Ski Reviews

2022-2023 Faction Agent 3, 183 cm

Reviewer Username: sdhoover

Reviewer Height: 6’5″

Reviewer Weight: 185 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Advanced

DAYS USED: 30 days

TEST LOCATIONS: Kirkwood, Sugar Bowl, Eldora, Steamboat Springs, Rocky Mountain National Park, Deer Valley, Brighton, Grand Targhee

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

(0 = Terrible, 5 = Okay, 10 = Outstanding)

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 9/10

FORGIVENESS: 8/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 6/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 8/10

STABILITY: 7/10

SUSPENSION: 7/10

EDGE HOLD: 9/10

PLAYFULNESS: 6/10

PLAYFULNESS (Open Ended):

The ski’s camber coupled with a full carbon layup gives it pop and energy, but that’s mostly out of a turn. The ski has a long effective edge, moderate rocker and splay, and is fairly stiff. As such, I wouldn’t describe this as a playful ski.

SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (183 cm length tested)

THIS SKI’S IDEAL TERRAIN: Softer groomers | Low-angle, off-piste terrain | Fairly steep off-piste terrain | Very steep off-piste terrain

THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Pretty firm snow | Softer, but not deep snow | Untracked powder (shallow) | Soft chop / pretty forgiving cut-up snow

WHAT TYPE(S) OF SKIER DO YOU IMAGINE WILL GET ALONG BEST WITH THIS SKI?

Advanced and expert skiers looking for a freeride ski with trustworthy edgehold, solid floatation, and a nice balance of power and maneuverability will get along nicely with this ski. This is definitely a directional, fall-line skier’s ski. Folks that want an easygoing, quick-turning ski might not dig this thing. Folks that prioritize playfulness or strictly inbounds use also probably have better options.

ARE THERE SIMILAR PRODUCTS YOU’VE SKIED THAT YOU CLEARLY PREFER? IF SO, WHY?

Nope.

PLEASE ELABORATE ON ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THIS SKI. FEEL FREE TO GO INTO DETAIL!

This ski is on the stronger and heavier end of the touring category, which makes it great for a hybrid setup. That is how I use it: currently running it with the CAST system. I use it for shorter tours and truly love it for that. I think a stronger AT binding would work really well too (e.g., ATK Freeraider, Dynafit Rotation, etc); however, it does seem like a tough sell as a ski for longer or multi-day tours.

I also think this is a perfectly acceptable option for strictly inbounds use if someone is looking for a light but stiff directional ski. I think there are other skis I’d prefer for dedicated resort use in this waist width with this sort of geometry (e.g., Faction Dancer 3), but who am I to say the Agent 3 isn’t a perfectly viable option? And, to be fair, this is my travel ski, so it does see quite a bit of resort use and I don’t have any complaints in that department.

I think the sum is greater than its parts when it comes to this ski. That is, my overall impression of this ski is better than its performance in any single area. It’s the fact that the ski is so capable at speed, floats so well, grips to the snow/ice in truly nasty conditions, while having just enough forgiveness and maneuverability to navigate sketchy situations (all in a relatively lightweight package) that makes the Agent 3 my perfect freeride ski.