2025 Men's ~110mm Freeride Ski Comparison

As we move into wider skis in our Comparison Series, it’s fun to see the differences emerge in this ~110 mm underfoot zone. We have skis ranging from 108 to 112 mm at the waist, and these skis use a variety of different techniques in both shaping and construction to achieve a particular effect. We see some lightweight options here with surfy profiles, and some straight-line hard chargers with multiple metal laminates and a blatant disregard for weight. We get both twin tips for freestyle use and flatter overall skis that have no business being in the air. It’s interesting to see a four-part pattern emerge here, with lighter twins and lighter directional skis at the start, followed by burlier twins and then full-on charging flat skis at the end. These skis fit into the “dream” category in that, other than pure bottomless powder, skis on this list are what we mainly aspire to be able to ski daily, even though reality doesn’t always align.

At a Glance:

2025 Elan Playmaker 111 Skis

Overview:

As the new ski in the Playmaker line, and as the widest ski on Elan’s books these days, the Playmaker 111 takes notes from its narrower brethren and inserts them into a wider-bodied footprint. We still get the two shorter carbon tubes along the sides, a gratuitous rocker profile, a surfy taper shape, and a consistent flex that keeps the fun firmly intact. When you factor in the lighter weight and more agile nature of the ski, there’s a good reason why this is a powder skier’s dream come true. While other skis on this list have more fall-line intentions, this Playmaker 111 mixes creativity, playfulness, and freeride fun in any depth of snow. The swing weight is low, it’s easy to get sideways, and has an awesome character that we’ve known from the Playmaker line for the past few seasons.

Who it's For:

Playful and creative skiers who enjoy slashing a sideways turn as much, if not more, than letting them run straight. If you like a good smear, you’ll love the Playmaker 111.

Price: $699.99

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At a Glance:

2025 Atomic Bent 110 Skis

Overview:

This wide twin is back for another year, offering flotation, freestyle, and smooth performance for playful skiers looking to push the limits. With a more central feel to it, the Bent 110 operates very well in a sideways and across the fall line capacity while more directional skiers may prefer something sturdier with less rocker. But for those that want flotation and freeride creativity as part of the mix, this Bent 110 is a great choice. In softer crud and chop, the ski turns surprisingly well for its weight, and in softer groomers, it’s a fun carver as well. You can really access the entirety of the sidecut to get that clean and round turn that’s so satisfying. While this ski doesn’t get the new build and style of the Bent 100 and Bent Chetler 120, we can’t help but think those moves are on the docket for next season.

Who it's For:

Freestyle-oriented skiers who are looking for a pow ski. Also, pow skiers who want to throw some tricks into their day will love the playful and surfy Bent 110.

Price: $749.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Armada ARV 112 Skis

Overview:

We get a whole new ski from Armada this year in the form of an ARV 112. This splits the difference between the 106 and the 116 JJ UL in terms of width but keeps the 112 in the new ARV build with the poplar wood core. Fortunately, we got out on this ski a few times this year—all with fresh snow, and spoiler alert, it was awesome. So incredibly drifty and agile yet with good snow feel and excellent pep. One of the main reasons it’s so satisfying is that it feels like a solid product, but the twin tip shape and rockered profile allow it to be insanely playful and fun. The mix of those attributes brings the soft snow performance and creative nature of the ski firmly to the forefront of the discussion. Twin tips like this aren’t usually this smooth or this zesty, but Armada has locked it down with the new 112.

Who it's For:

Creative and fun-loving skiers who love some rebound in a twin tip will get along great with the new ARV 112. You like a smooth and quiet feel paired with a playful shape.

Price: $849.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Elan Ripstick 108 Skis

Overview:

As we enter the more directional realm on this list, the all-new Elan Ripstick 108 keeps the light weight and mobile fun firmly intact. We get a new build this year with uni-directional carbon strips under the tubelite wood core and a flax layer in the shovel where the Vapor Tips used to be. This allows Elan to thin the core profile in the tip of the ski and make it lighter and easier to steer. Fortunately, we got a bunch of really fun days on these skis this past winter, and they shot right up to the top of our list when it comes to light and agile directional performance. You can be smeary and surfy like on the Playmaker 111, but you also get better grip and response out of the flatter tail. With the Amphibio Rocker Profile making the skis smooth and cohesive, the Ripstick 108 is a must-ski on a snowy day.

Who it's For:

Directional skiers looking for a good tree and powder ski. You want light weight, easy mobility, and high levels of sophistication to get you from top to bottom.

Price: $849.99

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At a Glance:

2025 Kastle ZX 108 Skis

Overview:

As the parent ski of a lot of progeny, the Kastle ZX 108 truly started a movement within Kastle’s lineup. From this ski, originally nicknamed “The Drifter,” we get ZX 100, 92, and 115. We also get the women’s Obsidian 92. In addition, the shape of the ski is now identical to the new Paragon 93, 101, and 107. So from this 108, we’ve gotten 7 offshoots. That’s pretty impressive. With a gratuitous rocker profile, an energizing tail, and a solid and quality build, the ZX 108 handles deep snow, technical zones, trees, and more with relative ease and grace. This ski carries forward for this year, bringing a poplar and beech wood core to the mix with a smooth and precise feel. There’s a good amount of taper here as well, keeping the front of the ski confidently out of the snow. While the tail can be playful, it can also dig in, satisfying the needs of both slashy and carvy skiers out there.

Who it's For:

Sophisticated powder skiers looking to mix the technical with the playful. You want a quality-oriented ski and a lot of flotation.

Price: $799.00

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At a Glance:

2025 DPS Kaizen 112 Skis

Overview:

As one of the most bowed-out skis on this list, the DPS Kaizen 112 has a ton of rocker, splay and taper—considerably more than other skis here. This is all done in order to create a 15-meter turn radius and keep the DPS spirit alive in the powder. It’s incredible how much float and smooth powder performance these skis create. While there are others on this list that will plow and charge through crud and chop, there aren’t any others that drift and surf like this Kaizen 112. Built with a sophisticated core consisting of poplar and ash horizontal layers, the Kaizen also gets 2 full layers of carbon for stiffness and response. For a ski with this shocking of a shape, it actually holds up its end of the bargain when it comes to performance as the carbon does a lot of the heavy lifting while keeping the ski incredibly light and mobile.

Who it's For:

Like the Kastle, the DPS is home to some of the highest precision construction out there. You value a quality item and don’t mind paying for it.

Price: $1,549.95

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At a Glance:

2025 K2 Reckoner 110 Skis

Overview:

We get a new Reckoner 110 this year, featuring a new build and shape that addresses some of the issues of the outgoing 112. Now, the ski is heavier and more durable with a burly topsheet. We get longitudinal carbon strips to slightly stiffen the ski, although it’s still very flexible, and a very robust cap-like top that prevents chipping and scratches. This boosts the overall quality and feel of the Reckoner 110. With a slightly narrower waist, we’re seeing a bit of a move from K2, separating the 110 from the new KF at 114 and the 122. Now there’s a lot of Reckoners, and this is good news for freestyle-oriented powder skiers who do not want to leave creativity and tricks where the park ends. Aside from the added weight, this is still one of the most playful and flexible skis on this list.

Who it's For:

Park-based skiers looking for a wider stick to bring their skills into the softer snow. You don’t really care about on-trail performance so much, and that’s fine.

Price: $749.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Faction Studio 3 Skis

Overview:

In the freeride/freestyle realm of this wall, the Studio 3 is likely one of the more symmetrical and playful skis on this list. With a 6 mm drop from tip to tail, these skis follow in the footsteps of Candide’s 3.0 from years ago. We get a smooth poplar wood core, a true and playful twin tip design, and a new topsheet from last year’s Mana 3. All of this adds up to an incredibly fun and predictable ski that operates very well in deep and soft snow. If you are interested in backcountry booters and natural features in the powder, this is a great place to be. We also get carbon stringers and a carbon/rubber stomp pad to bring out the zip in these wider-bodied twins.

Who it's For:

Surfy and smeary skiers who are looking to get more symmetry and balance out of their skis. You like a smooth and quiet feel to go along with a bit of carbon zest.

Price: $849.00

At a Glance:

2025 Dynastar M-Free 108 Skis

Overview:

This ski has been a long-time favorite of ours here at SkiEssentials, and that carries forward with a new build and new sizing for 2025. There’s been a gap between the 182 and 192 when it comes to this ski, and now a 178/185 split will find a lot more skiers in their sweet spots. We also get the updated Hybrid Core 2.0 with three layers of wood working in harmony to deliver energy, pep, and pop without adding more adhesive. This is a greener way of building skis using joinery instead of epoxy to combine core layers. With the polyurethane along the sides, the M-Free retains its smoothness, silence, and energy all while keeping flotation and freeride capabilities firmly intact with a (still) progressive and modern shape. There’s a lot of rocker here, making the M-Free one of the bounciest and funnest floaters here—still agile and still a blast in all types of soft snow.

Who it's For:

Fun and playful skiers of all ages—this one seems to transcend many borders and barriers when it comes to target audience.

Price: $799.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Line Bacon 108 Skis

Overview:

This Line Bacon 108 is a real treat to ski. When we had snowy days here in Vermont this past season, the Bacon 108 was on my shortlist of skis to grab the night before. Fortunately, we were able to keep the demo in the 185 for most of the year and I had some of my best days on this ski. It’s an incredibly fun, surfy, and consistent twin tip that operates very well in trees and crud. While there’s not as much power or overall stability as is found in some of the heavier hitters on this list, there’s still a lot of flotation and agility. It shares a lot of construction techniques with Chronic 101 and 94, mixing thinner tip and tail profiles with a stout and thick underfoot zone. This allows the ski to swing easily while retaining a sturdy midsection. This blend works great in our Vermont trees and beyond.

Who it's For:

Powder seekers who are looking for a smooth and predictable feel in a twin tip. This ski blurs some lines for sure when it comes to mixing performance with playfulness.

Price: $749.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Fischer Ranger 108 Skis

Overview:

For a few years now, the Fischer Ranger 108 has been a stalwart of this division. We get a new paint job for 2025, but the ski returns structurally unchanged. Built with a blend of poplar and beech in the wood core, Fischer relies on their shaped Ti metal laminate to give the underfoot zone some stability while leaving the ends of the ski floatier and driftier for softer snow and powder performance. There’s a lot of taper in the tips and tails to go along with abundant rocker for pure soft snow feel. They are smooth and powerful when you open them up and let them run, making for an aggressive ski for technical lines and big faces. These skis are very smooth and quiet, with the metal absorbing vibrations underfoot and the wood doing the heavy lifting at the ends.

Who it's For:

Skilled skiers who like to throw them around. This ski likes to be driven in order to get the maximum performance, although they’re still relatively approachable for lighter and less aggressive skiers.

Price: $899.99

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At a Glance:

2025 Black Crows Corvus Skis

Overview:

For years, the Corvus has been Black Crows’ calling card. This was the signature ski that defined the company. The shift in the build and shape may be representative of the shift in the company’s priorities, or that may be us just reading too much into it. At the end of the day, the new Corvus is floatier, more playful, and more accessible than ever before. The previous Corvus was very flat and strong. The new one is shapely and fun. The old one was a hard charger that blew through crud and chop. The new ski is fantastic in fresh snow and insanely more creative. With a long turn radius, metal underfoot, and a blend of poplar and ash, the new Corvus has flexible tips and tails, a lot of taper, and some camber underfoot for grip. Now with boosted powder and tree performance, the new Corvus sets a new bar in Black Crows’ line as a smooth operator for all things fresh.

Who it's For:

Sturdy and fun-loving skiers who want a mix of powder, crud, tree, and on-piste performance. You like a slashy ski and prefer things to be either straight or sideways.

Price: $1,079.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Nordica Unleashed 108 Skis

Overview:

Now we’re getting into the higher performing and better turning twins. When we first got on the Unleashed 108 a few years ago, it was apparent that Nordica had something special. There seemed to be no possible way for a ski this wide, with a twin tip, to be able to carve like this. Unleashed 108 does not fit into any real or singular box of performance or application, rather it moves seamlessly through all realms. It floats in powder, busts through crud, carves on groomers, handles trees with ease, and so much more. It’s a rewarding and satisfying ski experience from tip to tail. Add in some freestyle prowess and you’ve got a winning ticket for sure. With partial metal and a performance wood core, there’s good strength here, while the ski’s sidecut keeps you actively engaged in the turn. While there are driftier and smearier skis on this list, there aren’t many 108’s that can hang with Unleashed when it comes to on-trail fun and excitement.

Who it's For:

Creative and active skiers who want something that turns really well. Pure flotation isn’t your top priority, but it’s still on the list.

Price: $799.99

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At a Glance:

2025 Rossignol Sender Free 110 Skis

Overview:

As a returning model for 2025, we get another crack at these awesome freeride twins from Rossignol. These Sender Free 110’s blend a floaty and drifty character and shape with a strong and sturdy build. Similar to the M-Free skis, this sender Free has a lot of playful rocker to it with good splay for proper flotation. This ski has metal underfoot and a carbon alloy matrix laminate to provide steadiness when the conditions and terrain become unfavorable. There’s a good reason why these skis pop up on the Freeride World Tour, especially on courses that have more of a freestyle capacity to them. With a solid feel and a playful shape, the fearless and floaty Sender Free 110 is an awesome choice for expert and adventurous skiers who are looking for limitless performance regardless of conditions or terrain.

Who it's For:

There’s a nice range here, going from advanced skiers who want a wide twin all the way through professional skiers entering world-class freeride events.

Price: $799.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Dynastar M-Free 112 Skis

Overview:

The all-new Dynastar M-Free 112 is a solid and sturdy twin built on the premise of the discontinued M-Free 118 but with more access and usability in mind. There’s a handful of new 112’s out there this year, but this one is special and unique as it uses Dynastar’s latest construction technology with their Hybrid Core 2.0. By fusing three separate pieces of poplar wood together using joinery techniques rather than epoxy laminates, they boost the energy of the wood with friction and keep the carbon footprint on a lower level. By keeping the polyurethane sections along the side, they are able to pair the solid and energetic wood core with the quiet and smooth PU with ease. There’s less of an all-mountain vibe here than in the 108, but that’s all part of the plan as this new 112 is meant to be utilized in deeper snow and in more big-mountain zones.

Who it's For:

Strong skiers who don’t mind a bit of weight to go along with their skis. You want a smooth and powerful ski to go along with relatively effortless flotation.

Price: $849.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Salomon QST Blank Skis

Overview:

As a returning model for 2025, the Salomon QST Blank remains one of the pure favorites in this category. There aren’t many others here that can check as many boxes. On-trail, it’s a surprisingly agile and engaging carver. Off-trail, it’s mobile and nimble in the trees. In deep snow, it’s floaty, smeary, and drifty while also chargey and aggressive. The poplar core, double sidewalls, cork damplifier, and C/FX stringers make it very unique and sophisticated in this realm. Even in the biggest length, the gentlemanly 194, the ski produces an 18-meter turn radius due to the dramatic rocker and taper. The spoony tips and tails ensure proper flotation and smoothness, while the ski can turn on both a dime and straight-line with confidence. 112’s shouldn’t be able to carve like this one does, but somehow Salomon makes it happen.

Who it's For:

If you’re looking for a 112 that does it all, this is a great place to be. You don’t mind a bit of weight accompanying amazing performance and versatility.

Price: $799.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Blizzard Rustler 11 Skis

Overview:

The Rustler 11 is a carryover model for 2025, bringing a sophisticated True Blend wood core and Flux Form metal technology to the table. There aren’t many skis on this list with this type of tech in the mix. By blending different stringers of poplar and beech in the core, the Rustler 11 is able to be smooth and damp in the center while the metal over the edges brings precision and grip. The rocker profile helps keep the ski afloat and it works incredibly well in tighter spaces and trees. For us here in Vermont, the Rustler 11 is widely seen as a great pow day ski because it mixes agility and sturdiness seamlessly. They feel a bit lighter, mainly due to the lighter swing weight, but underfoot the power is readily available.

Who it's For:

You value grip and smoothness without sacrificing flotation and playfulness. Skiers who want a metallic powder ski will love the mix of attributes in Rustler 11.

Price: $849.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | Rustler Series Overview

At a Glance:

2025 Head Kore 111 Skis

Overview:

It’s always interesting how a carbon-powered ski can sneak in here to the Ti-powered skis on this list. The Kore 111 gets a graphic update for this year but keeps the relatively light weight and stiff flexing construction that allows it to stand out from the crowd. This is a very unique ski with a lot of energy and power, yet somehow stays playful and creative for modern freeride skiers. It’s amazing how precise and agile this ski is because of the dual-carbon laminates. For a 111, it’s amazingly nimble. At the same time, feel free to let it run, there’s an impressively stable nature to this ski at speed. But it just carves so darn good for any ski, not just a 111. The crispness of this ski is off the charts. Overall, the Kore 111 features a fun-loving yet business-like character that allows it to be high-performance and accessible at the same time.

Who it's For:

We’ve found that skiers either need some weight to them or have a good skill set to access the entirety of the Kore 111. Both attributes make the experience all the better.

Price: $849.00

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At a Glance:

2025 Armada Declivity X 108 Skis

Overview:

What a treat to get to ski this all-new Armada Declivity X 108 this year! We first got on it on a very snowy day, and it lived up to all expectations. Here in Vermont, it’s rarely bottomless. There’s often a firm layer below the upper powder zones, so it’s helpful to have a ski that, if it gets to the foundation, it still holds up. That’s the case with this new X 108. With a more dramatically tapered shovel for 2025, the ski also features a shorter Articulated Titanal Band laminate that plays well off the fun-loving shape. As a result, the ski floats great, but holds an edge and feels solid and stable when encountering adverse conditions. The ski is smooth, capable, and a ton of fun. The longer radius helps the skier to track as planned through crud and chop, and when you get out on-trail, these skis just rip turns.

Who it's For:

Relatively aggressive skiers will get the most out of the Declivity X 108. You should have a good skill set and a fall-line mentality for this ski.

Price: $999.95

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At a Glance:

2025 K2 Mindbender 108 Ti Skis

Overview:

With a graphic update for 2025, the K2 Mindbender 108 Ti returns as a hard charger with tons of stability and power. The titanal Y-Beam is the big culprit here as it’s been in the past, providing a crisp entry into the turn and a sturdy and strong feel throughout the carve. These skis are great in crud and chop, and while there are better choices for pure flotation on this list, the 108 Ti certainly falls to the more directional and fall-line oriented section. This past year, we found out that they’re absolute monsters in spring snow and corn—lighting up the relatively smooth trails with ease here in Vermont. They do like room to run, though, as agility and tight spaces aren’t the fave. When you get some speed underfoot, the skis plane out and over deliver stability and power to the feet of advanced and expert skiers.

Who it's For:

Hard chargers who know how to wrangle a ski will get the best out of the Mindbender. If you’re on the timid side of the spectrum, there are better choices.

Price: $799.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Dynastar M-Pro 108 Skis

Overview:

Once we get this far into the wall, we’re really dealing with some unique and special skis. The Dynastar M-Pro features a beech and PU hybrid core with a Ti Rocket Frame. This upgrade in wood material brings the next level of stability, smoothness, and power to the mix while the Ti Rocket Frame is ideal for keeping the ski direct to the fall line with great grip and endless strength. We think the longer turn radius of 22 meters in the 192 makes sense as it falls squarely into the directional side of the spectrum. Built right outside the Chamonix valley, it’s easy to think that the Dynastar engineers look up and ask what’s the best ski to get from the top to the bottom as fast as possible, and then they come up with the M-Pro 108. On the flip side, there’s not a lot of recreational use here for the general public.

Who it's For:

High level skiers who love speed and are aggressive to the fall line. You either ski a 182 or a 192.

Price: $899.95

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At a Glance:

2025 Volkl Mantra 108 Skis

Overview:

This Mantra 108 and the previous M-Pro 108 could easily be swapped on this list and I don’t think anyone would fault you either way. The main difference is in how the metal is used. In the new re-named and re-styled Mantra 108, the titanal frame is still used, as is a full sheet of metal on the bottom. As a result, the Mantra 108 has more of a metallic feel and a pingy sound than the woodier M-Pro 108. The frame in the tips and tails uses the .7 mmtitanal while the underfoot is .3, showing Volkl’s dedication to strong and sturdy skis with speed in the forefront of the engineering. While the skis utilize Volkl’s 3D Radius sidecut, it’s not as pronounced of a difference as it is in the narrower skis. We get a 39/19/34-meter split, with the emphasis on the longer arcs at the end.Crud, chop, and wind buff beware! The Mantra 108 does not discern or discriminate against adversity when it comes to conditions, terrain, or speed.

Who it's For:

Strong and sturdy skiers who do not mind a challenge. You are looking for endless power and stability in all types of snow.

Price: $899.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results