- Joined
- Mar 5, 2017
- Posts
- 1,202
Philpug: The outgoing MX83 and MX84 were the gold standard for many of our readers as well as sales leaders in the MX collection, so the reintroduced MX83 had some big shoes to fill. Like the rest of the collection, the MX83 has a level of obtainable performance that the previous generations never had, and that makes the ski better. In the past, there was a price of admittance to “Club MX," but it has dropped some.Long-term update: Entry into the turn is with the new HollowTech 3 and new tip shape was as smooth as buttah. The 16.3m radius for the 175 is right in the middle of the pack in this premium class, and Kästle did a good job with the new design to create a ski that wasn't limited by a single turn shape.
The recurring question we get is, "How does the new MX83 compare to the previous MX84?" I try not to use 10 words when I can use one, but I would say the one word that the team at Kästle keeps coming back to is "obtainable." The whole new MX collection is now obtainable in power, smoothness, and refinement. Kästle admitted to a slight loss of top end to achieve this new goal; after skiing the new MX83 last year, and a well-tuned pair this year, I have yet to feel the compromise. The one thing that might not still be obtainable is the price point: they are still a premium ski, but very few who bought a Kästle ever said they weren't worth the price of admission.
Insider tip: The finish of these new MX skis far surpasses anything Kästle has offered before.
Drahtguy Kevin: The MX83 is the best of both the MX75 and MX88. All the MX tips are grand, but the one on the 83 stands out. Driving it into the turn, feeling the irregularities in the snow vanish, and popping into the next turn -- it's all bliss. This ski trucks through soft piles while remaining nimble in bumps and tight areas. I'm not sure I want to test the speed limits of this confidence-inspiring whip.
Insider tip: Commit to the turn and let ‘er rip.
Andy Mink:Size tested: 175cm
Location tested: Mammoth Mountain, CA
Conditions tested in: early morning groomers starting to get cut up
Smooth, great turn initiation, good pop coming out of the turn describe Kästle’s MX83. The MX83 prefers to be on edge, though slipping the tails can be done with a little encouragement. They're very quiet on the snow with a nice, damp ride that still feels lively. Like other Kästles I've been on recently, there is an audible quality to the ski that doesn't translate to vibration in the boot. The Hollowtech tip does its job. When you let the ski loose, you'll be going fast enough to not hear the tip noise anyway! At speed, the MX83 is very stable and encourages you to go faster and turn harder.
- Insider tip: You don't have to bring your A game but it'll be a lot more fun if you do!
- One thing I would change: Nit picky--quiet the tip.
Tricia: The MX line got quite the makeover for the 2020-21 season. One of the things you’ll notice is that the MX84 is gone, replaced by the MX83. The changes in dimensions and wood construction have made the difference Kästle was looking for. This new MX comes with a gorgeous structure that you’d expect from this premium brand; it was ready to slice through the snow like butter. When I dabbled off piste a bit, the MX83 handled the bumps and crud pretty darn well, but it was clear that this ski really shines on piste.Insider tip: For something a little better off piste, check out the MX88.
- Awards
- Who is it for?
- Instructors; this will be a great teaching ski because it gets going much quicker than the old model. Those who appreciate the smoothness of Kästle and want a narrower, easy carving, frontside ski.
- Who is it not for?
- Smooth and damp doesn't necessarily mean easy skiing. Beginners and low intermediates won't be able to wring out what this ski can do.
- Skier ability
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- Advanced
- Expert
- Ski category
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- Frontside
- All Mountain
- Ski attributes
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- Groomers
- Moguls
- Segment
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- Men
- Women
Specifications
- Available sizes
- 154, 161, 168, 175, 182
- Dimensions
- 126-83-112
- Radius
- 16.3m@175cm
- Rocker profile
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- Full camber
- Size Scaling
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- None
- Construction design
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- New graphics
- Binding options
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- Flat
- System
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