Mistico.2 review

Overview

The Mistico.2 is the widest and most downhill-minded ski in Ski Trab's Light Pro Touring collection, made in Bormio, Italy, where the brand has built skis since 1946. Ski Trab calls it "the most technical model, lightweight and powerful" and lists it at 985 g per ski in 157 cm and 1,025 g in 171 cm. It shares its outline with the Ortles 90 Carbon and the Ortles Next 90: 122/92/109 mm in 157 and 164 cm, 122/90/109 mm in 171 and 178 cm, with radii from 18.8 to 23.3 m. What sets it apart is the core. Instead of the Li-Wood Air wood core of the two Ortles skis, the Mistico.2 uses an aramid-and-wood honeycomb, which makes it the lightest of the three by 75 g per ski at 157 cm and 145 g at 171 cm. It comes in 157, 164, 171 and 178 cm and lists at €1,099 on skitrab.com, the highest price of the three.

On-snow performance

On paper this is a ski for long climbs that still wants to be skied with intent on the way down. Ski Trab says the flex is designed for a 90 mm ski that is easy to use and floats well in deep powder; the Italian retailer Oliunìd quotes Ski Trab's flex codes as C4 for the centre and T4 for tip and tail, with R6 for torsional strength. That points to a moderate, even flex on a torsionally firm platform: the edge should hold on hard spring snow while the shovel stays easy to steer in soft snow. The high-modulus carbon cage is what gives a ski near 1 kg its grip. Ski Trab claims up to 46% more torsional rigidity from the fine 3K carbon wrap, without making the flex stiffer. The trade-off is the usual one for a ski this light: it has less mass to calm chatter in crud, on refrozen snow and at higher speed than the wood-core Ortles 90 Carbon on the same shape.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: ultralight aramid-and-wood honeycomb ("Aramid Core").
• Reinforcement: high-modulus 3K carbon cage around the core.
• Build: Ski Trab 14-layer technology, with a bridge between the edges to withstand impacts.
• Profile: tip rocker, camber underfoot and a slight tail rocker (retailer data; Ski Trab does not name a profile).
• Sidecut: 122/92/109 mm (157, 164 cm) and 122/90/109 mm (171, 178 cm).
• Radius: 18.8 / 21 / 21.2 / 23.3 m at 157 / 164 / 171 / 178 cm.
• Weight: 985 g (157 cm) and 1,025 g (171 cm) per ski; Ski Trab leaves 164 and 178 cm blank.
• Warranty: 10 years.

Three skis share this mould, and the build is the difference. The Mistico.2 pairs the aramid honeycomb with the carbon cage and is the lightest. The Ortles 90 Carbon keeps the carbon cage around a Li-Wood Air wood core (1,060–1,280 g, €899) for a firmer, damper descent. The Ortles Next 90 wraps the same wood core in a softer fiberglass-and-basalt sleeve (1,080–1,300 g, €799) for an easier ride.

Who it's for & comparisons

The Mistico.2 suits experienced tourers who count grams but do not want a narrow race-style ski for the descent: long spring tours, big-vertical days and steep lines where every gram on the climb matters. The Salomon Mtn 91 carbon (91 mm, 990–1,300 g from 150 to 182 cm) is the closest rival on width and weight. The Atomic Backland 89 sl is heavier at 1,165 g in 169 cm. The Movement Alp tracks 90, listed at 1,090 g in 170 cm, is another light 90 mm carbon option. If you would trade about 145 g per ski at 171 cm for more damping, the Ortles 90 Carbon on the same shape is the logical alternative.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• 985–1,025 g per ski at 157–171 cm for a 90–92 mm waist.
• Aramid honeycomb core with a carbon cage for torsional grip.
• Flex designed for float and easy turns in deep snow.
• Made in Bormio with a 10-year warranty.

Cons

• At €1,099 it is the most expensive of Ski Trab's 90 mm skis.
• Low mass means less calm in crud and at speed.
• No length above 178 cm.
• Flat ski: bindings and skins are extra.

Verdict: The Mistico.2 is Ski Trab's 90 mm ski for tourers who want close to 1 kg per ski and still expect precision on the way down. It costs more than the wood-core Ortles skis on the same shape; the weight saving is what you pay for.