About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the skis, which I purchased with my own money in September of 2022.

My take

The Line Sir Francis Bacon is a remarkable freestyle all-mountain ski and a surprisingly capable carving ski. These skis would work well for beginner freestyle skiers but are also suitable for more advanced riders who like a softer ski. The 2023 model is the same as the 2022 ski but with a different topsheet.

About the gear

• Model: 2023 Line Sir Francis Bacon
• Size: 184

About me

• Height: 6’3”
• Weight: 175lbs
• Experience: 16 years of snowboarding/skiing

Test conditions

• When I bought these: September 2022
• Days tested: 10
• Mount position: +.5 cm from recommended
• Boots: 2021 Atomic Hawx Primer 130
• Boot Size: 26.5
• Bindings: 2022 Salomon Warden 13
• Where I’ve used it: Brighton, Snowbasin
• Terrain: Park, groomers, all-mountain

How they perform

What I was looking for

I wanted a playful ski that I could still have fun on around the mountain and take through the park. Before this, I had a pair of K2 Poachers that were fine in the park but weren’t that fun to carve and a little stiff for bending the tips and tails.

Why I chose this gear

I chose the Line Sir Francis Bacons in part because of how much I have loved previous skis designed by Eric Pollard. For my skiing style, I felt the softer flex and tighter sidecut of the Bacon would make it more enjoyable for me in most snow conditions. There are many good options in the all-mountain freestyle category, like the K2 Reckoner 102, Line Chronic, and Faction Prodigy 2.0. At the end of the day, I chose the Bacon over these other options because I wanted a unique skiing experience. The Bacon has a very different shape and design compared to other freestyle skis.

What I love about them

• Edge hold: The edge hold is quite good for a 107mm twin-tip freestyle ski. It still will not grip on icy groomers like a true carving ski, but even on really firm days, I can slide around on these comfortably.
• Turns: It does not take much speed for the Bacons to come alive. The large effective edge, soft flex, and huge noses make them easy to initiate tight turns. While the Bacon can make larger radius turns, it wants to make (and excels at) small to medium ones.
• Groomers: If the groomers are even a bit soft, I can’t think of a ski I would rather be on to carve. The Bacon is what I call a “playful carver,” and I can’t help but smile when I put them on edge on corduroy.
• Powder: Awesome float for a 107mm ski. The Bacon has fully convex tips and tails which is supposed to make them easier to surf around in deep snow. I am unsure if the convexity is just marketing hype, but I find them to float well and be very loose in soft snow.
• Trees: These skis are very maneuverable. I would not hesitate to recommend them to someone who likes tree skiing or skiing in tight terrain in general.
• Park: The Bacons are a little wider than a typical park ski, but they feel very at home there. They are stiff enough to be decently supportive on jumps but are one of the easiest skis I have ever been on for buttering and playing around. They also grip just fine on rails.
• Backcountry: I haven’t used them as a touring ski, but they are certainly light enough to put a touring or 50/50 binding on.
• Durability: I only have 10 days on them, but I haven’t had any issues.
• Switch riding: With a nearly symmetrical design and close to the center mount point, these carve switch as well as they carve forward.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Speed: This is a soft and light ski. It is not made to go Mach 10 around the resort. If someone approaches terrain in a playful light-on-their-feet kind of way, they can still ski hard, but if they’re looking for a monster truck, go with a heavier and stiffer freestyle ski like the Armada ARV 106.
• Weight: This could have also been put on the positive sections depending on one’s priorities. The Bacon is a light ski. As such, it is quick, light in the air, and can be used as a 50/50 ski. The lack of mass does mean it can get knocked around quite a bit in rough snow.
• Stability: As I have alluded to above, this is not a stable ski. But what it lacks in stability, it makes up for in pop and playfulness.

Favorite moment with this gear

I brought the Bacons out for an early season jump session this season at Brighton. It had been over six months since I had thrown anything on skis, but from the moment I clicked in, these skis felt intuitive on the ground and in the air. Every time I have taken these skis up, I have had a good time regardless of the conditions.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Line Sir Francis Bacon comes in at a similar price point to other freestyle skis on the market +/-$100. What I personally like about the Bacons compared to skis like the K2 Reckoner 102, Line Chronic, and Faction Prodigy 2.0 is a skiing experience that is unlike anything else on the market.

Final verdict

If someone wants maximum playfulness in an all-mountain ski, look no further than the Line Sir Francis Bacon. It is not the most stable or versatile ski, but that won't matter if they want to spin and butter off every feature in and out of the park.