2025 Men's 100 mm Ski Comparison - Part 2: All-Mountain Skis - with SkiEssentials.com

Matt fills in for Jeff as he's been busy getting married in part 2 of our 100 mm 2025 Ski Comparison. As a reminder, we organized Part 1 and Part 2 as a whole collection ranging from slarvy to carvy. These skis, as more carvy and directional, have more all-mountain vibes rather than the freeride influence in Part 1. Enjoy!

0:00 - Intro
2:40 - DPS Wailer 100
7:20 - Kastle ZX100
11:55 - Elan Ripstick 102
20:30 - Rossignol Sender Soul 102
26:10 - Elan Ripstick 102 Black Edition
31:00 - DPS Kaizen 100
36:30 - Liberty Radian 100
43:50 - Dynastar M-Pro 100
50:30 - Head Kore 99
57:50 - Kastle Paragon 101
1:03:45 - Stockli Stormrider 102
1:09:50 - Armada Declivity X 102
1:18:25 - Black Crows Justis
1:26:40 - K2 Mindbender 99Ti
1:33:00 - Salomon Stance 102
1:38:35 - Nordica Enforcer 99
1:46:00 - Volkl Mantra 102
1:52:40 - Blizzard Anomaly 102

[DeployableMango]

Glad Matt made his way into the comparisons, love his insight and opinions on the skis!

[erinb]

These comparisons are so awesome... Thanks. Justis are still my favorite 😂, I ski them almost always... I am 175/ 69kg. I usually ski justis in 171, for less effort in steeps/bumps etc, but still strong enough for fun carving and good damping /vibration on rough, still quite good float in powder up to 15-20cm. Also have the 177 justis for more groomer days. The 177 is just like a crazy fast missile carving, you push through everything and never lose an edge. So fun 😂!

[dr.gregmccandless]

Happy you guys show the sound of the ski bouncing off the floor - I think the sound of the ski is a big deal and you can tell a lot about how it will perform and feel just from that. Would love to see it for all skis along with the flex and profile!

[AlexisFrancoisMorand]

The Justis rules, my daily driver. Absolutely rips and you can take it anywhere.

[mikemoisio]

I'm 6'4" 205 advanced skier (repeat ski essentials customer) and the widest ski I have (bought from you) is the Fischer Ranger 92 Ti from...2022(?). I'm not sure if I NEED something wider but I'm toying with the idea. As it stands, I think I like the 2023 Stance 90 better overall than the Ranger but I had a great time with the Ranger this past December in the trees skiing 10 inches of new snow at Heavenly. With all the snow we got in the east this year, I felt like I could've used a wider ski for soft days in the trees at Okemo. So, based on your chat here I'm thinking the Stance 102 is too much, and the Kastle ZX 100's not enough. I want to be able to be quick in the trees and bumps and in soft stuff but when I get on trail I tend to get after it pretty good. I wouldn't PICK the ski under current consideration for really moving fast but any ski I get on needs to be reasonably stable. You guys seem to favor Armada X 102 but how do Fischer Ranger 102 and Rossignol Soul Sender 102 stack up given all my gibberish above?

[yeahmaybe]

I’m still riding a pair of 2017 Kastle FX95 HPs. 189s. Still going strong. A true testament to their build quality. I mounted Pivots on them and they get noticed to this day. Lots of fist bumps. Since then I’ve added a pair of ZX100s 189. And some Volkl Deacon 72s. 178s. Love all my gear; I’m set up for any conditions in Oregon. But kind of jonesing to replace the FX95s. Those Paragons are beautiful! Thinking maybe those or some Declivity X 102s for diversity.

Matt did a really good job but it’s clear Bob misses his best bud Jeff.

[TheDead]

The Justis is slept on. I picked up the gold ones on Black Friday and so far it’s been my primary ski this season especially for the cold and firm days. They’re absolutely incredible.

[alvaropolo]

I have watched the two videos several times and the truth is that the amount of information is amazing, thank you very much! I still can't make up my mind... I ski mainly in Spain where many times there is no choice but to ski on piste with compact snow, but what I like most is to enjoy the powder when I can... I come from a Rossignol Sky 7 too heavy for my taste (it makes me very complicated to do some simple tricks with natural jumps on the slopes), but it is very grateful to do carving... I'm looking for something new lighter (70% powder 30% piste) that allows me to float comfortably when it snows well, but that I can nail the edges and make long turns on the piste, and that thanks to being light allows me to play on the slopes and mounds. What would you choose from all the options of the 24/25? pd: I would like to take advantage of the end of season offers :)

[knzb]

Super interesting discussion, thanks guys! I recently demoed a bunch of skis and thought I was set on the Enforcer 99s, but that Justis looks really interesting. How much do you think it gives up vs. the Enforcer in dampness and stability, and is it a worthwhile trade off for more manouvrability off trail?

Also appreciate your take on appropriate length for the Enforcer. I'm 180lbs 5'11" (80kg 180cm) and really liked the 173cm but thought I was maybe just going soft at the end of a long trip. The 179cm was great on trail, but felt like a lot of ski in the tight spots. Has definitely kept me up at night.

[gagemuxworthy]

I’m a former ski racer who now works in a ski in shop Aspen Colorado and our blizzard rep gave me a pair of 192 anomaly 102s as my daily driver, and I fell in love with the ski because to me it just felt like an all mountain race ski

[CC-ysqq]

Love my Enforcer 89, sized down to the 173. Looking at the Enforcer 99 or Santa Ana 97, both flex super stiff in store, more than previous Enforcers and are heavy.

[Sladep]

Whoa! I didn't realize that Matt and Bob were brothers! He introduced himself as Matt Howzitgoing.

[Ok-]

102 TI here, love em, first rockered ski, rip fast groomers, or 12” of pow in trees, very nimble, just don’t like the boiler plate. Just need a little something for edge hold. Id try them again. 188’s 6’3” 190. So many good choices these days.

[bryanrbush]

6’6” 240lbs 45 yr male intermediate/advanced with a history of speed but getting more content with age to kinda chill out. Will ski with athletic teen children. 10 yr break from skiing for snowboarding but should pick up where I left off quickly. Wanting an all mountain one quiver ski that works for groomers/trees (65%) and powder days (35%) out west in Utah snow. Given my height and weight I'd love some guidance on what to get. I think aggressive skis would be tamed some with my size but how would you factor that in? Also tough to find longer skis for my size but maybe a 189 works with modern skis? I've been narrowing in on Black Crows Justis, Salomon Stance 102, Declivity 102 and Stockli Stormrider 102. Someone also recommended QST 106 but I'm worried I need two sheets of metal as a big guy. What can you tell me? Love your videos by the way. Incredible knowledge share from genuine people.

[niklaslindgren]

Airtail😂, go Matt! Great work as always

[darinsmith]

I am probably going to make a lot more comments on the DPS, Kastle, Stockli and Nordica and Volkl but I have to say something about Rossi.. If you can ski the conditions that you skied with that ski it says a lot about the ski.. Those conditions would classify as crud to me and if you can ski crud you can ski anything in my book.. Floaty skis can get bounced around in crud and sinky skis can get stuck in the crud..

I have the 2021 DPS Wailer Foundation 100 RP x 184.. As far as shaping.. The only thing that looks different from Wailer 100 and Kaisen 100 is that the Foundation seams thicker under the foot.. It might be thicker throughout.. It still has a ton of camber.. I am guessing that it takes a little more work to get on and off the edge.. Something you guys did not mention was that you have to stay forward on the skis.. If you are upright or back the tails will catch and spin you around.. The interesting thing is that early season when there are a ton of people on the hill I will either bring my 25 year old race skis to be able to do quick turns or my RP.. I might even try working on rolling from edge to edge rather than my race style of lifting edge to edge.. Might keep me from wearing out so quick..

I would probably be ok with either of those Kastle skis.. There might be a maximum speed on the ZX but a minimum speed for the Paragon..

I have Stockli Stormrider 88s and 105.. Both of those skis have a minimum speed... I would say that once you get them up to about 40 mph they really come alive.. What I really like about these skis is the dampening.. When I get up to speed they really hold to the snow well.. My 105s can slice like you would not believe.. Once they are slower than 25 it really gets hard to turn them.. They are too stuck to the snow.. 95s did seam to be able to turn a little better at slower speeds..

The only Enforcer I have is the 104 Free and I ski it at the 179 length.. Overconfident is the word that I use to describe this ski.. The ski will go through anything.. It is just a question if I can.. I have talked to people on 100s and 94s and maybe even 88s and they say the same thing.. I only ski a half of a day and it is good for me for that.. Later in the season if I am in really good shape I might ski more runs with the ski and it takes it all and wants more.. I just have to make sure that my body can handle it all..

A couple years ago I demoed the Volkl Mantra 102.. I agree with everything you said.. I will add that when I skied it flat it would pivot instantly.. And when skiing it flat it did not matter if the crud was soft or hard that instant pivot was quite rewarding.. Peak 10 the snow was all slushy with ice underneath and it did well on that and when I went up to the bowls and they were all washboard they pivoted really nice in and out of the washboard.. I don't like skiing washboard at all and those skis saved me from a lot of grief.. Then I went over to another bowl and that bowl was thick slushy chunky ice crud and the ski literally saved me again... Sometimes it is not about doing laps but sometimes getting down the hill safely..

It was nice to see Matt and Bob do one.. I would say that my skiing style is closer to theirs.. I am not as tall as them but I weigh about what they do.. I can really relate to both of them.. I am older than both of them so when Bob talks about getting lazy I can totally relate..

[aloebeara]

It's good to see you guys have a deep bench and you can bring Matt in, when Jeff needs a breather. Well done! I love this group of skis. My favorite skis in my quiver are the 2023 Volkl Mantra 102. How do they compare with the 2025 Mantra 102?

[conrad_trz]

Will be on the road most of this winter, starting the season in the East Coast, Utah in February. I'm not sure where next, but will be on snow. I can only pack one pair of skis, and I have to choose between an Atris (190, 105 underfoot) and a Declivity 102 Ti (188). Which one are you packing?

[DC-jjqd]

Great review. Thanks! I know it always depends... but which one would you pick for a skier looking for 60% on piste (groom but also crud, sometimes icy/ bumpy), 30% off piste and an option (10%) to go backcountry? A fairly experienced but not too aggressive skier.

[KDnTyler]

Thanks for you great videos! I'm 49, 6' 265# expert/advanced skier. I currently ski the Stockli Montero AR in a 185 for my daily driver. I'm mostly on piste these days due to no ACL in my right knee but am looking for an all-mountain ski to add. Prior to the Stockli I was skiing the Enforcer 93 in a 191. I am looking for something that would be fairly forgiving off piste in steeps and deeps but then be able to hold edge once back on piste. The Armada Declivity x102 sounds interesting. What length would you suggest. Any other skis you think would fit the bill? I would say my on piste style is very similar to Bob's.