M cross 78 review

Overview

The M-Cross 78 is the entry point of Dynastar's M-Cross all-mountain line for 26/27, sold as an Xpress system ski with the Look Xpress 10 GW B83 binding. Dynastar aims it squarely at beginner and intermediate skiers who want an "on-piste adventure" ski: 124-78-110 mm in every length, a radius that runs from 10 m at 148 cm to 15 m at 178 cm, and a sandwich full-sidewall build around the Hybrid Core 2.0. For 26/27 it gets new mountain-motif graphics (a facelift in Dynastar's catalogue) while the construction carries over. The women's version, sold as the E-Cross 78 or M-Cross W 78, shares exactly the same sidecut.

On-snow performance

On paper this is an easy, forgiving groomer ski with a little extra reach. The 78 mm waist and 124 mm tip give a short 10–13 m radius in the popular 148–164 cm lengths, so turn initiation should be quick and short turns rhythmic without much effort. The Directional Rocker is long but low, which is meant to let the tip float over cut-up snow and early-season chop at the edge of the piste while the camber underfoot keeps the edge biting on hardpack. The full sidewall and the H-Tech centre reinforcement suggest more grip than a typical cap-construction beginner ski, and the light build (about 1.45–1.65 kg per ski by length) keeps swing weight low. Where it will run out of ideas is high speed on ice and in deep snow: the flex is tuned soft for progression, and 78 mm is not a powder width.

Construction & specs explained

• Core: Hybrid Core 2.0 — a bi-directional poplar core (alternating vertical and horizontal wood grain) combined with polyurethane; Dynastar says it is made in France.
• Construction: sandwich with full-length vertical sidewalls, plus a Minicap tip and a 3D topsheet.
• Reinforcement: H-Tech (concentrated in the centre of the ski for a reactive feel), fiberglass and a titanal layer listed on the spec sheet.
• Sidecut: Adaptiv Power / Adaptativ sidecut — a smoother transition between the sidecut underfoot and the tip and tail shapes.
• Profile: Directional Rocker — progressive, low tip and tail rocker, camber underfoot.
• Binding: Look Xpress 10 GW B83 Black, DIN 2.5–10, 73–83 mm brake, 720 g per binding, tool-free adjustment for 260–385 mm soles, alpine (ISO 5355 A) and GripWalk (ISO 23223 A) compatible.
• Dimensions: 124-78-110 mm in all lengths; radius 10 m (148), 12 m (156), 13 m (164), 14 m (172), 15 m (178).
• Weight: 1,450 / 1,500 / 1,550 / 1,600 / 1,650 g per ski from 148 to 178 cm (Dynastar's 26/27 catalogue, listed per pair and halved).

Who it's for & comparisons

This is a first "real" ski for beginners and progressing intermediates, or a relaxed holiday ski for someone who wants to carve groomers in the morning and poke into soft snow at the side later on. In Dynastar's own line, the Dynastar M cross 82 adds 4 mm of width and a Konect plate for stronger, faster skiers, and the M-Cross 80 Xpress sits in between with the Xpress 11 binding. The women's Dynastar E cross 78 is the same sidecut in 148–164 cm. Outside the brand, the Elan Wingman 78 c is the obvious cross-shop: also 78 mm and a system ski, but with Elan's asymmetric Amphibio profile. The Rossignol Experience 80 carbon is slightly wider and even softer, and the Rossignol Forza 30d is the piste-only alternative at 74 mm.

Pros, cons and verdict

Pros

• Short 10–13 m radius in the popular lengths makes turn initiation easy.
• Full sidewall sandwich and H-Tech give more grip than most entry-level cap skis.
• Light per-ski weight and a low rocker keep it manoeuvrable in chop and bumps.
• Binding included, tool-free adjustment, GripWalk compatible.

Cons

• Soft, progression-oriented flex: fast skiers will outgrow it.
• 78 mm underfoot is limited in real powder.
• The Xpress 10 tops out at DIN 10 and cannot be swapped for a different binding.
• Lightweight build means less damping on hard, rutted pistes.

Verdict: The M-Cross 78 is a sensible first all-mountain ski: easy radius, a proper sandwich sidewall build and a binding you do not have to think about. If you already carve confidently, step up to the M-Cross 80 or 82 instead.