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PTO Review
We know them. Here's how they stack up.
These skis span 2 categories (All-Mountain, All-Mountain Freestyle). Scores reflect each ski's intended use — direct comparison across all dimensions may be misleading.
Mentis Freebird — uphill-first ski tourers and ski-mo fitness skiers: multi-day traverses and big-vertical spring missions where low weight compounds day after day, and spring steep-skiing on firm snow where the long effective edge earns its keep.. 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 | Mentis Freebird | Bent 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Carving | 5 | 6🏆 |
| Park | 1 | 7🏆 |
| Playfulness | 3 | 9🏆 |
| Forgiveness | 3 | 8🏆 |
| Stability | 3 | 5🏆 |
| Powder | 2 | 6🏆 |
Uphill-first ski tourers and ski-mo fitness skiers: multi-day traverses and big-vertical spring missions where low weight compounds day after day, and spring steep-skiing on firm snow where the long effective edge earns its keep. It rewards experienced touring skiers with smooth technique who can pilot an ultra-light ski through mixed snow.
The vast majority of resort and lift-served skiers - this is a sub-1,000g touring specialist with no damping reserve for resort speeds or cut-up afternoon snow, and Black Crows builds its piste and all-mountain skis for those days. Powder skiers - 80mm of waist and minimal tip rocker add up to weak float; one independent review calls the surface area deficient for real float. One-ski-quiver buyers - it gives up too much downhill breadth and soft-snow range to be anyone's single ski. Skiers who want damp, high-speed charging - the ultra-low mass transmits vibration and chatters when snow is refrozen or cut up. Breakable-crust days as a habitat - it will get you down, but slowly and roughly. And World-Cup-level skimo racers chasing an absolute minimum: dedicated race skis are lighter still.
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.
Mentis Freebird is best for uphill-first ski tourers and ski-mo fitness skiers: multi-day traverses and big-vertical spring missions where low weight compounds day after day, and spring steep-skiing on firm snow where the long effective edge earns its keep. 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.
Atomic Bent 100 has the highest Stability score in this comparison at 5/10. 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.
