Dynastar’s M-Tour 99 returns for another year of deep backcountry exploration and adventure. While the ski is loosely based on the M-Pro 99 in terms of footprint, the overall character of the ski is different enough to make it its own thing. While some other companies like Blizzard and Nordica are moving to the hybrid side of the touring spectrum with Hustle and Enforcer Unlimited, the M-Tour 99 falls more to the side of touring rather than a mix of resort and backcountry. Since the Dynastar company and factory is found in the Chamonix valley, it makes sense that they build skis that are appropriate for those applications. This includes, but is not limited to, an adventurous spirit, a strong build, and a mix of soft snow versatility with uphill efficiency.

The build of the ski is very light in nature. Constructed with a hybrid core with paulownia wood, we get a mix of light weight, smooth feel, and a relatively stiff flex. Their hybrid core uses polyurethane material, not dissimilar to the material you’ll find in a 120-flex ski boot. This PU extends into the ski from the sides, providing a unique blend of silence, stability, and agility. This complements the energy from the paulownia quite well, creating a poppy and light core that’s built for both uphill and downhill. In addition, we’re getting basalt fiber in the ski that offers a lighter version of fiberglass, creating good energy without all the weight. In the 178, this ski hits the scale at 1300 grams which is pretty darn light, especially for a ski that’s 99 mm underfoot.

That shape allows for better uphill efficiency mainly due to the lack of tail rocker. The more of the ski that’s in contact with the snow, the more grip the skier will have from a skinning perspective. As such, the flatter tail is more aligned with what the touring versions of these skis should do. We’re getting a pretty straight cut to the ski as well, and that’s something that carries through from the M-Pro series. The 178 produces a 20-meter arc, which compared to other skis in this zone, is on the long side. This does a few things for the touring skier. First, it makes for a more direct line from a climbing standpoint. Skis with shorter radii tend to wander out of the track easier. Second, the longer arc allows for more creativity and playfulness in softer and deeper snow. This makes it more fun to be in fresh snow as you’re able to exert more influence on the shape and duration of the turn. We like it in M-Pro and feel very much the same in the M-Tour world.

The 2024 Dynastar M-Tour 99 falls to the touring side of the spectrum for sure, and that’s great for the skier that wants a proven shape but in a much lighter build. It’s not like skiers are saving 100 or 200 grams here and there, the drop is precipitous, allowing for more dedicated tourers to take advantage of the wonderful shaping and feather-light weight of the M-Tour 99. Built with a sophisticated Hybrid core and other minimalistic materials, this ski stays firmly in the adventurous side of the sport, putting uphill efficiency right on par with downhill performance.