Bumps
Alyeska usually gets enough snow that we don’t ski bumps too often, but moguls do form in some sections, especially in the trees and lower down on the North Face (a steep, 2500 foot off-piste face) where a large amount of alpine terrain channels down to return to the tram. And as a result, I’ve been getting in a fair amount of bump smashing this season. For me, these are probably the conditions where I most preferred some of the shorter-feeling skis that have traditional camber underfoot and tip and tail rocker, that I’ll compare the 100Eight to in my Deep Dive.
But once I ramped up the speed a bit and started skimming the tops of bumps and airing around them, I again had more fun on the 100Eight, and found the 189’s to offer a lot of stability at speed. And I do want to make clear that the 100Eight is definitely not a difficult ski to pivot and skid, especially considering that it’s a full 189 cm of ski. Its full rocker profile still allows for some easy, bases-flat pivoting.
Groomers
The 100Eight rips groomers. It’s my favorite ~108mm-wide ski on groomers, probably for the same reason that it does so well when tipped over on edge in the conditions described above. It is surprisingly damp and smooth given its weight, and it carves clean, deep arcs when fully engaged. The ski intuitively bends into the top of the turn, and its tails are stiff enough that it holds on well and has enough energy to push off into the next turn. It’s also easy to feather or cheat the tops of turns when needed.
Overall, groomers are a kick on these things, and I found myself skiing Alyeska’s lower mountain groomers on the 100Eight much faster than I have on similar skis when skiing consecutive runs with a crew of friends. Yes, fully-rockered skis do get a little nervous when bases flat on the cat track, so just don’t do it. Besides, with skis that carve this well, it’s too fun to make big, arcing turns to simply ski bases flat back to the lift.
Touring
The 100Eight is light enough to serve double duty as a touring ski. Mounted with a Marker Kingpin or similar binding, they could easily be a do-it-all ski for people looking for something of this weight to tour and shred the lifts.
Personally, I would consider dropping a couple hundred grams (but spending quite a bit more money) to go for the very good BMT 109, which shares many characteristics with the 100Eight. The biggest tradeoff here is that while you save weight by going with the BMT 109, the 100Eight is a bit more damp in chop and carves groomers with more authority.
Bottom Line
The Volkl 100Eight is a relatively light ski that feels at home in most snow conditions but is happiest when skied on edge. It can easily make quick, pivoted turns on its fully-rockered bases, but it comes alive when pushing into its relatively long effective edge.
For skiers who enjoy that kind of skiing, the 100Eight is a great offering in the increasingly competitive category of 105-110 mm wide skis that are light enough to tour on, but strong enough to ride lifts all day.
Deep Dive Comparisons: Volkl 100Eight
For more comparisons to similar skis in this category including the Volkl BMT 109, Salomon QST 106, and DPS Wailer 106 Foundation check out our Deep Dive coming soon.
Note: 16/17 vs. 17/18 100Eight
For the 17/18 season, Volkl is updating the 100Eight, 90Eight, and their RTM line with what they are calling “3D.Glass.” This purportedly does not increase the weight of the 100Eight, but Volkl claims that this update “improves overall ski performance and stability, even in harsh snow conditions.”
So what is 3D.Glass? “Its three-dimensional glass layers wrap the underside of the core [of the ski] and extend out over the sidewall in the binding area. The result is increased edge grip, greater rebound, and a more lively ride quality.”
We hope to A/B the 16/17 & 17/18 100Eight, and learn how subtle or significant this update feels on snow.
NEXT: Rocker Profile Pics
Now if you guys did a comparison with the Fischer Ranger 108 (another light powerful 50/50 ski) in the deep dive, I may actually make the dive and get a subscription!
I am very interested in this ski. Seems like it could be a great one ski quiver. Not that I need just one ski. I am just a tad worried about sizing. For comparision here are all my skis and sizes. Keep in mind that all these skis seem to fit me very well for the intended purposes.
Kastle LX82 in 172
Kaslte FX84 in 176
Nordica Enforcer 100 in 177
J Ski the Metal in 180
Atomic Backland 117 in 179
So my concern is I think I am in between sizes. I feel the 181 might be a tad long but the 173 is definitely going to be to short. I am 5’7″ and weight 175 lbs. Let me know if you have any thoughts on sizing.
Thanks,
Chuck
Peter – the deep dive articles and access to Blister folks by email more than make the subscription pay for itself. They do so so much pro Bono it’s amazing. I still get 3 magazine subscriptions and not sure why except to get a laugh when comparing a garbage review to real reviews at Blister.
Hi,
Paul is speaking about a deep dive coming soon… but I cannot find it. Did they do this deep dive?
“For more comparisons to similar skis in this category including the Volkl BMT 109, Salomon QST 106, and DPS Wailer 106 Foundation check out our Deep Dive coming soon.”
Thanks!
Hi, the Deep Dive is there, it’s just that it’s listed as a Deep Dive for the DPS 106 Foundation
Well…. Probably not….. Its also strange that this review can’t be found from the index. You’ll have to Google it…… Maybe this doesn’t exist either?
90eights are the way to go IMO just bought a second set 2019 model
I’ve been looking for a quality review of the 90Eight and am BUMMED Blister doesn’t have one. 108 is IMO a little too wide for me as an everyday ski in the Sierras. 96-100mm is perfect – and a ~120+ pow ski for the fresh/chunder days.
90Eight is super versatile – I have two pair (AT and area), and they do everything I need unless the snow is bullet proof. Pull out Kendos for those days.
Hi guys,
Really good review. I am also quite interested in this ski and I have seen a really good offer for the 16/17 version. According to the description here nothing changed from 16/17 to 17/18… but this is not what I have read in other reviews that say that the 15/16 and 16/17 are the same and that the construction changed from 16/17 to 17/18…
Sorry to be quite pedantic, but I read a couple of reviews claiming that the new version is clearly better. Cna anyone bring some light on this?
thanks!!!
Just wanted to share some notes after demoing these at Snowbird recently. These definitely ski short. I demoed the 189 length and this was the correct length for me despite preferring 184-187 for a stated length normally. Dead easy to ski. Hand flex is very stout but you wouldn’t know it from skiing then – very easy to ski. I’m 5’11’’ 180-185 so my weight may have something to do with that. A little compromise when it comes to firm bumps or firm groomers but totally manageable. They do get pushed around in firm chop. Still, it seems like my skiing style is more well suited to this style of ski. I really enjoy my bibby’s in the 184 length but I wouldn’t describe my skiing style as wanting to charge/straightline everything, more playful, finesse and mixed turn sizes. The only change I would make is more tip and tail rocker for a less traditional look. Other than that they pivot really nicely. Easy to make short turns on cat tracks. Pivot really well in bumps. Much easier than moment bibby 184s in bumps and tighter terrain. These are light so they may make sense for a 50/50 ski with shift bindings. Could potentially put a shift binding on these, get Salomon s/lab mtn boots and have a 50/50 one ski quiver. As stated in the review, as long as you don’t run the bases flat they feel plenty stable for how light they are.
I’m currently loving my Devastators and am looking for a lighter 50/50 ski that mimics them as much as possible.
These sound like a great option.
Since I’m very happy on 185 Devis, would you recommend the 100eights in a 181 for touring?
The 2017-18 and onwards have what is called 3Dglass internally. Elsewhere I have read that this makes a noticeable difference in how they ski.
Any comments?
Hi Paul, can you please give a little more detail on the differences between the 100eight and the BMT 109 in terms of suspension and overall feel particularly on rough snow? I’m trying to decide between them for a 50/50 setup. Conditions will be Alps, so very variable and very firm at times. Should I also be considering the Katana?
THANK YOU for your help!
Bill