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Category: Ski Reviews

2022 Nordica Enforcer 88 Ski Review

First introduced for the 2020 season, the Nordica Enforcer 88 is back for its third year. While the ski itself has only received cosmetic changes since it’s release, the industry has since evolved in an effort to catch up to this precedent setting skiing. In honor of featuring Nordica in our January Ski Happy contest, where you can win a 2021 Nordica Enforcer 88, we figured it was a great time to revisit this popular ski and see if our opinions have changed at all since the arrival of more competition within it’s category. Spoiler alert: we’re still as in love with this ski as ever. To find out why, check out this review of the 2022 Nordica Enforcer 88.

2022 Volkl M6 Mantra Ski Review

Well, now that it’s the first week of 2021, it feels only right that we play along with the ski industry and immediately jump into reviews of 2022 skis! This week, we’re extremely excited to finally be able to share with you a review that we’ve been secretly working on for a few weeks now: a comprehensive review of the all new 2022 Volkl M6 Mantra. Building off what they’ve learned through the first five iterations of the Mantra, Volk has improved upon a classic once again with subtle updates that make the M6 the most fun Mantra yet. You can learn all about it right here, in this review of the 2022 Volk M6 Mantra.

2021 Elan Wingman 86 CTI Ski Review

Oftentimes in the world of skiing, the competitive nature of business results in brands feeling compelled to make strong marketing claims regarding their skis. Each year it seems that numerous brands all claim to be the “best” at the same things- an impossible paradox. It’s with that in mind that we’re here to describe the 2021 Elan Wingman 86 CTI as simply, “fun.” This is a ski that doesn’t get caught up in taking itself too seriously, and instead just provides and exceptionally fun ride on snow. To find out what makes this ski so remarkable, check out this review of the 2021 Elan Wingman 86 CTI!

2021 Fischer Ranger 92 Ti Ski Review

This week on Chairlift Chat, we’re taking a closer look at a ski that many of our employees have come to love, but is often overlooked by both industry insiders and consumers alike. The ski we’re referring to here, is the 2021 Fischer Ranger 92 Ti. Not a particularly narrow ski, and not a particularly wide ski either, the Ranger 92 Ti’s perfectly mid-range width is likely the cause of both it’s elusiveness and versatility. In this ski review, we’ll give the 2021 Ranger 92 Ti the full attention that it deserves, and tell you what makes this ski one of the most versatile all mountain skis of the year. Click through to find out more!

2021 Ski Binding Comparison

You’ve been asking for it, so here it is: our first ever ski binding comparison article! Despite being an absolutely critical piece of equipment, ski bindings often get a bit overlooked when it comes to dialing in that perfect new setup. It’s understandable. After all, every pair of bindings is more than capable of accomplishing the primary objective of keeping your skis on your feet until they need to come off. Despite that commonality though, there are actually quite a few considerations that should go into making your next binding purchase, especially now that Alpine / AT hybrid bindings are on the market. Find out what you need to know when buying your next pair of bindings in our 2021Ski Binding Comparison!

2021 Kastle MX88 Ski Review

Sometimes, annual updates to skis can be nothing more than a new top sheet graphic. Other times, they can be deceptively drastic. As it turns out, it’s the latter of these two scenarios that applies to the 2021 Kastle MX88. Replacing last year’s MX89, it would be reasonable for you to expect a similar ski with a mere millimeter trimmed from its waist. But, that’s not at all the case. New for 2021, the Kastle MX88 is significantly more all mountain friendly than its predecessor was, thanks in no small part to the addition of tip rocker. If you’re someone who found themself wishing Kastle had an all mountain ski in the 85-90mm range that’s not an absolute racecar, then be sure to check out this full review of the 2021 Kastle MX88!

2021 Black Crows Justis Ski Review

Let’s be honest, in 2021, there are a ton of new skis to choose from. Amongst the slew of new models, one that’s drawn an exceptional amount of our attention is the 2021 Black Crows Justis. At first glance this ski reads like many others: 100mm wide, two sheets of metal, and a rocker/camber/rocker profile. What’s missing from that exceptionally brief description though are two key details that give the Justis a unique feel: full length sidecut and a higher than expected rocker profile. So what does that do for the ski? In just a few words: it makes it fun. For a more thorough explanation, click through to check out the full review!

2021 Volkl Kanjo 84 Ski Review

After many months of waiting, the lifts have finally started spinning again at Stowe, our home mountain. While we’re obviously extremely excited for the season ahead for a number of reasons, one of the favorite things about this time of year is that we can finally return to on-snow ski reviews. Wasting no time in that regard, we’re very pleased to share with you our first ski review of the 2020-2021 season: the 2021 Volkl Kanjo 84. Built to satisfy a wide range of skiers and conditions, the 2021 Volkl Kanjo 84 will quite possibly prove to be one of the most popular skis this season. To find out exactly why, look no further than this comprehensive ski review!

How to Choose a Complete Alpine Ski Package

If you’re a follower of Chairlift Chat, then you’ve undoubtedly seen our annual ski comparison guides. While we always love putting those together as they give us a chance to explore all of the details of this season’s latest skis, we also realize that for a lot of skiers, the price tag is what matters most. For that reason, SkiEssentials is proud to offer affordable ski packages featuring brand new skis, boots, bindings, and poles. If a budget-friendly ski option sounds like the right lane for you, check out this guide on How to Choose a Complete Alpine Ski Package!

2021 SKI COMPARISONS: MEN'S MID 90 MM ALL MOUNTAIN SKI GUIDE

This week in our ongoing ski comparison series, we take a closer look at 2021 Men’s All Mountain skis in the mid 90mm waist range. Arguably the most popular category of men’s skis, the options in this segment are also some of the most versatile, making excellent daily drivers for a wide range of ski conditions. For some, the skis in this category could also be candidates for a one-ski quiver as their width makes them capable of high performance on both groomers and in softer snow. If this sounds like your type of ski, check out to see how they compare!

2021 SKI COMPARISONS: WOMEN'S 90 MM ALL MOUNTAIN SKI GUIDE

Now that we've discussed a bulk of the 2021 men's ski options, we're excited to finally be ready to swing over the women's side of the sport. To kick things off for the ladies, we're covering on of the most sought after ski segments: Women's All Mountain skis in the ~90mm waist range. From soft and playful to super super serious, there's a lot of variety in this category of skis, so if you think you're in the market we definitely recommend checking out this comparison of 2021 ~90mm Women's All ountain Skis!

2021 SKI COMPARISONS: MEN'S MID 80MM ALL MOUNTAIN SKI GUIDE

For installment #5 of our ongoing ski comparison series, we’re focusing on men’s all mountain skis in the mid-80mm waist range. While the skis in this category typically don’t receive the attention that their narrower, purely frontside counterparts, or slightly wider freeride oriented siblings do, they do feature the widest range of both applications and price points. Ranging from $399 to $1,250, and targeting everyone from intermediate skiers to particularly advanced skiers, this is likely the easiest category to chose the wrong ski in. To help ensure that you make the choice that’s best for you, we encourage you to check out our full comparison of 2021 Men’s Mid-80 MM All Mountain Skis!

2021 SKI COMPARISONS: MEN'S FRONTSIDE SKI GUIDE

In the fourth episode of our ongoing series comparing 2021 skis, we dive into a recap of 2021 Men’s Frontside skis. Narrow, stable, and built to carve, this category of ski isn’t for everyone, but those who dream of corduroy are going to love this comparison guide. In this category, skis vary widely in the skill level they’re most appropriate for, meaning it’s entirely possible that skiers shopping for a frontside ski could be significantly underwhelmed or overwhelmed by their purchase if they don’t know what they’re getting into. For example, an intermediate skier would find love the 2021 Volkl Deacon 79, while ex ski racers or beer league champions would strongly prefer the 2021 Rossignol Hero Athlete GS. If you’re looking into a 2021 Men’s Frontside ski, check out this guide to help ensure you’re buying the right ski for you!

2021 SKI COMPARISONS: MEN'S MID 100 MM FREERIDE SKI GUIDE

As you likely know by now, one of our core beliefs at SkiEssentials is that there really aren’t any bad skis anymore, some skis are just better suited to an individual’s particular style and ability. As such, when it comes to buying skis, the trick isn’t to buy the “best” ski, it’s to sort through your options to discover which one is best for you. In the third installment of our 2021 ski comparisons, we’ll take a look at Men’s Freeride skis in the Mid 100mm category. From skis with attitude such as the Stöckli Stormrider 105, to more playful twin tips like the 2021 Line Sir Francis Bacon, this article looks to walk you through this year’s options, ultimately helping you narrow down your options. Click through to check out all the details!

2021 SKI COMPARISONS: MEN'S 100 MM ALL MOUNTAIN SKI GUIDE

Next up in this year’s ski comparison guide series are the Men’s ~100mm All Mountain Skis. Being one of the most popular categories of skis available, there’s quite a bit of variation amongst this group of skis, from those with freestyle tendencies like the 2021 Line Blend or the 2021 Atomic Bent Chetler 100, to the more serious minded Kastle MX98. Of course with so many great options available in such a wide range of styles, it can be hard to figure out which ski is right for you. As it so happens, that’s exactly why we wrote this article. Click through to find out which 2021 Men’s 100mm All Mountain ski is best suites your style!