Ski Reviews

2025-2026 Dynastar M-Free 112, 190 cm

Reviewer Username: Mark Danielson

Reviewer Height: 6’2″

Reviewer Weight: 205 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Expert

DAYS USED: 10 days

TEST LOCATIONS: Crested Butte, Whistler

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

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

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 7/10

FORGIVENESS: 8/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Loose / Easy to Pivot & Smear?): 8/10

MANEUVERABILITY (How Quick / Low is the Swing Weight?): 3/10

STABILITY: 8/10

SUSPENSION: 8/10

EDGE HOLD: 8/10

PLAYFULNESS: 6/10

SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (190 cm length tested)

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

THIS SKI’S IDEAL SNOW CONDITIONS: Softer, but not deep snow | 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 who like to ski a heavier or medium-heavy ski, and who especially enjoy skiing fast or medium-fast (where it shines more) in off-piste terrain, and who are willing to put in some muscle for some heavier skis. And who get along with a more forward mount position on a ski with a significantly rockered tail. And who appreciate a smooth or medium-smooth suspension in fast run-outs on rough snow.

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

I prefer the Rossignol Sender Free 110 191cm. Although I admit that the M-Free 112 190cm beats it in many categories, I’m penalizing the M-Free 112 A LOT for its worse impact shock when landing airs onto firmpack/hardpack. Although the M-Free 112 is smoother for actual skiing along the snow surface, there’s something about Dynastar’s Hybrid core that transmits more impact shock underfoot on landings. As a big guy, neither of these skis is wide enough to be a deeper powder ski for me, so I would ski them on non-deep snow days. And in those conditions, that snow gets tracked up, and I would end up landing a lot of airs onto some firm landings, so the M-Free 112’s pretty bad performance for those firm landings is kind of a deal-breaker for me with my surgically repaired knees.

I prefer the old Nordica Helldorado 193cm ski over both the M-Free 112 and the Sender Free 110. The 2700g Helldorado has similar waist width at 113mm, and has much, much better smooth suspension and stability on rough surfaces at high speeds.

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

Two “identical” pairs of this ski model performed significantly differently for me. Two “identical” pairs, same 190cm length, same Look SPX12 Demo bindings — but one pair averaged 2405g per ski, and the other pair averaged 57g less per ski at 2348g. The heavier pair really impressed me with its smooth suspension and steady stability in rougher snow at high speeds, plus its exceptionally predictable smooth front half inspired exceptional confidence for me. I would love to own that heavier pair longterm.

But the slightly lighter pair really disappointed me with its noticeably lower suspension and stability. I’m a bit surprised that a mere 57g could make such a critical difference for me in this particular case. (Coincidentally, I experienced almost the exact same thing when I A/B tested 2 “identical” pairs of Sender Free 110 191cm skis — one pair was brand new and averaged 2407g per ski, and the other pair was 58g lighter at 2349g and had been skied and beaten up for 2 years. Similarly, the heavier, new pair provided significantly smoother suspension and stability for me.)

For the M-Free 112, the heavier 2405g pair is in my Top 6 personal favorite skis for 24/25 (and I test a lot of skis). It performs similarly to the Rossignol Sender Free 110 191cm, but there are many significant differences. The #1 biggest difference to me is that the M-Free 112 190cm’s smoother front half inspires way more confidence about not going over the bars, not feeling like you might even get close to going over the bars, and not having the front half catching unexpectedly on anything that could throw you even a little bit forward off balance. That boosted confidence enables me to ski exceptionally hard in all conditions and terrain. On the other hand, the great Sender Free 110 191cm’s stiffer and more precise front half can sometimes have a bigger risk of occasionally catching on something or throwing me forward off balance. And that little thing can occasionally influence me to ski more tentatively or lean back (or crouch down abnormally low) in some situations, so that I will be ready to absorb any near over-the-bars situations, just in case they come up. Keep in mind that I am 6’2″, so I might be more top heavy than other people when it comes to the risk of going over the bars.

The 2nd biggest difference to me is when landing airs onto firm surfaces, the amount of impact shock felt underfoot on the M-Free 112 is just too much for me to withstand for a 5-7 hour day of big impacts, so there’s something about the core of the Sender Free 110 that reduces that shock impact a little bit. Still, for me to tolerate the hours of shocks transmitted even by the Sender Free 110 core when landing onto hardpack, I need to choose a binding that reduces that shock a little bit. And Look Pivots are terrible at shock absorption, so for me, I would not mount Pivots onto a Sender Free 110. But if Pivots never bother you on any of the skis you’ve tried, then you probably shouldn’t care at all about any of my complaints here about impact shock. Anyway, for the reasons above, overall I prefer the Sender Free 110 191cm over the M-Free 112 190cm.

Other differences between these 2 ski models are explained well in Blister’s reviews and podcasts, so check those out for more info.