2025 Men's ~100mm Freeride Ski Comparison

Well, we’ve finally done it. We created a wall of skis that was just too big. As a result, we’ve split the men’s 100 mm comparison into two sections. This first one consists of skis between 98 mm and 102 underfoot that fall on the more freestyle and freeride side of the spectrum. Pretty much all the twin tips fit into this part, bringing some park and natural feature freestyle performance into the mix. There are some skis that have good on-trail performance, but the ones that excel in that directional all-mountain format will be featured in Part 2 of this series. Here, the skis are more playful, surfy, smeary, and creative. Some have some metal and heft, but for the most part, we’re dealing with flexible skis with innovative shaping.

At a Glance:

2025 Elan Playmaker 101 Skis

Overview:

If lightweight fun is high on your priority list, it’s tough to look past the Playmaker 101. This is a carryover model for 2025, bringing with it a zippy feel, a floaty nature, and a wider freestyle character. We get the tubelite wood core with carbon rods underfoot to go along with their Surf Rocker profile. The thinning of the core as you approach the sidewall makes for a lighter swing weight and a more mobile feel. In the trees or in the park, the Playmaker 101 is fun and creative and totally instinctual. There are certainly sturdier skis on this list, so if you’re expecting stronger performance in a carved turn, there are better choices. But for high agility and floaty fun, it’s the Playmaker 101 sitting right at the top.

Who it's For:

Fun and creative skiers who love flotation and freestyle at the same time.

Price: $699.99

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At a Glance:

2025 Armada ARV 100 Skis

Overview:

With a smoother and quieter poplar core for 2025, the Armada ARV 100 is an excellent twin tip with playfulness and freeride flair to the nth degree. With a slightly more flexible nature than its narrower sibling, the ARV 94, this 100 has more creativity and adaptability in mind for more fun-loving skiers, especially those in softer snow. There’s still the same great tapered shape and rocker profile to go along with energetic camber underfoot—these skis are extremely fun and natural feeling with a higher-performance ceiling than you may expect. Park, groomers, pow, or trees—these new skis have got you covered when adventure, fun, and creativity are concerned.

Who it's For:

Playful skiers looking for a mobile twin that still has some vigor and pep to it. You have a freestyle mentality but aren’t married to one specific discipline.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2025 K2 Reckoner 102 Skis

Overview:

We get some nice updates for the Reckoner 102 for this year, mainly with a boost of strength and power to accompany a new topsheet and a more durable feel. For a few years, the Reckoner 102 has been on the softer and more flexible side of the spectrum—it took some good balance to fully take advantage of the central mount point and flexible tips and tails. Now we get a sturdier overall feel with carbon boost braid to go along with the carbon spectral braiding. As per usual, K2’s Triaxial Braiding allows the fiberglass to do some lifting to accompany the lighter aspen wood core. Their site is also listing a new 191 cm length available in this ski, which is great news for skiers who simply topped out on this ski in the 184. The end result is a sturdier ski that can withstand more park use and higher performance freeride capabilities.

Who it's For:

Freestyle and park skiers will love the more solid feeling of the new Reckoner 102. Creative skiers looking for more versatility in a freeride format will also be impressed.

Price: $599.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Liberty Helix 99 Skis

Overview:

While many other Liberty skis took a different turn for 2025, the Helix stands strong. Now in a 99 mm width, the Helix adds some stiffness to the middle while keeping the tips and tails more flexible for creative freestyle performance. We still get a nice mix of bamboo wood to go along with carbon strips for energy. We also get a traditional camber profile that contributes energy and edge grip when you find yourself on-trail. More than other skis in this range, the Helix 99 fits better as a wider park ski that can also handle off-trail adventure rather than a freeride ski that can deal with the park. Smooth, quiet, and incredibly predictable, the Liberty Helix 99 will keep the purists going with the bamboo and the longer camber profile.

Who it's For:

Park skiers looking for a softer snow option. You want the balance and flex of a slopestyle ski but you also want it to function in sidehits and backcountry natural jumps.

Price: $649.99

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At a Glance:

2025 Atomic Bent 100 Skis

Overview:

We get a re-vamped Atomic Bent 100 for 2025, and like many other skis in this zone, the focus is on core thickness and smoothness. The new Bent 100 feels a lot more competent in a variety of applications. In addition to the denser and thicker wood core, we also get a new HRZN Tech insert that keeps the ski smooth and floaty. We also get more tail rocker, which many would assume would make the ski just more playful. While it can do that, it doesn’t outweigh the gains in carving and on-trail performance at all. Overall, the ski just feels better and more connected to the snow. This will increase most skier’s affinity for the ski and bring a new mix of skiers into the fold. Still amazing in the bumps and trees, the new Bent 100 feels stouter and more solid when it comes to adversity with a boost in power.

Who it's For:

Anyone interested in soft snow performance. You want a fun-loving 100 mm twin tip but aren’t sure what to get—get this one.

Price: $649.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | On Snow Review

At a Glance:

2025 Line Pandora 99 Skis

Overview:

While the overall concept of a Line Pandor has not changed, the intended audience sure has. Whereas in years past, Pandora was a women’s line, it has now gone fully unisex with widths and lengths available for all. The Pandora 99 is basically a lighter-duty Optic with slightly different measurements and flexes. The Pandora 99 represents a fun freeride ski with an aspen wood core, thick cut sidewalls, and a fun flexible nature. These directional freeride skis are capable of fun and engagement in softer snow, are awesome in the bumps and trees, and have enough tail splay to warrant lighter park use. Skis like this end up being very well-rounded, so while they will not excel in one particular avenue, they combine multiple attributes to check a lot of boxes for many different skiers. This is why as a unisex line, the Pandora 99 ends up being a wonderful ski for a ton of skiers.

Who it's For:

On this wall, the Pandora 99 could be the most well-rounded and accessible for the most skiers.

Price: $599.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Dynastar M-Free 99 Skis

Overview:

Built with a poplar core and polyurethane along the sides, the M-Free 99 has a more specific feel than many other skis on this list. The PU keeps the ski smooth and quiet while the poplar core delivers a ton of energy. With gratuitous rocker in both tips and tails, the M-Free operates very well in a freeride format while also retaining some freestyle and park performance. This is one of the most well-rounded skis on this list as it is capable of bouncing back and forth between on-trail, off-trail, and park situations with ease and smoothness. It’s also one of the best tree skis here as it’s so incredibly mobile due to the rocker. My only wish is that it came in a 187 like it used to when it was the Slicer. Oh well, still a great option for freestyle and freeride skiers who are looking for something unique and fun for various conditions.

Who it's For:

Creative and playful skiers who love the trees and still want to be found in the park from time to time.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Armada Edollo Skis

Overview:

You could consider the Faction Studio 2 as the other “Pro” model ski on this wall, but really the Edollo from Armada is the only one that carries the name and design strictly through. Henrik Harlaut was given full creativity when designing the Edollo, and he came up with a beauty. While Candide focused on a more symmetrical shape, Henrik’s Edollo boasts measurements of 133/98/123 in the 180 cm length. There’s not as much symmetry here. There’s also a progressively stiffer flex as you go from tip to tail, allowing for butters and manuals while keeping the finish phase of a turn fully intact. We also get a good amount of positive camber underfoot to go along with a blend of poplar and ash in the core. Thick edges and a laminate matrix round out this strong ski—built and shaped for a freestyle icon for his own preferences.

Who it's For:

Henrik. It’s tough to take a pro model and say that it’ll work for the general population—these things just don’t always work out that way.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Faction Prodigy 2 Skis

Overview:

We get an update in both build and graphic for 2025, as Faction has added the carbon/rubber stomp pad to the mix as well as bringing in a new topsheet. We’re still dealing with a wonderfully versatile 98 mm twin tip, though, one that despite its directional nature, is also incredibly useful in the park. Faction has such a strong reputation for freestyle performance, but when they make a ski like this, it just begs to be used in an all-mountain format as well. The new stomp pad increases durability and suppleness when landing big tricks both on rails and in the park. With a polar core and a mostly sidewall construction, the on-trail performance is fun and interesting, and not very demanding. If you are in the market for a directional twin that can handle a multitude of conditions and terrain, Prodigy 2 is a very fun ski.

Who it's For:

Advancing park skiers who want some directional performance. You spend a decent amount of time in the air, but don’t want to forget that there’s a whole mountain to explore.

Price: $649.00

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At a Glance:

2025 Faction Studio 2 Skis

Overview:

The 2025 Faction Studio 2 is basically a re-designed Mana 2, which was a re-designed Candide 2.0. What stands out about the Studio compared to Prodigy and other skis on this list is the near symmetry of the shape and the increased camber. With measurements of 131/102/127, there’s only a 4 mm drop from tip to tail. This is directly inspired by Candide and his wishes to have a round shape in the ski that fits his particular style. This ski also feels sturdier than the Prodigy by just a bit, mainly due to the core thickness. The shape is the big differentiator here, especially within this freeride wall in general as skis in this width range tend to drop symmetry in favor of directional and soft snow performance. If you’re Candide, or aspire to ski with his style, though, there’s always going to be a place for a wide, light, flexy, and balanced ski like the Faction Studio 2.

Who it's For:

Candide-oriented and inspired skiers who are looking for the ideal blend of performance and balance. You should have a good skillset to make it go, but you don’t have to in order to appreciate the symmetry and uniqueness of the ski.

Price: $749.00

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At a Glance:

2025 Head Oblivion 102 Skis

Overview:

The Head Oblivion 102 gets a graphic re-fresh for 2025 but has the same carbon-powered energy that we loved since its inception last year. By using carbon strips to get the ski to be powerful and zippy, the Oblivion 102 has uncommon pop for a twin tip. It makes sense, and we’re glad that there are skis like this that rely on carbon over metal in order to generate power and responsiveness. Nothing wrong with how Nordica builds their Unleashed 98, but it’s just a different feel than the Oblivion. In addition, it’s nice to see that Head still utilizes a more traditionally cambered profile with no taper—these skis feel like classic twin tips when it comes to camber but with a modern construction twist. As a result, skiers looking for very zippy park performance have come to the right place, while skiers who want a responsive and energetic twin tip won’t have to look much farther. When it comes to soft snow and flotation, there are better options, but there’s nothing out there with this type of stiff and direct energy.

Who it's For:

Precision-oriented freestyle skiers who want to feel each and every ounce of feedback in their twin tips. You like rebound and pop but also want to explore park and freestyle skiing.

Price: $649.00

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At a Glance:

2025 Line Chronic 101 Skis

Overview:

This is a great ski and we’re stoked to get involved with the Chronic 101 for another year. The graphics have changed but the surprising edge grip and on-trail character have certainly carried forward. For how flexible the tips and tails are, the mid-body of this ski is certainly all there. You can let it rip and get incredibly smooth and powerful grip all through the turn. In the trees and in the park, this ski retains mobility and agility through the thin-tip technology. On the trails, the thicker sidecut sidewall and edges make all the difference in the world when it comes to predictable carving. In powder, through the crud, and into the chop, the Line Chronic 101 takes a park-themed shape and brings it squarely into the freeride realm.

Who it's For:

While park-adjacent skiers will be the target audience, there’s actually a lot of skiers who will benefit from the Chronic’s ability to be versatile, playful, and surprisingly energetic.

Price: $649.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Nordica Unleashed 98 Skis

Overview:

The Nordica Unleashed 98 is one of those skis that you should buy in the event that they stop making them. There are a lot of skis that are able to do one thing or another very well, but very few/none of them can do them all as well as the Unleashed 98. With a sheet of terrain specific metal to go along with a longer camber profile and a twin tip shape, the Unleashed 98 possesses attributes that simply aren’t found elsewhere. This ski could also appear on the all-mountain section of this 100 mm comparison, but due to the potential of the freeride capabilities, it finds itself right here, and we’re happy about that. It just turns better than most skis here, and when you add the versatility and the freestyle component, it’s just difficult to think of any better option in this range. The fun factor is simply off the charts as the ski holds an edge, rebounds great, and goes where it’s told with ease and confidence.

Who it's For:

It's better if you’ve got some skills, but it’s also responsive enough to provide comfort and feedback for progressing skiers. You want a twin tip with metal.

Price: $699.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | Ski Review | On Snow Review

At a Glance:

2025 Rossignol Super Blackops 98 Skis

Overview:

The Rossignol Super Blackops 98 is a great option for skiers who are looking to mix on and off-trail situations. Basically, this ski has returned unchanged for years, with the basic premise of it’s not broken, so why fix it or change it? 98 mm twin tips are awesome, and this has been a trend setter and trail blazer since inception. It’s funny because with the old-school 7SK graphics, they’re basically admitting that this is a throwback ski. Built with a poplar wood core and a titanal beam underfoot, the skis are sturdy and fun to use at the same time. We also get rubber dampers in the tips and tails to keep the ski smooth and vibration-free regardless of snow condition or terrain. These work great in the trees and bumps, although they do bring some heft to the mix. Often put right up there with the Unleashed 98 and the Black Crows Camox as awesome options in this range, the Super Blackops 98 sets itself apart with classic styling and damp overall performance.

Who it's For:

Advanced and expert skiers will be able to generate the best performance here. You do have to load it up with energy in order to make it come to life. Generally, intermediates will not have as much success in this endeavor.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Salomon QST 98 Skis

Overview:

Even though the Salomon QST 98 is one of the narrowest skis on this list, it nevertheless is probably the best floater. The outrageous rocker profile and taper shape lead to endless flotation and incredible soft snow performance. That said, if you thought this was all the ski could do, you’d be sorely mistaken. The QST 98 operates quite well in an on-trail format, too, making clean, round, and relatively short arcs on the groomers. That same taper that makes it a great floater also reduces the turn radius and increases the carving mobility. For a ski that uses wood, carbon, flax, and metal underfoot, the QST 98 is very adept at feeling solid and controlled. There’s not much out there that can handle the carving and the floating as well as QST 98, and certainly none can do it with as short of a turn radius.

Who it's For:

Smooth and sturdy skiers who are looking for a narrower powder ski. You like the feeling of a clean turn and you don’t mind a bit of weight so long as the shape is fun.

Price: $699.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Fischer Ranger 102 Skis

Overview:

We could have made a strong argument for this ski ending up on the All-Mountain side of the 100 mm list, but there’s got to be something on this side that ends up being the most directional. This ski gets a graphic update for 2025 but retains the poplar and beech wood core to go along with the shaped Ti metal laminate. In this 102, that metal is shorter and a bit narrower than in the Ranger 96, and the shape and profile are far more dramatic. There’s a lot of width in the tip and a lot of rocker overall. This makes the Ranger 102 a fantastic ski for soft snow and powder. The shovel ends up being on the flexible side as well, making the ski amenable for playful powder performance and very easy turning. On the groomers, the metal performs as advertised, bringing a high level of edge grip to the mix.

Who it's For:

This ski ends up being a bit better for lighter skiers in our experience. Heavier skiers tend to push through the softer shovel.

Price: $849.99

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At a Glance:

2025 Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis

Overview:

With a fun shape and a more progressive flex than the stiffer Anomaly 102, the Rustler 10 is a chameleon that can adapt very well to changing and different snow conditions with ease. On one hand, this ski can carve a very clean, smooth, and fast turn. On the other, it is drifty, smeary, and very easy to pivot. This mix of attributes is a huge part of the ski’s success and universal appeal over the past two seasons. This is especially true with this build, focusing on a sophisticated wood core and an innovative metal laminate. When paired with a lot of splay in the tips and rocker in the tails, the skis have a lot of flotation involved. They’re just so darn fun and composed in a huge variety of terrain and snow conditions. It’s tough to beat a Rustler 10 if mixing soft and firm snow is anywhere near your priority list.

Who it's For:

There’s a huge audience here for skiers looking for sturdy freeride skis that can carve and float. These could be on the All-Mountain section as well, were it not for the burly Anomaly 102.

Price: $799.95

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