The Best Men’s All-Mountain Skis of 2022: Kästle FX96 Ti
The classic Kästle FX96 has Titanal again, which makes it a stout, freeride-oriented all-mountain charger from Austria.
Brand: Kastle
Model: Kästle FX96 Ti
Overall Ranking: #11
Overall Score: 3.64 / 5
Specs
Tip / Waist / Tail (mm)
133-96-119
Lengths (cm)
164, 172, 180, 188
Radius (m)
18.1 (180 length)
Waist Width (mm)
96
Gender
Unisex
Level
Advanced to Expert
Rocker Technology
Yes
Core Material
Poplar, Beech, Paulownia, Titanal
Stability at Speed
4.08 / 5
Quickness / Maneuverability
4.23 / 5
Playfulness
3.27 / 5
Forgiveness
3.31 / 5
Hard Snow Performance
4.04 / 5
Crud Performance
3.69 / 5
Flotation
3.73 / 5
The Kästle FX96 Ti was originally the Chris Davenport signature model, and the latest generation harkens back to a time when Dav was known for going faster, straighter, and bigger than just about every other pro big-mountain skier. A big part of that performance comes from the reintroduction of Titanal to the FX line, which provides this all-mountain do-it-all ski with a significant amount of horsepower and stability at speed. “Back to its heritage, the FX96 Ti is a charging all-mountain ski for the enthusiast who wants to mock slow signs,” claims tester Luke Larsen. “No speed limit, all fun.”
Kästle does attempt to dial down the heavy metal factor with their TriTI tech, which uses three types of wood sandwiched between two layers of Titanal. With a poplar and beech combination in the center of the ski and a poplar and paulownia blend towards the edges, the ski has a slightly reduced weight. But testers found that the Kästle FX96 Ti is still stiff enough that it demands an attentive pilot who prefers big arcs. “The Kästles are smooth on edge and fun in mixed terrain,” notes tester Jon Sexauer. “They do require some attention and won’t be the kindest if you get off the back or aren’t able to stay balanced in bumps and crud.”
This ski would find itself right in the middle of a Venn diagram for strong all-mountain skiers who want a narrow freeride ski, and freeride skiers who want a hard-charging all-mountain ski. If that sounds like the middle of your skiing world, do some squats now, head to the extreme terrain when it opens, and center punch the gut. But there is very little appeal for skiers looking for a forgiving ski that is made for slow turns. “The Kästle FX96 Ti is quiet strength waiting for the OK to go for it,” writes tester Todd Casey. “It’ll eat your lunch if you let it, but basic guidance fixes that.”
- Strengths: Hard-Snow Integrity (7th in category), Stability at Speed (9th)
- Weaknesses: Playfulness (18th), Forgiveness (16th)