Ski: 2021-2022 Volkl Revolt 121, 184 cm
Available Lengths: 177, 184, 191 cm
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length: 182.2 cm
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2240 & 2250 grams
Stated Dimensions: 143-121-135 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 142.5-120.4-134.2 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (184 cm): 19.2 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 87 mm / 53 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 4-5 mm
Core: Multi-wood core + fiberglass laminate
Base: P-Tex 3000
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -2.8 cm from center; 88.3 cm from tail
Boots / Bindings: Dalbello Lupo Pro HD; Nordica Strider 120 / Marker Griffon
Reviewer: 5’8″, 155 lbs
Test Location: Front Range, CO
Days Skied (so far): 3
[Note: Our review was conducted on the 19/20 Revolt 121, which was not changed for 20/21 or 21/22, apart from graphics.]
Intro
Volkl’s playful powder skis haven’t undergone a lot of change over the past several years. What started with the One, Two, and Three turned into the Bash 116, Revolt 124, and Bash 135, but the actual construction of the skis wasn’t changed.
For 19/20 Volkl is moving in a whole new direction, ditching those previous skis and introducing a brand-new model — the Revolt 121. You may have seen the new Revolt 121 on a few big-mountain podiums this year, most notably under the feet of 2019 Freeride World Tour overall champion, Markus Eder:
Volkl has been hyping up the level of athlete input that’s gone into the creation of the Revolt 121, and they definitely have the team to back that up. The likes of Markus Eder, Sam Smoothy, Fabio Studer, Colter Hinchliffe, Tanner Rainville, Paddy Graham, and Tom Ritsch all apparently provided feedback on the design of the new ski. And the ski’s engineer, Lucas Romain, is a pretty talented freestyle rider, himself.
So what’s the result of all that athlete feedback, and how does the Revolt 121 compare to the rest of the market?
Shape / Rocker Profile
Volkl’s previous freestyle pow skis did have some early taper, but their shapes were pretty straight, with the tips and tails not tapering to much of a point. The Revolt 121 changes that.
The Revolt 121 has pretty dramatic taper lines, with the contact points of the ski being fairly close to the middle of the ski. The Revolt 121’s tips taper to more of a point than the Bash 116 or Revolt 124 that it effectively replaces. In the tail, the Revolt 121 still has pretty deep taper lines, but it has more of a blunted tail shape.
The Revolt 121’s rocker profile also stands out. It has a ton of tip splay (87 mm) and a pretty high tail (54 mm tail splay). And the Revolt 121’s rocker lines are also quite deep, being a bit deeper than some other freestyle skis like the Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro and Rossignol Black Ops 118, and similarly deep compared to others like the K2 Catamaran.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Revolt 121:
Tips: 6.5
Shovels: 7-8
In Front of Toe Piece: 8.5-9.5
Underfoot: 9.5
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-8.5
Tails: 7.5-6
The Revolt 121 has a pretty round flex pattern, with the very ends of the tails being just slightly softer than the tips. The ends of the ski are pretty soft, but it pretty quickly and smoothly stiffens up as you move to the middle of the ski.
Given that Volkl’s athletes are not only using this ski to throw tricks and land switch, but are also skiing it on some seriously consequential lines, the Revolt 121’s flex pattern seems to make sense. It’s accessible at the ends, but there’s a pretty big, solid section around the middle.
Overall, the Revolt 121’s flex pattern reminds us of the flex patterns of the Moment Wildcat and Rossignol Black Ops 118 (two skis we really like). The Revolt 121 is a bit softer overall vs. the Wildcat, and is a bit stiffer at the very ends vs. the Black Ops 118.
Mount Point
The Revolt 121 has a very progressive / forward recommended mount point of around -2.8 cm from center. That puts it in line with other freestyle skis like the Black Ops 118, Line Outline, and Prior CBC.
During our testing, we’ll be skiing the Revolt 121 with the bindings moved around that recommended line to get a better idea of how it responds to different skiing styles.
Weight
The old Volkl freestyle pow skis were heavy. Like, really heavy. The stated weight for the 186 cm Revolt 124 was 2700 grams per ski (!!!).
Volkl has been emphasizing the Revolt 121’s lower weight, and it is true that it’s lighter than its predecessors. But at around 2245 grams per ski for the 184 cm version, the Revolt 121 still isn’t some ultralight ski. That’s not something we have a problem with.
We’ve come to really like skis that are both playful and stable, and many of the skis that fit those criteria are not super light. The Revolt 121 isn’t as hefty as the 184 cm Catamaran or 186 cm Black Ops 118, but the Revolt 121 is still heavier than many skis in its class. So we’re very curious to see how the Revolt 121 compares to the other playful, fairly heavy skis out there.
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.
1710 & 1744 Atomic Bent Chetler 120, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
1808 & 1809 Line Pescado, 180 cm (17/18–19/20)
1910 & 1941 Scott Scrapper 115, 189 cm (17/18–18/19)
1931 & 1959 Volkl BMT 122, 186 cm (17/18–18/19)
2013 & 2099 Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, 184 cm (18/19–19/20)
2019 & 2051 K2 Mindbender 116C, 186 cm (19/20)
2024 & 2031 Line Outline, 186 cm (19/20)
2034 & 2052 Blizzard Rustler 11, 188 cm (17/18–19/20)
2043 & 2046 4FRNT Inthayne, 188 cm (18/19-19/20)
2102 & 2137 Line Sick Day 114, 190 cm (17/18–19/20)
2126 & 2173 Rossignol Super 7 RD, 190 cm (17/18–19/20)
2130 & 2130 Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, 190 cm (18/19–19/20)
2130 & 2213 Faction Candide 4.0, 188 cm (19/20)
2133 & 2133 Salomon QST 118, 192 cm (17/18–18/19)
2183 & 2190 Black Crows Anima, 188.4 cm (17/18–19/20)
2196 & 2199 Icelantic Nomad 115, 191 cm (17/18–18/19)
2220 & 2252 Faction Prodigy 4.0, 186 cm (17/18–19/20)
2212 & 2215 Armada ARV 116 JJ, 185 cm (17/18–19/20)
2222 & 2278 Prior CBC, 184 cm (17/18–19/20)
2228 & 2231 Blizzard Spur, 192 cm (17/18–19/20)
2230 & 2250 Black Diamond Boundary Pro 115, 185 cm (17/18–19/20)
2240 & 2250 Volkl Revolt 121, 184 cm (19/20)
2246 & 2265 Fischer Ranger 115 FR, 188 cm (17/18–18/19)
2267 & 2270 Whitedot Ragnarok 118, 190 cm (16/17–18/19)
2296 & 2309 Liberty Origin Pro, 192 cm (17/18–19/20)
2297 & 2317 K2 Catamaran, 184 cm (17/18–19/20)
2341 & 2357 Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, 189 cm (18/19–19/20)
2343 & 2360 J Skis Friend, 189 cm (18/19)
2346 & 2351 Nordica Enforcer Pro, 191 cm (17/18–19/20)
2382 & 2395 ON3P Billy Goat, 184 cm (17/18–18/19)
2408 & 2421 ON3P Kartel 116, 186 cm (17/18–19/20)
2429 & 2437 Kingswood SMB, 188 cm (16/17–18/19)
2438 & 2480 DPS Foundation Koala 119, 189 cm (19/20)
2438 & 2492 Rossignol Black Ops 118, 186 cm (16/17–19/20)
2490 & 2529 K2 Catamaran, 191 cm (17/18–19/20)
Some Questions / Things We’re Curious About
(1) The Revolt 121 was apparently designed with a lot of input from some very hard-charging skiers who also like to throw big tricks. So just how playful will it feel, and what about stability at speed?
(2) The Revolt 121 has a lot of taper and rocker, so how surfy and loose will it feel?
(3) What about not-so-deep conditions? Will the Revolt 121’s taper and rocker detract from its performance in less ideal conditions?
(4) The Revolt 121 is fairly heavy for its size, so how will it compare to other playful, heavier skis like the Rossignol Black Ops 118, DPS Koala F119, and Prior CBC?
Bottom Line (For Now)
The Volkl Revolt 121 looks like a fresh evolution of the brand’s playful pow skis. Its shape and rocker profile are now more in line with many other modern playful pow skis, but it maintains a bit of the heft and stiffness of the old Volkl skis that could give it an edge on the lighter, softer pow skis out there when it comes to stability. We’ll be getting the Revolt 121 on snow soon, so stay tuned for updates.
Flash Review
Blister Members can now check out our Flash Review of the Revolt 121 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
Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 lbs): I’ve now had the chance to spend a few days on Volkl’s new pow ski, the Revolt 121, in conditions ranging from soft and slushy, to brutally firm, to powder.
I talked a bit about my preliminary impressions of the ski on episode #49 of our GEAR:30 podcast, but now it’s time to flesh things out further.
Powder
We didn’t get on the Revolt 121 till the end of April, so I didn’t have high expectations for skiing it in any deep powder right away. But with the crazy good spring we had in Colorado, I was able to spend a day on it in during a storm that dropped about a foot of fresh snow.
In powder, whether shallow or fairly deep, the Revolt 121 really just “clicked” for me. As someone who really likes skis on the more playful end of the spectrum, the Revolt 121 was instantly intuitive and — more importantly, fun — in fresh snow.
There are a couple skis I can think of that are a bit looser and “surfier” than the Revolt 121, but this is one of the easiest skis I’ve used when it comes to heading down the hill with your skis pointed across the fall line. Like the Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, the Revolt 121 was so easy to slash around that I found myself getting face shots in only a few inches of snow. Just straight line for a bit, pivot the ski from your ankles, and you’ve got a full snow beard (or, in my baby-faced case, cold cheeks and pow plastered all over your neck gaiter).
In fresh snow, the Revolt 121 felt best when I maintained a pretty balanced / neutral stance, rather than a forward one where I’m driving the shovels super hard. I never had any issues with tip dive (even when I did drive the front of the Revolt 121), but it just felt most natural when I was sitting more in the middle of the ski and skiing from my ankles, rather than smashing the front of my boots with my shins.
I still want to get some more time on the Revolt 121 before I make any final claims about how it performs as a pure powder ski, but so far, it seems like another excellent addition to the class of playful pow skis that favor going sideways, backwards, and upside down in fresh snow, rather than making huge, sweeping turns down the fall line.
But just because it is super fun to slash and slide around on the Revolt 121, doesn’t mean that it’s some slouch when you’re not skiing untouched snow….
Soft Chop
The Revolt 121 is heavy and pretty stiff for a ski in this category. And I suspect that those two aspects are a big part of why this ski stays so composed in soft chop.
To be clear, the Revolt 121 is not a ski I’d recommend to people who primarily want to ski really fast in chop and don’t care much about playfulness, looseness, or actually smiling and having fun down the mountain (just kidding on that last one — mobbing straight through chop is a lot of fun in its own way). But if you only care about raging, then check out our “Powder Skis – More Directional” section of our Winter Buyer’s Guide.
But for a ski that has this much rocker, this much tip and tail taper, and that’s this playful, I’d say that the Revolt 121 is quite stable. As long as the chop was fairly soft / unconsolidated, I didn’t really feel the need to dial back my speed on the Revolt 121. And combined with just how fun this thing is to slash and spin, that made the Revolt 121 a blast in soft chop.
I could ski surprisingly fast on the Revolt 121 when conditions were soft, but then I could quickly burn speed by throwing the ski sideways, no matter how tight, steep, or tricky the terrain was.
Firm Chop / Crud
When conditions are firm and also rough, bumpy, and / or inconsistent, there are very few skis out there that encourage me to ski as fast and aggressively as I would when conditions are much softer and / or smoother. And the Revolt 121 is no exception here.
Still, I was surprised by how little I had to slow down on the Revolt 121 to stay in my comfort zone in rough snow. The Revolt 121 feels quite damp, which helps it stay a bit more planted on refrozen crud. And at the same time, it’s also really easy to maneuver quickly, which can’t be said of many of the more stable skis in this class.
Because of those two traits, I kept thinking that the Revolt 121 just felt “comfortable” in crud and firm chop. It didn’t encourage me to just try to annihilate everything in my path, but it never felt harsh, unpredictable, or like much of a burden in crud.
In other words, I don’t think there are a ton of skiers out there who would find the Revolt 121 to be “not enough ski” in chop and crud. And to the people who would want more ski, well, you probably already know who you are — you like skis with minimal rocker, minimal taper, stiff flex patterns, lots of weight, and a more traditional mount point.
But in the class of playful pow skis, the Revolt 121 is one of the more stable that I’ve used. Plus, when the conditions were less soft and deep, I found that I could drive the Revolt 121 a bit more, which helped me keep it tracking in the right direction.
Moguls, Trees, & Tight Terrain
I alluded to this earlier, but the Revolt 121 feels super easy in tight spots. It’s got a lot of rocker and taper, and unsurprisingly requires little effort to quickly pivot around.
This is obviously a very wide ski that’s also pretty heavy, so I wouldn’t pick it as a daily driver if I wanted a ski that I’d use in a lot of tight terrain every day (i.e., even when it hasn’t snowed in a while). But for a 120mm+ ski, I had no complaints when taking the Revolt 121 down moguls, tight trees, and the chutes at A-Basin’s East Wall — even when conditions were pretty firm.
Apart from its loose feel, the Revolt 121’s flex pattern also felt really nice in tight spots. The ski felt like it had a huge sweet spot, and I never felt like I was unexpectedly too far forward or backward on the ski. Again, the Revolt 121 feels best when skied with a pretty neutral stance and, because of its big sweet spot, it was pretty easy for me to stay in a comfortable stance in the middle of the ski, rather than needing to drive the front all the time or being worried about getting too far backseat.
Groomers
Yeah, this is a 120mm-wide ski, so I doubt many people are all that concerned with how it rips groomers. But the Revolt 121 kinda blew me away with how versatile it is given its width, and its performance on groomers was a part of that.
The Revolt 121, with its highly tapered tips and tails, doesn’t pull you into a turn like a much less tapered ski would. But the Revolt 121 still provided good edge hold on firm, early morning spring groomers, and even produced some pop and energy coming out of a turn.
I don’t think the Revolt 121’s groomer performance is anything to go nuts about, but my main point here is that this is not some pow ski that’s only fun in … pow.
Playfulness
The Revolt 121 is very playful in almost every regard.
First, it’s super easy to smear, slash, and slarve. The Revolt 121 requires very little effort to get it sideways, it’ll hold an extended slarve longer than most, and it never felt “hooky” in the slightest.
Second, the Revolt 121 feels poppy and balanced in the air. Despite its heavier weight, the Revolt 121 felt totally comfortable throwing quick shifties and spins — and it was very forgiving when it came to under- or over-rotating spins (AKA, pretty much every time I go past 180°).
Back to the weight, though: the Revolt 121 is a pretty heavy ski, and it’s definitely not the lightest ski in the air. If you do want something that’s super light and easy to flick around, you now have more options than ever (see several of our pow ski reviews from this season). But if you’re willing to put in a bit more work to get the Revolt 121 around, it’ll reward you with a really big stomping platform and will hold up better than those lighter skis when your inruns or runouts are not perfect powder.
Who’s It For?
Skiers looking for a powder ski and who prioritize playfulness and / or maneuverability, but who also don’t want some flimsy, twitchy, lightweight pow stick.
Again, there are loads of better options if your primary concern is getting down the mountain as fast as possible, regardless of the chunks of ice, rocks, or small children lie in your path.
And there are also some better options if you want the lightest, easiest-to-spin pow ski out there.
But for a lot of skiers out there, I think the Revolt 121 will offer plenty of stability while also feeling very playful.
I still think the Revolt 121 makes the most sense for people who prioritize playfulness and / or freestyle performance, but I also think those who just want a pow ski that’s easy, intuitive, and maneuverable will also get along with the Revolt 121. Just keep in mind that if you’re coming from skis with much more traditional mount points (-8 cm from center or farther back), it’ll probably take a bit of time to get used to the more neutral / centered stance that the Revolt 121 prefers.
Bottom Line (For Now)
I would give the Revolt 121 the high praise of simply being a “good” ski. Normally, we are able to home in on one or two (or six or eight) aspects of a ski that some skiers out there will clearly dislike, and we advise those particular folks to look elsewhere. But so far, nothing about the Revolt 121 has ever felt odd, out of place, or dumb; the Revolt 121 was just intuitive from the start. It’s super playful while still being quite strong and stable, and it never folded up on my at high speeds, while still being totally manageable at slower ones. I can’t think of many people who would hate the Revolt 121, and I would encourage everyone to try it to prove me wrong about that.
Deep Dive Comparisons: Volkl Revolt 121
Become a Blister Member or Deep Dive subscriber to check out our Deep Dive comparisons of the Revolt 121 to see how it compares to the Moment Wildcat / Blister Pro, Rossignol Black Ops 118, Prior CBC, 4FRNT Inthayne, Dynastar PR-OTO Factory, Line Outline, Icelantic Nomad 115, Atomic Bent Chetler 120, Faction Candide 5.0, and Faction Candide 4.0
I got to demo a pair a few weeks ago. They remind me a lot of the Moment Wildcat/bibby which is definitely not a bad thing.
I demoed the 191s at Snowbasin after after a foot of wet pow fell. I share the same sentiment. For another comparison, felt like a slightly more locked in bent chetler that loved speed. They were sweet.
Sounds, and looks, like the Volkl Shiro but with tip and tail taper, fixing the biggest issue the Shiro had, the huge blunt tip. I’m excited to give them a shot!
I love my Shiro’s…definitely interested to hear what people think about the Shiro v. Revolt comparisions.
I hope Crested Butte and the Chugach get a big dump so Blister can provide some on snow data on how the ski performs in various conditions other than light Pow.
Liberty Schuster Pro might be interesting comparison along with Black Ops and Bibby
Thanks Blister
Perfect, and now make a 105 version please
I think there is Revolt 104
Greetings, did any of the testers move the binding mount position to a more rearward spot? This hefty ski has some similarities to the DPS Koala, and that ski has a rec mount at -6.5cm from true center. I wonder what the Revolt 121 would ski like at this position, or even at -8cm from true center? Currently, my pow stick is a DPS Lotus 124 Alc. in a 191cm. length, mounted at -1 from the line, and it skis great (for me). I’m a directional, old school, technically strong – forward pressure with stiff boots kind of skier ( I’ve posted comments about mount position on the DPS review, as well as the Cham 107 ), and wonder about any and all of the pow sticks having a sweet spot big enough to accommodate variety of styles of skiing, or is this strictly a freestyle type of stick like the JJ’s or Bent Chet? Cheers!
I did not move the mount point during my time on it, but I am planning on giving it a try next season. That said, to me the Revolt 121 seems like a ski designed for freestyle skiers, rather than people who pressure the tips of their skis at all times. It seems like skis with mount points around -6 might work better for what you’re describing, but we’ll see how the Revolt responds to a more rearward mount point during this coming season.
Hello Luke,
First off all I just want to say thank you for all your work and everyone at Blister, it is absolutely phenomenal to have you all by our side.
My question is did you manage to further test mounting positions and what did you find when you moved them 3-4cm back from the recommended line?
I just bought 191cm length 21/22 version.
I’m a directional skier 6′ and 170lbs (started skiing when I was 2 raced when I was little and today working as a ski instructor).
Thank you in advance and a big hello for Belgrade Serbia.
Hey Vlada, not Luke, but I do ride the Revolt 121s and -3 from the recommended line on the 186s. I’ve not skied them on the recommended line, but at that -3 spot they absolutely rip. I’m a bit more of directional skier, but they feel pretty perfect at that spot, like the skis have a pretty long sweet spot.
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I’d be interested to know how the 191 compares to the 184. I’m a bigger dude (6’2 195) but I have a park background and tend to enjoy playful and looser skis but still need some stability due to my size. Lots of people recommended the Wildcat and, based on my size, bought the 190 and found it to be less than playful and more of a straight up charger. I guess the 184 Wildcat has some different properties? The Revolt 121 seems very interesting but I’m hesitant to get the 191 on the fear that it might waver more on the charger side of the spectrum. Any thoughts?
Hmm, tough to say without testing the 191, but I imagine that it’d still feel looser / surfier than the 190 Wildcat, and probably a bit softer at the tips and tails. But the 191 Revolt will also be a lot heavier than the 190 Wildcat (assuming you’re talking about the 18/19 or 19/20 Wildcat), which is important to keep in mind. So I imagine that the 191 Revolt would feel more playful in that it’d be easier to slash around, but it will also be a pretty hefty ski. There’s also a chance that we’ll be able to get on the 191 Revolt 121 to confirm this during the coming season.
Great review. I’m interested in these for Japan trip where majority of our skiing will be lift accessed with short tours back to resort vs long all-day tours. What are your thoughts on Revolt 121 for touring when mounted with Atomic Shift bindings? I have Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 130 boots. My go-to touring setup is shift binding on ’19 Atomic Backland 107’s which is great for Utah and Alps lift access touring, but I’m thinking need wider and more float for Japan. I’ve been looking for a playful ski that is fun in trees while also performing good in afternoons when in-bounds pow gets cut up and for fun carving on groomers on days when we don’t have fresh pow (only taking one pair of skis to Japan). I grew up ski racing and still do some masters racing (SL & GS). I’m 6’1″, 185 pounds hard charging skier who’s very fit so not super concerned about weight if trade off is more fun on the down. Also not into skiing park, skiing switch, etc. Sounds like this could be great ski for my needs. Asking because I’ve also been looking at Atomic Bent Chetler 120’s which you guys say are great for touring with the shifts. I’m leaning towards Revolt 121’s thinking BC 120’s might be too light. Anyhow, please let me know thoughts on using Revolt 121 + shift bindings for touring. Like to get your opinions before pulling the trigger.
Hi Mike,
So I think the Revolt could definitely work for you, with my only worry being its forward mount point and more freestyle-oriented design. Coming from the Backland 107 and your racing background, the Revolt will require a pretty different skiing style (more centered, less driving the shovels). You can definitely drive the front of it a bit, but it feels best when skied pretty neutral with just a bit of pressure on the shovels. But if you’re not worried about that, I think it’d make for a really awesome Japan ski with Shifts.
For more directional alternatives, the DPS Alchemist Lotus 124, Blizzard Spur, and Moment Wildcat would also make for really fun Japan skis that aren’t crazy heavy.
Let me know what you think.
Thanks Luke. I picked up some Revolt 121’s in 184cm length. Will let you know how they work for me after some time on skis.
Question now is what do you suggest for mount point given my racing background and being used to more directional skis? Should I go with factory recommended or move it back a bit?
Luke: seems as the revolt 121’s won’t work after all. Long story, but after lots and lots of research and talking with ski buddies who know me, I’m now full circle back to the Moment Wildcat in a 190. As you noted, more inline with my racing background and in longer length gives me float for Japan and slightly lighter weight a plus for touring back to resort. Have my Backland 107’s for 100% touring days and the Wildcats should be great for Utah hard charging in-bounds fun plus sounds like you guys think they do about as good as any powder ski for typical Alta/Snowbird day when 2 hours after first chair the mountain is skied out. Only question for you is should I go with factory recommended on the mount for Wildcats? Assuming that is best, but have to ask.
Sounds great — and for mounting, all of our reviewers have really liked the Wildcat mounted on the recommended line. That includes everyone from those who like to throw tricks to directional skiers who have no interest in getting their skis off the ground. So we’d recommend the line, though if you’re worried it’s too far forward, I don’t think there’d be an issue if you went 1 or 2 cm back.
Any idea what the actual length is on the 191cms?
I’m 6’ 185 lbs and a pretty aggressive skier. Would you recommend the 184s or 191s?
My initial thought is the 191, but what skis have you used in the past, what lengths were they, and did any of them feel particularly long or short to you?
Right now im on the first model of the k2 Marksman in a 184. They didnt feel short nor did they feel long. I probably just answered my own question but just wanted to get another opinion.
Got it — in that case, I think the 184 is an easy choice.
Hello Luke, I really enjoy all your reviews as everyone else does, I’m sure…so thank you very much for the work you’re doing.
I was wondering if you’ve gotten around to test the mount points going a bit further back (like -3 or -4 from the recommended line)?
I’m planning to buy Revolt 121 (21-22 version) in 191 and I’m a ski instructor and a mostly directional skier.
I’m 6′ 170lbs
Do you think the Revolt 121 would be ok for telemark skiing?
I have a pair of K2 Darkside and wonder if the revolt would be en improvement, or if I just should stick with the Darkside.
The Darkside I use mostly for offpiste and powder.
Tough to say (I don’t know anyone who’s tele’d on them), but nothing about their design makes me think they’d be particularly bad for tele. They’re a very different ski vs. the Darkside though, with the Revolt having much, much more tail rocker and way more tip and tail taper. So I’m pretty confident that the Revolt would feel much looser and easier to pivot, but I doubt it’d carve as well or feel as precise on edge as the Darkside.
Yo man. I’ve been teleing on some 191s. They’re super sick. I will say i wish I’d have gotten a shorter pair because of their heft. They still turn and smear quickly, but takes alot of energy. Super forgiving, and predictable. I generally ski more directional ski tele, but I am finding I love the progressive forward mount. When it gets too tight, it allows me to parallel ski them more easily, because the feel very nice with my weight centered/slightly back.
Hi Luke….amazingly robust reviews & we all thank you!
Has anyone reviewed skiing this back -3.5 to 4?
I’m a very traditional 59 yr old ripper that won’t be skiing backwards ever….you think I’d be fine back that far?
Just looked so strange to have that much ski behind me at the recommended line
The farthest I’ve moved the bindings back is -2 cm from recommended (around -5 cm from true center), and the ski felt fine there — I could drive the front of it a bit more, and it didn’t make the ski feel weird. But I don’t know about going -3 or -4 cm back from the recommended line — moving it that far back might have a negative impact on its overall performance. I’ll be getting back on the Revolt 121 this season when we get some storms, so I’ll experiment more with the mount point when that happens.
Hi guys!
I’m 1m84 / 95 to 100kg. Pretty agressive skier, and likes skis that combines fun & serious/stable in their DNA. I’m not the kind of guy who likes to go straight down, I like to play with the terrain feeling in control, in any kind of snow. I’m heavy, so floatation on anything is a first necessity.
I’ve been skiing :
– Blackcrows Nocta 2015 188 : big skis that feels “normals” underfoot, more on the fun side of fat skis, feeling like you never go fast on them (it lacks a little bit for me), good grip on tracks when snow is fresh
– Black Diamond Megawatt 2010 188 : beloved. Very very good skis, fun & serious, very easy to ski on a lot of king of snow/terrain, very slidey. A little lack of tail/pop maybe but they were already “used” when I demoed them for some days.
– Rossignol Super 7 2016 188 : hard time to get used to due to a too much forward bindings position, very easy & simple to ski after that.. too much easy, a little lack of character/fun for me (same than the Nocta in a different way).
– K2 Seth vicious (old) 179 : were good when I was a teenager, too short now.
– Volkl Shiro 2015 193 : very very good ski, very “serious” but still kind of fun due to the flat rocker. Too long in 193 for very tight spaces, it does the job but it’s hard, always have to force them to pivot. Very good in fast big turns in harsh snow (they made me love that). Not good on tracks except in fresh snow / melted snow where they can be fun. Not the kind of go to skis, you have to go 100% & feel in good form, & they’ll give it back to you.
I think the Revolt 121 are exactly what could replace my shiro, correcting the things I dislike (tight spaces ability, a little bit too serious/demanding) without losing the things I love (early float for a big guy, slashy ability, seriousness meaning speed & control in harsh snow), but I really don’t know which size I should get : 184 or 191?
188 looks like my go to size & I’m afraid that the 184 could be too short with my weight, meaning less control/more faceplants (I hate that, haven’t done any with the shiro except one that ended in the medical office..), but I don’t want to get back to the tight spaces hardwork I have to do with the shiros… (plus the revolts don’t have the much helping flat rocker underfoot).
Any advice about that? (including bindings position, knowing that they are/will be my one for all ski – except hard snow on tracks)
BTW, i was also looking at the Dynastar PRO_TO / Faction Candide 4.. any advice about that also, after all that reading?
Hi MS !
Maybe I can help a wee bit here. I’ve been skiing for 3-4 years on the Candide 4.0 188cm, mounted in the Candide Position (roughly -3,5cm from center), and I’ve just recently got the Revolt 121 in 191cm after breaking the 4.0.. I had 2 pairs of 4.0, one with Kingpins, the other one with Griffons, and I mounted the Revolt with Shifts.
I’ve got the Revolt mounted at the embossed line, which is roughly -3cm from center. It is a little bit lower than the text “Factory recommended mount”, don’t know if it’s meant to be on the text or the line … anyways, here’s what I would say :
– The Revolt are easier to get a grasp on ! Took me about 1-2h to fly on them. Easier to carve, slash. The 4.0 demand a bit more learning time to fly.
– The Revolt floats WAY easier (not surprising looking at rocker differences). On the 4.0 in real pow I had to lean back a lot, on the Revolt not much.
– Stability wise the Revolt are surprisingly good, I had no trouble straightening everything out in tracked pow at 80-90 km/h leaning back a little bit . On hard snow, the rockers don’t really wobble or anything so that’s also alright. But I’d say the 4.0 are even more stable, especially on hard snow where the almost lack of front and rear splay help. I’ve taken the 4.0 to around 110-120 km/h with no trouble, no movement. And there’s one thing where the 4.0 are king which is just straightening it out, I guess the Candide signature.
– The Revolt are less demanding physically, and can cruise in a kind of “relaxed” manner. That’s not possible on the 4.0 you’ll get knocked around.
– It’s easier to tail press on the Revolt :P
– The 4.0 are lighter .. and you feel it (About 300g per ski). For skinning up and popping off everything, there is a difference. In that aspect the Revolts feel a little bit more sluggish. Still both feel super balanced in the air, whether off cliffs or kickers.
I’ve not been putting tons of kms on the Revolt yet, but I already really like them. If float is one of your top priorities … that’s where the Revolt has the biggest upper hand on the 4.0.
I’m also french, you can look me up on IG @jacques.dewever
PS : I’m 185cm, approx 77-80kg depending on season and training.
Cheers
How do these compare to the Catamarans? Sounds like a slightly stiffer, non assymetrical version.
Hey, I am wondering how these skis would do in freeride competitions and how they would add up to the atomic Bentchetler 120. I am also wondering what length to go with I am 5’10 and 72kg and an experienced skier I also enjoy skis more on the playful side of skiing e.g for landing switch and doing tricks.
Hey luke did you ever end up testing the ski more at a more rearward mount point?
Yep, I skied it at -1 and -2 from recommended. You can drive it a bit more through the shovels at -2 and it doesn’t feel quite as balanced and quick. I.e., nothing super odd happens when you move it back. It doesn’t transform it into some super directional ski, but you can drive it enough where I’m confident recommending it to directional skiers who want a very maneuverable and playful ski.
Thanks for the great review. Maybe beating a dead horse, but wanted get your opinion about mounting position. I just picked up these skis in the 177 length for next year. I’m 5’6” 140lb; 53 y/o. Still ski pretty hard, just not as strong as I used to be. I’m fortunate enough that I can take a couple of cat/heli trips a year, and will be mainly using the skis for those trips. Directional skier (will never ski switch), but do like catching air and taking small to moderate drops. Previous powder skis have all been very directional eg. ON3P BillyGoat, Line influence 115, Rossi S7 (although I skied most days of this season on the ON3P Woodsman 108 which has it’s mount point at -6, and really like it a lot). What do you think… -1… -2? I’m assuming that at -2 it will probably still feel more maneuverable/playful than most skis I’ve been on. Thanks!
Here are some specs I’ve measured for the the 177 in case anyone is interested.
Length 177.4 cm.
Rec mounting point -3.5 cm from center.
2108 & 2129 gr/ski on my scale.
I’ll be mounting at -1. Will see how it goes next season (man that’s a long time to wait).
Thanks!
Good review, but I have a comparison question. My wife and I spent a bit of time in BC this year on the Armada Magic J’s. We both liked the Armadas, just felt they needed a bit more oomph at times. I definately wanted more ski to drive and missed my confessions on big and committed lines. The Magic J’s were playful, surfy, great for float and smearing but at high speed I just kept wanting to drive the tip and felt they lacked something. Just wondering if you had a compare and contrast between the two? Also, you referenced the Proto, I’ve been on that ski quite a bit as well, so maybe you could say something towards that as well?
Awesome info in this thread and it’s really helped a lot. I’ve been looking at this ski for sometime now, but really stuck on the decision between the 184cm and the 191cm. I’m 5’9” and 175lb…maybe a little more after apres IPA’s and pizza at Vendetta’s during the winter. Really lookin at this ski for a 10-15 day a year ski for Vail where most of those days include multiple laps in EV. During the past few years the Moment Blister Pro has been my go to ski for that in a 184cm. That ski has been amazing, but also left me wanting a little bit more length/float for hard charging inbounds and out of bounds. It sounds like this ski is more playful than the Blister Pro, but is that jump to a 191cm too much? The weight is another concern. I’ve got Cast Freetour’s and Look Pivot 15’s waiting for this setup. That’s got me worried about how heavy is too heavy. What do you think? Is that pushing this ski for more than what it’s meant for and my height/weight? Any alternatives if not? Thanks!
Im a tall (201 cm) 88 kg, 48 year old, intermediate+, directional skier. I wanted a floaty, easy to turn and playful ski for off piste and powder days. Got my 191 cm Revolts in early February this year so only got 4 days on them. My other skis are Blizzard Cochise (193 cm) and Nordica Enforcer 93 (193 cm), I use them both in and off piste.
First days with my Völkl Revolt 121 has been confusing. The virgin day had super powder and I was anticipated like a child. Obv first in line when lifts opened in Hemsedal. First run I headed down the forrest and under the semi technical main chair lift path. I was instantly surprised and disappointed. It felt like there was no float, my tips was burying deep under and had way too short front ski/too much tail. After two/three runs I wondered if the bindings had been mounted too far ahead, so I asked the guys in the ski shop what they thought. Was told that bindings were mounted as recomended by Völkl, but I needed time to adjust/getting used to the centered position.
After four days of skiing I will say that I really love the quick and easy turning, especially compared to the Nordica Enforcer. Its superfun to play around in the forrest and jumping small side hits and bumps. And yes its very possible to get the Revolt 121 on edge and carve in piste too. But on the down side I still feel like I have too short front ski and that make me lose some confidence. It makes me lean slightly backwards to avoid imaginary faceplant. I am considering to move my bindings more rear but not sure yet.
I do think Im gonna love this ski more and more but for a tall guy like me they feel a bit short. The tip and tail rocker combined with the recommended centered binding position makes the ski feel shorter than it is. If you’re not familier with centred mounted bindings and/or are not sure what length to go for, definately go for the longest option.
I’m around the same size (a bit shorter but a bit heavier), mounted mine 2 cm behind recommended and it’s working well for me. I do occasionally wish there was a bit more ski in front/feel the need to put some pressure on the back of my boots (really just in deep but heavy snow) but for the most part I’m loving them. It sounds like you’d benefit from mounting back a bit as well; you get a bit longer tips and a bit shorter tails but they’ll still feel super playful and easy in the trees.
I too faced this dilemma with many of my skis! Being a more directional skier who is now in his sixties and has a technical/race/coach/instructor background and who prefers a more rearward mounted stance depending on the ski type ( -8.75 to -11 from TC ), I measured where the rec line is on the 191 cm length from true center ( -3.5 from TC ), and then went an additional 3 cm rear of that. The mount I settled on was -6.5 rear of TC ( for me this spot is quite progressive ), and the ski feels great at this position. It’s balanced, easy to spin, very easy and quick to turn, and comfortable landing switch. I can also pressure the tips to carve in a variety of terrain without getting the feeling that I am about to bury the shovels. I know that going forward would enhance the freestyle capabilities, but as I’ve said I prefer a more traditional mount point for the style of skiing that I do (directional with the option to throw a trick and try to look like a kid again! ). It’s been a shitty ski season due to covid, so no cat ski trips to really test the deep snow prowess of these sticks, but I had a few awesome days at Castle Mountain and at Lake Louise where the conditions were at least mid boot to mid calf with very cold low density pow, and these skis were exceptional – offering plenty of float and a surprising amount of quickness at the mount position chosen. I also have a pair of 191 cm Lotus 124 alchemist 2.0 and although they are a better choice for wide open conditions and soft groomers, the Revolts are a much better tree and soft bump ski. So, for all those considering this ski for their deep pow weapon, don’t be afraid to go back from the rec mount point to get the ski feel that is right for you. I think Paul Forward ( in the latest interview ) even said that some of the guides he works with have even mounted it at -5 from rec! Just be realistic with how you ski and want to ski – and be prepared to possibly do a remount or two if needed. It’s a learning process. Finding your happy spot on any given pair of skis where you feel most comfortable is a very unique sometimes frustrating personal process.
Cheers,
DHJ