2024-2025 Atomic, Rossignol, Head, and Salomon Demo Day

Tester:

Kris: 58 year old who has recently lost 96 lbs, prefers finesse and technique over power, and has a love of high speeds and junky snow. Ex-PSIA level 2 instructor, League and Nastar racer.

Conditions:

Solidly frozen groomers with a fine dusting on top in the morning, breaking down into chunky sugar over an ice base by lunch. Cloudy, cold, and crazy windy all day.

Skis listed in the order tested

Rossignol Essential, 167 cm, 122-69-103, R=12 m:

I got a chance to ski this ski last year, and it was the clear winner of the day for multiple people. I have since spent an entire year dreaming of taking this ski for another spin, so I went directly to the Rossi tent and asked for it first thing. Yup, it was everything I remember!. While Rossi considers the Essential an "all mountain" ski, I would call it a fairly dedicated detuned slalom ski; thus forgiveness is not her fortay. A tiny bit of tip pressure, and she whipped quickly into the turn. A touch of heel pressure, and she would sling right into the next turn. A subtle, centered stance even had her happily making medium and even longer turns. I was giggling from the very first run. I LOVE this ski!!!!! In fact, she went home with me and tuned into my daily driver even in deep spring glob.

 

Atomic Redster Q9.8 Revoshock, 181 cm, 136-85-120.5, R=15.2 m: 

 

Chet got on this one while I made extra runs on the Essential, then I hopped on it. The Q9.8 in a 181 cm is a freakin freight train! They clung to the icy scratch and blasted through the chunky sugar. At this length, they were a bit balky in medium and short turns for me, while Chet's greater muscle mass means he had less trouble with them in shorter turns. I felt they were both too long and too stiff for me at 181. For really strong skiers with a love of speed, these would be a great choice.

Head World Cup e-SL RD, 153 cm, 112-64-97, R=Approx 12 m:

I asked the Head rep for something that would make me go "Yee Haw!", and they picked this little spitfire for me. It earned 5s in every category except long turns, crud, and forgiveness, which isn’t at all surprising given that it’s a full-on slalom race ski. This one is not for the faint of heart, but a technically proficient skier will be able to make it sing on the groomers. This one was another giggle-fest for me, though I would really like to have tried it in a longer length.

Rossignol Hero ST Ti, 167 cm, 123-68-104, R=13 m:

I really love what Rossi has been doing with their skis the last few years. The Hero ST Ti was perfect for me in the 167 cm. It was so confident and steady in all turn shapes. It rolled easily into short turns and released the turn equally easily. For a short turn specialist, it was surprisingly good in medium and long turns. It really likes speed, but doesn't get cranky when going slower. This isn't a super exciting ski, and it was somewhat lacking in rebound, but I think that's part of what made it so buttery smooth and confidence inspiring.

 

 

Salomon Stance 84, 167 cm, 112-84-105, R=15 m:

This women's specific ski was just plain easy, steady, and fun. It excelled in medium turns and handled short and long turns with almost equal aplomb. It also had great grip on the ice, but I found it lacking in some stability, especially at speed. It was super forgiving and would make a great ski for the intermediate just venturing into steeper terrain, trees, and bumps. The 167 felt a bit short for me and the flex felt a bit soft, so stronger or heavier skiers should size up on this one.

 

Atomic Redster Q9 Revoshock, 176 cm, 128-75-112, R=14.2 m:

 

 The Q9 was another super fun ski!With a slalom sidecut, GS construction, and a skinnier all mountain width, it was a carving machine. Make no mistake, this ski lacks forgiveness and needs a strong pilot with good technique and higher speeds to really sing. Short turns required lots of input, but medium and long turns left me with big grins. This one got a bit tossed around when running flat in the afternoon sugar.

 

 

 

Head Kore 85, 170 cm, 127-85-108, R=14.8 m:

I've been on earlier versions of Head's Kore technology, and really disliked their light weight and rattly feel. I thought I'd give them another shot, and super I'm glad I did. The Kore 85 was balanced and nimble and totally steady in the deeper sugar. It was incredibly forgiving, had great grip on the underlying scratch, and excelled at medium and long turns at speed. This was another one that required lots of input to make really short turns. I don't usually care about graphics, but the almost see-through red plastic look of the 85 was really cool.

 

 

Rossignol Sender Soul 102, 180 cm, 136-102-126, R=16 m:

The Sender Soul is supposed to be a combination of the Black Ops Sender (which I loved), and the Soul series (which I hated). This is a short turn, soft snow specialist that scrambled for purchase on the harder snow surface under the sugar. It was really stable and super forgiving (the traits I loved in the Sender), but it had massive tip flap at speed and on hard surfaces (one of the things I hated about the Soul series). Im guessing it would be better in longer turns on softer surfaces, but we didn't get the conditions on demo day that would let me test that theory. This ski would work well as a powder/crud ski for someone with a quiver or as a western skiers' only ride.

 

When I first started doing demo days, it wasn't unusual to find skis that were so awful, I couldn't wait to get off them. It's just amazing how much skis have improved in the last 10-15 years. This was another year where we didn't find a "bad" ski in the bunch.....you just need to find the ski for YOU. I highly recommend that EVERYONE demos skis before buying.

Thanks again to Bill & Paul'sSporthaus for arranging this, the reps from Atomic, Head, Rossignol, and Salomon for bringing their wares and being so willing to chat with us gearheads about construction and dimensions, and of course, Caberfae Peaks for doing such an amazing job of hosting yet another fantastic event and giving us great snow conditions during a very trying year.

2023 Motobecane HAL e29 Boost Long Term Review

I have been looking for a 29er full suspension to replace my 1996 Super V and 2001 Jekyll (both 26”). I have also been tossing around the idea of an e-bike since I’m such an incredibly crummy climber. While I’ve been steadily losing weight, I still don’t really have “legs and lungs”, so I always get dropped on even the smallest incline.

After searching online for almost a year, I found the HAL e29 “demo” deal from BikesDirect.com for just slightly more than I had been finding used “analog” full suspensions. So, I crossed my fingers and ordered it late on a Friday night. It arrived on Thursday, about 3 days faster than I expected, really well packed, and without ANY sign of being anything but brand new. Chet signed for the delivery, unpacked it, and had it 98% assembled when I got home from my bike ride.

My first ride was on an 8 mile paved trail with a few decent-sized hills. Even though the HAL weighs double what our 29er hardtails do, I had no trouble keeping up with Chet, even with the assist turned off. In fact, the only time I noticed the weight (besides putting it on the rack - OOF!) was when headed up hill, or when trying to get air.

My next ride was off road at one of my favorite trails with lots of roots, rocks, punchy climbs, and fun features. The plush suspension sucked up every bump and the only time I noticed that it is a 47 lb bike is when we were motoring up hill. I rode with the assist off except when hitting those punchy climbs, so instead of having to bail part way up like usual, I managed to just buzz right up all but one of them. By mile 8, my legs were gassed, so I put the pedal assist in Eco mode. The assist allowed me to ride the last 2 miles without dying. In fact, I even rode up the last hill a second time so Chet could get video of my stair ride.

PROS:

• Super plush and very personalizable suspension powered by Rockshox that keeps the bike glued to the ground.
• Dependable 1 x 12 drivetrain.
• HUGE battery life.
• Dropper post.
• There’s enough clearance between the dropper and rear tire to use a seat pack.
• Adjustable brake lever reach.
• Intuitive computer remote.
• The frame is really well balanced.
• Doesn’t ride like an almost 50 lb bike.
• The computer gives you all the info you need and nothing you don’t.

CONS:

• Weight!!
• I don’t love the black on black stealth look.
• The frame’s weird top tube hump kills stand over clearance - I can just stand flat footed on the small with the saddle all the way back (30” inseam).
• The battery itself is almost 5 lbs.
• The stock WTB saddle isn’t completely awful, but 10 miles were my max on it without pain.
• If your inseam is less than 30”, the dropper post will be too long on the small.
• The stock grips are really thin and the bar is way too wide for smaller riders.
• The dropper post remote requires some serious thumb strength.
• The stock Rekon tires are not tubeless ready.
• Zero water bottle bosses on the small.

SPECS:

Frame	Custom Mid-Drive Full Suspension with BOOST Axle Spacing 29er SUSP. MTB ALLOY(6061) WHEEL TRAVEL: Up to 130mm.  B.B. SHELL: FOR SHIMANO E MOTOR ( KNUCKLE BOX MADE BY CNC ) Hydroformed Butted and Geometric Multishaped Aluminum tubes,1 set H2O Bosses (Small has no bosses), Four Bar Rocker Arm with HAL Linkage. Gusseted SL 6061 Aluminum (Disc Brake) Super Smooth Sealed Cartridge Bearings at critical pivots, ALU VERTICAL REPLACEABLE HANGER, POST DISK MOUNT. O.L.N:148MM  HEADTUBE 1-1/8"/1.5" ( 44/55.95mm ) L: 40/46/48/52/60CM=110/120/130/140/170mm
Fork/ Rear Shock	Fork: ROCKSHOX RECON SILVER-RL 29, CROWN ADJUST w/ MXL LITE BOOST™ 15X110MM ThruAXLE, SOLO AIR 120MM, DIF BLACK STEALTH FAST BLACK UPPERS, 51 OFFSET, STEERER: ALLOY (1.5" to 1-1/8" tapered ) CROWN:Forged, hollow aluminum, STANCHION: 32mm straight wall steel, BLADE: Magnesium, 160mm post disc mount W/Extl rebnd, low speed comp to lock . ( Fits Up to 29" x2.6" TIRE ) Rear: ROCKSHOX MONARCH RL 200X57, MM TUNE, 430LB LOCKOUT FORCE, C3, AIR REAR SHOCK W/External rebound W/LOCKOUT
Crankset	SHIMANO FC-E6100, 175MM, SM-CRE80-B, 36T
Bottom Bracket	SHIMANO MidDrive E6100M
Pedals	Platform MTB 9/16" CR-MO AXLE, BLACK PP BODY, STEEL BLK CAGE W/BS REFL
Front Derailleur	N/A
Rear Derailleur	SHIMANO RD-M6100 DEORE SGS 12-SP, TOPNORMAL, SHADOWPLUS DESIGN, DIRECT ATTACHMENT
Shifters	SHIMANO SL-M6100-R, DEORE, 12-SP RAPIDFIRE PLUS W/ OPTICAL GEAR DISPLAY
Cassette/Freewheel	SHIMANO CASSETTE, CS-M6100-12, DEORE, 12-SPEED (HYPERGLIDE+), 10-12-14-16-18-21-24-28-33-39-45-51T
Chain	SHIMANO Compatible, 122LINKS FOR 12-SPEED
Hubs	F/HUB SHIMANO HB-MT400-B, CENTER LOCK DISC 32H, 15MM THRUAXLE, OL:110MM F/HUB AXLE ROCKSHOX BOOST 15x110 MXL LITE.  R/HUB SHIMANO FH-MT410-B, CENTER LOCK DISC 12-SPEED, 12MM THRUAXLE, 32H OL:148MM, R.HUB THRUAxle, ALLOY 7075, M12xP1.75x180L/THREAD 20mm
Spokes	14Gx64PCS XD-BLACK STAINLESS W/14MM BRASS NIPPLE
Rims	WTB STP i25 TCS 29" 32 hole drilling, Disc, Black Anodized; PV drilled, Pinned Joint (Tubeless Compatible System Rim *See FAQ page for Tubeless system setup)
Tires	MAXXIS REKON 29X2.40, 60 TPI Wire Bead (Simply add your own Tubeless Compatible Tires, Sealant and Tubeless kit)
Brakes	SHIMANO HYDRAULIC DISC MT200 w/SM-MA-F180P/P2, RESIN PAD/ SHIMANO ROTOR FOR DISC BRAKE, SM-RT10, 180MM, W/LOCK RING
Brake Levers	SHIMANO HYDRAULIC DISC MT200
Headset	FSA ORBIT 1.5 ZS, FOR 1-1/8"/1.5", Internal Alloy Cups, 1-1/8" ACB Upper, 1.5" ACB Lower, w/Std 12.3mm top cover, W/39.78 BALL RACE ( 28.6x44/55.95x39.78mm)
Handlebar	MTB ALLOY 6061 RISE H/BAR ( 9° ) B/CENTER: 31.8mm.R/W:20/780mm. SS.A.BK
Stem	MTB ALLOY 6061 EXT:(6°) 80/90/100MM FOR 40/46-48/52-60CM ,C/S:31.8x28.6x37mm
Tape/Grip	VP LockOn PP/TPR MATERIAL W/ Single Aluminum Clamp
Saddle	WTB Rocket SL, Satin Steel Rail, Flex Tuned Shell, DNAx Padding, PU Leather
Seat Post	KS E-TEN- I DROPPER POST (INTERNAL ROUTE), 30.9*385MM, TRAVEL: 100MM W/KGP REMOTE
Drive Unit	DRIVE UNIT SHIMANO KDUE6100M MID SHIP POSITION, FOR 20mph, W/TL-EW02
Battery	BATTERY SHIMANO BT-E8014, FOR STEPS, POSITION : (DOWN TUBE), 418Wh, FOR EU/USA/CANADA, BATTERY HOLDER SHIMANO BM-E8010, FOR STEPS, FOR BT-E8010, BATTERY CABLE LENGTH 300MM
Speed Sensor	SHIMANO SPEED SENSOR UNIT, SM-DUE10, CABLE LENGTH 540MM
Cycle Computer/Display	CYCLE COMPUTER SHIMANO SC-E6100, CLAMP BAND DIAMETER 31.8MM
Seat Post Clamp	Ultra Light Alu+ Bolt
Sizes	See pull down
Extras	CONTROLLER SHIMANO INCLUDING IN DRIVE UNIT BATTERY CHARGER SHIMANO EC-E6000-2, FOR STEPS BT-E6000/E6010, BUILT IN AC POWER CABLE FOR USA/CANADA W/ADAPTER FOR BATTERY CONNECTOR SWITCH UNIT SHIMANO SW-E6010-L, LEFT, FOR ASSIST W/ELECTRIC WIRE (FITTED TYPE), LOCK FOR BATTERY  toABUS 37196 SHIMANO-RH

IMPRESSION:

I’m now 3 rides in on the HAL, and I’m beyond pleased with its performance and value. It is everything I was looking for in a full suspension bike, with a boost on the uphills where I struggle most. I love that I can now go exploring without constantly worrying about petering out on the way home!

As with any bike, I’ve switched out the grips, pedals, and saddle already to both fit me better and add pops of color. We spent about a 1/2 hr setting the suspension up for my weight, so I’ll need to update my review after my next ride. I will also post updated pictures when I finish with customizing him.

60 MILE UPDATE (7/1/23):

I have now put over 60 miles on Zeus and all but the first 8 have been off road. I’ve done some exploring on local 2-tracks, and ridden some singletrack, and I’m even more impressed now than I was the first 3 rides. The HAL is really well balanced on the trail, with the perfect dimensions for our local trails. He’s a bit unwieldy on really tight, twisty trails, but I’m not sure if that’s from his weight or his dimensions. On the downhills, and at speed, however, he is a hoot! He is supremely sure footed and feels very planted on rough trail (tires currently at 30 psi, but I think I can go lower). I’ve continued riding with assist off except for uphills, or when my legs get fatigued, and I no longer look at uphills with total dread - I know ECO mode with a slight shift to the nose of the saddle and a strong pull of the bars down and back will get me up almost anything. Other reviewers have mentioned weak braking, but I haven’t had that issue at all; maybe because I never ride in any mode stronger than ECO?

I haven't charged the battery since the first ride, and I’ve still got 3 of the 5 battery lights on. The computer says I still have around 53 miles in full time ECO mode, so I’m figuring I should get around 75-100 miles on this charge

I had to cut 1 1/2” off each end of the bars (and I think another 1/4” will be coming off soon) to slow down the steering a bit and make it more comfortable for me. The only other things I’ve found are that the dropper thumb lever has gotten really sticky and won’t release unless I unweight the seat first; and the key slot to remove the battery is a pain-in-the-ass. I just can’t get the damn key to go in. Grrrr.

Here’s what he looks like now (still waiting on my Slik Graphics fork and rear shock decals to arrive):

300 MILE UPDATE (10/30/23):

I continue to be impressed with this bike. It's taken everything I've thrown at it without issue. I've been riding with the assist on "Normal" more often, just to keep up with hubby who has been riding his Cannondale Moterra in "Boost" mode. I switch to "High" only on climbs where I feel like I'm running out of steam. I have to admit, I've been finding true joy in riding with the assist on.

The last of the Zeus' color accents have been added now.

 

1 YEAR UPDATE: 

The HAL continues to impress me. When riding with beginners or slower groups, I can ride with the assist off. When I'm hammering on my own, High assist make everything fun. The KS dropper post, however, has been nothing but touble. The first issue was the cable and housing outing - we had to drop the motor to run the housing, and the flexing of the suspension chewed right through the housing within 100 miles. We reran new housing and got another 150 miles before it was all kinked up again, then the cable hook on the post itself brok off. Fortunately, KS has a 2 year warranty, and they fixed it and we had it back in a week. Reinstalling the dropper resulted in a stuck cable again, so I gave up and put a standard post in for now. I have another cable/housing set on the way, and I'll try dropping the motor and running everything brand new again. Maybe it will hold for a while this time.

 

SIDE NOTE: 

While the State of Michigan considers Class 1 e-bikes not motor vehicles (and therefore a standard bike), the DNR and most land owners still haven’t made that leap. This means they are not currently allowed on most off-road trails. The League of Michigan Bicyclists is working to lobby the DNR and educate others on the benefits of Class 1 bikes, but for now, there are only a few trails that expressly allow their use. I truly hope this changes in the near future.

2023-2024 Atomic, Head, Rossignol and Salomon Demo

Testers:

Kris: 57 year old heavyweight who prefers finesse and technique over power and has a love of high speeds and junky snow. Ex-PSIA level 2 instructor, League and Nastar racer.

I have been kind of shopping for a replacement for my aging Volkl Shiros, especially since their 184 length will likely be too long for me by the time my weight stabilizes.  That’s why I spent so much time on the chubby skis this year.

Chet: 61 year old heavyweight who skis with power and speed. League and Nastar racer.

Conditions:

Solidly frozen groomers in the morning, breaking down into deep sugar over an ice base within the first hour. The piles of sugar got deeper and heavier throughout the day. Cloudy and spitting light snow all day.

Skis listed in the order tested

Atomic Cloud Q12 c, 166 cm, 132-84-117.5, R=13.6 m:

I got on this ski first thing in the morning and it put a silly grin on my face from the moment I got off the lift. It stayed absolutely calm on the ice/sugar surface and blasted through the crud at eye-watering speeds. Yet, it was also perfectly happy to mosey along and skid on the flats, too. The 166 cm length felt too short for me, although not drastically so. This ski is just a ton of fun!! This was one of two surprises for the day.

 

Head World Cup e-Race Pro, 170 cm, 117-68-102, R=14.8:

Chet got on this one in the early morning, while everything was still crusted over and he loved it in those conditions. It earned 5s in every category except short turns, crud, and forgiveness, which isn’t at all surprising given that it’s basically a full-on race ski. This one is not for the faint of heart, but a technically proficient skier will be able to make it sing.

Atomic Redster Q7, 173 cm, 134-84.5-118, R=14.4 m:

This is the men’s/unisex version of the Cloud Q12, and it was equally fun. The 173 was definitely the right length for me and the difference was noticeable. The Q7 was light and well balanced, but got a little tossed around as the sugar got heavier and deeper. While it is best for advanced and expert skiers who can access its best characteristics, it remains accessible even for intermediates. Chet and I had very similar scores and thoughts on this one - it’s just a really fun and super versatile ski, even in crap conditions.

Atomic Bent 100, 180 cm, 129.5-100-120, R=19.5 m:

I really expected to like the Bent series, but I just didn’t. Especially with the deep sugar, their light weight and soft nature required deliberate and excessive tip pressure to keep them from getting totally bounced around. Without the tip pressure, the tips never really stayed glued to the ground, and they made the skis bounce out of the turn before it even got started. I’m just not sure if they need stiffer tips or a more forward mount point but they definitely needed something. I gave them scores of 3-4 in general - Chet liked them even less, with scores of 2-3. I was quite surprised that he was equally disappointed.

Atomic Bent 110, 180 cm, 133-110-124, R=18 m:

Interestingly, we both disliked this one even more. I found the tips to be really soft and floppy, breaking loose and taking me for an uncontrolled ride across the biggest, deepest pile of sugar. Chet said he kept looking for some kind of response or feedback but got nothing. As a powder ski for someone with a quiver, or as a daily driver in the softer snow in the West, it may be a winner.

Rossignol Sender Free 110, 184 cm, 140-110-133, R=20 m:

The Sender Free is the “in between” ski of the Sender and Black Ops lines now. A stiff, burly ski, the tips kept locking into the turn with even the slightest forward pressure. The tails then powered up, making the ski feel really “hooky”. I found myself rocking back on my heels a bit to keep them steady - it really felt like the bindings needed to be moved back at least 1-2 cm. The hookiness was a really disconcerting feeling that even had me checking the edges for burrs before giving them back and forcing me to give them a 2 in forgiveness and stability.

Rossignol Sender 104 Ti, 178 cm, 138-104-128, R=18:

With measurements identical to the original Black Ops Sender Ti, this remains a great, versatile ski! It ripped off surprisingly short turns given its 18 m turn radius and easily held an edge on the ice under the sugar. The Sender was one of the few skis that didn’t get bounced around in the deepest sugar piles. Where Chet tends to blast through the glop, I’m more comfortable dancing around it, yet we loved this ski equally, giving it scores of 4s and 5s.

Rossignol Black Ops 118 River, 176 cm, 145-118-140, R=25:

The dimensions of the 118 made it the most direct replacement for my Shiros in the demo tents, so I was hoping to really like it. While I didn’t hate it, I felt like it got really tossed around in the thickest glop and Chet agreed. The 25 meter turn radius was really obvious - it excelled at big and bigger turns at high speeds, but could be coaxed into smaller turns with patience and fierce determination. The Black Ops is surprisingly light, forgiving, nimble, and poppy for a ski this big.

Rossignol Forza:

 

 Chet got on this one, but never gave me demo card for it. I got on the Essential, instead. Unfortunately, I can't give any dimensions or review on it.

Rossignol Essential, 167 cm, 122-69-103, R=13:

The Essential is Rossi’s attempt to keep skis out of the landfill. It’s made of 72% recycled material, and is 77% recyclable. Buyers are asked to fill out contact info and to return the skis back to Rossi at the end of their life. The top skin is really cool, with a naked wood “lumber yard” look.

This was my last ski for the day and I was skeptical about riding a skinny little slalom race ski on tired legs in the increasingly deteriorating conditions, but Chet said I HAD to try it. I’m SO glad I did!! It was the surprise winner of the day for both of us. I found it to be a zippy yet relaxed short turn specialist with fantastic grip and an easy going nature. It earned almost all 5s from me, with a 4 for medium turns and a 3 in long turns - not surprising given its dimensions. The biggest surprise was that it was the only ski we rode in the afternoon that was absolutely unaffected by the piles of glop. It simply asked to be rolled up on edge and given a touch of tip pressure, then it just cruised through the deep sugar like it wasn’t even there.

This one earned Best in Test from several of us in the demo group. If you get a chance to try it, you simply MUST.

2022-2023 Rossignol, Atomic, Salomon, and Head Demo Day

 Testers:

Kris: 55 year old heavyweight who prefers finesse and technique over power and has a love of high speeds and junky snow. Ex-PSIA level 2 instructor, league and Nastar racer.

Chet: 59 year old heavyweight who skis with power and speed. League and Nastar racer.

Conditions:

Solidly frozen groomers in the morning, softening through corn before lunch, and changing to scratch and deep slush bumps by early afternoon. Bright sunshine all day.

Skis listed in the order tested

   

Head e-speed Pro, Supershape e-speed, Hero Special Edition

Head Supershape e-speed 177cm, 122-68-104, 15.3 m radius

I took this one out first on the frozen groomers in the morning. It had solid grip and searched for speed with every turn. It felt strong yet balanced but tended to get bogged down in the surgar on the bottom of the hill.

Rossignol Hero v-Ti Elite ST 167 cm, 125-68-104, 13 m radius

The rep warned me twice that these skis were not detuned. At all. "Sweet!", I thought. Once on the  hill, I said "whooooo, doggie!!" The ST is a strong but nimble short turn specialist - skiers looking for versatility need not apply! I found the tails to be just slightly catchy with the tip-to-tail tune. Strong forward pressure fixed the issue, as would a slight detuning of the tails. I also found they required my full attention the entire time.

Rossi Hero v-Ti LT, Hero v-Ti ST, Hero Special Edition

 

Rossignol Hero v-Ti LT 177 cm, 121-71-101, 18 m radius

We were approaching lunch time and the snow was  just starting to break down when I took these out. SO.MUCH. FUN. Put the pedal to the metal and hold on! I never found a speed limit no matter how 

hard I tried. I could even eke short turns out of them, but that required serious commitment. Not surprisingly, they did get grumpy in the developing afternoon slush.

Salomon QST 92 176 cm, 128-92-116, ? m radius

Note: I didn't get the radius on these, and they have been slightly redesigned for 2023, with a tighter turn radius. The 2022's dimensions are 131-92-120 with an 18 m radius.

We were in full-on mashed potatoes mode when I took these out and I was surprised to find they were really fun - nimble and easy, and they didn't get tossed around by the gunk at all. They also had great grip on the scratch between the slush bumps. They were my surprise ski for the day. Anyone looking for a super fun but capable ski should take a ride on these.

Head Absolute Joy, Salomon QST 92, Atomic Bent 100

Atomic Maverick 95 Ti 180 cm, 129-94.5-113, 19.3 m radius

For such a light and balanced ski, the Maverick has a TON of chops. It was dependable and solid, blasting easily through the afternoon slush bumps and mashed potatoes. They loved to be driven hard and rewarded agressive skiing with manageable power and speed. Ex-racers looking for all-terrain versatility should take a hard look at these.

Atomic Bent Chetler 100 180 cm, 129.5-100-120, 19.5 m radius

Unfortunately, I only had time for 2 runs on these. I found the 180 length to feel a little short for me, and they got bounced around in the deep late afternoon goop. This surprised me a bit as I felt them to be on the burly side of the flex spectrum, requiring power and solid edging skills. Maybe I was just whooped by the long day and challenging conditions, but they tired me out. Chet, however, loved them (but he's more of a power skier than I am).

2021-2022 Rossignol, Atomic, Salomon, and Head Demo Day

Testers:

Kris: 55 year old heavyweight who prefers finesse and technique over power and has a love of high speeds and junky snow. Ex-PSIA level 2 instructor, league and Nastar racer.

Chet: 59 year old heavyweight who skis with power and speed. League and Nastar racer.

Conditions:

Solidly frozen groomers in the morning, softening through corn before lunch, and changing to scratch and deep slush bumps by early afternoon. Bright sunshine all day.

Skis listed in the order tested

Salomon S/Force Ti.80 and Atomic Maven 86c

Atomic Maverick/Maven 86c, 176 cm, 124.5-88-109.5, 18.2 radius:  I asked the Atomic tent for something that would be zippy and fun on the early morning frozen groomers, and this is what they pulled out for me. I found the Maven to be a nimble ski and a solid performer with great grip and lots of zip. While the 176 cm length felt a tiny bit too short for me, they were fun and easy in medium and short turns, but required some finesse to excel at longer turns. The tips rolled easily into turns, and the tails held really well, but they still broke loose and skidded when asked. This would be a great ski for the advanced to expert skier who wants a capable all mountain ski that's also fun and easy, or an ambitious intermediate looking to up their game.

Salomon S/Force Ti.80, 177 cm, 128-80-112, 16 radius: Chet found this ski to be calm and grippy. He lauded its smooth nature, and found it held the turn really well, but remarked that it lacked any appreciable rebound. He felt it would be a great ski for beer league racers, since it didn't really punish the occasional lack of attention.

 

Head eSpeed and eSL

Head WC Rebels, e-SL 155 cm, 122-68-108, 10.7 radius:  It's been years since I've been on anything as short as a 155 cm (my usual SLs are 165 cm), and I was a bit worried about keeping up with hubby, especially since he was on the e-Speed at the same time. From the very first turn, I couldn't help but laugh maniacally all the way to the bottom. This was the funnest ski I've been on in a very long time!! I couldn't wipe the grin off my face the whole time I was on them. They were even surprisingly stable in the sugar and death cookies that began to develop as the sun softened the snow surface, and they don't feel like full-blown race skis, either. For short turn lovers, these are the ticket!!!

Head WC Rebels e-Speed, 175 cm, 118-68-99, 16.9 radius:  This was another Wheeeeeeee!!!! ski! Head has totally nailed this series of skis for groomers. I never did find a speed limit on these, no matter how hard I tried. This is a somewhat burly and stiff ski that stills breaks free easily when asked. Unlike the e-SL, though, it REALLY didn't like the developing sugar - it became increasingly cranky and got bogged down as the sugar got deeper.  But for any speed demons that stay on the groomers (or as an addition to a quiver), this may be your ride! Chet dubbed them the "Wild Ponies".

 

Head e-Magnum and eSpeed

Head Supershape e-Magnum, 177, 129-72-111, 14.3 radius: Chet found the e-Magnum to be a grippy and zippy choice that stayed exciting yet perfectly manageable on the groomers. This ski definitely favored the front side groomers and started flailing much like the e-Speed once the sugar and death cookies started building up.

Rossi Black Ops Sender, Atomic Maverick 100

Rossignol Black Ops Sender, 172 cm, 137-103-127, 16 radius:  The Black Ops series is the replacement for Rossi's venerable "7" series, which I never developed a love for. I found all of the 7s that I tested to be too soft and too rockered for my liking, even in softer snow. Had I known this fact in advance, I may not have taken them out at all, and that would have been a huge mistake. The Sender ended up being our obvious winner in the afternoon slush and scratch. While I would probably go up a size if I were to buy them, I found the 172 cm to be solid on the groomers at eye-watering speeds, while remaining fun, poppy, and stable in the deeper slush. It zipped around the slush bumps like they weren't even there, and we even found ourselves aiming for the bumps and plowing into them, just for fun. It ripped off amazing short turns (for a 102 mm waisted ski) without feeling twitchy at all, and excelled at medium and long turns, even at slow speeds. This is just a fun, fun, FUN fat ski that doesn't feel as fat as it really is. All advanced and expert skiers who like mixed conditions should take this one for a spin!

Atomic Maveric 100 Ti, 180 cm, 129.5-100-120, 19.2 radius:  I found the Maveric to be a stiff, steady ski that blasted the afternoon slush bumps and deep sugar with calm aplomb. While the Sender was all about fun in the slush, the Maveric was all business. It definitely preferred the plow-through-at-speed approach to the deep and cruddy conditions.

 

Head Kore 103, Salomon Luxe QST

Salomon Luxe QST, 169 cm,130-92-113, 17 radius: The Luxe was steady in the slush and grippy on the ice in between, but its lack of rebound left me wanting more. It was really nimble in this length, but it was noticeably too short for me, and I found their speed limit really quickly. The Luxe's steadiness in even crappy conditions would make this a real winner for an advancing intermediate or an advanced "weekend warrior".

Head Kore 103 w, 177 cm, 132-103-123, 16.5 radius: The Kore was another ski that was just steady, regardless of conditions and speed. It's a surprisingly stiff ski that never got rattled, despite its remarkably light weight. It preferred medium to long turns, but could be coaxed into short turns with some determination. This one skis true to length, so don't size up.

Thank yous going out to Bill & Paul's Sporthaus and Caberfae Peaks for hosting the demo day, and to the reps and their helpers for bringing their gear out and getting everything adjusted so we could just grab and go.

Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter XT Hammock

Grand Trunk Skeeter Beeter XT Hammock

 

I've been using the Skeeter Beeter Pro for over 3 years now, and the elastic mosquito net hangers finally ripped out of the net itself. My review of the SB Pro, and Grand Trunk's customer service response to the failure is here: Skeeter Beeter Pro. I'm still using the patched Pro for nights spent in my hammock hut, but I can tell it won't last much longer. I've given the new Pro to hubby, and have been using the XT for myself on backpacking trips.

Features

• Knotless Cordlock System makes it super easy to hang
• Double-sided zipper for easy entry and exit
• Black No-See-Um nylon mosquito/bug netting
• Soft, breathable and fast drying
• Flip over and use it as a regular single hammock
• Triple-lock stitched seams for extra strength

 Tech Specs

• Material: parachute nylon
• Unfolded Dimensions: 10’6” x 5’
• Lounging Capacity: 1 person
• Weight Capacity: 400 lbs / 181 kgs
• Weight: 34 oz

Included Items

• 2 nautical grade carabiners
• 2 aluminum spreader bars
• stuff sack for stress-free travel

On The Trail:

The XT is the same size as the Pro, but 1 oz lighter. I also shed another 77 grams by ditching the stock  continuous loop line and beefy carabiners and switching out the Atlas straps to Wildhorn Litespeed cinch buckle straps and Dyneema continuous loops. The new, separated bug net hanging system is 100% better than the Pro's continuous shock cord. The new system has lovely little line locks and nice cordage, and I added mini biners to making hanging it even easier. I love the sturdier bug net, the bug net spreader bars, and the little storage area in the center top of the net. The storage area is a great idea, but it needs some work to be fully functional - there's really nothing supporting it besides tension on the bug net, and once you settle into the hammock with correct sag, any tension on the storage area is gone. I've found it can hold my phone, but nothing else with any reliability. The aluminum bug net spreader bars are a pain to insert into their sleeves the first few times - once the the sleeves stretch out some, they're much better, but still fiddly.

Things I Love: 

•  It's still the same spacious abode
• The ease of setup
• The new and improved bug net with spreader bars
• The idea of the bug net loft
• The lighter weight
  

Things That Need Help:

• The spreader bar sleeves need either additional elastic or pull tabs
• The bug net loft needs some way to tension it to make it truly functional
• The provided carabiners are total overkill and unnecessary weight
• I really, REALLY wish it had interior pockets
  

Overall impression:

The XT is a decided upgrade from the Pro, but it's not without its own issues. The spreader bar sleeves need either elastic ends on the closed side, or pull tabs on the insertion end, and the bug net loft either needs a way to tension it separately, or maybe elastic on both ends to support it and make it functional. Even so, it still sleeps well and its hard to beat the price for a 10.5' hammock with a built-in bug net. For anyone needing an easy-to-setup, integrated bug net, full-sized hammock without having to shell out a ton of money to a cottage vendor, the XT is a great choice. I hope to get another 3+ years out of this one, too.

I will be updating this review as I get more time in it and see how it holds up.

Kelty Coyote 60 Backpack

Women's Kelty Coyote 60 Backpack

This is the first overnight backpack I purchased brand new. It has all the features I was looking for at a crazy-cheap price. Current models can be purchased for around $150-200, and previous years' models can still be found for just over $100. That's a fantastic price for a feature-rich pack from a reputable manufacturer. I find it odd that the Kelty brand is often overlooked in backpack searches, and I'm not sure why.

On The Trail:

So many pockets!! The upper side pockets are just the right size for a poop kit on one side and water filter on the other, and these pockets also have a pass-behind for skis or poles. There's 2 super stretchy mesh pockets sized for large water bottles, the brain has 2 pockets for maps and other goodies, there's a front organization pocket under the stuff pocket, and pockets large enough for large snack bars and an iPhone 11 on the hip belt. It also has a water bladder pocket inside.

While the non-removable/non-exchangeable hip belt comes just to the front point of my hip bones, it should fit the majority of women that aren't super fluffy. The shoulder harness is nicely padded and perfectly curved to fit "the girls", and the harness torso length is adjustable on-the-fly with special purple pull straps.

The Coyote is fairly light for a standard internally framed pack, and it carries really nicely with a 30 lb load (not at all sure how it would carry with a load over 40). This is another pack with forward pull hip belt, and once I had everything set, I didn't need to fuss with it at all.

Things I Love:

• All the pockets!! This makes my organizational OCD very happy.
• The size of the hip belt pockets.
• Pack weight.
• The interior is NOT black, so it's really easy to find stuff hidden in the bottom.
• The harness and hip belt are supremely comfortable.
• Front panel access to the interior.
• There's beefy grab straps on both sides of the pack.
  

Things That Need Work:

• The sleeping bag compartment is pretty tiny.
• The zipper on the sleeping bag compartment is fiddly, and gets caught on the rain flap and the bottom compression strap buckles. It's fairly annoying.
• The stuff pocket partially hides the front panel access.
• The zipper pulls tend to slide out of the zipper hooks.

Overall Impressions:

The Coyote 60 is an great pack for women on a budget. For the Coyote's price point, this is a solid pack; the minor irritations really don't detract much from its overall function, and it fits and carries very well. I would call this one a Best Buy option - great features, full functionality, and a jaw-dropping price.