2021 Kastle DX85

Unchanged for 2021, the Kastle DX 85W is a fantastic choice for aspiring carvers who are looking for a higher-end feel to their skis. At 85 mm underfoot, the skis are certainly in that front side zone, but do teeter on the edge of the all-mountain realm as well. Mainly made for groomer skiing, the mid-width waist is great for balance and precision-it meets in the middle for sure. Narrower skis are more torsionally stiff while wider skis have a nice platform to stand on. At 85, the DX loves to be in a carved turn, but the lighter build allows you to swivel and smear easily and quickly. They have a lot of versatility packed into a pretty compact package, and most intermediate to advanced skiers couldn't be happier. Built with Kastle's Fir/Beech wood core and a fiberglass laminate, these skis are light and easy to maneuver but also retain a high-level of energy and snap. This type of sandwich construction is very effective and efficient at delivering power to the edges. Not too much rocker to go along with this ski, it generally gets whatever smeariness it has with its rounded shape. It's not quite tapered, as they say, but it is rounded so doesn't feel hooky or grabby, even on firmer snow. Hollowtech tips make the experience and ride quality a lot smoother, allowing skiers to confidently push into the corners with realistic expectations of carving a clean, round turn. Kastle is all about precision and poise, and while these won't score too high in the power department, they have the former qualities in spades. Our testers loved the quick turning ability and high-end feel of the DX 85W.

Katrine Wolfgang skied the 160, but probably could have bumped up a size to gain stability. Regardless, she scored all 5's down the scorecard, which is pretty impressive for a mid-80's carving ski. "I found this ski pretty light with the wood core, but still skied well at moderate speed." And in terms of how the cambered profile worked, Katrine noted that the skis "initiated turns well and smooth." That is a nice thing to see, with a higher-end build, that the skis don't grab the turn too hard like some of the burlier carvers out there. Then again, that light weight can't support everything-sometimes it just gets a bit light. Lauren Lepage found that weight to be a bit of an issue with her 168 ski. Like Katrine, Lauren scored it all the same numbers, but hers happened to be 3's instead of Katrine's 5's. Lauren "thought this ski was a bit chattery. I didn't really like the turn initiation and how the ski held a turn." We always find it interesting when you have two conflicting views of the same ski. It may be just as simple as experience, with Lauren not really having skied on too many non-rockered skis in her career. At any rate, it's fun seeing different experiences, both good and bad.

Ali Berlin was a bit more staggered in her scoring of the 160. A 5 for quickness and maneuverability topped her chart, with 4's for playfulness, forgiveness, versatility, and overall impression. Some 3's are sprinkled in as well to round out her scoring, so it's safe to say that Ali found it to be a bit more specific in its intended use. "A light and agile ski" she states. "Great response in the bumps. Very comfortable cruising down the groomers. Easy to steer-almost like auto-pilot. A perfect ski for the advanced intermediate skier that can go anywhere."

There's always going to be a place for that mid-80's front side cruiser. The Kastle version of that ski just so happens to have a higher-end feel and a more precise personality than most. This is a good thing, and it's great to see a ski company that's still dedicated to making those skis with the top-end feel to them.