2027 Volkl Blaze 104

The 2027 Volkl Blaze 104 is a carryover model featuring the same construction, shape, profile, and graphics as last year. We've loved the mobility and agility of this ski that goes along with the energy and rebound. While it's on the lighter side for directional skis in the mid-100's, it's still got a stable and smooth feel to it that allows for more aggressive skiing by balanced skiers. When you add the potential for touring or hybrid applications, it makes the Blaze 104 stand out as having a whole lot of versatility overall.

Volkl does a great job at implementing sophistication and engineering in their builds. The construction in the Blaze 104 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, but 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. Tester Bob St.Pierre notes: "The Blaze 104 rips. This ski is criminally underrated as it holds a very clean and strong edge on firmer snow while being fun, floaty, and mobile in tighter and more technical spaces. I love the energy of this ski as it pairs very well with the ease of use and easy smearing capacity in deeper snow."

While the construction of Volkl skis stands out, they do a nice job at balancing that with an innovative shaping process as well. 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. St.Pierre continues to state that "The Blaze 104 is way more versatile than many would think. It's a very competent carving ski but it also fares very well in trees and other deep snow spots. While the Blaze 94 is technically more all-mountain oriented, this 104 is not far off. There are a lot of skiers out there who would absolutely love the Blaze 104 when given an opportunity."

This directional ski has a lot of classic feels to it with a modern twist. 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. These skis are quick and mobile with a lot of energy to them, making them an ideal choice for active and progressing skiers.