The Best Men’s Powder Skis of 2022: Kästle FX106 Ti
These chargers remain a top freeride option, especially for those with the pocket change for this level of ski.
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Brand: Kastle
Model: FX106 Ti
Overall Ranking: #14
Overall Score: 3.57 / 5
Specs
Tip / Waist / Tail (mm)
137-106-125
Lengths (cm)
168, 176, 184, 192
Radius (m)
20.4 (184cm length)
Waist Width (mm)
106
Gender
Unisex
Rocker Technology
Yes
Core Material
Poplar, Beach, Paulownia
Stability at Speed
3.71 / 5
Quickness / Maneuverability
3.71 / 5
Playfulness
3.79 / 5
Forgiveness
3.32 / 5
Hard Snow Performance
3.54 / 5
Crud Performance
3.42 / 5
Balance of Skills
3.53 / 5
Flotation
3.82 / 5
Great news for metalheads: The Kästle FX 106 Ti once again has Titanal. While the previous generation dabbled with carbon, this season’s freeride oriented All-Mountain Wide option from the Austrian company includes two sheets of the damping metal sandwiching a wood core that uses three different types of wood. For the FX 106 Ti, the woods include a poplar and beech blend in the middle of the ski, and a poplar and paulownia blend towards the edges.
This construction—combined with a very freeride-oriented sidecut—divided testers on what the FX 106 Ti can do. Some found the ski burly in all the right ways and would be very appealing for advanced and expert skiers headed to the extreme gates day in and day out. Other testers struggled to find the sweet spot, especially when trying to get the ski on edge on groomed terrain. “I loved 80-percent of this ski’s stance and performance in terrain variations,” says tester Matt Schiller. “But the tips’ characteristics made me have to stand more upright and adjust pressure to my heels.
In other words, advanced and expert upright skiers with a more centered stance will enjoy the Kästle 106 Ti. Adding in softer snow helps liven up the ski, especially to engage the Hollowtech 3.0 tip. Add in a big turn radius and these chargers remain a top freeride option, especially for those with the pocket change for this level of ski. “Really stable at high speeds, yet lightweight and playful,” notes tester Dustin Cook. “Definitely feels geared towards a more advanced skier considering how stiff they are, but overall really fun.”
- Strengths: Stability at Speed (11th in category), Quickness/Maneuverability (13th)
- Weaknesses: Flotation (20th), Playfulness (17th)