Jeff is 100% right, if you ski like he describes you will definitely love these skis. Got the m-free 99s at the very end of last season cause I blew out 2 pairs of Line Visions, the 98 and 108 versions, after about 30-35 days of sking on each pair. I had 2 weeks of a long ski trip left so demoed a bunch of skis, Factions, Armada, Atomic, Blizzard, Etc. and fell into the Dynastars, the sales dude was like try these m-free 99s, I was like really Dynastar? Didn't realize I was sleeping on such a good ski, whenever I thought of Dynastar I would think of like stiff racing skis or hard-charging, powerful skis. Now what I would love to see is a version of this ski with carbon stingers like the Visions or Bent Chetlers to give a little extra pop and energy return.
Thanks for your review, I watched this soon after it came out when I was considering the M-free 99. I am 5'8"/155 and found a pair of 179's for a great deal but was concerned about the length. I live in the midwest and my main ski is a Dynastar Speed 763 in 174 for the hard/icy conditions. I bought these mainly to take out west but wanted something that was still at least usable here. Happy to confirm that not only are they usable here, but wow they rip. So much lighter and quicker to turn than the Speed 763s. I have not had them out on a brutal midwest icy day yet, but you were spot on in this review. And as far as the length, the 179 is excellent.
The M-Free is a bit smoother and easier to maneuver in off-piste situations. The Poacher is on the heavier side and doesn't quite have the pop of the M-Free.
Hi Jeff, I'm 5' 10", 150lbs and an intermediate/advanced skier. Would you recommend the 171 or 179 cm model? I'm coming from the bent chetler 100s skiing 172cm and +3.5 from recommended mount point so it would be great to hear your perspective on mount point as well. Thanks!
I'd say the 179 is the way to go based on your stats and application. With these skis, if you're not park specific, right on the factory line works great.
Hello Jeff, great review! I enjoy skiing around the mountain outside of the pist. Also love “making it my playground”. So these skis seem to be almost perfect. But when I’m skiing pist I also love going super fast and carve a bit. Do you think that might be a dealbreaker for not choosing the skis? 5”9 155lbs is the 179 valid?
I think the amount of time you spend at top speeds matters. If it's a majority of the time, then yes, I could see that being a limiting factor of the M-Free 99. If it's lower on the priority/time list, then it's a totally acceptable ski. You're looking for something that aligns with what you do MOST of the time, not the few exceptions. If you want something else to check out that has the playfulness of the 99 but a higher performance on-trail character, I'd take a look at the Salomon QST 98 or the Blizzard Rustler 9 or 10 depending on width.
Hi Jeff, I currently ski Nordica Enforcer 100 in 191. I find that I lack the strength/skill to flick that ski and so tend to keep it away from thicker trees or moguls etc. This ski seems like a perfect complement in that there isn’t much overlap between m-free and enforcer (if any). I ski about 50-50 east to west coast. Would you recommend m-free in 99 or 90 if I was thinking about this as more of the east coast, stay in the glades ski? Thanks so much and merry Christmas
I'd go 99 as it has the upper end build with the poplar core and polyurethane sides--this is a much better build than the paulownia core of the 90. Amazing in the trees and very smooth overall.
I was in a similar boat! I ride enforcer 100 s and I love them but they are exhausting to get down moguls. This year I demoed skis to try to find something to compliment them. I tried the unleashed 98s, the bent 100s, and these. Ultimately the m free seem like they'll be a perfect compliment. I might have chosen the unleashed if I were completely replacing my enforcers, but they felt a little too similar for me to want to carry around both. On the other end of the spectrum the bent 100s were extremely different. At times they were extremely fun, but in variable conditions I found them to be very unpredictable. In contrast the m free were just right. They were enough different from the enforcers that I really appreciated their playfulness, but they had enough similarities that within a couple runs I could absolutely rip with them, unlike the bents which often made me feel like I had no idea what I was doing
Hi, thanks for the review. How does it compare to the bent 100 especially on hard groomers and high speeds. I love the Bents but I sometimes find them to be too soft/not stable enough. Is there a noticable difference when it comes to these kinda things? I dont want to give up too much of the bents playfullness & freestyle capabilities but also want to be able to carve/ski aggressively/fast once in a while. I am also open for other recomendations ;) What do you guys think is the best compromise in the 99 to 106 mm range? ( I am 5ft10 and 140 pounds ) but relatively athletic for my weight :) ) Thank you a lot!
The M-Free feels like a more substantial ski than the Bent, so I'd rather ski it on firmer snow and at higher speeds. My main criticism, personally, is that the M-Free just doesn't come long enough, so the Bent in the 188 might make more sense for bigger and stronger skiers. In the 99 to 106 range, I'd also check out Armada ARV 100 and the Faction Mana 2
Hey guys! Thanks for another awesome review. I would really appreciate your advice. I’m 5’11 185lbs and would say I’m an advanced skier. Currently on the Rossi holyshreds at 182 length. Looking to ski this M Free primarily on east coast and all mountain, with little time in the park. Would you recommend sizing up to the 185 or down to the 179? How might this ski differently in either case? Thank you for the help as always!
Hey guys, thanks for all these awesome videos, they are super helpful. I have the mfree 108s in the 192cm, I am 6ft and 190lbs, favorite ski I have ever been on. I live right next to alta so thats my setup I am trying to build around, the mfree 108 is my daily driver but looking for something to supplement that when conditions get firm, I want to ski moguls, (rare) park laps and groomer ripping. I have the Mfree 99 in a 185cm but feel it skis a bit short even after moving the mount point back a bit BUT I love the shape, progressive flex, mogul ease and playfulness. I also have an older enforcer 100 in a 186cm which is my current early season ripper and firm mid season ski but I dont love that I cannot wash the tails and feel its a bit punishing when not just ripping groomers. I am considering the blizzard rustler 9 in a 186 to be my one ski to replace the other two, would you say I am barking up the right tree? Anything else that blends these two skis I have that I should also consider?
I'd say you're in the right zone for sure--some good stability of the Enforcer mixed with the flotation and playfulness of the M-Free. Line Blade Optic 96 and slightly wider, the Nordica Unleashed 98 also fit that bill.
Hey guys. Im stuck on the M free 90 or 99. Im an intermediate+ skier 5'9 and about 175 lbs. Unfortunately ive been renting for past 10 years and want to own my first pair of skis. The ridings style fits these skis. More playful some park and trying to get into some tree lines with the rentals. I was leaning towards 90 as im used to skiing in Southern CA and AZ, but ive recently moved to CO so wasnt sure if the 99 would be better for this type of snow out here. Also in terms of length ive always been given rentals at about 165 or 168. I know these apparently ride short so youre supposed to size up but is the 177 for the 90 too long. I think the sizes for the 99 go to an 171 which might be more ideal? Any help would be appreicated.
The 99 is built with a poplar hybrid core while the 90 is the paulownia core. As such, the 99 feels smoother and quieter than the 90, especially when you factor in the extra width and surface area. I'd go with the 99 in the 171.
M-Free is considerably more floaty and surfy in the Stowe trees. You do have to work to get the M-Pro to release from the tail, and that keeps it out of the surfy side of the spectrum. I've skied the M-Free in the 179 here in the woods, and while it's too short for me, it was insanely fun and easy to maneuver.
How would fast speeds, carving, and tree skiing on the dynastar m-free 99 compare to the faction prodigy 2? I’m currently on revolt 95s if you could compare them to the revolts that would give me a better idea of how they ski
The Prodigy is a bit more flexible than the M-Free, and that'll take the carving down a notch a bit. I've found the M-Free to be a smoother and more complete ski than either the Prodigy or the Revolt, which I have no problems with, but the M-Free is a very underrated ski when it comes to smoothness, grip, and tree mobility.
Hi. I’m 5’11” 160lbs. Advanced directional skier (70% bumps/trees, 30% groomers). Looking to progress a little more into freestyle (switch, side hits,180s etc but not park). Can’t decide on 179 (true 177) or 185 cm (true 182) for the M Free 99. Prob skied 40+ days on QST 98 183cm-which I liked but occasionally wanted a little shorter in bumps and trees. I just don’t know how much performance would have suffered on groomers with the shorter QST. My gut is saying 179 for the M Free. Also, mount point: factory or +2cm??
Hi SE, im looking for a fun, drifty and really playful ski for resort skiing. Sidehits, smaller jumps and reasonable good carving performance. Im 37 years, advanced, 5'10, 180 lbs. I have the 2023 Qst 106 in 189 for big mountain powder days and just want a second fun but not a park ski. Been looking at m-free 99, Line Chronic 101, armada arv 100, elan playmaker 101, k2 reckoner 102. Also Faction mana 2 and Unleashed 98 but worried they are to much business. All in around 177-185 length. What do you think? Cheers
You're in the right zone for sure. If you're looking for fun, drifty, and playful, though, I'd say the Chronic is worth a very strong look. I love how this ski has some sturdiness underfoot for the reasonable carving and then the tips and tails and the whole rest of the ski is insanely fun and rewarding. I'd keep focus there, and bring in the Reckoner as well for that drifty resort application.
Would this be a good ski for a beginner/intermediate? Not skiing fast, but looking for something easy to turn and maneuvre arond and learn to ski some powder outside the groomers.
There's a bit of weight to this ski, so while it's easy to turn and a lot of fun, it is on the heavier side. The slightly narrower M-Free 90 is lighter and poppier, and that might make more sense for your application. If you want something easier in the ~99mm range, I'd say the Atomic Bent 100 or the K2 Reckoner 102 would be a bit easier than the M-Free 99.
Jeff is 100% right, if you ski like he describes you will definitely love these skis. Got the m-free 99s at the very end of last season cause I blew out 2 pairs of Line Visions, the 98 and 108 versions, after about 30-35 days of sking on each pair. I had 2 weeks of a long ski trip left so demoed a bunch of skis, Factions, Armada, Atomic, Blizzard, Etc. and fell into the Dynastars, the sales dude was like try these m-free 99s, I was like really Dynastar? Didn't realize I was sleeping on such a good ski, whenever I thought of Dynastar I would think of like stiff racing skis or hard-charging, powerful skis. Now what I would love to see is a version of this ski with carbon stingers like the Visions or Bent Chetlers to give a little extra pop and energy return.
I could definitely put in a vote for a slightly stiffer and longer M-Free 99 for myself!
Thanks for your review, I watched this soon after it came out when I was considering the M-free 99. I am 5'8"/155 and found a pair of 179's for a great deal but was concerned about the length. I live in the midwest and my main ski is a Dynastar Speed 763 in 174 for the hard/icy conditions. I bought these mainly to take out west but wanted something that was still at least usable here. Happy to confirm that not only are they usable here, but wow they rip. So much lighter and quicker to turn than the Speed 763s. I have not had them out on a brutal midwest icy day yet, but you were spot on in this review. And as far as the length, the 179 is excellent.
Hi Jeff. I was on some rental k2 poachers. Really enjoyed them. Do you know how these compare? No park riding, mostly off trail riding.
The M-Free is a bit smoother and easier to maneuver in off-piste situations. The Poacher is on the heavier side and doesn't quite have the pop of the M-Free.
Hi Jeff, I'm 5' 10", 150lbs and an intermediate/advanced skier. Would you recommend the 171 or 179 cm model? I'm coming from the bent chetler 100s skiing 172cm and +3.5 from recommended mount point so it would be great to hear your perspective on mount point as well. Thanks!
I'd say the 179 is the way to go based on your stats and application. With these skis, if you're not park specific, right on the factory line works great.
Hello Jeff, great review!
I enjoy skiing around the mountain outside of the pist. Also love “making it my playground”. So these skis seem to be almost perfect. But when I’m skiing pist I also love going super fast and carve a bit. Do you think that might be a dealbreaker for not choosing the skis?
5”9 155lbs is the 179 valid?
I think the amount of time you spend at top speeds matters. If it's a majority of the time, then yes, I could see that being a limiting factor of the M-Free 99. If it's lower on the priority/time list, then it's a totally acceptable ski. You're looking for something that aligns with what you do MOST of the time, not the few exceptions. If you want something else to check out that has the playfulness of the 99 but a higher performance on-trail character, I'd take a look at the Salomon QST 98 or the Blizzard Rustler 9 or 10 depending on width.
Hi Jeff, I currently ski Nordica Enforcer 100 in 191. I find that I lack the strength/skill to flick that ski and so tend to keep it away from thicker trees or moguls etc. This ski seems like a perfect complement in that there isn’t much overlap between m-free and enforcer (if any). I ski about 50-50 east to west coast. Would you recommend m-free in 99 or 90 if I was thinking about this as more of the east coast, stay in the glades ski?
Thanks so much and merry Christmas
I'd go 99 as it has the upper end build with the poplar core and polyurethane sides--this is a much better build than the paulownia core of the 90. Amazing in the trees and very smooth overall.
I was in a similar boat! I ride enforcer 100 s and I love them but they are exhausting to get down moguls. This year I demoed skis to try to find something to compliment them. I tried the unleashed 98s, the bent 100s, and these.
Ultimately the m free seem like they'll be a perfect compliment. I might have chosen the unleashed if I were completely replacing my enforcers, but they felt a little too similar for me to want to carry around both. On the other end of the spectrum the bent 100s were extremely different. At times they were extremely fun, but in variable conditions I found them to be very unpredictable.
In contrast the m free were just right. They were enough different from the enforcers that I really appreciated their playfulness, but they had enough similarities that within a couple runs I could absolutely rip with them, unlike the bents which often made me feel like I had no idea what I was doing
Hi, thanks for the review. How does it compare to the bent 100 especially on hard groomers and high speeds. I love the Bents but I sometimes find them to be too soft/not stable enough. Is there a noticable difference when it comes to these kinda things? I dont want to give up too much of the bents playfullness & freestyle capabilities but also want to be able to carve/ski aggressively/fast once in a while. I am also open for other recomendations ;)
What do you guys think is the best compromise in the 99 to 106 mm range?
( I am 5ft10 and 140 pounds ) but relatively athletic for my weight :) )
Thank you a lot!
The M-Free feels like a more substantial ski than the Bent, so I'd rather ski it on firmer snow and at higher speeds. My main criticism, personally, is that the M-Free just doesn't come long enough, so the Bent in the 188 might make more sense for bigger and stronger skiers. In the 99 to 106 range, I'd also check out Armada ARV 100 and the Faction Mana 2
Hey guys! Thanks for another awesome review. I would really appreciate your advice. I’m 5’11 185lbs and would say I’m an advanced skier. Currently on the Rossi holyshreds at 182 length. Looking to ski this M Free primarily on east coast and all mountain, with little time in the park. Would you recommend sizing up to the 185 or down to the 179? How might this ski differently in either case? Thank you for the help as always!
I'd go 185--they actually measure about a 182, so this should be just right.
@@SkiEssentials thanks guys!
Hey guys, thanks for all these awesome videos, they are super helpful. I have the mfree 108s in the 192cm, I am 6ft and 190lbs, favorite ski I have ever been on. I live right next to alta so thats my setup I am trying to build around, the mfree 108 is my daily driver but looking for something to supplement that when conditions get firm, I want to ski moguls, (rare) park laps and groomer ripping. I have the Mfree 99 in a 185cm but feel it skis a bit short even after moving the mount point back a bit BUT I love the shape, progressive flex, mogul ease and playfulness. I also have an older enforcer 100 in a 186cm which is my current early season ripper and firm mid season ski but I dont love that I cannot wash the tails and feel its a bit punishing when not just ripping groomers. I am considering the blizzard rustler 9 in a 186 to be my one ski to replace the other two, would you say I am barking up the right tree? Anything else that blends these two skis I have that I should also consider?
I'd say you're in the right zone for sure--some good stability of the Enforcer mixed with the flotation and playfulness of the M-Free. Line Blade Optic 96 and slightly wider, the Nordica Unleashed 98 also fit that bill.
Hey guys. Im stuck on the M free 90 or 99. Im an intermediate+ skier 5'9 and about 175 lbs. Unfortunately ive been renting for past 10 years and want to own my first pair of skis. The ridings style fits these skis. More playful some park and trying to get into some tree lines with the rentals. I was leaning towards 90 as im used to skiing in Southern CA and AZ, but ive recently moved to CO so wasnt sure if the 99 would be better for this type of snow out here. Also in terms of length ive always been given rentals at about 165 or 168. I know these apparently ride short so youre supposed to size up but is the 177 for the 90 too long. I think the sizes for the 99 go to an 171 which might be more ideal? Any help would be appreicated.
The 99 is built with a poplar hybrid core while the 90 is the paulownia core. As such, the 99 feels smoother and quieter than the 90, especially when you factor in the extra width and surface area. I'd go with the 99 in the 171.
How does the float/surf compare to the M-Pro 99 specifically for Stowe type trees?
M-Free is considerably more floaty and surfy in the Stowe trees. You do have to work to get the M-Pro to release from the tail, and that keeps it out of the surfy side of the spectrum. I've skied the M-Free in the 179 here in the woods, and while it's too short for me, it was insanely fun and easy to maneuver.
How would fast speeds, carving, and tree skiing on the dynastar m-free 99 compare to the faction prodigy 2? I’m currently on revolt 95s if you could compare them to the revolts that would give me a better idea of how they ski
The Prodigy is a bit more flexible than the M-Free, and that'll take the carving down a notch a bit. I've found the M-Free to be a smoother and more complete ski than either the Prodigy or the Revolt, which I have no problems with, but the M-Free is a very underrated ski when it comes to smoothness, grip, and tree mobility.
Hi. I’m 5’11” 160lbs. Advanced directional skier (70% bumps/trees, 30% groomers). Looking to progress a little more into freestyle (switch, side hits,180s etc but not park). Can’t decide on 179 (true 177) or 185 cm (true 182) for the M Free 99. Prob skied 40+ days on QST 98 183cm-which I liked but occasionally wanted a little shorter in bumps and trees. I just don’t know how much performance would have suffered on groomers with the shorter QST. My gut is saying 179 for the M Free. Also, mount point: factory or +2cm??
I'd go 179 based on your stats and application. If you're looking for more balance in the park, I think +2 is acceptable.
Hi SE, im looking for a fun, drifty and really playful ski for resort skiing. Sidehits, smaller jumps and reasonable good carving performance. Im 37 years, advanced, 5'10, 180 lbs. I have the 2023 Qst 106 in 189 for big mountain powder days and just want a second fun but not a park ski. Been looking at m-free 99, Line Chronic 101, armada arv 100, elan playmaker 101, k2 reckoner 102. Also Faction mana 2 and Unleashed 98 but worried they are to much business. All in around 177-185 length. What do you think? Cheers
You're in the right zone for sure. If you're looking for fun, drifty, and playful, though, I'd say the Chronic is worth a very strong look. I love how this ski has some sturdiness underfoot for the reasonable carving and then the tips and tails and the whole rest of the ski is insanely fun and rewarding. I'd keep focus there, and bring in the Reckoner as well for that drifty resort application.
@@SkiEssentials Many thanks 🙌
Would this be a good ski for a beginner/intermediate? Not skiing fast, but looking for something easy to turn and maneuvre arond and learn to ski some powder outside the groomers.
There's a bit of weight to this ski, so while it's easy to turn and a lot of fun, it is on the heavier side. The slightly narrower M-Free 90 is lighter and poppier, and that might make more sense for your application. If you want something easier in the ~99mm range, I'd say the Atomic Bent 100 or the K2 Reckoner 102 would be a bit easier than the M-Free 99.
First again and again