Ski: 2021-2022 Sego Condor 108, 187 cm
Test Location: Crested Butte, CO
Days Skied: 8
Available Lengths: 175, 181, 187 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 184.8 cm
Stated Weight per Ski: 1895 grams
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 1918 & 1931 grams
Stated Dimensions: 132-108-122 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 132.2-107.3-120.0 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (187 cm): 28 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 66 mm / 44 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 3 mm
Core: poplar + carbon stringers + fiberglass laminate
Base: sintered Durasurf 4001
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -7.5 cm from center; 84.9 cm from tail
Boots: Atomic Hawx Prime XTD 130, Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130, Tecnica Zero G Tour Pro
Bindings: Armada Shift MNC 13
[Note: Our review was conducted on the 19/20 Condor 108, which returned unchanged for 20/21 and 21/22, apart from graphics.]
Intro
For the 18/19 season, Sego released an interesting ski, the Condor Ti. It was a ~108mm-wide ski that was designed with backcountry lines in mind, but it also featured a layer of metal, a very long sidecut radius, a fairly heavy weight (for a touring ski), a not-super-stiff flex pattern, and a pretty subtle rocker profile.
We skied the old Condor Ti and found it to work really well in wide-open terrain where it offered stability at speed that many touring skis lacked (you can read our thoughts in our 18/19 Winter Buyer’s Guide). But it was also fairly sluggish at slower speeds, especially in deeper snow, which made it feel like a slightly more niche tool than some other options in its class.
For the 19/20 season, Sego not only updated the original Condor, but also expanded the Condor into a series consisting of the Condor 98, Condor 108, and Condor 116. So what changes did they make and how does this new Condor 108 look compared to some of the other options in its class?
What Sego says about the Condor series
“The Condor is a hard charging ski with a long camber zone and turn radius. The long turning radius and stout camber make this ski worthy of big lines, tight chutes, and variable conditions. This year it’s back in multiple widths so you can beef it up to the unstoppable 116 or take it to new heights with the lightweight 98 under foot model that will be our choice for big days in the backcountry.”
This description is fairly similar to that of the previous Condor Ti — the Condor skis are supposed to be stable and aren’t supposed to fall apart in rough conditions, consequential terrain, or high speeds (which are the areas where many, often lighter skis lack).
Construction
This is one of the main areas of change, with the new Condor skis ditching the titanal layer and balsa / flax stringer used in the old Condor Ti. The new skis use a full poplar wood core with carbon fiber stringers and a fiberglass laminate. They still feature a sintered Durasurf 4001 base and thick 2.2 mm edges.
Oh, and they kept the avocado top sheet for now, which I’m a big fan of…
Shape / Rocker Profile
The Condor’s shape has remained pretty much the same (our measured dimensions are all within a millimeter for the Condor Ti vs. Condor 108). This ski still has a pretty tapered tip and tail, with a shape somewhat similar to the Amplid Facelift 108 and Atomic Backland 107. That said, the Condor’s rocker profile has changed significantly.
The depth of the Condor 108’s rocker lines are similar to the previous Condor Ti, but the tip and tail splay is pretty different. The Condor Ti had very low-slung rocker lines, with little actual rise until you got to the very ends of the ski. The Condor 108’s tip and tail rocker are quite different, with its tips and tails rising abruptly right at the contact points. For reference, the old Condor Ti had 55 mm of tip splay and 22 mm of tail splay, while our pair of the Condor 108 has 66 mm of tip splay and 44 mm of tail splay.
The Condor 108’s rocker profile looks fairly similar vs. the WNDR Alpine Intention 110, though the Intention 110 has a slightly deeper tip rocker line.
One of my main complaints with the old Condor Ti was that it needed a lot of speed to start planing up in deep snow, which made it feel a bit burdensome in tight trees and skiing deeper snow on mellower slopes. The Condor 108’s new rocker profile seems like it could address this, especially given the next section:
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Condor 108:
Tips: 6
Shovels: 6.5-7.5
In Front of Toe Piece: 8.5-9.5
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-9
Tails: 7-6
This flex pattern is nearly identical to the Condor Ti’s, and I really liked that flex pattern.
The Condor 108’s tips and tails are easy to bend through the rockered portions, while the rest of the ski is pretty strong. This was one big reason why the Condor Ti differed from other “hard-charging” backcountry skis, most of which had very stiff flex patterns, especially through the tails. I’m personally glad to see that Sego has stuck with a similar flex pattern, given that I felt like the old Condor Ti had a pretty big sweet spot and was easy to ski from a variety of stances. And I suspect the Condor 108’s softer shovels, combined with its new rocker profile, could help in deep snow.
Sidecut Radius
No change here — the Condor 108 still has a long stated sidecut radius at 28 meters for the 187 cm length we have. The 181 cm Condors have a stated radius of 26 meters while the 175 cm version’s stated radius is 24 meters, all of which are longer than average. The Condor Ti’s stated sidecut radius felt accurate on snow, with a preference for longer turns when carving the ski, so we expect the same to be true of the Condor 108.
Mount Point
The Condor 108 still has a fairly progressive mount point, with our pair’s line coming in around -7.5 cm from true center. That’s not super far forward but definitely not super far back.
Weight
Interestingly, there hasn’t been a whole lot of change in weight between the Condor Ti and the Condor 108. Our pairs are coming in around the same average weight, with the 187 cm Condor 108 coming in at an average weight of 1924 grams per ski.
For a backcountry ski, that’s still pretty heavy, especially compared to skis like the Black Diamond Helio 105, Blizzard Zero G 105, and Line Vision 108. The Condor 108 is still notably lighter than most similarly wide, inbounds-oriented skis, but there are many touring skis that come in much lighter.
For reference, here are a number of our measured weights (per ski in grams) for some notable skis. Keep in mind the length differences to try to keep things apples-to-apples.
1476 & 1490 K2 Wayback 106, 179 cm (18/19–20/21)
1547 & 1551 Black Diamond Helio 105 Carbon, 185 cm (17/18–19/20)
1605 & 1630 Line Vision 108, 183 cm (19/20–20/21)
1606 & 1641 Blizzard Zero G 105, 188 cm (19/20–20/21)
1642 & 1651 Renoun Citadel 106, 185 cm, (18/19–19/20)
1642 & 1662 Atomic Backland 107, 182 cm (18/19–20/21)
1660 & 1680 Moment Deathwish Tour, 184 cm (19/20)
1692 & 1715 Moment Wildcat Tour 108, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
1706 & 1715 Volkl BMT 109, 186 cm (17/18–20/21)
1745 & 1747 4FRNT Raven, 184 cm (16/17–19/20)
1752 & 1771 Amplid Facelift 108, 189 cm (18/19–20/21)
1784 & 1790 Volkl Blaze 106, 186 cm (20/21)
1787 & 1793 Fauna Pioneer, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
1787 & 1806 WNDR Alpine Intention 110 – Cambered, 185 cm (19/20)
1806 & 1862 Armada Tracer 108, 180 cm (19/20–20/21)
1828 & 1842 Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition, 188 cm (19/20)
1848 & 1903 Line Sick Day 104, 186 cm (17/18–20/21)
1849 & 1922 Elan Ripstick 106, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
1913 & 1943 Sego Condor Ti, 187 cm (18/19)
1918 & 1931 Sego Condor 108, 187 cm (19/20–20/21)
1951 & 1953 Elan Ripstick 106, 188 cm (20/21)
1993 & 2026 Black Crows Atris, 184.2 cm (17/18–20/21)
1996 & 2012 Dynastar Legend X106, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2005 & 2035 Liberty Origin 106, 187 cm (19/20–20/21)
2006 & 2065 Head Kore 105, 189 cm (19/20–20/21)
2011 & 2028 Moment Wildcat 108, 184 cm (19/20)
2027 & 2052 K2 Reckoner 112, 184 cm (20/21)
2030 & 2039 Rossignol Soul 7 HD, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2079 & 2105 Kastle FX106 HP, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
2096 & 2100 Salomon QST 106, 181 cm (19/20–20/21)
2097 & 2113 DPS Alchemist Wailer 106 C2, 189 cm (19/20–20/21)
2101 & 2104 Fischer Ranger 102 FR, 184 cm (18/19–20/21)
2110 & 2119 Moment Wildcat 108, 190 cm (19/20)
2112 & 2125 4FRNT MSP 107, 187 cm (18/19–20/21)
2120 & 2134 Blizzard Rustler 10, 188 cm (19/20–20/21)
2143 & 2194 ON3P Wrenegade 108, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
2153 & 2184 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti, 187 cm (20/21)
2165 & 2211 K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 186 cm (19/20–20/21)
2165 & 2219 Icelantic Nomad 105, 191 cm (19/20–20/21)
2170 & 2180 Dynastar M-Free 108, 182 cm (20/21)
2177 & 2180 Moment Commander 108, 188 cm (19/20)
2182 & 2218 Nordica Enforcer 110 Free, 185 cm (17/18–20/21)
2188 & 2190 Prior Northwest 110, 190 cm (19/20–20/21)
2190 & 2268 Armada ARV 106Ti LTD, 188 cm (18/19–19/20)
2202 & 2209 Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, 186 cm (19/20)
2218 & 2244 Volkl Mantra 102, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
2232 & 2242 Blizzard Cochise 106, 185 cm (20/21)
2232 & 2244 ON3P Woodsman 108, 187 cm (19/20)
2233 & 2255 Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, 186 cm (19/20–20/21)
2250 & 2307 Argent Badger, 184 cm (19/20)
2283 & 2290 ON3P Wrenegade 108, 189 cm (18/19–19/20)
2312 & 2386 Prior Husume, 188 cm (17/18–20/21)
2318 & 2341 J Skis The Metal, 186 cm (16/17–19/20)
2321 & 2335 Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, 189 cm (19/20–20/21)
2325 & 2352 Folsom Blister Pro 104, 186 cm (19/20)
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) Given its new rocker profile, will the Condor 108 feel notably looser and more playful, and will there be any noticeable downside in terms of edge hold?
(2) We thought the old Condor Ti excelled in more open terrain, or steep lines where you’re making lots of hop turns. So will the Condor 108 be similar, or will it feel a bit more versatile?
(3) Given its not-super-light weight, will most skiers prefer the Condor 108 as a dedicated backcountry ski, an inbounds ski, or one that could serve both roles?
Bottom Line (For Now)
As with the old Condor Ti, the Sego Condor 108 doesn’t look like many other skis out there. It’s got a very long sidecut radius and isn’t super light, but combines that with a moderate flex pattern, a nearly twinned tail, and a fairly progressive mount point. Blister Members can check out our Flash Review linked below, then stay tuned for our full review.
Flash Review
Blister Members can now check out our Flash Review of the Condor 108 for our initial impressions. Become a Blister member now to check out this and all of our Flash Reviews, plus get exclusive deals and discounts on skis, and personalized gear recommendations from us.
FULL REVIEW
Jonathan Ellsworth and I both spent time on the Sego Condor 108 last season, and we both got along very well with it despite having very different skiing styles. Now it’s time to chime in with our full review, but first, let’s take a look at what we said about the ski in our 20/21 Winter Buyer’s Guide:
“The Condor 108’s long sidecut radius, twinned tail, fairly progressive mount point, and moderate flex pattern make for an uncommon combination — and one we really like. This ski stands out in unpredictable conditions; its suspension is really nice for its weight, its long radius and tapered tips & tails keep it from feeling hooky, and it has a big sweet spot. Those same things also make it really fun and surfy in pow, and given its mount point, it also feels comfortable and balanced in the air. This isn’t a ski for people who love to carve short, tight turns, and very aggressive directional skiers may prefer something a bit stronger (e.g., Majesty Havoc). But if you want stability and predictability, you want a cambered (and heavier) alternative to the 4FRNT Raven, or you want a 50/50 ski that’s stable and encourages lots of slashes and airs, the Condor 108 is great.”
With that brief summary in mind, let’s go into how the Condor performs in various conditions and terrain:
Powder
Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 Ibs / 173 cm, 70 kg): Deep snow — or at least, deep snow that was covering mellow, lower-angle terrain — was one of the main weaknesses of the old Condor 108 Ti. But I think the current Condor 108 is a great pow ski for its width.
With fairly deep tip and tail rocker lines and a not-super-stiff flex at those tips and tails, the Condor offered plenty of flotation for the pow days we used it on (about 1.5 feet / 46 cm of fresh). I think really directional skiers who love to drive the shovels of their skis in all conditions may prefer something with a more traditional mount point, but I loved how the Condor 108 let me ski it fairly forward or quite centered and allowed for super easy slashes. In backcountry conditions (which often quickly change when you cross into the sun or over to a different aspect), that sort of versatility and large sweet spot can be a big asset.
On that note about slashing, the Condor 108 feels like a very maneuverable ski. Its combination of taper and rocker at both its tips and tails make it really intuitive to just roll over and drift through fresh snow (see above), but the ski also felt happy “carving” through powder. Again, it’s versatile.
There are a few skis I can think of that may rise to the top of the snow more quickly (Line Vision 108 & Volkl Blaze 106), but overall, I had zero complaints about how the Condor 108 performed in deep snow, particularly for being a 108mm-wide ski.
Soft Chop / Slush
Luke Koppa: I loved skiing the Condor 108 in any sort of soft snow, whether that was untouched pow, fresh snow that’d been cut up a bit, or slush.
That same versatility in terms of being able to carve and slarve and in terms of being able to ski centered or forward was super useful in more variable (but still soft) conditions.
This ski allows me to ski hard and make big turns when I feel like it, but it’s also quite predictable and easy to shut down when I get ahead of myself. No, it doesn’t stay as composed, quiet, and rock-solid as a far heavier, inbounds-oriented ski. But for its weight, the Condor 108 is very calm and predictable when skiing pretty fast through choppy snow. And that’s part of why we included it in the “50/50 Backcountry / Resort” section in our guide. For skiers who don’t need an ultra-damp or stable ski, the Condor 108 would be a viable option for days at the resort.
And again, the Condor 108 still feels like a pretty playful ski, despite its good stability-to-weight ratio. I can lay off the shovels when I feel like it, easily throw it sideways when I see a cool-looking windlip, and even ski switch. As a playful skier who still likes to ski fast, that’s a really appealing combination in any sort of ski, and a fairly rare one in a ski as light as the Condor 108.
Firm Chop / Crud
Luke Koppa: Like any ski this light, the Condor 108’s main weakness shows up when conditions are firm, bumpy, and just generally not that fun to ski.
With that said, this is one of the more predictable, damp, and intuitive ~1925 g skis I’ve used. The Condor is not hooky, so it’s not going to randomly engage and send you careening across the fall line. That’s nice when conditions are weird and challenging. And its suspension also feels really nice for its weight, so it feels way less harsh and jarring on firm, rough snow than most of the lighter skis we’ve used.
Add onto that the fact that it’s easy to casually slip and slide around on the Condor, and it makes for a fairly light ski that makes skiing difficult conditions, well, less difficult than a lot of the lighter alternatives.
Firm, Smooth Snow
Luke Koppa: I haven’t yet been able to ski the Condor 108 on a lot of hardpacked, smooth snow, but my initial impressions are pretty positive.
As we noted in our Buyer’s Guide, the Condor 108 is not the ski for those who want to be able to carve tight turns on firm snow. This ski has a pretty long sidecut radius that feels best when making medium to long turns on edge. And it has a pretty tapered and rockered tip that won’t pull you into a turn (but that is part of the reason why it’s so predictable in crust and grabby conditions).
I like making all sorts of turn shapes, and I do prefer skis like the Line Vision 108, Line Sick Day 104, and Elan Ripstick 106 for carving tight turns high on edge. But the Condor 108 feels more composed and predictable than those skis while laying down bigger arcs, and also in punchy conditions. So I’d encourage anyone to think — realistically — about what sort of turns they’re looking to make on this ski before viewing this as an issue.
I mostly say that because, while the Condor 108 is not an exhilarating carver, it is a very predictable one. It wouldn’t be my top pick for holding an edge on true ice (few 108mm-wide skis would be), but I haven’t had any sketchy experiences on the Condor 108 where it randomly lost on edge. This is very similar to my experience with the old Condor 108 Ti — predictable on firm snow, just not super exciting. And for many people, that is probably what you actually want out of a ski in this weight and width class.
Playfulness
Luke Koppa: The Condor 108 has a fairly progressive mount point (-7.5 cm from true center), a round flex pattern, and a twinned tail.
All of that adds up to a pretty playful ski that’s notably easier to throw sideways and that feels more balanced in the air, compared to more directional alternatives like the Elan Ripstick 106, G3 ROAMr 108, Armada Tracer 108, and Volkl Blaze 106.
The Condor 108 doesn’t feel as freestyle-oriented as softer and / or more rockered options like the Line Vision 108, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, or Sego Big Horn 106. The Condor feels a bit more sluggish in the air, and just generally doesn’t create that (admittedly, very vague) feeling of wanting to slash and jump off everything in sight.
But for people like me whose primary goal most days is not trying to land a new trick or add another 180° to their biggest rotation, the Condor 108 offers a playful-enough ride to make it stand out from a lot of other skis in its class. And if you’re coming from more freestyle-oriented skis, I suspect that mounting the Condor 108 around -6 cm behind true center would make it feel more playful and intuitive, without seriously compromising its overall performance, given this ski’s big sweet spot.
Uphill Performance
Luke Koppa: Not a whole lot to add here other than that the Condor 108’s pointed tail shape isn’t the most ideal for some skins’ tail clips. I’ve had the tails of some skins (Pomoca Climb 2.0) fall off at some point in the skin track, but it also wasn’t really an issue since the only section of the skin that was not securely attached to the ski was the portion on the Condor’s rockered tail, which wasn’t in contact with the snow. Black Diamond skins’ tail connectors worked a bit better, and I suspect G3’s would be the best option. Other than that, the Condor grips fine on the skin track and its skinny tips have worked really well with the tip hardware of all the skins I’ve used.
Who’s It For?
Luke Koppa: I think the Condor 108 will be most appealing to (1) skiers who skin / hike for their turns and (2) those who want to do some human-powered skiing and some lift-accessed skiing on the same setup.
As we’ve noted, the Condor 108 isn’t ideal if you love to carve tight turns on firm snow. And if you always ski via lifts, you’d be better off on a heavier setup (see the multiple “All-Mountain” sections in our Winter Buyer’s Guide).
But the Condor 108 is light enough for pretty long days in the backcountry (especially if you prioritize downhill performance over uphill efficiency), and it’s also heavy and stable enough that it doesn’t feel totally out of place in the resort.
In particular, the Condor 108 should be on your list if you want a fairly lightweight ski that makes unpredictable conditions, well, more predictable. It’s not hooky, it’s quite damp for its weight, and it’s got a big sweet spot. All of those things make it pretty easy to ski in otherwise not-easy conditions.
Plus, since you can ski it pretty centered or pretty forward, the Condor 108 will work for skiers who want something that’s somewhat playful, and who tend to shift up their stance pretty often.
Jonathan Ellsworth (5’10”, 175 lbs): I’ve waited to chime in since (1) Blister members can read my flash review of the Condor that we published back in April, and (2) Luke and I are in agreement about the performance of this ski.
That said, my answer to the “Who’s It For?” question is a bit different, because I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this — or use this — as my single, dedicated backcountry ski. Now, as we’ve said a zillion times on this site, how light or heavy you want your touring ski to be is entirely a matter of personal preference. But if you like the sound of the performance characteristics of this ski and want a fun but stable backcountry ski that weighs less than 1950 grams, the weight-to-performance ratio of the Condor 108 is very good.
Bottom Line
The Sego Condor 108 is a reliable tool for a lot of conditions. It doesn’t require an aggressive pilot at all times, but it feels very stable for how light it is when the conditions and terrain allow you to let it run. At the same time, its rocker profile, flex pattern, and weight make it feel more playful than a lot of the more directional skis in its class. And whether on firmer conditions or deep snow, it rarely feels like a poor choice for the conditions. All things we look for in do-everything backcountry ski.
Deep Dive Comparisons
Become a Blister Member or Deep Dive subscriber to check out our Deep Dive comparisons of the Condor 108 to see how it compares to the 4FRNT Raven, Volkl Blaze 106, Volkl BMT 109, Line Sick Day 104, Armada Tracer 108, Faction Agent 3.0, Folsom Cash 106 Carbon, Elan Ripstick 106, RMU North Shore 108, J Skis Slacker, Moment Wildcat Tour 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Moment Deathwish Tour, G3 ROAMr 108, WNDR Alpine Intention 110, Atomic Backland 107, Blizzard Zero G 105, & Line Vision 108.
Love the top sheet hahaha. Sounds like a great ski. If I didn’t have a Moment DW I think this would be on my short list.