2025 Volkl Blaze 104

With a new build and shape for 2025, the Volkl Blaze 104 replaces the 106, putting more emphasis on resort and all-mountain skiing. With the addition of the Blaze 114 last year, that kind of took the spot of the floaty powder ski in the Blaze line, allowing Volkl to focus more on what most skiers are looking for: versatility. So far, we’ve found a nice boost in on-trail performance while keeping the soft snow character, flotation, and touring capabilities still firmly inline. It’s not so much about the drop in 2 mm of width, rather the updated wood core and additional metal that makes the ski more amenable to groomers, crud, chop, and other adverse conditions and terrain. This ski is playful, energetic, and very predictable, bringing many elements together from both construction and shaping aspects.

The Blaze 104 takes notes from the 114’s build from last season, using a Green Core to maximize performance and reduce the environmental impact. The 104 uses a multilayer core with poplar and beech, but in the middle portions, stringers of PET plastic take center stage. By using this PET material, Volkl combines lightweight material with a lower ecological impact. We found no negative difference in performance, so when you can combine those two things, you’re doing something right. The metal laminate, which has always helped Blaze skis feel stouter than the weight would indicate, is widened to a full plate. It used to curve in along the sides, but now it’s all there. In the tips and tails we get their elastomer material to smooth out unwanted vibrations, keeping the ski smooth and true to the turn. In the 179 cm length, the ski sits on the scale at 1814 grams—heavy enough to feel stable, but still light for this width if touring enters the chat. Tester Jose Darias states that “The Blaze 104 is an intuitive and easy-going ski. I can see almost anyone jumping on this ski and having fun right away. When slowing down the pace, the skis feel great and hold a nice edge when carving. Once those speed pick up and the snow becomes more variable, the ski holds edge with the same precision but loses its composure and lacks confidence.” Jose’s a pretty assertive skier, so it’s not crazy to think that at higher speeds this lighter ski will react that way.

While a drop of 2 mm in the waist reads like the big story, it’s actually the implementation of 4 Radius Drive that should take the top billing. We lose three millimeters in tip width and two in the waist from the 106, with the tail remaining the same at 128. The narrower tip is the starting point and the new measure for the fourth radius, starting turns easier with a 20-meter arc. Through the mid-body, it opens to 40-meters and in the middle, it drops back to 16.5. The tail’s 22 rounds it out, making this ski amenable to most turn shapes and styles at any moment. It’s a very intuitive feel, allowing the skier to mix it up when the mood or conditions call for it. Like most Volkl skis, the rocker profile is long and low. We do get good splay in the tips, and decent space in the tails for pure soft snow skiing. When the surface degrades, the new build lines up with this shape to make quick work of any crud or chop. David Wolfgang notes that “the ski felt light and solid. It initiates turns with ease and is easy to maneuver in the woods.”

With a move to the all-mountain realm rather than a hybrid touring ski, the 2025 Volkl Blaze 104 will resonate with more skiers more of the time. The 106 was a great floater, and was a bit lighter, creating that 50/50 potential. With the new 104, the needle leans more to the on-trail and resort side of the spectrum. This is where most skiers classify themselves, so it makes sense from a branding perspective to head this way.