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PTO Review
We know them. Here's how they stack up.
These skis span 2 categories (Freeride, All-Mountain Freestyle). Scores reflect each ski's intended use — direct comparison across all dimensions may be misleading.
Draco Freebird — advanced-to-expert tourers heading out for big lines and couloirs who will take extra grams for a stronger ride down - especially skiers with a loose, pivot-happy style, or as the big-mountain half of a two-ski touring quiver next to a lighter everyday tourer.. Bent 100 — intermediate and better skiers who value a light, quick, playful ride and drive the ski with finesse rather than muscle.. Check the radar chart below to see where each one wins.
Each row compares all skis on one dimension. 🏆 marks the highest score.
| Dimension | Draco Freebird | Bent 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Carving | 5 | 6🏆 |
| Park | 3 | 7🏆 |
| Playfulness | 8 | 9🏆 |
| Forgiveness | 3 | 8🏆 |
| Stability | 6🏆 | 5 |
| Powder | 6🏆 | 6🏆 |
Advanced-to-expert tourers heading out for big lines and couloirs who will take extra grams for a stronger ride down - especially skiers with a loose, pivot-happy style, or as the big-mountain half of a two-ski touring quiver next to a lighter everyday tourer.
Gram counters and uphill-first tourers: at 1,700-1,925 g per ski on a 110-112 mm platform the skin-track penalty is real, and the lighter Mentis, Ova and Orb are the tools for distance days. Telemark skiers: Black Crows explicitly prohibits mounting telemark bindings on this ski. Cautious or passive skiers: the firm flex and 21-23 m radius give nothing back without commitment. Groomer-primary skiers are buying the wrong ski outright. And anyone expecting maximum deep-snow float from a wide ski should look at the Nocta - independent reviews call the Draco's float average for its width.
Intermediate and better skiers who value a light, quick, playful ride and drive the ski with finesse rather than muscle. It rewards people who like to press, slash and ride switch, plus lighter or less aggressive skiers who do not want to fight a heavy ski, and anyone after one do-it-all ski that still floats on a soft day. It also makes a light resort-to-sidecountry option.
Skiers who want a metal ski's hard-snow bite and race-like precision: with a light woodcore and no metal laminate, the Bent 100 handles a groomer but will not match a metal ski's edge hold on firm snow or feel as locked-in on ice. Heavier, aggressive skiers who charge through cut-up crud will feel the light build deflect - a metal all-mountain ski like the Nordica Enforcer 100 tracks that line better. True beginners should skip it too; independent reviews place it at intermediate and up. And if deep powder is the priority, the wider Bent 110 or Chetler 120 is the better tool.
Draco Freebird is best for advanced-to-expert tourers heading out for big lines and couloirs who will take extra grams for a stronger ride down - especially skiers with a loose, pivot-happy style, or as the big-mountain half of a two-ski touring quiver next to a lighter everyday tourer. Bent 100 is best for intermediate and better skiers who value a light, quick, playful ride and drive the ski with finesse rather than muscle. The right choice depends on your terrain, ability, and riding style.
Black Crows Draco Freebird has the highest Stability score in this comparison at 6/10. That score compares composure; it does not by itself mean the product is the most versatile choice.
Atomic Bent 100 leads Carving in this comparison with a PTO score of 6/10.
Atomic Bent 100 has the highest Forgiveness score here at 8/10. Forgiveness is one factor in progression, not a claim that every beginner should choose it.
Not sure? Ask us.
