Expert Review: Dynastar M-Free 99 Skis · 2022

Published on 11/04/2022 · 6 min readThis review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in December of 2021.
By Ski Expert Alex Kobrin

All photos courtesy of Alex Kobrin

About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in December of 2021.

My take

The Dynastar M-Free 99 is an awesome ski for advanced and expert skiers who are looking for a solid, all-mountain option to add to their quiver. It floats well in powder for its width and performs equally strong in trees and bumps and can still hold a great edge on the groomers.

About the skis I own

  • Model: 2022 Dynastar M-Free 99
  • Size: 171cm

About me

  • Height: 5’8”
  • Weight: 135lbs
  • Experience: 28 years of skiing

Test conditions

  • When I bought these: December 2021
  • Days tested: 15
  • Mount position: Recommended
  • Boots: 2019 Salomon 120 S/Max
  • Boot Size: 24.5
  • Bindings: 2022 Look Pivot 14 GW
  • Where I’ve used it: Montana, Utah
  • Terrain: Trees, bumps, groomers in powder and packed powder, chop, and spring conditions

How they perform

Carving
4/5
Durability
5/5
Flotation
4/5
High Speed Stability
4/5
Turn Ease
5/5
Versatility
5/5

What I was looking for

I was looking for a pair of skis to replace my tired 2016 Dynastar Slicers (predecessor to the popular Dynastar Menace) and 2018 Dynastar Legends. I’m a Dynastar gal through and through, so I was psyched to learn about the new M-Line collection, introduced for the 2021–2022 season. I wanted a capable all-mountain ski that would turn easily and hold a deep carve, but would also be nimble in bumps and trees.

Why I chose this gear

I learned of the M-Frees and M-Pros and waffled a bit between the two, hearing that the M-Pros were a bit more comparable to the Legends. However, the slight rocker and twin tip aspect appealed to me for my Mountain West skiing, so I went for the M-Frees and I don’t regret it. In addition to considering the M-Pros—which are a bit stiffer—and ultimately deciding on the M-Free as a slightly more playful option, I had also been seriously considering the Rossignol Black Ops Stargazers, which I had demoed for a day the previous season. Ultimately, I feel these two skis perform pretty similarly, and it came down to price for me (I was able to find the M-Frees at a lower price than the Stargazers at the time). I don’t regret my decision at all and am very happy with the M-Frees, but that’s not to say that I wouldn’t buy the Stargazers in the future…one can never have too many skis, right?

What I love about them

  • Speed: I’m very impressed with how well the M-Frees perform at high speed. As a former ski racer, I was worried that the slight rocker profile of these skis would cause chattering when going fast, but that’s not the case at all. I feel very confident at speed on these skis.
  • Edge hold: Similar to my concern with the speed, I was worried that the rocker profile (and thus the shorter effective edge length) would detract from the skis’ ability to hold an edge. Again, I was impressed with the M-Frees; I can hold a very deep carve with them and not be worried that I’m going to slip out.
  • Turns: With a 15m turning radius on the 171s, I’m really happy with the skis’ ability to take tight turns. However, they also perform well in the turns when I want to open up and take over the whole trail.
  • Groomers: It’ll come as no surprise when I say that these skis perform well on groomers. Is it as carvey as a race ski? Of course not. But for an all-mountain ski, these are pretty great on groomers.
  • Trees: I love tree skiing, so a ski that is agile and performs well in the trees is very important to me. These skis live up to that wish. I immediately felt very confident in the trees, even the first day I took them out.
  • Moguls: The short turning radius and flexibility of these skis make them a strong performer in the bumps. I felt like they upped my game in the moguls compared to some of my other skis. I definitely felt a lot more graceful and surefooted.
  • Park: I’ll be honest, I haven’t tested these in the park beyond some baby jumps, but the twin tip aspect of the skis makes them a solid park candidate.
  • Backcountry: I’ve taken these skis off-piste, though I haven’t taken them touring. I would say they would make a good backcountry ski, as they are fairly light and do perform so well in variable conditions. However, there are other even lighter skis out there that I might consider if I was looking for an ultra-light setup.
  • Durability: These skis are surprisingly durable. Big Sky Resort is essentially a pile of shale, and I took these up expecting them to be toast by the end of day one; though they came out with a few scratches, I was so impressed with how well the base of these skis held up. A season in and my skis are still in nearly like-new condition.
  • Switch riding: Though I’m not much of a switch rider myself, the twin tip feature of these skis certainly make switch riding an option.
  • Stability: The M-Frees have little to no chatter, even at very high speeds. The hybrid poplar & PU core make these a bit of a damper ski.

Issues I’ve Encountered

  • Powder: For my all-mountain ski, the M-Free 99 does a great job in powder, but I would hesitate to pull them out on a day of fresh powder if I had a wider option. They do particularly well in powdery chop, so they’re great later in the day, but if I had a 110+ underfoot ski available when there was a fresh dump of snow, I’d still grab those over the M-Frees.
  • Weight: Though a reasonable weight, I wouldn’t consider these skis notably light (the 179s come in at 1850g).

Favorite moment with this gear

Last season was a particularly low tide and rocky season at Big Sky Resort, my home mountain, so I was pretty nervous about taking my fresh skis out and risking destroying them. However, I needn’t have worried so much—these skis are surprisingly resilient against the vicious shale. Of course, they didn’t come out scratch-free. But while others in my group were doing base repairs, I was sipping a latte in the base lodge—my skis eagerly awaiting our next run.

Value for the money vs. other options

Besides graphics, the M-Free 99s and the M-Free 99 Opens are virtually the same—and even the graphics are pretty similar. For their price, I think these skis are a screaming deal. Even at a slightly higher price, I’d still consider them a solid purchase, and I’m certainly a deal hunter when it comes to my skis and gear.

Final verdict

The Dynastar M-Free 99s are certainly one of my favorite skis (and I’ve owned and tested a lot of skis). Their versatility and great performance in many different types of terrain and in a variety of snow conditions made it a really easy ski to feel comfortable on immediately, and one that makes me feel like I ski more gracefully with.

Alex Kobrin, Ski Expert
Alex Kobrin
Ski Expert
Born and raised in Burlington, Vermont, I first hit the slopes when I was just 1 year old. After ski racing through high school and being captain of my high school ski team, I went to a college that owned its very own ski slope! I was also the college ambassador for Sugarbush resort all through college. After college, I moved to Boston for a few years, where I was a volunteer ski trip leader for the Boston Ski and Sports Club. About five years ago, I moved to Bozeman, Montana in search of bigger mountains and more powder, and my passion for skiing has only continued to grow! I have my Avy 1 certification, and spend plenty of time in the backcountry as well as at the local resorts. In addition to my alpine skiing experience, I also am a big nordic skier. I am a member of the local adult nordic ski team and enjoy participating in distance races. I’m excited to share my extensive knowledge to help get you set up with some great gear!
Share article:

Curated experts can help

Have a question about the article you just read or want personal recommendations? Connect with a Curated expert and get free recommendations for whatever you’re looking for!
Written by:
Alex Kobrin, Ski Expert
Alex Kobrin
Ski Expert
Born and raised in Burlington, Vermont, I first hit the slopes when I was just 1 year old. After ski racing through high school and being captain of my high school ski team, I went to a college that owned its very own ski slope! I was also the college ambassador for Sugarbush resort all through college. After college, I moved to Boston for a few years, where I was a volunteer ski trip leader for the Boston Ski and Sports Club. About five years ago, I moved to Bozeman, Montana in search of bigger mountains and more powder, and my passion for skiing has only continued to grow! I have my Avy 1 certification, and spend plenty of time in the backcountry as well as at the local resorts. In addition to my alpine skiing experience, I also am a big nordic skier. I am a member of the local adult nordic ski team and enjoy participating in distance races. I’m excited to share my extensive knowledge to help get you set up with some great gear!

Read next

New and Noteworthy