Gear Reviews

Kastle’s Most Versatile Ski Ever

Kastle skis have been around since 1924 when Anton Kastle built his first pair of skis at his workshop in Hohenems, Austria. Over the next several decades, Kastle brought home more than 130 Olympic and World Cup medals. The company had a brief hiatus from the industry starting in 1998. Then they returned with a bang in 2007, offering a premium lineup that included what eventually became one of the most popular skis of all time—the MX88.

These days, so much has changed in the industry. But Kastle remains a leader in design, quality, and performance. Enter the FX95 HP, perhaps the most versatile ski in the world.  Yes, of course every brand boasts most of their skis as “one ski quivers,” but for Kastle this means more than just a label. The FX series is offered in two waist widths and two constructions.  So, you have 85mm and 95mm widths to choose from along with a non-metal option or an option with metal —dubbed HP for high performance.

Field Notes

The FX95 HP measures 95mm underfoot with early rise tips and tails plus two sheets of metal. I dare you to tell me something it can’t do. Of course, a skinnier MX is going to grip slightly better than the FX and a wider BMX will float better— but the FX95 HP’s versatility means it can do both well. I have had many days out on this ski now and have only been thrilled with its performance.  

One of the more recent times I skied this ski was at an industry demo at Copper Mountain in late January.  When our staff all met up for lunch, those who took out the FX95 HP were grinning ear to ear. Some of them, like our graphic designer Sarah, couldn’t shut up about it. As many of you know, 2017-2018 was a poor year snow-wise for Colorado, so at this demo (and many other days) crushing groomers was the name of the game.

Groomers

Because we all work at a ski shop, we are spoiled because we get to test so many cool skis. I do have to honestly say though, this is one of my top choices for groomer skiing.  Now, I am not an ex-racer or anything. I have never really enjoyed race-style skis that are insanely stiff and have no rocker. Hey, I am not afraid to say that a little rocker just makes things easier and more playful.  But just because I find the FX95 HP easy to turn does not mean it is a floppy beginner ski. Quite the opposite. The two sheets of titanal make the ski stiff and ultra-responsive. I weigh 220 pounds at this point in my life and I can say that the metal is now appreciated more than ever because of my growing mid-section. If you are not as fat or just prefer a ski that isn’t as stiff and responsive, check out the non-HP version of the FX95.

Crust, Crud, and Variable Snow

The titanal layers also allow you to bust through any crud you might encounter.  This also makes the FX95 HP a great ski for one to three after a big storm. They blast through all the mashed potatoes that had been cooking the past few days.

kastle fx95 hp ski review
The Kastle FX95 HP is offered in lengths of 157, 165, 173, 181, and 189.

Moguls and Trees

I do love the shape of this ski for skiing moguls and trees. However, I honestly do feel that this is one area where the stiffness of the metal counteracts what you are trying to do in those tight spaces.  Of course, someone who is more technically proficient than I shouldn’t have a problem. But for these tight turning scenarios where speed isn’t the ultimate goal, I would go with the non-HP FX95.

Powder

Again, I work at a ski shop with 100 skis reserved just for our use, but the FX95 HP would not be my top choice for deep days. With a full quiver, you can grab different tools for more than a few inches of fresh snow. That said, for what the FX95 HP is, it skis soft snow smoothly and reliably. It’s got enough rocker to stay on top. Even with the metal, it’s got enough of a fun factor to smear and slash. Plus, everything’s relative, right? If you’re used to skiing Apache Recons from the early 2000’s, it will feel like the best pow ski of all time.  

Bottom Line

Overall, you can’t hate anything about the FX95 HP. Its few “shortcomings” depend on the user and terrain. It gives you tons of potential for an all mountain, rippin’ good time.  The HP version is most likely going to be reserved for the most aggressive or larger individuals. Keep in mind, though, people who don’t want the full HP version could have a perfect match in the non-HP. With the amount of time and attention that Kastle puts into every ski, any die-hard skier would be a fool not to try one!

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