Review: Völkl Revolt 96 Skis · 2024
Published on 07/15/2023 · 3 min readCurated Ski Expert Jake Renner shares his experience with using the 2024 Völkl Revolt 96 Skis. Note that experts are not sponsored by any brands; these are their honest opinions.By Ski Expert
Jake Renner
5 photos
The Curated Take
4.1/5
The Volkl Revolt 96 skis are ideal for freestyle skiers seeking stability, carving performance, and durability in various terrains. The ski's 96mm underfoot width, camber underfoot, and medium-length turn radius enable controlled carving and easy turns. The full tip and tail rocker and authoritative edge hold assure high-speed stability. The Revolt 96 is playful with a medium to firm flex rating and pop. It offers significant durability with a full-edge wrap and improved minicap sidewall. It's an affordable, versatile, and durable ski for freestyle skiers, although not suited for deep powder conditions.
Ideal for
- Pop underfoot due to the camber and the relatively firm flex rating result in a great ski for jumping
- Full tip/tail rocker allows for a playful ride and ease in skiing switch
- Continual edge wrap in the nose and tail, along with the improved sidewall design, allows this ski to last longer than other twin-tipped skis
Not ideal for
- A little bit of movement in the nose/tail at high speed when flat on hardpacked terrain
- 96mm underfoot does not provide the float needed on a powder day of more than 6-9" of fresh snow
Flotation
Unfortunately, 96mm underfoot is not enough width to keep me on top of the snow when I get into those deeper mid-winter days! It holds up well in light, fresh...Read more
Carving
The Revolt 96 has a bit of camber underfoot that makes me feel stable and provides a bit of energy, propelling me from edge to edge when carving groomers. A...Read more
High Speed Stability
I notice a little movement in this ski's nose at super high speeds, especially if I'm going fast straight with my skis flat on a bit of hardpacked snow or...Read more
Playfulness
The Revolt 96 provides stability at higher speeds underfoot while keeping its tips and tails relatively easy to swing around and butter on. If one preloads the nose and tail...Read more
Durability
The continual edge wrap is important for twin-tipped skis, as there is a lot of flexing. Sometimes the edge can pop out of the ski, causing it to fall apart...Read more
Turn Ease
The Volkl Revolt 96 is a maneuverable and nimble ski that is easy to turn and pivot on if I'm in a mogul field, with light amounts of fresh snow,...Read more
Versatility
The Revolt 96 has held up well in the various terrains and conditions I skied in. Felt quite at home in the terrain park and on jumps while carving well...Read more
Expert Reviews of the Völkl Revolt 96 Skis
Jake Renner My first impression of the Revolt 96 is this ski shreds. I have a blast on it. It has a light swingweight with a full tip and tail rocker, and a bit of camber underfoot provides pop. At the same time, a relatively firm flex rating holds my edge smooth, even at higher speeds. A little bit of movement in the nose because of the tip rocker, but it holds up stable. It's relatively firm throughout the ski and underfoot, so if someone hits bigger jumps, this ski is for them.
Carving is intuitive and easy. Its very smooth edge-to-edge transition proves surprisingly nimble, given the 96mm underfoot width. The ski also has a full tip and tail edge wrap in the nose and tail. It creates a more durable ski that won’t pop out its edges if someone hits rails and is an aggressive freestyle skier. The new improvement to the sidewall, combined with the continual edging throughout the nose and tail, provides a more durable construction than last year's model and most other twin-tipped skis.
Review Ratings
Flotation
3/5
Jake Renner gave 3 of 5 stars. Unfortunately, 96mm underfoot is not enough width to keep me on top of the snow when I get into those deeper mid-winter days! It holds up well in light, fresh snow of 6" or so, but I wouldn't recommend using this ski in powder. Rather, I recommend bumping it up to the Revolt 104 or something a touch wider to help with flotation in the fresh stuff!
Carving
4/5
Jake Renner gave 4 of 5 stars. The Revolt 96 has a bit of camber underfoot that makes me feel stable and provides a bit of energy, propelling me from edge to edge when carving groomers. A medium-length turn radius allows me to pick and choose my turns as opposed to being forced into a tight turn radius or held from feeling quick and nimble by a longer turn radius.
High Speed Stability
4/5
Jake Renner gave 4 of 5 stars. I notice a little movement in this ski's nose at super high speeds, especially if I'm going fast straight with my skis flat on a bit of hardpacked snow or ice. When in a carve and transitioning from edge to edge, this ski remains damp with an authoritative edge hold.
Playfulness
4/5
Jake Renner gave 4 of 5 stars. The Revolt 96 provides stability at higher speeds underfoot while keeping its tips and tails relatively easy to swing around and butter on. If one preloads the nose and tail to butter, be prepared for a bit of pop and air it out. This ski offers a medium to firm flex rating that keeps it relatively damp while remaining playful.
Durability
5/5
Jake Renner gave 5 of 5 stars. The continual edge wrap is important for twin-tipped skis, as there is a lot of flexing. Sometimes the edge can pop out of the ski, causing it to fall apart but not with the Revolt 96! The new and improved minicap sidewall in the nose and tail prevents this ski from chipping its topsheet and helps hold its layers together with authority.
Turn Ease
4/5
Jake Renner gave 4 of 5 stars. The Volkl Revolt 96 is a maneuverable and nimble ski that is easy to turn and pivot on if I'm in a mogul field, with light amounts of fresh snow, trees, or hardpacked and groomed snow. I can ski switch and turn just as easily as I would ski forward, thanks to the ski's symmetrical rocker profile and shape.
Versatility
5/5
Jake Renner gave 5 of 5 stars. The Revolt 96 has held up well in the various terrains and conditions I skied in. Felt quite at home in the terrain park and on jumps while carving well on hardpacked snow and groomers. The 96mm underfoot width provides a little more float than a narrower ski without feeling too bulky to carve on.
FAQs
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Jake Renner I had a blast in the terrain park at Woodward Copper on a slushy spring day. The jumps were firing, and I took a few laps in the park to put together my jump line. Felt really intuitive for jumping and spinning/landing switch. The Revolt 96 was supremely easy to get my spins around on. It held up stable at higher speeds and remains firm and poppy underfoot. I was stoked to have these skis stay on my feet with demo bindings and execute the aerials I aimed to land. All in all, I had a blast in the terrain park during this slushy spring day.
Why did you choose this product?
Jake Renner The Volkl Revolt 96 has continual edging that wraps around the nose and tail without separating, allowing this ski to hold up better than competitors after days of bashing it on rails. The medium to firm flex rating combined with the camber underfoot provides enough pop and stability for me to remain smooth and steady on even the biggest jump lines. I like a firm flex rating when it comes to twin tips and freestyle skis. The Revolt 96 answered all of my wants.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Jake Renner The Volkl Revolt 96 is affordable for the freestyle community relative to other options. Definitely worth the money. Its solid construction allows me to believe this ski would hold up much longer and result in a more durable build than many of the twin tips on the market today. Very similar to the K2 Poachers and 4FRNT Switch but often priced at a lower level than these two options.
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Jake Renner
Ski Expert1242 Reviews
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