2027 Men's ~100 mm Freeride Ski Comparison

With fun and freestyle twin tips as well as more freeride-oriented options, the 100 mm Freeride category is stocked with creativity, balance, versatility, and playfulness. Skis on this list can range from super light and highly mobile twins to more metal-clad or heftier builds that are meant for a bit more aggressiveness and charging capabilities. While most skiers will see a bit of a move away from park-specific skiing, these twins can be multivalent in that regard—capable of slopestyle, but also holding well-rounded freeride skiing at the same time. Once we get to the 100 mm range and up, especially with these more progressive shapes and profiles, the powder and soft snow parts of the conversation become more relevant and apparent.

At a Glance:

2027 Elan Playmaker 101 Skis

Overview:

If surfing and park skiing merged, the Elan Playmaker 101 would likely be a top pick. These skis are highly mobile and agile and simply feel like they want to stay on top of any surface they come in contact with. Built with a lighter core consisting of poplar and paulownia, the skis use two shorter carbon tubes along the sides. The bigger story here is with the shape and the profile of the ski, as those aspects give the Playmaker its signature wiggle factor, which is frankly right off the charts. These skis are so darn easy and fun to throw sideways, and while they lack the grip or density necessary for high power skiing, they more than make up for it in shenanigans and flat-out good times. If you like mixing it up in the park, woods, and powder, and don't want to put in a lot of effort at all, the Playmaker 101 is an ideal choice.

Who it’s For:

Easy-going skiers who want a lot of mobility and agility in their freeride twins. You value light weight in a freestyle setting.

Price: $749.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2024 Elan Playmaker 101 Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Atomic Bent 100 Skis

Overview:

With a bit more camber and more of a directional feel than some of the other lighter skis here, the Atomic Bent 100 continues its dominance when it comes to accessible and entertaining freeride skiing. It's less of a freestyle twin than others here but still has enough tail rocker and splay for the occasional switch rider and park skier. It's really ideally suited for the trees and softer bumps, and in that realm, the ski rules. It's so incredibly fun and easy to wiggle through tight spots and stay on top of fresh snow. At the same time, we've had it out on some softer groomer days, and it's an enormously fun on-trail ski as well. There's good energy and pop here due to the camber, and while the light poplar core won't win any stability contests, the overall vibe and nature of the ski is still geared towards entertaining high level freeride skiing.

Who it’s For:

A whole lot of skiers. This thing is ubiquitous out there and appeals to a broad audience who love a blend of style and accessibility in their skis.

Price: $699.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2024 Atomic Bent 100 On Snow Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Liberty Scope 99 Skis

Overview:

Liberty has gotten back to basics a bit here with the Scope 99, with the re-addition of bamboo to the cores of their skis. This adds some smoothness and silence to the mix while retaining the fun and off-trail character that we love about this shape and style of ski. It's not all that energizing and exciting on-trail, but when you get it into softer snow and more interesting terrain, the Scope 99 really comes alive. This ski makes you feel like a much better off-piste skier than you may actually be because it's so darn easy to swivel around. Whether you're in the bumps, trees, or deeper snow, the Scope 99 is so simple to turn and smear. There's some park component here, but there's not a ton of splay, and that favors a smoother off-piste character of the ski. By bringing bamboo back, the Scope 99 is decidedly more Liberty feeling than it has been in years, and we think that's a good thing.

Who it’s For:

Creative and playful skiers looking for an off-trail specific ski, and that includes some park.

Price: $699.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2026 Liberty Scope 94 & Scope 99 Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Line Pandora 99 Skis

Overview:

With more shape than you may expect, but still a directional footprint, the Line Pandora 99 is an interesting ski with a huge range of performance attributes. On one hand, the Pandora 99 is an accessible freeride and all-mountain ski with an easy demeanor and great flotation. On the other hand, it's got a lot of splay in the tips and tails, so freestyle performance and creativity are all right there. They use an aspen core here, and thicker sidewalls, so that does boost the edge grip slightly. If you push them hard, though, especially on firmer snow, the flexible nature will let you know when you've surpassed the ski's desired threshold. The versatility stands out here, as this ski's shape, build, and profile align to make an approachable yet fun-loving ski.

Who it’s For:

The Pandora 99 is built and shaped for all sorts of skiers and skier styles. This one is a great option if you're progressing and are unsure of what to get in this range.

Price: $649.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Salomon Depart 02 Skis

Overview:

The all-new Salomon Depart 02 is a fun-loving freeride ski with a modern shape and an innovative style. As the narrower version of the 106 mm underfoot Depart 01, this 02, at 100 mm, makes more sense for skiers who aren't in deeper snow all the time. This adds to the park potential and boosts the daily resort application. We found them to be quite light, with a blend of poplar and caruba, and that lightness makes the skis so easy to throw sideways and basically smear the whole mountain if you so choose. While the ski states a 15-meter radius, it's flexible enough to be all over the place with those numbers. It's certainly quick enough to handle a 15-meter arc, but with carving a fairly far cry from the ski's priority, it's not worth a whole lot of time and effort. It's fun to carve, but not overly rewarding.

Who it’s For:

This fits a prototypically modern freeride skier with an innovative shape and profile. It's both specific and wide-ranging at the same time.

Price: $649.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | Behind the Scenes of the 2027 Ski Test: 2027 Salomon Depart 2.0

At a Glance:

2027 Armada ARV 100 Skis

Overview:

Built and shaped for blending freestyle and freeride performance attributes, the Armada ARV 100 is a fun-loving and perfectly predictable product. These things are incredibly useful when it comes to mixing trees, powder, park, and even all-mountain carving. The poplar core works great in providing a smooth and energetic feel. Even though the ski has more of a central and balanced feel, it makes very clean and round arcs at higher edge angles. If you want to venture into the park, you've got a pretty good twin tip here, complete with w3dgewall technology to increase durability and energy as the sidewall is pressed into the core with an increased horizontal portion of the wall. Out of all the skis on this wall, it's tough to argue that there's a smoother option out there—these skis are silky.

Who it’s For:

Skiers mixing park and off-piste fairly equally will love the blend of attributes here in the ARV 100.

Price: $749.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Blizzard Canvas 100 Skis

Overview:

With a light and mobile feel, but a grippy sense about it, the all-new Canvas 100 fills the playful twin tip role for Blizzard with ease. These skis have a lot of shape, a generous flex, and a smooth character to them that makes them fun and inviting from the very first turn. Borrowing a bit of a shaping principle from the flatter cambered Rustler 10, the Canvas isn't high on camber, and it's very gratuitous on rocker. There's a lot of splay here in both tips and tails that allow the Canvas 100 to be a very engaging and bouncy ski. Built with a blend of poplar and paulownia, the skis use a metal strip to maintain the shape and add a bit of damping while the carbon allows for increased pep and energy. The Canvas 100 moves slightly towards modern freeskiing applications with some park performance, but overall, this ski works very well in softer snow, tighter spaces, and in quicker formats.

Who it’s For:

Fun-loving and energetic skiers who like to use more input and influence on the ski and the types of turns it makes.

Price: $699.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2027 Blizzard Rustler 10 and Blizzard Canvas 100 On Snow Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 K2 Reckoner 102 Skis

Overview:

With a dense underfoot feel and a lot of flex in the tips and tails, the K2 Reckoner 102 fits in great with this group in terms of mixing playfulness and a bit of a disguised carving performance. The use of an aspen wood core here totally works, but K2 also adds carbon spectral braiding to the mix in order to fine-tune the torsional flex of the ski. When you use a full fiberglass wrap, as they do here, you also end up using a lot of epoxy, and that adds to the weight of the ski. Reckoner 102 is pretty hefty at 2000 g/ski, but it doesn't feel that way when it's on your feet. The drifty nature of the ski is still totally intact while it can still motor through heavier and chunkier snow with relative ease. While a bit more central in terms of stance, the skis feel composed in a carved turn as long as you're not aggressively pressuring the tips and tails.

Who it’s For:

Smooth and deliberate skiers who love to mash around the mountain and then end up in the park.

Price: $649.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Line Chronic 101 Skis

Overview:

The Line Chronic 101 is a very interesting and unique ski since it has a stiffer underfoot zone, with a bunch of pop and power, to go along with flexible and thinner tips and tails. It feels a lot like the Reckoner in this regard, and has that weight of at or just north of 2000 g/ski which makes it heftier and more stable than the flex lets on. The skis are surprising in that sense—they carve way better and are more entertaining than you may think, again having more of a positive impact on the whole mountain experience. Frankly, it's simply impressive how well these skis turn, and it all comes down to the thicker underfoot zone which holds tight to firmer snow. With more of a symmetrical look in terms of the side profile, there's plenty of rocker, taper, and splay to boost the ski's playful and creative character.

Who it’s For:

Freestyle-oriented skiers who are looking for more of a balanced and symmetrical twin that can vacillate between all-mountain carving and pure creative potential.

Price: $699.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2024 Line Chronic 94 & Chronic 101 Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Black Crows Vena Cor Skis

Overview:

The all-new Vena Cor from Black Crows is an obvious and appreciated attempt to catch the same lightning in a bottle as we got from the Mirus Cor. They do it a bit differently here, though, with more of a focus on directional charging and keeping things a bit lighter feeling overall. Vena Cor uses a poplar wood core with carbon strips on top and on the bottom. This stiffens the ski and delivers a solid, planted, and energetic feel on groomers and firmer snow. The width, at 100 mm underfoot, combines with the rockered tips and tails to create more flotation in smoother snow. While it's not quite as powerful as some other skis on this list when it comes to mashing through adversity, it certainly feels right at home on the top of the surface. We get a 17-meter arc in these skis, and it loves to be used in that format—these are wonderful carvers with a playful character.

Who it’s For:

We're not 100% sure quite yet as it took Mirus Cor a season or two to shake out. Vena Cor certainly works well for the skier who loves carving energy to go along with freeride playfulness.

Price: $999.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2027 Black Crows Vena Cor Introductions & First Impressions

At a Glance:

2027 Fischer Ranger 102 Skis

Overview:

The Fischer Ranger 102 returns unchanged and keeps its spot as a middle-demanding ski in this range. There's nothing particularly unoffensive about this ski, like many others it relies on a full poplar wood core, a partial metal sheet, and an interesting footprint for smashing together all-mountain and freeride skiing. While there's a good amount of tail rocker here, there's also a sturdy and stout feel that keeps it planted. Again, the main idea here is to toe both sides of the line when it comes to creativity and performance. One of the interesting things about this 102 is that the core thickness is less than the narrower 96 and 90, so it does have a bit more of a freeride and soft snow lean. It's not that stiff, but the metal keeps things quiet underfoot, so there's a fair amount of confidence here in these skis, especially when it comes to dealing with adversity and random snow and terrain changes.

Who it’s For:

Skiers who like a bit of flex and float in their skis without going full noodle will love the directional performance of the Ranger 102.

Price: $849.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2024 Fischer Ranger 96 & Ranger 102 Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Rossignol Sender 100 Skis

Overview:

With an energetic camber profile and a freestyle-focused twin tip shape, the Rossignol Sender 100 is a park-leaning ski that doesn't totally forget about all-mountain ripping. This is a sturdy ski with a full poplar wood core and basalt stringers under the core. We get normal Rossignol Air Tip to keep the swing weight down, but overall, this is a real-deal ski with full sidewalls and the ability to tear it up on the groomers and make some really nice carved turns. At the same time, the flex of the ski is amenable to various turn shape and style and finding comfort in the park. When it comes to park, the skis feature an 8 mm drop in tip to tail width but also have a more central mount point for increased balance. Overall, this ski has a wonderful blend of being a full-on well-built ski paired with a more freestyle oriented character.

Who it’s For:

All-Mountain freeriders who have a penchant for park skiing. This is a specific group with the park emphasis.

Price: $699.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Head Oblivion 102 Skis

Overview:

With more of a traditional shape and style, but paired with an innovative core, the Head Oblivion 102 is an ideal choice for skiers who want a twin tip for freestyle use without giving up soft and hard snow freeride capacity. The use of carbon here keeps the ski fully energized when leaning into a carved turn, but then the long turn radius means that you need to be fully engaged in the ski like all the time. There's not a whole lot of relaxing here, even though the Oblivion is on the lighter side. Interestingly, this ski is more like a narrower version of the 116, which is primarily used in big mountain formats. That tech and overall shaping principle filter down into this 102, providing the same level of performance and style but for more of a low snow format. There's not a lot of taper here, so the ski does like to link into turns quickly while the long and low rocker keeps you afloat and playful all over the mountain, including park.

Who it’s For:

Creative skiers who like to throw it sideways in softer and deeper snow. You also don't want to leave park skiing out of the conversation.

Price: $749.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2024 Head Oblivion 102 Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Faction Studio 2 Skis

Overview:

With a bit more symmetry than many skis on this list, the Faction Studio 2 is a great option for skiers looking for more of a park influence but in a more solid and poppy build. These skis are built with a poplar core and carbon stringers which are laced in the fiberglass laminates. Then we get carbon/rubber stomp pads that run on top of the core along the sides of the skis. These help with durability and shock absorption during landings and on rails. While they're not super heavy, they are on the stiffer side, and when that's paired with a more symmetrical shape, the skis can feel pretty demanding. With measurements of 131/102/127, we get a 4 mm drop in tip to tail width and a 20-meter turn radius in the 183. This equates to very round and symmetrical turns thanks to a more central stance. Whether you're looking for a wider park ski or something that can handle softer and deeper snow with a freestyle mentality, the Studio 2 is a well-built and trustworthy ski for sure.

Who it’s For:

Skiers who like a rounder character in their skis. You value symmetry and balance and don't mind a stiffer and more demanding ski for creative skiing.

Price: $829.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2025 Faction Studio 2 Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Dynastar M-Free 100 Skis

Overview:

With a bunch of camber underfoot and a sturdy overall feel, the Dynastar M-Free 100 is a strong ski with wonderful energy. And then there's the shape and profile—both of which have softer snow leanings and a creative character. While you could use these in more of a freestyle format, they're more freeride-oriented and like to be used in natural features and terrain with confidence and style. They work great in softer snow, whether it's powder, spring slush, crud, or chop—these skis like to blast right through anything. They have a wonderfully energetic feel on groomers and have fantastic rebound due to the camber. The construction lends more energy too, with three layers of wood combined with polyurethane along the sides in their Hybrid 2.0 build. With a fresh new look for 2027, the M-Free 100 hopes to jump off the sales wall a bit more and hit a broader audience.

Who it’s For:

Strong skiers who love an energetic pop in their twin tip skis. You don't mind pushing a bit harder to get the resultingly awesome performance.

Price: $749.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Armada AntiMatter 100 Skis

Overview:

The all-new Armada AntiMatter 100 is a drifty, smeary, and yet totally stable and predictable ski that excels in various conditions and terrain. This ski shares a similar footprint with the wider AntiMatter 114, only pared down to a more manageable resort shape. The skis use a poplar wood core to go along with their new Speed Metal titanal layups. While there's more of a central theme with the metal versus the ATB X layers of the outgoing Declivity X 102, it's still a very smooth and damp ski. With a lot of tail rocker and a pointier tip, these skis have a modern and progressive geometry to them that makes them easy to throw sideways and to get that drifty mentality. With a thinner overall core profile, they have some fun flex to them that increases the creativity and the playfulness of the ski. This makes them more amenable to skiing in trees, bumps, and other technical zones.

Who it’s For:

Modern freeride skiers who want something with a big mountain mentality and more of an approachable shape.

Price: $849.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2027 Armada Antimatter Collection Introduction and First Impressions

At a Glance:

2027 DPS Koala 103 Skis

Overview:

With a dramatic shape and a sturdy build, the DPS Koala 103 is a unique ski in this range. It makes total sense that these skis were developed with Utah skiing in mind as the huge curvature in the camber profile matches the mix of soft snow and resort carving. There's plenty of rocker in the tips and tails and a ton of splay to go along with it. The camber is super high as well, so this combination creates a very bouncy, playful, and energetic character. It's tough to fight against this camber, though, so it makes it so the skier has to be more actively engaged, balanced, and centered on this ski. With a weigh of over 2000 grams, this combination creates more of a demanding nature, even though the intended use of the ski falls more on the playful and creative side. The carbon stringers in the build add even more stiffness and pop to the mix for boosted rebound.

Who it’s For:

Strong yet playful skiers who like the feeling of energy in their skis. You are more central and balanced and like a precise twin.

Price: $1,195.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results

At a Glance:

2027 Blizzard Rustler 10 Skis

*For this comparison, we’re only including the lengths with a waist width of 102 mm. The Blizzard Rustler 10 is also available in a 104 mm waist in 186 cm and 192 cm lengths. You can find those sizes in the 2027 Mid 100 mm Freeride Ski Comparison article.

Overview:

With an amazing blend of balance and power, the Blizzard Rustler 10 makes good sense for a ton of skiers who mix terrain and conditions all day and all season. Similar to the QST 100, this is a ski that can (and will) be featured in multiple comparisons due to its ability to blur lines and mix attributes. You can tell a lot about a ski by simply looking at its side profile. With Rustler 10, you notice a relatively flat underfoot zone paired with a ton of tip rocker and splay. The tail rocker and splay are notable, but not nearly as much as the shovel. This keeps the front of the ski out of the snow with a ton of energy while the middle of the ski can slide along nicely and easily, especially at shallower edge angles. When you tip it up, though, that sophisticated construction kicks into high gear, and these skis bring the heat and power when it comes to linking fast carved turns. It's a very versatile ski at 102 mm underfoot in the 180 cm and shorter and delivers amazing performance in all conditions and terrain.

Who it’s For:

Could be almost anyone. These skis have a lot of power and versatility for both softer and firmer snow.

Price: $849.99

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2027 Blizzard Rustler 10 and Blizzard Canvas 100 On Snow Ski Review