The most versatile ski in Kastle’s line, the FX 95 HP does it all. It carves like a race ski, floats through powder, busts through crud, and dances through bumps and trees. With a lightweight Fir and Ash wood core and two sheets of Titanal, it’s a great blend that makes the ski agile, yet damp. The ski returns for 2019 with a graphics update, but Kastle is hesitant (understandably) to change such a remarkable product. Our testers shared a common enthusiasm for the performance and versatility of the skis. Featuring tip and tail rocker with camber underfoot, the skis float through the soft and rail on the hard.
Jason Krupsky skied the 181 and loved the versatile behavior of the FX 95 HP. Jason skied a lot of the front-side carvers in this test, so it’s interesting getting his take on a more all-mountain shape. He thought they were pretty forgiving, so he pointed out that the FX 95 HP would, in fact, make a “good intermediate groomer ski for the aspiring speedster.” This is a great piece of feedback because we’re often quick to pigeon-hole skis with dual metal laminates straight to the expert category. In terms of versatility, Jason calls them “versatile enough for powder or groomers.” It’s always nice to hear that a product can be two different things at the same time, and this is certainly true for the FX 95 HP.
Also testing the 181, Justin Perry scored a 3 for forgiveness, so he didn’t think it was too stiff or soft. His high scores for stability, torsional stiffness, and overall impression tell us that he definitely found it to be a high-end product. “Great ski. All around superior hold, yet buttery when needed. Fast as hell edge to edge and not too stiff, yet stiff enough to handle the ice and hard pack.” Coming from Justin, that’s a great comment. When a ski is soft when it needs to be and stiff at other times, it speaks to the versatile and chameleon-like abilities of the FX 95 HP.
Benny Wax hopped on the shorter 173 cm length and found that it skied a bit shorter than expected. He scored it 4 out of 5 for flotation, stability, and forgiveness. His astute comment: “These skis are stable and always in control.” Benny’s a great skier, so for him to be in control is not surprising, but it’s nice to hear him say that the skis are the reason!
Sitting right smack in the middle of the Kastle line, the FX 95 HP cannot be overlooked. Oftentimes a skier wants one thing or the other, whether its flotation or carving ability, but with the FX 95 HP, you get all of everything and all at the same time. For skiers who are levels intermediate and above, and are looking for one pair of skis to do absolutely everything, the FX 95 HP is an ideal choice.
