Ski Reviews

2021-2022 Dynastar M-Free 108, 182 cm

Reviewer Username: Vera Undertow

Reviewer Height: 5’7″

Reviewer Weight: 137 lbs

Reviewer Experience Level: Advanced

DAYS USED: 75 days

TEST LOCATIONS: Loveland, Monarch, Powder Mountain, Beaver Mountain, Sunlight, Arapahoe Basin

PERFORMANCE RATINGS

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

OVERALL IMPRESSION: 10/10

FORGIVENESS: 8/10

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

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

STABILITY: 8/10

SUSPENSION: 9/10

EDGE HOLD: 3/10

PLAYFULNESS: 8/10

PLAYFULNESS (Open Ended):

This ski is the ultimate drift machine, it’s super surfy and fun in the air, playful and poppy when skiing bumps and easy to shut down speed when skiing at high speeds. It encourages me to ski as fast as I can in almost any terrain in most conditions except the firmest of snow knowing I can throw it sideways at a moments notice. I have mine mounted 1cm forward of recommended which helps balance in the air without impacting it while charging.

SKI LENGTH: It felt just right (182 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 | Trees

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

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

I think this ski suits a wide variety of intermediate to expert skiers since it is forgiving and adaptable to different styles of skiing, from being an almost charger skied super directionally to an almost playful ski without the inherent limitations of either of those categories. I think you could ski it in the park as long as that isn’t your main focus and you could ski it as a rocky mountain daily driver all over the resort but still be happy with it on 12 inch powder days.

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

I prefer the M-Free 108 over the Icelantic Nomad 105 181cm since the M-Free can still hold its own on more firm days without absolutely loosing grip on ice in an unpredictable and scary manner. I also think the M-Free suits my ski style better and feels more balanced in the air. The nomad I skied was mounted at recommended -9 from center and I would be curious if it worked better for me mounted +2.5 from recommended for a more apples to apples comparison.

I have also skied a Folsom Primary 110 (107 waist width mold, poplar core with Everyday rocker in 174) this ski is obviously much shorter and lighter as I use it for touring so not a direct comparison but the Folsoms carve better while still being pleasantly damp and stable at speeds for the length but are not as easy to ski on bumps or tight trees.

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

Definitely recommend sizing up on this ski if you are between sizes as the tip and tail taper make it ski shorter than it is. I am only 5’7 and an advanced/expert skier (not a category, c’mon Luke). I generally ski around a 174 (touring)-184 (120mm powder) ski depending on the use case so the 182 feels perfect for me for daily all mountain use in Colorado and surrounding Rocky Mountain states. The high camber gives this ski a surprising amount of edge hold and pop for a ski of it’s shape and use case but it is very sensitive to a sharp edge tune compared to some other skis in this category I have skied (Folsom Primary). The hybrid core technology and heavy fiberglass make this ski pleasantly damp skiing on even firm crud and chop days while waiting for the sun to warm the snow up in spring. I love these skis and will probably buy a second pair of them sooner than later, but honestly I hope Dynastar doesn’t change these at all (they haven’t for a few years) since these are some of the most fun skis I’ve ever used and make me happy every day I ski them.