Volkl Revolt 101 Review: The Everyday Driver

The Volkl Revolt 101 looks like a park twin and skis like a directional all-mountain ski, and that contradiction is the point. It runs 133/101/115 with a flattened tail, a three-radius 3D sidecut and weights from 2,080 g at 168 cm to 2,300 g at 189 cm. It is built for the skier who wants freestyle shaping without giving up the ability to actually carve, which describes a lot of Front Range skiers.

In this article

• Volkl Revolt 101 specs
• Twin-shaped, directional skiing
• How it skis
• Why the dual-density core matters
• How it handles a Front Range season
• Revolt 101 or Revolt 96?
• What length should you get?
• How we tune it
• FAQ

Volkl Revolt 101 specs

Tip and tail rocker with camber underfoot, multilayer dual-density woodcore, full sidewall with a mini cap overlay. We stock all four lengths.

All four lengths in stock

Volkl Revolt 101

168, 175, 182 and 189 cm. The everyday ski in the Revolt family.

$749.99 See lengths →

Twin-shaped, directional skiing

The tail is where this ski gives itself away. A true park twin has a symmetrical, fully rockered tail so it rides switch as happily as forward. The Revolt 101 flattens that tail, which pushes the ski's balance point forward and gives you something to press against at the end of a carve.

You can still ski it switch. But it is happiest driven from the front, and that flat tail is what lets it hold a turn on early-season hardpack in a way a true twin cannot.

How it skis

Quick and surprisingly sharp for a ski this shape. The 15.0 m centre radius at 168 cm is genuinely short, and it makes the ski want to turn as soon as you tip it. On a groomer it will lay a proper arc, which is not something you can say about most freestyle-shaped skis.

Off piste it is capable rather than specialised. At 101 mm with rocker at both ends, it floats adequately in a few inches and works well in trees, but it will not pretend to be a powder ski on a deep day.

The weight is worth noting. At 2,150 g per ski at 175 cm this is not a light ski, and that is what makes it composed when the snow gets chopped up in the afternoon.

Why the dual-density core matters

Volkl builds the Revolt family around a multilayer woodcore that is not one material. A stiffer hardwood runs along the sidewalls, where your edge pressure actually travels, and a lighter, softer wood fills the centre, where mass only adds swing weight.

On the 101 this shows up as a ski that is firm when you stand on the edge and light when you throw it sideways. You get power transmission where it does something and no penalty where it does not. It is a more expensive way to build a ski than a single-density core and it is the reason this one carves better than its shape implies.

How it handles a Front Range season

Colorado gives you firm, wind-scoured mornings and soft afternoons, often on the same run. The Revolt 101 is built for exactly that spread. Early season at Eldora, when coverage is thin and the snow is hard, the flat tail and sharp edge hold give you something to work with. In March, when it is soft by eleven, the rocker and the 101 mm waist stop it feeling like a narrow ski.

What it will not do is replace a dedicated powder ski on a deep day, and it will not match a 72 mm race ski on ice. Everything between those two poles is where it lives, and that covers most days most people ski.

Revolt 101 or Revolt 96?

If you spend most of your time on features, take the 96. If the park is one stop on a full day of skiing, take the 101. Full write-up on the narrower one: Volkl Revolt 96 Review.

What length should you get?

Volkl's sizing guide puts a 5 ft 9 in skier at 177 cm expert or 167 cm intermediate, and a 6 ft skier at 184 or 174. Against that, the four available lengths map roughly like this:

• 168 cm: around 5 ft 5 in to 5 ft 8 in, or anyone wanting it quick
• 175 cm: around 5 ft 8 in to 5 ft 11 in, the most common choice
• 182 cm: around 5 ft 11 in to 6 ft 2 in, or heavier skiers
• 189 cm: tall skiers and anyone skiing fast in open terrain

How we tune it

This one rewards a proper edge. Because the 101 is genuinely meant to carve, keeping the side edge sharp underfoot makes a real difference on firm Colorado mornings. Detune the contact points at tip and tail if you are hitting features, but do not take the edge off the middle of the ski.

Before day one

New Ski Prep

Base prep, edge check and a proper first wax. Add a mount and torque test if you need bindings.

$35 Add prep →

Frequently asked questions

Is the Volkl Revolt 101 a park ski?

It is freestyle-shaped but skis directionally. The flattened tail and forward bias make it better as an everyday all-mountain ski that can handle park laps than as a dedicated park ski.

Can you ski the Revolt 101 switch?

Yes, though not as naturally as a true twin. The flattened tail means switch landings and switch skiing take a little more attention.

How heavy is the Volkl Revolt 101?

From 2,080 g per ski at 168 cm to 2,300 g at 189 cm. The 175 cm is 2,150 g.

Is the Revolt 101 good in powder?

It handles soft snow well for its width, with rocker at both ends and 101 mm underfoot. On a genuinely deep day something wider floats better.

Does the Revolt 101 come with bindings?

No, it is sold flat. Volkl recommends a Marker Griffon X 13 with a 105 mm brake. We mount and torque test in shop.

Related reading: What Size Skis Do I Need? Specs sourced from Volkl.