2022 Volkl Revolt 121

The Volkl Revolt 121 is a massive ski designed for playful performance in the deepest and softest of snow conditions. This is the widest ski Volkl makes and it’s a go-to choice for Volkl athletes who spend a lot of time seeking out fresh snow in the backcountry. Volkl uses their classic Multi-Layer wood core in a sandwich construction with vertical sidewalls. The construction is relatively simple, but creates a very even, smooth, relatively soft flex pattern throughout the ski. This ski has a ton of tip and tail rocker, but unlike some Volkl powder skis of the past, we get camber underfoot too. The abundant rocker gives it a ton of playfulness, float, and easy edge release in deep snow, while the inclusion of camber increases the overall energy and responsiveness.

Matt McAlary skied the 184 cm length in the Revolt 121. He commented that the Revolt 121 skis true to size, but we think it’s fair to say that assessment is in comparison to other powder skis. Skis with this much rocker have a unique feel, but Matt didn’t find any reason to size up past your typical powder ski length. Unsurprisingly, flotation received a full 5 out of 5 score, with quickness/maneuverability, playfulness, forgiveness, and overall impression right behind at 4 out of 5. “It felt kind of gimmicky to hop on this thing on a 70-degree day here on the east coast, but it was actually very fun to the point where it was comical. I kept saying to myself "there's no way I'm actually enjoying this thing right now". This thing has waterski-like float and is really easy to maneuver. Obviously, it's a bit heavier than most skis, but that's purely based off of its gargantuan shape. I would love taking this ski on a cat skiing trip to interior BC. The tapered tip and tail allowed it to cut through soft snow and chop quite nicely while it was on edge. It takes a lot to actually roll the ski over, but skiing it a flat and shallow fashion was super fun because of how surfy it is. No one really NEEDS a ski like this, but if you're someone who either chases storms or lives in area that gets a ton of snow each season (like Revelstoke, BC or something) the Revolt 121 would be a great ski to add to your quiver. Surfy, playful and easy to use are the terms I would use to best describe this ski.” Need is a relative, subjective term… We might argue that if you spend a lot of time in deep snow, you do need a ski like this.

Brad Schauerman opted for the 177 cm length, which he thought worked well for his size. 177 is actually the shortest length available in the Revolt 121, and we feel obliged to mention that if that seems long, just remember this ski is intended for deep snow, where you need to maximize surface area and float. Another 5 out of 5 score for flotation from Brad, with stability, forgiveness, and overall impression all earning 4 out of 5 scores. “These water skis crush it floating slop like a champ. Awesome in loose deep and corny snow a blast to splash around on.” Noah Labow went for the 184 cm length and had high scores for both flotation and stability, earning 4 and 5 out of 5 respectively. Noah was also quite impressed by the Revolt 121’s ability to make bigger turn shapes. It doesn’t have the biggest turn radius, but the taper shape and amount of rocker allows for big, long drifty turns even in really deep snow. “Great ski for soft snow and big deep turns.”

The Revolt 121 is designed for one thing: playful performance in deep powder, and it does that really, really well. It’s not tremendously stiff, and with the amount of rocker, you probably won’t see many skiers choosing it for things like the Freeride World Tour. On the other hand, your favorite backcountry freestyle athletes will use this thing for massive backcountry jumps, butters in powder, and dropping cliffs into deep, untracked snow.