The Kastle MX 84 is somewhat of a unique ski these days. Its 84 mm waist width definitely puts it into the “all mountain” category, but it has construction that’s more commonly found in race skis with its dense wood core and two sheets of titanal. Also, perhaps most notably, it uses full camber, which has become rare in the mid-80 mm width range. Skiers that want ultra-responsive, powerful performance on firm snow are drawn to the MX line and its cambered shapes. It’s becoming harder and harder to find a full cambered all mountain ski, which positions the MX 84 as a relatively unique package that is bound to have a strong, relatively specific following. The 84 mm waist width is relatively wide compared to a dedicated race ski, which gives the MX 84 increased stability when the snow conditions are soft like, for example, a groomed slope right after a significant snowfall.
Mike Aidala definitely found the MX 84 had plenty of power scoring it 5 out of 5 for stability and torsional stiffness, but he also found it to be impressively maneuverable. He tested the 176 cm length and described it as “the perfect high performance carving ski with traditional camber and a short turn radius.” He thought it “held an awesome edge and made both short quick turns and high speed GS turns very well.” Even though the 84 mm waist width is relatively wide compared to traditional carving skis, it’s still best in groomed terrain. Those who want a more versatile ski for off-piste scenarios may want to jump over to the FX line which uses tip and tail rocker and early taper. The design of the MX 84 is rooted in responsive performance on firm snow. “It is a great ski for high performance skiers that miss having just a full camber ski that offers awesome rebound out of each turn.” Rockered skis just can’t compare to the energy and spring out of a turn when on a cambered ski.
Matt McGinnis skied the 184 cm length and agreed that the MX 84 liked to be skied fast and aggressively. “With full length camber and two sheets of metal this ski wants nothing more than to go fast and hold long hard carves.” Matt gave the MX 84 5 out of 5 for stability and torsional stiffness and definitely didn’t think they were lacking in power and energy. Matt admitted that the snow conditions weren’t best when he was testing the MX 84 and commented that “in slow, chopped crud snow the MX 84 doesn’t shine, but they’d be an absolute blast under perfect groomer conditions.” In fact, they’re so good on groomers that Matt went as far as calling them a “perfect groomer day” ski. Matt ended his comments on the MX 84 by saying, “you know the group of skiers who groaned, grumbled, and never gave into the rocker trend? These skis are for them.”
While there might be a small amount of sarcasm in Matt’s comment as there really aren’t many skiers who don’t think rocker makes sense in certain applications, it does touch nicely on the skis’ intended use. The MX 84 is far and away best on groomed slopes, although unlike some narrower carving or race-specific skis they won’t get bogged down if those groomers have some soft snow on them. The 84 mm waist width provides increased stability in these situations and allows you to continue to lay down powerful carving turns despite a lack of really firm snow. Handmade, high end materials, and a killer design; what more can you ask for?
