2027 Men's ~90 mm Freeride Ski Comparison

With a bit more playfulness and creativity than the all-mountain grouping, this segment of ~90 mm skis is filled with twin tips, lighter options, and unique footprints that makes this a very intriguing category. From the alien-esque Mirus Cor to the traditionally shaped AntiMatter 88, the ~90 mm Free comparison is all about fun. While some skis here feature insanely light weight construction and incredible quickness, others are a bit stouter and more powerful, giving skiers a wide range of skis to choose from in this width range. We do get into some symmetrical park skis here as well, as many of the best competition slopestyle options on the planet end up around 90 mm underfoot. Ranging in width from 87 to 93 (Decode in 185 only), skis in this range are best suited to resort skiing with an emphasis on versatility and originality.

At a Glance:

2027 Elan Playmaker 91 Skis

Overview:

The Elan Playmaker is a habitually present ski on the playful side of the spectrum, and for good reason. With a light weight, a fun-loving shape, and a surf-like mentality, the Playmaker 92 continues to be a great option for skiers learning park, sliding around in the woods, and slithering through moguls. While we get carbon rods to aid in the energy and pep, the majority of the ski is built with a light blend of poplar and paulownia. Elan does not use their asymmetric construction or shape in this ski so there’s one less thing to think about. The skis make crazy quick turns regardless of whether you’re in bumps, trees, on groomers, or in the park. The ability to get this thing sideways is right there, so be prepared for a highly agile feel. While it’s on the narrow side for powder, the surf rocker profile allows it to float better than the width may indicate.

Who it’s For:

Seriously playful skiers who have fun and mobility as top priorities. You still want a ski with good tech and sophistication.

Price: $649.99

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

At a Glance:

2027 Line Pandora 92 Skis

Overview:

With a fun shape and a simple build, the Line Pandora 92 is likely one of the most accessible freeride skis on this list. With some extra width, a decent amount of rocker, and a light feel, the Pandora 92 works great in softer snow, trees, and bumps. While it’s not the strongest when it comes to an on-trail and carving perspective, it still has some decent energy and zip to it. Line states the weight at 1630 g/ski in the 175, putting it on the lighter side of the spectrum. It’s approachable due to the rocker and weight, making it spin around with ease and even bring some park performance due to the drama of the ski. This is definitely a ski for the people as it brings an easy entry and exit to go with a solid underfoot feel. They almost feel a bit more symmetrical in shape than you may expect, bringing more freeride fun to the overall character.

Who it’s For:

Playful skiers looking to have a flat-out good time no matter the conditions or terrain.

Price: $599.95

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At a Glance:

2027 Atomic Bent 90 Skis

Overview:

Like the Playmaker, the Atomic Bent 90 keeps coming back for more freeride fun. Since they have wider skis on which they’re based, there’s a preconceived notion as to what these skis should do. With a basic poplar wood core, the superpower of the Bent lies in its shaping. With a good amount of camber underfoot the skis have some spring to them for sure. They don’t have a whole lot of tail rocker, specifically, rather some moderate splay for more freestyle-related activities, but the longer camber profile does like to dig into softer snow in the bumps and trees. Since the skis aren’t terribly stiff, it doesn’t make a huge difference, rather it feels supportive and good—like there’s actually a tail to the ski. With the HRZN Tech in the tips and tails, it is pretty fun in softer snow, but the lighter weight and more flexible nature; it is somewhat limited in terms of high-performance capabilities.

Who it’s For:

Fun-seeking skiers who want a light all-mountain twin for all sorts of skiing activities.

Price: $599.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2023 Atomic Bent 90 Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Volkl Revolt 90 Skis

Overview:

The Volkl Revolt 90 is a pure park ski for high-end competition. There’s not a whole lot of all-mountain aspects to this ski, especially if you stick to the central mount point. This offers incredibly balance and symmetry, but those things don’t always lead to good on-trail performance. In the park, though, this thing is perfect. With a modern tapered shape and a gradual flex pattern, the Revolt 90 provides wonderful alignment, predictable feel, and a solid underfoot zone for landing huge tricks. That gradual tapering of construction also leads to the ideal swing weight for lots of spins and the symmetry in rocker make it easy to ski both forward and switch either on takeoffs or landings. With a fresh new look for 2027, the Revolt 90 loves the park and pipe but doesn’t really stand out in any other zone.

Who it’s For:

Competitive park skiers. Not too many others.

Price: $729.99

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At a Glance:

2027 Armada ARV 88 Skis

Overview:

The ARV 88 returns unchanged for 2027, but we do get a new graphic. This ski keeps its traditional feel with a high and long camber profile and a somewhat directional shape. With measurements of 119/88/113, we get a 6 mm drop in tip to tail width and a 16.5-meter turn radius in the 176 cm length. As a result, these are actually very energetic and polished turners, so there is a bit more of an all-mountain feel here especially compared to the more competition-dedicated skis on this list. With a ton of pop due to the camber, the poplar core and ash insert combine to make a steady and predictable feel. With w3dgewall tech, we see an increase in durability and cohesion between the sidewall and the ski’s core.

Who it’s For:

Skiers who want a park ski without leaving all-mountain performance totally in the dust.

Price: $549.95

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At a Glance:

2027 Faction Prodigy 1 Skis

Overview:

The Prodigy 1 marks more of a move towards park-oriented twins that also function well in an all-mountain format. These skis use a blend of poplar and ash in the core to go along with a carbon and rubber stomp pad underfoot. This nicer build allows skiers to really tap into all sorts of styles, whether it’s purely in the park or beyond the resort boundaries. At 88 mm underfoot, this ski has some decent grip to it despite the lighter weight and softer flex. With an 8 mm drop in tip to tail width, it still falls slightly more on the directional side of the spectrum, but with relatively equal splay in both tips and tails, the footprint of the ski does not leave freestyle performance out. While the ski works great in the park and could be a great option for those learning to perfect their tricks, it’s still a bit away from being a true competition slopestyle ski, especially within Faction where the Studio 1 exists.

Who it’s For:

Progressing park skiers who also want some old-fashioned all-mountain fun.

Price: $679.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2025 Faction Prodigy 1 Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Atomic Bent Decode Skis

Overview:

The new Bent Decode from Atomic represents a move towards the more athletic side of freestyle. While the Bent 90 has served well as a mixed-use park ski over the years, the Atomic athletes certainly felt like they wanted something else. As one of the wider twins on this list, the Bent Decode brings a bit more heft and confidence to the mix while also keeping things slarvy and creative when it comes to groundwork. Built with a poplar core, the Decode uses a full sheet of ABS called CoreGuard. This adds some weight to the mix for sure, but Atomic uses a thinner overall core profile to combat the overall heft. We’re about 1850 g/ski in the 177, which is about 250 g more than the Bent 90, so there’s a decent difference here. With a freestyle-oriented HRZN tech, the skis are smooth and buttery in all sorts of jumping zones.

Who it’s For:

Freestyle athletes who like a solid and sturdy feel without getting a ski that’s too stiff.

Price: $699.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2027 Atomic Bent Decode Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Fischer Nightstick 90 Skis

Overview:

Similar to other symmetrical twin tips, the Nightstick 90 features a balanced approach to competitive park skiing. Built with a poplar core, the Nightstick 90 also uses a metal layer underfoot. The interesting difference here is that the metal is on the bottom of the core whereas most other skis with titanal plates underfoot put it above the core. The reasons here are that first, the durability of the ski improves with more material right in the grind zone of the ski. Second, the edge grip is boosted in that specific area for carving off of lips and hitting the icy half pipe walls. With a bit of taper for smoothness in takeoffs and landings, the Nightstick 90 takes a modern approach to slopestyle skiing.

Who it’s For:

Competitive park skiers, not too many others.

Price: $574.99

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At a Glance:

2027 Faction Studio 1 Skis

Overview:

With a powerful feel for a symmetrical ski, the Faction Studio 1 sets itself apart with a stiffer flex and an overall stronger feel than some of its counterparts. Faction uses a full poplar core to go along with full carbon stringers in this ski. We also get a carbon and rubber stomp pad along the sides of the underfoot zone so there’s some sophistication in the construction here for sure. Studio 1 also gets Faction’s wider 2.5 mm edges for increased edge grip and durability. With high camber, these skis provide a lot of energy when it comes to popping off jumps and half pipe walls. The Studio 1 uses measurements of 120/90/120 to produce a 19-meter turn radius in the 178. With equality in tip and tail rocker as well, these skis have an interesting mix of balance and energy.

Who it’s For:

Seasoned freestyle pros and dedicated park skiers.

Price: $799.00

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At a Glance:

2027 K2 Omen 90 Skis

Overview:

With a solid feel and a sturdy build, the K2 Omen 90 is a dense and composed ski for park skiing and beyond. With a 6 mm drop in tip to tail width, there’s some directional performance here but for the most part, the ski likes to be used in more freestyle and creative formats. Built with an aspen microblock core and a carbon braided core, there’s some nice materials here. K2 has always used a bunch of epoxy to get their triaxial braiding, and that does lead to a heftier and more supportive overall feel. This can certainly come in handy when landing big jumps and taking large airs in the park and pipe. While the twin tip shape isn’t all that dramatic, it does add to the ski’s smooth overall character. It’s a thick wood core, and that thickness makes all the difference when it comes to high-end park performance.

Who it’s For:

Mainly a slopestyle and pipe ski, the Omen 90 works best on the feet of dedicated freestyle skiers.

Price: $549.99

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At a Glance:

2027 K2 Mindbender 90 Skis

Overview:

The K2 Mindbender 90 returns structurally unchanged but gets a new graphic and name for 2027. While the “C” is removed, the carbon is still there, as the Mindbender 90 relies on K2’s Carbon Spectral Braiding to increase the soft snow fun and the on-trail excitement. This is a more directional ski, for sure, but it turns so incredibly easy and makes quick work of all sorts of terrain. It’s very approachable yet it still has a high ceiling. We’ve found it to be a work horse of a ski—capable of being used every day of the year—and a fun one at that. The shovel makes moguls super easy and the overall weight and composure blend to create a steady and supple feel. While it’s simple to ski and use, it still feels like a higher-end product due to the engineering involved in the carbon stringer placement.

Who it’s For:

Intermediate through expert skiers who like to dabble in everything but have a special affinity for bumps.

Price: $599.95

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At a Glance:

2027 Elan Ripstick 88 Skis

Overview:

With a move towards lightweight directional all-mountain performance, the Elan Ripstick 88 certainly leaves any sort of park or freestyle acumen at the door. These skis are built and shaped for easy all-mountain versatility, and they do it with a tremendous amount of energy and sophistication. Built with a light wood core consisting of poplar and paulownia, the Ripstick 88 uses carbon rods along the sides of the ski to generate additional energy. With more unidirectional carbon along the base of the ski under the core, Ripstick 88 feels smooth and composed in shorter turns and at more moderate speeds. While we can find the speed limit of the Ripstick with relative ease, there’s not much it can’t do when it comes to carving, bumps, trees, and softer snow. This ski is also interesting since it’s intentionally shaped and built without symmetry—putting it far away from skis like Studio 1 in terms of overall use and application.

Who it’s For:

Fun-loving all-mountain skiers who like quickness and agility.

Price: $749.99

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At a Glance:

2027 Black Crows Captis Skis

Overview:

Moving back to more directional skis, the Black Crows Captis walks a fine line between twin tip and all-mountain. Built with a supportive poplar core, the Captis doesn’t seem to have more pop or power specifically than other twins on this list, but the thickness of the profile and the sturdiness of the ski make it stand out from an all-mountain standpoint. The twin tip is more notable in the tail, while the tip looks like a lot of other versatile skis. We get a very directional shape to the ski, with measurements of 128/90/114 that generate an 18-meter turn radius in the 178. This 14-mm drop in tip to tail width is pretty massive given the number of symmetrical twins on this list. This makes it a very composed carver with great energy and a fantastic bump and tree ski for the width. When we talk about strong performing twins in this range, the Captis always comes up as a top contender

Who it’s For:

Good skiers looking for something interesting and fun for all-mountain freeride performance.

Price: $649.00

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2023 Black Crows Captis Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Armada Antimatter 88 Skis

Overview:

The 2027 Armada AntiMatter 88 is a carryover ski in terms of shape and construction. We get a new name and graphic to solidify AntiMatter as a line, but this ski is basically a re-badged Declivity 88 C. With a slightly softer flex in the tips and tails, this carbon-powered ski gives a lot of energy and pop in the underfoot zone with a surprising amount of grip. With a more traditional shape and style, this ski works well in an on-trail and short turn carving format but also makes quick work of bumps and packed-out trees. While it’s not going to win any speed contests, especially where long-turn stability is involved, it does just fine for the weight, allowing for an accessible feel and a composed character. We’ve loved these skis over the years as they punch above their level in terms of having a smooth and sophisticated feel.

Who it’s For:

Smooth and agile skiers who prize versatility and quick turns in all sorts of conditions and terrain.

Price: $699.95

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

At a Glance:

2027 Black Crows Mirus Cor Skis

Overview:

The Mirus Cor returns unchanged for this year, and honestly, we hope it never changes. There’s so much good weirdness to this ski, from a more central and balanced stance to a unique slalom carving mentality. At 87 mm underfoot and with a tight radius, these skis feel like they want to turn all the time, and when they’re engaged in said carve, they absolutely light it up. With a slightly wider tip and tail, they can feel a bit awkward in the bumps and trees, but if you stay centered and balanced, they work great. The swivel factor is high, but it does make sense that the skis also have a good deal of grip and power due to the partial metal laminate underfoot. With a twin tip shape and style, it’s more than acceptable that you use these as park skis, too, highlighting the crazy usefulness and playfulness that these skis possess.

Who it’s For:

We’re still not 100% sure. The Mirus Cor could be for everyone, and it could be for the select weird few. In general, we feel like a slalom-carving twin tip shouldn’t work well for a lot of skiers, but it ends up doing just that.

Price: $999.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2024 Black Crows Mirus Cor Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Rossignol Soul 92 Skis

Overview:

The all-new Rossignol Soul 92 brings a lot of energy and versatility to this group of skis. With a directional mentality, this ski shares a lot of similar characteristics as the wider Soul 102, but in a slightly pared-down format. We get a full poplar wood core, a titanal beam, ABS Line Control Technology, and Air Tip for lighter swing weight. While before, the Sender Free 92, or whatever it was called, was more of a tweener ski with a light and stiff paulownia core, the new Soul 92 is a legitimate all-mountain ski with enough rocker and taper to make it highly useful in both on and off-trail settings. We thoroughly enjoyed these skis and their intuitive nature. They made great turns on groomers, and are more than capable in bumps, trees, and other technical zones. It’d be easy to include them in the ~90 mm All-Mountain category too, but the Arcade 88 has staked a pretty firm claim there from Rossignol.

Who it’s For:

Pure all-mountain skiers looking for a mix of performance and a good time. You want easy access to versatility without losing a high end.

Price: $699.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results | 2027 Rossignol Soul 92 On Snow Ski Review

At a Glance:

2027 Faction Dancer 89 Skis

Overview:

The Faction Dancer 89 is a fun and interesting ski, and it has a unique fit within the Dancer line. Dancer, as a whole, now mostly features skis of the same width as Ti and non-Ti. This non-Ti Dancer 89 is a bit less demanding and damp than the Ti version (which will be featured in the ~90 mm All-Mountain comparison). At the same time, it is more energetic and zippy, so the ski does like to make shorter and mid-radius turns with relative ease. It’s still a solid poplar wood core with a fairly traditional shape. In reality, none of the skis on this list are all that demanding, but if the shape is the one thing that keeps it on this side of the wall, then so be it. You have to load the ski up to get the best possible results, and that’s a big part of the ski’s charm overall. We found it to be useful on groomers but is a bit more work in the bumps and trees due to that tail shape and slightly more front side lean.

Who it’s For:

Confident skiers who love to load the tail and get good rebound. You are looking for a useful shape with an easier build.

Price: $779.00

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At a Glance:

2027 Liberty Radian 92 Skis

Overview:

With a bunch of different materials involved in the construction of the ski, the Liberty Radian 92 brings fun and accessible energy to a high-performance ski. We get a blend of poplar, bamboo, and ash in the ski to go along with carbon stringers and a Variable Metal Titanal laminate. The metal here is full width underfoot and tapers to points both ahead and aft of the binding zone, allowing for more mobility in the shovels and through the tails. With more taper in the shovel than a lot of all-mountain skis, this Radian can certainly move into the more freeride, playful, and creative zones with relative ease. These skis have wonderful rebound and energy with a more classic tail shape, and they make skiers feel like they can accomplish anything due to the quickness and zip that the skis provide. That mix of carbon involved makes a lot of sense here and keeps the skis lighter and easy to turn in any situation.

Who it’s For:

Skiers who want some excitement and electricity in their skis will get along best with the Radian. You want to be involved in the ski process rather than just going along for the ride.

Price: $749.99

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At a Glance:

2027 Line Optic 88 Skis

Overview:

This is one of the most confidence-inspiring skis on this wall from a speed and intuitiveness standpoint. We love how this ski makes all sorts of turn shapes and styles, from short, skidded turns to long GS carves on groomers. With ample metal and a fun flex, these skis also have a twin tipped shape for boosting creativity and freestyle acumen. It’s tough to find a ski that has a shape like this with this level of performance. With an aspen wood core and a Gas Pedal Metal Overdrive metal laminate, this ski likely has the most overall metal on this wall, but the shape and style of the skis align more with the twins. It’s still a directional ski and makes for all sorts of fun in all sorts of terrain. They have a great sense of energy and composure on ice, and then they work great in trees and softer bumps. Overall, this has to be one of the most complete all-mountain skis on the market today, complete with freestyle creativity and pure power.

Who it’s For:

Strong skiers will get a lot out of this ski. It’s in a bit of a random spot at 88 mm underfoot and with this level of freeride performance, but we think that’s a good thing due to the unique nature.

Price: $699.95

Buy Now | Ski Test Results