The Kästle DX85 wasn’t so much a new ski last year as it was a re-christening of a pre-existing one, the 2019 LX85.  As Kästle’s de facto women’s ski, the LX85 was a perennial Power Pick among Women’s All-Mountain East skis, probably the most competitive segment in the U.S. market. But as a unisex model in its guise as the DX85, it lacks the same performance profile. Note the unusually short size range for a men’s ski – 160,168,176 – that suggests Kästle is targeting lower skill skiers with the DX85.

The other tip-off that Kästle isn’t after the same customer who gravitates to its exquisite MX series is the DX85’s MSRP of $699 ($799 with binding).  At that tariff, the DX85 is one of the least expensive Kästles ever offered.  This makes it a deal for the same skiers who were the original target of the LX85, namely women.  Even though the DX85 cuts off its size run at 160cm, there’s a DX85 W (at the same price points) that tacks on 152cm and 144cm options for the most petite pilots.