better buy. What would be some pros and cons of both. I really like the bro, always nice to help out a fellow mag and get some killer skis in the process.

Bros.

I have skied both. (30+ days on Explosives, 90+ days on Bros)

Both are:
- stable at speed
- have good edge hold
- wide enough for pow, wind blown, and crud

I have found the Bros to be a more versatile ski. It is easier to adjust turn shapes with the Bro. I find the Bro to be better for tree skiing and funky snow conditions.
The Bro is also much lighter than the Explosive.

The stiff Bro is just slightly stiffer than the Explosive.
The soft is, of course, softer and the Pro-Bro/Bro-Pro is much stiffer than the Explosive.

I like the Bros much better. In fact I sold my Explosives and bought a second pair of Bros. My first pair are aspen core stiffs. My new pair are aspen core softs.

I would guess that your next decison is what flex Bro do you want to go with.
What is your height/weight and where/how do you ski?
Also, feel free to ask more specific questions.

as said

bros = any flex you want

exp = only one flex (about a med in bro world)

go Bro, support the cause

both very durable

What are you intending to ski and where do you ski.

I own both Bro's and Explosives.

The Bros have a larger natural turn radius than the explosive. But they short turn easier because they weigh less. The bros are more snappy due to having no metal in them.

For consistent rock bashing (lake louise early season) the Explosives are more durable - but your a hard man if you can kill the Bros - many tried to kill mine and just ended up limping.

Explosives are more recognized, the Bro's have more Kudos

Both are fine at Mach loony speeds, both will ski hard hardpack well if pushed. Neither is an easy turn ski.

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Originally Posted by Idris

Neither is an easy turn ski.

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unless you have the super soft Bro's ;)

how is Cham?

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Originally Posted by Vets

I would guess that your next decison is what flex Bro do you want to go with.
What is your height/weight and where/how do you ski?
Also, feel free to ask more specific questions.

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I would get the stiff flex from what I have read about them. I am 5'11 and 180. I only ski in the West (Colo and Utah). I love open bowls and powder. I am starting to get into steeps and love crusing at speed. I am a good skier, but I am nowhere close to being as good as some of they guys on this board. I am probably a level 7 skier but that should change as I keep progressing. I would love to know how these would compare to my Volkl G4's? Are the stiffs gonna be a lot stiffer, or just marginally so?

I am interested in this comparison as well, maybe one of these will be my ski for next year. From what I have heard, I would go with the Bros.

Bro stiffs are sold out I b'lieve (at least it says so on www.pmgear.com . Splat has some cosmetic seconds in Gear Swap though; I don't know the flex.

So that might help you out.

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Originally Posted by NorgeViking

I would get the stiff flex from what I have read about them. I am 5'11 and 180. I only ski in the West (Colo and Utah). I love open bowls and powder. I am starting to get into steeps and love crusing at speed. I am a good skier, but I am nowhere close to being as good as some of they guys on this board. I am probably a level 7 skier but that should change as I keep progressing. I would love to know how these would compare to my Volkl G4's? Are the stiffs gonna be a lot stiffer, or just marginally so?

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I am close to the same height and weight and ski the stiff Bros around Tahoe and Mammoth. Open bowls, tight trees, and everything in between. The Bros inspire confidence on steeps and I haven't found my speed limit when cruising.
I have found it very humbling to ski with others from the board. However, it has also made me a better skier. I think that you will also find that skiing on the Bros will make you a better skier too.
You will definitely appreciate the Bros over your G4s when you go off piste. I don't think that the stiffs will feel much stiffer than the G4s, just different and better.
I agree very much with Idris when he says:

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The Bros have a larger natural turn radius than the explosive. But they short turn easier because they weigh less. The bros are more snappy due to having no metal in them.

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Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas

Bro stiffs are sold out I b'lieve (at least it says so on www.pmgear.com . Splat has some cosmetic seconds in Gear Swap though; I don't know the flex.

So that might help you out.

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Yeh but it sounds like they are going to be making some more when they do the shorty's run.

So it depends if you can wait or not....

mantra or bro

What size G4 are you on?

I had a set of 180 explosives and thought they were a better on the groomers than my stiff Bros. Both are stable at speed, but the extra width on the Bros is noticable when setting an edge on hardpack. At 180, the explosive is turny and fun in tight spots.

I never tried the 190 exploders but thought they wouldn't have enough tip to help with the initiation at that length. The 180's skied short and didn't float my girth well enough so I sold them to get the extra float and lenght of the Bros.

I love the Bros on all but the super deep and light days (very rare around here) and on groomer days. On cascade concrete, dust on crust, manky mashed potatoes, creamed corn, and day old storm snow, they fukkin rule.

Sounds like the Bro would be a good choice if the length is OK. If you don't need stiff boards, a set of last years seth pistols or this year's vicious in 189 would do the trick. Simiar dimensions to the Bro and Explosive, but with a little more shape and softer tip for easier initiation.

Had both 180 and 190 Exploders, can confirm the 180 having slightly better edgehold (they're maybe less flexing) on hardpack but being too short for the really deep stuff. Still a nice AT ski though. Also sold the 180s and kept the 190s.
Added the Bros in a flex in between stiff and superstiff (according to Splat) to the quiver recently, results pending.

Edit: The 190 Exploders aren't that hard to turn as commonly claimed IMO, just slightly shift some weight on the front ski.

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Originally Posted by NorgeViking

I would get the stiff flex from what I have read about them. I am 5'11 and 180. I only ski in the West (Colo and Utah). I love open bowls and powder. I am starting to get into steeps and love crusing at speed. I am a good skier, but I am nowhere close to being as good as some of they guys on this board. I am probably a level 7 skier but that should change as I keep progressing. I would love to know how these would compare to my Volkl G4's? Are the stiffs gonna be a lot stiffer, or just marginally so?

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I was just wondering: With that nick (NorgeViking) I would assume you are from Norway. But skiing in colo and utah prolly means you live around there. Whats the scoop?

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Originally Posted by KANUTTEN

I was just wondering: With that nick (NorgeViking) I would assume you are from Norway. But skiing in colo and utah prolly means you live around there. Whats the scoop?

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Mom is Norwegian but I was born in the States (have dual citizenship).

i am also in a bit of analysis paralysis after reading through this site and others for weeks on end.

the dilema is spreading, and i was looking at AK King Salmon and Nordica W105 in addition to the Explosiv and Bros.

I'm a Tahoe skier - mainly Mt. Rose, most of the time off-piste, sometimes chasing a 5 year old on a groomer. 5'8" and a buck-fifty. been skiing the big blue tahoe for 30 years - everywhere.

currently on AK no ka oi but on those east bowl dumps at rose, i'd like a fatter board.

any takers? thanks.

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Originally Posted by ansel4powsident

east bowl dumps at rose, i'd like a fatter board.

any takers? thanks.

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Go fatter for the powder days at Rose. I have the Explosiv and many other skis. I'd suggest K2 Maden, Volkl Sumo, etc.

hey jim s.

thanks for the idea about sumos...i guess gotama works as well....

is the bro not a big difference from the no ka oi? is that why you say go fatter than the salmons or explosivs, etc.?

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Originally Posted by ansel4powsident

currently on AK no ka oi but on those east bowl dumps at rose, i'd like a fatter board.

any takers? thanks.

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What do you mean by this? Are you offering them for sale? I've already bought enough skis this year but if the price is right I prolly couldn't resist a second pair of NKO's.

Expect a PM. :)

I had G4's and killed them, bought explosivs and soft bros. Perfect quiver setup for me. Stiffer explosivs for crud busting, icy days, or mach stupid speed, soft bros for pow, corn, trees and hikes. When I demoed the stiff bros, I felt they were very like my explosives; too similar to warrant ordering the stiffs, so I went soft.

My answer in short, both :D :D :D

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Originally Posted by DJSapp

I had G4's and killed them, bought explosivs and soft bros. Perfect quiver setup for me. Stiffer explosivs for crud busting, icy days, or mach stupid speed, soft bros for pow, corn, trees and hikes. When I demoed the stiff bros, I felt they were very like my explosives; too similar to warrant ordering the stiffs, so I went soft.

My answer in short, both :D :D :D

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Sorry for hijack and repetetiveness - soft bro flex question;

I ordered one of those on behalf of a friend who is a pretty good and strong telemarker (like 85 kg). But as he probably skis not more than 20 days a season I thought the soft bro's would be enough ski and more fun for him than a pair of those stiffies. Do you agree? What is the closest you can get to aspen softs flex - would it be similar to seth vicous, maybe, or possibly legend8800?

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Originally Posted by KANUTTEN

Sorry for hijack and repetetiveness - soft bro flex question;

I ordered one of those on behalf of a friend who is a pretty good and strong telemarker (like 85 kg). But as he probably skis not more than 20 days a season I thought the soft bro's would be enough ski and more fun for him than a pair of those stiffies. Do you agree? What is the closest you can get to aspen softs flex - would it be similar to seth vicous, maybe, or possibly legend8800?

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Mine are the fir softs, so I don't know how much difference there is between the cores. The flex feels similar to a seth pistol if I remember correctly (it's been a while since I've fondled a bunch of skis in a shop). The softs really like to turn in tight places and can rail fairly well, but they're not as fast as the stiffs. The stiffs felt a lot like my 190 explosivs, which I consider a great ski for a one ski quiver.

I've only felt uncomfortable twice on my soft bros and wished I had a stiffer ski, once in pow that turned into cement (love that socal snow), and once going mach stupid on icy death cookies. Other than that, I'll use them every day unless coverage is sketchy. I think your friend will be happy either way.

It's just me but I'd do Explosives and soft Bros.

It'll be a couple more years before I can justify spending $$$ on some soft bros to mount my Rossi 140s to.

just get the bros.

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Originally Posted by seatosky

just get the bros.

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If I went with the Bro's it would have to be the stiffs. I can't afford both the Explosivs and the soft Bro's.

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Originally Posted by NorgeViking

If I went with the Bro's it would have to be the stiffs. I can't afford both the Explosivs and the soft Bro's.

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I'd definitely recommend the stiffs. Only had a few days on mine so far but they ski as advertised. If you can afford to wait you may be able to get some from the next batch when they build the 179's. I'd get ahold of splat, he'll be able to let you know what your options are for getting your hands on some.

Hey,

just for comparison sake, I wanted to through the AK back into the mix...I wasn't looking to sell off my no ka ois, just for advise ("takers") on comparing the salmons to explosivs and bros.

and as a lightweight skier 150lbs, does a shorter explosiv (173) or soft bro in 179 make more sense? or the salmon in 180? i'll likely keep the no ka oi, so it doesn't have to be a single ski quiver solution.

thanks.

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Originally Posted by KANUTTEN

Sorry for hijack and repetetiveness - soft bro flex question;

I ordered one of those on behalf of a friend who is a pretty good and strong telemarker (like 85 kg). But as he probably skis not more than 20 days a season I thought the soft bro's would be enough ski and more fun for him than a pair of those stiffies. Do you agree? What is the closest you can get to aspen softs flex - would it be similar to seth vicous, maybe, or possibly legend8800?

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i weigh 190 lb, i.e. just over 85 kg, and have a few days on the new stiff bros mounted tele. they rawk. I would agree with those that compare the stiff bro to a 190 explosive; they skied similarily, although the bros feel lighter in the air and are just slightly more deflected by refrozen crud that the explosiv. I flexed some pairs of the soft aspen bros, and as Splat has posted here before I'd say they are comparable to some of the softer fatties out there like the rossi's or K2's. HOWEVER the soft bro has pretty damn good torsional stiffness, and I've seen them skied well on firmish manmade snow by a larger guy. ;)

my preference for tele has always been identical to what i would alpine on (m103, explosiv, etc) but i agree with your logic---if your 190 lb friend doesn't ski a lot of days and is not particularly aggressive, the softs should be fine.

Nice to see the softs get some love. They really come alive in the deep.
The blue light will be turned on periodically for specials on blems if you guys want some cheap.
We warranty blems w/blems and are completely reasonable on return issues.
We sold out of stiffs and have 25 more pair on order for 1/20 delivery.

Yea what he said:

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and as a lightweight skier 150lbs, does a shorter explosiv (173) or soft bro in 179 make more sense?

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I'm a girly 135 5'5" (jeez I should be a Jap)pounds looking for some fatter boards for the Sierra's. I have a line on some 165 Exploders new for cheap (not seen any 173's lately), but wondering if midgets like me do OK on the Exploders or are we better off on a soft Bro????

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Originally Posted by team ftb

Yea what he said:


I'm a girly 135 5'5" (jeez I should be a Jap)pounds looking for some fatter boards for the Sierra's. I have a line on some 165 Exploders new for cheap (not seen any 173's lately), but wondering if midgets like me do OK on the Exploders or are we better off on a soft Bro????

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Team FTB - since no one is responding on thoughts about how light weight aggressive male skiers should deal with the TGR site infatuation of big boards there is only one way for us to know for sure...demo days.

i'm just going to believe the hype and demo some short assed little 163s this weekend, take them to mt. rose and see how me likey. most people (even on TGR) are probably buying too long, stuck in the mindset that saying you ski a 200 means something special about your skiing.

the problem of course is that some big mountain skis just don't come in small sizes (like the AK King Salmon).