Volkl Revolt 96 Review: The Park Ski That Holds an Edge

The Volkl Revolt 96 is a park and urban freestyle ski with a 96 mm waist, reinforced edges and full sidewall construction, and it holds an edge far better than most skis aimed at rails. It runs 126/96/117 through every length, uses Volkl's 3D Radius Sidecut, and weighs from 1,805 g at 157 cm to 2,095 g at 181 cm. It is a freestyle ski that can actually be skied on hardpack, which is a rarer combination than it sounds.

In this article

• Volkl Revolt 96 specs
• What 3D Radius Sidecut does
• How it skis
• Why the dual-density core matters
• What length should you get?
• How we tune it
• FAQ

Volkl Revolt 96 specs

Tip and tail rocker with camber underfoot, a multilayer dual-density woodcore, and full sidewall construction with a mini cap overlay. The 2027 graphics are by Italian artist Emiliano Donaggio, the fifth year of Volkl's Built Together project.

Sold flat, no binding

Volkl Revolt 96

The narrow one in the Revolt family. Built for rails, park and everything on the way there.

$599.99 See lengths →

What 3D Radius Sidecut does

Most skis have one radius. The Revolt 96 has three, listed above as R1, R2 and R3. Long radii toward the tip and tail make big turns stable and easy to steer. A tighter radius through the middle makes short turns quick to start.

In practice this is why the ski feels quicker than its stated numbers suggest. At 173 cm the headline radius is 19.9 m, which sounds like a long-turn ski, but the 17.0 m centre section is what you are actually loading when you tip it over for a short turn.

How it skis

Poppy and stable. The camber underfoot gives it genuine rebound off a lip, and the reinforced edges and full sidewalls mean it survives contact with metal. What surprises people is how composed it is on a firm groomer on the way back to the lift. A lot of park skis are vague once you leave the features. This one is not.

At 96 mm it is narrow enough to get on edge quickly and wide enough to handle a few inches of fresh without feeling lost. For a Front Range skier who spends real time in the park at Eldora or Winter Park but still has to ski the rest of the mountain to get there, that is the right width.

Why the dual-density core matters

Volkl's multilayer woodcore puts a stiffer hardwood along the sidewalls and a lighter, softer wood through the centre. The hard outer wood is where your edge pressure goes, so that is where the power transmission happens. The soft centre is mass you do not need, so removing it drops swing weight.

The practical result is a ski that feels lighter to spin than its listed weight and firmer underfoot than its flex pattern suggests. That is deliberate, and it is a better answer than simply building the whole ski soft.

What length should you get?

Park skiers tend to size down for spin and rail work, all-mountain skiers size up for stability. Volkl's own sizing guide puts a 5 ft 6 in skier at 170 cm expert or 160 cm intermediate, and a 5 ft 9 in skier at 177 or 167.

• 157 cm: smaller skiers, or a dedicated rail setup
• 165 cm: around 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 8 in, or taller skiers who want it short for park
• 173 cm: around 5 ft 8 in to 6 ft, the most all-round length
• 181 cm: taller and heavier skiers, or anyone skiing it as an everyday ski

How we tune it

Detune the contact points. A park ski with factory-sharp edges at the tip and tail will grab on a rail and hook on landings, and that is the single most common thing we fix on new freestyle skis. Keep the edge sharp underfoot where you need grip, and take it off where the ski touches metal.

Beyond that, this ski wants wax more often than a resort ski does. Rails and concrete are hard on a base.

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 96 good for beginners?

It is a reasonable first freestyle ski for someone who can already link turns, because it is forgiving and narrow enough to learn on. It is not a first ski for a true beginner.

Can you ski the Revolt 96 all over the mountain?

Yes, within reason. At 96 mm with camber underfoot and full sidewalls it handles groomers and a few inches of fresh comfortably. It is not a powder ski.

How much does the Volkl Revolt 96 weigh?

From 1,805 g per ski at 157 cm up to 2,095 g at 181 cm. The 173 cm sits at 1,985 g.

What is the difference between the Revolt 96 and the Revolt 101?

The 101 is wider underfoot and skis directionally rather than as a true park twin, with a flattened tail and a more forward bias. The 96 is the more park-focused of the two.

Does the Revolt 96 come with bindings?

No. It is sold flat. Volkl's recommended pairing is a Marker Griffon X 13 with a 105 mm brake, and we mount and torque test in shop.

Related reading: What Size Skis Do I Need? and Bindings Are Safety Equipment, Not Just Hardware. Specs sourced from Volkl.