Men's ski reviews 2016
BEST SKI
Dynastar Omeglass Pro review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Slalom Best ski 2016
Our reviewers favourite for 2016.
The Omeglass Pro from Dynastar is a true slalom ski and explosive when linking short turns at high speed.
But it’s also a nimble and playful ski that will give riders an incredible adrenaline rush, while remaining accessible and versatile enough for relaxed leisure rides.
An excellent offering for 2016, it’s one of the best skis in the 2016 review. We recommend... Read on
BEST SKI
Nordica Dobermann GSR EDT review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Giant slalom Best ski 2016
ProSkiLab™ has tested the Dobermann GSR EDT several times in the past, awarding it top ratings. Once again this year, it tops the category thanks to its extremely strong performance for a non FIS ski (in other words, not a real competition ski). Voted best Giant ski 2016, we recommend this model for riders looking above all for performance, such as good to expert skiers and competitors.
BEST SKI
Völkl Mantra review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > All-mountain/Freeride Best ski 2016
The Mantra scored top marks already last year in the ProSkiLab™ ski review and its exceptional performance in this segment is again confirmed this year.
In addition to its well above average performance and remarkable handling qualities, it’s also fun to use.
This benchmark ski actually ran out of stock in some European countries last year. We recommend this ski to all riders looking for pleasure... Read on
BEST SKI
Nordica Enforcer review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > All Mountain 30/70 Best ski 2016
Nordica’s Enforcer did remarkably well in this all mountain session in particularly difficult conditions.
Flexible and lively (one of our reviewers described it as ‘catlike’), fiendishly efficient, remarkably user-friendly, and adaptable to the grommers and freeride depending on the skier, this is the ideal model for the majority of skiers looking for the best combination of efficiency, pleasure... Read on
AWARD
Rossignol Hero Master review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Giant slalom Best Accessibility!
As is often the case, Rossignol has sent us a ski that focuses on accessibility rather than pure performance. The gamble came off well. The Hero Master is a ski that almost everyone can enjoy. ProSkiLab™ warmly recommends it for all good to excellent athletic riders, who would like to enjoy giant turn sensations, or who want to try out the discipline. At the same time, it’s a remarkably accessible and comfortable... Read on
BEST SKI
Stöckli Laser SC review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Piste performance Best ski 2016
As its name suggests, the Laser SC from Stöckli is a true descendant of a slalom ski. It has kept all of its bite without sacrificing accessibility which the reviewers judged to be excellent. It’s a highly convincing ski that was awarded the much sought after Proskilab™ 'reviewers’ favourite' 2016.
AWARD
Dynastar Course Pro review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Giant slalom Best Accessibility/Performance!
An excellent ski that stands out for Dynastar’s perfect compromise between accessibility and performance. It ranks halfway between two other excellent skis in 2016: the more racing oriented Dobermann and the more intuitive Hero Master.
An excellent choice for good to expert skiers who want to hit the slopes hard without the demands made by a true racing ski.
AWARD
Elan SLX Fusion review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Slalom Best Accessibility/Performance!
The SLX Fusion already scored very well in this category last year and once again stands out for its excellent combination of accessibility and efficiency.
We recommend this ski for average to good riders who want to enhance their performance, and good to excellent skiers looking for an athletic model, but one which is not over demanding in technical or physical terms.
BEST SKI
Dynastar Omeglass S review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Intermediate Best ski 2016
We were surprised that Dynastar sent us an "Omeglass" for this category, as the line is usually reserved for slalom skis. Consequently we were relatively sceptical about its qualities, especially as we couldn’t try it before the test. Well, we were wrong and the Omeglass S proved to be an excellent ski!
This remarkably progressive ski quite simply adapts to the rider’s pace... Incredible! It’s... Read on
BEST SKI
Rossignol Hero Elite LT review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Piste performance Best ski 2016
The Héro Elite LT (for "Long Turn") will delight athletic riders who live for long turns.
In addition to its giant ski DNA that gives it excellent stability and exceptional turn performance, the ski is incredibly enjoyable, accessible and versatile.
It gets a warm recommendation from ProSkiLab ™ for good to expert riders looking for an incredibly stable and fast ski as well as anyone interested... Read on
BEST SKI
Dynastar Speed Course review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Cruisers Best ski 2016
An excellent model designed for a wide range of riders, the Speed Course is the year’s winner in this category which looks for a well-balanced above all other things. This ski is certainly well balanced as it combines performance, comfort and accessibility to perfection. An excellent model that we recommend to a wide range of skiers from good to expert.
AWARD
Blizzard Cochise review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > All Mountain 30/70 Best performance!
The Cochise corroborates the qualities of its younger brother, the Bonafide. Not as playful or as easy to handle as the Enforcer, it is stiffer and more stable. Its main quality is its consistent performance both on and off piste. Whether riding on hard pack, steep slopes or drifts, nothing seems to rattle it. It’s the ultimate quiver for athletic freeriders who dream of speed and long turns. To quote the review... Read on
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Völkl Tiger Race SC review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Slalom Best Accessibility!
The Völkl Tiger Race SC is an excellent ski, designed to be more accessible than its rivals.
The ideal ski for good to very good skiers looking for an athletic ski that’s easy to access and perfect for leisure skiing too. A good ski for your first slalom ski cuts and turns.
BEST SKI
Völkl Kendo review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > All-Mountain Best ski 2016
The younger brother of the (now famous) Mantra that did particularly well in the ProSkiLab™ review and was best seller of the year, the Kendo has adopted the same recipe with the same success.
The ski stands out for its remarkable performance for this category both on and off piste. A ski for riders who want to ‘fly’, we recommend it for good to expert skiers looking for a powerful ski that’s... Read on
AWARD
Fischer Motive 86 review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > All-Mountain Best Accessibility/Performance!
A bit more groomer-oriented than its rivals, Fisher’s Motive 86 is a real success story.
Easy to use and very playful, it’s also got great grip and performs well both on and off piste. Less efficient than the Kendo, it remains more intuitive and requires less physical effort or technical skill. It’s an excellent choice for average to excellent skiers looking for enjoyment whatever the conditions... Read on
AWARD
Fischer RC4 SC review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Slalom Best performance!
The Fisher RC4 SC is an elitist ski designed exclusively for performance. We recommend this model for extremely fit and proficient, expert or competitive riders who want a powerful, or even an explosive ski for ultra-sportive rides on the groomers or in slalom stadiums.
AWARD
Rossignol Pursuit 800 Ti review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Cruisers Best Accessibility!
The Pursuit 800 Ti is an excellent surprise from Rossignol.
The ski stands out for its focus on accessibility which is remarkable.
It’s an extraordinarily easy, instinctive and reassuring ski which will give great pleasure very quickly. ProSkiLab™ recommends it for good to very good skiers who want a ski that’s incredibly consistent, that steers at the touch of a finger and with (almost) no... Read on
AWARD
Stöckli Stormrider 95 review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > All-mountain/Freeride Best performance!
A relatively little known Swiss brand, Stöckli sometimes comes up with a little jewel as in the case of the Stormrider 95 which gave the ProSkiLab™ reviewers a pleasant surprise. It’s a ski with character, designed for performance and is an excellent choice for athletic and technical freeriders, especially those looking to carve out long turns both on and off piste.
The Spitfire Pro performs very well but is a demanding ski. It’s more of a Giant type model that we recommend for very fit and powerful riders, weighing more than 75-80 kg, who enjoy speed and long turns.
The Blizzard S8, a giant type of ski is an engaged tool that will do serious riders proud. A bit less progressive than some of its rivals (Laser SC and Hero Elite LT), it will satisfy more heavily built committed riders looking for an efficient and very responsive ski.
We do not recommend this model in this size for lightweight riders who will generally find it too demanding.
AWARD
Head Strong Instinct Ti review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > Intermediate Best Accessibility/Performance!
The Strong Instinct is a great success for Head, combining accessibility and performance with great panache. It’s a smooth and versatile ski that will rip through the snow in all conditions and on all terrains.
It will help riders to technically progress towards carving and even freeride. Not as lively or playful as the Omeglass S, but just as versatile, it will please a different type of rider. We recommend... Read on
The Rossignol Pursuit 400 C is an excellent initiation ski. It will help riders to feel at ease, making turn initiation so easy that one of the ProSkilab™ reviewers called it the "Rotator". The ski will delight a large number of beginners mainly looking for accessibility and a model that will "turn on its own".
A very versatile ski with consistent and reassuring behaviour, the Scale Gamma unfortunately lacks enough character to feature among the leaders.
However, it’s a good ski that will please riders looking for a model with disciplined, efficient and predictable behaviour, able to adapt to all snow conditions and terrains (on the piste). Adrenalin fans will prefer a livelier model like the Speed Course from Dynastar.
Read on
The Blizzard SRC is a good ski for intermediary to good riders looking for comfort and accessibility, especially those who want to learn to carve a short turn radius.
The Sagebrush from Scott is less playful than the Enforcer and less focused on performance than the Cochise, but is a good all-rounder.
The ski does well in all areas, although it never really shines. It’s ideal for average to good skiers looking for a reliable one-quiver model that performs well both on and off piste.
A good carving ski, the CR 74 Ti Pro lacks the extra bite needed to do well in the "Performance" category. This model is excellent for intermediary to good riders looking for facility, and who enjoy relaxed carving.
The reduced performance but exceptional comfort makes the Hero Elite ST a very good ski that will be popular with intermediary to good riders who want a ski that takes them halfway between sport and leisure.
The Ripstick is a good ski for the groomers but unfortunately is less convincing than some of its rivals that are similar to racing skis. Despite this, it has many excellent qualities as long as you stick to intermediary speeds. It’s an enjoyable ski that we recommend for good to very good skiers looking for giant ski type sensations while remaining at reasonable speeds.
After a performance-oriented ski (the Kendo), a very stable ski with remarkable user-friendliness and efficiency (the Motive 86), the top three would ideally include an accessible and comfortable ski.
This model is ideal for less physical skiers who want a versatile, easy ski that’s at home on most terrains and requires little technical skill or physical effort.
AWARD
Blizzard Bonafide review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > All-mountain/Freeride Best Accessibility!
The Bonafide performed less well this year, possibly because of the snow conditions that need a stiffer ski.
However, it remains a benchmark in the intermediary all mountain ski market and is renowned for its user friendliness and smooth performance that’s well above average.
It’s an excellent model for average to good skiers looking for an efficient ski that’s consistent both on and off piste.
Read on
An ideal leisure ski, the Amphibio 16 from Elan did very well in the "Man’s High-end" category where versatility and consistency are the main qualities required. We warmly recommend it for average to good skiers who want an easy and comfortable ski to rip down the mountain with a minimum of effort.
AWARD
Fischer Ranger 98 review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > All-mountain/Freeride Best Accessibility!
While the Ranger 96 did really well last year, the 98 found it more difficult to score high in snow conditions that required a stiffer ski.
Like the Bonafide, it would probably have done better if the snow conditions had not been so bad. It nonetheless remains a good ski that we would recommend for average to good skiers.
The Powertrack 89 from Dynastar is an easy, playful ski.
This model stands out for its overall accessibility and the extremely easy turn initiation. It’s a great ski both for riding cool and for your first attempts at freeride.
A good ski, Elan’s Amphibio 78 Ti is simply not accessible or tolerant enough for this category.
The ProSkiLab™ reviewers were especially disappointed with the lack of intuition at initiation and the somewhat difficult skid turns due to the ski’s stiffness, especially in the tail.
It would have scored better in the "Men’s High-end" category where its big brother, the Amphibio... Read on
Unfortunately the ski tested was not the right size. The Fisher Progressor 18’s lack of performance and consistency means that it failed to score high in this category.
It’s a shame as the ski has lots of real qualities. Smaller and average sized riders in particular who love turns (small turns and short swings) without pushing it too much. We would like to review it again next year in a bigger size.
Read on
While it did well in the ProSkiLab™ pre-tests in Méribel, the Cham 97 was found wanting in the exceptionally poor snow conditions during the review. We still feel that it’s a good ski and we’ll definitely test it again next year.
AWARD
Rossignol Soul 7 review 2016
Men's skis 2016 > All Mountain 30/70 Best Accessibility!
With the Soul 7, Rossignol put the focus on accessibility (which is indeed remarkable).
However, this means it loses a few points in the comparative test (in difficult skiing conditions), but Rossignol is obviously targeting the mid-range market: intermediate to good skiers who are looking for a ski that will help them to progress in freeride. The Soul 7 is certainly a good choice for this group of riders.
Experienced... Read on
The ProSkilab™ reviewers were surprised by the model tested this year compared to the success it had last year. The Fischer RC4 RC is obviously focused on performance, but this year the model sent by Fisher suffered from a preparation problem that made it difficult to give a fair evaluation of the product. We’ll test it again next year.
Like the Soul 7, the Cham 107 has focused on accessibility and the widest public possible. It's a good model for freeride beginners.
Nordica skis have received high praise for their performance from the ProSkiLab™ reviewers. Unfortunately, in this category where versatility and homogeneity are the main criteria, the Fire Arrow found it difficult to convince the reviewers. This very stiff ski, tested on a 180 cm ski (instead of the 175 cm requested) is ill adapted to this category.
We’ll try it again next year in the "Piste Performance"... Read on
The Supershape from Head would probably have done better performance wise in a less demanding category, such as the "Men’s high end".
We recommend this model to intermediary to relatively good riders who want to enjoy cool turns on average slopes in soft snow.