In response to popular demand, in this comparison we are looking specifically at twin tip skis. It’s relatively safe to say that all twin tips are designed with freestyle and freeski influence, but there’s also a good amount of variety among them. Some are built simply, relying on just a wood core. Others use additives to their construction like metal or carbon. Some of these skis feel very symmetrical and ski best when mounted close to true center, while others have a more directional feel and can be mounted and skied in a more traditional manner. One thing’s consistent, however, they’re all a heck of a lot of fun.

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Overview:

What would a twin tip comparison be without Armada? Armada was one of the early pioneers of twin tip design and they continue to be a leader in that segment today. The ARV 96 is designed for all-mountain freestyle use. Its construction is pretty straight-forward with a poplar and ash wood core in a sandwich construction. Armada’s AR Freestyle Rocker uses slightly more tip rocker than tail, but overall is fairly symmetrical. The sidecut is also balanced with just an 8 mm difference between the tip and tail dimensions in the 177 cm length. There are two different recommended mount points. Freestyle is pretty close to true center, while factory recommended is a few cm back from that. Even the factory recommended, however, is more forward than we’ll see from other skis in this comparison, which is a testament to the freestyle and park-skiing influence in this ski. Its feel corresponds with that idea as well. It has a smooth flex pattern that loves to butter, jib, and play, yet can still hold an edge reasonably well.

Who it's For:

All-mountain skiers who like to dip into the terrain park fairly regularly, or at least like to pop off and do tricks on natural terrain.

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Overview:

The Atomic Bent Chetler 100 has worked its way into another of our ski comparisons. We don’t often do that, but we couldn’t do this comparison without it. The BC 100 is another ski with relatively simple construction. It relies on a wood core with no additives. It has, of course, been met with high praise and significant popularity, proving that simple wood core skis are still fun. The Bent Chetler 100 is more directional than the ARV 96. There is 20% tip rocker and 10% tail rocker. Atomic also uses their HRZN Tech in the tip and tail, a boat-hull inspired shape that increases float. It’s hard to ignore the soft snow influence in this ski. Chris Bentchetler is known for his backcountry skiing, and although this is the narrower of his two skis, it still has a freeride feel. Plenty of skiers will mount this with a Shift binding this season and use it for a 50/50 resort/touring ski. There’s also a whopping 10 cm range in recommended mount points, showing that this ski can be a lot of different things for a lot of different skiers.

Who it's For:

Skiers looking for a fun all-mountain ski with great soft snow abilities. It could be a park ski if you mount it forward, but we suspect most skiers will pick it up for its all-mountain ability and soft-snow prowess.

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Overview:

The Fischer Ranger 94 FR feels a little different than the first two skis we’ve talked about, both in theory and in practice. There’s more going on with the construction of the Ranger 94 FR. It uses Fischer’s Air Tec TI construction with a sheet of metal underfoot and their Carbon Nose technology. Although it’s definitely a twin tip, there’s only one recommended mount point on this ski and it’s in a more traditional spot. There’s longer tip rocker than tail rocker as well and almost 10 mm difference between the tip and tail dimensions. It’s more directional than symmetrical. Some skiers will likely mount it a little forward from the recommended spot, although we doubt anyone will go true center on this ski as you’d no longer be in the center of the camber, which can feel weird. This ski has a more precise, responsive feel than just about anything else in this category and what it might lack in balance for some freestyle skiers, it makes up for in all-mountain performance and even firm snow ability.

Who it's For:

All-mountain skiers who like the versatility and fun-factor that comes along with a twin-tip, but realistically won’t spend too much time in the park.

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Overview:

The K2 Poacher is a versatile ski in the sense that you’ll likely see it on the feet of a World Cup Slopestyle winner this season, and you’ll probably also see it wiggling through trees and hopping around your local resort. It’s not fully symmetrical, but it’s pretty close with only a 6 mm difference between the tip and tail dimensions. Although it’s a fun all-mountain ski, the Poacher really feels like a park ski in its design. There’s a 7.5 cm range in recommended mount points with the most forward of those being true center. The rocker profile is also pretty symmetrical too, so you can mount at that true center spot without causing the ski to feel weird. The smooth early taper boosts its performance in soft snow, and also makes it less catchy for switch spins, butters, and other tricks where you’re pivoting a flat ski. K2 integrates Carbon Boost Braid into the Fir woodcore, which gives the Poacher nice pop and energy. It’s also fairly stout and stable at speed. However, it’s not necessarily lightweight, which helps with that stability, but it still feels fun, playful, and maneuverable on your feet.

Who it's For:

Terrain park and freestyle skiers who prefer being on a wider, more rockered platform compared to traditional park skis for all-mountain versatility.

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Overview:

The Helix 98 is back, and it’s basically the same as it was when it left us. At 98 underfoot, using mostly camber, and with its bamboo and poplar core, the Helix 98 is designed to crush the whole mountain. The high rise camber gives this more stability and power than you might expect. It’s also very responsive due to the long edge contact from the camber. There is some rocker, but it’s very subtle at just 10% in the tip and 5% in the tail. Put this ski on a flat surface and you’ll see for yourself that it’s mostly camber. Because of that, the Helix stays composed and tracks well through soft and choppy snow conditions. If you like the idea of arcing turns through un-groomed snow, this is a great ski for it. It’s also providing a more traditional feel than Liberty’s more rockered Origin skis. The Helix isn’t a smeary ski, but there’s still a big segment of skiers who don’t particularly like that feel, and those skiers are going to love the Helix 98. There is a 7 cm range in mount points, and the furthest forward is true center, but with a 12 mm difference between tip and tail dimensions and its overall performance, we don’t expect many skiers will be going with the true center point.

Who it's For:

Skiers who appreciate the versatility and playfulness of a twin tip, but are more focused on all-mountain performance and a well-rounded ski than tricks or parks.

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Overview:

The Origin 96 has longer rocker in both the tip and tail compared to the Helix 98. It also has some carbon in its construction, and comes in at a lighter weight. The flex pattern, however, is fairly consistent between the two skis. Liberty is really doing a good job differentiating these skis for two different types of skiers. The Helix feels more precise, while the Origin feels more playful, surfier, and smears turns more easily. It also, at least in my opinion, feels more appropriate in the terrain park. It’s not symmetrical, however, with a 12 mm difference between tip and tail dimensions, and the one recommended mount point is closer to traditional than center, but we found this ski to be quick, fun, and agile in the park. Outside of the park, it has the same personality. It loves to be in the air, it loves to pop off natural hits, and it just loves to play. Liberty’s skis are known for their quick, responsive, lightweight feel, and the Origin 96 is a perfect example.

Who it's For:

Skiers who view the whole mountain as their playground and value a lightweight ski that’s easy to manipulate into different turn shapes and styles.

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Overview:

The Line Chronic has been a staple in their collection for years and is a well-known ski in this category. It’s designed specifically for all-mountain freestyle, but you’ll see plenty of skiers in the park on this ski as well. It’s not as symmetrical as the K2 Poacher, which shares the same parent company, but it’s a fairly similar shape with slightly less rocker and taper than the Poacher. Although the recommended mount point isn’t true center, it’s pretty darn close, just 3 cm back. There’s another line on the true center mark too, so if you’re a dedicated park skier and you value that balance, it’s a good option. Like the Poacher, the construction is pretty straight-forward with its Maple wood core in a sandwich construction. It has a good blend of feeling poppy and energetic, but is also stable enough for high speed skiing and big jump lines. A lot of Line’s athletes choose the Chronic as their daily driver ski. Most of those skiers are known for their park skiing abilities, but also enjoy skiing the whole mountain, so the Chronic is an easy choice.

Who it's For:

Park skiers and playful skiers who want more all-mountain versatility than a narrower ski that’s less rockered and more park focused.

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Overview:

We’ve got two Soul Rider skis in this comparison. The difference between them is really just width, but their ideal application is a little different. The Soul Rider 87 uses 50% camber with 25% rocker in the tips and tails. On paper, that sounds like a lot, but the rocker is pretty subtle and the camber is fairly high, so on snow it feels like more camber than rocker. As it doesn’t use much early taper at all, this low rocker retains long edge contact. That makes the Soul Rider not only one of the most responsive skis in this comparison, it also has some of the best edge grip. The carbon in its construction gives it a snappy, energetic feel when you’re linking carving turns. We’d venture a guess that most skiers would be surprised by its carving ability. On the other hand, it also feels like it could be a dedicated park ski, and even a competition ski. It has plenty of stability for big landings, it’s quick edge to edge and has relatively low swing weight for rail tricks and other jibs, and although there’s a 10 mm difference between tip and tail dimensions, when you mount it on the center line, it feels very balanced.

Who it's For:

Park skiers who value responsiveness and precision or all-mountain skiers who like a playful ski that can carve, slay moguls, and wiggle through trees with ease.

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Overview:

Take everything we said about the Soul Rider 87, but reapply it into a wider package from tip to tail. The 97 has that same carving performance that impresses us in the 87, but it can make those turns through softer snow conditions. Because it doesn’t use much early taper, the tips and tails are quite wide at 134 mm. That gives it really good stability in choppy snow conditions and also really good float in deeper snow. A lot of the skis in this comparison use more early taper, which makes them a little less catchy. The Soul Rider 97 arguably wants a higher skilled skier as the tips and tails make it a little less forgiving in soft snow, but the benefit of that shape is the stability it provides. The long edge contact allows you to ski fast and aggressively without the ski feeling twitchy or unstable. Although the shape is the same as the 87 and you can mount it true center, the 97 feels slightly less capable in the terrain park due to its increased swing weight and slower edge to edge feel. It’s still very fun in the park, but Nordica’s competitive park athletes generally choose the 87.

Who it's For:

Skiers who want a relatively balanced ski for park, but more width for the rest of the mountain and a ski that can hold up to higher speeds from time to time.

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Overview:

If the Nordica Soul Rider 97 can handle high speeds, the Black Ops 98 can handle warp speeds. The Black Ops 98 differentiates itself from others in this comparison perhaps more significantly than anything else. Traditionally, Rossignol hasn’t provided much information about their Black Ops skis, but that’s starting to change. It has a 131/98/121 sidecut, which creates a longer turn radius than the Soul Rider 97. It also has a wood core with titanal laminates underfoot. The ski feels stout, strong, and powerful underfoot. It easily has the best vibration damping and a more powerful feel than anything else in this comparison. The tips and tails, however, are lighter and softer flexing, allowing for playful skiing techniques like butters, smears, and slashes. It is, however, a little heavy for park skiing and doesn’t feel very symmetrical. The recommended line is set back from center and the heavier swing weight makes it more challenging on rails and when doing smaller jibby tricks. If you’re launching big tricks off natural hits, however, it’s perfect.

Who it's For:

Aggressive skiers who likely have a freestyle background, but these days prefer just ripping the entire mountain to shreds while tossing the occasional backie.

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Overview:

The Revolt 86 is the narrowest ski in this comparison and definitely one of the best for dedicated park skiers. In the park, you don’t need a particularly wide ski, it’s just adding extra materials and thus extra weight. Volkl does offer the Revolt 87 too, which is fully symmetrical, but this Revolt 86 still feels more like a park ski than anything else. It’s relatively lightweight and its narrow tips and tails makes it super nimble in the park. Outside the park, the rockered tips and tails give it easy turn initiation and a slightly better feel in soft snow conditions. If you spend a significant of time in the park, but still value performance outside of the park, or maybe don’t like the feel of fully symmetrical skis, it’s a great option. We’ve also found the Volkl skis hold up really well to terrain park abuse. Sure, you’ll eventually crack some edges if you’re hitting rails on the regular, but in our experience the skis stay together even after multiple cracks. Park skiers are always worried about durability, and while none of the skis in this comparison are poor performance in that sense, the Volkls are particularly sturdy.

Who it's For:

Skiers who spend a significant amount of time in the park, but still want a ski that’s fun when you’re forced to take some groomer runs with mom and dad.

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Overview:

The Revolt 95 was developed in conjunction with Volkl’s long-time athlete, Ahmet Dadali. Ahmet is known for taking his freestyle and park skiing ability to the rest of the mountain. We’ve seen him hitting some of the biggest backcountry jumps of all time in big ski movies, and although he’s not often on the Revolt 95 when doing that, his way of approaching the mountain is a good way to think about this ski. It’s similar to the Soul Rider 97, although has a longer turn radius and arguably a more jibbing-focused feel. It might not have the snap out of a turn as the Soul Rider as the camber height is a little lower, but it’s very smooth, stable, and very capable in softer snow conditions. It’s interesting that the recommended mount point on this ski is true center, and Volkl even calls out that that’s a “Team Recommended” mount point. Remember, those team skiers are some of the best in the world and are just about as good skiing backwards as they are forward. If that doesn’t sound like you and/or if you’re buying it more for all-mountain use, we generally recommend going a few cm back from that spot.

Who it's For:

Skiers with freestyle backgrounds who have moved more into all-mountain, playful skiing. You probably still spend a good amount of time in the park, but you also like shredding trees, bowls, and other natural terrain.

2020 SKI COMPARISONS:

Twin Tip Skis

SKIS		RADIUS	SIDECUT	CORE	RETAIL PRICE
2020 Armada ARV 96		19m @ 177cm	125 / 96 / 117	Wood	$499.95
2020 Atomic Bent Chetler 100		19.5m @ 180cm	129.5 / 100 / 120	Lightweight Wood	$599.99
2020 Fischer Ranger 94 FR		17m @ 177cm	126 / 92 / 117	Titanal / Carbon Tip	$599.99
2020 K2 Poacher		19m @ 184cm	124 / 96 / 118	Wood / Carbon	$499.95
2020 Liberty Helix 98		19.5m @ 179cm	133 / 98 / 121	Bamboo / Poplar	$499.00
2020 Liberty Origin 96		17.5m @ 176cm	130 / 96 / 118	Bamboo / Poplar / Carbon Stringers	$599.00
2020 Line Chronic		16m	129 / 95 / 120	Maple	$499.95
2020 Nordica Soul Rider 87		16.5m @ 177cm	124 / 87 / 114	Wood / Carbon Stringers	$499.99
2020 Nordica Soul Rider 97		16.5m @ 177cm	134 / 97 / 124	Wood / Carbon Stringers	$599.99
2020 Rossignol Black Ops 98		Undisclosed	?? / 98 / ??	Undisclosed	$699.95
2020 Volkl Revolt 86		21.2m @ 172cm	120 / 86 / 110	Woodcore	$449.00
2020 Volkl Revolt 95		21.3m @ 173cm	129 / 95 / 119	Woodcore	$399.00

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Written by Jeff Neagle on 10/31/19