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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.
TOUR 95 — skiers who walk uphill in order to ski down.. 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 | TOUR 95 | Bent 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Carving | 4 | 6🏆 |
| Park | 1 | 7🏆 |
| Playfulness | 5 | 9🏆 |
| Forgiveness | 6 | 8🏆 |
| Stability | 6🏆 | 5 |
| Powder | 8🏆 | 6 |
Skiers who walk uphill in order to ski down. If the descent is the reason for the day - steep lines, deep north-facing snow, couloirs - and you would rather carry a little more ski than arrive on top with something you do not want to point downhill, this is the ski Van Deer built for that. It also suits a self-directed buyer who already knows their touring setup and does not need a published test to commit.
Skiers whose priority is the climb. Van Deer puts the RACE TOUR 65 at segments 1-2 and the TOUR 75 at 1-3 on its own uphill-downhill scale, and this ski at 5-7; it is telling you where its uphill work went, and it did not go here. Skiers who want one all-conditions touring ski rather than a deep-snow specialist should buy the TOUR 85 instead - same $1,000, same three lengths, same three radii, ten millimetres narrower and 80 grams per ski lighter, and Van Deer's own word for it is balanced. Skiers who ride lifts want the FREERIDE 98, which carries two full sheets of Titanal and 730 g more per ski. Anyone expecting a complete package should know the $1,000 buys a bare ski: the skin is $280 extra, and Van Deer sells no binding for it.
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.
TOUR 95 is best for skiers who walk uphill in order to ski down. 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.
Van Deer TOUR 95 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.
