Kästle FX 85 HP

The FX (Free Cross) means it’s part of Kästle’s all-mountain freeride line, designed with input by famed ski mountaineer Chris Davenport. The FX 85 HP is a burly, damp, hard-charger that rages down the fall line. This ski demands some hard work, but it rewards your effort with stable, stuck-to-the-snow GS turns. It’s dead last in Forgiveness, Playfulness, and Maneuverability, but for those who can bend it, holy %$#!# balls it rips. Built with a classic sandwich construction, two sheets of metal, and maybe a machine gun or two, it should probably be sold only to those who pass a background check. “Put your big girl pants on and this powerhouse will light up your skiing,” Barnes said.

Strengths: Stability at Speed, Crud