Dynafit Manaslu Ski - 2009 BCS

These skis helped me tour like a bat out of hell due to their fantasticly low weight for the width. Dynafit really nailed it with the tip on this ski too. It raises up well while breaking trail, which saves energy and time and equals more turns or down in time for a nap after the beers! This is the ski I chose to bring for an expedition to the Wrangle-Saint Elias range in AK, where I was limited to one pair of skis. As a light weight all around ski the Manaslu has no equal. It handled powder, wind blown and breakable well. Sure, a heavier, fatter ski would always be nice on the way down, but you have to get up and the getting up on heavy skis sucks! So the compromise in stability in variable conditions is worth the weight savings on the way up. And these skis ride like bigger boards than they are with a very nice rise in the tip.

Bottom line: Excellent touring ski that skis bigger than it is and is a pleasure on both the up and the down!

This ski is the progression of the Dynafit system. You love their bindings and now you can love their skis. The inserts are confidence inspiring, and keep the weight low by minimizing the binding platform.

The tip makes the ski feel even wider than its 95 mm, which has been a favorite width of mine for years. Great for deep powder, good for the steeps, pretty versatile ski. Easy skiing, very playful.

The tip also helps when breaking trail, it floats the already light ski to the surface, making gaining vertical easier. way easier.

There is a reason this is the Backcountry editors choice.

Buy and enjoy.

I have seen a fair number of clients and guides in training this winter and last using these skis. The weight and very light tip rocker make them quite a good ski for the fast and far touring days for sure, but I have also seen 2 broken pairs this winter, and also have noticed lots of bigger, stronger skiers over power these skis, or get tossed around in anything but fresh pow. If you want to ski endless fields of powder, this is probably a great choice, but expect to be bounced around in other conditions. But really, who wants to ski anything but deep pow?

I have been skiing the Manaslu 187 with Dynafit Vertical ST, ZZero Boots for 2010-11 season. This setup has turned into my primary skiing setup and have since retired my old traditonal alpine setup. I have been skiing back country, side country and resorts and don't want go back to my old 20+ lb setup. These skis are light, great to skin and hike as well as ski. I am a advanced/expert skier and like the steeps. I ski fast and in control and have had no major issues with the skis performance. These are not GS racing ski's but will get you down the mountain quickly and securely.
I'm 6.0ft 190 lb and have had no issues with pre-release with this ski-binding combo.

I bought these realizing they were really light and would be a compromise. The first time I skiied these I went from 4 days on my alpine powder setup (193cm 4frnt EHPs, Rossignol 15 din bindings and Lange Banshee Pro boots) and spent two days skiing the Manaslus with dynafit ST and Garmont Radiums. I thought it would be a tough comparison, but had a blast on this setup. Overall the Manaslu's rock - very good in powder, reasonable on softish groomed runs and bumps and overall great fun. They're great for skining and breaking trail in powder, and being light are comfortable to carry on bootpacks. On real icy hardpack conditions they do tend to chatter and slide at speed, but it's manageable and better than I expected for such light skis. I'm 6' and weigh 200lbs and had therefore been wary of such a light setup. I'm excited to get them out on multi-day ski traverses in the Cascades and BC, where I think they will excel. Just going to take it easy on real hardpack/icy conditions.

I'm 225 lbs and I put over 70 days in the backcountry on 187 Manaslus this season using TLT5 Mountains, Zzero 3s, and Zzero 4s in everything from deep light powder, to heavy powder, packed powder, sastrugi, breakable crust, heavy wet snow, and corn snow. Short turns, long turns, slow turns, fast turns, no worry; up and out of all the deep snow with no fuss. A very easy ski to ski, very forgiving and very powerful for its weight. A great all-around ski, but now on ice, frozen snow, and corn I use my 178 Seven Summits, which are only a pound lighter but roll so easy from edge to edge on firm snow and are so quick to make very tight turns on firm snow.

I love these skis! I ran the 187's with the dynafit bindings on a demo day at Alta and the rocked! In free heel mode it feels like ther's nothing there. The skiis ase stiff but not too much. Tips float well.

These skis feel great under foot and ski well in a large variety of conditions. However, the inserts are not to be trusted. I had a pair of Dynafit FT12 bindings mounted on my manaslus at a dynafit-certified shop. Then, 3 months later after about 25 days of touring, I ripped the insert of out the ski. Not just the screws-- the inserts came with. And this was on moderate terrain. Had this happened 10 minutes earlier, I might not be writing this. Dynafit offered me a full refund, but no explanation. Having talked to friends at a couple ski shops, this isn't an isolated problem, but is a recurring one with this ski. I can't recommend this ski to anyone who needs a no-fail system.

Just started skiing this with Dynafit TLT vertical FT Z12 as bindings. Very light, unbelievably light. However, I do think you sacrifice a turning performance on hard pack and ice. They felt like they railed out of control quickly on an icy groomer. Perhaps they came with a bad tune from the factory? I purchased these for a long spring tour in the Sierra, now I am having second thoughts since I am not confident they will do well on steep frozen spring snow. I also wish they had more sidecut to them, they were not near as responsive as Atomic Kailas, or K2 World Piste.

great ski. I'm doing backcountry in the sierras out of Reno/Tahoe area. Performed well for me regardless of snow conditions, even packed up for multiday trips. Awesome in big snow conditions. Only gripe was that the plastic tip for the dynafit skins broke off. They are sending me a new one, and I hope that's the end of it. I'm 5'10" 165 lbs, and riding the 178. Using matching zzero boots and dynafit bindings. Overall, excellent setup. CAUTION: The Dynafit skins just don't cut it in the heavier, wet sierra snow. I'm switching to the BD Ascensions.

Going on my third season with this ski and probably 80 days or so (80% bc, 20% area.) I like long tours and things like the Haute Route that involve variable snow and lots of wine. The Manaslu is awesome in pow, although most skis should handle consistent or powder snow. Where I have been surprised is in windjack and other variable snow like one finds in Colorado - they do quite well. Only 2 stars for mank and refrozen junk but these skis aren't meant to destroy the chop and I avoid that crap anyway. Construction is excellent for the weight. I ski these early season and have skied over pepper and cheese graters and shark fins and everything has held up nicely.

I love how these ski: they float nicely in powder and for a light ski are very stable at high speeds. They even handle breakable crust pretty well. Problem is, they break, and when they break Dynafit does not stand behind them. I broke a pair in my first season on them, right under the front binding mount. Dynafit said Tough Luck. Bummer. Although I love how they ski, I would not buy another pair. Don't want to end up stranded on some long tour with a broken ski, and out another $600.

When starting to look for an AT setup my friend told me to buy the lightest stuff I could afford. I went with these skis and they rock. I have skied 3 14ers with them along with a bunch of other back country and they ride great. They work great in the crap snow you find at the summit of most 14ers and they are awesome in the POW. I rode them down Baldy Chute at Alta and they were excellent. They are mounted towards the back of the ski so they don't ride bumps at the resort very well - but you don't buy these skis to ride at the resorts!

This is my 2nd year with these skis and I have been very pleased. I have the Dynafit TLT vertical FT Z12 binding and the Manaslu Speedkins. The set is ultra light and the pre cut skins are awesome. This is a great backcountry touring setup. The skis perform great in the powder and steeps. Highly recommend this set up for ski Mountaineering and touring.