2023 Kastle FX96 W
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Ski Stats

Sidecut 133/96/119
Radius 14m @ 164cm
Lengths 156,164,172
Weight 1705g @ 164cm
MSRP $899
FIND
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The cornerstone of the FX96 W design is a poplar and beech wood core inside a fiberglass torsion box that is itself encased in a laminate, with poplar and Paulownia bookending the central core. The torsion box rides higher than the outer sections, creating a 3D top surface, which is the first weight-saver. Second is the concentration of hard woods in the center, so lighter woods can be used in the remaining 2/3 of the core. Third is using a thicker core profile in the central torsion box, which gives it more power without adding more materials. The proof of the FX96 W’s terrain proclivities is found in its double-rockered baseline. Its shallow camber pocket transitions to a long, gradual front rocker – Kästle refers to it as Progressive Rise - that starts 310cm from the tip. The tail rocker rides up a similarly slight slope 150cm from the tail. This creates a relatively short contact length that works in concert with its slalomesque sidecut (14m @ 164cm) to create a fat ski that skis skinny.

Last year, Kästle completely redesigned its off-trail FX series, returning to a metal laminate construction. Kästle’s FX96 Women, however, wasn’t part of this transformation, returning to the line where it first debuted in the 2019/20 season.

The cornerstone of the FX96 W design is a poplar and beech wood core inside a fiberglass torsion box that is itself encased in a laminate, with poplar and Paulownia bookending the central core. The torsion box rides higher than the outer sections, creating a 3D top surface, which is the first weight-saver. Second is the concentration of hard woods in the center, so lighter woods can be used in the remaining 2/3 of the core. Third is using a thicker core profile in the central torsion box, which gives it more power without adding more materials.

The proof of the FX96 W’s terrain proclivities is found in its double-rockered baseline. Its shallow camber pocket transitions to a long, gradual front rocker – Kästle refers to it as Progressive Rise – that starts 310cm from the tip. The tail rocker rides up a similarly slight slope 150cm from the tail.  This creates a relatively short contact length that works in concert with its slalomesque sidecut (14m @ 164cm) to create a fat ski that skis skinny.

Another key contributor to the FX96 W’s well-buffered ride is the latest iteration of Kästle’s signature Hollowtech tip. Hollowtech 3.0 takes up almost all the territory in the shovel. Its purpose is to absorb as much shock as possible in the FX96 W’s tapered tip so the camber zone behind it can do its work undisturbed.

Having a little less ski over the edge helps the FX96 W ride a “soft edge” that is ready, willing and able to drift. This gives the ski a multi-axis smear factor so it can roll over terrain whether aimed directly at it or coming in from any angle up to and including sideways. “Kästle finesse reigns supreme, even in super deep powder,” marvels The Sport Loft’s Margit Caine.

For the way it removes all the rough edges associated with skiing off trail, we again award the Kästle FX96 W a Silver Skier Selection.

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Women’s Test Data Advisory

Please be advised that our 2022 women’s ski reviews do not show any test data, on either our public or members’ sites. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we haven’t been able to collect sufficient test results to justify showing a statistical summary.

While Realskiers members won’t be able to see stats on women’s reviews, they will see a longer, more in-depth narrative than what’s posted on our public site.

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