For ladies who love to spend a lot of time ripping around the groomers, this ski is about as fun as it gets. As the narrowest of the E-Proline, the 85 ends up being the most front-side oriented and one of the most agile turners of the group. Now in its second season, the E-Pro 85 has solidified itself as a well-rounded ski with a high-performance ceiling with a wide range of attributes. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this ski is limited to intermediate use in an on-trail format—there's a lot more going on here. With a mid-range width and an energetic build, there’s a lot to like about this ski from a usefulness standpoint and it will offer a whole lot of positives for skiers who dabble in a bit of everything, from steeps and trees to bumps and groomers. As a wonderful option for a wide range of skiers, the E-Pro 85 contains a ton of energy and pop with great grip due to the sophisticated and innovative build.

Dynastar has been dabbling in the hybrid core world for a few years now, and we’ve found that it’s a very successful and unique way to build a ski. Back with their Legend W series of skis, they used Polyurethane inserts in the sides of the forebody of the ski but have now extended that material to full length along the core. The center of the core is made from poplar wood that provides energy, pop, and light weight while the PU on the sides makes the ski feel smooth and damp and incredibly silent. On top of the core, the E-Pro uses a fiberglass rocket frame, and while Dynastar’s own website claims that it’s a metal laminate, we assure you that is not the case. As a metal-free ski, the E-Pro 85 has a ton of rebound and snap to it, focusing on the wood, fiberglass, and PU to power the core. In the 158,we’re getting a weight of 1400 grams per ski, so these are light, fun, and incredibly easy to turn in a variety of conditions and terrain. While there may be a slight loss of stability at high speeds, we’ve found that for the most part, the intended skier and audience will generally not be finding these velocities.

The waist width is incredibly useful for a lot of skiers because it mixes on-trail performance with off-piste versatility. Most skiers spend most of their time on groomers, so it makes sense to have a ski that excels in that realm. The mid-80's is a wonderful width for that capacity, while keeping things open for more adventure. Since it’s the narrowest of the freeride line, it still has a lot of attributes that put it in that category. With longer tip rocker and a gradual taper shape, this is one of the better floating 85’s out there. Those characteristics are balanced with poppy camber underfoot and a more all-mountain tail. The back side of the ski is a lot more dynamic than the front, giving the E-Pro 85 a strong kick at the end of the turn. If you wish to break free from the 12-meter turn radius in the 158, feel free, but be prepared for a surprising energy at the tail end of the carve. The shovel is far more eager to swivel than the tail. Since it’s light, though, and without metal, the ski is amenable to suggestions, especially from more accomplished skiers.

At the end of the day, the Dynastar E-Pro 85 is an every person’s ski for sure. This is one of those models that if you’re shopping for an all-mountain ski in the mid-80's and just don’t know what to get, this is a fantastic choice. It’s got the energy, grip, and power to handle on-trail carving and more aggressive turning, while at the same time it has a floaty shovel that’s great for maneuvering around bumps and trees and expanding terrain and conditions. With a business-like tail, this ski mixes performance, going from quick and fun to more assertive skiing without balking or hesitation.