The Best Women’s Powder Skis of 2022: Dynastar M-Free 108

Back for its second season, the unisex Dynastar M-Free 108 didn’t score top marks in any one skill department, but it was one of the most consistent scorers in the women’s powder category. It’s not the fattest ski out there, but testers appreciated how versatile the M-Free 108 is, and gave it especially high marks in Stability at Speed and Playfulness, two skills that don’t often go hand-in-hand.

See how it stacks up: The best women’s powder skis of 2022

“These skis are pretty good at everything. They’re lively and quick in powdery trees, and they also ski well on groomers,” comments tester Marina Knight.

That liveliness comes from Dynastar’s Hybrid Core technology, which blends wood with PU and fiberglass in the M-Free 108 to create a ski that’s agile and poppy yet also stable and powerful. Hence the high scores in stability and playfulness.

Read on: What we mean by “stability at speed” and “playfulness” when reviewing skis

“I could dial it back to mellow speed and mellow turns and just enjoy the ride,” comments tester Georgie Bremner. “But the ski felt like it was humming with an underlying energy and asking me to step on it. So I turned it up a tad and it was still playful, fun, and forgiving in the crud. You can also take it onto the groomers and enjoy smooth short turns. A fairly balanced powder ski that would be great for a wide range of abilities.

With 108mm in the waist and a progressive freeride rocker profile, the M-Free 108 was first and foremost designed for skiers who explore the goods off-piste, but still need something reliable and sturdy to get them back to the lift line. Testers praised the M-Free 108’s handling in soft snow and on groomers, but found the ski was a little out of its depth in heavy crud.

Some testers called the M-Free 108 user-friendly and easy to command, while others found it a little stiff and ornery at times. Those who skied it with a more playful, upright stance got the best response out of the ski; the more aggressive skiers struggled to find the ski’s sweet spot while trying to drive it from the front. The lesson here: The unisex M-Free 108 may take a few runs to figure out, but once you do, you won’t be disappointed with this versatile and energetic ski when the snow starts stacking up.

Says tester Erika Northrop: “Behold the Cinderella ski for any lady ripper who wants to frolic all over mountains on powder days without a care in the world and a smile for days.”

• Strengths: Stability at Speed (5th in category), Playfulness (4th)
• Weaknesses: Forgiveness (5th), Versatility (6th)

Learn More

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