ON3P Billy Goat 108 Tour — Review

Overview

The ON3P Billy Goat 108 Tour is a backcountry ski for strong skiers who want a touring‑friendly weight without sacrificing downhill confidence. ON3P’s Signature Rocker and extended RES (Reverse Elliptical Sidecut) deliver that classic Billy Goat looseness in soft and variable snow, while a supportive tail and sturdy construction keep it composed at speed. It’s one of the more stable, surfy options in the 105–110 mm touring class.

Who is it for?

Advanced to expert tourers who prioritize downhill performance, speed, and slarvy turns in soft and mixed snow.
Riders who like a directional, surfy feel with better damping than most lightweight alternatives.
Less ideal if you mainly ski refrozen ice or want tight, carved turns on firm groomers.

On‑snow performance

Powder and soft snow

High tips and lowered camber provide above‑average float for a 108 mm ski.
RES makes pivoting, slashing, and speed control easy, yet the tail still supports landings and steep exits.

Chop, wind buff, and variable

Remarkably calm for its weight. The long radius (about 29 m at 186) tracks confidently as speeds rise.
Far less hooky than many touring skis; RES reduces deflection and nervousness in broken snow.

Firm/hardpack

Adequate edge hold with a fresh tune, but it’s not a metal carver. On true ice, it’s serviceable rather than inspiring.
Prefers medium‑to‑long turns; not a short‑turn specialist.

Trees, steeps, and technical terrain

Shorter contact length and forward camber apex aid quick pivots and jump turns.
Shortened tail helps with kick turns; overall balance inspires confidence on narrow ridges.

Playfulness and stability

Happy to slash, butter lightly, and pop off features; tail is supportive without feeling punishing.
Compared to many touring builds, the Billy Goat 108 Tour is notably more composed at speed. It’s not as dead‑quiet as the resort layup, but impressive for the weight.

Uphill and efficiency

Around 1.75 kg (186) is light enough for big days but not ultralight — a conscious trade for downhill damping.
Rockered tips don’t wander excessively; good skin technique still matters on firm traverses.
Burly base and edges are a plus for spring missions and thin coverage.

Construction and durability

Bamboo/paulownia core with a hybrid fiberglass/carbon laminate balances damping and response.
Durasurf 4001 base (~1.4 mm) and 2x2 mm edges are beefy for a touring ski; ON3P’s Portland build quality is a selling point for hard use.

Comparisons

Moment Wildcat Tour 108: the Wildcat feels lighter and more playful; the Billy Goat 108 Tour is more directional and calmer in chop. Choose Wildcat for freestyle‑leaning tours; Billy Goat for line‑holding in rough snow.
Blizzard Zero G 105: much lighter and better on firm snow, but harsher and less forgiving in breakable crust. The Billy Goat is more fun and stable in 3D snow.
DPS Pagoda Tour 106 C2: lighter and quicker on the skintrack; Billy Goat offers more damping, tail support, and high‑speed confidence.
Black Crows Corvus Freebird: more directional with stronger edge hold; less surfy and typically heavier. Billy Goat is looser and more playful in trees and pow.
4FRNT Raven 104: very loose and light; less tail support and firm‑snow bite. Billy Goat feels sturdier and more composed at speed.

Specs (explained)

Rocker profile: Signature Rocker with lowered camber and higher tips, plus extended RES in the tips. Improves float, makes pivoting easy, and reduces hookiness in variable snow.
Dimensions (186 cm): 135‑108‑117 mm. Broad tip and supportive tail keep the ski directional and stable; 108 mm waist balances float and versatility.
Radius (186): 29.0 m. Long radius = calm at speed and smooth, bigger turns; not built for tight carving on firm.
Weight (186): 1.75 kg per ski. Light enough to tour, heavy enough to feel damp and trustworthy on the descent.
Construction: bamboo/paulownia core, 2800 hybrid glass/carbon, UHMW sidewalls, Durasurf 4001 base (~1.4 mm), 2x2 mm steel edges. Aimed at durability with consistent damping.

Key takeaways

Surfy and un‑hooky: RES + rocker shine in pow and variable snow.
Calm at speed for a touring build: long radius and damping tame chop.
Supportive tail: solid for landings and steep exits without feeling punishing.
Not the lightest: a deliberate trade for better downhill performance.
Not an ice carver: capable but prefers soft to mixed snow.

Frequently asked questions

Q: What size should I choose?
A: Base it on height, weight, and terrain. Go longer (186/191) for stability, open terrain, and higher speeds; shorter (176/181) for tight trees, technical touring, and lower speeds.

Q: Where should I mount the bindings?
A: Start on the factory line. If you want a slightly more freestyle/slashy feel, consider +0.5–1 cm; for maximum directional stability, consider ~0.5 cm back. Small changes make a noticeable difference.

Q: What bindings pair well?
A: For a downhill‑first setup, look at hybrid options like Fritschi Tecton or Salomon/Atomic Shift. For longer missions, lighter tech bindings such as ATK Raider work well.

Q: How does it handle firm snow?
A: With a good tune, the ON3P Billy Goat 108 Tour is competent, but it’s optimized for soft and variable snow. Expect more composure than ultralights, but it’s not a hard‑snow carver.