No one even comes close to the quality of your description of what skis are all about. There's no competition to you guys when setting up a comparison from one ski to another and who should buy that ski. Kudos!
I have last years version of Declivity 82's. I was blown away by them and absolutely love them. They are fun yet they carve hard and almost make you a better skier. Everyone that I let try them have been super impressed with them too.
I’m so in doubt buying this year’s model. I retired my 12(?) years old Nordica fire arrow 80 pro, which was a strong carving ski, but also twin tip and playful. It feels a bit today’s offering is either playful, or solely power, and I’m afraid to buy the declivity and find out it’s a lower speed limit than I had. How do you find your declivity?
I’ll say it again the AX ( Stockli) is the best ski I have had, after 55 years skiing it brought the fun back. I tried many demos when I made this choice, the difference was clear.
Same. Bit younger but the ski is just the best. I rented a lot of skies bevor making the decision. The moment i stepped on the AX I was sure about what to buy.
picked up a Declivity 82 Ti as a christmas gift for my father last year. he pretty much exclusively rips groomers as a lower level intermediate skier., and he seems to really like them so far. hoping they provide him something to grow into and increase his skillset with
Paternity testing has revealed that I am actually your father and being such a good son, I expect you to send a pair of Declivity 82ti's on over to my house any day now. We've got a lot to talk about, especially the skis!
racing background is probably the reason for that habit of lifting inside ski off the snow in most turns. also people old enough to have spent many years on LONG straight boards they (I) developed that style. It has taken lots of focus to just relax and roll and keep both skis on the snow. Unless there is so much pop tht both skis get airborne. lol great info
Best way to not pay a fortune is buy out of season. I loaded up 3 pairs of skis from Skiessentials around Memorial day (really good time to buy) for the price of one pair of Stockli's.
@@bearclaw5115 Stocklis occasionally get cheap out of season (though typically you need to be in person to get the deal and their may be minimum advertised price restrictions on online deals?). I got new 2024 Montero AX skis for $650 in a shop last May and the same shop had the ARs for $700. Definitely an exception though, most shops had Stocklis discounted hardly if at all.
Interesting comments about the Armada 82ti as in its perceived popularity and recognition. They didn't even bring the 82s into NZ this year. My 2023 ones were easily my favourite ski this year here and in Europe earlier. They absolutely exceeded my performance expectations, especially for how light they are. So, your Black Friday sale guys, be nice so I can get a new set as my old ones are probably at the early season rock hopper stage now and I am super curious on trying the core change......😉
There's more of a dense feel in the 2025 for sure. I didn't feel that they took a huge downturn from an energy perspective, although that was a standout feature of the previous versions. Confidence in a carve is the biggest bonus of the new build. Keep in mind that 2025 product cannot be discounted on our site until about March. That said, if you have loyalty points from us, you can use those on 2025 skis.
I demoed the steadfast 80 DC last spring and absolutely loved it! Enjoyed the 85 last demo day but the 80 I think I will have to pick up as my fun carver
Does the K2 Dark Matter feel anything like the Stokli rubber dust? I had the K2 78 ti. It's remarkably damp. It was actually a little bit too damp for me. I like a little more feedback. I ended up selling them. But the performance can't be denied
Thank you for the direct comparison of the declivity 82 with skis on the left side of the wall! I find it so difficult to gauge the level of that ski compared to others. How would you compare the declivity’s carving characteristics with the peregrines? Are they miles apart?
Declivity feels bouncier and more lively. You can access the entirety of the performance of the Declivity while most skiers won't quite find the limit of the heftier and burlier Peregrine. The binding matters, too, as the Peregrine's system puts you up higher and creates more leverage. Most skiers will put a flat binding (not demo) on the Declivity, bringing forth its all-mountain capacity.
It does not take long for groomers to get carved up.. So on and off edges fast is important for me but also to be able handle the ice to crud transition.. Early season groomer skis;) I watched your Stockli AS video and your Stockli AX and I heard you say that AX and AR have changed for this season but AS has not.. When you talk about AS being faster but also good at slow speed what do you mean by that? Is it faster on and off edges or faster when it comes to a speed limit.. I also saw in both of your videos that you were skiing both skis in crud.. And you even mentioned how they are both good in the moguls.. You mentioned how all Monteros are softer in the tips.. I know that some of Kastle skis are softer in the tips and I was not a huge fan of that.. Which Montero would be the best for early season when there are a ton of people on the 1 or 2 runs that are open with carved up crud? The other thing that I will mention is that my 25 year old race skis are 70mm x 170cm.. All my other skis are 177-184 range.. What benefit would I have with going with a Montero 177?
I'll try your questions in order: 1. The AS can make clean and round turns at a variety of speeds better than some that can't. Thunderbird, for example, doesn't really start to smooth out until you get it up to speed. AS can make relatively easy and fun turns at slower speeds. It's also super-smooth like all Stockli, so you can let it run and it's quiet and composed in straighter-line speeds. 2. I would say the AX is the best Montero for early season trail skiing with munched up groomers. 3. Vs. your older race skis with a 70 mm waist, you're getting a more composed and quiet feel with a Montero. You're likely getting a shorter radius with any of them, specifically the AX. Like you said, the shovels are a bit softer for easier initiation and increased versatility, so that will be a change from a stiffer race ski, assuming that's what you've got. The Montero is more compliant and eager to initiate a turn as a result and you don't have to drive so hard to get them up on edge.
Możesz to zrobić po stronie użytkownika. W filmie kliknij Napisy, następnie przejdź do ustawień i kliknij „Napisy”. Następnie kliknij „Języki” i przejdź do „Automatycznego tłumaczenia”. Następnie możesz wybrać język polski. Cieszyć się!
Yes, although I'll say it's more noticeable in the transitions between turns versus simply the engagement. It is smoother at both entry and exit phases.
I would love to hear y’all’s thoughts on this category of ski, wide race inspired carving, compared to the new Rossignol Arcade. On the surface it looks like the Arcade is the same ethos as these skis, but what would yall highlights as the key differences. Thanks in advance!
I found the Arcade skis, both 84 and 88 to be exceptional front side carvers and not quite as versatile as they indicate in their catalog. The 84 is very happy making clean and round carves on groomers, but with the stiff flex and short radius, it feels a lot more like a wide front side ski like the Atomic Redster Q9.8 or the Nordica Spitfire 80.
Love these comparisons - any chance you might look at the Atomic Q5 2025 version - I realise they're the low end of the budget, but the previous year models were all over the slopes for the last 2 seasons so seem to be very popular
We will likely not look closer at that ski as we've covered the Q7 and Q9 pretty extensively so far. Basically, though, the 5 will filter the technology from the 7 and 9, making it more accessible for intermediate skiers who are looking for a more budget friendly option.
Help. I currently ski an atomic s9, head kore 99 ,enforcer 94. Looking for an 80 waist ski I can carve on and take off trail a little in the northeast. I’m 6’4 230 geared up. Advanced skier. Can you recommend 2 or three. Was thinking liberty evolv 84 , Rossi 86 ti, volkl kanjo 84. What are your thoughts
Just as a heads up, the three skis on your list are not currently offered for 2025--you'll have to find a 2024 version if you want to stick to those. That said, in the mid-80's these are great choices. The Rossignol is the most advanced of the three with a lot of power and precision. Evolv is a great carver, but not very versatile. The Kanjo is light and agile but not as stable or sturdy. For 2025, the Rossignol Arcade 84, Armada Declivity 82, and the Blizzard Anomaly 84 are awesome skis.
@@SkiEssentials really liking what I’m seeing with the armada. How would you feel about mounting a pivot on that ski? Or would something with a little more height be preferred for the carving aspect of the ski
@@leefritchman9643 The 75 brake of pivot would be a slight stretch. It's a better fit than the 95, though. I think a Strive or a Griffon would be better as the brake tucks in nicer.
It will be the wide body because they stated 76mm width. Not sure they have the 70mm version in North America because their review last year also missed the WB designation. I've skied both in Verbier and preferred the WB version.
We are only seeing the WB 76 in Blizzard's catalog for this year. Perhaps the narrow one is now available in other markets, but we haven't seen it here in North America in a few seasons.
iwant to buy the declivity 82 ti's but im considering what lengt, i am 187 cm around 170 pounds 21 years old. i like to carve aggresive a lot and also jump on bumps all the time . do you recommend the 182's for extra stability?
Probably both the 174 and the 182's are options for you. 174 probably easier in bumps, 182 better high speed carving. You are kind of light for the 182 but you are also still growing. Buy your ticket and take the ride!
In a vacuum, longer skis will pretty much always equate to extra stability. Is that what you're looking to do most/all of the time? The 174 still has a pretty sturdy build so at your weight, I don't think it's going to be too short.
They always do! I have a pair myself with a race plate on them and they are quite the ski. My opinion is that they are what you graduate to once you've mastered some of the better skis in this comparison. They are very precise and can shoot you into the air between turns if you really go for it. You can vary your turn radius easily and thankfully you can get to the brakes very easily with the slightest drift. They glide better than any other ski I've ridden, you are going to have a fast day when you're on them! One day last year I finished and realized my hearing had taken a bit of a beating. It was from ripping groomers non-stop at 45+. Hope you have a sleek/quiet helmet!
@@bearclaw5115 thank you! I tested the x9s last year, and loved them, but felt like I could handle a bit more so ahead of this season I bought the x9RS, and it would be interesting to hear them speak about them as u could then have a reference for the rest of the skis, not that I could buy any of them haha
@@SkiEssentials ok interesting, they do! But it doesn’t show up when scrolling their website, you have to google it and it pops up, I bought a pair and am in love
I would have liked to see an exception for the MX 74. I always felt like mine was a little more playful than most 74 mm skis..... unless there's another even narrower video coming out soon😮😮😮???
They do a narrower video typically, last year they included the MX75 in the narrower 65-75 front side video. m.th-cam.com/video/xB8lIl3ut8s/w-d-xo.html They already did a standalone on the MX74 for 2025 a month ago as well. m.th-cam.com/video/FvEcNWR1IL4/w-d-xo.html
We talked about it, and it was on the original wide frontside list, but in order to balance the number of skis on each wall (narrow and wide), we elected to keep it in its narrow zone. Also, there are a lot of 75's from Atomic and Rossignol that we needed to have in the narrow comparison, so it just kind of had to go there. It's nice to have a more all-mountain ski in the narrow group to provide balance and to show the range of skis in a certain width zone.
Also… If anyone has experience on the Wingman 82 TI and the 86 TI, I’d love to hear it. Full disclosure, I bought the MindBender 89C and that ski is way to floppy for me.
Based on the boys separate video review, and some email advice, I bought the Wingman 82ti. I was looking for something to cruise around the groomers on, something a bit lighter and a bit easier to turn. I'm 55yr male 173cm 83kg advanced skier. I skied them Australian winter 2024, found them to be exactly what I was after. The description above is spot on, I found them easy to turn, effortless and predictable. You can carve them, skid them, easily come out of a turn, don't throw you into the back-seat. Best short turns I've ever done was on these and even a few bumps this year. Can rip it up when you want but at higher speeds (70kph gps) they do get a bit of chatter in the tips being softer and a bit more flex. If you want to rip it all day, hard aggressive skiing (expert level), I'd probably suggest the 82cti. The 82ti wingman is the perfect intermediate ski for someone looking to improve, to an all day cruiser for the advanced skier.
The 86 Ti has a bit more rocker in tips and tails than the 82. Other than the width, that's the biggest difference on paper. On snow, the 86 does feel more versatile and amenable to bumps, trees, and other off-piste zones while the 82 feels more glued to the snow in a groomer and carving format.
No one even comes close to the quality of your description of what skis are all about. There's no competition to you guys when setting up a comparison from one ski to another and who should buy that ski. Kudos!
👍You said it! These guys are Phd Skiologists! Absolute go too for any and all ski product info
@@sgoldie3235 PHD's? Sheeeeit, these guys teach the PHD's. They are running the school!
Kindness all around with this thread!
This is it boys! This is the one I’ve been waiting for!!!
I have last years version of Declivity 82's. I was blown away by them and absolutely love them. They are fun yet they carve hard and almost make you a better skier. Everyone that I let try them have been super impressed with them too.
I’m so in doubt buying this year’s model. I retired my 12(?) years old Nordica fire arrow 80 pro, which was a strong carving ski, but also twin tip and playful. It feels a bit today’s offering is either playful, or solely power, and I’m afraid to buy the declivity and find out it’s a lower speed limit than I had.
How do you find your declivity?
Appreciate all the hard work that goes into these, thanks SE team!
I’ll say it again the AX ( Stockli) is the best ski I have had, after 55 years skiing it brought the fun back. I tried many demos when I made this choice, the difference was clear.
Looks really fun and intuitive. I'd definitely like to try them!
They are amazing--the 2025 version was a standout ski for me this season for sure.
Same. Bit younger but the ski is just the best. I rented a lot of skies bevor making the decision. The moment i stepped on the AX I was sure about what to buy.
What level skier are you?
picked up a Declivity 82 Ti as a christmas gift for my father last year. he pretty much exclusively rips groomers as a lower level intermediate skier., and he seems to really like them so far. hoping they provide him something to grow into and increase his skillset with
Paternity testing has revealed that I am actually your father and being such a good son, I expect you to send a pair of Declivity 82ti's on over to my house any day now.
We've got a lot to talk about, especially the skis!
@@bearclaw5115 lmao
racing background is probably the reason for that habit of lifting inside ski off the snow in most turns. also people old enough to have spent many years on LONG straight boards they (I) developed that style. It has taken lots of focus to just relax and roll and keep both skis on the snow. Unless there is so much pop tht both skis get airborne. lol great info
Think it's nice you guys included dynastar cross 78 in your comparison... Good for beginner skier to get on a decent ski without paying a fortune!
Best way to not pay a fortune is buy out of season. I loaded up 3 pairs of skis from Skiessentials around Memorial day (really good time to buy) for the price of one pair of Stockli's.
@@bearclaw5115 Stocklis occasionally get cheap out of season (though typically you need to be in person to get the deal and their may be minimum advertised price restrictions on online deals?). I got new 2024 Montero AX skis for $650 in a shop last May and the same shop had the ARs for $700. Definitely an exception though, most shops had Stocklis discounted hardly if at all.
Interesting comments about the Armada 82ti as in its perceived popularity and recognition. They didn't even bring the 82s into NZ this year.
My 2023 ones were easily my favourite ski this year here and in Europe earlier. They absolutely exceeded my performance expectations, especially for how light they are.
So, your Black Friday sale guys, be nice so I can get a new set as my old ones are probably at the early season rock hopper stage now and I am super curious on trying the core change......😉
There's more of a dense feel in the 2025 for sure. I didn't feel that they took a huge downturn from an energy perspective, although that was a standout feature of the previous versions. Confidence in a carve is the biggest bonus of the new build. Keep in mind that 2025 product cannot be discounted on our site until about March. That said, if you have loyalty points from us, you can use those on 2025 skis.
I demoed the steadfast 80 DC last spring and absolutely loved it! Enjoyed the 85 last demo day but the 80 I think I will have to pick up as my fun carver
Great to hear! I love the Steadfast series and found the 85 to be an exceptional resort ski.
Can't wait for the next one, I wanna see some piston plates!
You will see a smattering of race plates in the narrow comparison.
@@SkiEssentials I'm in tears
Thanks for the wonderfully detailed review. What's the top 5 for an advanced to expert?
I really enjoy the Thunderbird for on-piste, the Montero AX for overall, and the Peregrine 80 for quick turns and bumps.
Does the K2 Dark Matter feel anything like the Stokli rubber dust?
I had the K2 78 ti. It's remarkably damp. It was actually a little bit too damp for me. I like a little more feedback. I ended up selling them. But the performance can't be denied
Thank you for the direct comparison of the declivity 82 with skis on the left side of the wall! I find it so difficult to gauge the level of that ski compared to others.
How would you compare the declivity’s carving characteristics with the peregrines? Are they miles apart?
Declivity feels bouncier and more lively. You can access the entirety of the performance of the Declivity while most skiers won't quite find the limit of the heftier and burlier Peregrine. The binding matters, too, as the Peregrine's system puts you up higher and creates more leverage. Most skiers will put a flat binding (not demo) on the Declivity, bringing forth its all-mountain capacity.
@@SkiEssentials Thank you! So when looking at edge hold at speed, it’s peregrine 82, 80 and then declivity in your view?
What length should I go for in the Peregrine 80? I’m 176 cm intermediate skier
Is Disruption 78ti so stiff as 82ti but quicker edge to edge?
It does not take long for groomers to get carved up.. So on and off edges fast is important for me but also to be able handle the ice to crud transition.. Early season groomer skis;)
I watched your Stockli AS video and your Stockli AX and I heard you say that AX and AR have changed for this season but AS has not.. When you talk about AS being faster but also good at slow speed what do you mean by that? Is it faster on and off edges or faster when it comes to a speed limit.. I also saw in both of your videos that you were skiing both skis in crud.. And you even mentioned how they are both good in the moguls.. You mentioned how all Monteros are softer in the tips.. I know that some of Kastle skis are softer in the tips and I was not a huge fan of that.. Which Montero would be the best for early season when there are a ton of people on the 1 or 2 runs that are open with carved up crud? The other thing that I will mention is that my 25 year old race skis are 70mm x 170cm.. All my other skis are 177-184 range.. What benefit would I have with going with a Montero 177?
I'll try your questions in order:
1. The AS can make clean and round turns at a variety of speeds better than some that can't. Thunderbird, for example, doesn't really start to smooth out until you get it up to speed. AS can make relatively easy and fun turns at slower speeds. It's also super-smooth like all Stockli, so you can let it run and it's quiet and composed in straighter-line speeds.
2. I would say the AX is the best Montero for early season trail skiing with munched up groomers.
3. Vs. your older race skis with a 70 mm waist, you're getting a more composed and quiet feel with a Montero. You're likely getting a shorter radius with any of them, specifically the AX. Like you said, the shovels are a bit softer for easier initiation and increased versatility, so that will be a change from a stiffer race ski, assuming that's what you've got. The Montero is more compliant and eager to initiate a turn as a result and you don't have to drive so hard to get them up on edge.
Jest to niezmiernie przykre, że nie ma napisów języka polskiego. Oglądam wasze filmiki i byłoby miło gdybyście nas uwzględnili.
Możesz to zrobić po stronie użytkownika. W filmie kliknij Napisy, następnie przejdź do ustawień i kliknij „Napisy”. Następnie kliknij „Języki” i przejdź do „Automatycznego tłumaczenia”. Następnie możesz wybrać język polski. Cieszyć się!
Is there really a difference in term of turn engagement between the Elan asymmetrical construction and others skis ?
Yes, although I'll say it's more noticeable in the transitions between turns versus simply the engagement. It is smoother at both entry and exit phases.
I would love to hear y’all’s thoughts on this category of ski, wide race inspired carving, compared to the new Rossignol Arcade.
On the surface it looks like the Arcade is the same ethos as these skis, but what would yall highlights as the key differences.
Thanks in advance!
I found the Arcade skis, both 84 and 88 to be exceptional front side carvers and not quite as versatile as they indicate in their catalog. The 84 is very happy making clean and round carves on groomers, but with the stiff flex and short radius, it feels a lot more like a wide front side ski like the Atomic Redster Q9.8 or the Nordica Spitfire 80.
At least in Europe you get a Spitfire 68.... but just a detail
Thanks for the great review!
Europe seems to get quite a bit more of the narrow skis than here in US.
Love these comparisons - any chance you might look at the Atomic Q5 2025 version - I realise they're the low end of the budget, but the previous year models were all over the slopes for the last 2 seasons so seem to be very popular
We will likely not look closer at that ski as we've covered the Q7 and Q9 pretty extensively so far. Basically, though, the 5 will filter the technology from the 7 and 9, making it more accessible for intermediate skiers who are looking for a more budget friendly option.
@@SkiEssentials makes sense! Thanks for the reply.
Help. I currently ski an atomic s9, head kore 99 ,enforcer 94. Looking for an 80 waist ski I can carve on and take off trail a little in the northeast. I’m 6’4 230 geared up. Advanced skier. Can you recommend 2 or three. Was thinking liberty evolv 84 , Rossi 86 ti, volkl kanjo 84. What are your thoughts
Just as a heads up, the three skis on your list are not currently offered for 2025--you'll have to find a 2024 version if you want to stick to those. That said, in the mid-80's these are great choices. The Rossignol is the most advanced of the three with a lot of power and precision. Evolv is a great carver, but not very versatile. The Kanjo is light and agile but not as stable or sturdy. For 2025, the Rossignol Arcade 84, Armada Declivity 82, and the Blizzard Anomaly 84 are awesome skis.
@@SkiEssentials really liking what I’m seeing with the armada. How would you feel about mounting a pivot on that ski? Or would something with a little more height be preferred for the carving aspect of the ski
@@leefritchman9643 The 75 brake of pivot would be a slight stretch. It's a better fit than the 95, though. I think a Strive or a Griffon would be better as the brake tucks in nicer.
In reference to the Stockli Montero AX, how are you guys dealing with the lack of a proper brake width when mounting a Look Pivot to an 80mm ski?
You have to get the 75 mm brake and it's on the tight side. Just a bit of bending, though, and it works just fine.
@@SkiEssentials I’d love to get a pivot for my Exp 86Ti, but I question if I could get it to fit at all.
@@Ceemysix it's an awkward width for a Pivot 95. They just came out with a 105 brake in the new Pivot 2.0, hopefully an 85 is on the horizon as well!
With the AX, did they move the mount point forward, like they did with the AR? I have last years with a demo binding and prefer it 1cm forward.
AX has the same mount point as it did last year.
Are you reviewing the Blizzard Thunderbird Wide Body (76mm wide) or the other one (70 mm)? They are kind of hard to tell apart...
It will be the wide body because they stated 76mm width. Not sure they have the 70mm version in North America because their review last year also missed the WB designation. I've skied both in Verbier and preferred the WB version.
We are only seeing the WB 76 in Blizzard's catalog for this year. Perhaps the narrow one is now available in other markets, but we haven't seen it here in North America in a few seasons.
@@SkiEssentials I thought that would be the case, I only saw the non-WB on their european site.
iwant to buy the declivity 82 ti's but im considering what lengt, i am 187 cm around 170 pounds 21 years old. i like to carve aggresive a lot and also jump on bumps all the time . do you recommend the 182's for extra stability?
Probably both the 174 and the 182's are options for you. 174 probably easier in bumps, 182 better high speed carving. You are kind of light for the 182 but you are also still growing. Buy your ticket and take the ride!
In a vacuum, longer skis will pretty much always equate to extra stability. Is that what you're looking to do most/all of the time? The 174 still has a pretty sturdy build so at your weight, I don't think it's going to be too short.
Sick! Could you include the redster x9RS in the narrow frontside comparison?
They always do! I have a pair myself with a race plate on them and they are quite the ski. My opinion is that they are what you graduate to once you've mastered some of the better skis in this comparison. They are very precise and can shoot you into the air between turns if you really go for it. You can vary your turn radius easily and thankfully you can get to the brakes very easily with the slightest drift. They glide better than any other ski I've ridden, you are going to have a fast day when you're on them! One day last year I finished and realized my hearing had taken a bit of a beating. It was from ripping groomers non-stop at 45+. Hope you have a sleek/quiet helmet!
@@bearclaw5115 thank you! I tested the x9s last year, and loved them, but felt like I could handle a bit more so ahead of this season I bought the x9RS, and it would be interesting to hear them speak about them as u could then have a reference for the rest of the skis, not that I could buy any of them haha
We will have the X9S. If they make it in an RS (same ski but with race plate), we haven't seen it yet.
@@SkiEssentials ok interesting, they do! But it doesn’t show up when scrolling their website, you have to google it and it pops up, I bought a pair and am in love
I would have liked to see an exception for the MX 74. I always felt like mine was a little more playful than most 74 mm skis..... unless there's another even narrower video coming out soon😮😮😮???
They do a narrower video typically, last year they included the MX75 in the narrower 65-75 front side video.
m.th-cam.com/video/xB8lIl3ut8s/w-d-xo.html
They already did a standalone on the MX74 for 2025 a month ago as well. m.th-cam.com/video/FvEcNWR1IL4/w-d-xo.html
There is, they've mentioned it even in this video!
We talked about it, and it was on the original wide frontside list, but in order to balance the number of skis on each wall (narrow and wide), we elected to keep it in its narrow zone. Also, there are a lot of 75's from Atomic and Rossignol that we needed to have in the narrow comparison, so it just kind of had to go there. It's nice to have a more all-mountain ski in the narrow group to provide balance and to show the range of skis in a certain width zone.
@@SkiEssentials good enough answer for me...
So now the REAL question : wich ski would you say was the best in the bumps amongst those ? 😅
Also… If anyone has experience on the Wingman 82 TI and the 86 TI, I’d love to hear it. Full disclosure, I bought the MindBender 89C and that ski is way to floppy for me.
Based on the boys separate video review, and some email advice, I bought the Wingman 82ti.
I was looking for something to cruise around the groomers on, something a bit lighter and a bit easier to turn. I'm 55yr male 173cm 83kg advanced skier.
I skied them Australian winter 2024, found them to be exactly what I was after. The description above is spot on, I found them easy to turn, effortless and predictable. You can carve them, skid them, easily come out of a turn, don't throw you into the back-seat. Best short turns I've ever done was on these and even a few bumps this year.
Can rip it up when you want but at higher speeds (70kph gps) they do get a bit of chatter in the tips being softer and a bit more flex. If you want to rip it all day, hard aggressive skiing (expert level), I'd probably suggest the 82cti.
The 82ti wingman is the perfect intermediate ski for someone looking to improve, to an all day cruiser for the advanced skier.
The 86 Ti has a bit more rocker in tips and tails than the 82. Other than the width, that's the biggest difference on paper. On snow, the 86 does feel more versatile and amenable to bumps, trees, and other off-piste zones while the 82 feels more glued to the snow in a groomer and carving format.
Best Bump ski that can go fast on Groomers from this list.
First
Damn it!