Ski: 2022-2023 Wagner Summit 107, 186 cm
Test Location: Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado
Days Skied: 13
Available Lengths: 165, 172, 179, 186 cm (custom available)
Blister’s Measured Tip-to-Tail Length (straight-tape pull): 183.8 cm
Blister’s Measured Weight per Ski: 2258 & 2303 grams
Stated Dimensions: 143-107-129 mm
Blister’s Measured Dimensions: 142.7-106.1-128.0 mm
Stated Sidecut Radius (186 cm): 19.6 meters
Measured Tip & Tail Splay (ski decambered): 75 mm / 35 mm
Measured Traditional Camber Underfoot: 4 mm
Core Materials: aspen + titanal + fiberglass laminate (custom available)
Base: sintered “extra thick”
Factory Recommended Mount Point: -10.5 cm from center / 81.4 cm from tail
Boots / Bindings / Wax: Tecnica Mach1 MV 130, Atomic Redster 150 TI, Salomon S/Pro Alpha 130 / Salomon Warden MNC 13 / mountainFLOW All-Temp
[Note: Our review was conducted on the 21/22 Summit 107, which returns unchanged for 22/23.]
Intro
Back at last year’s Blister Summit, Wagner did something they don’t normally do — they created four “factory series” skis that were built for a general consumer in mind, rather than fully custom for one person. The “Summit” series of skis were a big hit with a lot of attendees and many of our reviewers, and we’ve already talked a lot about the Summit 97 and Summit 106.
(And good news for anyone attending the 2022 Blister Summit — Wagner will be back again.)
The Summit 107 is the widest of the four, designed to be a smooth and stable all-mountain ski. We’ve now had several (very different) reviewers on it with very positive impressions across the board.
What Wagner says about the Summit 107
“This is a smooth, stable resort wide-body that’s built to handle any and all conditions you’ll find when you venture off the groomer. Sure, when the planets align and powder falls right where you are, this ski will float and surf like a dream. But the rest of the time, it has enough backbone (thank you, titanal) to cut through crud and stick to the snow even when the going gets rough. Though it’s designed for all things off-piste, it carves like a ski half as wide. We think of this ski as the Cadillac of our collection: powerful, fluid, and smooth-as-silk.
All Summit 107 skis feature an aspen core, extra-thick bases, titanal structural layers, p-tex sidewalls, oversized hardened-steel edges, and your choice of a James Niehues, stock, or artist series graphic. (Please note that a wood veneer or a custom graphic is not an option for Factory skis. If you would prefer either option, get started on your custom ski build here.)”
Shape / Rocker Profile
The Summit 107 looks very, very similar to the Summit 106 (the 106 is the lightweight “50/50” option in the series). Both skis have pretty minimal tip and tail taper, and they’ve got pretty deep but very low-slung rocker lines that don’t splay out till near the ends of the skis. They also both have a lot of tip splay, and what I’d call “semi-twinned” tails.
Overall, the Summit 107’s shape looks fairly similar to the Blizzard Cochise 106. The two skis’ rocker profiles are also fairly similar, but the Summit 107 has both deeper rocker lines and more tip and tail splay.
Flex Pattern
Here’s how we’d characterize the flex pattern of the Summit 107:
Tips: 6.5
Shovels: 6.5-7
In Front of Toe Piece: 7-9.5
Underfoot: 10
Behind the Heel Piece: 9.5-7.5
Tails: 7.5-6.5
The Summit 107 doesn’t have a super burly flex pattern, with fairly soft tips and tails that transition somewhat slowly to the stiff section around the middle of the ski. Its flex pattern is very similar to the Summit 106, with the ends of the 107’s tips and tails flexing just a hair stiffer.
Sidecut Radius
The Summit 107 has a pretty middle-of-the-road sidecut radius for a 107mm-wide ski, with the 186 cm length’s stated sidecut radius coming in at 19.6 meters.
Mount Point
Like the other Summit skis, the Summit 107 has a pretty traditional, rearward recommended mount point of about -10.5 cm from true center. This puts it squarely in the directional category.
Weight
The Summit 107 is Wagner’s take on a smooth, stable resort ski, so it makes sense that it’s got some weight to it. Our pair of the 186 cm length comes in at about 2280 grams per ski, which is on the heavier end of the spectrum for a ski in its class, though there are a few heavier options 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.
1800 & 1804 Head Kore 105, 184 cm (21/22)
1806 & 1862 Armada Tracer 108, 180 cm (19/20–21/22)
1820 & 1821 Majesty Havoc, 186 cm (20/21–21/22)
1850 & 1886 Head Kore 111, 184 cm (21/22)
1863 & 1872 Atomic Bent 110, 188 cm (22/23)
1875 & 1881 Line Sir Francis Bacon, 184 cm (19/20–22/23)
1905 & 1919 J Skis Slacker, 188 cm (20/21–21/22)
1920 & 2006 RMU North Shore YLE 110, 186 cm (21/22–22/23)
1947 & 2011 4FRNT Devastator, 186 cm (20/21–21/22)
1951 & 1953 Elan Ripstick 106, 188 cm (20/21–22/23)
1951 & 1957 RMU Apostle 3.0 106 Wood, 184 cm (21/22)
1964 & 1972 Moment Deathwish, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
1970 & 1993 Moment Deathwish 104, 184 cm (21/22)
1993 & 2026 Black Crows Atris, 184.2 cm (19/20–21/22)
2008 & 2065 Wagner Summit 106, 186 cm (20/21–22/23)
2011 & 2028 Moment Wildcat 108, 184 cm (19/20–20/21)
2011 & 2046 Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition, 188 cm (21/22–22/23)
2046 & 2120 Black Crows Corvus, 188 cm (18/19–21/22)
2060 & 2075 4FRNT Hoji, 184 cm (21/22)
2096 & 2100 Salomon QST 106, 181 cm (19/20–21/22)
2110 & 2119 Moment Wildcat 108, 190 cm (19/20–20/21)
2112 & 2125 4FRNT MSP 107, 187 cm (18/19–21/22)
2116 & 2181 Faction Dictator 3.0, 188 cm (19/20–21/22)
2120 & 2134 Blizzard Rustler 10, 188 cm (19/20–22/23)
2145 & 2167 Sego Big Horn 106, 187 cm (20/21–21/22)
2153 & 2184 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti, 187 cm (20/21–21/22)
2165 & 2211 K2 Mindbender 108Ti, 186 cm (19/20–21/22)
2165 & 2219 Icelantic Nomad 105, 191 cm (19/20–20/21)
2170 & 2180 Dynastar M-Free 108, 182 cm (20/21–21/22)
2232 & 2242 Blizzard Cochise 106, 185 cm (20/21–21/22)
2258 & 2303 Wagner Summit 107, 186 cm (21/22–22/23)
2295 & 2344 J Skis Hotshot, 183 cm (20/21–21/22)
2302 & 2342 Dynastar M-Free 108, 192 cm (20/21–21/22)
2312 & 2386 Prior Husume, 188 cm (17/18–21/22)
2325 & 2352 Folsom Blister Pro 104 V4, 186 cm (19/20–21/22)
2353 & 2360 Volkl Katana 108, 184 cm (20/21–22/23)
2449 & 2493 J Skis Hotshot, 189 cm (20/21–21/22)
Alright, now onto how the Summit 107 performs on snow:
FULL REVIEW
Between last year’s Blister Summit and testing throughout the 21/22 season, several of us have now been able to spend time on the Summit 107. And while it’s certainly not always the case, all of us have ended up getting along quite well with this ski.
Soft Chop
Luke Koppa (5’8”, 155 lbs / 173 cm, 70 kg): I never got to ski the Summit 107 in much untracked powder, but I have had the pleasure of blasting around a lot of soft chop on it, and it’s been a bunch of fun. This is the result of a few aspects of the Summit 107’s ride.
First, this ski has enough weight that it isn’t easily knocked off line like a lighter ski can be. It takes fairly consolidated snow and/or pretty high speeds to unsettle the Summit 107. But in addition to that, the Summit 107 is a pretty forgiving ski — more so than most skis that offer a similar level of suspension and stability. I can get pretty far over the front or a bit over the back of the ski and usually still get back to a more balanced stance without any drama.
The Summit 107 is also pretty easy to release and slash around — particularly for how well it carves (more on that below). It’s certainly not the loosest, surfiest ski, but it’s very far from feeling super “locked in” or like it needs to be on edge all the time.
There are definitely some stiffer, similarly heavy skis that are even more composed at very high speeds in dense chop, but the Summit 107 is clearly on the more stable end of the spectrum.
As for flotation, I never had any issues with the Summit 107 when skiing through deep piles of pushed-around, slightly consolidated soft snow. Given its rearward mount point, fairly wide shovels, deep tip rocker line, and moderate flex through the front of the ski, I think it’d float quite well for its width in pretty deep, untracked snow. I have skied the Wagner Summit 106 in some deep snow and it performed great for its width, and given the two’s similarities (apart from weight), I’d expect the same of the Summit 107.
Drew Kelly (5’11”,165 lbs / 180 cm, 75 kg): I spent a lot of time on the Summit 107 in soft chop, and basically I agree with everything Luke has said here. I was a little skeptical when I clicked into these skis since I had been skiing much heavier, more demanding, and unforgiving skis (the 184 cm Head Monster 108), but I was pleasantly surprised by the first few mogul pitches I encountered, then the steeps, and finally, cut-up groomers. The Summit 107 offers plush suspension, agility (relative to its suspension), rebound, and is forgiving. But it can also be skied confidently from a forward-driving stance at speed. And with those qualities and its versatility in terms of skiing style, I found the Wagner 107 to be a good choice whether I was going to slash soft snow, carve through chop, hop turn, or straightline.
Jonathan Ellsworth (5’10”, ~175 lbs) / 178 cm, 79 kg): The picture I’m going to be painting here is that I found this ski to feel remarkably at home and perform much better than I expected it would across a broad range of conditions and terrain. There is nothing I didn’t like about this ski in soft shop. And one of the biggest surprises to me is how quick and nimble this ski feels relative to its stability. I kept telling Luke how light this ski feels, and he reminded me that each ski is in that 2250 – 2300 gram range. And as you probably know, I like weight — especially when paired with an easy-going flex pattern like the Summit 107. But when the ski also feels quicker to me than its weight on the scale would suggest, well, that’s why I believe that a whole lot of directional skiers could get along extremely well on this ski. And certainly in forgiving conditions like soft chop.
Firm Chop / Crud
Luke: When chopped-up snow gets more consolidated and firm, the Summit 107 continues to shine, particularly compared to the countless lighter alternatives around the same width.
One of the defining characteristics of the Summit 107 is how well it mutes out / absorbs harsh vibrations from rough snow. It’s not the absolute best in class when it comes to suspension (there are a handful of heavier skis that are better), but I think the vast majority of folks will find the Summit 107 to feel notably smooth and calm in variable snow.
And again, the Summit 107 is also a pretty accessible, forgiving ski, so it’s happy to cruise through rough snow in a controlled manner. Though, that’s also what holds it back just a bit from being some full-on, variable-conditions charger.
(Jonathan: I 100% agree with the entire previous paragraph.)
I’m really tempted to use a car analogy here (hint: I’d echo Wagner’s description) but Jonathan would probably execute me, so I’ll put it this way: the Summit 107 is a bit like a downhill bike with suspension settings set for an intermediate rider, where comfort is a higher priority than performance at super high speeds in gnarly rock gardens (i.e., it’s set up on the softer side). A similarly heavy, stiffer ski like the Volkl Katana 108 feels more like a bike that’s set up for the opposite — compromising on some comfort / bump absorption in exchange for better composure when taking repeated impacts at high speeds.
(Jonathan: Good analogy, Luke. Glad I don’t have to execute you.)
My main point is that, while the Summit 107 offers very nice suspension and very good stability relative to the whole market, I think there are a handful of similarly heavy skis that are better choices if you don’t let rough snow hold you back from making big, fast, aggressive turns. If you’re like me and instead tend to dial back your speed a bit when conditions are nasty, the Summit 107 offers a comfortable, easy, predictable ride.
Drew: In firmer chop / crud conditions, I’ll be even more favorable to the Summit 107 than I think Luke was. I did occasionally find this ski to be lacking in suspension when my fore / aft balance was totally neutral (so that all my snow-feel was concentrated directly under my feet) and I was trying to zipper-line large moguls. I.e., it doesn’t feel super plush when taking hits directly underfoot. But mostly, I was blown away by the Summit 107’s composure at speed in brutally hewn bumps and rocky consequential steeps, all while being forgiving and feeling agile (again, for how stable and plush it feels). I would be curious to compare the Katana 108 and Blizzard Cochise 106 to the Summit 107 in firm chop and crud because, for me right now, surprisingly, I think the gold medal is going to the Summit 107. The Katana 108 sometimes feels like it suffers from deflecting in those conditions, and perhaps due to its minimal camber, more often feels harsh directly underfoot. And while the Cochise 106 has great suspension, it doesn’t feel as lively or engaging as the Summit 107.
Jonathan: Ladies and gentlemen, while I really liked Luke’s analogy above, I think you all should pay even more attention to what Drew just said. Especially for those of you coming from burlier ~106mm-wide skis. And especially since Drew has had a long-standing love affair with the HEAD Monster 108 (a ski that I love for lots of reasons, too.) We’ll flesh out some of the above comparisons in our Deep Dive, but for now, I hope your takeaway is that, even in harsh conditions, the combination of the Wagner 107’s composure, stability, and accessible nature is pretty special.
Moguls, Trees, & Tight Terrain
Luke: For how damp and stable it is, the Summit 107 is pretty easy in bumps, trees, steeps, etc.
Now, I certainly wouldn’t call this a “quick” ski when looking at the whole ski market. The Summit 107 weighs around 2280 grams per ski and has a recommended mount point that’s pretty far back. That creates a noticeable swing weight. I adjusted to it pretty quickly (even coming from <2000-g, more centered mounted skis), but the Summit 107 takes more physical effort to quickly flick through a tight bump line than a lot of ~107mm-wide skis on the market today.
However, the Summit 107 is not a very punishing ski. So when I inevitably get too far backseat or get bucked forward, I can generally recover pretty easily. And as I noted in the soft chop section, the Summit 107 is also pretty easy to release and pivot through tight spots.
I’d recommend something much lighter (like the Summit 106) to someone looking for maximum maneuverability, but if you tend to take more of a “slow and steady” approach to tight terrain, the Summit 107 is not a super demanding ski. Or, if you’re a very technically and physically strong skier like Drew Kelly, you can still ski it very aggressively and dynamically (as evidenced by just about every photo in this review).
Drew: Again, my significant time on some longer and more unforgiving skis is coloring my impressions of the Summit 107. But I agree with Luke in saying that the Summit 107 nestles in this small sweet spot of being capable of being skied hard, but also of being very forgiving, versatile, and fun. I found its moderately stiff shovels and tails to make “loose” skiing very appealing (“loose” as in me getting loose). So in moguls and tight terrain where that type of adaptable and dynamic skiing is often required, this ski shines, all while holding an edge very confidently.
And I was happy to find that, despite its wide shovels, this ski never felt ungainly or hooky in bumps or tight spots, as the Katana 108 can sometimes. In bumps, I thought the Summit 107 felt both narrower and shorter than its actual dimensions (and I mean that in a good way).
Jonathan: In general, Luke just prefers lighter, quicker, and more playful skis than Drew and me. So yeah, when Luke says this ski isn’t that quick … and Drew and I are like, “What are you talking about?” that’s why. That said, Drew (and Luke) are right: the incredibly good Wagner Summit 106 is lighter and quicker than this heavier Wagner Summit 107. And for those of you who aren’t really interested in skis like the Blizzard Cochise 106, Volkl Katana 108, etc., you ought to take a hard look at that Summit 106.
But for those of you who like and / or are curious about heavier, solid, all-mountain skis, this is your versatile, capable, easy-going option.
Finally, Drew talked about how appealing it is to “get loose” on this ski. But what I want to highlight is how easy it is to pivot this ski in tight spaces. The sidecut of this ski had me thinking that it might not be so willing to feel loose in tight terrain. But I have yet to have any moment on the mountain where the Summit 107 wasn’t completely willing to pivot or slide whenever I wanted it to. This fact — in addition to how light the ski feels to me — are the two biggest surprises for me about this ski.
Groomers
Luke: As I alluded to above, the Summit 107 carves very well for how wide it is, and for how easy it is to slash and slide around off piste.
Like all the Wagner Summit skis, the 107 offers impressively easy turn initiation and good edge hold for its width. Just put a bit of pressure on the front of the ski and it’ll start predictably pulling you across the fall line. I can bend it into fairly tight GS turns, or let it run into more Super-G-esque ones. It’s obviously not particularly quick edge-to-edge, given its width, but of ~107mm-wide skis, it’s one of the better overall carvers I’ve used.
Drew: I would also say that the Summit 107 carves well. It holds a confident edge in all but the slickest of ices, rebounds / returns energy well when making turns sized medium-small to large, and is composed and plush through all of that. I would say that stiffer, more cambered skis like the Rossignol Blackops Sender Ti, Volkl Katana 108, Fischer Ranger 107 Ti, and Volkl Mantra 102 all offer better edge hold and higher speed thresholds on firm groomers. But particularly on edgeable, lower-angle groomers, the Summit 107 is a great choice since it comes alive at much lower speeds than these other skis. It’s practically a playful carver.
Jonathan: Agreed. Stiffer, heavier skis will offer more stability at very high speeds. But given its relatively soft flex pattern (Drew called it “moderately stiff” — I’m going with “relatively soft”) it’s just so easy to start to bend this ski even at mellower speeds. I’ve really enjoyed carving this ski.
Who’s It For?
Luke: People looking for a versatile, wider all-mountain ski that offers very good suspension but isn’t super stiff or demanding.
The Summit 107 is not for people who want a super quick ski…
(Jonathan: Keep in mind our caveats above about how quick this ski feels relative to other comparable skis.)
… and there are a few skis in its class that offer even better high-speed composure in very rough conditions.
It’s also not your best choice if you ski with a super centered stance and/or prioritize freestyle performance. But outside of those extremes, the Summit 107 could work for a whole lot of people because of its versatility across conditions and terrain, and its blend of very impressive stability and approachable accessibility.
Drew: I think this is a ski with broad appeal — across a variety of conditions and ability levels. For an expert skier looking for a single ski to do it all really well, with an emphasis on demanding tight terrain or bumps + good suspension, the Summit 107 would be a fantastic option. (I am curious if a longer version of this ski could be an ideal freeride / big mountain ski — something that could handle GS to Super-G sized fast turns through any conditions and also stomp big airs…) But also I think the Summit 107 would be an appropriate and enjoyable ski for a high-intermediate skier who wants good groomer performance, ease in bumps, and confidence as they begin to edge into steeper terrain.
Jonathan: This ski looks like a pretty conventional, directional, ~106mm-wide ski. But its versatility and capabilities are not conventional. I have been quite surprised and quite impressed, and for those intrigued by this type of ski but worried that some of the other options might be a bit more ski than they want or need … here you go.
Bottom Line
The Wagner Summit 107 is a ski that manages to do a whole bunch of things quite well, and it’s a compelling choice for skiers looking for something that handles more challenging conditions better than most, without feeling super overbearing or challenging to ski in more forgiving conditions.
Deep Dive Comparisons
Become a Blister Member or Deep Dive subscriber to check out our Deep Dive comparisons of the Summit 107 to see how it compares to the Wagner Summit 106, Blizzard Cochise 106, Volkl Katana 108, K2 Mindbender 108Ti, Nordica Enforcer 104 Free, J Skis Hotshot, Folsom Blister Pro 104, Sego Comp 110, Black Crows Corvus, Prior Husume, Dynastar M-Free 108, Icelantic Nomad 105, Black Crows Atris, 4FRNT MSP 107, Moment Commander 108, Moment Wildcat 108, Faction Dictator 3.0, & Salomon QST 106.
guys, i might’ve missed it but i assume the flex pattern from Wagner is the standard? Even though it’s “factory” you can still chose a standard, softer, or stiffer flex on their web page. thanks.
I asked Pete Wagner and he told me yes the flex for the blister skis were standard. It’s what I ordered mine in and for what I’m using it for feels great.
Just put my first day on the 107 Wagner (186 cm, 6’1” atomic redster 130, marker jester 16). Skied day old storm stuff after a 15 inch in 12 hr scenario up in the PNW. The temps raised a bit (32-34) and started affecting the snow. Did a bunch of laps off of chair 6 at Crystal and they skied incredibly well through the chopped and unchopped. In the heavier snow the tips felt a little hooky but that will be a given with most skis in those conditions. Bumps felt ok…I had skied some of the same lines 3 days prior in some mantra 102 (184 cm) and felt they were much more maneuverable in the bumps which I attribute to the wide shovels getting hung up on the backside of bumps. These skis love to carve and have a huge sweetspot that is accessible at many speeds, unlike my mantra 102 which seem to come alive more the faster they are skied. I’m eager to ski some different density snow so I can more truely test how easy they are to break from a carved turn. For their weight they felt really light on the snow and for a damp ski it had lots of fun rebound between turns.