Part of Volkl Skis VTA lightweight touring category, the 98mm comes in alongside the 108mm as new additions to a range that now includes seven models. The 98mm version strikes a good balance between going up - they are light enough for short, fast skins up your favourite route, and going down, even in the deepest powder snow conditions.
Let's start with the warm up run - they are a joy to ride on hardpack, despite looking like it's the last place they want to be. Light, snappy and great edge hold means that you can have fun, even when it's not a powder day. We even took them through the moguls and they didn't complain once.
This versatility continues when you get them into their natural habitat, zipping through deep snow like a full-on freeride ski, which essentially they are, just lighter than most.
The only small criticism we have is when the tip flaps a little at higher speeds on groomed slopes, but you'd expect this from most touring skis and we'd be surprised if it was any other way.
At a £530 price point for the flat ski, they provide great value for money - real quality build skis that tick all the boxes for a freeride skier who likes to hike and skin on a regular basis.
The stand out skis in the touring category for us for the 2017-18 winter, ideal for strong skiers who are looking to short, terrain access based tours.
