2026 Volkl Blaze 104

For 2025, Volkl tweaked the Blaze 106 and turned it into the Blaze 104, which returns structurally unchanged for 2026, but with a fresh topsheet graphic. Overall, the changes they implemented were met with very positive feedback. Volkl retained the lightweight feel, maneuverability, and soft snow prowess of the previous ski, but now it feels a little stronger, a little more robust, and a little more trustworthy on firmer conditions and in challenging situations. We’ve had two full seasons of testing on this new version at this point and it continues to impress. In the past, we often received comments about how the 106 could get deflected and didn’t feel particularly composed at speed. These days, feedback is much more focused on well-roundedness, while still highlighting quickness and maneuverability.

The updated construction in the Blaze 104 still results in a lightweight ski, coming in at a stated 1945 g in the 184 cm length, but it adds more stability thanks to a new core and a change to the metal laminate. We now get the Green Core, which we first saw in the Blaze 114. This includes some recycled material, which not only reduces the carbon footprint through manufacturing, also actually adds a little more vibration damping. Then the Titanal Binding Platform has been extended, giving the ski a more robust feel right underfoot. Volkl also includes their Suspension Tips and Tails, a rubberized material in the construction which further filters out unwanted vibrations. The result is a ski that can be pushed a little harder than before, while still feeling light, agile, and easy to ski. Bob St.Pierre has always enjoyed the Blaze line, but has certainly taken a liking to the Blaze 104. “This ski rules. It's very intuitive and easy to ski but you can still push it hard and get the relative performance. It's easy to pivot and smear due to the lower camber height and longer rocker and also holds a nice edge on firmer snow. As a 104, it's ideally suited to some sort of softer snow. At the same time, it's still got good pep and energy for groomers. Trees are super fun and easy on the Blaze while bumps are a bit of a challenge due to the very wide shovel.”

Volkl’s Blaze skis have always relied on a considerable amount of rocker for their performance, and that concept remains true here. There’s a lot of tip and tail rocker by length, but there’s not a tremendous amount of splay. That works really well for a freeride ski like this as if you keep a flatter edge angle, the ski feels easy to pivot, but as you tip it on edge, you gain a longer effective edge and thus more overall stability. We also love Volkl’s 4 Radius Drive shaping. The forebody of the ski has a long radius, allowing you to put the ski sideways in soft without it feeling like it’s trying to fight you, while a shorter radius in the tip and underfoot lets you access rounder turns too. It’s a very cool concept that, when combined with the rocker profile, allows for just about any turn shape you can imagine. Erik Timmerman gave the Blaze 104 some high scores, including a 10 out of 10 for overall impression. “Very maneuverable. The perfect amount of subtle camber to have great freedom without feeling like a clown shoe and losing access to the tips and tails of the ski. 4D radius makes for super versatile turn shape. The ski is perfect for long easy cruisy turns.”

If you’re looking for a versatile all-mountain/freeride ski with excellent soft snow performance, the Blaze 104 should certainly be on your list. We’ve also found it works quite well for skiers with more traditional styles. Comparing it to another 104 underfoot ski, the Volkl Revolt 104, the Blaze has a more intuitive feel for most skiers, while the Revolt will satisfy the more “newschool” freeriders. One could ask why Volkl needs so many skis in this width range (3 when you add in Mantra 102), but each has its own personality and set of strengths.